[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12658-12661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04090]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC799]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 147th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and its 194th 
Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the 
Western Pacific Region. The Council will also hold meetings of the 
following advisory groups and standing committees: Joint Meeting of the 
American Samoa Advisory Panel (AP), Hawaii AP, and Fishing Industry 
Advisory Committee (FIAC); Guam Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee 
(REAC); Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) REAC; 
Mariana Archipelago AP; and Executive and Budget Standing Committee 
(SC) meeting.

DATES: The meetings will be held between March 14 and March 31, 2023. 
For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The 147th SSC meeting will be held in a hybrid format with 
in-person and remote participation (Webex) options available for the 
SSC members, and public attendance limited to web conference via Webex. 
In-person attendance for the SSC members will be hosted at the Council 
office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
    The Joint Meeting of the American Samoa AP, Hawaii AP and FIAC will 
be held by web conference via Webex.
    The Guam REAC, CNMI REAC, Mariana Archipelago AP, and the 194th 
Council Meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting for Council members 
and public, with remote participation option available via Webex. The 
Executive and Budget SC will be held as an in-person meeting for 
Council members and public. The in-person portion of the Guam REAC 
meeting will be held at the Governor's Main Conference Room, 513 West 
Marine Corps Drive, Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex, Hagatna, GU 96910. The 
in-person portion of the CNMI REAC, Mariana Archipelago AP, and 
Executive and Budget SC will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Coral Tree 
Ave., Saipan, MP 96950. The first two days of the 194th Council meeting 
and the CNMI Fishers Forum will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Saipan, 
MP, and the last two days of the Council meeting will be held at the 
Hilton Guam Resort and Spa, 202 Hilton Road, Tumon Bay, GU 96913. The 
Guam Fishers Forum will be held at the Guam Museum, 193 Chalan Santo 
Papa Juan Pablo Dos, Hagatna, GU 96910.
    Specific information on joining the meeting, connecting to the web 
conference and providing oral public comments will be posted on the 
Council website at www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web 
conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
    Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 
Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 147th SSC meeting will be held between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on March 14, 2023, 10:30 
a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 15, 2023, and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 16, 
2023. The Joint Meeting of the American Samoa AP, Hawaii AP and FIAC 
will be held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. HST on March 16, 2023. The Guam 
REAC meeting will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Chamorro 
Standard Time (ChST) on March 23, 2023. The CNMI REAC meeting will be 
held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ChST on March 24, 2023. The Mariana 
Archipelago AP meeting will be held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ChST on 
March 25, 2023. The Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held 
between 10:00 a.m. and 12 p.m. ChST on March 26, 2023. The portion of 
the Executive and Budget SC from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. will be closed 
to the public for employment matters in accordance with section 
302(i)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (MSA). The first two days of the 194th Council Meeting will be held 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on March 27-28, 2023. The CNMI Fishers 
Forum will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ChST on March 27, 2023. 
The first Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between 4 
p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ChST on March 28, 2023. The last two days of the 
194th Council Meeting will be held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on 
March 30-31, 2023. The second Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will 
be held between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on March 30, 2023. The Guam 
Fishers Forum will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ChST on March 30, 
2023.
    Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding 
COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the March Council and its associated 
meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for publication, the 
Council anticipated convening the Standing Committee meeting as an in-
person meeting only, and the Council meeting as an in-person meeting 
with a web conference attendance option. If public participation 
options will be modified, the Council will post notice on its website 
at www.wpcouncil.org by, to the extent practicable, 5 calendar days 
before each meeting.

[[Page 12659]]

    Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that may 
result in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, 
proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary 
of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In addition to the 
agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear 
recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public 
comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which 
agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance 
at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to 
complete scheduled business.
    Background documents for the 194th Council meeting will be 
available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action 
items at the 194th Council meeting should be received at the Council 
office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, March 23, 2023, and should be sent to 
Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, 
phone: (808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email: 
[email protected]. Written public comments on all other agenda items 
may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the 
meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during the 
meeting will be posted on the Council website. This meeting will be 
recorded (audio only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the 
meeting.

Agenda for the 147th SSC Meeting

Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 146th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director Report
5. Island Fisheries
    A. Western Pacific Bottomfish Fisheries
    1. American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species (BMUS) Stock 
Assessment and Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review Update
    2. Guam Bottomfish Data Workshops
    B. Establishing Status Determination Criteria for Kona Crab 
Fisheries (Action Item)
    C. Gold Coral Management (Action Item)
    D. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Fishing Cost Recovery 
Analysis (Action Item)
    E. Public Comment
    F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Protected Species
    A. Ecosystem-based Fishery Management (EBFM) Turtle Model Workshop 
Report
    B. Hawaii Deep-set and American Samoa Longline Fishery Draft 
Biological Opinions (BiOps)
    1. Updated Assessment of Population-level Impacts of Leatherback 
Turtle Interactions in the Hawaii Deep-set Longline Fishery
    2. Review of the Draft BiOps
    C. A Potential New Assessment Approach for Hawaii Pelagic False 
Killer Whales
    D. Review of Potential Measures for the False Killer Whale Take 
Reduction Plan Modifications
    E. Draft Recovery Plan for Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
    F. Public Comment
    G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST

7. Pelagic and International Fisheries
    A. 2022 Longline Fishery Reports
    1. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
    2. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
    B. International Billfish Biological Sampling Research Update
    C. Multi-Year Territorial Bigeye Tuna Catch and Allocation 
Specifications (Action Item)
    D. Bayesian Meta-synthesis of Shark Bycatch Mortality to Support 
Evidence-informed Hazard Mitigation Policy
    E. Area-based Management Issues
    1. Limited Conservation Efficacy of Large-Scale Marine Protected 
Areas for Pacific Skipjack and Bigeye Tunas
    2. Council Coordination Committee Area-Based Management 
Subcommittee Manuscript
    3. Updated Analyses of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine 
National Monument Expansion Spillover
    F. Updating the Council's Pelagic Fisheries Research Plan
    G. Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Tropical 
Tuna Scientific Requests
    H. Public Comment
    I. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

Thursday, March 16, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST

8. Other Business
    A. June 2023 SSC Meetings Dates
9. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council

Agenda for the Joint Meeting of the American Samoa AP, Hawaii AP and 
FIAC

Thursday, March 16, 2023, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. HST

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of Draft American Samoa Longline and Hawaii Longline Fishery 
BiOps
    A. Draft BiOp Overview
    B. Advisory Group Review of the Draft BiOps
3. Review of Potential Measures for the False Killer Whale Take 
Reduction Plan Modifications
4. Public Comment
5. Discussion and Recommendations
6. Other Business

Agenda for the Guam REAC Meeting

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ChST

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. About the Guam REAC
3. Current Fishery Ecosystem Issues
    a. Introduction and Overview of Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
Critical Habitat
    b. Status of Guam Fisheries Stocks
    c. Overview of Data Collection System and Efforts
4. Territorial Issues
    a. Marine Conservation Plan 2023-2026
    b. Developing Fishery Management Plans
5. Federal Issues
    a. Military Issues
    i. The Use of Open Burn on Guam
    ii. Explosive Ordinance/Blasting Pit Permit at Tarague Basin and 
Sea Turtle Nesting Mitigation
    iii. Planned Military Exercises at Whiskey 517 and Working with the 
Fishing Community for Safe Passage
    b. Review of the Sikes Act Agreement
    c. Status of Guam National Wildlife Refuge and US Marine Corps 
Firing Range
6. Updates on the NOAA Fisheries Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) 
Strategy
7. Public Comments
8. Discussion and Recommendations
9. Other Business

Agenda for the CNMI REAC Meeting

Friday, March 24, 2023, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ChST

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. About the CNMI REAC
3. Current Fishery Ecosystem Issues

[[Page 12660]]

    a. Introduction and Overview of ESA Critical Habitat
    b. EEJ CNMI Report
    c. Pelagic Fisheries
    i. Status of overfished stocks in Western Pacific
    ii. Explanation of WCPFC tuna quota discussion
    d. Status of CNMI Fisheries Stocks
    e. Overview of Data Collection System and Efforts
    f. CNMI Fishery Management Plan Development
4. Marianas Conservation Issues
    a. Proposed Mariana National Marine Sanctuary
    i. Status of Mariana Trench Sanctuary Nomination
    ii. Discussion on Sanctuary Status and Future
    b. Area-based Management Update
    i. Executive Order 14008 (Biden 30x30)
    ii. Micronesia Challenge
5. Public Comment
6. Discussion and Recommendations
7. Other Business

Agenda for the Mariana Archipelago AP Meeting

Saturday, March 25, 2023, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ChST

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Setting the Direction for the Marianas AP
3. Marianas Projects and Activities 2023 (AP Plans)
    A. CNMI
    B. Guam
4. Feedback from the Fleet
    A. First Quarter Fishermen Observations in the Marianas
    B. Marianas Archipelago Fishery Issues and Priorities
5. Council Issues
    A. Options for a Multi-Year Bigeye Tuna Catch and Allocation Limits
    B. Guam and CNMI Marine Conservation Plan Review
6. Marianas Fishery Issues and Activities
    A. Bottomfish Fisheries
    i. BMUS Revision Update
    ii. Guam Data Workshop Outcomes and Next Steps
    iii. Discussion on Bottomfish
    B. Pelagic Fisheries
    i. Exploratory Longline Fishing in the CNMI
    ii. Council Pelagic Fisheries Research Priorities
    iii. Discussion on Pelagic Fisheries
7. Updates on the NOAA Fisheries EEJ Strategy
8. Other Business
9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations

Agenda for the Executive and Budget Standing Committee

Sunday, March 26, 2023, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ChST (11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Closed)

1. Financial Reports
2. Administrative Reports
3. Council Program Plan Report
4. Council Family Changes
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Other Issues
7. Public Comment
8. Discussion and Recommendations
9. Closed session on Employment Matters--pursuant to MSA section 
302(i)(3)

Agenda for the 194th Council Meeting

Monday, March 27, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ChST

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Opening Protocol
3. Opening Remarks
4. Approval of the 194th CM Agenda
5. Approval of the 193rd CM Meeting Minutes
6. Executive Director's Report
7. Agency Reports
    A. National Marine Fisheries Service
    1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
    2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
    C. Enforcement
    1. U.S. Coast Guard
    2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
    3. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
    D. U.S. State Department
    E. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
8. Mariana Archipelago--CNMI
    A. Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Fish and 
Wildlife Report
    B. Arongol Fal[uacute]
    C. Review of CNMI Marine Conservation Plan (Action Item)
    D. Options for Exploratory Longline Fishing in CNMI
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee
    4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
9. Protected Species
    A. EBFM Turtle Model Workshop Report
    B. Review of the Hawaii Deep-set and American Samoa Longline 
Fishery Draft BiOps
    1. Draft BiOp Overview
    2. Advisory Group Review of Draft BiOps

Monday, March 27, 2023, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ChST

Fishers Forum: All About Bottomfish in the Mariana Islands

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ChST

9. Protected Species (continued)
    C. ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act Updates
    1. Overview of ESA critical habitat designations
    2. Coral and green turtle critical habitat rulemaking update
    3. Draft Recovery Plan for oceanic whitetip shark
    D. Review of Potential Measures for the False Killer Whale Take 
Reduction Plan Modifications
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee
    4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
10. Hawai[revaps]i Archipelago & Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)
    A. Moku Pepa
    B. DLNR/DAR Report (Legislation, Enforcement)
    C. NWHI Fishing Regulations--Native Hawaiian Subsistence Permit and 
Cost Recovery (Final Action)
    D. Main Hawaiian Islands Kona Crab Status Determination Criteria 
(Initial Action)
    E. Gold Coral Management (Final Action)
    F. Review of PRIA Marine Conservation Plan (Action Item)
    G. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Archipelagic Plan Team
    2. Advisory Panel
    3. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    H. Public Comment
    I. Council Discussion and Action

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ChST

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

Thursday, March 30, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ChST

11. Welcome and Introductions
    A. Opening Protocol
    B. Opening Remarks
12. Mariana Archipelago--Guam

[[Page 12661]]

    A. Isla Informe
    B. DoA/DAWR
    C. Review of Guam Marine Conservation Plan (Action Item)
    D. Report of the Guam Bottomfish Data Workshop
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee
    4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
13. Pelagic & International Fisheries
    A. 2022 Longline Reports 2022
    1. Hawaii Longline Fishery
    2. American Samoa Longline Fishery
    B. Multi-Year Territorial Bigeye Tuna Catch & Allocation 
Specifications (Initial Action)
    C. International Fisheries Issues
    1. Western and Central Pacific Ocean Longline Management Workshop
    D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees
    4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    E. Public Comment
    F. Council Discussion and Action
14. Program Planning and Research
    A. National Legislative Report
    B. Territorial BMUS Revision Status Update
    C. Updates on the NOAA Fisheries EEJ Strategy
    D. Regional Communications & Outreach Report
    E. Council Program Planning Report
    F. Regional Coordination Meeting Reports
    1. Council-Pacific Islands Regional Office
    2. Council-Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    3. Council-State of Hawaii
    G. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees
    4. Archipelagic Plan Team
    5. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    H. Public Comment
    I. Council Discussion and Action

Thursday, March 30, 2023, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ChST

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

Thursday, March 30, 2023, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ChST

Fishers Forum: All About Bottomfish in the Mariana Islands

Friday, March 31, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ChST

15. American Samoa Archipelago
    A. Motu Lipoti
    B. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Report
    C. Update on American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment and Review
    D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendation
    1. Advisory Panel
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
    3. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    E. Public Comment
    F. Council Discussion and Action
16. Administrative Matters
    A. Financial Reports
    B. Administrative Reports
    C. Council Family Changes
    D. Meetings and Workshops
    E. Executive and Budget Standing Committee Report
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
17. Other Business

    Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 194th 
meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any 
regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that 
requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the MSA, provided the 
public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to 
address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226 
(fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 23, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04090 Filed 2-27-23; 8:45 am]
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