International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing Restrictions for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 17382-17387 [2017-07251]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17382-17387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07251]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 170223197-7311-01]
RIN 0648-BG67


International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing 
Restrictions for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act to 
implement Resolution C-17-01 (Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern 
Pacific Ocean During 2017), which was

[[Page 17383]]

adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC or 
Commission) in February 2017. Applicable to 2017 only, most provisions 
of Resolution C-17-01 are identical in content to the previous 
resolution on tropical tuna management that expired at the end of 2016. 
The provisions that are maintained in Resolution C-17-01 from the 
previous resolution include a 500 metric ton (mt) bigeye tuna (Thunnus 
obesus) calendar year catch limit applicable to longline vessels 
greater than 24 meters (m) in overall length and a 62-day closure 
period applicable each year to purse seine vessels of class size 4 to 6 
(greater than 182 mt carrying capacity). In addition, the resolution 
includes a new requirement for total allowable catch limits (TACs) for 
yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna harvested in purse seine 
sets on floating objects (97,711 mt) and in sets involving chase and 
encirclement of dolphins (162,182 mt). This rule implements all of 
those requirements and revises related regulations for clarification 
purposes. This rule is necessary for the conservation of tropical tuna 
stocks in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and for the United States to 
satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.

DATES: This final rule is effective May 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting documents that were prepared for this 
final rule, including the regulatory impact review (RIR) are available 
via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, docket 
NOAA-NMFS-2017-0024 or contact with the Regional Administrator, Barry 
A. Thom, NMFS West Coast Region, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232-1274, or RegionalAdministrator.WCRHMS@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS at 562-980-
4036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on the IATTC

    The United States is a member of the IATTC, which was established 
under the 1949 Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American 
Tropical Tuna Commission. In 2003, the IATTC adopted the Convention for 
the Strengthening of the IATTC Established by the 1949 Convention 
between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica 
(Antigua Convention). The Antigua Convention entered into force in 
2010. The United States acceded to the Antigua Convention on February 
24, 2016. The full text of the Antigua Convention is available at: 
https://www.iattc.org/PDFFiles2/Antigua_Convention_Jun_2003.pdf.
    The IATTC consists of 21 member nations and four cooperating non-
member nations and facilitates scientific research into, as well as the 
conservation and management of, tuna and tuna-like species in the IATTC 
Convention Area. The IATTC Convention Area is defined as waters of the 
EPO within the area bounded by the west coast of the Americas and by 
50[deg] N. latitude, 150[deg] W. longitude, and 50[deg] S. latitude. 
The IATTC maintains a scientific research and fishery monitoring 
program and regularly assesses the status of tuna, sharks, and billfish 
stocks in the IATTC Convention Area to determine appropriate catch 
limits and other measures deemed necessary to promote sustainable 
fisheries and prevent the overexploitation of these stocks.

International Obligations of the United States Under the Antigua 
Convention

    As a Party to the Antigua Convention and a member of the IATTC, the 
United States is legally bound to implement decisions of the IATTC. The 
Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) directs the Secretary of 
Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State and, with respect 
to enforcement measures, the U.S. Coast Guard, to promulgate such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the United States' 
obligations under the Antigua Convention, including recommendations and 
decisions adopted by the IATTC. The authority of the Secretary of 
Commerce to promulgate such regulations has been delegated to NMFS.

IATTC Resolution on Tropical Tuna Conservation

    In 2016, the IATTC met in July and in October, and at both meetings 
failed to reach consensus on management measures for tropical tuna 
(bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)), 
which is unusual. The failure of the Commission to reach consensus at 
these meetings created an urgent situation because the previous 
measures expired at the end of the 2016 calendar year, and no measures 
were in place for the start of the 2017 fishing season. The IATTC 
finally adopted Resolution C-17-01 by consensus at its 91st 
Extraordinary Meeting in February 2017. NMFS is now in the position of 
having to implement these measures without affording the public the 
opportunity of advance notice and an opportunity to comment under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
    Applicable to 2017 only, most provisions of Resolution C-17-01 are 
identical in content to the previous resolution on tropical tuna 
management that were in place from 2013-2016. Resolution C-17-01 also 
sets TACs for yellowfin and bigeye tuna harvested in purse seine sets 
on floating objects and in sets involving chase and encirclement of 
dolphins. These TACs do not apply to fishing for tropical tuna by 
making unassociated sets. Resolution C-17-01 is intended to prevent 
overfishing of tropical tuna stocks in the EPO.
    Resolution C-17-01 also includes provisions for 2017 requiring 
purse seine vessels class sizes 4 to 6 to first retain on board and 
then land all tropical tuna caught, except fish unfit for human 
consumption for reasons other than size. A single exception to this 
full catch retention program is on the final set of a trip, when there 
may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all of the tuna 
caught in that set. This regulation has already been codified at 50 CFR 
300.27(a) because it was included in multiple previous IATTC 
resolutions.

Final Regulations--Tuna Conservation Measures for 2017

    This final rule is implemented under the Tuna Conventions Act (16 
U.S.C. 951 et seq.), as amended on November 5, 2015, by title II of 
Public Law 114-81. This rule implements the provisions of Resolution C-
17-01 and applies to U.S. commercial fishing vessels that are used to 
catch tropical tuna in the IATTC Convention Area.
    This rule implements three provisions that were included in the 
now-expired IATTC Resolution C-13-01 (Multiannual Program for the 
Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean During 2014-2016), as 
well as one additional provision, for 2017. First, the rule maintains a 
500 mt catch limit on bigeye tuna caught by longline vessels greater 
than 24 m in overall length in the IATTC Convention Area. Second, the 
rule maintains the prohibition against purse seine vessels of class 
size 4 to 6 (i.e., vessels with a carrying capacity greater than 182 
mt) from fishing for tropical tuna in the IATTC Convention Area for a 
period of 62 days. Notwithstanding this closure, the rule allows purse 
seine vessels of class size 4 (i.e., vessels with a carrying capacity 
between 182 and 272 mt) to make a single fishing trip of up to 30 days 
during the closure period, provided that any such vessel carries an 
observer. Third, the rule continues to

[[Page 17384]]

require a closure for the purse seine fishery for tropical tuna within 
the area of 96[deg] and 110[deg] W and between 4[deg] N and 3[deg] S 
from 0000 hours on 29 September to 2400 hours on 29 October, 2017.
    This rule also imposes new TACs on the harvest of yellowfin and 
bigeye tuna combined for class size 4 to 6 purse seine vessels that 
fish on floating objects and class size 6 vessels (i.e., vessels with a 
carrying capacity greater than 363 mt) that chase and encircle dolphins 
to harvest tuna swimming underneath. The TAC for the combined yellowfin 
and bigeye harvest for class size 4 to 6 purse seine vessels of all 
nations fishing on floating objects in the IATTC Convention Area is 
97,711 mt and, for class size 6 purse seine vessels of all nations that 
set on dolphins in the Convention Area, the TAC is 162,182 mt. Once 
either TAC is reached, NMFS will close the U.S. fishery for these 
vessels sizes and set types for the remainder of the 2017 calendar 
year.
    Per Resolution C-17-01, the IATTC Director will notify IATTC 
Members and Cooperating Non-Members (collectively known as CPCs) when 
the combined catch of yellowfin and bigeye tuna by purse-seine vessels 
reaches 80 percent of the total catch limit in either sets on floating 
objects or dolphins. At 90 percent of the total TAC, the Director shall 
notify CPCs of an estimated closure date for the respective fishery, 
and at 100 percent the Director will announce the closure of the 
respective fishery.
    NMFS will project a closure date for floating object sets and for 
dolphin sets using data provided by the IATTC. NMFS will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing the closures for these set 
types at least seven calendar days in advance of the closure dates. 
Once the closure date for floating object sets is effective, U.S. purse 
seine vessels of class size 4 to6 will be prohibited from making a 
floating object set in the Convention Area until the end of the 2017 
calendar year. Once the closure date for dolphin sets is effective, 
U.S. purse seine vessels of class size 6 will be prohibited from making 
a dolphin set in the Convention Area until the end of the 2017 calendar 
year.
    A description of the IATTC rulemaking process, formerly in 50 CFR 
300.25, is moved to a more logical location at 50 CFR 300.20, which is 
the purpose and scope section of 50 CFR part 300 subpart C. Multiple 
cross-references in the prohibitions at 50 CFR 300.24 are also updated 
for consistency with the revisions made to 50 CFR 300.25(a) through 
(e). The prohibition at 50 CFR 300.24(b) regarding closures of sets on 
floating objects is obsolete and is removed by this rule. This rule 
also revises related regulations to include the calendar year 2017, and 
revises regulations related to the bigeye closure for longline vessels 
greater than 24 m in overall length for clarification purposes.

Classification

    The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final 
rule is consistent with the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 and other 
applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    There are no new collection-of-information requirements associated 
with this action that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 
and the existing collection-of-information requirements still apply 
under Control Number 0648-0387. 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. All currently approved NOAA collections of information may be 
viewed at: https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that the 
need to conserve tropical tuna stocks in the EPO and comply with the 
international obligations of the United States under a binding 
resolution adopted by the IATTC under the Antigua Convention 
constitutes good cause, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), to waive the 
requirement for providing advance notice and comment. This is justified 
by the IATTC's late adoption of the binding Resolution C-17-01 in 
February of the year the requirements are effective--2017--rather than 
in June or July of the year before (i.e., typical timing for adopting 
resolutions). Commercial purse seine and longline vessels have already 
begun fishing for tropical tuna in the EPO this year under the fishing 
limits in Resolution C-17-01 that apply this year. If this rule were 
delayed pending publication of a proposed rule and consideration of 
additional public comments, no enforceable limits would be in place and 
therefore U.S. purse seine and longline fisheries might exceed the 
limits established in Resolution C-17-01 with impunity, rendering the 
United States out of compliance with our international obligations.
    Owners and operators of U.S. purse seine and longline vessels 
operating in the EPO are familiar with this resolution because it is 
almost identical to the resolution in place for the past three years 
that was implemented through notice and comment rulemaking. In 
addition, many of the affected individuals attended the 91st 
Extraordinary Meeting of the IATTC in February where the resolution was 
adopted. Industry representatives were also consulted in advance of the 
February meeting through a U.S. Delegation call and were involved in 
briefings and discussions with the U.S. Department of State and NOAA 
officials on the periphery of the February IATTC meeting. As soon as 
the rule is published, NMFS will send a notice of this rule to owners 
of vessels that are affected by this rule.
    Ensuring conservation of tropical tuna stocks in the EPO, and 
remaining in compliance with binding international obligations of the 
United States, by expedient domestic implementation of Resolution C-17-
01 through issuing this final rule now rather than risking violation of 
our obligations or the health of tuna stocks is in the public's 
interest and further supports the good cause for waiving the 
requirement to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for public 
comment. The IATTC will meet again in July 2017 to discuss tropical 
tuna measures for 2018 and beyond. NMFS intends to implement any 
resolution adopted in July through the typical procedure of proposed 
and final rulemaking.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 605(b), requires a 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis only for rules promulgated through 
notice and comment rulemaking under Section 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act or any other law. Because there is good 
cause to waive notice and comment for this final rule, an RFA Analysis 
was not prepared for this rule.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

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

    Dated: April 6, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 300 is amended 
as follows:

[[Page 17385]]

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart C--Eastern Pacific Tuna Fisheries

0
1. The authority citation for part 300, subpart C, continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.


0
2. Revise Sec.  300.20 to read as follows:


Sec.  300.20  Purpose and scope.

    The regulations in this subpart are issued under the authority of 
the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, (Act) and apply to 
persons and vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 
The regulations implement recommendations and other decisions of the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) for the conservation 
and management of stocks of tunas and tuna-like species and other 
species of fish taken by vessels fishing for tunas and tuna-like 
species in the IATTC Convention Area. The Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State and, with respect to 
enforcement measures, the U.S. Coast Guard, may promulgate such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the U.S. international 
obligations under the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission (Convention), the Convention for the 
Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 
Established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America 
and the Republic of Costa Rica (Antigua Convention), and the Act, 
including recommendations and other decisions adopted by the IATTC.

0
3. In Sec.  300.21, remove the definition for ``Bigeye tuna'', and add 
definitions for ``Dolphin set'' and ``Floating object set'' and 
``Tropical tuna'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  300.21  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Dolphin set means a purse seine set where a class size 6 U.S. purse 
seine vessel (greater than 363 metric tons carrying capacity) deploys a 
net on, or encircles, dolphins to catch yellowfin tuna.
* * * * *
    Floating object set means a purse seine set in which purse seine 
gear is deployed to encircle a floating object.
* * * * *
    Tropical tuna means any of the following species:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Common name                        Scientific name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bigeye tuna...............................  Thunnus obesus.
Skipjack tuna.............................  Katsuwonus pelamis.
Yellowfin tuna............................  Thunnus albacares.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  300.24, remove and reserve paragraph (b), revise paragraphs 
(k) through (s), and add paragraph (ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.24  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (k) Use a U.S. fishing vessel over 24 meters in length to retain on 
board, transship, or land bigeye tuna caught by longline gear in the 
Convention Area or to fish in contravention of Sec.  300.25(a)(4)(i) or 
(ii).
    (l) Use a U.S. fishing vessel over 24 meters in overall length to 
fish with longline gear in the Pacific Ocean both inside and outside 
the Convention Area on the same fishing trip in contravention of Sec.  
300.25(a)(4)(iii).
    (m) Fail to stow gear as required in Sec.  300.25(a)(4)(iv) or 
(e)(7).
    (n) Use a fishing vessel of class size 4-6 to fish with purse seine 
gear in the Convention Area in contravention of Sec.  300.25(e)(1), 
(e)(2), or (e)(5) or (e)(6).
    (o) Use a U.S. longline or purse seine fishing vessel used to fish 
for HMS within one nautical mile of an anchored data buoy while the 
fishing vessel is in the Convention Area in contravention of Sec.  
300.25(f)(1).
    (p) Use a U.S. fishing vessel used for fishing for HMS, or any 
gear, equipment, or watercraft deployed by such a fishing vessel, to 
interact with a data buoy in the Convention Area in contravention of 
Sec.  300.25(f)(2).
    (q) Remove from the water a data buoy and place it on board or tow 
a data buoy with a U.S. fishing vessel used for fishing for HMS while 
the vessel is in the Convention Area without authorization by the owner 
of the data buoy or the owner's authorized representative in 
contravention of Sec.  300.25(f)(3).
    (r) In the event of an entanglement of a data buoy with a U.S. 
fishing vessel, or its fishing gear, equipment, or associated 
watercraft, used for fishing for HMS in the Convention Area, fail to 
promptly remove the data buoy with as little damage to the data buoy 
and its mooring and anchor lines as possible, in contravention of Sec.  
300.25(f)(4).
    (s) Fail to take all reasonable measures to avoid fishing gear 
entanglement or interaction with drifting data buoys in contravention 
of Sec.  300.25(f)(5).
* * * * *
    (ii) Use a U.S. purse seine fishing vessel of the applicable class 
size to make a set on either floating objects or dolphins in the IATTC 
Convention Area after a closure for either of these set types is 
announced by the Regional Administrator, in contravention of Sec.  
300.25(d).

0
5. In Sec.  300.25, revise the section heading and revise paragraphs 
(a) through (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.25  Fisheries management.

    (a) Longline tuna catch limits. (1) Fishing seasons for all tuna 
species begin on January 1 and end either on December 31 or when NMFS 
closes the fishery for a specific species.
    (2) For the calendar year 2017, there is a limit of 500 metric tons 
of bigeye tuna that may be caught by longline gear in the Convention 
Area by U.S. commercial fishing vessels that are over 24 meters in 
overall length.
    (3) NMFS will project a date the limit of bigeye tuna established 
under paragraph (a)(2) of this section will be reached (i.e., a closure 
date) by monitoring longline landings, data submitted in logbooks, and 
other available information. NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register at least 7 calendar days in advance of that projected closure 
date announcing that the limit has been reached. The Federal Register 
notice will specify that the restrictions described in paragraph (a)(4) 
of this section will be in effect through the end of the calendar year.
    (4) Once the closure date is announced, pursuant to paragraph 
(a)(3) of this section the following restrictions will apply during the 
period specified in the announcement:
    (i) A fishing vessel of the United States over 24 meters in overall 
length may not be used to retain on board, transship, or land bigeye 
tuna captured by longline gear in the Convention Area, except as 
follows:
    (A) Any bigeye tuna already on board a U.S. fishing vessel upon the 
effective closure date may be retained on board, transshipped, and/or 
landed, to the extent authorized by applicable laws and regulations, 
provided that the bigeye tuna is landed within 14 days after the 
effective closure date.
    (B) The 14-day limit is waived in the case of a U.S. fishing vessel 
that has already declared to NMFS, pursuant to Sec.  665.803(a) of this 
title, that the current trip type is shallow-setting. However, the 
number of bigeye tuna retained on board, transshipped, or landed must 
not exceed the number on board the vessel upon the effective closure 
date, as recorded by the NMFS observer on board the vessel.

[[Page 17386]]

    (ii) Bigeye tuna caught by a vessel of the United States over 24 
meters in overall length and using longline gear in the Convention Area 
may not be transshipped to a fishing vessel unless that fishing vessel 
is operated in compliance with a valid permit issued under Sec.  
660.707 or Sec.  665.801 of this title.
    (iii) A fishing vessel of the United States over 24 meters in 
overall length may not be used to fish in the Pacific Ocean using 
longline gear both inside and outside the Convention Area during the 
same fishing trip. The only exceptions are: a fishing trip during which 
the closure date was announced under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, 
and a trip for which a declaration has been made to NMFS, pursuant to 
Sec.  665.803(a) of this title, that the current trip is shallow-
setting.
    (iv) If a fishing vessel of the United States over 24 meters in 
overall length is used to fish in the Pacific Ocean using longline gear 
outside the Convention Area and the vessel enters the Convention Area 
at any time during an effective closure period on the same fishing 
trip, the longline gear on the fishing vessel must be stowed in a 
manner so as not to be readily available for fishing. Specifically, the 
hooks, branch or dropper lines, and floats used to buoy the mainline 
must be stowed and not available for immediate use, and any power-
operated mainline hauler on deck must be covered in such a manner that 
it is not readily available for use. This provision does not apply to 
trips in which vessels have made a declaration to NMFS, pursuant to 
Sec.  665.803(a) of this title, that the trip type is shallow-setting.
    (b) Use of tender vessels. No person subject to these regulations 
may use a tender vessel in the Convention Area.
    (c) Transshipments at sea. No person subject to these regulations 
may transship purse seine-caught tuna from one vessel to another vessel 
at sea within the Convention Area.
    (d) Purse seine tuna catch limits. (1) Fishing seasons for all tuna 
species begin on January 1 and end either on December 31 or when NMFS 
closes the fishery for either a specific species or set-type or both.
    (2) For the calendar year 2017, the following total allowable catch 
limits for the combined catch of bigeye and yellowfin tuna, shall apply 
in the IATTC Convention Area:
    (i) For purse seine vessels of all nations that are class size 4-6 
(more than 182 metric tons carrying capacity), the total allowable 
catch is 97,711 metric tons for floating object sets.
    (ii) For purse seine vessels of all nations that are class size 6, 
the total allowable catch is 162,182 metric tons for dolphin sets.
    (3) NMFS will project a closure date for floating object sets and 
for dolphin sets using data provided by the IATTC. NMFS will publish a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing the closures for these set 
types at least 7 calendar days in advance of the projected closure 
dates.
    (4) Once the closure date for floating object sets is effective, 
pursuant to paragraph (d)(3) of this section, U.S. purse seine vessels 
of class size 4-6 will be prohibited from making a floating object set 
in the Convention Area until the end of the 2017 calendar year. Once 
the closure date for dolphin sets is effective, pursuant to paragraph 
(d)(3) of this section, U.S. purse seine vessels of class size 6 will 
be prohibited from making a dolphin set in the Convention Area until 
the end of the 2017 calendar year.
    (e) Purse seine closures. (1) A commercial purse seine fishing 
vessel of the United States that is of class size 4-6 (more than 182 
metric tons carrying capacity) may not be used to fish with purse seine 
gear in the Convention Area for 62 days during one of the following two 
periods:
    (i) From 0000 hours Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) July 29, 2017, 
to 2400 hours UTC September 28, 2017, or
    (ii) From 0000 hours UTC November 18, 2017, to 2400 hours UTC 
January 18, 2018.
    (2) A vessel owner, manager, or association representative of a 
vessel that is subject to the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this 
section must, in 2017, provide written notification to the Regional 
Administrator declaring to which one of the two closure periods 
identified in paragraph (e)(1) of this section his or her vessel will 
adhere in that year. This written notification must be submitted by fax 
at (562) 980-4047 or email at RegionalAdministrator.WCRHMS@noaa.gov and 
must be received no later than July 1 2017. The written notification 
must include the vessel name and registration number, the closure dates 
that will be adhered to by that vessel, and the vessel owner or 
managing owner's name, signature, business address, and business 
telephone number.
    (3) If written notification is not submitted per paragraph (e)(2) 
of this section for a vessel subject to the requirements under 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section, that vessel must adhere to the 
closure period under paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section.
    (4) Request for exemption due to force majeure. A request for 
exemption due to force majeure must be made to the Sustainable 
Fisheries Division by fax at (562) 980-4047 or emailed to 
RegionalAdministrator.WCRHMS@noaa.gov. The request must include the 
name and official number of the vessel, vessel owner or manager's name 
and signature, and evidence to support the request, which may include 
but is not limited to photographs, repair bills, certificates of 
departure from port, and in the case of a marine casualty, a completed 
copy of the U.S. Coast Guard Form CG-2692A (See 46 CFR 4.05-10).
    (i) If accepted by the Sustainable Fisheries Division, the request 
for exemption due to force majeure will be forwarded to the IATTC 
Director. If declined by the Sustainable Fisheries Division, within 10 
days of the date of that rejection, the applicant may give additional 
information or documentation to the Regional Administrator with a 
request that the initial decision be reconsidered by fax at (562) 980-
4047 or email to RegionalAdministrator.WCRHMS@noaa.gov; the Regional 
Administrator shall respond within 14 business days.
    (ii) If the request for an exemption due to force majeure is 
accepted by the IATTC, the vessel must observe a closure period of 30 
consecutive days in the same year during which the force majeure event 
occurred, in one of the two closure periods described in paragraph 
(e)(1) of this section.
    (5) A vessel of class size 4 (182 to 272 metric tons carrying 
capacity) may make one fishing trip of up to 30 days duration during 
the specified closure period in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, 
provided that the vessel carries an observer authorized pursuant to the 
Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program during the 
entire fishing trip.
    (6) A fishing vessel of the United States of class size 4-6 (more 
than 182 metric tons carrying capacity) may not be used from 0000 hours 
on September 29 to 2400 hours on October 29 in 2017 to fish with purse 
seine gear within the area bounded at the east and west by 96[deg] and 
110[deg] W. longitude and bounded at the north and south by 4[deg] N. 
and 3[deg] S. latitude.
    (7) At all times while a vessel is in a time/area closed period 
established under paragraphs (e)(1) or (e)(6) of this section, unless 
fishing under exceptions established under paragraphs (e)(4) or (e)(5) 
of this section, the fishing gear of the vessel must be stowed in a 
manner as not to be readily available for fishing. In particular, the 
boom must be lowered as far as possible so that the vessel

[[Page 17387]]

cannot be used for fishing, but so that the skiff is accessible for use 
in emergency situations; the helicopter, if any, must be tied down; and 
launches must be secured.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-07251 Filed 4-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P