Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Control Date, 26771 [E7-9090]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 91 / Friday, May 11, 2007 / Proposed Rules
Management Area, including the SAP,
given the costs associated with fishing
far offshore. Because the proposed
action would maintain access to the
Eastern U.S./Canada Area throughout
the fishing year, this action attempts to
preserve the flexibility for vessels to
operate in an efficient and cost-effective
manner that would maximize the
profitability of vessel operations. Since
the SAP was closed to fishing for FY
2006, there would be no change in
profitability to individual vessels
(compared to last year) resulting from
the proposed zero allocation, thus, no
economic impact to affected small
harvesters.
This proposed rule does not contain
any new, nor revised existing reporting,
recordkeeping, and other compliance
requirements.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 7, 2007.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–9092 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 070427093–7093–01; I.D.
041807A]
RIN 0648–AV55
Fisheries in the Western Pacific;
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries;
Control Date
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
rulemaking; notification of control date;
request for comments.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that anyone
who enters the Hawaii-based pelagic
charter fishery after March 16, 2007 (the
‘‘control date’’), is not guaranteed future
participation in the fishery if the
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) recommends, and
NMFS approves, a program that limits
entry into the fishery, or other fishery
management measures. The Council is
concerned about expansion of the
Hawaii-based pelagic charter fishery
and the potential resultant impacts on
billfish and other pelagic fishes.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:37 May 10, 2007
Jkt 211001
Comments must be submitted in
writing by July 10, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this action, identified by 0648–AV55,
by any of the following methods:
• E-mail:
AV55ControlCharter@noaa.gov. Include
‘‘AV55’’ in the subject line of the e-mail
comment. Comments sent via e-mail,
including all attachments, must not
exceed a 10 megabyte file size.
• Federal e-Rulemaking portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: William L. Robinson,
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific
Islands Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani
Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob
Harman, NMFS PIR, 808–944–2234.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At its
137th meeting held from March 13–16,
2007, the Council adopted a control date
of March 16, 2007, applicable to persons
who are contemplating entering the
Hawaii-based charter fishery for pelagic
fishes. The purpose of the control date
is to notify fishermen that after March
16, 2007, they may not be guaranteed
access to the fishery if the Council
recommends, and NMFS approves,
establishing a limited entry program or
other measures to manage the fishery.
The Council has not yet recommended
limiting new entry or imposing any
other management measures in this
fishery.
Establishment of a control date
responds to the Council’s concern over
any significant expansion of the Hawaiibased pelagic charter fishery, and its
potential to impact billfish and other
pelagic fishes. This concern is focused
on the Kona coast of the island of
Hawaii, where there is a planned
expansion of the Honokohau Harbor. A
larger harbor could provide more berths
for charter fishing vessels, with a
resulting increase in fishing effort for
pelagic fishes, such as blue marlin
(Makaira mazara). State of Hawaii
fishery data indicate that blue marlin
catch per unit effort from Kona-based
pelagic charter fishing has declined
significantly over the past 20 years.
Similar trends are also apparent for
pelagic charter fishing data from the
other Hawaiian islands.
Pelagic charter fishing, conducted
from small vessels that primarily target
billfishes and tunas and are chartered
for a fee, is a notable component of
tourism in Hawaii. Total generated
revenues were estimated at $17 million
in 1990, and $16.5 million in 1992. The
industry attracted an estimated 77,000
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
26771
annual participants in 1994, and
employed approximately 400 captains
and crew members in 1997. Because at
least a portion of the catch is typically
sold, pelagic charter fishing in Hawaii is
classified as a commercial fishery,
requiring State of Hawaii commercial
marine licenses and catch reporting.
The State of Hawaii issued 121
commercial marine licenses to vessels
for pelagic charter fishing in 2005, and
the reported catch from pelagic charter
vessels in 2005 was 478,650 lb (217,112
kg). In 2006, 119 licensed fishermen
submitted fishing reports that reported a
total of 9,535 charter trips, or an average
of 80.1 trips per vessel.
The March 16, 2007, control date
adopted by the Council complements a
control date of June 2, 2005, established
for non-longline commercial pelagic
fisheries in Hawaii (70 FR 47781,
August 15, 2005) in response to
concerns about overfishing of bigeye
tuna Pacific-wide and yellowfin tuna in
the central and western Pacific.
Control dates are intended to
discourage speculative entry into
fisheries, as new participants entering
the fisheries after the control date are
put on notice that they are not
guaranteed future participation in the
fisheries. Establishment of this control
date does not commit the Council or
NMFS to any particular management
regime or criteria for entry into the
Hawaii-based pelagic charter fishery.
Fishermen are not guaranteed future
participation in the fishery, regardless of
their level of participation before or
after the control date. The Council may
choose a different control date, or it may
choose a management regime that does
not involve a control date. Other
criteria, such as documentation of
landings or sales, may be used to
determine eligibility for participation in
a limited access fishery. The Council or
NMFS also may choose to take no
further action to control entry or access
to the fishery, in which case the control
date may be rescinded.
Classification
This advance notice of proposed
rulemaking has been determined to be
not significant for the purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 7, 2007.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–9090 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
E:\FR\FM\11MYP1.SGM
11MYP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 91 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9090]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 070427093-7093-01; I.D. 041807A]
RIN 0648-AV55
Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic
Fisheries; Control Date
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; notification of control
date; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that anyone who enters the Hawaii-based pelagic
charter fishery after March 16, 2007 (the ``control date''), is not
guaranteed future participation in the fishery if the Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council) recommends, and NMFS approves, a
program that limits entry into the fishery, or other fishery management
measures. The Council is concerned about expansion of the Hawaii-based
pelagic charter fishery and the potential resultant impacts on billfish
and other pelagic fishes.
DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing by July 10, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this action, identified by 0648-
AV55, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: AV55ControlCharter@noaa.gov. Include ``AV55'' in
the subject line of the e-mail comment. Comments sent via e-mail,
including all attachments, must not exceed a 10 megabyte file size.
Federal e-Rulemaking portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: William L. Robinson, Regional Administrator, NMFS
Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Harman, NMFS PIR, 808-944-2234.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At its 137th meeting held from March 13-16,
2007, the Council adopted a control date of March 16, 2007, applicable
to persons who are contemplating entering the Hawaii-based charter
fishery for pelagic fishes. The purpose of the control date is to
notify fishermen that after March 16, 2007, they may not be guaranteed
access to the fishery if the Council recommends, and NMFS approves,
establishing a limited entry program or other measures to manage the
fishery. The Council has not yet recommended limiting new entry or
imposing any other management measures in this fishery.
Establishment of a control date responds to the Council's concern
over any significant expansion of the Hawaii-based pelagic charter
fishery, and its potential to impact billfish and other pelagic fishes.
This concern is focused on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii,
where there is a planned expansion of the Honokohau Harbor. A larger
harbor could provide more berths for charter fishing vessels, with a
resulting increase in fishing effort for pelagic fishes, such as blue
marlin (Makaira mazara). State of Hawaii fishery data indicate that
blue marlin catch per unit effort from Kona-based pelagic charter
fishing has declined significantly over the past 20 years. Similar
trends are also apparent for pelagic charter fishing data from the
other Hawaiian islands.
Pelagic charter fishing, conducted from small vessels that
primarily target billfishes and tunas and are chartered for a fee, is a
notable component of tourism in Hawaii. Total generated revenues were
estimated at $17 million in 1990, and $16.5 million in 1992. The
industry attracted an estimated 77,000 annual participants in 1994, and
employed approximately 400 captains and crew members in 1997. Because
at least a portion of the catch is typically sold, pelagic charter
fishing in Hawaii is classified as a commercial fishery, requiring
State of Hawaii commercial marine licenses and catch reporting. The
State of Hawaii issued 121 commercial marine licenses to vessels for
pelagic charter fishing in 2005, and the reported catch from pelagic
charter vessels in 2005 was 478,650 lb (217,112 kg). In 2006, 119
licensed fishermen submitted fishing reports that reported a total of
9,535 charter trips, or an average of 80.1 trips per vessel.
The March 16, 2007, control date adopted by the Council complements
a control date of June 2, 2005, established for non-longline commercial
pelagic fisheries in Hawaii (70 FR 47781, August 15, 2005) in response
to concerns about overfishing of bigeye tuna Pacific-wide and yellowfin
tuna in the central and western Pacific.
Control dates are intended to discourage speculative entry into
fisheries, as new participants entering the fisheries after the control
date are put on notice that they are not guaranteed future
participation in the fisheries. Establishment of this control date does
not commit the Council or NMFS to any particular management regime or
criteria for entry into the Hawaii-based pelagic charter fishery.
Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation in the fishery,
regardless of their level of participation before or after the control
date. The Council may choose a different control date, or it may choose
a management regime that does not involve a control date. Other
criteria, such as documentation of landings or sales, may be used to
determine eligibility for participation in a limited access fishery.
The Council or NMFS also may choose to take no further action to
control entry or access to the fishery, in which case the control date
may be rescinded.
Classification
This advance notice of proposed rulemaking has been determined to
be not significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 7, 2007.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-9090 Filed 5-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
