[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67984-67985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21838]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

[RTID 0648-XD391]


Pacific Island Fisheries; 2023 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 2023 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 February 2, 
2023. The start date for attributing 2023 bigeye tuna catch to the CNMI 
is October 8, 2023.

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, telephone 
808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or https://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-2022-0117, are available from https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2022-0117, or from Sarah Malloy, 
Acting Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 
Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Kamikawa, NMFS PIR Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on June 15, 2023, 
NMFS specified a 2023 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 (88 FR 39201). 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 
overall allocation limit among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t.
    On September 18, 2023, NMFS received from the Council, through its 
Executive Director, a specified fishing agreement between the CNMI and 
the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) allocating 1,500 t of CNMI's 
2,000 t bigeye tuna limit to U.S. fishing vessels identified in the 
agreement for 2023. The Council's Executive Director advised that the 
agreement is consistent with the FEP and its implementing regulations. 
On September 26, 2023, 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. Based on logbook data submitted by U.S. longline 
vessels in the WCPFC Convention Area, NMFS forecasts that the U.S. 
longline fishery will reach the U.S. bigeye tuna limit of 3,554 t by 
October 15, 2023. Regulations at 665.819(c)(9)(i) directs NMFS to begin 
attributing catch to the applicable U.S. territory starting seven days 
before the date NMFS forecasts the U.S. limit to be reached, or upon 
the effective date of the agreement, whichever is later. Therefore, on 
October 8, 2023, NMFS will begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by 
vessels in the agreement to the CNMI. If NMFS determines that the 
fishery will reach the overall 2,000 t territorial catch limit or the 
1,500 t allocation limit, we will restrict the catch and retention of 
longline-caught bigeye tuna by vessels in order to not exceed these 
limits, unless the vessels are included in a subsequent specified

[[Page 67985]]

fishing agreement with another U.S. territory.

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

    Dated: September 28, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21838 Filed 10-2-23; 8:45 am]
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