Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Hawaii Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish; Management Measures for Hancock Seamounts to Rebuild Overfished Armorhead, 51237 [2010-20625]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20625]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RIN 0648-AY92


Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Hawaii Bottomfish and Seamount 
Groundfish; Management Measures for Hancock Seamounts to Rebuild 
Overfished Armorhead

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery ecosystem plan amendment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) proposes to amend the fishery ecosystem plan (FEP) 
for Hawaii. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), 
Amendment 2 would continue a moratorium on fishing at Hancock Seamounts 
for armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri) and other bottomfish and 
seamount groundfish until the armorhead stock is rebuilt, establish a 
minimum rebuilding time of 35 years for the U.S. portion of the 
armorhead stock, and classify the portion of the U.S. Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) around the Hancock Seamounts as an ecosystem 
management area. The intent of this amendment is to rebuild the 
overfished armorhead stock.

DATES: Comments on the amendment must be received by October 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the amendment, identified by 0648-AY92, may be 
sent to either of the following addresses:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov; or
     Mail: Mail written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, Acting 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted to one of these two 
addresses to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent to any other address or individual, 
or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. 
Comments will be posted for public viewing after thecomment period has 
closed. All comments received are a part of the public record and will 
generally be posted to www.regulations.gov without change. All personal 
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted 
voluntarily by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``NA'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to 
electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of Amendment 2, containing an environmental assessment and 
background information, are available from www.regulations.gov and from 
the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-
522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or web site www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-944-2108.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document is also available at 
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr.
    Fishing for pelagic armorhead is managed under the Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian Archipelago (FEP). Armorhead are 
overfished as a result of over-exploitation by foreign vessels in 
international waters, dating back to at least the 1970s. Although there 
has never been a U.S. fishery targeting this fish, continued 
exploitation outside the EEZ by foreign fleets has kept the stock in an 
overfished condition.
    The Hancock Seamounts are the only known armorhead habitat within 
the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These seamounts lie west of 
180[deg] W. and north of 28[deg] N., to the northwest of Kure Atoll in 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The Council and NMFS have responded 
to the overfished condition of armorhead with a series of four, 6-year 
domestic fishing moratoria at the Hancock Seamounts, beginning in 1986. 
The current 6-year moratorium expires on August 31, 2010.
    The Council developed Amendment 2 to establish armorhead rebuilding 
requirements pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. The Council recommended in Amendment 2 that NMFS extend 
the moratorium at Hancock Seamounts until the armorhead stock is 
rebuilt, and establish a minimum rebuilding time of 35 years for the 
U.S. portion of the armorhead stock. The Council also recommended that 
NMFS classify the portion of the EEZ surrounding the Hancock Seamounts 
as an ecosystem management area to facilitate research on armorhead and 
other seamount groundfish.
    Public comments on Amendment 2 must be received by October 18, 2010 
to be considered by NMFS in the decision to approve, partially approve, 
or disapprove the amendment. A proposed rule to implement the measures 
recommended in the amendment has been prepared for Secretarial review 
and approval. NMFS expect to publish and request public comment on the 
proposed rule in the near future.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 16, 2010.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20625 Filed 8-18-10; 8:45 am]
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