Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures, 52415-52418 [2015-21394]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 168 / Monday, August 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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[FR Doc. 2015–21295 Filed 8–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 141009847–5746–02]
RIN 0648–XD558
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual
Catch Limits and Accountability
Measures
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications.
AGENCY:
In this final rule, NMFS
specifies the 2015 annual catch limits
(ACLs) for Pacific Island bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, and coral
reef ecosystem fisheries, and
accountability measures (AMs) to
correct or mitigate any overages of catch
limits. The ACLs and AMs support the
long-term sustainability of fishery
resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
DATES: The final specifications are
effective September 30, 2015, through
December 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the fishery
ecosystem plans 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. Copies of the
environmental assessments and findings
of no significant impact for this action,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2013–0156,
are available from www.regulations.gov,
or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable
Fisheries, 808–725–5176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is
specifying the 2015 ACLs and AMs for
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral,
and coral reef ecosystem fishery
management unit species (MUS) in
American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and
Hawaii. NMFS proposed these
specifications on July 21, 2015 (80 FR
43046), and the final specifications do
not differ from those proposed. The
2015 fishing year began on January 1
and ends on December 31, except for
precious coral fisheries, for which the
fishing year began on July 1, 2015, and
ends on June 30, 2016.
NMFS is not specifying ACLs for
MUS that are currently subject to
SUMMARY:
52415
Federal fishing moratoria or
prohibitions. These MUS include all
species of gold coral, the three Hawaii
seamount groundfish (pelagic
armorhead, alfonsin, and raftfish), and
deepwater precious corals at the
Westpac Bed Refugia. The current
prohibitions on fishing for these MUS
serve as the functional equivalent of an
ACL of zero.
Additionally, NMFS is not specifying
ACLs for bottomfish, crustacean,
precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem
MUS identified in the Pacific Remote
Islands Area (PRIA) FEP. This is
because fishing is prohibited in the EEZ
within 12 nm of emergent land of the
PRIA, unless authorized by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in
consultation with NMFS and the
Council. Additionally, there is no
suitable habitat for these stocks beyond
the 12-nm no-fishing zone, except at
Kingman Reef, where fishing for these
resources does not occur. To date, the
USFWS has not consulted with NMFS
for any fishing that the USFWS may
authorize within 12 nm of the PRIA.
NMFS will continue to monitor
authorized fishing within 12 nm of the
PRIA in consultation with the USFWS,
and may develop additional fishing
requirements, including catch limits for
species that may require them.
NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for
pelagic MUS at this time, because
NMFS previously determined that
pelagic species are subject to
international fishery agreements or have
a life cycle of approximately 1 year and
are, therefore, statutorily excepted from
the ACL requirements.
2015 Annual Catch Limit Specifications
Tables 1–4 list the ACL specifications
for 2015.
TABLE 1—AMERICAN SAMOA
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Fishery
Management unit species
Bottomfish ................................................
Crustacean ..............................................
Bottomfish multi-species stock complex ...................................................................
Deepwater shrimp .....................................................................................................
Spiny lobster ..............................................................................................................
Slipper lobster ............................................................................................................
Kona crab ..................................................................................................................
Black coral .................................................................................................................
Precious corals in the American Samoa Exploratory Area .......................................
Selar crumenophthalmus—atule, bigeye scad ..........................................................
Acanthuridae—surgeonfish .......................................................................................
Carangidae—jacks ....................................................................................................
Carcharhinidae—reef sharks .....................................................................................
Crustaceans—crabs ..................................................................................................
Holocentridae—squirrelfish ........................................................................................
Kyphosidae—rudderfishes .........................................................................................
Labridae—wrasses ....................................................................................................
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Precious Coral .........................................
Coral Reef Ecosystem .............................
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101,000
80,000
4,845
30
3,200
790
2,205
37,400
129,400
19,900
1,615
4,300
15,100
2,000
16,200
52416
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 168 / Monday, August 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1—AMERICAN SAMOA—Continued
Fishery
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Management unit species
Lethrinidae—emperors ..............................................................................................
Lutjanidae—snappers ................................................................................................
Mollusks—turbo snail; octopus; giant clams .............................................................
Mugilidae—mullets ....................................................................................................
Mullidae—goatfishes .................................................................................................
Scaridae—parrotfish ..................................................................................................
Serranidae—groupers ...............................................................................................
Siganidae—rabbitfishes .............................................................................................
Bolbometopon muricatum—bumphead parrotfish .....................................................
Cheilinus undulatus—Humphead (Napoleon) wrasse ..............................................
All other CREMUS combined ....................................................................................
19,600
63,100
18,400
4,600
11,900
272,000
25,300
200
235
1,743
18,400
TABLE 2—MARIANA ARCHIPELAGO—GUAM
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Fishery
Management unit species
Bottomfish ................................................
Crustaceans .............................................
Bottomfish multi-species stock complex ...................................................................
Deepwater shrimp .....................................................................................................
Spiny lobster ..............................................................................................................
Slipper lobster ............................................................................................................
Kona crab ..................................................................................................................
Black coral .................................................................................................................
Precious corals in the Guam Exploratory Area .........................................................
Selar crumenophthalmus—atulai, bigeye scad .........................................................
Acanthuridae—surgeonfish .......................................................................................
Carangidae—jacks ....................................................................................................
Carcharhinidae—reef sharks .....................................................................................
Crustaceans—crabs ..................................................................................................
Holocentridae—squirrelfish ........................................................................................
Kyphosidae—chubs/rudderfish ..................................................................................
Labridae—wrasses ....................................................................................................
Lethrinidae—emperors ..............................................................................................
Lutjanidae—snappers ................................................................................................
Mollusks—octopus .....................................................................................................
Mugilidae—mullets ....................................................................................................
Mullidae—goatfish .....................................................................................................
Scaridae—parrotfish ..................................................................................................
Serranidae—groupers ...............................................................................................
Siganidae—rabbitfish .................................................................................................
Bolbometopon muricatum—bumphead parrotfish .....................................................
Cheilinus undulatus—humphead (Napoleon) wrasse ...............................................
All other CREMUS combined ....................................................................................
Precious Coral .........................................
Coral Reef Ecosystem .............................
66,800
48,488
3,135
20
1,900
700
2,205
50,200
97,600
29,300
1,900
7,300
11,400
9,600
25,200
53,000
18,000
23,800
17,900
15,300
71,600
22,500
18,600
797
1,960
185,000
(CNMI and Guam combined)
TABLE 3—MARIANA ARCHIPELAGO—CNMI
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Fishery
Management unit species
Bottomfish ................................................
Crustacean ..............................................
Bottomfish multi-species stock complex ...................................................................
Deepwater shrimp .....................................................................................................
Spiny lobster ..............................................................................................................
Slipper lobster ............................................................................................................
Kona crab ..................................................................................................................
Black coral .................................................................................................................
Precious corals in the CNMI Exploratory Area .........................................................
Selar crumenophthalmus—Atulai, bigeye scad ........................................................
Acanthuridae—surgeonfish .......................................................................................
Carangidae—jacks ....................................................................................................
Carcharhinidae—reef sharks .....................................................................................
Crustaceans—crabs ..................................................................................................
Holocentridae—squirrelfishes ....................................................................................
Kyphosidae—rudderfishes .........................................................................................
Labridae—wrasses ....................................................................................................
Lethrinidae—emperors ..............................................................................................
Lutjanidae—snappers ................................................................................................
Precious Coral .........................................
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Coral Reef Ecosystem .............................
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228,000
275,570
7,410
60
6,300
2,100
2,205
77,400
302,600
44,900
5,600
4,400
66,100
22,700
55,100
53,700
190,400
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 168 / Monday, August 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
52417
TABLE 3—MARIANA ARCHIPELAGO—CNMI—Continued
Fishery
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Management unit species
Mollusks—turbo snail; octopus; giant clams .............................................................
Mugilidae—mullets ....................................................................................................
Mullidae—goatfish .....................................................................................................
Scaridae—parrotfish ..................................................................................................
Serranidae—groupers ...............................................................................................
Siganidae—rabbitfish .................................................................................................
Bolbometopon muricatum—Bumphead parrotfish ....................................................
Cheilinus undulatus—Humphead (Napoleon) wrasse ..............................................
All other CREMUS combined ....................................................................................
9,800
4,500
28,400
144,000
86,900
10,200
797
2,009
7,300
(CNMI and Guam combined)
TABLE 4—HAWAII
ACL
Specification
(lb)
Fishery
Management unit species
Bottomfish ................................................
Crustacean ..............................................
Non-Deep 7 bottomfish .............................................................................................
Deepwater shrimp .....................................................................................................
Spiny lobster ..............................................................................................................
Slipper lobster ............................................................................................................
Kona crab ..................................................................................................................
Auau Channel black coral .........................................................................................
Makapuu Bed—Pink coral .........................................................................................
Makapuu Bed—Bamboo coral ..................................................................................
180 Fathom Bank—Pink coral ..................................................................................
180 Fathom Bank—Bamboo coral ............................................................................
Brooks Bank—Pink coral ...........................................................................................
Brooks Bank—Bamboo coral ....................................................................................
Kaena Point Bed—Pink coral ....................................................................................
Kaena Point Bed—Bamboo coral .............................................................................
Keahole Bed—Pink coral ..........................................................................................
Keahole Bed—Bamboo coral ....................................................................................
Precious corals in the Hawaii Exploratory Area ........................................................
Selar crumenophthalmus—akule, bigeye scad .........................................................
Decapterus macarellus—opelu, mackerel scad ........................................................
Acanthuridae—surgeonfishes ....................................................................................
Carangidae—jacks ....................................................................................................
Carcharhinidae—reef sharks .....................................................................................
Crustaceans—crabs ..................................................................................................
Holocentridae—squirrelfishes ....................................................................................
Kyphosidae—rudderfishes .........................................................................................
Labridae—wrasses ....................................................................................................
Lethrinidae—emperors ..............................................................................................
Lutjanidae—snappers ................................................................................................
Mollusks—octopus .....................................................................................................
Mugilidae—mullets ....................................................................................................
Mullidae—goatfishes .................................................................................................
Scaridae—parrotfishes ..............................................................................................
Serranidae—groupers ...............................................................................................
All other CREMUS combined ....................................................................................
Precious Coral .........................................
Coral Reef Ecosystem .............................
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Accountability Measures
Federal logbook and reporting from
fisheries in Federal waters is not
sufficient to monitor and track catches
towards the proposed ACL
specifications accurately. This is
because most fishing for bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, and coral
reef ecosystem MUS occurs in state
waters, generally 0–3 nm from shore.
For these reasons, NMFS will apply a
moving 3-yr average catch to evaluate
fishery performance against the
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proposed ACLs. Specifically, NMFS and
the Council will use the average catch
during fishing year 2013, 2014, and
2015 to evaluate fishery performance
against the appropriate 2015 ACL. At
the end of each fishing year, the Council
will review catches relative to each
ACL. If NMFS and the Council
determine the three-year average catch
for the fishery exceeds the specified
ACL, NMFS and the Council will reduce
the ACL for that fishery by the amount
of the overage in the subsequent year.
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178,000
250,773
15,000
280
27,600
5,512
2,205
551
489
123
979
245
148
37
148
37
2,205
988,000
438,000
342,000
161,200
9,310
33,500
148,000
105,000
205,000
35,500
330,300
35,700
19,200
165,000
239,000
128,400
485,000
You may find additional background
information on this action in the
preamble to the proposed specifications
published on July 21, 2015 (80 FR
43046).
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed
specifications ended on August 5, 2015.
NMFS received comments from a
commercial bottomfish fisherman on the
proposed specifications for non-Deep 7
bottomfish in the main Hawaiian
Islands (MHI), and from the U.S. Air
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 168 / Monday, August 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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Force on the applicability of annual
catch limits for recreational fishing at
Wake Atoll in the Pacific Remote Island
Areas. NMFS responds to these
comments as follows:
Comment 1: The proposed ACL
should account for changes in the
historical landings of non-Deep 7
bottomfish in the MHI that resulted
from changes in market conditions and
regulatory actions. The commenter
suggested that, in the past, MHI
fishermen limited their catch of certain
non-Deep 7 bottomfish species because
they were associated with ciguatera (a
toxin) and because fishermen received
low prices for their catch due to higher
volume of fish provided by the
bottomfish fishery in the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The
commenter noted, however, that the
closure of the NWHI fishery in 2010 and
restrictions on landing MHI Deep 7
bottomfish upon reaching the annual
catch limit in past fishing season have
resulted in MHI fishermen targeting
non-Deep 7 bottomfish, and landing
more fish in recent years.
Response: NMFS and the Council
considered changes in the historical
landing when specifying the ACL and
AMs for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish.
The Biomass Augmented Catch
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)
model, which generates the estimate of
MSY which is used as the basis for the
overfishing limit, acceptable biological
catch, and ACL, uses the historical catch
record for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish
from 1966–2013. Thus, in estimating
MSY, the model includes the period of
time when changes occurred in the
landings of MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish.
NMFS and the Council continue to work
on improving the scientific, commercial,
and other information that provide the
basis for management decisions, and are
exploring fishery-independent methods
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and technologies for assessing
bottomfish resources. As information
becomes available, NMFS will
accommodate such data in future
models and stock assessments.
Comment 2: The commenter asserts
that, because the ACL for MHI non-Deep
7 bottomfish is based on imperfect data,
NMFS should allow more leeway in
applying the AMs if the fishery exceeds
the ACL.
Response: Under federal regulations
at 50 CFR 600.310 implementing the
ACL requirement, the ACL serves as the
basis for invoking the AM. AMs are
management controls to prevent a
fishery from exceeding an ACL and to
correct or mitigate any overage of the
ACL. While the data may be imperfect,
the Council and NMFS established the
ACLs using the best available
information, and NMFS must adhere to
the established ACL and AM process.
See 50 CFR 665.4 and 50 CFR 600.310.
Comment 3: The U.S. Air Force
requested confirmation that the
proposed ACLs and AMs for Pacific
Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious
coral and coral reef fisheries at Wake
Island take into account the annual
recreational harvest levels described in
the Air Force Fishing Management Plan
for Wake Atoll.
Response: In the proposed
specifications (80 FR 43046, July 21,
2015), NMFS explained that we did not
propose ACLs for bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef
ecosystem MUS regulated under the
PRIA FEP. In the Supplementary section
of this final rule, NMFS again clarifies
that it is not specifying ACLs for PRIA
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral,
or coral reef ecosystem MUS. This is
because fishing is currently prohibited
within 12 nm of emergent land, unless
authorized by the USFWS in
consultation with NMFS and the
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Council (See 50 CFR 665.933). Also,
there is no coral reef habitat seaward of
the 12-nm prohibited fishing area. To
date, the USFWS has not consulted with
NMFS for any fishing that the USFWS
may authorize within 12 nm of the
PRIA. Consultation with the USFWS
would provide information that NMFS
and the Council need to monitor catch
and effort in the PRIA, and to develop
any future catch limits that would be
necessary.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS
PIR, determined that this action is
necessary for the conservation and
management of Pacific Island fishery
resources, and that it is consistent with
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act and
other applicable laws.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of
the Department of Commerce certified
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration during
the proposed rule stage that this action
would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. NMFS published the factual
basis for the certification in the
proposed rule and does not repeat it
here. NMFS received no comments on
this certification; as a result, a
regulatory flexibility analysis is not
required, and none has been prepared.
This action is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866 because it contains no
implementing regulations.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21394 Filed 8–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52415-52418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21394]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 141009847-5746-02]
RIN 0648-XD558
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual Catch Limits and
Accountability Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this final rule, NMFS specifies the 2015 annual catch
limits (ACLs) for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious
coral, and coral reef ecosystem fisheries, and accountability measures
(AMs) to correct or mitigate any overages of catch limits. The ACLs and
AMs support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the
U.S. Pacific Islands.
DATES: The final specifications are effective September 30, 2015,
through December 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans 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. Copies of the environmental assessments and findings
of no significant impact for this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-
0156, are available from www.regulations.gov, or from Michael D.
Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR),
1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable
Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is specifying the 2015 ACLs and AMs for
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem
fishery management unit species (MUS) in American Samoa, Guam, the
CNMI, and Hawaii. NMFS proposed these specifications on July 21, 2015
(80 FR 43046), and the final specifications do not differ from those
proposed. The 2015 fishing year began on January 1 and ends on December
31, except for precious coral fisheries, for which the fishing year
began on July 1, 2015, and ends on June 30, 2016.
NMFS is not specifying ACLs for MUS that are currently subject to
Federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions. These MUS include all
species of gold coral, the three Hawaii seamount groundfish (pelagic
armorhead, alfonsin, and raftfish), and deepwater precious corals at
the Westpac Bed Refugia. The current prohibitions on fishing for these
MUS serve as the functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
Additionally, NMFS is not specifying ACLs for bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS identified in
the Pacific Remote Islands Area (PRIA) FEP. This is because fishing is
prohibited in the EEZ within 12 nm of emergent land of the PRIA, unless
authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in
consultation with NMFS and the Council. Additionally, there is no
suitable habitat for these stocks beyond the 12-nm no-fishing zone,
except at Kingman Reef, where fishing for these resources does not
occur. To date, the USFWS has not consulted with NMFS for any fishing
that the USFWS may authorize within 12 nm of the PRIA. NMFS will
continue to monitor authorized fishing within 12 nm of the PRIA in
consultation with the USFWS, and may develop additional fishing
requirements, including catch limits for species that may require them.
NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for pelagic MUS at this time,
because NMFS previously determined that pelagic species are subject to
international fishery agreements or have a life cycle of approximately
1 year and are, therefore, statutorily excepted from the ACL
requirements.
2015 Annual Catch Limit Specifications
Tables 1-4 list the ACL specifications for 2015.
Table 1--American Samoa
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit Specification
species (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish.................... Bottomfish multi- 101,000
species stock complex.
Crustacean.................... Deepwater shrimp...... 80,000
Spiny lobster......... 4,845
Slipper lobster....... 30
Kona crab............. 3,200
Precious Coral................ Black coral........... 790
Precious corals in the 2,205
American Samoa
Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem.......... Selar 37,400
crumenophthalmus--atu
le, bigeye scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonf 129,400
ish.
Carangidae--jacks..... 19,900
Carcharhinidae--reef 1,615
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs.... 4,300
Holocentridae--squirre 15,100
lfish.
Kyphosidae--rudderfish 2,000
es.
Labridae--wrasses..... 16,200
[[Page 52416]]
Lethrinidae--emperors. 19,600
Lutjanidae--snappers.. 63,100
Mollusks--turbo snail; 18,400
octopus; giant clams.
Mugilidae--mullets.... 4,600
Mullidae--goatfishes.. 11,900
Scaridae--parrotfish.. 272,000
Serranidae--groupers.. 25,300
Siganidae--rabbitfishe 200
s.
Bolbometopon 235
muricatum--bumphead
parrotfish.
Cheilinus undulatus-- 1,743
Humphead (Napoleon)
wrasse.
All other CREMUS 18,400
combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--Mariana Archipelago--Guam
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit Specification
species (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish.................... Bottomfish multi- 66,800
species stock complex.
Crustaceans................... Deepwater shrimp...... 48,488
Spiny lobster......... 3,135
Slipper lobster....... 20
Kona crab............. 1,900
Precious Coral................ Black coral........... 700
Precious corals in the 2,205
Guam Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem.......... Selar 50,200
crumenophthalmus--atu
lai, bigeye scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonf 97,600
ish.
Carangidae--jacks..... 29,300
Carcharhinidae--reef 1,900
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs.... 7,300
Holocentridae--squirre 11,400
lfish.
Kyphosidae--chubs/ 9,600
rudderfish.
Labridae--wrasses..... 25,200
Lethrinidae--emperors. 53,000
Lutjanidae--snappers.. 18,000
Mollusks--octopus..... 23,800
Mugilidae--mullets.... 17,900
Mullidae--goatfish.... 15,300
Scaridae--parrotfish.. 71,600
Serranidae--groupers.. 22,500
Siganidae--rabbitfish. 18,600
Bolbometopon 797
muricatum--bumphead
parrotfish.
Cheilinus undulatus-- 1,960
humphead (Napoleon)
wrasse.
All other CREMUS 185,000
combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CNMI and Guam combined)
Table 3--Mariana Archipelago--CNMI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit Specification
species (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish.................... Bottomfish multi- 228,000
species stock complex.
Crustacean.................... Deepwater shrimp...... 275,570
Spiny lobster......... 7,410
Slipper lobster....... 60
Kona crab............. 6,300
Precious Coral................ Black coral........... 2,100
Precious corals in the 2,205
CNMI Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem.......... Selar 77,400
crumenophthalmus--Atu
lai, bigeye scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonf 302,600
ish.
Carangidae--jacks..... 44,900
Carcharhinidae--reef 5,600
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs.... 4,400
Holocentridae--squirre 66,100
lfishes.
Kyphosidae--rudderfish 22,700
es.
Labridae--wrasses..... 55,100
Lethrinidae--emperors. 53,700
Lutjanidae--snappers.. 190,400
[[Page 52417]]
Mollusks--turbo snail; 9,800
octopus; giant clams.
Mugilidae--mullets.... 4,500
Mullidae--goatfish.... 28,400
Scaridae--parrotfish.. 144,000
Serranidae--groupers.. 86,900
Siganidae--rabbitfish. 10,200
Bolbometopon 797
muricatum--Bumphead
parrotfish.
Cheilinus undulatus-- 2,009
Humphead (Napoleon)
wrasse.
All other CREMUS 7,300
combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CNMI and Guam combined)
Table 4--Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit Specification
species (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish.................... Non-Deep 7 bottomfish. 178,000
Crustacean.................... Deepwater shrimp...... 250,773
Spiny lobster......... 15,000
Slipper lobster....... 280
Kona crab............. 27,600
Precious Coral................ Auau Channel black 5,512
coral.
Makapuu Bed--Pink 2,205
coral.
Makapuu Bed--Bamboo 551
coral.
180 Fathom Bank--Pink 489
coral.
180 Fathom Bank-- 123
Bamboo coral.
Brooks Bank--Pink 979
coral.
Brooks Bank--Bamboo 245
coral.
Kaena Point Bed--Pink 148
coral.
Kaena Point Bed-- 37
Bamboo coral.
Keahole Bed--Pink 148
coral.
Keahole Bed--Bamboo 37
coral.
Precious corals in the 2,205
Hawaii Exploratory
Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem.......... Selar 988,000
crumenophthalmus--aku
le, bigeye scad.
Decapterus macarellus-- 438,000
opelu, mackerel scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonf 342,000
ishes.
Carangidae--jacks..... 161,200
Carcharhinidae--reef 9,310
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs.... 33,500
Holocentridae--squirre 148,000
lfishes.
Kyphosidae--rudderfish 105,000
es.
Labridae--wrasses..... 205,000
Lethrinidae--emperors. 35,500
Lutjanidae--snappers.. 330,300
Mollusks--octopus..... 35,700
Mugilidae--mullets.... 19,200
Mullidae--goatfishes.. 165,000
Scaridae--parrotfishes 239,000
Serranidae--groupers.. 128,400
All other CREMUS 485,000
combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accountability Measures
Federal logbook and reporting from fisheries in Federal waters is
not sufficient to monitor and track catches towards the proposed ACL
specifications accurately. This is because most fishing for bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem MUS occurs in
state waters, generally 0-3 nm from shore. For these reasons, NMFS will
apply a moving 3-yr average catch to evaluate fishery performance
against the proposed ACLs. Specifically, NMFS and the Council will use
the average catch during fishing year 2013, 2014, and 2015 to evaluate
fishery performance against the appropriate 2015 ACL. At the end of
each fishing year, the Council will review catches relative to each
ACL. If NMFS and the Council determine the three-year average catch for
the fishery exceeds the specified ACL, NMFS and the Council will reduce
the ACL for that fishery by the amount of the overage in the subsequent
year.
You may find additional background information on this action in
the preamble to the proposed specifications published on July 21, 2015
(80 FR 43046).
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on August
5, 2015. NMFS received comments from a commercial bottomfish fisherman
on the proposed specifications for non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the main
Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and from the U.S. Air
[[Page 52418]]
Force on the applicability of annual catch limits for recreational
fishing at Wake Atoll in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. NMFS responds
to these comments as follows:
Comment 1: The proposed ACL should account for changes in the
historical landings of non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI that resulted
from changes in market conditions and regulatory actions. The commenter
suggested that, in the past, MHI fishermen limited their catch of
certain non-Deep 7 bottomfish species because they were associated with
ciguatera (a toxin) and because fishermen received low prices for their
catch due to higher volume of fish provided by the bottomfish fishery
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The commenter noted,
however, that the closure of the NWHI fishery in 2010 and restrictions
on landing MHI Deep 7 bottomfish upon reaching the annual catch limit
in past fishing season have resulted in MHI fishermen targeting non-
Deep 7 bottomfish, and landing more fish in recent years.
Response: NMFS and the Council considered changes in the historical
landing when specifying the ACL and AMs for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish.
The Biomass Augmented Catch Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) model,
which generates the estimate of MSY which is used as the basis for the
overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and ACL, uses the
historical catch record for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish from 1966-2013.
Thus, in estimating MSY, the model includes the period of time when
changes occurred in the landings of MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish. NMFS and
the Council continue to work on improving the scientific, commercial,
and other information that provide the basis for management decisions,
and are exploring fishery-independent methods and technologies for
assessing bottomfish resources. As information becomes available, NMFS
will accommodate such data in future models and stock assessments.
Comment 2: The commenter asserts that, because the ACL for MHI non-
Deep 7 bottomfish is based on imperfect data, NMFS should allow more
leeway in applying the AMs if the fishery exceeds the ACL.
Response: Under federal regulations at 50 CFR 600.310 implementing
the ACL requirement, the ACL serves as the basis for invoking the AM.
AMs are management controls to prevent a fishery from exceeding an ACL
and to correct or mitigate any overage of the ACL. While the data may
be imperfect, the Council and NMFS established the ACLs using the best
available information, and NMFS must adhere to the established ACL and
AM process. See 50 CFR 665.4 and 50 CFR 600.310.
Comment 3: The U.S. Air Force requested confirmation that the
proposed ACLs and AMs for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean,
precious coral and coral reef fisheries at Wake Island take into
account the annual recreational harvest levels described in the Air
Force Fishing Management Plan for Wake Atoll.
Response: In the proposed specifications (80 FR 43046, July 21,
2015), NMFS explained that we did not propose ACLs for bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS regulated under
the PRIA FEP. In the Supplementary section of this final rule, NMFS
again clarifies that it is not specifying ACLs for PRIA bottomfish,
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS. This is
because fishing is currently prohibited within 12 nm of emergent land,
unless authorized by the USFWS in consultation with NMFS and the
Council (See 50 CFR 665.933). Also, there is no coral reef habitat
seaward of the 12-nm prohibited fishing area. To date, the USFWS has
not consulted with NMFS for any fishing that the USFWS may authorize
within 12 nm of the PRIA. Consultation with the USFWS would provide
information that NMFS and the Council need to monitor catch and effort
in the PRIA, and to develop any future catch limits that would be
necessary.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action
is necessary for the conservation and management of Pacific Island
fishery resources, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. NMFS published the factual basis for the certification in the
proposed rule and does not repeat it here. NMFS received no comments on
this certification; as a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis is
not required, and none has been prepared.
This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866 because it
contains no implementing regulations.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21394 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
