[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23028]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
RIN 0648-XF156
Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 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 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to identified
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: October 23, 2017.
ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared environmental analyses that describe the
potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the
action. Copies of those analyses, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0004,
are available from www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
0004, or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific
Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the
Western Pacific Region (Pelagic FEP) 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable
Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on October 13,
2017, NMFS specified a 2017 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye
tuna for the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, Guam
and the CNMI (82 FR 47642). Of the 2,000 t limit, NMFS allows each
territory to allocate up to 1,000 t to U.S. longline fishing vessels
identified in a valid specified fishing agreement.
On October 6, 2017, NMFS received from the Council a specified
fishing agreement between the CNMI and Quota Management, Inc. (QMI). In
the transmittal memorandum, the Council's Executive Director advised
that the specified fishing agreement was consistent with the criteria
set forth in 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). On October 10, 2017, NMFS reviewed
the agreement and determined that it is consistent with the Pelagic
FEP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,
implementing regulations, and other applicable laws.
In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9),
vessels identified in the agreement may retain and land bigeye tuna in
the western and central Pacific Ocean under the CNMI limit. NMFS began
attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the agreement
to the CNMI starting on October 10, 2017. If NMFS determines that the
fishery will reach the attribution limit of 1,000 t, we will restrict
the retention of bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified 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: October 19, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23028 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
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