Pacific Island Fisheries; 2017-18 Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish, 29778-29779 [2017-13681]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
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safeguards to ensure the ACL will not be
exceeded. In short, the management
measures implemented by this rule are
more than adequate to prevent
exceeding the OFL. Additionally, even
in the absence of any fishing mortality,
unfavorable environmental conditions
could keep the sardine population at a
low level. Small pelagic species, such as
sardine, undergo wide natural
fluctuations in abundance, even in the
absence of fishing, from environmental
conditions external to fishing; therefore,
it is highly unlikely that reducing the
ACL from 8,000 mt to 2,000 mt would
measurably affect long-term fluctuations
in Pacific sardine abundance. Based on
the recent stock assessments and NMFS
research, low recent recruitments (i.e.,
the number of young fish maturing into
the spawning population) is the primary
cause of the current downward trend in
overall population size. Recruitment is
believed to be strongly related to
environmental conditions, particularly,
large-scale oceanographic phenomena.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the
NMFS West Coast Regional
Administrator, with the concurrence of
the Assistant Administrator, has
determined that this final rule is
consistent with the CPS FMP, other
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, and other applicable laws.
NMFS finds good cause under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day
delay in effectiveness for the
establishment of these final harvest
specifications for the 2017–2018 Pacific
sardine fishing season. In accordance
with the FMP, this rule was
recommended by the Council at its
meeting in April 2017, the contents of
which were based on the best available
new scientific information on the
population status of Pacific sardine that
became available at that time. Making
these final specifications effective on
July 1, 2017, is necessary for the
conservation and management of the
Pacific sardine resource. The FMP
requires a prohibition on directed
fishing for Pacific sardine for the 2017–
2018 fishing year because the sardine
biomass is below the CUTOFF. The
purpose of the CUTOFF in the FMP—
and prohibiting directed fishing when
the biomass drops below this level—is
to protect the stock when biomass is low
and provide a buffer of spawning stock
that is protected from fishing and
available for use in rebuilding the stock.
A delay in the effectiveness of this rule
for a full 30 days would not allow the
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implementation of this prohibition prior
to the expiration of the closure of the
directed fishery on July 1, 2017, which
was imposed under the 2016–2017
annual specifications.
Delaying the effective date of this rule
beyond July 1 would be contrary to the
public interest because reducing Pacific
sardine biomass beyond the limits set
out in this action could decrease the
sustainability of the Pacific sardine, as
well as cause future harvest limits to be
even lower under the harvest control
rule, thereby reducing future profits of
the fishery.
These final specifications are exempt
from review under Executive Order
12866.
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. The factual basis for the
certification was published in the
proposed rule and is not repeated here.
No comments were received regarding
this certification. As a result, a
regulatory flexibility analysis was not
required and none was prepared.
This action does not contain a
collection-of-information requirement
for purposes of the Paper Reduction Act.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 26, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–13685 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 170330338–7585–02]
RIN 0648–XF335
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2017–18
Annual Catch Limit and Accountability
Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep
7 Bottomfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications.
AGENCY:
NMFS specifies an annual
catch limit (ACL) of 306,000 lb for Deep
7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian
SUMMARY:
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Islands (MHI) for the 2017–18 fishing
year, which will begin on September 1,
2017, and end on August 31, 2018. If
NMFS projects that the fishery will
reach the ACL, NMFS would close the
commercial and non-commercial
fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish for
the remainder of the fishing year as an
accountability measure (AM). The ACL
and AM support the long-term
sustainability of Hawaii bottomfish.
DATES: The final specifications are
effective from July 31, 2017, through
August 31, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery
Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian
Archipelago 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 assessment and finding
of no significant impact for this action,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2017–0033,
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:
Sarah Ellgen, NMFS PIR Sustainable
Fisheries, 808–725–5173.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through
this action, NMFS is specifying an ACL
of 306,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in
the MHI for the 2017–18 fishing year.
The fishing year begins September 1,
2017, and ends on August 31, 2018. The
Council recommended this ACL, based
on the best available scientific,
commercial, and other information,
taking into account the associated risk
of overfishing. The ACL of 306,000 lb
for 2017–18 is 12,000 lb less than the
ACL that NMFS specified for 2016–17
(82 FR 5429, January 18, 2017).
The MHI Management Subarea is the
portion of U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone around the Hawaiian Archipelago
east of 161°20′ W. The Deep 7
bottomfish are onaga (Etelis coruscans),
ehu (E. carbunculus), gindai
(Pristipomoides zonatus), kalekale (P.
sieboldii), opakapaka (P. filamentosus),
lehi (Aphareus rutilans), and hapuupuu
(Hyporthodus quernus).
NMFS will monitor the fishery and, if
we project that the fishery will reach the
ACL before August 31, 2018, we would,
as an AM authorized in 50 CFR 665.4(f),
close the non-commercial and
commercial fisheries for Deep 7
bottomfish in Federal waters through
August 31, 2018. During a fishery
closure for Deep 7 bottomfish, no person
may fish for, possess, or sell any of these
fish in the MHI Management Subarea.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
There is no prohibition on fishing for,
possessing, or selling other (non-Deep 7)
bottomfish during such a closure. All
other management measures continue to
apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery. If
NMFS and the Council determine that
the final 2017–18 Deep 7 bottomfish
catch exceeds the ACL, NMFS would
reduce the Deep 7 bottomfish ACL for
2018–19 by the amount of the overage.
You may review additional
background information on this action
in the preamble to the proposed
specifications (82 FR 24092; May 25,
2017); we do not repeat that information
here.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed
specifications ended on June 9, 2017.
NMFS did not receive any comments.
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17:26 Jun 29, 2017
Jkt 241001
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 MHI Deep 7 bottomfish,
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
PO 00000
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29779
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. NMFS
published the factual basis for the
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: June 26, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–13681 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29778-29779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13681]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 170330338-7585-02]
RIN 0648-XF335
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2017-18 Annual Catch Limit and
Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS specifies an annual catch limit (ACL) of 306,000 lb for
Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for the 2017-18
fishing year, which will begin on September 1, 2017, and end on August
31, 2018. If NMFS projects that the fishery will reach the ACL, NMFS
would close the commercial and non-commercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7
bottomfish for the remainder of the fishing year as an accountability
measure (AM). The ACL and AM support the long-term sustainability of
Hawaii bottomfish.
DATES: The final specifications are effective from July 31, 2017,
through August 31, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian
Archipelago 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 assessment and finding of no significant impact for
this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0033, 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: Sarah Ellgen, NMFS PIR Sustainable
Fisheries, 808-725-5173.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through this action, NMFS is specifying an
ACL of 306,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI for the 2017-18
fishing year. The fishing year begins September 1, 2017, and ends on
August 31, 2018. The Council recommended this ACL, based on the best
available scientific, commercial, and other information, taking into
account the associated risk of overfishing. The ACL of 306,000 lb for
2017-18 is 12,000 lb less than the ACL that NMFS specified for 2016-17
(82 FR 5429, January 18, 2017).
The MHI Management Subarea is the portion of U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone around the Hawaiian Archipelago east of 161[deg]20' W.
The Deep 7 bottomfish are onaga (Etelis coruscans), ehu (E.
carbunculus), gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus), kalekale (P. sieboldii),
opakapaka (P. filamentosus), lehi (Aphareus rutilans), and hapuupuu
(Hyporthodus quernus).
NMFS will monitor the fishery and, if we project that the fishery
will reach the ACL before August 31, 2018, we would, as an AM
authorized in 50 CFR 665.4(f), close the non-commercial and commercial
fisheries for Deep 7 bottomfish in Federal waters through August 31,
2018. During a fishery closure for Deep 7 bottomfish, no person may
fish for, possess, or sell any of these fish in the MHI Management
Subarea.
[[Page 29779]]
There is no prohibition on fishing for, possessing, or selling other
(non-Deep 7) bottomfish during such a closure. All other management
measures continue to apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery. If NMFS and
the Council determine that the final 2017-18 Deep 7 bottomfish catch
exceeds the ACL, NMFS would reduce the Deep 7 bottomfish ACL for 2018-
19 by the amount of the overage.
You may review additional background information on this action in
the preamble to the proposed specifications (82 FR 24092; May 25,
2017); we do not repeat that information here.
Comments and Responses
The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on June 9,
2017. NMFS did not receive any comments.
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 MHI Deep 7
bottomfish, 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 the 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: June 26, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13681 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
