[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 31863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13605]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 140113035-5475-02]
RIN 0648-XD082
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2014-15 Annual Catch Limits and
Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications.
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SUMMARY: NMFS specifies an annual catch limit (ACL) of 346,000 lb for
Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for the 2014-15
fishing year. As an accountability measure (AM), if the ACL is
projected to be reached, NMFS would close the commercial and non-
commercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish for the remainder of the
fishing year. The ACL and AM specifications support the long-term
sustainability of Hawaii bottomfish.
DATES: The final specifications are effective from July 6, 2015,
through August 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian
Archipelago are 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 www.wpcouncil.org. Copies of the
environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact for
this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0176, are available from
www.regulations.gov, or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable
Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 21, 2015, NMFS published proposed
specifications and a request for public comments (80 FR 22158) for the
Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for the 2014-15
fishing year. You may review additional background information on this
action in the preamble to the proposed specifications; we do not repeat
this information here.
Through this action, NMFS is specifying an ACL of 346,000 lb of
Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI for the 2014-15 fishing year. This ACL is
the same as that set for the 2013-14 fishing year. The MHI Management
Subarea is the portion of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone around the
Hawaiian Archipelago lying to the east of 161[deg]20' W. longitude. The
Deep 7 bottomfish consist of: onaga (Etelis coruscans), ehu (E.
carbunculus), gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus), kalekale (P. sieboldii),
opakapaka (P. filamentosus), lehi (Aphareus rutilans), and hapuupuu
(Epinephelus quernus). The ACL that is established by this final rule
adopts the Council's recommended ACL, which was based on the best
available scientific, commercial, and other information, taking into
account the associated risk of overfishing.
The MHI bottomfish fishing year started September 1, 2014, and is
currently open. NMFS will monitor the fishery, and if the fishery
reaches the ACL before August 31, 2015, NMFS will, as an associated
accountability measure authorized in 50 CFR 665.4(f), close the non-
commercial and commercial fisheries for Deep 7 bottomfish in Federal
waters through August 31. During a fishery closure for Deep 7
bottomfish, no person may fish for, possess, or sell any of these fish
in the MHI. There is no prohibition on fishing for or selling other
(non-Deep 7) bottomfish throughout the year. All other management
measures continue to apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery.
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on May 6,
2015. NMFS received comments from three individuals, including two
fishermen who participate in the Deep 7 bottomfish fishery, all in
support of the proposed action.
Comments: In addition to expressing support for the proposed
specifications, two commenters provided suggestions for improving
future bottomfish stock assessments. The suggestions included
increasing fishermen involvement in the development of stock assessment
models, incorporating the potential effects of bottomfish restricted
fishing areas in estimating exploitable biomass, and refining catch per
unit of effort methodologies by better accounting for differences in
catchability of bottomfish between fishermen of the various Hawaiian
Islands due differences in available fishing areas, fishing strategies,
and environmental factors.
Response: While these comments are beyond the immediate scope of
the proposed specifications, NMFS continues to make improvements in the
stock assessment process, and will consider the recommended actions in
future stock assessments and updates. Additionally, NMFS is already
reaching out to fishermen to ensure that their input is considered at
important points in the bottomfish stock assessment process. NMFS
continues to explore fishery-independent methods and technologies for
assessing bottomfish resources. As information becomes available, NMFS
will accommodate such data in future stock assessments to improve our
understanding of the condition of bottomfish resources.
Changes From the Proposed Specifications
There are no changes in the final specifications from what was
published in the proposed specifications on April 21, 2015.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action
is necessary for the conservation and management of MHI Deep 7
bottomfish, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed specification stage that this action
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. NMFS published the factual basis for certification in
the proposed specifications, and does not repeat it here. NMFS did not
receive comments regarding this certification. As a result, a final
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, and one was not
prepared.
This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 29, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13605 Filed 6-3-15; 8:45 am]
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