South Pacific Tuna Fisheries, 45752-45764 [E6-13098]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45752-45764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13098]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 050620161-5161-01; I.D. 061605A]
RIN 0648-AP61


South Pacific Tuna Fisheries

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to revise regulations implementing the South 
Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, as amended (SPTA), to reflect the changes 
agreed to in the Third Extension of the Treaty on Fisheries between the 
Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the 
United States of America and its annexes, schedules, and implementing 
agreements, as amended (Treaty). New provisions under the Treaty relate 
to vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements, vessel reporting 
requirements, area restrictions for U.S. purse seine vessels fishing 
under the Treaty, and allowing U.S. longline vessels to fish on the 
high seas portion of the Treaty Area. These actions are needed to bring 
the United States into compliance with its obligations under the 
Treaty.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule or the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), identified by 0648-AP61, by any 
of the following methods:
     E-mail: 0648-AP61@noaa.gov: Include 0648-AP61 in the 
subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Facsimile (fax): 808-973-2941. Attention: Raymond P. 
Clarke.
     Mail: Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-
4700.
    Copies of the environmental assessment (EA), regulatory impact 
review, and IRFA that were prepared for this rule may be obtained from 
the Regional Administrator of NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, at 
the above address.
    Send comments regarding the reporting burden estimate or any other 
aspect of the collection-of-information requirements in these 
management measures, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to 
the NMFS address listed above and to David Rostker, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), by email at David--Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or 
by fax at 202-395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond P. Clarke, 808-944-2200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on the Treaty

    The Treaty, implemented through the SPTA (16 U.S.C. 973 et seq.) 
and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 300, subpart D, governs 
the conduct of U.S. fishing vessel operations in the Treaty Area. The 
Treaty authorizes, and regulates through a licensing system, U.S. purse 
seine vessels operations within all or part of the exclusive economic 
zones (EEZs) of the 16 Pacific Island parties to the Treaty (PIPs), 
thus providing access to a large portion of the western and central 
Pacific Ocean. The 16 PIPs, each a sovereign state, are members of the 
Pacific Islands Forum, an inter-governmental body.
    Until recently the Treaty allowed U.S. vessels fishing for albacore 
by the trolling method to fish in the high seas portion of the Treaty 
Area, but it did not allow U.S. longline vessels to do so. The Treaty 
has since been amended to allow U.S. longline vessels to fish in the 
high seas portion of the Treaty Area and the SPTA was amended in 2004 
to reflect that change (Public Law 108-219). U.S. longline and albacore 
troll vessels fishing in the high seas portion of the Treaty Area are 
not subject to the Treaty's or SPTA's licensing requirements.
    The Treaty entered into force in 1988 following ratification by the 
U.S. and the PIPs. After an initial 5-year agreement, the Treaty was 
renewed in 1993 for an additional 10 years. Currently, the Treaty 
allows for a maximum of 45 licenses to U.S. purse seine fishing vessels 
to fish in the Licensing Area of the Treaty. Of the 45 licenses, 5 are 
reserved for ``joint venture'' arrangements: specifically, U.S. purse 
seine fishing vessels engaged in activities designed to promote the 
maximization of benefits generated for PIPs, such as the use of onshore 
facilities in PIPs, purchase of equipment

[[Page 45753]]

and supplies from PIPs and employment of PIP nationals on such vessels. 
The Licensing Area includes all or part of the EEZs of the following 
countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, 
Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, 
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 
The Treaty Area, which is the area bounded by the coordinates provided 
in paragraph 1(k) of Article 1 of the Treaty, is approximately 10 
million square miles (26 million square kilometers) in size. As of June 
2006, 12 U.S. vessels were active in the fishery under the Treaty 
(there have been no joint venture arrangements implemented to this 
date).
    The Treaty establishes the terms and conditions associated with 
certain aspects of U.S. purse seine vessel operations and conditions of 
access to the EEZs of the PIPs. Treaty terms and conditions include, 
but are not limited to, various fees, area closures, reporting 
requirements, and monitoring requirements. Additionally, the U.S. has 
certain Treaty obligations, such as administrative requirements, 
payment of licensing and access fees, and the collection, compilation, 
and summarization of fishery related data. Under the current agreement 
governing financial and administrative aspects of the Treaty (Agreement 
between the Government of the United States of America and the South 
Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency), the United States is obligated to pay 
an annual fee of 21 million dollars. The U.S. Government pays 18 
million dollars under a technical assistance agreement, and the U.S. 
purse seine tuna industry, represented by the American Tunaboat 
Association, provides the additional 3 million dollars. All these funds 
are paid to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), 
headquartered in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The FFA Secretary General 
and staff act as the Treaty administrator on behalf of the PIPs.
    NMFS has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as the 
agency responsible for implementing fishery conservation and management 
measures required to be imposed on U.S. fishing vessel owners and 
operators under the Treaty and the SPTA. U.S. operational, 
administrative, and enforcement commitments under the Treaty are 
carried out by NMFS and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Background on the Regional VMS

    Under the Treaty, U.S. purse seine vessel operators participating 
in the western and central Pacific Ocean purse seine fishery must 
submit a variety of written reports and provide electronic 
communications regarding vessel position. At present, these reports are 
submitted via e-mail communications to the FFA or the appropriate PIP. 
The non-electronically collected information from U.S. participants is 
transmitted to the FFA, typically through NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, or its field office in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
    VMS programs that utilize shipboard transceivers, or VMS units, are 
used successfully in several fisheries around the world for fishery 
monitoring, compliance, and surveillance purposes. These automated 
systems assist fishery managers and enforcement personnel in monitoring 
compliance with certain types of fishery regulations, and are 
particularly useful in circumstances where, as under the Treaty, 
fishing vessels operate over large geographic areas and vessel 
operators are subject to area restrictions. The VMS automates 
monitoring and surveillance using satellite and communications 
technology to send location and identity information from a fishing 
vessel to a designated land-based monitoring station. Shipboard VMS 
units can be programmed to report at set time intervals. Some systems 
allow remote programming of the time intervals. This is typically done 
from a land-based monitoring station via the satellite communications 
system. The reporting intervals may be adjusted (e.g. from 1 time per 
day to 20 times per hour) based on operational needs. In some systems, 
the VMS units can receive and process polling commands, such as a 
request to transmit the vessel's current position. Position fixing is 
typically done using a global positioning system receiver integrated 
into the VMS unit.
    In 1992, the parties to the Treaty signaled recognition of the 
potential value of a VMS by including language in Annex 1 Part 8 
stating ``It is understood that a region-wide vessel tracking system 
applicable to all vessels licensed to fish in the Treaty Area may be 
established. United States vessels with a license to fish under the 
Treaty shall participate in such a system and shall install and operate 
a transponder of a type and in such a manner as may be agreed by the 
Parties. It is understood that data derived through the system shall be 
treated as confidential business information and that the terms and 
conditions for access to that information shall be a matter of 
discussions between the Parties''. If VMS data are requested under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the responding agency would be 
required to determine the releasability of the information under 
Exemption 4 of the FOIA pertaining to the release of confidential 
business information, as well as any other applicable exemptions.
    Recognizing the value of VMS to the management regime, the 16 PIPs, 
all members of the FFA's policy coordinating body called the Forum 
Fisheries Committee (FFC), implemented a regional VMS to assist in the 
management of highly migratory species fishery resources within their 
EEZs. Specifically, the FFC mandated that as of October 1, 2001, all 
fishing vessels operating under bilateral or multilateral fishery 
access agreements within the EEZs of member nations would be required 
to participate in the FFA's regional VMS. Under the terms of the 
Treaty, the U.S. agreed that vessels licensed to fish in the Treaty 
Area would be required to participate when a VMS requirement was 
implemented within the EEZs of the PIPs.
    The principal purpose of the FFA regional VMS is to support 
existing surveillance assets such as patrol vessels, surveillance 
flights, and regional at-sea fishery observers. Currently, vessels 
licensed under the Treaty operate across an area of approximately 10 
million square miles (26 million square kilometers). Effective 
surveillance of an area of this size is extremely difficult. The FFA 
regional VMS is expected to be a valuable asset in effectively 
monitoring this vast area in a cost-effective manner, and is expected 
thereby to contribute to the sustainability of fishery resources. The 
specifications for the FFA Regional VMS were developed and implemented 
based upon FFA member countries' experiences with VMS and taking into 
consideration the need to ensure a high degree of information security 
and operational efficiency, with minimum potential for tampering.
    The United States has determined that a robust regional VMS within 
the Treaty Area is needed in order to effectively manage the fleets of 
the various distant water fishing nations that operate in the western 
and central Pacific Ocean. Now that a regional VMS has been established 
and domestic VMS-related regulations have been established in most of 
the PIPs, the U.S. is prepared to participate in the system.

Modifications to the Treaty and the SPTA and Proposed Regulations

    In 2002 the Treaty was extended for the second time since its 
inception in 1988 (the 2002 extension is referred to as the Third 
Extension). To fulfill the commitments of the United States to 
implement the Treaty amendments

[[Page 45754]]

made in the Third Extension, as well as subsequent technical 
modifications made in the seventeenth annual formal consultation of the 
parties to the Treaty in March 2005, NMFS proposes to revise the 
regulations implementing the SPTA. Four modifications were made to the 
Treaty: (1) Modifications to vessel reporting requirements, (2) 
modifications to Closed and Limited Areas, (3) new VMS requirements, 
and (4) longline high seas access.
    The four modifications would be implemented in this proposed rule 
through revisions to the regulations implementing the SPTA (with 
respect to longline high seas access, the SPTA has also been amended). 
These modifications and how they would be implemented through this 
proposed rule are described below. In addition to amending the 
regulations to implement these Treaty modifications, the regulations 
would be amended to explicitly include the details of certain 
requirements that are currently incorporated only by reference to the 
Treaty and its annexes.
    (1) Modifications to vessel reporting requirements: The purse seine 
vessel reporting requirements have been modified such that: times must 
be reported in Universal Coordinated Time (also known as UTC) rather 
than Greenwich Mean Time (or GMT); catches must be reported in metric 
tons (rather than short tons); the weekly vessel report to the FFA, 
known as the WEEK report, is eliminated; the weekly reports to national 
authorities continue but are amended to indicate whether or not an 
observer is on board the vessel; the report for entry into port for 
unloading must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to (rather than any 
time prior to) the vessel's arrival into port; and the vessel operator 
is required to report the estimated date and time of arrival and the 
estimated date of departure from port in the report for port departure 
and the report entry into port for unloading, as appropriate.
    (2) Modifications to Closed and Limited Areas: Papua New Guinea's 
archipelagic waters are now closed to U.S. purse seine vessels (prior 
to the Third Extension certain of these waters were open to U.S. 
vessels fishing under the Treaty) and the Solomon Islands EEZ is now 
opened to fishing under the Treaty, with the exception of the area from 
the archipelagic baseline for the main island group (as defined in 
Solomon Islands' Delimitation of Marine Waters Act 1978) out to 60 
nautical miles (111 kilometers) that is closed to fishing (prior to the 
Third Extension all but a small portion of the Solomon Islands EEZ was 
a Closed Area; the remainder was a Limited Area in which effort by U.S. 
purse seine vessels was restricted).
    (3) VMS requirements: To comply with the FFC's October 2001 mandate 
regarding the regional VMS and the Treaty amendments made under the 
Third Extension, NMFS proposes to require each U.S. vessel licensed 
under the Treaty to have installed and to carry, operate, and maintain 
a VMS unit while in the Treaty Area. The VMS unit and attendant 
software would have to be of a type approved by the FFA as Treaty 
Administrator. If the VMS unit malfunctions or fails, the owner or 
operator would be required to provide notice of such failure or 
malfunction, submit substitute reports by an alternative means at 
intervals of no greater than 8 hours, and if directed by the FFA or 
NMFS, proceed to a designated port to repair or replace the VMS unit. 
Owners and operators of vessels licensed under the Treaty would also be 
required to register annually on the FFA Vessel Register (in the past 
the FFA administered a ``FFA VMS Register of Foreign Fishing Vessels'' 
and a ``FFA Regional Register of Foreign Fishing Vessels'' but the two 
have been consolidated into a single ``FFA Vessel Register''). NMFS 
would administratively facilitate the applications for registration on 
the register, but vessel owners and operators would be responsible for 
completing the FFA registration forms and the payment of associated 
fees. Once a vessel has been granted registered status on the FFA 
Vessel Register, the FFA would notify the license holder of such 
status. Vessel owners and operators are advised to retain a copy of 
this notice as a record of a vessel's status on the FFA Vessel 
Register.
    The contact information for the FFA, as Treaty Administrator, for 
the purpose of the manual position reports and the notifications 
required in certain circumstances in the proposed VMS-related 
regulations, as well as for informational purposes, is as follows:
     Telephone: Country code 677, number 21124.
     Facsimile: Country code 677, number 23995.
     E-mail: VMS.Help@ffa.int.
    Updated contact information may be obtained from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Additional contact information for the FFA, as Treaty 
Administrator, for informational purposes is as follows:
     Internet: https://www.ffa.int.
     Mail: Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries 
Agency, PO Box 629, Honiara, Solomon Islands
    Updated contact information may be obtained from the NMFS American 
Samoa field station, telephone: country code 684, number 633-5598; 
facsimile: country code 684, number 633-1400, or the NMFS Pacific 
Islands Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
    The VMS data would be treated by NMFS as confidential business 
information. However, if VMS data are requested under FOIA, the 
responding agency would be required to determine the releasability of 
the information under Exemption 4 of the FOIA pertaining to the release 
of confidential business information, as well as any other applicable 
exemptions. These new VMS requirements appear in the proposed 
regulations at Sec.  300.45.
    (4) Longline high seas access: This proposed rule would exempt U.S. 
longline vessels from the prohibitions currently listed in 50 CFR 
300.38, effectively allowing authorized U.S. longline vessels to fish 
in the high seas portions of the Treaty Area. The original language of 
the Treaty stated that only purse seine vessels could operate under the 
Treaty, with one exception, that being for albacore vessels that 
trolled (fished) while transiting through the high seas portion of the 
Treaty Area. The unintended consequence of this language is that it did 
not allow for other types of U.S. vessels, including longline vessels, 
to fish on the high seas portions of the Treaty Area. It was never the 
intent of the parties to the Treaty to exclude U.S. longline vessels to 
areas open to all others fleets in the region. In 1999, after an 
expressed interest on the part of the U.S. longline industry, the 
parties agreed to rectify the situation and to allow U.S. longline 
vessels access to the high seas portions of the Treaty Area. This 
exemption for U.S. longline vessels to fish in the high seas portion of 
the Treaty Area appears in the proposed regulations at Sec.  300.39(a).

Classification

    NMFS prepared an EA for this action that discusses the impact on 
the environment as a result of this proposed rule. A Finding of No 
Significant Impact was signed on July 23, 2004. A copy of the EA is 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an IRFA that describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. NMFS invites 
public comment on the IRFA (see ADDRESSES). A description of the 
action, an explanation of why it is being considered, and the legal 
basis for this action are contained at the beginning of this section in 
the preamble and in the

[[Page 45755]]

SUMMARY section of the preamble. A summary of the analysis follows:
    Three of the measures in this proposed action, the modified vessel 
reporting requirements, the VMS requirements, and the modified Closed 
and Limited Areas, would apply to owners and operators of U.S. purse 
seine vessels that operate in the Treaty Area. The measure to allow 
longline vessels access to the high seas portion of the Treaty Area 
would apply to owners and operators of U.S. longline vessels operating 
in the Pacific Ocean. Based on the number of U.S. purse seine vessels 
licensed under the Treaty and the number of U.S. longline vessels 
permitted to operate in the Pacific Ocean under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and/or the High Seas Fishing 
Compliance Act as of June 2006, NMFS estimates that 12 purse seine 
vessels and approximately 183 longline vessels would be subject to the 
rule. These purse seine and longline vessels are owned by approximately 
9 and 183 business entities, respectively. Based on (limited) financial 
information about these fishing fleets, NMFS believes that as many as 7 
and 183 of the affected purse seine and longline business entities, 
respectively, are small business entities (i.e. they have gross annual 
revenues of less than $4.0 million).
    The reporting, recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements of 
this proposed rule are described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this preamble. The classes of small entities subject to the 
requirements and the types of professional skills necessary to fulfill 
the requirements are as follows:
    (1) Vessel reporting requirements: These requirements are part of a 
collection of information approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (OMB control 
number 0648-0218). Approximately seven small business entities would be 
subject to these requirements. The cost of compliance would be minor: 
because the changes have to do only with units of measure, the timing 
of reports, and the reporting of one additional piece of information 
(whether or not an observer is on board), they would require only minor 
modifications in habit on the part of the vessel operators. Fulfillment 
of these reporting requirements is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the vessel owners and operators do not already 
possess.
    (2) Fishing area modifications: Approximately seven small business 
entities would be subject to these requirements. These modifications 
would not impose any new reporting or recordkeeping requirements 
(within the meaning of the PRA) on purse seine vessel owners or 
operators, but they could affect the economic performance of such 
vessels. It is not known whether the density of exploitable stocks in 
the affected areas is greater or less than in the fleet's fishing 
grounds generally. Because the target stocks are a highly fluid 
resource in this region, with high turnover rates and significant 
movements of fish through the region, any such differences are likely 
to be small. The measure is therefore not expected to have a strong 
direct effect on catch rates or resulting economic returns. However, 
the modifications would affect the operational flexibility of U.S. 
purse seine vessels, and such effects could in turn bring economic 
impacts. Vessels would have greater operational flexibility through 
enhanced access to the Solomon Islands EEZ but less flexibility from 
reduced access to the waters around Papua New Guinea. It is not 
possible to predict whether the expected positive impacts to small 
entities from the former effect would be less than or greater than the 
expected negative impacts from the latter effect. This is due to a lack 
of information about the extent and value of the operational 
flexibility afforded by each of the two affected areas, as well as the 
general difficulty in predicting the behavior of vessels that operate 
in response to many biophysical and economic factors and conditions, 
many of which change markedly from year to year. The impact, while 
difficult to predict, is not expected to differ by entity class (i.e. 
by small versus large entity). Fulfillment of these requirements is not 
expected to require any professional skills that the vessel owners and 
operators do not already possess.
    (3) VMS requirements: These requirements are part of a collection 
of information approved by OMB under the PRA (OMB control number 0648-
0218). Approximately seven small business entities would be subject to 
these requirements. The expected annual cost of complying with the VMS 
requirements is no more than about $4,000 per vessel (including 
annualized costs of $1,000-$2,000 for the purchase of VMS units and 
approximately $200 for the installation and activation of VMS units, 
which might have to be replaced as often as once every four years; 
$1,375 for the annual FFA VMS registration fee; and approximately $500 
for maintenance and routine operation). This represents about one tenth 
of one percent of the total costs of production for a typical purse 
seine vessel, and perhaps as much as two tenths of one percent of the 
total costs of production for the smallest affected small business 
entity. Fulfillment of these VMS requirements is not expected to 
require any professional skills that the vessel owners and operators do 
not already possess.
    (4) Longline high seas access: Approximately 183 small business 
entities would be subject to this measure. Opening the high seas areas 
of the Treaty Area to U.S. longline vessels would not impose any 
additional reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance requirements. 
Since the measure would expand the fishing area available to U.S. 
longline vessels, increasing their operational flexibility, it is 
expected to have positive or neutral impacts on affected small 
entities.
    NMFS is not aware of any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, 
overlap with, or conflict with this proposed rule. NMFS considered 
several alternatives to this proposed rule. As a party to the Treaty, 
the U.S. has committed itself to implementation of the Treaty 
amendments. Consequently, NMFS has limited discretion with regard to 
implementation of the SPTA. One alternative NMFS considered is to take 
no action. However, NMFS rejected this alternative because it would not 
achieve the objectives of the SPTA, which are to implement the terms of 
the Treaty. NMFS also considered several alternatives to the VMS 
requirements. One is to encourage voluntary compliance with the VMS 
measures rather than issuing a rule that would make them mandatory. To 
the extent that voluntary compliance is achieved, the costs to small 
entities would be the same as under the preferred alternative. Because 
relying on voluntary compliance would make it difficult to ensure that 
the VMS requirements of the Treaty are met, this alternative is not 
preferred. Two other non-regulatory alternatives, which would require 
agreement by the parties to the Treaty, are to obtain the desired 
compliance and monitoring benefits via enhanced vessel observer 
coverage or enhanced aerial and surface surveillance activities rather 
than via a VMS. These alternatives could achieve the objectives of the 
SPTA at potentially lesser cost to small entities. However, the 
projected costs to the public of enhancing vessel observer coverage or 
aerial and surface surveillance to the extent needed to achieve the 
compliance and monitoring benefits offered by a VMS are significantly 
greater than the expected total costs of the VMS alternative. Because 
the cost of VMS is significantly less than the costs of enhanced 
observer

[[Page 45756]]

coverage or enhanced aerial and surface monitoring, it appears more 
appropriate to choose the more cost-effective VMS alternative. A copy 
of the IRFA is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the PRA and which have been approved by OMB under control 
number 0648-0218. The public reporting burden for the modified vessel 
reporting requirements is estimated to average 1 hour per catch report, 
with about five catch reports per year per respondent, and about 30 
minutes per unloading logsheet, with about six unloading logsheets per 
year per respondent. The public reporting burden for the VMS 
requirements is estimated to average 30 minutes per year per respondent 
for what was formerly called the FFA Regional Register of Foreign 
Fishing Vessels application form, 15 minutes per year per respondent 
for what was formerly called the FFA VMS Register of Foreign Fishing 
Vessels application form, and 2 hours per year per respondent for VMS 
unit maintenance. As explained previously, the FFA consolidated the two 
previously-used vessel registers into a single ``FFA Vessel Register'' 
on about September 1, 2005, and there is now a single application form 
for the register. This consolidation had no effect on the information 
collection requirement or the estimated public reporting burden.
    Public comment is sought regarding: whether these collection-of-
information requirements are necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimates; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection-of-information 
requirements to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and to David Rostker, OMB, by 
email at David--Rostker@omb.eop.gov or by fax at 202-395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Administrative practice and procedure, Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, 
Marine resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: August 3, 2006.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 
CFR 300, subpart D, as follows.

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart D continues 
to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 973-973r.
    2. In Sec.  300.31, definitions for ``FFA Vessel Register'', 
``Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency'' or ``FFA'', ``UTC'', and 
``Vessel Monitoring System Unit'' or ``VMS unit'' are added, the 
definition for ``Limited Area'' is deleted, and definitions for 
``Regional Administrator'', ``Applicable national law'', ``Closed 
Area'', and ``Treaty Area'' are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  300.31  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Applicable national law means any of the laws of Pacific Island 
Parties in the following table and any regulations or other instruments 
having the force of law implemented pursuant to these laws:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Pacific Island Party                         Laws
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIA
                                   Antarctic Marine Living Resources
                                    Conservation Act, 1981.
                                   Fisheries Management Act, 1991.
                                   Fisheries Administration Act, 1991.
                                   Statutory Fishing Rights Charge Act,
                                    1991.
                                   Fisheries Legislation (Consequential
                                    Provisions) Act, 1991.
                                   Foreign Fishing Licences Levy Act,
                                    1991.Fishing Levy Act, 1991.
                                   Fisheries Agreements (Payments) Act,
                                    1991.
                                   Fisheries Agreements (Payments) Act,
                                    1991.
                                   Torres Strait Fisheries Act, 1984.
                                   Whale Protection Act, 1980.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COOK ISLANDS.
                                   Exclusive Economic Zone (Foreign
                                    Fishing Craft) Regulations, 1979.
                                   Territorial Sea and Exclusive
                                    Economic Zone Act, 1977.Marine
                                    Resources Act, 1989.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
                                   Titles 18 and 24 of the Code of the
                                    Federated States of Micronesia, as
                                    amended by Public Law Nos. 2-28, 2-
                                    31, 3-9, 3-10, 3-34, and 3-80.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIJI
                                   Fisheries Act (Cap. 158).
                                   Fisheries Regulations (Cap. 158).
                                   Marine Spaces Act (Cap. 158A).
                                   Marine Spaces (Foreign Fishing
                                    Vessels) Regulations, 1979.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
KIRIBATI
                                   Fisheries Ordinance, 1979.
                                   Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1984.
                                   Marine Zones (Declaration) Act, 1983.
                                   Fisheries (Pacific Island
                                    States'Treaty with the United
                                    States) Act 1988.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 45757]]

 
MARSHALL ISLANDS
                                   Title 33, Marine Resources Act, as
                                    amended by P.L. 1989-56, P.L. 1991-
                                    43, and P.L. 1992-25 of the Marshall
                                    Islands Revised Code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAURU
                                   Interpretation Act, 1971.
                                   Interpretation Act (Amendment) Act
                                    No. 1 1975.
                                   Interpretation Act (Amendment) Act
                                    No. 2 1975.
                                   Marine Resources Act, 1978.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW ZEALAND
                                   Antarctic Marine Living Resources
                                    Act, 1981.Continental Shelf Act,
                                    1964.
                                   Conservation Act, 1987.
                                   Driftnet Prohibition Act, 1991.
                                   Exclusive Economic Zone (Foreign
                                    Fishing Craft) Regulations, 1978.
                                   Fishing Industry Board Act, 1963.
                                   Fisheries Act, 1983.
                                   Marine Mammals Protection Act, 1978.
                                   Marine Reserves Act, 1971.
                                   Marine Pollution Act, 1974.
                                   Meat Act, 1964.
                                   Territorial Sea and Exclusive
                                    Economic Zone Act, 1977.
                                   Tokelau (Territorial Sea and
                                    Exclusive Economic Zone) Act, 1977.
                                   Submarine Cables and Pipelines
                                    Protection Act, 1966.
                                   Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected
                                    Area Act, 1991.
                                   Wildlife Act, 1953.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIUE
                                   Niue Fish Protection Ordinance 1965.
                                   Sunday Fishing Prohibition Act 1980.
                                   Territorial Sea and Exclusive
                                    Economic Zone Act 1978.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PALAU
                                   Palau National Code, Title 27.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
                                   Fisheries Act (Cap 214).
                                   Fisheries Regulations (Cap 214).
                                   Fisheries (Torres Strait Protected
                                    Zone) Act, 1984.
                                   National Seas Act (Cap 361).
                                   Tuna Resources Management Act (Cap
                                    224).
                                   Whaling Act (Cap 225).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLOMON ISLANDS
                                   Delimitation of Marine Waters Act,
                                    1978.
                                   Fisheries Act, 1972.
                                   Fisheries Limits Act, 1977.
                                   Fisheries Regulations, 1972.
                                   Fisheries (Foreign Fishing Vessels)
                                    Regulations, 1981.
                                   Fisheries (United States of America)
                                    (Treaty) Act 1988.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TONGA
                                   Fisheries Act, 1989.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUVALU
                                   Fisheries Act (Cap 45).
                                   Fisheries (Foreign Fishing Vessel)
                                    Regulations, 1982.
                                   Marine Zones (Declaration) Act, 1983.
                                   Foreign Fishing Vessels Licensing (US
                                    Treaty) Order 1987.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANUATU
                                   Fisheries Act 1982 (Cap 158).
                                   Fisheries Regulations 1983.
                                   Maritime Zones Act 1981 (Cap 138).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMOA
                                   Exclusive Economic Zone Act, 1977.
                                   Territorial Sea Act, 1971.
                                   Fisheries Act, 1988.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 45758]]

* * * * *
    Closed area means any of the areas in the following table, as 
depicted on charts provided by the Regional Administrator and as 
further described in additional information that may be provided by the 
Regional Administrator:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Pacific Island Party                         Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIA
                                   All waters within the seaward
                                    boundary of the Australian Fishing
                                    Zone (AFZ) west of a line connecting
                                    the point of intersection of the
                                    outer limit of the AFZ by the
                                    parallel of latitude 25[deg] 30'
                                    South with the point of intersection
                                    of the meridian of longitude 151
                                    East by the outer limit of the AFZ
                                    and all waters south of the parallel
                                    of latitude 25[deg] 30' South.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COOK ISLANDS
                                   Territorial Sea.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
                                   Three nautical mile territorial sea
                                    and nine nautical mile exclusive
                                    fishery zone and on all named banks
                                    and reefs as depicted on the
                                    following charts:
                                     DMAHTC NO 81019 (2nd. ed., Mar.
                                      1945; revised 7/17/72; corrected
                                      through NM 3/78 of 21 June 1978).
                                     DMAHTC NO 81023 (3rd. ed., 7 Aug.
                                      1976).
                                     DMAHTC NO 81002 (4th. ed., 26 Jan.
                                      1980; corrected through NM 4/80).
----------------------------------  ------------------------------------
FIJI
                                   Internal waters, archipelagic waters
                                    and territorial seas of Fiji and
                                    Rotuma and its Dependencies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
KIRIBATI
                                   Within archipelagic waters as
                                    established in accordance with
                                    Marine Zones (Declaration) Act 1983;
                                    within 12 nautical miles drawn from
                                    the baselines from which the
                                    territorial seas is measured; and
                                    within 2 nautical miles of any
                                    anchored fish aggregating device
                                    within the Kiribati exclusive
                                    economic zone for which notification
                                    of its location shall be given by
                                    geographical coordinates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARSHALL ISLANDS
                                   12 nautical mile territorial sea and
                                    area within two nautical miles of
                                    any anchored fish aggregating device
                                    within the Marshall Islands
                                    exclusive economic zone for which
                                    notification of its location shall
                                    be given by geographical
                                    coordinates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAURU
                                   The territorial waters as defined by
                                    Nauru Interpretation Act, 1971,
                                    Section 2.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW ZEALAND
                                   Territorial waters; waters within 6
                                    nautical miles of outer boundary of
                                    territorial waters; all waters to
                                    west of New Zealand main islands and
                                    south of 39[deg] South latitude; all
                                    waters to east of New Zealand main
                                    islands south of 40[deg] South
                                    latitude; and in respect of Tokelau:
                                    areas within 12 nautical miles of
                                    all island and reef baselines;
                                    twelve and one half nautical miles
                                    either side of a line joining Atafu
                                    and Nukunonu and Faka'ofo; and
                                    coordinates as follows:
                                     Atafu: 8 [deg] 35' 10 '' S, 172
                                      [deg] 29' 30 '' W
                                     Nukunonu: 9 [deg] 06' 25 '' S, 171
                                      [deg] 52' 10 '' W
                                     Faka'ofo: 9 [deg] 22' 30 '' S, 171
                                      [deg] 16' 30 '' W
----------------------------------  ------------------------------------
NIUE
                                   Territorial sea and within 3 nautical
                                    miles of Beveridge Reef, Antiope
                                    Reef and Haran Reef as depicted by
                                    appropriate symbols on NZ 225F
                                    (chart showing the territorial sea
                                    and exclusive economic zone of Niue
                                    pursuant to the Niue Territorial Sea
                                    and Exclusive Economic Zone Act of
                                    1978).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PALAU
                                   Within 12 nautical miles of all
                                    island baselines in the Palau
                                    Islands; and the area:

[[Page 45759]]

 
                                     commencing at the north-easternmost
                                      intersection of the outer limit of
                                      the 12 nautical mile territorial
                                      sea of Palau by the arc of a
                                      circle having a radius of 50
                                      nautical miles and its center at
                                      Latitude 07 [deg] 16' 34 '' North,
                                      longitude 134 [deg] 28' 25 ''
                                      East, being at about the center of
                                      the reef entrance to Malakal Pass;
                                      running thence generally south-
                                      easterly, southerly, south-
                                      westerly, westerly, north-
                                      westerly, northerly and north-
                                      easterly along that arc to its
                                      intersection by the outer limit of
                                      the 12 nautical mile territorial
                                      sea; and thence generally
                                      northerly, north-easterly,
                                      easterly, south-easterly and
                                      southerly along that outer limit
                                      to the point of commencement.
                                   Where for the purpose of these
                                    specifications it is necessary to
                                    determine the position on the
                                    surface of the Earth of a point,
                                    line or area, it shall be determined
                                    by reference to the World Geodetic
                                    System 1984; that is to say, by
                                    reference to a spheroid having its
                                    center at the center of the Earth
                                    and a major (equatorial) radius of
                                    6,378,137 meters and a flattening of
                                    1/298.2572.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
                                   All territorial seas, archipelagic
                                    and internal waters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLOMON ISLANDS
                                   All internal waters, territorial seas
                                    and archipelagic waters; and such
                                    additional waters around the main
                                    group archipelago, as defined under
                                    the Delimitation of Marine Waters
                                    Act 1978, not exceeding sixty
                                    nautical miles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TONGA
                                   All waters with depths of not more
                                    than 1,000 meters, within the area
                                    bounded by the fifteenth and twenty
                                    third and one half degrees of south
                                    latitudes and the one hundred and
                                    seventy third and the one hundred
                                    and seventy seventh degrees of west
                                    longitudes; also within a radius of
                                    twelve nautical miles from the
                                    islands of Teleki Tonga and Teleki
                                    Tokelau.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUVALU
                                   Territorial sea and waters within two
                                    nautical miles of all named banks,
                                    that is Macaw, Kosciusko, Rose,
                                    Bayonnaise and Hera, in Tuvalu
                                    exclusive economic zone, as depicted
                                    on the chart entitled ``Tuvalu
                                    Fishery Limits'' prepared by the
                                    United Kingdom Hydrographic
                                    Department, Taunton, January 11,
                                    1981.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANUATU
                                   Archipelagic waters and the
                                    territorial sea, and internal
                                    waters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMOA
                                   Territorial sea; reefs, banks and sea-
                                    mounts and within 2 nautical miles
                                    of any anchored fish aggregating
                                    device within the Samoa exclusive
                                    economic zone for which notification
                                    of its location shall be given by
                                    geographical coordinates.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 45760]]

* * * * *
    FFA Vessel Register means the registry of fishing vessels 
maintained by the FFA, comprising those vessels which are in good 
standing and licensed to fish in the waters of FFA member countries, 
including those vessels licensed under Sec.  300.32.
* * * * *
    Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency or FFA means the 
organization established by the 1979 South Pacific Forum Fisheries 
Agency Convention.
    Regional Administrator means the Regional Administrator, Pacific 
Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 
96814, or a designee.
* * * * *
    Treaty Area means all waters north of 60 S. lat. and east of 90 E. 
long., subject to the fisheries jurisdiction of Pacific Island Parties, 
and all other waters within rhumb lines connecting the following 
points, except for waters subject to the jurisdiction in accordance 
with international law of a State which is not a party to the Treaty:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point                     Latitude         Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  A                         2[deg] 35'      141[deg] 00'
                                                39'' S            00'' E
                  B                         1[deg] 01'      140[deg] 48'
                                                35'' N            35'' E
                  C                         1[deg] 01'      129[deg] 30'
                                                35'' N            00'' E
                  D                        10[deg] 00'      129[deg] 30'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  E                        14[deg] 00'      140[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  F                        14[deg] 00'      142[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  G                        12[deg] 30'      142[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  H                        12[deg] 30'      158[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  I                        15[deg] 00'      158[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  J                        15[deg] 00'      165[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  K                        18[deg] 00'      165[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  L                        18[deg] 00'      174[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  M                        12[deg] 00'      174[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  N                        12[deg] 00'      176[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  O                         5[deg] 00'      176[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' E
                  P                         1[deg] 00'      180[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N              00''
                  Q                         1[deg] 00'      164[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' W
                  R                         8[deg] 00'      164[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' W
                  S                         8[deg] 00'      158[deg] 00'
                                                00'' N            00'' W
                  T                         0[deg] 00'      150[deg] 00'
                                                  00''            00'' W
                  U                         6[deg] 00'      150[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  V                         6[deg] 00'      146[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  W                        12[deg] 00'      146[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  X                        26[deg] 00'      157[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  Y                        26[deg] 00'      174[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  Z                        40[deg] 00'      174[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  AA                       40[deg] 00'      171[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  AB                       46[deg] 00'      171[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' W
                  AC                       55[deg] 00'      180[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S              00''
                  AD                       59[deg] 00'      160[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S            00'' E
                  AE                       59[deg] 00'      152[deg] 00'
                                                00'' S  00'' E and north
                                                          along 152[deg]
                                                         degrees of East
                                                         longitude until
                                                        intersecting the
                                                         Australian 200-
                                                           nautical-mile
                                                                  limit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    UTC means Universal Coordinated Time.
    Vessel Monitoring System Unit or VMS unit means Administrator-
approved VMS unit hardware and software installed on a vessel and 
required under Sec.  300.45 as a component of the regional VMS 
administered by the FFA to transmit information between the vessel and 
the Administrator and/or other reporting points designated by NMFS.
    3. In Sec.  300.32, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  300.32  Vessel licenses.

* * * * *
    (d) The number of available licenses is 45, five of which shall 
only be available to fishing vessels of the United States engaged in 
joint venture arrangements, specifically: vessels engaged in fishing 
activity designed to promote maximization of the benefits generated for 
the Pacific Island Parties from the operations of fishing vessels 
licensed pursuant to the Treaty, as determined by the Administrator. 
Such activity can include the use of canning, transshipment, vessel 
slipping and repair facilities located in the Pacific island Parties; 
the purchase of equipment and supplies, including fuel supplies, from 
suppliers located in the Pacific Island Parties; and the employment of 
nationals of the Pacific Island Parties on board such vessels.
* * * * *
    4. Section 300.34 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  300.34  Reporting requirements.

    (a) Holders of licenses issued under Sec.  300.32 shall comply with 
the reporting requirements of this section with respect to the licensed 
vessels.
    (b) Any information required to be recorded, or to be notified, 
communicated or reported pursuant to a requirement of these 
regulations, they Act, or the Treaty shall be true, complete and 
correct. Any change in circumstances that has the effect of rendering 
any of the information provided false, incomplete or misleading shall 
be communicated immediately to the Regional Administrator.
    (c) The operator of any vessel licensed under Sec.  300.32 must 
prepare and submit accurate, complete, and timely notifications, 
requests, and reports with respect to the licensed vessel, as described 
in paragraphs (c)(1) through (10) of this section.
    (1) Catch report forms. A record of catch, effort and other 
information must be maintained on board the vessel, on catch report 
forms (also known as ``Regional Purse Seine Logsheets'', or RPLs) 
provided by the Regional Administrator. At the end of each day that the 
vessel is in the Licensing Area, all information specified on the form 
must, for that day, be recorded on the form. The completed catch report 
form must be mailed by registered airmail to the Administrator within 
14 days of the vessel's next entry into port for the purpose of 
unloading its fish catch. A copy of the completed catch report form 
must also be submitted to, and received by, the Regional Administrator 
within 2 days of the vessel reaching port.
    (2) Unloading and transshipment logsheet forms. At the completion 
of any unloading or transshipment of fish from the vessel, all the 
information specified on unloading and transshipment logsheet forms 
provided by the Regional Administrator must, for that unloading or 
transshipment, be recorded on such forms. A separate form must be 
completed for each fish processing destination to which the unloaded or 
transshipped fish are bound. The completed unloading and transshipment 
logsheet form or forms must be mailed by registered airmail to the 
Administrator within 14 days of the completion of the unloading or 
transshipment. The submitted form must be accompanied by a report or 
reports of the size breakdown of the catch as determined by the 
receiver or receivers of the fish, and such report must be signed by 
the receiver or receivers. A copy of the completed unloading and 
transshipment logsheet, including a copy of the accompanying report or 
reports of the size breakdown of the catch as determined by the 
receiver or receivers of the fish, must also be submitted to, and 
received by, the Regional Administrator within 2 days of the completion 
of the unloading or transshipment.
    (3) Port departure reports. Before the vessel's departure from port 
for the purpose of beginning a fishing trip in the Licensing Area, a 
report must be submitted to the Administrator by telex, transmission 
via VMS unit, facsimile, or e-mail that includes the following 
information: report type (``LBEG''); Regional Register number; trip 
begin date; date and time (in UTC) of report; IRCS; port name; weight 
of catch on board (in metric tons) for each of skipjack tuna, yellowfin 
tuna, and all other species combined; intended action; and estimated 
date of departure. This information must be reported in the format 
provided by the Regional Administrator.
    (4) Entry into port for unloading reports. At least 24 hours before 
the vessel's entry into port for the purpose of unloading fish from any 
trip involving fishing within the Licensing

[[Page 45761]]

Area, a report must be submitted to the Administrator by telex, 
transmission via VMS unit, facsimile, or e-mail that includes the 
following information: report type (``LFIN''); FFA Regional Register 
number; trip begin date; date and time (in UTC) of report; IRCS; port 
name; weight of catch on board (in metric tons) for each of skipjack 
tuna, yellowfin tuna, and all other species combined; intended action; 
and estimated date and time (in UTC) of entry into port. This 
information must be reported in the format provided by the Regional 
Administrator.
    (5) Intent to transship notification and request. At least 48 hours 
before transshipping any or all of the fish on board the vessel, a 
notification must be submitted to the Administrator and a request must 
be submitted to the Pacific Island Party in whose jurisdiction the 
transshipment is requested to occur. The notification to the 
Administrator and the request to the Pacific Island Party may be 
identical. The notification and request must include the following 
information: name of vessel; IRCS; vessel position (latitude and 
longitude to nearest minute of arc); weight of catch on board the 
vessel (in metric tons) for each of skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and 
all other species combined; and the date, time (in UTC), and location 
where such transshipment is requested to occur. The notification to the 
Administrator must be reported in the format provided by the Regional 
Administrator and submitted by telex, transmission by VMS unit, 
facsimile, or e-mail. The request to the Pacific Island Party must be 
reported in the format provided by the Regional Administrator and sent 
via the means and to the address provided by the Regional 
Administrator.
    (6) Zone entry and exit reports. Each time the vessel enters or 
exits the waters under the jurisdiction of a Pacific Island Party, a 
report must be submitted to that Pacific Island Party that includes the 
following information: report t