[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 51737-51738] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-24879] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 083199B] Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Availability of a Limited Access Permit AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Availability of a limited access permit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Acting Regional Administrator (Regional Administrator), Southwest Region, notifies all potential applicants that one permit is available for the Ho'omalu Zone limited access bottomfish fishery in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Applications are being accepted and NMFS will issue a Ho'omalu permit to a qualifying vessel owner in accordance with the Fishery Management Plan for Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP). DATES: Applications must be filed no later than November 8, 1999. ADDRESSES: Applications may be obtained from, and completed applications must be sent to, the Pacific Islands Area Office, Southwest Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Katekaru, NMFS, (808) 973-2935 ext 207. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting held on July 15 - 18, 1999, the Administrator of the Pacific Islands Area Office, NMFS, (PIAO Administrator) informed the Council that a Ho'omalu Zone permit holder was determined to be ineligible for permit renewal during calendar year 1999. The permit was lost under the Ho'omalu Zone's limited access program ``use it or lose it'' requirement when the permit holder's vessel failed to make the minimum number of annual bottomfish landings to be eligible for permit renewal. The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Council, has determined that the Ho'omalu Zone fishery can still support seven bottomfishing vessels at this time. [[Page 51738]] The Regional Administrator will issue one permit to an eligible applicant to maintain the current total. Any prospective applicant may file an application for a Ho'omalu Zone permit. Forms will be provided by the Pacific Islands Area Office, Southwest Region, NMFS (See ADDRESSES). In accordance with 50 CFR 660.61 (g)(1) a permit will be awarded based on a point system as follows: (1) Two points will be assigned for each year in which the applicant was owner or captain of a vessel that made three or more qualifying landings of bottomfish in the NWHI. A qualifying landing is: (a) Any amount of bottomfish management unit species, regardless of weight, if made on or before August 7, 1985; (b) At least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of bottomfish management unit species, if made after August 7, 1985; or (c) At least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of any fish legally harvested from the NWHI, of which at least 50 percent by weight was bottomfish, if made after August 7, 1985. (2) One point will be assigned for each year in which the applicant was owner or captain of a vessel that landed at least 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) of bottomfish from the main Hawaiian Islands. (3) For any one year, points will be assigned for bottomfish landed from either the NWHI or the main Hawaiian Islands, but not for a combination of both areas. Applicants must maintain their own files or valid documentation verifying claims of accrued points. Copies of these documents must accompany all permit applications. A permit shall be awarded to a qualifying applicant in descending order, starting with the applicant with the largest number of points. If two or more persons have an equal number of points, and there are insufficient new permits for all such applicants, the new permit shall be awarded by the Regional Administrator through a lottery. An applicant must own at least a 25- percent share in the vessel that the permit would cover, and only one permit will be assigned to any vessel. No additional permits will be issued to any vessel owner who already has a Ho'omalu Zone bottomfish permit or to a vessel owner whose permit was not renewed for the 1999 permit year. Also, in considering applications for a Ho'omalu Zone permit the Regional Administrator will follow the guidance recommended by the Council at its 91st meeting, November 18-21, 1996: (1) No State of Hawaii fish catch reports used to document eligibility points will be accepted that are more than 1 year delinquent; (2) only State of Hawaii fish catch reports will be accepted by NMFS to validate accrued qualifying points demonstrating historical participation in the Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery; (3) the cutoff date for applications is 45 days after publication of this notice of availability in the Federal Register; (4) relief captains and vessel owners must provide vessel insurance records or legal certificates of documentation demonstrating the minimum 25 percent ownership in the vessel; and (5) only records of bottomfish management unit species will be used for assigning qualifying points. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 17, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-24879 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F