International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; 2019 and 2020 Commercial Fishing Restrictions for Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 18409-18413 [2019-08804]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18409-18413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08804]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 180716667-9383-02]
RIN 0648-BI36


International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; 2019 and 2020 
Commercial Fishing Restrictions for Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern 
Pacific Ocean

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing 
regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (TCA) to implement 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-18-01 
(Measures for the Conservation and Management of Bluefin Tuna in the 
Eastern Pacific Ocean, 2019-2020) and Resolution C-18-02 (Amendment to 
Resolution C-16-08 on a Long-term Management Framework for the 
Conservation and Management of Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern 
Pacific Ocean). This rule would implement annual limits on commercial 
catch of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in the eastern 
Pacific Ocean (EPO) for 2019 and 2020. This action is necessary to 
conserve Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) and for the United States to 
satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.

DATES: The final rule is effective May 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or 
other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained 
in this final rule may be submitted to NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) 
Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD), 501 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90208, and by email to [email protected] or 
fax to (202) 395-5806.
    Copies of supporting documents are available via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, docket NOAA-NMFS-2018-
0126, or contact the Acting Highly Migratory Species Branch Chief, 
Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS WCR SFD, 501 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90208, or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Celia Barroso, NMFS WCR SFD, (562) 
432-1850, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On December 27, 2018, NMFS published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register to revise regulations at 50 CFR part 300, subpart C, for the 
commercial catch of PBF applicable to U.S. commercial vessels in 2019-
2020 (83 FR 66665). The public comment period was open for 30 days. 
However, due to a partial lapse in appropriations, the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal link in the proposed rule used to provide public 
comment was not active. Consequently, NMFS re-opened the public comment 
period for an additional 15 days (February 19, 2019; 84 FR 4758).
    This final rule is implemented under the authority of the TCA (16 
U.S.C. 951 et seq.), which directs the Secretary of Commerce, after 
approval by the Secretary of State, to promulgate regulations as 
necessary to implement resolutions adopted by the IATTC. The Secretary 
of Commerce has delegated this authority to NMFS.
    The proposed rule contains additional background information on the 
IATTC, the international obligations of the United States as a member 
of the IATTC, and the need for regulations. Changes from the proposed 
rule, and public comments received, are addressed below.

New Regulations for Commercial Pacific Bluefin Tuna for 2019-2020

    This final rule establishes catch and trip limits for U.S. 
commercial fishing vessels that catch PBF in the IATTC Convention Area. 
The IATTC Convention Area is defined as the area bounded by the west 
coast of the Americas, the 50[deg] N and 50[deg] S parallels, the 
150[deg] W meridian, and the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). 
The rule also establishes pre-trip notification requirements and 
accelerated landing receipt submission deadlines for 2019 and 2020.

Catch Limit for 2019 and 2020

    The U.S. biennial catch limit for 2019 and 2020 is 630 metric tons 
(mt) for U.S. commercial fishing vessels, which includes the addition 
of 30 mt resulting from an under-harvest from the previous biennial 
limit, as provided for in Resolutions C-18-01 and C-18-02. The 2019 
catch limit is 425 mt. NMFS will announce the 2020 catch limit in a

[[Page 18410]]

Federal Register notice, which will be calculated as the amount caught 
in 2019 subtracted from the biennial limit, but not to exceed 425 mt.

Trip Limits

    For 2019 and 2020, NMFS is implementing a 15-mt trip limit for each 
U.S. commercial fishing vessel until catch is within 50 mt of the 
annual limit, at which time the trip limit will be reduced to 2 mt per 
vessel through the end of the year, or until the fishery is closed. 
However, if the annual limit in 2020 is 125 mt or less, the trip limit 
will be 2 mt for each U.S. commercial fishing vessel for the entire 
calendar year, or until the fishery is closed.

Landing Receipt Submission

    Under the California Code of Regulations, electronic landing 
receipts (i.e., E-tickets) will be required as of July 1, 2019, and 
must be submitted within three business days of landing (Title 14, 
Sec.  197). This final rule requires E-tickets that include PBF 
landings in California to be submitted within 24 hours of landing, 
which is 48 hours earlier than the deadline established under State 
regulations. This accelerated submission deadline will assist NMFS in 
monitoring the catch limits and anticipate when these limits will be 
reached.

Pre-Trip Notification

    When the trip limit is 15 mt, purse seine vessels are required to 
submit a pre-trip notification to NMFS, at least 24 hours in advance of 
the fishing trip, in order to retain or land more than 2 mt of PBF. The 
pre-trip notification must include the vessel owner's or operator's 
name, contact information, vessel name, port of departure, and the 
intended date of departure for the trip. NMFS will use the contact 
information provided in the pre-trip notification to notify purse seine 
vessel owners or operators if an inseason action (i.e., reduction in 
trip limit or fishery closure) is expected or imposed. The pre-trip 
notification must be sent by email to [email protected]. A 
reply will be sent automatically to the vessel operator to confirm 
receipt of the pre-trip notification.
    The pre-trip notification will assist NMFS in tracking catch to 
manage trip limits and fishery closures. For the purposes of tracking 
catch of PBF, NMFS will assume that 15 mt of PBF will be caught on 
every trip for which a pre-trip notification is provided. NMFS will use 
this and other available fishery information (e.g., landings receipts) 
to estimate when the overall catch is expected to reach either the 
threshold to reduce the trip limit (i.e., within 50 mt of the annual 
limit) or the annual limit. NMFS will make decisions on inseason 
actions based on those estimates. NMFS encourages purse seine vessel 
owners or operators to call NMFS at (562) 432-1850 in advance of 
landing with an estimate of how much PBF was caught on the trip.

Inseason Action Announcements

    When NMFS determines that catch is expected to be within 50 mt of 
the annual limit (based on pre-trip notifications, landing receipts, or 
other available information), a 2-mt trip limit will be imposed by 
NMFS, effective upon the time and date that would appear in a notice on 
the NMFS website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/commercial-fishing/pacific-bluefin-tuna-commercial-harvest-status). The reduced 
trip limit will be announced over a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Notice to 
Mariners, to be broadcast three times per day for four days on USCG 
channel 16 VHF. NMFS will publish a notice of the reduced trip limit in 
the Federal Register as soon as practicable. The 2-mt trip limit will 
be effective upon the date and time on the website notice, unless the 
inseason action is published in the Federal Register earlier. PBF in 
excess of 2 mt already on board a fishing vessel on the effective date 
and time of the notice may be landed within 48 hours of the effective 
date and time of the notice, provided a pre-trip notification has been 
submitted. If the annual limit in 2020 is 125 mt or less, NMFS will not 
provide a notice that the trip limit has been reduced, because the trip 
limit would be 2 mt for the entire calendar year.
    When NMFS determines that the annual catch limit is expected to be 
reached in 2019 or 2020 (based on pre-trip notifications, landings 
receipts, or other available fishery information), NMFS will prohibit 
commercial fishing for, or retention of, PBF for the remainder of the 
calendar year (i.e., fishery closure). NMFS will provide a notice on 
the NMFS website, and the USCG would provide a Notice to Mariners three 
times per day for four days on USCG channel 16 VHF, announcing that the 
targeting, retaining, transshipping or landing of PBF will be 
prohibited on a specified effective time and date through the end of 
that calendar year. Upon that effective date, no U.S. commercial 
fishing vessel may be used to target, retain on board, transship, or 
land PBF captured in the Convention Area. However, any PBF already on 
board a fishing vessel on the effective date may be retained on board, 
transshipped, and/or landed, to the extent authorized by applicable 
laws and regulations, provided that they are landed within 14 days of 
the effective date of the fishery closure. NMFS will then publish a 
notice of the fishery closure in the Federal Register as soon as 
practicable.
    In 2020, NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing the 2020 catch limit.
    After landing receipts have been received and the landed catch 
quantity confirmed, if NMFS learns that the trip limit is reduced 
early, or the fishery is closed due to an overestimation of catch, NMFS 
may increase the trip limit to 15 mt or re-open the fishery. NMFS will 
announce these actions on the NMFS website and by USCG Notice to 
Mariners to be broadcast three times per day for four days on USCG 
channel 16 VHF, and publish the inseason action in the Federal Register 
as soon as practicable.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    NMFS had proposed an annual limit of 300 mt for 2019, which was 
more restrictive than the annual limit in Resolution C-18-01. NMFS 
proposed this limit based on a recommendation from the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (PFMC) at its September 2018 meeting because it 
would provide additional assurances that the annual limit in Resolution 
C-18-01 would not be exceeded. This final rule includes several 
measures (i.e., lower trip limits, new closure procedures, pre-trip 
notifications, and accelerated E-ticket submission deadlines) to 
address the PFMC concern about exceeding the annual limits. After 
further consideration of comments on the proposed rule, as explained 
below, discussion at the November 2018 PFMC meeting and the PFMC's 
Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel recommendation, the final 
rule increases the 2019 catch limit to 425 mt to be consistent with 
Resolution C-18-01. This allows vessel operators to optimize catch over 
the two-year management period in the event that PBF are more available 
to U.S. vessels in 2019 than in 2020. NOAA's National Weather Service 
Climate Prediction Center predicts weak El Ni[ntilde]o conditions are 
likely to continue into the summer of 2019. PBF are more abundant in 
U.S. waters during El Ni[ntilde]o conditions and should this climate 
pattern change, it is possible that PBF will be less abundant in 2020. 
Therefore, the final rule allows the U.S. fleet to not be additionally 
constrained by a lower catch limit than provided in the Resolution if 
more PBF are available in 2019 than 2020.

[[Page 18411]]

    As described above, coastal purse seine vessel operators would be 
required to submit a pre-trip notification 24 hours in advance of a 
trip during the period when the trip limit is 15 mt and only if landing 
greater than 2 mt of PBF per trip. NMFS had proposed 48 hours in 
advance of a trip resulting in any landings of PBF, but as a result of 
a PFMC recommendation and public comment, NMFS has decreased the 
requirement to 24 hours. A decrease in the time required before a trip 
to submit a pre-trip notification will provide greater flexibility to 
the fleet by allowing vessel operators to plan trips targeting PBF a 
minimum of one day in advance, rather than two. Allowing up to 2 mt to 
be landed without the pre-trip notification will allow coastal purse 
seine vessels to potentially harvest PBF incidentally or in small 
quantities without creating a risk of exceeding the annual limit. The 
pre-trip notification was not entirely removed from the final rule 
because it is expected to further effective management of the inseason 
actions described above. This requirement is particularly important to 
ensure the United States does not exceed the internationally-agreed 
annual limit of 425 mt.
    Because NMFS has estimated the 2017-2018 catch, the biennial catch 
limit is definitively 630 mt, which includes 30 mt resulting from the 
under-harvest of the 2017-2018 catch limit. The regulatory text has 
been amended to reflect this change.
    The proposed rule stated, in the supplementary information section, 
that if the catch limit in 2020 is 125 mt or less, the trip limit will 
be 2 mt for the entire calendar year. However, this text was mistakenly 
left out of the proposed regulatory text. NMFS did not receive any 
comments on this portion of the proposed rule and this regulatory text 
was added to the final rule.
    Lastly, PBF in excess of 2 mt on board a vessel may be landed 
within 48 hours of the effective date and time of the notice to reduce 
the trip limit from 15 mt to 2 mt, provided a pre-trip notification has 
been submitted. NMFS made this change recognizing that vessels that 
target PBF in quantities greater than 2 mt may not reach port by the 
effective date and time.

Catch Reporting

    NMFS will provide updates on PBF catches in the Convention Area to 
the public via the IATTC listserv and the NMFS website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/commercial-fishing/pacific-bluefin-tuna-commercial-harvest-status. Specifically, beginning April 15 of 
each year, NMFS will update the NMFS website weekly, at a minimum, 
provided the updates do not disclose confidential information (in 
accordance with Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act section 402 (b), 16 U.S.C. 1881a). These updates are intended to 
help participants in the U.S. commercial fishery plan for reduced trip 
limits and attainment of the annual limits.

Public Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 14 written comments on the proposed rule. Many of the 
comments had common themes; therefore, they are addressed by topic 
below.
    Comment 1: Six commenters supported the rule. Of these six, two 
requested additional information on enforcement.
    Response: NMFS will monitor landing receipts in coordination with 
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that pre-trip 
notifications, trip limits, and fishery closures are followed in 
accordance with regulations. If it is found that an illegal landing 
potentially took place, the case will be referred to the NMFS Office of 
Law Enforcement. The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports penalty 
schedules and policy at the following website: https://www.gc.noaa.gov/enforce-office3.html.
    Comment 2: Six commenters expressed concern about either the annual 
limit proposed for 2019, the pre-trip notification, or both. It was 
noted, both in public comments submitted on the proposed rule and at 
the March 2019 PFMC meeting, that the fishery targets PBF 
opportunistically, and a catch limit of 300 mt could disadvantage the 
U.S. fleet if PBF are more available in U.S. waters in only one of the 
two years in which this rule would apply. NMFS increased the annual 
limit in 2019 to 425 mt in the final rule for reasons explained above 
in the section, Changes from the Proposed Rule.
    Response: NMFS solicited comment on a recommendation from the 
November 2019 PFMC meeting to reduce the pre-trip notification from 48 
hours in advance of a trip, as initially proposed, to 24 hours. 
Commenters expressed concern that a pre-trip notification, whether 48 
or 24 hours, would be burdensome because fishermen often quickly make 
the decision to target PBF. One commenter also noted that the pre-trip 
notification is not necessary because of the 24-hour e-ticket 
requirement. As described above, NMFS reduced the pre-trip notification 
timeline requirement to 24 hours in this final rule, which is expected 
to achieve the management goals. NMFS notes that the 24-hour e-ticket 
requirement is not effective until July 1, 2019, when e-tickets will be 
required under the California Code of Regulations (Title 14, Sec.  
197).
    Comment 3: One commenter suggested that a 15-mt trip limit is too 
low and will lead to incidental discards, and inquired if NMFS had 
examined the logbooks from 2017.
    Response: NMFS notes that logbooks have not been turned in for 
every trip that resulted in landings of tuna. According to the logbooks 
NMFS received from trips made in 2017, weight estimates of PBF sets 
ranged from 1 mt to 25 mt, with an average of 15.1 mt.
    Comment 4: Three commenters suggested that PBF are found in schools 
mixed with skipjack and yellowfin tuna, both of which are target 
species for the coastal purse seine fishery. These commenters expressed 
concern that requiring the pre-trip notification could result in 
discards when more than 2 mt of PBF are caught in association with 
other tunas and that a 2 mt trip limit would limit yellowfin tuna 
catches.
    Response: NMFS notes that, although mixing could be occurring, this 
is not supported by the logbook data NMFS has received. In the logbooks 
submitted to NMFS for 2017 and 2018, only 2 sets out of 97 sets that 
resulted in catches of tuna indicated that PBF was caught in 
association with other tunas in a single set. Additionally, while the 
regulations may impact operations relative to historic targeting 
strategies, 2018 landings data indicate that a reduction in PBF trip 
limits to 2 mt is not expected to have a significant impact on revenue. 
This is evidenced by a shift away from targeted PBF trips after 2 mt 
trip limits were imposed in 2018. PBF purse seine fleet revenue 
declined by an average of $411,000 from 2016-2017 to 2018. Over the 
same period, revenue from skipjack tuna on purse seine trips increased 
by a total of $911,000, and yellowfin revenues increased by $229,000. 
Because the fleet was able to successfully harvest both skipjack and 
yellowfin in 2018 under the lower catch limits, it is not expected that 
the trip limits in the proposed rule will result in limiting yellowfin 
catches.
    Comment 5: One commenter challenged NMFS' assessment that the 
economic impact of the rule to the purse seine fleet is not 
significant.
    Response: This commenter did not provide specific data or evidence 
and NMFS did not find evidence that coastal purse seine vessels have 
been relying on PBF revenue after the sardine fishery closure in 2015. 
The coastal purse seine

[[Page 18412]]

fleet continues to derive the majority of its revenue from market 
squid, with sardines having accounted for 4 percent of revenue in 2011, 
2012, and 2014 (note there was no purse seine fishery for PBF in 2013). 
After the sardine closure, revenue from PBF has decreased relative to 
the coastal purse seine sector portfolio, from 4 percent to 2 percent 
of total landed revenue. These vessels have increased revenue from 
Pacific bonito, skipjack tuna, and yellowfin tuna, resulting in a 60 
percent increase in total fleet revenue in the three years following 
the sardine closure compared to the 3 years prior to the closure.

 Percentage of Total Revenue by Species for the U.S. Coastal Purse Seine
                                  Fleet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            2011, 2012,
                                               2014          2016-2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Inflation-Adjusted Revenue........     $24,477,811     $39,066,168
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Percent         Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific bluefin tuna....................               4               2
Chub mackerel...........................               4               4
Market squid............................              84              77
Northern anchovy........................               0               1
Pacific bonito..........................               0               3
Pacific sardine.........................               4               0
Skipjack tuna...........................               0               3
Yellowfin tuna..........................               4              10
Other...................................               0               0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment 6: One commenter inquired about the process of implementing 
inseason actions as a result of an overestimation of catch.
    Response: As stated in the rule, NMFS will make an assumption that 
15 mt of PBF will be caught on each trip for which a pre-trip 
notification was provided. NMFS encourages vessel operators to call 
(562) 432-1850 with an estimate of landing quantity to provide more 
accurate estimates. NMFS will review landing receipts to update catch 
estimates and, if necessary, take inseason action, as specified in the 
final rule, to reverse the original action.
    Comment 7: Two commenters suggested considering allocation of the 
catch limit based on gear types.
    Response: Allocation based on gear types is outside the scope of 
this rulemaking; however, NMFS will be hosting a stakeholder meeting on 
May 2, 2019, and intends to discuss approaches to the long-term 
domestic management of the stock (April 12, 2019; 84 FR 14914). NMFS 
looks forward to continuing the discussion on topics of this nature at 
that meeting.

Classification

    After consulting with the Department of State and the U. S. Coast 
Guard, the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined 
that this rule is consistent with the TCA and other applicable laws.
    This rule was determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.
    The NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that 
the need to conserve PBF and comply with our international obligations 
constitutes good cause, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to waive the 
requirement for a 30-day delay in effectiveness. In recent years, PBF 
have remained in significant numbers in waters off of southern 
California, and U.S. commercial vessels currently have a greater 
opportunity to fish for PBF off of the U.S West Coast than in previous 
years. If the trip limits implemented by this rule were subject to the 
30-day delay in effectiveness, and taking into account that a single 
trip could catch up to 75 mt, there is potential for a derby-style 
fishery that would result in exceeding the 425-mt catch limit for 2019 
before this rule goes into effect. Although justification exists to 
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness, NMFS is implementing a 7-day 
delay in effectiveness to provide sufficient time for currently-
operating vessels to comply with the new regulations (vessels that 
target PBF in large quantities (i.e., purse seine vessels) typically 
complete their fishing trips within one to two days). As soon as the 
rule is published, notice will be given to fishery participants through 
an email sent to the IATTC distribution list. Therefore, to conserve 
PBF, which are overfished, and to remain in compliance with IATTC 
Resolutions C-18-01 and C-18-02, NMFS has determined that implementing 
these measures 7 days after publishing in the Federal Register is in 
the public's interest.
    This rule contains a collection-of-information requirement subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which has been approved by OMB 
under control number 0649-0778. Public reporting burden for E-ticket 
submission, pre-trip notification, and voluntary pre-landing 
notification is estimated to average 4 minutes per response, including 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Comments regarding this burden estimate, or 
any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden, may be sent to NMFS (see ADDRESSES), by email to 
[email protected], or fax to (202) 395-5806. All currently 
approved NOAA collections of information may be viewed at: https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html. There is also an 
existing collection-of-information requirement associated with the 
Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly 
Migratory Species. These requirements have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget under Control Number 0648-0204. 
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.
    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, for purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, this action would not have a significant 
economic impact on a

[[Page 18413]]

substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for the 
certification was published in the proposed rule and is not repeated 
here. NMFS received one comment on the certification, which is 
addressed above under the Public Comments and Responses section. No 
information received during the public comment period changes NMFS' 
analysis. Therefore, the initial certification published with the 
proposed rule--that this rule is not expected to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities--remains 
unchanged. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not 
required and none was prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

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

    Dated: April 25, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
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:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

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. In Sec.  300.24, revise paragraph (u) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.24  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (u) Use a United States commercial fishing vessel in the Convention 
Area to target, retain on board, transship, or land Pacific bluefin 
tuna in contravention of Sec.  300.25(g)(4) through (8) and (g)(10) 
through (11).
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  300.25, revise paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.25  Fisheries management.

* * * * *
    (g) Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) commercial catch 
limits in the eastern Pacific Ocean for 2019-2020. The following is 
applicable to the U.S. commercial fishery for Pacific bluefin tuna in 
the Convention Area in the years 2019 and 2020.
    (1) The 2019-2020 biennial limit is 630 metric tons.
    (2) For the calendar year 2019, all commercial fishing vessels of 
the United States combined may capture, retain, transship, or land no 
more than 425 metric tons.
    (3) In 2020, NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing the 2020 catch limit. For the calendar year 2020, all 
commercial fishing vessels of the United States combined may capture, 
retain on board, transship, or land no more than the 2020 annual catch 
limit. The 2020 catch limit is the lesser of: The 2019-2020 biennial 
limit reduced by the amount caught by U.S. commercial vessels in 2019; 
or 425 metric tons.
    (4) In 2019 and 2020, a 15-metric ton trip limit will be in effect 
until NMFS anticipates that catch will be within 50 metric tons of the 
catch limit, after which a 2-metric ton trip limit will be in effect 
upon the effective date provided in actual notice, in accordance with 
paragraph (g)(8) of this section. In 2020, if the catch limit is 125 mt 
or less, a 2-metric ton trip limit will be in effect for the entire 
calendar year.
    (5) After NMFS determines that the catch limits under paragraphs 
(g)(2) and (3) of this section are expected to be reached, NMFS will 
close the fishery effective upon the date and time provided in the 
actual notice, in accordance with paragraph (g)(9) of this section. 
Upon the effective date in the actual notice, targeting, retaining on 
board, transshipping, or landing Pacific bluefin tuna in the Convention 
Area shall be prohibited, as described in paragraph (g)(6) of this 
section.
    (6) After NMFS determines that the catch limits under paragraph 
(g)(4) of this section are expected to be reached, a 2 mt trip limit 
will be in effect upon the date and time provided in the actual notice, 
in accordance with paragraph (g)(9) of this section. Pacific bluefin 
tuna in excess of 2 mt already on board a vessel on the effective date 
and time of the actual notice may be landed within 48 hours of the 
effective date and time provided in the actual notice, provided a pre-
trip notification has been submitted to NMFS.
    (7) Beginning on the date provided in the actual notice of the 
fishing closure announced under paragraph (g)(5) of this section, a 
commercial fishing vessel of the United States may not be used to 
target, retain on board, transship, or land Pacific bluefin tuna 
captured in the Convention Area through the end of the calendar year, 
with the exception that any Pacific bluefin tuna already on board a 
fishing vessel on the effective date of the notice may be retained on 
board, transshipped, and/or landed within 14 days after the effective 
date published in the fishing closure notice, to the extent authorized 
by applicable laws and regulations.
    (8) If an inseason action taken under paragraphs (g)(4), (5), (6), 
or (7) of this section is based on overestimate of actual catch, NMFS 
will reverse that action in the timeliest possible manner, provided 
NMFS finds that reversing that action is consistent with the management 
objectives for the affected species. The fishery will reopen effective 
on the date provided in the actual notice in accordance with paragraph 
(g)(9) of this section.
    (9) Inseason actions taken under paragraphs (g)(4), (5), (6), (7), 
and (8) of this section will be by actual notice from posting on the 
National Marine Fisheries Service website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/commercial-fishing/pacific-bluefin-tuna-commercial-harvest-status) and a United States Coast Guard Notice 
to Mariners. The Notice to Mariners will be broadcast three times daily 
for four days. This action will also be published in the Federal 
Register as soon as practicable. Inseason actions will be effective 
from the time specified in the actual notice of the action (i.e., 
website posting and United States Coast Guard Notice to Mariners), 
unless the inseason action is published in the Federal Register at an 
earlier time.
    (10) For a purse seine vessel to retain or land greater than 2 
metric tons of Pacific bluefin tuna while the 15-metric ton trip limit 
is in effect, the vessel owner or operator must provide a pre-trip 
notification to NMFS 24 hours in advance of departing on the fishing 
trip. The notification shall be made to NMFS at 
[email protected], and must include the owner or operator's 
name, contact information, vessel name, port of departure, and intended 
date and time of departure.
    (11) As of July 1, 2019, if landing Pacific bluefin tuna into the 
State of California, fish landing receipts (i.e., E-tickets) must be 
submitted within 24 hours to the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife in accordance with the requirements of applicable State 
regulations.

[FR Doc. 2019-08804 Filed 4-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P