Pacific Island Fisheries; 2016 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures, 18716-18720 [2017-08116]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
18716
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 76 / Friday, April 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
§ 648.81(h); the Fippennies Ledge Area
as defined in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) of
this section; Closed Area I and Closed
Area II, as defined in § 648.81(a) and (b),
respectively, during the period February
16 through April 30; and the Western
GOM Closure Area, as defined at
§ 648.81(e), where it overlaps with GOM
Cod Protection Closures I through III, as
defined in § 648.81(f)(4). This list may
be modified through a framework
adjustment, as specified in § 648.90.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 7. In § 648.90, revise paragraphs
(a)(2)(i) through (iii) to read as follows:
§ 648.90 NE multispecies assessment,
framework procedures and specifications,
and flexible area action system.
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(2) Biennial review. (i) At a minimum,
the NE multispecies PDT shall meet on
or before September 30 every other year
to perform a review of the fishery, using
the most current scientific information
available provided primarily from the
NEFSC. Data provided by states,
ASMFC, the USCG, and other sources
may also be considered by the PDT. The
PDT shall review available data
pertaining to: Catch and landings,
discards, DAS allocations, DAS use,
sector operations, and other measures of
fishing effort; survey results; stock
status; current estimates of fishing
mortality and overfishing levels; social
and economic impacts; enforcement
issues; and any other relevant
information. The PDT may also review
the performance of different user groups
or fleet sectors.
(ii) Based on this review, the PDT
shall recommend ACLs for the
upcoming fishing year(s), as described
in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, and
develop options for consideration by the
Council, if necessary, on any changes,
adjustments, or additions to DAS
allocations, closed areas, or other
measures necessary to rebuild
overfished stocks and achieve the FMP
goals and objectives, which may include
a preferred option. The range of options
developed by the PDT may include any
of the management measures in the
FMP, including, but not limited to:
ACLs, which must be based on the
projected fishing mortality levels
required to meet the goals and
objectives outlined in the FMP for the
12 regulated species and ocean pout if
able to be determined; identifying and
distributing ACLs and other subcomponents of the ACLs among various
segments of the fishery; AMs; DAS
changes; possession limits; gear
restrictions; closed areas; permitting
restrictions; minimum fish sizes;
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:51 Apr 20, 2017
Jkt 241001
recreational fishing measures;
describing and identifying EFH; fishing
gear management measures to protect
EFH; designating habitat areas of
particular concern within EFH; and
changes to the SBRM, including the CVbased performance standard, the means
by which discard data are collected/
obtained, fishery stratification, the
process for prioritizing observer sea-day
allocations, reports, and/or industryfunded observers or observer set aside
programs. The PDT must demonstrate
through analyses and documentation
that the options it develops are expected
to meet the FMP goals and objectives.
(iii) In addition, the PDT may develop
ranges of options for any of the
management measures in the FMP and
the following conditions that may be
adjusted through a framework
adjustment to achieve FMP goals and
objectives including, but not limited to:
Revisions to DAS measures, including
DAS allocations (such as the
distribution of DAS among the four
categories of DAS), future uses for
Category C DAS, and DAS baselines,
adjustments for steaming time, etc.;
accumulation limits due to a permit
buyout or buyback; modifications to
capacity measures, such as changes to
the DAS transfer or DAS leasing
measures; calculation of area-specific
ACLs (including sub-ACLs for specific
stocks and areas (e.g., Gulf of Maine
cod)), area management boundaries, and
adoption of area-specific management
measures including the delineation of
inshore/offshore fishing practices, gear
restrictions, declaration time periods;
sector allocation requirements and
specifications, including the
establishment of a new sector, the
disapproval of an existing sector, the
allowable percent of ACL available to a
sector through a sector allocation, an
optional sub-ACL specific to Handgear
A permitted vessels, and the calculation
of PSCs; sector administration
provisions, including at-sea and
dockside monitoring measures; sector
reporting requirements; state-operated
permit bank administrative provisions;
measures to implement the U.S./Canada
Resource Sharing Understanding,
including any specified TACs (hard or
target); changes to administrative
measures; additional uses for Regular B
DAS; reporting requirements;
declaration requirements pertaining to
when and what time period a vessel
must declare into or out of a fishery
management area; the GOM Inshore
Conservation and Management
Stewardship Plan; adjustments to the
Handgear A or B permits; gear
requirements to improve selectivity,
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
reduce bycatch, and/or reduce impacts
of the fishery on EFH; SAP
modifications; revisions to the ABC
control rule and status determination
criteria, including, but not limited to,
changes in the target fishing mortality
rates, minimum biomass thresholds,
numerical estimates of parameter
values, and the use of a proxy for
biomass may be made either through a
biennial adjustment or framework
adjustment; changes to the SBRM,
including the CV-based performance
standard, the means by which discard
data are collected/obtained, fishery
stratification, the process for prioritizing
observer sea-day allocations, reports,
and/or industry-funded observers or
observer set aside programs; and any
other measures currently included in
the FMP.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2017–08035 Filed 4–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 160422356–7283–02]
RIN 0648–XE587
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2016 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 2016 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 final ACLs and AMs are
effective for fishing year 2016. The
fishing year for each fishery begins on
January 1 and ends on December 31,
except for precious coral fisheries,
which begin July 1 and end on June 30
the following year. Although the 2016
fishing year has ended for most stocks,
we will evaluate 2016 catches against
these final ACLs when data become
available in mid-2017. The ACL and AM
specifications support the long-term
sustainability of fishery resources of the
U.S. Pacific Islands.
DATES: The final specifications are
effective May 22, 2017. The final
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM
21APR1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 76 / Friday, April 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
specifications are applicable from
January 1, 2016, through December 31,
2016.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the fishery
ecosystem plans (FEPs) 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–
2016–0049, 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: Matt
Dunlap, NMFS PIR Sustainable
Fisheries, 808–725–5177.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is
specifying the 2016 ACLs for
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral,
and coral reef ecosystem management
unit species (MUS) in American Samoa,
Guam, the CNMI, and Hawaii. NMFS
proposed these specifications on
January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5517), and the
final specifications do not differ from
those proposed. The 2016 fishing year
began on January 1 and ended on
December 31, except for precious coral
fisheries, which began on July 1, 2016,
and ends on June 30, 2017. Except for
bottomfish in American Samoa, Guam,
and the CNMI, and Guam jacks, Hawaii
crabs, and Hawaii octopus, the final
2016 ACLs are identical to those that
NMFS specified for 2015 (80 FR 52415,
August 31, 2015). For bottomfish in
American Samoa, Guam, and the
Northern Mariana Islands, the 2016
ACLs are based on new estimates of
maximum sustainable yield contained
in a 2016 stock assessment updated by
the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center (PIFSC). This stock
assessment update represents the best
scientific information available for
specifying ACLs.
For Guam jacks, Hawaii crabs, and
Hawaii octopus, NMFS and the Council
determined that the average 2013–2015
catch for each of these three stock
complexes exceeded their respective
2015 ACLs. Specifically, average 2013–
2015 catch for Guam jacks was 37,399
lb and exceeded the 2015 ACL of 29,300
lb by 8,099 lb. For Hawaii crabs, average
2013–2015 catch was 40,363 lb and
exceeded the 2015 ACL of 33,500 lb by
6,863 lb. For Hawaii octopus, average
2013–2015 catch was 40,237 lb and
exceeded the 2015 ACL of 35,700 lb by
4,537 lb. In accordance with the 2015
AMs (80 FR 52415, August 31, 2015),
and in consideration of the best
available scientific information
available, NMFS proposes to reduce the
2016 ACLs from the 2015 ACL by the
amount of the 2015 overages for each of
the three stocks. As a result, the final
ACL for Guam jacks is 21,201 lb, 26,637
lb for Hawaii crabs, and 31,163 lb for
Hawaii mollusks.
In addition, NMFS prepared an
updated environmental assessment for
Pacific Island crustacean and precious
coral fisheries; in December 2015,
NMFS and the Council received new
information on the historical and
projected stock status of Kona crab in
Hawaii. The information indicates that
the Hawaii Kona crab stock was likely
to be overfished as of 2006. However, an
independent review identified data gaps
and methodological concerns with the
2015 stock assessment. The PIFSC also
noted concerns with the data used in
the recent stock assessment, but found
that the assessment provided useful
information regarding stock status
within the last decade. Because of the
uncertainty in the projected stock status
and structure of Hawaii Kona crab after
2006, the Council did not account for
the information in the stock assessment,
along with the other relevant
information that they considered in
recommending the 2016 Hawaii Kona
crab ACL. For this reason, NMFS will
not set a 2016 ACL for Hawaii Kona
crab. Instead, NMFS will continue to
work with the Council and other
partners to review the available data and
to set a 2017 acceptable biological catch
and ACL for the Hawaii Kona crab
stock, consistent with the Magnuson-
18717
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act).
NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for
MUS that are currently subject to
Federal fishing moratoria or
prohibitions. These MUS include all
species of gold coral (78 FR 32181, May
29, 2013), the three Hawaii seamount
groundfish (pelagic armorhead, alfonsin,
and raftfish (75 FR 69015, November 10,
2010), and deepwater precious corals at
the Westpac Bed Refugia (75 FR 2198,
January 14, 2010). 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, unless
authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) (78 FR 32996, June 3,
2013). To date, NMFS has not received
fishery data that would support any
such approvals. In addition, 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. Therefore, the
current prohibitions on fishing serve as
the functional equivalent of an ACL of
zero. However, NMFS will continue to
monitor authorized fishing within the
Pacific Remote Islands Monument in
consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, and may develop
additional fishing requirements,
including monument-specific 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 one year
and, therefore, are statutorily excepted
from the ACL requirements.
2016 Annual Catch Limit Specifications
Tables 1–4 list the final 2016 ACL
specifications.
TABLE 1—AMERICAN SAMOA
ACL
specification
(lb)
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
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 .........................................
Precious Coral ..........................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:51 Apr 20, 2017
Jkt 241001
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM
21APR1
106,000
80,000
4,845
30
3,200
790
2,205
18718
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 76 / Friday, April 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1—AMERICAN SAMOA—Continued
ACL
specification
(lb)
Fishery
Management unit species
Coral Reef Ecosystem ..............................
Selar crumenophthalmus—atule, bigeye scad ............................................................
Acanthuridae—surgeonfish ..........................................................................................
Carangidae—jacks .......................................................................................................
Carcharhinidae—reef sharks .......................................................................................
Crustaceans—crabs .....................................................................................................
Holocentridae—squirrelfish ..........................................................................................
Kyphosidae—rudderfishes ...........................................................................................
Labridae—wrasses .......................................................................................................
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 ......................................................................................
37,400
129,400
19,900
1,615
4,300
15,100
2,000
16,200
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
Fishery
Management unit species
ACL specification
(lb)
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 ................................................................
66,000.
48,488.
3,135.
20.
1,900.
700.
2,205.
50,200.
97,600.
21,201.
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 (CNMI and Guam combined).
1,960.
185,000.
Precious Coral .................................
Coral Reef Ecosystem ....................
TABLE 3—MARIANA ARCHIPELAGO—CNMI
ACL specification
(lb)
Management unit species
Bottomfish .......................................
Crustacean ......................................
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
Fishery
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 ..............................................................................
Precious Coral .................................
Coral Reef Ecosystem ....................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:51 Apr 20, 2017
Jkt 241001
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM
228,000.
275,570.
7,410.
60.
6,300.
2,100.
2,205.
77,400.
302,600.
44,900.
5,600.
4,400.
21APR1
18719
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 76 / Friday, April 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 3—MARIANA ARCHIPELAGO—CNMI—Continued
Management unit species
ACL specification
(lb)
Holocentridae—squirrelfishes ................................................................
Kyphosidae—rudderfishes .....................................................................
Labridae—wrasses ................................................................................
Lethrinidae—emperors ..........................................................................
Lutjanidae—snappers ............................................................................
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 ................................................................
66,100.
22,700.
55,100.
53,700.
190,400.
9,800.
4,500.
28,400.
144,000.
86,900.
10,200.
797 (CNMI and Guam combined).
2,009.
7,300.
Fishery
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 ..............................
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
Accountability Measures
Federal logbook entries and required
catch reporting from fisheries in Federal
waters are not sufficient to monitor and
track catches towards the 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:51 Apr 20, 2017
Jkt 241001
For these reasons, NMFS will apply a
moving 3-year average catch to evaluate
fishery performance against the ACLs.
Specifically, NMFS and the Council will
use the average catch during fishing
year 2014, 2015, and 2016 to evaluate
fishery performance against the
appropriate 2016 ACL. At the end of
each fishing year, the Council will
review catches relative to each ACL. If
NMFS and the Council determine that
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
178,000
250,773
15,000
280
None
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
26,637
148,000
105,000
205,000
35,500
330,300
31,163
19,200
165,000
239,000
128,400
485,000
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 January 18, 2017 (82 FR
5517).
E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM
21APR1
18720
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 76 / Friday, April 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed
specifications ended on February 2,
2017. NMFS received three comments
and responds, as follows:
Comment 1: The commenter supports
annual catch limits and strict limits to
end fishing practices that incur bycatch.
Response: NMFS and the Council
consider the effects to target and nontarget species (including bycatch) when
setting ACLs and AMs. The fisheries
affected by this action, in general, have
very little bycatch.
Comment 2: The commenter supports
ACLs because maintaining catch limits
keeps the ecology in balance and
sustains the financial future of catches
for years to come.
Response: NMFS agrees.
Comment 3: The Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC) questioned the
NMFS interpretation of the MagnusonStevens Act statutory exception to the
ACL requirements for fish stocks
managed under international
agreements. The NRDC interpretation is
that the international exception was not
permanent; rather the ACLs would take
effect in either 2010 or 2011, depending
on a stock’s overfishing status. The
NRDC expressed the notion that, if a
stock is managed under an international
agreement, then the start date could be
adjusted to match the start date for hardcap management provided by the
international agreement. The NRDC
requested that NMFS set ACLs for all
stocks in the region, including those
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:51 Apr 20, 2017
Jkt 241001
subject to management under
international fishery agreements.
Response: NMFS disagrees with the
NRDC interpretation of the statute and
stands by our interpretation that
confirms the ACL exception for stocks
managed by international agreements, as
described in previous final actions
revising the National Standard
guidelines (74 FR 3178, January 16,
2009; 81 FR 71858, October 18, 2016).
As the commenter observed, the text of
the statute’s ‘‘international exception’’ is
vague. NMFS has considered public
comment on different possible
interpretations, including looking
specifically at the interpretation
advanced by some commenters that the
exception only pertains to the 2010–
2011 timing requirements. Having
considered the text of the exception and
other relevant provisions of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS decided
in 2009, and again in 2016, not to
interpret the exception as applying only
to the timing of the ACL and AM
requirements. Based on the NRDC
comments on this proposed rule, NMFS
has identified no new considerations or
issues that warrant re-examination of
the approach it adopted in 2009 and
confirmed in 2016 when revising
National Standard guidelines.
Changes From the Proposed
Specifications
There are no changes in the final
specifications from the proposed
specifications.
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS
PIR, determined that this action is
necessary for the conservation and
management of Pacific Island fisheries,
and that it is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens 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 specification stage that
this action would not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. NMFS
published the factual basis for
certification in the proposed
specifications, and does not repeat it
here. NMFS did not receive comments
regarding this certification. As a result,
a final regulatory flexibility analysis is
not required, and one was not prepared.
This action is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 18, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–08116 Filed 4–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM
21APR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 76 (Friday, April 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18716-18720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08116]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 160422356-7283-02]
RIN 0648-XE587
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2016 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 2016 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 final
ACLs and AMs are effective for fishing year 2016. The fishing year for
each fishery begins on January 1 and ends on December 31, except for
precious coral fisheries, which begin July 1 and end on June 30 the
following year. Although the 2016 fishing year has ended for most
stocks, we will evaluate 2016 catches against these final ACLs when
data become available in mid-2017. The ACL and AM specifications
support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S.
Pacific Islands.
DATES: The final specifications are effective May 22, 2017. The final
[[Page 18717]]
specifications are applicable from January 1, 2016, through December
31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans (FEPs) 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-2016-0049, 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: Matt Dunlap, NMFS PIR Sustainable
Fisheries, 808-725-5177.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is specifying the 2016 ACLs for
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem
management unit species (MUS) in American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and
Hawaii. NMFS proposed these specifications on January 18, 2017 (82 FR
5517), and the final specifications do not differ from those proposed.
The 2016 fishing year began on January 1 and ended on December 31,
except for precious coral fisheries, which began on July 1, 2016, and
ends on June 30, 2017. Except for bottomfish in American Samoa, Guam,
and the CNMI, and Guam jacks, Hawaii crabs, and Hawaii octopus, the
final 2016 ACLs are identical to those that NMFS specified for 2015 (80
FR 52415, August 31, 2015). For bottomfish in American Samoa, Guam, and
the Northern Mariana Islands, the 2016 ACLs are based on new estimates
of maximum sustainable yield contained in a 2016 stock assessment
updated by the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC).
This stock assessment update represents the best scientific information
available for specifying ACLs.
For Guam jacks, Hawaii crabs, and Hawaii octopus, NMFS and the
Council determined that the average 2013-2015 catch for each of these
three stock complexes exceeded their respective 2015 ACLs.
Specifically, average 2013-2015 catch for Guam jacks was 37,399 lb and
exceeded the 2015 ACL of 29,300 lb by 8,099 lb. For Hawaii crabs,
average 2013-2015 catch was 40,363 lb and exceeded the 2015 ACL of
33,500 lb by 6,863 lb. For Hawaii octopus, average 2013-2015 catch was
40,237 lb and exceeded the 2015 ACL of 35,700 lb by 4,537 lb. In
accordance with the 2015 AMs (80 FR 52415, August 31, 2015), and in
consideration of the best available scientific information available,
NMFS proposes to reduce the 2016 ACLs from the 2015 ACL by the amount
of the 2015 overages for each of the three stocks. As a result, the
final ACL for Guam jacks is 21,201 lb, 26,637 lb for Hawaii crabs, and
31,163 lb for Hawaii mollusks.
In addition, NMFS prepared an updated environmental assessment for
Pacific Island crustacean and precious coral fisheries; in December
2015, NMFS and the Council received new information on the historical
and projected stock status of Kona crab in Hawaii. The information
indicates that the Hawaii Kona crab stock was likely to be overfished
as of 2006. However, an independent review identified data gaps and
methodological concerns with the 2015 stock assessment. The PIFSC also
noted concerns with the data used in the recent stock assessment, but
found that the assessment provided useful information regarding stock
status within the last decade. Because of the uncertainty in the
projected stock status and structure of Hawaii Kona crab after 2006,
the Council did not account for the information in the stock
assessment, along with the other relevant information that they
considered in recommending the 2016 Hawaii Kona crab ACL. For this
reason, NMFS will not set a 2016 ACL for Hawaii Kona crab. Instead,
NMFS will continue to work with the Council and other partners to
review the available data and to set a 2017 acceptable biological catch
and ACL for the Hawaii Kona crab stock, consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for MUS that are currently subject
to Federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions. These MUS include all
species of gold coral (78 FR 32181, May 29, 2013), the three Hawaii
seamount groundfish (pelagic armorhead, alfonsin, and raftfish (75 FR
69015, November 10, 2010), and deepwater precious corals at the Westpac
Bed Refugia (75 FR 2198, January 14, 2010). 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, unless authorized
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (78 FR 32996, June 3,
2013). To date, NMFS has not received fishery data that would support
any such approvals. In addition, 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. Therefore, the current
prohibitions on fishing serve as the functional equivalent of an ACL of
zero. However, NMFS will continue to monitor authorized fishing within
the Pacific Remote Islands Monument in consultation with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and may develop additional fishing requirements,
including monument-specific 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
one year and, therefore, are statutorily excepted from the ACL
requirements.
2016 Annual Catch Limit Specifications
Tables 1-4 list the final 2016 ACL specifications.
Table 1--American Samoa
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit species specification
(lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish..................... Bottomfish multi- 106,000
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.
[[Page 18718]]
Coral Reef Ecosystem........... Selar crumenophthalmus-- 37,400
atule, bigeye scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonfi 129,400
sh.
Carangidae--jacks...... 19,900
Carcharhinidae--reef 1,615
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs..... 4,300
Holocentridae--squirrel 15,100
fish.
Kyphosidae--rudderfishe 2,000
s.
Labridae--wrasses...... 16,200
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--rabbitfishes 200
Bolbometopon muricatum-- 235
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- 66,000.
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..... 21,201.
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 (CNMI and
muricatum--bumphead Guam combined).
parrotfish.
Cheilinus undulatus-- 1,960.
humphead (Napoleon)
wrasse.
All other CREMUS 185,000.
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.
[[Page 18719]]
Holocentridae--squirre 66,100.
lfishes.
Kyphosidae--rudderfish 22,700.
es.
Labridae--wrasses..... 55,100.
Lethrinidae--emperors. 53,700.
Lutjanidae--snappers.. 190,400.
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 (CNMI and
muricatum--Bumphead Guam combined).
parrotfish.
Cheilinus undulatus-- 2,009.
Humphead (Napoleon)
wrasse.
All other CREMUS 7,300.
combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4--Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACL
Fishery Management unit species specification
(lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish..................... Non-Deep 7 bottomfish.. 178,000
Crustacean..................... Deepwater shrimp....... 250,773
Spiny lobster.......... 15,000
Slipper lobster........ 280
Kona crab.............. None
Precious Coral................. Auau Channel black 5,512
coral.
Makapuu Bed--Pink coral 2,205
Makapuu Bed--Bamboo 551
coral.
180 Fathom Bank--Pink 489
coral.
180 Fathom Bank--Bamboo 123
coral.
Brooks Bank--Pink coral 979
Brooks Bank--Bamboo 245
coral.
Kaena Point Bed--Pink 148
coral.
Kaena Point Bed--Bamboo 37
coral.
Keahole Bed--Pink coral 148
Keahole Bed--Bamboo 37
coral.
Precious corals in the 2,205
Hawaii Exploratory
Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem........... Selar crumenophthalmus-- 988,000
akule, bigeye scad.
Decapterus macarellus-- 438,000
opelu, mackerel scad.
Acanthuridae--surgeonfi 342,000
shes.
Carangidae--jacks...... 161,200
Carcharhinidae--reef 9,310
sharks.
Crustaceans--crabs..... 26,637
Holocentridae--squirrel 148,000
fishes.
Kyphosidae--rudderfishe 105,000
s.
Labridae--wrasses...... 205,000
Lethrinidae--emperors.. 35,500
Lutjanidae--snappers... 330,300
Mollusks--octopus...... 31,163
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 entries and required catch reporting from fisheries
in Federal waters are not sufficient to monitor and track catches
towards the 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-year average catch to evaluate
fishery performance against the ACLs. Specifically, NMFS and the
Council will use the average catch during fishing year 2014, 2015, and
2016 to evaluate fishery performance against the appropriate 2016 ACL.
At the end of each fishing year, the Council will review catches
relative to each ACL. If NMFS and the Council determine that 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 January 18,
2017 (82 FR 5517).
[[Page 18720]]
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on
February 2, 2017. NMFS received three comments and responds, as
follows:
Comment 1: The commenter supports annual catch limits and strict
limits to end fishing practices that incur bycatch.
Response: NMFS and the Council consider the effects to target and
non-target species (including bycatch) when setting ACLs and AMs. The
fisheries affected by this action, in general, have very little
bycatch.
Comment 2: The commenter supports ACLs because maintaining catch
limits keeps the ecology in balance and sustains the financial future
of catches for years to come.
Response: NMFS agrees.
Comment 3: The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) questioned
the NMFS interpretation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act statutory exception
to the ACL requirements for fish stocks managed under international
agreements. The NRDC interpretation is that the international exception
was not permanent; rather the ACLs would take effect in either 2010 or
2011, depending on a stock's overfishing status. The NRDC expressed the
notion that, if a stock is managed under an international agreement,
then the start date could be adjusted to match the start date for hard-
cap management provided by the international agreement. The NRDC
requested that NMFS set ACLs for all stocks in the region, including
those subject to management under international fishery agreements.
Response: NMFS disagrees with the NRDC interpretation of the
statute and stands by our interpretation that confirms the ACL
exception for stocks managed by international agreements, as described
in previous final actions revising the National Standard guidelines (74
FR 3178, January 16, 2009; 81 FR 71858, October 18, 2016). As the
commenter observed, the text of the statute's ``international
exception'' is vague. NMFS has considered public comment on different
possible interpretations, including looking specifically at the
interpretation advanced by some commenters that the exception only
pertains to the 2010-2011 timing requirements. Having considered the
text of the exception and other relevant provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, NMFS decided in 2009, and again in 2016, not to interpret
the exception as applying only to the timing of the ACL and AM
requirements. Based on the NRDC comments on this proposed rule, NMFS
has identified no new considerations or issues that warrant re-
examination of the approach it adopted in 2009 and confirmed in 2016
when revising National Standard guidelines.
Changes From the Proposed Specifications
There are no changes in the final specifications from the proposed
specifications.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action
is necessary for the conservation and management of Pacific Island
fisheries, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 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 specification stage that this action
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. NMFS published the factual basis for certification in
the proposed specifications, and does not repeat it here. NMFS did not
receive comments regarding this certification. As a result, a final
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, and one was not
prepared.
This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 18, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-08116 Filed 4-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
