Determination of Overfishing or an Overfished Condition, 9910 [2021-03147]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 9910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03147]



[[Page 9910]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA807]


Determination of Overfishing or an Overfished Condition

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has found that Gulf of Mexico cobia, 
Gulf of Mexico lane snapper, the Gulf of Mexico jacks complex, South 
Atlantic golden tilefish, and Western and Central Pacific Ocean silky 
shark are now subject to overfishing; Sacramento River fall-run Chinook 
salmon, Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon, Queets coho salmon, Juan 
de Fuca coho salmon, and Saint Matthew Island blue king crab are still 
overfished; and Pacific bluefin tuna is still subject to overfishing 
and overfished. NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, notifies the 
appropriate regional fishery management council (Council) whenever it 
determines that a stock or stock complex is subject to overfishing, 
overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Frens, (301)-427-8523.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 304(e)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2), NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, 
must notify Councils, and publish a notice in the Federal Register, 
whenever it determines that a stock or stock complex is subject to 
overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition.
    NMFS has determined that Gulf of Mexico cobia, Gulf of Mexico lane 
snapper, and the Gulf of Mexico jacks complex are now subject to 
overfishing. The Gulf of Mexico cobia determination is based on the 
most recent assessment, completed in 2020 and using data through 2018, 
which indicates that this stock is subject to overfishing because the 
fishing mortality rate was above the threshold. Gulf of Mexico lane 
snapper and the Gulf jacks complex were not assessed in 2020, and catch 
data from 2019 support a determination that these stocks are subject to 
overfishing because catch for each stock exceeded their respective 
thresholds. NMFS has notified the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council of the requirement to end and prevent overfishing on lane 
snapper and the jacks complex. NMFS has notified the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council of the requirement to end and prevent overfishing on cobia.
    NMFS has determined that South Atlantic golden tilefish is now 
subject to overfishing. This stock was not assessed in 2020, and catch 
data from 2019 support a determination that this stock is subject to 
overfishing because the catch was above the threshold. NMFS has 
notified the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council of the 
requirement to end and prevent overfishing on this stock.
    NMFS has determined that Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) 
silky shark is now subject to overfishing. The determination for silky 
shark is based on the most recent assessment, completed in 2018 using 
data through 2016, which indicates that the stock is subject to 
overfishing because the fishing mortality rate is above the threshold. 
NMFS has determined that section 304(i) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
applies because the overfishing of WCPO silky shark is due largely to 
excessive international fishing pressure. NMFS has informed the Western 
Pacific Fishery Management Council of its obligations for domestic and 
international management under Magnuson-Stevens Act section 304(i) to 
address domestic and international impacts.
    NMFS has determined that Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon, 
Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon, Queets coho salmon, and Juan de 
Fuca coho salmon are still overfished. These determinations are based 
on the most recent assessments, completed in 2020 and using data from 
2017-2019 for the two Chinook stocks, and data from 2016-2018 for the 
two coho stocks. The assessments support determinations that all four 
stocks remain overfished because the three-year geometric mean of the 
annual spawning escapement for each stock falls below its respective 
threshold. Of these four salmon stocks, only the two Chinook stocks are 
domestically managed. The Council has limited ability to control the 
two internationally-managed coho stocks in waters outside its 
jurisdiction. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) 
adopted rebuilding plans for all four overfished salmon stocks in 2019. 
NMFS continues to work with the Pacific Council to implement these 
plans.
    NMFS has further determined that Pacific bluefin tuna continues to 
be both subject to overfishing and overfished. This determination is 
based on the most recent assessment, conducted by the International 
Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North 
Pacific Ocean (ISC), completed in 2020 using data through 2018. 
Applying domestic status determination criteria, this stock is still 
subject to overfishing because the fishing mortality rate is above its 
threshold, and is still overfished because the spawning stock biomass 
is below its threshold. NMFS continues to work with the Pacific Council 
to end overfishing and rebuild this stock.
    NMFS has determined that Saint Matthew Island blue king crab is 
still overfished. This determination is based on the most recent 
assessment, completed in 2020 using data through 2020, which indicates 
that the stock is overfished because the biomass estimate remains below 
its threshold. NMFS continues to work with the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council to rebuild this stock.

    Dated: February 11, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-03147 Filed 2-16-21; 8:45 am]
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