International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Fish Aggregating Device Design Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries, IMO Number Requirements, and Bycatch Restrictions, 55790-55798 [2021-21646]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 192 (Thursday, October 7, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55790-55798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21646]



[[Page 55790]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 210929-0202]
RIN 0648-BI79


International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
for Highly Migratory Species; Fish Aggregating Device Design 
Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries, IMO Number Requirements, and 
Bycatch Restrictions

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS seeks comments on this proposed rule issued under 
authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention 
Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act). The proposed rule would 
implement recent decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission) on fish aggregating device (FAD) 
design requirements, International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 
requirements, and bycatch restrictions for sharks and rays. This action 
is necessary to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the 
Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish 
Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), to which 
it is a Contracting Party. The proposed rule would apply to owners and 
operators of U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing for 
highly migratory species (HMS) in the area of application of the 
Convention.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted in writing by 
November 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule and the 
regulatory impact review (RIR) prepared for the proposed rule, 
identified by NOAA-NMFS-2021-0068, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0068 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO), 
1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
     Fax: (808) 725-5215; Attn: Michael D. Tosatto.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name and address), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) prepared under 
authority of the Regulatory Flexibility Act is included in the 
Classification section of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.
    Copies of the RIR and the Environmental Assessment are available at 
www.regulations.gov or may be obtained from Michael D. Tosatto, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS PIRO (see ADDRESSES above).
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to PIRO at the address listed above and 
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Crigler, NMFS PIRO, 808-725-
5036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Convention focused on the conservation and management of 
fisheries for HMS. The objective of the Convention is to ensure, 
through effective management, the long-term conservation and 
sustainable use of HMS in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). 
To accomplish this objective, the Convention established the 
Commission, which includes Members, Cooperating Non-members, and 
Participating Territories (collectively referred to here as 
``members''). The United States is a Member. American Samoa, Guam, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are 
Participating Territories.
    As a Contracting Party to the Convention and a Member of the 
Commission, the United States implements, as appropriate, conservation 
and management measures and other decisions adopted by the Commission. 
The WCPFC Implementation Act (16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), authorizes the 
Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State and 
the Secretary of the Department in which the United States Coast Guard 
is operating (currently the Department of Homeland Security), to 
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
obligations of the United States under the Convention, including the 
decisions of the Commission. The WCPFC Implementation Act further 
provides that the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure consistency, to 
the extent practicable, of fishery management programs administered 
under the WCPFC Implementation Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as well 
as other specific laws (see 16 U.S.C. 6905(b)). The Secretary of 
Commerce has delegated the authority to promulgate regulations under 
the WCPFC Implementation Act to NMFS. A map showing the boundaries of 
the area of application of the Convention (Convention Area), which 
comprises the majority of the WCPO, can be found on the WCPFC website 
at: www.wcpfc.int/doc/convention-area-map.
    The United States is also a member of the Inter-American Tropical 
Tuna Commission (IATTC). The convention areas for the IATTC and WCPFC 
overlap in the Pacific Ocean waters within a rectangular area bounded 
by 50[deg] S latitude, 4[deg] S latitude, 150[deg] W longitude, and 
130[deg] W longitude (``overlap area'').
    Historically, regulations implementing the conservation measures 
adopted by the IATTC (50 CFR part 300, subpart C) and the WCPFC (50 CFR 
part 300, subpart O) both applied to U.S. vessels fishing for HMS in 
the overlap area. In 2012, the IATTC and the WCPFC adopted 
recommendations/decisions under which members with vessels listed in 
both WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels (Record) and IATTC Regional Vessel 
Register List (Register) would decide which of the two commissions' 
decisions those vessels would operate under when fishing in the overlap 
area.\1\
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    \1\ See IATTC Recommendation C-12-11, ``IATTC-WCPFC Overlap 
Area,'' and WCPFC decision documented in ``Summary Report of the 
Ninth Regular Session of the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and 
Central Pacific Ocean,'' Manila, Philippines, 2-6 December, 2012, 
paragraph 80.

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    In 2020, NMFS published a rule (85 FR 37376; June 22, 2020) 
adjusting NMFS regulations implementing IATTC resolutions that apply in 
the overlap area, and adjusting NMFS regulations implementing WCPFC 
conservation and management measures that place limits or restrictions 
on catch, fishing effort, and bycatch mitigation to no longer apply in 
the overlap area (2020 overlap rule). In this proposed rule, NMFS 
proposes to follow the basis established in the 2020 overlap rule, so 
that the WCPFC management measures which would implement limits or 
restrictions on catch, fishing effort, and bycatch mitigation would not 
apply in the overlap area.

Measures To Be Implemented

    This proposed rule includes implementation of specific provisions 
of four recent WCPFC decisions (CMM 2018-01, ``Conservation and 
Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna''; CMM 2018-
06, ``Conservation and Management Measure for WCPFC Record of Fishing 
Vessels and Authorisation to Fish''; CMM 2019-04, ``Conservation and 
Management Measure for Sharks''; and CMM 2019-05, ``Conservation and 
Management Measure on Mobulid Rays'').
    The first decision, Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2018-
01, ``Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin, and 
Skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean,'' was adopted 
by the Commission at its fifteenth regular annual session, in December 
2018. The measures in CMM 2018-01 continue to be in force until 
February 15, 2022, per CMM 2020-01. The purpose of CMM 2018-01, and its 
predecessor measures, is to ensure the sustainability of the stocks of 
bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and 
skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the WCPO until the establishment 
of specific harvest strategies for those stocks. CMM 2018-01 is similar 
in many respects to its predecessor WCPFC conservation and management 
measures for tropical tunas, and NMFS has already implemented most 
provisions of CMM 2018-01 through prior rulemakings (see regulations at 
50 CFR 300.223 and 50 CFR 300.224).
    The proposed rule would implement the provisions of CMM 2018-01 
regarding non-entangling FADs for purse seine fishing vessels. 
Paragraph 19 of CMM 2018-01 includes the following FAD specifications, 
in order to reduce the risk of entanglement of sharks, sea turtles or 
any other species, to be implemented by January 1, 2020:
     The floating or raft part (flat or rolled structure) of 
the FAD can be covered or not. To the extent possible the use of mesh 
net should be avoided. If the FAD is covered with mesh net, it must 
have a stretched mesh size less than 7 centimeters (cm) (2.5 inches) 
and the mesh net must be well wrapped around the whole raft so that 
there is no netting hanging below the FAD when it is deployed.
     The design of the underwater or hanging part (tail) of the 
FAD should avoid the use of mesh net. If mesh net is used, it must have 
a stretched mesh size of less than 7 cm (2.5 inches) or tied tightly in 
bundles or ``sausages'' with enough weight at the end to keep the 
netting taut down in the water column. Alternatively, a single weighted 
panel (less than 7 cm (2.5 inches) stretched mesh size net or solid 
sheet such as canvas or nylon) can be used.
    The second decision, CMM 2018-06, ``Conservation and Management 
Measure for WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels and Authorisation to 
Fish,'' includes an amendment that expands the requirement to obtain an 
IMO number to smaller vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS in 
the Convention Area. The CMM states that effective April 1, 2020, 
members ``shall ensure that all their motorized inboard fishing vessels 
of less than 100 [gross registered tonnage] GRT (or 100 GRT) down to a 
size of 12 meters in length overall (LOA), authorized to be used for 
fishing in the Convention Area beyond the flag [members] area of 
national jurisdiction have an IMO or LR issued \2\''. The existing 
requirement to obtain an IMO number, implemented by NMFS, applies to 
vessels that are at least 100 GRT (see 50 CFR 300.217(c)). This 
proposed rule would expand the requirement to vessels less than 100 GRT 
down to a size of 12 meters LOA.
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    \2\ An IMO number is the unique number issued for a vessel under 
the ship identification number scheme established by the 
International Maritime Organization or, for vessels that are not 
strictly subject to that scheme, the unique number issued by the 
administrator of that scheme using the scheme's numbering format, 
sometimes known as a Lloyd's Register number or LR number.
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    The third decision, CMM 2019-04, ``Conservation and Management 
Measure for Sharks,'' combines and replaces five management measures 
related to sharks that had previously been adopted by the Commission 
(CMM 2010-07, ``Conservation and Management Measure for Sharks''; CMM 
2011-04, ``Conservation and Management Measure for Oceanic Whitetip 
Sharks''; CMM 2012-04, ``Conservation and Management Measure on the 
Protection of Whale Sharks from Purse Seine Operations''; CMM 2013-08, 
``Conservation and Management Measure for Silky Sharks''; and CMM 2014-
05, ``Conservation and Management Measure for Sharks''). The measure 
and all of its provisions became effective November 1, 2020. Most of 
the provisions of CMM 2019-04 have already been promulgated through 
existing U.S. regulations (50 CFR 300.226; 50 CFR 300.223(g) and (h)), 
which implemented prior WCPFC decisions. However, there are two new 
provisions in the measure. The regulations at 50 CFR 300.226 prohibit 
the retention, transshipment, storage, or landing of the oceanic 
whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) and the silky shark 
(Carcharhinus falciformis), and require the release of oceanic whitetip 
shark and silky shark as soon as possible after the shark is caught and 
brought alongside the vessel. CMM 2019-04 includes an amendment that 
would allow for an exemption for purse seine vessels in cases where an 
oceanic whitetip shark or silky shark are not seen during fishing 
operations and are delivered into the vessel hold. Paragraph 20(3) of 
CMM 2019-04 states that, ``in the case of oceanic whitetip shark and 
silky shark that are unintentionally caught and frozen as part of a 
purse seine vessels' operation, the vessel must surrender the whole 
oceanic whitetip shark and silky shark to the responsible governmental 
authorities or discard them at the point of landing or transshipment.'' 
Paragraph 20(3) also specifies that ``[o]ceanic whitetip shark and 
silky shark surrendered in this manner may not be sold or bartered but 
may be donated for purpose of domestic human consumption.'' CMM 2019-04 
also includes an amendment that requires that sharks be hauled 
alongside the vessel before being cut free in order to facilitate 
species identification. However, the provision only applies when an 
observer or electronic monitoring camera is present. This proposed rule 
would implement the above listed provisions of CMM 2019-04.
    CMM 2019-04 also includes a provision requiring that vessels are 
made aware of proper handling and release techniques for sharks. The 
WCPFC has adopted recommended guidelines for the safe release of 
sharks; however, the WCPFC guidelines are non-binding. Because use of 
the best

[[Page 55792]]

handling practices is not a binding obligation, NMFS does not intend to 
require their use in this proposed rule. The WCPFC guidelines are 
available to vessel owners and operators at https://www.wcpfc.int/doc/supplcmm-2010-07/best-handling-practices-safe-release-sharks-other-whale-sharks-and.
    The fourth decision, CMM 2019-05, ``Conservation and Management 
Measure on Mobulid Rays Caught in Association with Fisheries in the 
WCPFC Convention Area,'' was adopted by the Commission at its sixteenth 
regular annual session in December 2019. The main objective of CMM 
2019-05 is to ensure the conservation of mobulid rays (i.e., the family 
Mobulidae, which includes manta rays and devil rays (Mobula spp.)) by 
reducing incidental take and mortalities in the Convention Area. The 
measure, which became effective on January 1, 2021, requires that 
members: (1) Prohibit targeted fishing or intentional setting on 
mobulid rays in the Convention Area; (2) prohibit vessels from 
retaining on board, transshipping, or landing any part or whole carcass 
of mobulid rays caught in the Convention Area; (3) require vessels to 
promptly release mobulid rays, alive and unharmed, to the extent 
practical, as soon as possible and in a manner that will result in the 
least possible harm to the individuals captured; (4) provide for an 
exemption in cases where a mobulid ray is unintentionally caught and 
frozen as part of a purse seine vessel's operation; and (5) require 
that vessels allow for observers to collect biological samples of 
mobulid rays that are dead at haul-back. This proposed rule would 
implement the above listed provisions of CMM 2019-05.
    CMM 2019-05 also includes a provision requiring that vessel owners 
and operators are made aware of proper handling and release guidelines 
for mobulid rays. The measure includes best handling practices for the 
safe release of mobulid rays, and states that members should encourage 
their vessels to use them. However, because use of the best handling 
practices is not a binding obligation, NMFS does not intend to require 
their use in this proposed rule. The WCPFC guidelines are available to 
vessel owners and operators https://www.wcpfc.int/doc/supplcmm-2010-07/best-handling-practices-safe-release-mantas-and-mobulids.

Proposed Action

    Under the proposed rule, the restrictions and requirements 
described in the Commission decisions above would apply to U.S. vessels 
used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas and in exclusive 
economic zones (EEZs) in the Convention Area. NMFS is proposing to 
follow the basis established in the 2020 overlap rule, as noted above, 
so that the WCPFC management measures which would place limits or 
restrictions on catch, fishing effort, and bycatch mitigation would not 
apply in the overlap area. Following the approach used in the 2020 
overlap rule, NMFS is proposing that the non-entangling FAD 
requirements, revised shark requirements, and fishing restrictions for 
mobulid rays would not apply in the overlap area, and the IMO number 
requirement would apply in the overlap area.
    As described above, the elements of the proposed rule fall into the 
following four categories: (1) Non-entangling FAD requirements; (2) IMO 
number requirement; (3) revised purse seine restrictions for the 
oceanic whitetip shark and the silky shark and additional shark release 
requirements for all vessels; (4) and fishing restrictions for mobulid 
rays. Each of these elements of the proposed rule is described in more 
detail below.

Non-Entangling FAD Requirements

    The proposed rule would implement the FAD design requirements set 
forth in paragraph 19 of CMM 2018-01. These provisions would be 
implemented in a manner that is consistent with NMFS's implementation 
of the FAD design requirements in Resolution C-18-05 of the IATTC, 
which manages tuna purse seine fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean 
(EPO). U.S. purse seine vessels sometimes fish in the WCPO and EPO on 
the same fishing trip and FADs are known to drift from the EPO into the 
WCPO, so ensuring consistent FAD design requirements would enable NMFS 
to better implement and enforce both the WCPFC and IATTC decisions on 
FAD designs.
    Under the proposed rule, if the FAD design includes a raft (e.g., 
flat raft or rolls of material) and if mesh netting is used as part of 
the structure, the mesh netting shall have a stretched mesh size less 
than 7 cm and the mesh net must be tightly wrapped such that no netting 
hangs below the FAD when deployed. Additionally, any netting used in 
the subsurface structure of the FAD must be tightly tied into bundles 
(``sausages'') or have a stretched mesh size less than 7 cm in a panel 
that is weighted on the lower end with at least enough weight to keep 
the netting taut in the water column. These requirements are the same 
as those specified at 50 CFR 300.28(e), which implement IATTC's FAD 
design requirements for the EPO specified in Resolution C-18-05.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all purse seine 
vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas and in 
exclusive economic zones in the Convention Area (excluding the overlap 
area).

IMO Number Requirement

    Existing regulations at 50 CFR 300.217(c) apply to all U.S. fishing 
vessels (including those participating in the fisheries of the U.S. 
Participating Territories) that are used for commercial fishing for 
highly migratory fish stocks in the Convention Area either on the high 
seas or in waters under the jurisdiction of a foreign nation, and the 
gross tonnage of which is at least 100 GRT or 100 GT (gross tons). The 
owner of any such fishing vessel is required to ensure that an ``IMO 
number'' has been issued for the vessel. An ``IMO number,'' as stated 
above, is the number--sometimes called an IMO ship identification 
number--issued for a ship or vessel under the ship identification 
number scheme established by the IMO. Currently, IMO numbers are issued 
on behalf of the IMO by Information Handling Services (IHS) Markit, the 
current administrator of the IMO ship identification number scheme. A 
vessel owner may request that an IMO number be issued by following the 
instructions given by IHS Markit, available at: 
www.imonumbers.lrfairplay.com. There is no fee for making such a 
request or having an IMO number issued, but specific information about 
the fishing vessel and its ownership and management must be provided to 
the administrator of the scheme. The existing regulations include a 
process for fishing vessel owners to request an exemption from NMFS if 
they are unable to obtain IMO numbers. When NMFS receives such a 
request it will review it and assist the fishing vessel owner as 
appropriate. If NMFS determines that it is infeasible or impractical 
for the fishing vessel owner to comply with the requirement, NMFS will 
issue an exemption from the requirement for a specific or indefinite 
amount of time. The exemption will become void if ownership of the 
fishing vessel changes.
    Under the proposed rule, the existing regulations would be revised 
to include vessels less than 100 GRT down to a size of 12 meters in 
LOA. This element of the proposed rule would apply to vessels used for 
commercial fishing for HMS in the Convention Area, including the 
overlap area, either on the high seas or in waters under the 
jurisdiction of a foreign nation. NMFS has established

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regulations, at 50 CFR 300.22(b)(3)(iii), which implement similar 
requirements for vessels used for fishing on the high seas in the EPO, 
as specified in IATTC Resolution C-18-06.

Revised Purse Seine Restrictions for Oceanic Whitetip Shark and Silky 
Shark and Additional Shark Release Requirement for All Vessels

    The proposed rule would implement two specific provisions of CMM 
2019-04: (1) An exemption from existing no-retention requirements for 
purse seine vessels in specific cases where an oceanic whitetip shark 
or silky shark is not seen during fishing operations and are delivered 
into the vessel hold; and (2) a requirement for vessels to haul any 
incidentally caught sharks alongside the vessel before being cut free 
in order to facilitate species identification.
    Existing regulations under 50 CFR 300.226 prohibit the crew, 
operator, and owner on all vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS 
in the Convention Area from retaining on board, transshipping, storing, 
or landing any part or whole carcass of an oceanic whitetip shark or 
silky shark that is caught in the Convention Area, unless collected by 
an on-board observer. The proposed rule would establish an exemption 
for purse seine fishing vessels in the case of any silky shark or 
oceanic whitetip shark that is not seen during the fishing operation 
and is unknowingly delivered into the vessel hold and frozen. In such a 
case, under the proposed rule, oceanic whitetip shark and silky shark 
could be stored and landed, but the vessel owner or operator would be 
required to notify the observer and surrender the whole shark to the 
responsible government authorities or discard the shark at the first 
point of landing or transshipment. In U.S. ports the responsible 
government authority is the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement divisional 
office nearest to the port. Under the proposed rule, it would be 
prohibited to sell or barter oceanic whitetip shark and silky shark 
surrendered in this manner, but they could be donated for purposes of 
human consumption, consistent with any applicable laws and policies. 
NMFS has established regulations at 50 CFR 300.27(f) that implement a 
similar exemption for certain cases where a silky shark is caught and 
frozen as part of a purse seine operation in the EPO.
    The proposed rule would also require that any shark be hauled 
alongside the vessel before being cut free (if on a line or entangled 
in a net) in order to facilitate species identification by the observer 
on board. This element of the proposed rule would only apply to vessels 
on which a WCPFC observer or camera monitoring device are present on 
board.
    Both of these shark elements of the proposed rule would apply to 
all U.S. vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas 
and in exclusive economic zones in the Convention Area (excluding the 
overlap area).

Fishing Restrictions for Mobulid Rays

    The proposed rule would implement the provisions of CMM 2019-05 for 
mobulid rays described above. The following five mobulid ray elements 
would be implemented under the proposed rule:
    (1) Owners and operators would be prohibited from setting on a 
mobulid ray if the animal is sighted prior to a set;
    (2) Owners and operators would be prohibited from retaining on 
board, transshipping, storing, or landing any part or whole carcass of 
a mobulid ray;
    (3) Owners and operators would be required to release any mobulid 
ray unharmed, as soon as possible, in a manner that would result in the 
least possible harm to the individuals captured, taking into 
consideration the safety of the crew;
    (4) Owners and operators would be required to allow observers to 
collect biological samples of mobulid rays, if requested to do so by a 
WCPFC observer; and
    (5) An exemption for purse seine vessels from elements 1 and 2 in 
specific cases where a mobulid ray is not seen during fishing 
operations and is unknowingly delivered into the vessel hold. In such 
cases, a vessel owner or operator would be required to notify the 
observer on board, and surrender the whole mobulid ray at the first 
point of landing, to the responsible government authorities, or other 
competent authority, or discard it. It would be prohibited to sell or 
barter mobulid rays surrendered in this manner, but they could be 
donated for purposes of human consumption, consistent with any 
applicable laws and policies.
    The five mobulid ray elements of the proposed rule would apply to 
U.S. vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas and 
EEZs in the Convention Area (excluding the overlap area). The mobulid 
ray elements of the proposed rule are similar to provisions that have 
been adopted by the IATTC, as specified in Resolution C-15-04, and that 
have been implemented in the EPO at 50 CFR 300.27.

Classification

    The Administrator, Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, has determined 
that this proposed rule is consistent with the WCPFC Implementation Act 
and other applicable laws, subject to further consideration after 
public comment.

Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)

    NMFS determined that this action is consistent to the maximum 
extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the approved 
coastal management program of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the State of Hawaii. 
Determinations to Hawaii, American Samoa, CNMI and Guam were submitted 
on August 2, 2021, for review by the responsible state and territorial 
agencies under section 307 of the CZMA.

Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    An IRFA was prepared, as required by section 603 of the RFA. The 
IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would have on small entities. A description of the action, why it is 
being considered, as well as its objectives, and the legal basis for 
this action are contained in the SUMMARY section of the preamble and in 
other sections of this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the 
preamble. The analysis follows:
Estimated Number of Small Entities Affected
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 114111) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    The proposed rule would apply to owners and operators of U.S. 
commercial fishing vessels used to fish for HMS in the Convention Area. 
This includes vessels in the purse seine, longline, tropical troll 
(including those in American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii), Hawaii 
handline, Hawaii pole-and-line, and west coast-based albacore troll 
fleets. For the purpose of this analysis, the number of vessels 
registered to fish for HMS in the Convention Area in 2020 is used as an 
estimate for the number of future affected fishing vessels. The 
estimated

[[Page 55794]]

number of affected fishing vessels is as follows based on the number of 
vessels reported in the 2021 U.S. Annual Report Part 1 to WCPFC (for 
the 2020 fishing year): 23 purse seine vessels, 158 longline vessels, 
21 albacore troll vessels, 1,742 tropical troll and handline vessels, 
and 2 pole-and-line vessels. Thus, the total estimated number of 
vessels that would be subject to the rule is 1,946.
    Based on limited financial information about the affected fishing 
fleets, and using individual vessels as proxies for individual 
businesses, NMFS believes that all the affected fish harvesting 
businesses in all the fleets, except the purse seine fleet, are small 
entities as defined by the RFA; that is, they are independently owned 
and operated and not dominant in their fields of operation, and have 
annual receipts of no more than $11.0 million. Within the purse seine 
fleet, analysis of revenues, by vessel, for 2018-2020 reveals that 
average annual per-vessel revenue was about $9,260,000 (NMFS 
unpublished data on catches combined with fish price data from https://investor.thaiunion.com/raw_material.html accessed on May 6, 2021). 
Fifteen of the purse seine vessels active in that period had estimated 
average annual revenues of less than $11 million, and thus are 
considered to be small entities.

Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Other Compliance Requirements

    The reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements of 
this proposed rule are described earlier in the preamble. There is one 
new collection-of-information associated with IMO number requirements 
included in this proposed action that is subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. That collection-of-information requirement is described 
more fully in the Paperwork Reduction Action subsection below. The 
classes of small entities subject to the requirements and the costs of 
complying with the proposed requirements are described below to the 
extent possible:
    Non-entangling FAD Element: To comply with this element of the 
proposed rule, affected vessel owners and operators would be required 
to use specific materials and design specifications for FADs that are 
deployed in, or that may drift into, the WCPFC Convention Area. This 
element of the proposed rule would not establish any new reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this requirement are 
described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all purse seine 
vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas and in 
exclusive economic zones in the Convention Area (excluding the overlap 
area). A majority of the purse seine vessels are already subject to 
equivalent requirements in the EPO. NMFS has established regulations 
for measures adopted by the IATTC (see 83 FR 15503, April 11, 2018; 83 
FR 62732, December 6, 2018), which became effective on January 1, 2019. 
Of the 23 purse seine vessels to which this element of the proposed 
rule would apply, 13 are currently active on both the WCPFC Record of 
Fishing Vessels (RFV) and the IATTC Regional Vessel Register (RVR), 
meaning that they are authorized to fish in both the WCPO and the EPO. 
It is expected that the owners and operators of purse seine vessels on 
both lists would therefore already be responsible for implementing the 
FAD design requirements in the EPO, as specified in 50 CFR 300.28(e). 
All 23 \3\ purse seine vessels currently on the WCPFC RFV are also on 
the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) ProActive 
Vessel Register (PVR), and their owners and operators have agreed to 
comply with ISSF-adopted conservation measures, which include the use 
of non-entangling FADs or lower entanglement risk FADs. The ISSF lower 
entanglement risk FADs meet the same design specifications and material 
requirements in this element of the proposed rule. Therefore, for the 
owners and operators of all purse seine vessels that would be subject 
to the proposed rule, NMFS expects that there would be no change in the 
materials they currently use to design FADs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ As of July 2021, 9 of the 23 purse seine vessels used as a 
baseline in this analysis are no longer flagged to the United 
States, and have been removed from the ISSF PVR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To the extent that any of those vessels are not already 
implementing the design specifications included in the proposed rule, 
and for any new purse seine vessels that enter the fishery, there would 
likely be some costs associated with complying with this element of the 
proposed rule. However, it is not possible to predict the costs 
associated with any certainty, as FAD designs vary between vessels, and 
the availability of materials is expected to vary over time. If 
specific non-entangling FAD materials were difficult or costly to 
obtain (e.g., netting with 7 cm mesh size), it could affect a vessel's 
ability to fish on FADs. In cases where vessels choose to forego 
fishing on FADs, it could increase operating costs in the form of 
increased fuel usage to fish on unassociated schools of fish instead of 
fishing on FADs.
    Fulfillment of these requirements is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners and operators do 
not already possess.
    IMO Number Element: This element of the proposed rule would require 
owners of fishing vessels less than 100 GRT down to a size of 12 meters 
LOA to obtain an IMO number. This element of the proposed rule would 
establish new recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act). That collection-of-information requirement is 
described more fully in the Paperwork Reduction Action subsection 
below. The costs of complying with this requirement are described below 
to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to vessels used for 
commercial fishing for HMS in the Convention Area (including the 
overlap area), either on the high seas or in waters under the 
jurisdiction of a foreign nation. Existing regulations at 50 CFR 
300.217(c) require that vessels at least 100 GRT obtain an IMO number, 
so most entities that would be required to obtain an IMO number already 
have them. NMFS estimates that 48 fishing vessels would initially be 
subject to the proposed expanded requirement, 45 longline vessels and 
three troll vessels. NMFS has established regulations, at 50 CFR 
300.22(b)(3)(iii), which implement similar requirements for vessels 
fishing on the high seas in the EPO. NMFS estimates that all but one of 
the 48 fishing vessels initially subject to this element of the 
proposed rule are already subject to the IATTC IMO requirements in the 
EPO. NMFS projects that as fishing vessels enter the fishery in the 
future, roughly four per year would be required to obtain IMO numbers.
    The requirement to obtain an IMO number would be a one-time 
requirement; once a number is issued for a vessel, the owner of the 
vessel would be in compliance for the remainder of the vessel's life, 
regardless of changes in ownership. Completing and submitting the 
application form (which can be done online and requires no fees) would 
take about 30 minutes per applicant, on average. Assuming a value of 
labor of approximately $26 per hour and communication costs of about $1 
per application, the (one-time) cost to each affected entity would be 
about $14. Fulfillment of these requirements is not expected to require 
any professional skills that the affected vessel owners and operators 
do not already possess.
    Shark Element (1): This element of the proposed rule would provide 
an exemption to existing oceanic whitetip

[[Page 55795]]

and silky shark prohibitions in the case where an oceanic whitetip 
shark or silky shark is not seen during fishing operations and is 
unknowingly delivered into the vessel hold and frozen as part of a 
purse seine operation. It would not establish any new reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this requirement are 
described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply specifically to U.S. 
purse seine vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high 
seas or in EEZs within the Convention Area (excluding the overlap 
area). It is not expected that these proposed changes would cause any 
modification to the vessels' fishing practices, as the expectation is 
that they would not have seen the animal prior to delivering it into 
the hold. Although this element would relieve vessel owners and 
operators from the burden associated with the existing regulation, 
qualifying for the exemption could bring modest costs. If the option of 
discarding the animal at the first point of landing or transshipment is 
taken, no additional costs would be expected. If the option of 
surrendering the shark to the responsible government authority is 
taken, there could be moderate costs in terms of crew labor that may be 
necessary to contact the authority and surrender the shark. Under 
either option, the cost is would be offset by the reduced risk of 
monetary fines that may be associated with current regulations 
prohibiting the retention of oceanic whitetip sharks and silky sharks.
    Fulfillment of these requirements is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners and operators do 
not already possess.
    Shark Element (2): This element of the rule would require that any 
incidentally caught shark be hauled alongside the vessel before being 
released in order to facilitate better species identification by the 
WCPFC observer on board. It would not establish any new reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this requirement are 
described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all U.S. vessels 
used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas or in EEZs within 
the Convention Area (excluding the overlap area); however, it would 
only apply to vessels on which an observer or electronic monitoring 
camera is present, so for the foreseeable future, it is expected that 
it would apply only to purse seine and longline vessels, which 
currently carry observers.
    For purse seine vessels, it is expected that an observer would be 
present on 100 percent of trips.\4\ It is expected that in most cases, 
the fish would be released after it is brailed from the purse seine and 
brought on deck. In these cases, the labor involved would probably be 
little different than current practice for discarded sharks. If the 
vessel operator and crew determined that it is possible to release the 
fish before it is brought on deck, it may involve greater intervention 
and time on the part of crew members to ensure that the observer is 
able to properly identify species. To the extent that time could 
otherwise be put to productive activities, this could lead to increased 
costs associated with labor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Due to the impacts of COVID-19, purse seine vessels have 
been exempted from 100 percent observer coverage requirements 
between March 2020 and January 2022 (see 86 FR 31178; June 11, 2021 
and 86 FR 48916; September 1, 2021). This analysis assumes 100 
percent observer coverage on purse seine vessels, as required under 
the WCPFC and the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For longline vessels, it is expected that an observer would be 
present on ~20 percent of trips for deep-set trips and 100 percent on 
shallow-set trips.\5\ In these cases, it is expected that under current 
fishing practices, the fish would be released as it is brought to the 
side of the vessel, such as by cutting the line or removing the hook. 
In these cases, minimal if any costs would be incurred.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Based on average percent observer coverage on Hawaii 
longline vessels, 2015-2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This element of the proposed rule is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners, operators and crew 
do not already possess.
    Mobulid Ray Element (1): This element of the proposed rule would 
prohibit vessels from targeting mobulid rays or making a set in 
instances in which a mobulid ray is sighted prior to a set. This 
requirement would not impose any new reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements (within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act). The 
costs of complying with this requirement are described below to the 
extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all U.S. vessels 
used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas or in the 
exclusive economic zones in the Convention Area (excluding the overlap 
area). U.S. fishing vessels in the WCPO are not known to intentionally 
target mobulid rays, although they are caught incidentally in both the 
purse seine and longline fleets and less frequently in the tropical 
handline and pole-and-line fleets. It is unknown whether U.S. purse 
seine vessels currently intentionally set on mobulid rays. If such a 
practice does exist, this element of the proposed rule would be 
expected to impact purse seine vessels by prohibiting them from setting 
on a mobulid ray if sighted prior to a set.
    In the event that a mobulid ray is sighted prior to a desired set, 
complying with the proposed rule could cause forgone fishing 
opportunities and result in economic losses. It is difficult to project 
the frequency of pre-set mobulid ray-sighting events because such 
events are not recorded. Historical data on mobulid ray interactions 
are available, but interactions are not equivalent to pre-set 
sightings. According to anecdotal information from purse seine vessel 
operators, a majority of mobulid rays are not seen before the set 
commences. Nonetheless, historical mobulid ray interaction rates can 
provide an upper bound estimate of the frequency of pre-set mobulid ray 
sighting events in the future. Based on unpublished observer data from 
the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) observer program 
between 2015 and 2019, mobulid ray interactions occur in approximately 
3 percent of observed purse seine sets on average in the purse seine 
fishery (100 percent of sets were observed in 2015-2019). In those 
instances where a mobulid ray is sighted prior to a set, the vessel 
operator would have to wait and/or move the vessel to find the next 
opportunity to make a set. The consequences in terms of time lost, 
distance travelled, and associated costs cannot be projected with any 
certainty, but a range of possible outcomes can be foreseen. At worst, 
the operator would lose the opportunity to make a set for the remainder 
of the day. At best, the operator would find an opportunity to make a 
set soon after the event--that is, on the same day, and limited costs 
would be incurred. This element of the proposed rule is not expected to 
require any professional skills that the effected vessel owners, 
operators and crew do not already possess.
    Mobulid Ray Element (2): This element of the proposed rule would 
prohibit vessels from retaining on board, transshipping, or landing any 
mobulid ray in the Convention Area. This requirement would not impose 
any new reporting or recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this 
requirement are described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all U.S. vessels 
used for

[[Page 55796]]

commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas or in the EEZs in the 
Convention Area (excluding the overlap area). U.S. fishing vessels in 
the WCPO are not known to intentionally target mobulid rays, although 
they are caught incidentally in both the purse seine and longline 
fleets and less frequently in the tropical handline and pole-and-line 
fleets. There are no recorded interactions with mobulid rays in the 
tropical troll or albacore troll fleets.
    Unpublished observer data from the FFA observer program and NOAA's 
Pacific Islands Observer program indicate that between 2015 and 2019, 
an estimated two mobulid rays were retained per year in the purse seine 
fishery, on average, and in the longline fishery, it is estimated that 
that less than one mobulid ray was retained per year, on average. The 
remainder of the mobulid catch was released alive or discarded dead. In 
the tropical handline and pole-and-line fleets, there were no reported 
mobulid rays retained between 2015 and 2019. This requirement would 
foreclose harvesting businesses' opportunity to retain and sell or 
otherwise make use of any species of mobulid ray that may previously 
have been retained by U.S. fishing vessels. The consequences in terms 
of opportunity loss cannot be projected with any certainty; however, 
available data indicate that there is no history of commercial sale of 
mobulid rays by U.S. fishing vessels. Additionally, existing 
requirements under 50 CFR 300.27 prohibit vessels from retaining on 
board, transshipping, storing, landing, or selling any part or whole 
carcass of a mobulid ray that is caught in the IATTC Convention Area in 
the EPO. For those vessels that fish in both the WCPO and EPO, it is 
expected that they would already be responsible for implementing the 
retention prohibition requirements included in the EPO.
    This element of the proposed rule is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners, operators and crew 
do not already possess.
    Mobulid Ray Element (3): This element of the proposed rule would 
require vessels to release any mobulid ray caught in the Convention 
Area as soon as possible and in a manner that results in as little harm 
to the animal as possible, without compromising the safety of any 
persons. This requirement would not impose any new reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this requirement are 
described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all U.S. vessels 
used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas or in the EEZs in 
the Convention Area (excluding the overlap area). The requirement could 
bring costs in the form of reduced efficiency of fishing operations if 
vessels were required to change their release/discard practices 
relative to current practices.
    For purse seine vessels, it is expected that in most cases, the 
animal would be released after it is brailed from the purse seine and 
brought on deck. In these cases, the labor involved would probably be 
little different than current practice for discarded rays. If the 
vessel operator and crew determined that it is possible to release the 
animal before it is brought on deck, this would likely involve greater 
intervention and time on the part of crew members, which would be 
costly to the extent that time could otherwise be put to productive 
activities.
    Existing regulations under 50 CFR 300.27 require that vessels 
promptly release any mobulid ray caught in the IATTC Convention Area, 
unharmed, and as soon as it is seen in the net or on deck. As noted 
above, most of the purse seine vessels registered on the WCPFC RFV are 
also registered to fish on the IATTC RFV, and fish in both the WCPO and 
the EPO, so it expected that those vessels would already be responsible 
for implementing the release requirements in the EPO.
    For longline, tropical handline and pole-and-line vessels, it is 
expected that the animal would be quickly released as it is brought to 
the side of the vessel, such as by cutting the line or removing the 
hook. In these cases, minimal if any costs would be incurred.
    This element of the proposed rule is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners, operators and crew 
do not already possess.
    Mobulid Ray Element (4): This element of the proposed rule is a 
limited exemption from the mobulid retention prohibition and the 
mobulid release requirement in that vessel owners and operators would 
be relieved of those requirements in those cases where a WCPFC observer 
collects, or requests assistance to collect, a sample of a mobulid ray, 
if requested to do so by a WCPFC observer. This requirement would not 
impose any new reporting or recordkeeping requirements (within the 
meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act). The costs of complying with 
this requirement are described below to the extent possible.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply to all U.S. vessels 
used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high seas or in the EEZs in 
the Convention Area (excluding the overlap area). Under existing 
regulations, operators and crew of vessels with WCPFC Area Endorsements 
(i.e., vessels authorized to be used for commercial fishing for HMS on 
the high seas in the Convention Area) are already required to assist 
WCPFC observers in the collection of samples. This element of the 
proposed rule would effectively expand that requirement--specifically 
for mobulid rays--to vessels not required to have WCPFC Area 
Endorsements. This element may bring additional costs to fishing 
businesses because it may require the owner, operator, and crew to 
assist the observer in the collection of samples if requested to do so 
by the observer. It is not possible to project how often observers 
would request assistance in collecting samples. When it does occur, it 
is not expected that sample collection would be so disruptive as to 
substantially delay or otherwise impact fishing operations, but the 
fishing business could bear small costs in terms of crew labor, and 
possibly the loss of storage space that could be used for other 
purposes. It is not expected to require any professional skills that 
the affected vessel owners, operators and crew do not already possess.
    Mobulid Ray Element (5): This element of the proposed rule would 
provide a limited exemption to elements 1 and 2 in specific cases where 
a mobulid ray is not seen during fishing operations and is unknowingly 
delivered into the vessel hold and frozen. It would not establish any 
new reporting and recordkeeping requirements (within the meaning of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act). The costs of complying with this requirement 
are described below.
    This element of the proposed rule would apply specifically to U.S. 
purse seine vessels used for commercial fishing for HMS on the high 
seas or in EEZs within the Convention Area (excluding the overlap 
area). It is not expected that these proposed changes would cause any 
modification to the vessels' fishing practices, as the expectation is 
that they would not have seen the animal prior to delivering it into 
the hold. Although this element would relieve vessel owners and 
operators from the burden associated with the existing regulation, the 
steps for discarding or surrendering the animal could bring modest 
costs. If the option of discarding the animal at the first point of 
landing or transshipment is taken, no additional costs would be 
expected. If the option of surrendering

[[Page 55797]]

the mobulid ray to the responsible government authority is taken, there 
could be moderate costs in terms of crew labor that may be necessary to 
contact the authority and surrender the animal. Under either option, 
the cost is would be offset by the reduced risk of monetary fines.
    Fulfillment of these requirements is not expected to require any 
professional skills that the affected vessel owners and operators do 
not already possess.
Disproportionate Impacts
    Small entities would not be disproportionately affected relative to 
large entities. Nor would there be disproportionate economic impacts 
based on home port. As indicted above, there could be disproportionate 
impacts according to vessel size for the IMO number requirement.
Duplicating, Overlapping, and Conflicting Federal Regulations
    NMFS has not identified any Federal regulations that conflict with 
or duplicate the proposed regulations. NMFS has identified several 
Federal regulations that overlap with the proposed regulations. These 
include: The proposed non-entangling FAD requirements, which overlap 
with existing EPO regulations at 50 CFR 300.28(e); the proposed IMO 
number requirements, which overlap with existing EPO regulations at 50 
CFR 300.22(b)(3)(iii); the proposed purse seine shark retention 
requirements, which overlap with existing EPO regulations at 50 CFR 
300.27(f); and the proposed mobulid ray requirements, which overlap 
with existing EPO regulations at 50 CFR 300.27(i). The regulations for 
the EPO apply when vessels fish in the EPO, including the area of 
overlapping jurisdiction between the IATTC and the WCPFC (overlap 
area). Aside from the IMO number requirements, the regulations under 
this proposed rule would apply in the WCPO, excluding the overlap area. 
The changed IMO number requirements under this proposed rule would also 
apply in the overlap area.
Alternatives to the Proposed Rule
    NMFS has not identified any significant alternatives to the 
proposed rule, other than the no-action alternative. Taking no action 
could result in lesser adverse economic impacts than the proposed 
action for many affected entities, but NMFS has determined that the no-
action alternative would fail to accomplish the objectives of the WCPFC 
Implementation Act, including satisfying the obligations of the United 
States as a Contracting Party to the Convention.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains one collection-of-information 
requirement subject to review and approval by OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. The collection-of-information requirement in this 
proposed rule relates to the collection under Control Number 0648-0595, 
``Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Vessel Information 
Family of Forms.'' However, due to multiple concurrent actions for that 
collection, the collection-of-information requirement in this proposed 
rule will be assigned a temporary Control Number that will later be 
merged into Control Number 0648-0595. The proposed rule includes new 
collection-of-information requirement for the owners of certain fishing 
vessels to ensure that IMO numbers are issued for the vessels. This 
would be a one-time requirement; no renewals or updates would be 
required during the life of a vessel. A fishing vessel owner would 
request the issuance of an IMO number by submitting specific 
information about the vessel and its ownership and management to IHS 
Maritime, which issues IMO numbers on behalf of the IMO. If a fishing 
vessel requires an exemption, the owner must provide the required 
information to NMFS. Public reporting burden for a vessel to acquire an 
IMO number is estimated to average approximately 30 minutes per 
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Submit comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection of information at 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    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 Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

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

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.

    Dated: September 30, 2021.
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 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart O--Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly 
Migratory Species

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart O, continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  300.217, revise paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.217  Vessel identification.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) The owner of a fishing vessel of the United States used for 
commercial fishing for HMS in the Convention Area, either on the high 
seas or in waters under the jurisdiction of any nation other than the 
United States, shall request and obtain an IMO number for the vessel if 
the gross tonnage of the vessel, as indicated on the vessel's current 
Certificate of Documentation issued under 46 CFR part 67, is at least 
100 GRT or 100 GT ITC, or less than 100 GRT down to a size of 12 meters 
in overall length. An IMO number may be requested for a vessel by 
following the instructions given by the administrator of the IMO ship 
identification number scheme; those instructions are currently 
available on the website of IHS Markit at: 
www.imonumbers.lrfairplay.com.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  300.222, add paragraphs (bbb) through (eee) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  300.222  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (bbb) Fail to comply with the FAD design requirements in Sec.  
300.223(b)(4).
    (ccc) Fail to comply with the requirements of any exemption under 
Sec.  300.226(e).
    (ddd) Fail to comply with any of the restrictions, prohibitions or 
requirements specified in Sec.  300.229.

[[Page 55798]]

    (eee) Fail to comply with the handling and release requirements in 
Sec.  300.230.
0
4. In Sec.  300.223, add paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.223  Purse seine fishing restrictions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) FAD design requirements to reduce entanglements. Owners and 
operators of fishing vessels of the United States equipped with purse 
seine gear shall ensure that all FADs on board or deployed from the 
vessel in the Convention Area comply with the following design 
requirements:
    (i) Raft. If the FAD design includes a raft (e.g., flat raft or 
rolls of material) and if mesh netting is used as part of the structure 
of the raft, the mesh netting shall have a stretched mesh size less 
than 7 centimeters and the mesh net must be tightly wrapped such that 
no netting hangs below the raft when deployed; and
    (ii) Subsurface. Any netting used in the subsurface structure of 
the FAD must be tightly tied into bundles (``sausages''), or if not 
tightly tied into bundles, then must be made of stretched mesh size 
less than 7 centimeters and be configured as a panel that is weighted 
on the lower end with enough weight to keep the netting vertically taut 
in the water column.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  300.226, revise paragraphs (a) and (b) and add paragraph 
(e) to read follows:


Sec.  300.226  Oceanic whitetip shark and silky shark.

* * * * *
    (a) The owner and operator of a fishing vessel of the United States 
used for commercial fishing for HMS cannot retain on board, transship, 
store, or land any part or whole carcass of an oceanic whitetip shark 
(Carcharhinus longimanus) or silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) 
that is caught in the Convention Area, either on the high seas or in an 
exclusive economic zone, unless subject to the provisions of paragraph 
(c) or (e) of this section.
    (b) The owner and operator of a fishing vessel of the United States 
used for commercial fishing for HMS must release any oceanic whitetip 
shark or silky shark that is caught in the Convention Area, either on 
the high seas or in an exclusive economic zone, as soon as possible 
after the shark is caught and brought alongside the vessel, and take 
reasonable steps for its safe release, without compromising the safety 
of any persons, unless subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) or 
(e) of this section.
* * * * *
    (e) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section do not apply in the 
event that any oceanic whitetip shark or silky shark is not seen by the 
crew, operator, or owner of a purse seine vessel, or any WCPFC observer 
on board that vessel, prior to being delivered into the vessel hold and 
frozen. In such a case, oceanic whitetip shark or silky shark could be 
stored and landed, but the vessel owner or operator must notify the on-
board observer and surrender the whole shark to the responsible 
government authorities or discard the shark at the first point of 
landing or transshipment. In U.S. ports, the responsible government 
authority is the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. Any oceanic whitetip 
shark or silky shark surrendered in this manner may not be sold or 
bartered, but may be donated for human consumption, consistent with any 
applicable laws and policies.
0
6. Add Sec.  300.229 to read as follows:


Sec.  300.229  Mobulid ray restrictions.

    The requirements of this section apply in all exclusive economic 
zones and all areas of high seas in the Convention Area, excluding the 
Overlap Area. For the purpose of this section, mobulid ray is defined 
as any ray in the family Mobulidae, which includes manta rays and devil 
rays (Mobula spp.)).
    (a) The owner and operator of a fishing vessel of the United States 
used for commercial fishing for HMS cannot set or attempt to set on or 
around a mobulid ray if the animal is sighted at any time prior to the 
commencement of the set or the attempted set.
    (b) The owner and operator of a fishing vessel of the United States 
used for commercial fishing for HMS cannot retain on board, transship, 
store, or land any part or whole carcass of a mobulid ray, unless 
subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d) through (f) of this 
section.
    (c) The owner and operator of a fishing vessel of the United States 
used for commercial fishing for HMS must release any mobulid ray, as 
soon as possible, and must ensure that all reasonable steps are taken 
to ensure its safe release, without compromising the safety of any 
persons, unless subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d) through (f) 
of this section.
    (d) Paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section do not apply in the 
event that a WCPFC observer collects, or requests the assistance of the 
vessel crew, operator, or owner in the collection of, samples of a 
mobulid ray in the Convention Area.
    (e) The crew, operator, and owner of a vessel must allow and assist 
a WCPFC observer to collect samples of a mobulid ray in the Convention 
Area, if requested to do so by WCPFC observer.
    (f) Paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section do not apply in the 
event that a mobulid ray is not seen by the crew, operator, or owner of 
a purse seine vessel, or any WCPFC observer on board that vessel, prior 
to being delivered into the vessel hold and frozen. In such a case, a 
mobulid ray could be stored and landed, but the vessel owner or 
operator must notify the on-board observer and surrender the whole ray 
to the responsible government authorities or discard the animal at the 
first point of landing or transshipment. In U.S. ports, the responsible 
government authority is the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. Any mobulid 
ray shark surrendered in this manner may not be sold or bartered, but 
may be donated for human consumption, consistent with any applicable 
laws and policies.
0
7. Add Sec.  300.230 to read as follows:


Sec.  300.230  Shark handling and release.

    (a) The requirements of paragraph (b) of this section apply to all 
fishing vessels of the United States used for commercial fishing for 
HMS. The requirements apply in all exclusive economic zones and all 
areas of high seas in the Convention Area, excluding the Overlap Area. 
The requirements apply only if there is a WCPFC observer or camera 
monitoring device on board the fishing vessel.
    (b) Prior to releasing any shark that is caught during fishing 
operations and not brought on board the fishing vessel, the owner and 
operator, without compromising the safety of any persons, shall ensure 
that the shark is brought alongside the vessel for identification 
purposes.

[FR Doc. 2021-21646 Filed 10-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P