[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47596-47597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18365]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

[RTID 0648-XB264]


Pacific Island Fisheries; 2021 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye 
Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that 
allocates up to 1,500 metric tons (t) of the 2021 bigeye tuna limit for 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to U.S. 
longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term 
sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and 
fisheries development in the CNMI.

DATES: The specified fishing agreement was valid as of July 15, 2021. 
The start

[[Page 47597]]

date for attributing 2021 bigeye tuna catch to the CNMI is August 30, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: The Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the 
Western Pacific (FEP) describes specified fishing agreements and is 
available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel. 808-
522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or http://www.wpcouncil.org.
    NMFS prepared environmental analyses that describe the potential 
impacts on the human environment that would result from the action. The 
analyses, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2020-0010, are available from https://www.regulations.gov/search/docket?filter=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0010, or from 
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region 
(PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Rassel, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on January 12, 
2021, NMFS specified a 2021 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye 
tuna for each of the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, 
Guam, and the CNMI (86 FR 2297). NMFS allows each territory to allocate 
up to 1,500 t of the 2,000 t limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels 
identified in a valid specified fishing agreement, but the total 
allocation among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t.
    On June 25, 2021, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the CNMI and the Hawaii Longline Association. 
The Council's Executive Director advised that the agreement is 
consistent with the FEP and its implementing regulations. On July 15, 
2021, NMFS reviewed the agreement and determined that it is consistent 
with the FEP, implementing regulations, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws.
    In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), 
vessels in the agreement may retain and land bigeye tuna in the western 
and central Pacific Ocean under the CNMI attribution specified in the 
fishing agreement. On August 30, 2021, NMFS began attributing bigeye 
tuna caught by vessels in the agreement to the CNMI. If NMFS determines 
that the fishery will reach the 1,500 t allocation specified in the 
CNMI agreement, we will restrict the retention of bigeye tuna caught by 
vessels in the agreement, unless the vessels are included in a 
subsequent specified fishing agreement with another U.S. territory.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 20, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18365 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
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