International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Changes to Purse Seine Fish Aggregating Device Closure Periods, 46352-46357 [2024-11732]
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46352
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 29, 2024 / Proposed Rules
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available to small entities; (2) the
clarification, consolidation, or
simplification of compliance and
reporting requirements under the rules
for such small entities; (3) the use of
performance rather than design
standards; and (4) an exemption from
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,
for such small entities.’’
64. In the FNPRM, the Commission
seeks comment from all entities,
including small entities, on the effect of
deploying a georouting solution for
wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline, and on
alternative ways of implementing a
georouting solution, including concepts
that have yet to be tested or developed.
For example, the FNPRM seeks
comment on the costs and benefits of
deploying a georouting solution for
wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline. This
includes whether rules requiring
wireless carriers to implement a
georouting solution for the 988 Lifeline
should specify one or more technical
solutions that must be used or more
generally require wireless carriers to
implement a georouting solution within
a certain period of time of the Lifeline
Administrator announcing that it is: (a)
prepared to implement the terminating
function of one or more georouting
solutions; and (b) able to provide
technical specifications needed by
wireless carriers to implement the
originating functions. Additionally, the
FNPRM invites stakeholders to
comment on whether georouting
solutions that have been developed to
date by major carriers would be viable
for smaller carriers, and any distinctions
that need to be considered for smaller
carriers when mandating the use of a
georouting solution for the 988 Lifeline.
The FNPRM also inquires whether there
are any ways to minimize costs incurred
for network or system changes or
upgrades, particularly for small
providers. Small entities are encouraged
to bring to the Commission’s attention
any specific concerns they may have
with the alternatives proposed in the
FNPRM. We expect to take into account
the economic impact on small entities,
as identified in comments filed in
response to the FNPRM and this IRFA,
in reaching our final conclusions and
promulgating rules in this proceeding.
Federal Rules That May Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed
Rules
65. None.
Ordering Clauses
66. Accordingly, it is ordered,
pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201,
218, 251(e), 301, 303, 307, 309(a), 316,
332, and 403 of the Communications
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Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151,
154(i), 154(j), 201, 218, 251(e), 301, 303,
307, 309(a), 316, 332, and 403, that this
FNPRM is adopted.
67. It is further ordered that, pursuant
to applicable procedures set forth in
§§ 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s
rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419,
interested parties may file comments on
the FNPRM on or before 30 days
following publication in the Federal
Register, and reply comments on or
before 60 days following publication in
the Federal Register.
68. It is further ordered that the Office
of the Secretary, Reference Information
Center shall send a copy of this FNPRM,
including the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–11761 Filed 5–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[Docket No. 240522–0142]
RIN 0648–BM86
International Fisheries; Western and
Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly
Migratory Species; Changes to Purse
Seine Fish Aggregating Device Closure
Periods
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
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 a recent decision of
the Commission for the Conservation
and Management of Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks in the Western and Central
Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission).
This decision shortens the duration of
fish aggregating device (FAD) closure
periods for the U.S. purse seine fishery.
This action is necessary to satisfy the
obligations of the United States under
the Convention on the Conservation and
SUMMARY:
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Management of Highly Migratory
Species in the Western and Central
Pacific Ocean (Convention), to which it
is a formal signatory to the Convention
(Contracting Party).
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule
must be submitted in writing by June
13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: A plain language summary
of this proposed rule is available at
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0057. You may
submit comments on this document,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2024–0057,
by any of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit
https://www.regulations.gov and type
NOAA–NMFS–2024–0057 in the Search
box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Sarah Malloy, Acting Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands
Regional Office (PIRO), 1845 Wasp
Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI
96818.
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 https://www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
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 (RFA) is included in the
Classification section of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
Copies of the Regulatory Impact
Review (RIR) and the documents
prepared for National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) purposes are
available at https://www.regulations.gov
or may be obtained from Sarah Malloy,
Acting Regional Administrator, NMFS
PIRO (see address above).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rini
Ghosh, NMFS PIRO, 808–725–5033.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background on the Convention
The Convention is focused on the
conservation and management of
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fisheries for highly migratory species
(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 of America
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.
Background on the WCPFC Decision
This proposed rule would implement
specific provisions of Conservation and
Management Measure (CMM) 2023–01,
‘‘Conservation and Management
Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin, and
Skipjack Tuna in the Western and
Central Pacific Ocean.’’ The
Commission adopted CMM 2023–01 at
its twentieth regular annual session, in
December 2023, and it went into effect
in February 2024. The provisions of
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CMM 2023–01 are described in more
detail below.
CMM 2023–01 is the latest in a series
of CMMs devoted to the conservation
and management of tropical tuna stocks,
particularly stocks of bigeye tuna
(Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna
(Thunnus albacares), and skipjack tuna
(Katsuwonus pelamis). The stated
purpose of CMM 2023–01 is to support
fisheries for skipjack tuna, bigeye tuna,
and yellowfin tuna in the Convention
Area that benefit WCPFC members and
their communities, and to do so in a
way that is fair to all WCPFC members
and addresses the special requirements
of developing States and Participating
Territories. CMM 2023–01’s provisions
are based on specific objectives for each
of the three tropical tuna stocks.
Many of the provisions of CMM 2023–
01 have already been implemented by
NMFS or will be implemented in
separate rulemakings. This proposed
rule would implement the provisions
regarding FAD prohibition periods for
U.S. purse seine vessels.
Under NMFS’ current regulations at
50 CFR 300.223(b)(2), the FAD
prohibition periods are from July 1
through September 30, during each
calendar year for the high seas and
exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the
Convention Area, and from November 1
through December 31 during each
calendar year solely on the high seas in
the Convention Area. Thus, U.S. purse
seine vessels are currently prohibited
from setting on FADs for three months
in EEZs and on the high seas in the
Convention Area, and for an additional
two months on the high seas in the
Convention Area. Per 50 CFR 300.223,
these FAD prohibition periods do not
apply in the area of overlap between the
WCPFC and the Inter-American
Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
Paragraph 13 of CMM 2023–01
reduces the 3-month FAD prohibition
period for the EEZs and on the high seas
in the Convention Area to one and a half
months, running from July 1 to August
15 during each calendar year. This
proposed rule would amend the
regulations at 50 CFR 300.223(b)(2)(1) to
revise the three-month FAD prohibition
period for the EEZs and on the high seas
to be July 1 through August 15 during
each calendar year, consistent with
CMM 2023–01.
Paragraph 14 of CMM 2023–01
reduces the additional two-month high
seas FAD prohibition period to one
month—either April, May, November,
or December. Previously, WCPFC
members could choose between
implementing the two-month additional
FAD prohibition period on the high seas
in April and May or in November and
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December. NMFS had previously
determined that implementing the twomonth additional FAD prohibition
period in November and December
would be more cost-effective than
implementing the prohibition period in
April and May. Regulations at 50 CFR
300.223(b)(2)(2) implement the
additional two-month high seas FAD
prohibition period in November and
December. Based on the analysis in the
IRFA and RIR for this proposed rule,
NMFS concludes that continuing to
implement the one month high seas
FAD prohibition period late in the year
would be more cost-effective for the
fleet. NMFS proposes to implement the
additional one-month high seas FAD
prohibition period in December 2024
and in future calendar years. The
American Tunaboat Association has
also provided preliminary information
indicating the U.S. purse seine fleet’s
preference for a December closure in
2024. NMFS specifically requests
comments on this aspect of the
proposed rule and will make
adjustments in the final rule as
warranted.
CMM 2023–01 is in effect until
February 15, 2027. However, as has
been NMFS’s practice, the elements of
the proposed rule would remain in
effect until they are replaced or
amended, to avoid a lapse in the
management of the fisheries.
Proposed Action
The elements of the proposed rule are
detailed below.
In accordance with CMM 2023–01,
NMFS proposes to shorten the duration
of the FAD prohibition period from July
1 through August 15 during each
calendar year in the Convention Area
between the latitudes of 20° N and 20°
S (inclusive of the EEZs and high seas
in the Convention Area and excluding
the area of overlap between the WCPFC
and the IATTC). Regarding the
additional one-month FAD prohibition
period on the high seas in the
Convention Area, after considering the
objectives of CMM 2023–01, the
expected economic impacts on U.S.
fishing operations and the nation as a
whole, and expected environmental and
other effects, NMFS expects that a high
seas FAD prohibition period in
December of each calendar year may be
the most cost effective. Thus, NMFS is
proposing to implement the high seas
FAD prohibition period in December in
2024 and during each calendar year
thereafter. NMFS specifically seeks
public comment on this aspect of the
proposed rule. A comparison of the
options’ expected direct economic
impacts on affected fishing businesses is
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provided in the RIR. The RIR also
includes discussion of potential impacts
to the cannery in Pago Pago, American
Samoa.
To the extent that the FAD closures
under the proposed rule cause more
fishing effort and/or catches, the
delivery of more tuna from the U.S.
purse seine fleet, and consequent
reduced adverse economic impacts to
the producers (fishing businesses), they
could also bring reduced adverse
impacts to business sectors with
forward linkages to the producers, such
as the cannery in Pago Pago that
processes much of their catches.
NMFS also analyzed the
environmental effects of the proposed
action on living marine resources in the
affected environment. NMFS published
a supplemental environmental
assessment (SEA) in 2021 that analyzed
the the potential impacts of
implementation of WCPFC tropical
tunas measures through 2025. In the
SEA, NMFS analyzed the impacts of the
FAD prohibition periods of various
lengths that were either shorter or
longer in duration than the FAD
prohibition periods under this proposed
rule. The SEA considered that FAD
prohibition periods might influence the
overall composition of catch of the
fishery, both in terms of species and fish
sizes. If there is a transfer of effort to
fishing on unassociated sets during the
prohibition periods, catches would
more likely consist of less bigeye tuna,
and possibly more larger-sized
yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna. It is
possible that shorter FAD prohibition
periods could result in reduced
mortality for some stocks. However, to
the extent there is a shift in fishing
patterns and practices, any effects on
stocks are expected to be small
compared to typical year-to-year
interactions driven by changing oceanic
and economic conditions. Indeed, many
other factors affect these stocks, and it
is unlikely that changes to the duration
of FAD fishing alone would
significantly impact their statuses. The
WCPO stocks of the tuna species mostly
likely to be caught while fishing on
FADs—yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and
skipjack tuna—are all determined to be
not overfished and not subject to
overfishing. The SEA also considered
impacts of FAD fishing on non-target
species and protected resources and
likewise determined that any reduction
in interactions resulting from longer
FAD prohibition periods would likely
be small compared to typical year-toyear variations in such interactions.
Based on the analyses in the SEA,
NMFS concluded that the FAD
prohibition periods would not
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significantly impact living marine
resources in the affected environment.
As currently defined in 50 CFR
300.211, a FAD is ‘‘any artificial or
natural floating object, whether
anchored or not and whether situated at
the water surface or not, that is capable
of aggregating fish, as well as any object
used for that purpose that is situated on
board a vessel or otherwise out of the
water. The definition of FAD does not
include a vessel.’’ Under this proposed
rule, the regulatory definition of a FAD
would not change. Although the
definition of a FAD does not include a
vessel, the restrictions during the FAD
prohibition periods would include
certain activities related to fish that
have aggregated in association with a
vessel, or drawn by a vessel, as
described below.
The prohibitions applicable to these
proposed FAD-related measures are in
existing regulations at 50 CFR
300.223(b)(1)(i)–(v). Specifically, during
the FAD prohibition periods in each
calendar year, owners, operators, and
crew of fishing vessels of the United
States equipped with purse seine gear
shall not do any of the following
activities in the Convention Area
(excluding the area of overlap between
the WCPFC and IATTC) between 20° N
latitude and 20° S latitude:
(1) Set a purse seine around a FAD or
within 1 nautical mile (1,852 meters) of
a FAD;
(2) Set a purse seine in a manner
intended to capture fish that have
aggregated in association with a FAD or
a vessel, such as by setting the purse
seine in an area from which a FAD or
a vessel has been moved or removed
within the previous 8 hours, setting the
purse seine in an area in which a FAD
has been inspected or handled within
the previous 8 hours, or setting the
purse seine in an area into which fish
were drawn by a vessel from the vicinity
of a FAD or a vessel;
(3) Deploy a FAD into the water;
(4) Repair, clean, maintain, or
otherwise service a FAD, including any
electronic equipment used in
association with a FAD, in the water or
on a vessel while at sea, except that: a
FAD may be inspected and handled as
needed to identify the FAD, identify and
release incidentally captured animals,
un-foul fishing gear, or prevent damage
to property or risk to human safety; and
a FAD may be removed from the water
and if removed may be cleaned,
provided that it is not returned to the
water; or
(5) From a purse seine vessel or any
associated skiffs, other watercraft or
equipment, submerge lights under
water, suspend or hang lights over the
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side of the purse seine vessel, skiff,
watercraft or equipment, or direct or use
lights in a manner other than as needed
to illuminate the deck of the purse seine
vessel or associated skiffs, watercraft or
equipment, to comply with navigational
requirements, and to ensure the health
and safety of the crew.
These prohibitions would not apply
during emergencies as needed to
prevent human injury or the loss of
human life, the loss of the purse seine
vessel, skiffs, watercraft or aircraft, or
environmental damage.
The proposed rule also would make a
technical correction regarding the area
of application in 50 CFR 300.223(b)(3)(i)
to explicitly state that the requirements
regarding activating FADs apply in the
Convention Area. The current regulatory
text does not include the specific area
of application.
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.
Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
NMFS finds that a 15-day comment
period for this action provides a
reasonable opportunity for public
participation in this action pursuant to
APA section 553(c) (5 U.S.C. 553(c)),
while also ensuring that the first revised
FAD prohibition period is finalized
before the end date of August 15, 2024.
The Commission adopted CMM 2023–
01 in December 2023, and NMFS has
been diligently working on completing
the rulemaking since that time.
Rulemakings of this nature generally
take approximately one-year to
complete in order to satisfying the
requirements of APA and other U.S.
laws, and thus, in order to complete the
rulemaking by August 15, 2024, NMFS
is proceeding in an accelerated manner.
Stakeholder and industry groups have
been involved with the development of
this action. Providing for more than 15
days advance notice and public
comment on the proposed rule increases
the risk that the existing regulations
extending the FAD prohibition period
through September 30th would remain
in place causing unnecessary burden on
the regulated community. Thus, in order
to provide the public with the
opportunity to comment on this
proposed rule while ensuring that the
agency has sufficient time to consider
any public comments and publish a
final rule that is effective by August 15,
2024, NMFS is providing the public
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with a 15-day comment period on this
proposed rule.
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 CNMI,
Guam, and the State of Hawaii.
Determinations to Hawaii and each of
the Territories were submitted on March
8, 2024, for review by the responsible
state and territorial agencies under
section 307 of the CZMA. The Hawaii
Coastal Zone Management Program
responded on March 12, 2024, stating
that because the U.S. WCPO purse seine
fishery operates outside the jurisdiction
of its enforceable policies, it would not
be reviewing the consistency
determination. Guam requested
supplemental information that NMFS
provided on March 28, 2024.
Executive Order 12866
This proposed rule has been
determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
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Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
An initial regulatory flexibility
analysis (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. The IRFA
includes analysis of two no-action
alternatives in comparison to the
proposed action. The first no-action
alternative is no FAD closure periods in
place at all. The second no-action
alternative is maintaining the status
quo, as included in the current
regulations at 50 CFR 300.223(b)(2),
which is the three-month FAD closures
in the full Convention Area and the
separate two-month FAD closure just on
the high seas in the Convention Area.
A detailed description of the
proposed rule, why it is being
considered as well as its objectives, and
the legal basis for the proposed rule 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
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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 purse seine fishing vessels
used to fish for HMS in the Convention
Area. Based on the number of U.S. purse
seine vessels with WCPFC Area
Endorsements, which are required to
fish on the high seas in the Convention
Area, the estimated numbers of affected
purse seine fishing vessels is 13.
Based on limited financial
information about the affected fishing
fleets, and using individual vessels as
proxies for individual businesses,
NMFS believes 80 percent of the vessels
in the purse seine fleet are small entities
as defined by the RFA (i.e., 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 average
revenue, by vessel, for 2020–2022
reveals that average annual revenue
among vessels in the fleet was about $7
million (NMFS unpublished data
combined with price data from the
Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency
and https://investor.thaiunion.com/raw_
material.html accessed on June 12,
2023), and 12 participating vessels
qualified as small entities, with
estimated vessel revenue of less than
$11 million (based on the average
revenue across the most recent 3 years
for which data is available).
Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Other
Compliance Requirements
The reporting, recordkeeping and
other compliance requirements of this
proposed rule are described earlier in
the Proposed Action sub-section of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
the preamble. The classes of small
entities subject to the requirements and
the types of professional skills necessary
to fulfill the requirements are described
below.
The FAD restrictions being
implemented under the proposed rule
would not establish any new reporting
or recordkeeping requirements. The new
requirement would be for affected vessel
owners and operators to comply with
the FAD restrictions described earlier in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of the preamble, including FAD
prohibition periods throughout the
Convention Area from July 1 through
August 15 in each calendar and FAD
prohibition periods just on the high seas
in the Convention Area from December
1 through December 31 in each calendar
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46355
year. The proposed rule would reduce
the current FAD prohibitions periods by
50 percent in terms of duration.
Fulfillment of the element’s
requirements is not expected to require
any professional skills that the vessel
owners and operators do not already
possess. The costs of complying with
the requirements are described below to
the extent possible.
The proposed FAD restrictions would
substantially constrain the manner in
which purse seine fishing could be
conducted in the specified areas and
periods in the Convention Area
compared to the no-action alternative of
no closure periods in place at all; in
those areas and during those periods,
vessels would be able to set only on
free, or ‘‘unassociated,’’ schools.
With respect to the one and a half
month FAD closure throughout the
Convention Area, assuming that sets
would be evenly distributed through the
year, the number of annual FAD sets
would be expected to be about 87.5
percent of the number that would occur
without a seasonal FAD closure, and
12.5 percent more than during the
existing three-month FAD closure. This
is calculated by assuming FAD setting
would occur at the same rate throughout
the year and that a one and half month
closure would lead to FAD setting for
10.5 out of 12 months of the year
instead of for the full 12 months (i.e.,
87.5 percent of the year). The existing 3month closure currently leads to FAD
setting for 9 out of 12 months of the year
instead of the full 12 months (i.e., 75
percent of the year).
With respect to the additional onemonth high seas FAD closure, the
effects of this element are difficult to
predict. CMM 2023–01 includes four
options for the one-month high seas
FAD closure: April, May, November, or
December. In 2018, NMFS analyzed the
impacts of the two previous options
included in earlier CMMs, which were
the 2-month high seas FAD closure in
April and May and the 2-month high
seas FAD closure in November and
December, using data from 2014–2017,
and did not find any statistically
significant differences between the
average number of sets in high seas
areas, or the number of FAD associated
sets in the high seas across months. The
earlier CMMs only included those two
options for two-month high seas FAD
closures and did not include the four
options for one-month high seas FAD
closures included in CMM 2023–01.
However, NMFS did observe trends in
the number of high seas and the number
of FAD sets in the high seas areas that
supported selection of the November–
December FAD prohibition period. In
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particular, the number of FAD sets in
the high seas areas were low during
November and December due to fishing
effort limits met prior to the end of the
season. If the effort limit was reached
prior to November, then the later
prohibition period would have a lesser
adverse direct economic impact on the
U.S. purse seine fleet. The analysis also
noted that unpredictable future
conditions such as ex-vessel price and
environmental conditions—could result
in either closure period having a greater
adverse direct economic impact on the
fleet. In 2018–2023, NMFS chose to
implement the 2-month high seas FAD
closure in November–December, and in
2018, the high seas was closed from
September 19–December 31, and in
2019, the U.S. EEZ and the high seas
were closed from October 9–November
28 and from December 9–31. Thus, in
2018 and for most of 2019, the 2-month
high seas FAD closure had little to no
additional impacts due to the closures
from the fishing effort limits already
being reached. Similarly, for 2024–2026,
if the high seas are closed to all purse
seine fishing towards the end of the year
as a result of the fishing effort limit
being reached, the high seas FAD
closure during either November or
December would have no additional
effect whatsoever. In that situation,
given that any closure would likely
occur later in the year, implementing
the one-month closure in December
would be likely to have less effect than
implementing the one-month closure in
November. However, if the high seas are
not closed to fishing during the closure
period, given the performance of the
fleet in recent years, the prohibition on
FAD setting would make the high seas
less favorable for fishing than they
otherwise would be, since only
unassociated sets would be allowed
there, but it is not possible to
characterize how influential that factor
would be. Thus, it is not possible to
predict the effects in terms of the spatial
distribution of fishing effort or the
proportion of fishing effort that is made
on FADs.
With respect to both the one and a
half month FAD closure and one-month
additional high seas FAD closure
compared to the no-action alternative of
no FAD closures in place at all, as for
the limits on fishing effort, vessel
operators might choose to schedule their
routine maintenance periods so as to
take best advantage of the available
opportunities for making FAD sets (e.g.,
during the FAD closures). However, the
limited number of vessel maintenance
facilities in the region might constrain
vessel operators’ ability to do this.
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Vessels in the U.S. WCPO purse seine
fleet make both unassociated sets and
FAD sets when not constrained by
regulation, so one type of set is not
always more valuable or efficient than
the other. Which set type is optimal at
any given time is a function of
immediate conditions in and on the
water. Other factors, such as fuel prices
(unassociated sets involve more
searching time and thus tend to bring
higher fuel costs than FAD sets) and
market conditions (e.g., FAD fishing,
which tends to result in greater catches
of lower-value skipjack tuna and smaller
yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna than
unassociated sets, might be more
attractive and profitable when canneries
are not rejecting small fish) also
contribute to whichever set type is
optimal at a given time. Clearly, the
ability to do either type of set is
valuable, and constraints on the use of
either type can be expected to bring
adverse economic impacts to fishing
operations. Thus, the greater the
constraints on the ability to make FAD
sets, the greater the expected economic
impacts of the action. Because the
factors affecting the relative value of
FAD sets and unassociated sets are
many, and because the relationships
among them are not well known, it is
not possible to quantify the expected
economic impacts of the FAD
restrictions. However, it appears
reasonable to conclude two points. First,
the FAD restrictions would adversely
impact producer surplus relative to the
no-action alternative of no FAD
prohibiton periods in place. The fact
that the fleet has made such a
substantial portion of its sets on FADs
in the past indicates that prohibiting the
use of FADs in the specified areas and
periods could bring substantial costs
and/or revenue losses. Second, vessel
operators might be able to mitigate the
impacts of the FAD restrictions by
scheduling their routine vessel and
equipment maintenance during the FAD
closures, but this opportunity might be
constrained by the limited vessel
maintenance facilities in the region.
Compared to the second no-action
alternative or status quo alternative of
FAD prohibition periods that would be
twice as long as the FAD prohibition
periods that would be implemented
under the proposed rule, any adverse
effects would be proportionally
reduced. Thus the adverse effects in
terms of costs and revenue losses would
be less under the proposed rule than
under the status quo no-action
alternative.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Disproportionate Impacts
In the purse seine fishing sector,
approximately 80 percent of the affected
entities are small entities, so
disproportionate impacts would not be
expected. The direct effect of the
proposed rule would be to constrain
fishing effort, as compared to the noaction alternative of no closure periods
in place at all, by purse seine fishing
vessels, with consequent constraining
effects on both revenues (because
catches would be less) and operating
costs (because less fishing would be
undertaken). Although some purse seine
fishing entities are larger than others,
NMFS is not aware of any differences
between the small entities and the large
entities (as defined by the RFA) in terms
of their capital costs, operating costs, or
other aspects of their businesses.
Accordingly, there is no information to
suggest that the direct adverse economic
impacts on small purse seine entities
would be disproportionately greater
than those on large purse seine entities.
However, the direct effect of the
proposed rule would be to reduce
constraints on fishing effort, as compare
to the status quo no-action alternative,
by purse seine fishing vessels.
Duplicating, Overlapping, and
Conflicting Federal Regulations
NMFS has not identified any Federal
regulations that duplicate, overlap with,
or conflict with the proposed
regulations.
Alternatives to the Proposed Rule
NMFS has sought to identify
alternatives that would minimize the
proposed rule’s economic impacts on
small entities (i.e., significant
alternatives). Taking the no-action
alternative of no FAD prohibition
periods could result in lesser adverse
economic impacts than the proposed
action for affected entities, but NMFS
does not prefer this no-action
alternative, because it would be
inconsistent with the United States’
obligations under the Convention.
Taking the no-action alternative of
retaining the status quo FAD prohibition
periods that are twice as long in
duration could result in greater adverse
economic impacts than the proposed
action for affected entities. This
alternative would also be inconsistent
with the United States’ obligations
under the Convention. Alternatives
identified for the proposed rule are
discussed below.
NMFS considered in detail the timing
of the additional one-month FAD
closure for the high seas. CMM 2023–01
allows members to choose either April,
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May, November, or December, as the
additional month for the high seas FAD
closure. NMFS has compared the
expected direct economic impacts of
these four options (implementing a high
seas FAD closure in April, May,
November, or December) on purse seine
fishing businesses in the RIR for the
proposed rule, by analyzing two discrete
alternatives. Due to the similarities
between implementing the high seas
FAD closure in April or May (a spring
closure) or in November or December (a
winter closure), the RIR analyzed the
impacts of implementing the closure in
April or May as compared to November
or December. The analysis finds a
closure later in the year—a December
closure—is more likely to have a lesser
direct economic impact on those
businesses for the following reasons:
because the later closure period is more
likely to run concurrently with a closure
of the high seas in the Convention Area
to purse seine fishing (if the fishing
effort limits are reached), in which case
the FAD closure would bring no
additional economic impacts.
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Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule contains no
information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300
Administrative practice and
procedure, Fish, Fisheries, Fishing,
Marine resources, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50
CFR part 300 as follows:
PART 300—INTERNATIONAL
FISHERIES REGULATIONS
Subpart O—Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory
Species
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR
part 300, subpart O, continues to read as
follows:
■
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46357
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
2. In § 300.223, revise paragraphs
(b)(2) and (b)(3)(i) to read as follows:
■
§ 300.223
Purse seine fishing restrictions.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(2) The requirements of paragraph
(b)(1) of this section shall apply:
(i) From July 1 through August 15, in
each calendar year;
(ii) In any area of high seas, from
December 1 through December 31, in
each calendar year.
(3) Activating FADs for purse seine
vessels. (i) A vessel owner, operator, or
crew of a fishing vessel of the United
States equipped with purse seine gear
shall turn on the tracking equipment of
an active FAD while the FAD is onboard
the vessel and before it is deployed in
the water in the Convention Area.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2024–11732 Filed 5–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46352-46357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11732]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[Docket No. 240522-0142]
RIN 0648-BM86
International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
for Highly Migratory Species; Changes to Purse Seine Fish Aggregating
Device Closure Periods
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 a recent decision of the Commission for the Conservation and
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central
Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission). This decision shortens the
duration of fish aggregating device (FAD) closure periods for the U.S.
purse seine fishery. This action is necessary to satisfy the
obligations of the United States under the Convention on the
Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Species in the Western
and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), to which it is a formal
signatory to the Convention (Contracting Party).
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted in writing by
June 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available
at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2024-0057. You may
submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2024-0057, by
any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit https://www.regulations.gov and type NOAA-NMFS-2024-0057 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Sarah Malloy, Acting
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO),
1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
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
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 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 (RFA) is included in the
Classification section of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this
document.
Copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and the documents
prepared for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) purposes are
available at https://www.regulations.gov or may be obtained from Sarah
Malloy, Acting Regional Administrator, NMFS PIRO (see address above).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rini Ghosh, NMFS PIRO, 808-725-5033.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background on the Convention
The Convention is focused on the conservation and management of
[[Page 46353]]
fisheries for highly migratory species (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 of America 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.
Background on the WCPFC Decision
This proposed rule would implement specific provisions of
Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2023-01, ``Conservation and
Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin, and Skipjack Tuna in the
Western and Central Pacific Ocean.'' The Commission adopted CMM 2023-01
at its twentieth regular annual session, in December 2023, and it went
into effect in February 2024. The provisions of CMM 2023-01 are
described in more detail below.
CMM 2023-01 is the latest in a series of CMMs devoted to the
conservation and management of tropical tuna stocks, particularly
stocks of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus
albacares), and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). The stated purpose
of CMM 2023-01 is to support fisheries for skipjack tuna, bigeye tuna,
and yellowfin tuna in the Convention Area that benefit WCPFC members
and their communities, and to do so in a way that is fair to all WCPFC
members and addresses the special requirements of developing States and
Participating Territories. CMM 2023-01's provisions are based on
specific objectives for each of the three tropical tuna stocks.
Many of the provisions of CMM 2023-01 have already been implemented
by NMFS or will be implemented in separate rulemakings. This proposed
rule would implement the provisions regarding FAD prohibition periods
for U.S. purse seine vessels.
Under NMFS' current regulations at 50 CFR 300.223(b)(2), the FAD
prohibition periods are from July 1 through September 30, during each
calendar year for the high seas and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in
the Convention Area, and from November 1 through December 31 during
each calendar year solely on the high seas in the Convention Area.
Thus, U.S. purse seine vessels are currently prohibited from setting on
FADs for three months in EEZs and on the high seas in the Convention
Area, and for an additional two months on the high seas in the
Convention Area. Per 50 CFR 300.223, these FAD prohibition periods do
not apply in the area of overlap between the WCPFC and the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
Paragraph 13 of CMM 2023-01 reduces the 3-month FAD prohibition
period for the EEZs and on the high seas in the Convention Area to one
and a half months, running from July 1 to August 15 during each
calendar year. This proposed rule would amend the regulations at 50 CFR
300.223(b)(2)(1) to revise the three-month FAD prohibition period for
the EEZs and on the high seas to be July 1 through August 15 during
each calendar year, consistent with CMM 2023-01.
Paragraph 14 of CMM 2023-01 reduces the additional two-month high
seas FAD prohibition period to one month--either April, May, November,
or December. Previously, WCPFC members could choose between
implementing the two-month additional FAD prohibition period on the
high seas in April and May or in November and December. NMFS had
previously determined that implementing the two-month additional FAD
prohibition period in November and December would be more cost-
effective than implementing the prohibition period in April and May.
Regulations at 50 CFR 300.223(b)(2)(2) implement the additional two-
month high seas FAD prohibition period in November and December. Based
on the analysis in the IRFA and RIR for this proposed rule, NMFS
concludes that continuing to implement the one month high seas FAD
prohibition period late in the year would be more cost-effective for
the fleet. NMFS proposes to implement the additional one-month high
seas FAD prohibition period in December 2024 and in future calendar
years. The American Tunaboat Association has also provided preliminary
information indicating the U.S. purse seine fleet's preference for a
December closure in 2024. NMFS specifically requests comments on this
aspect of the proposed rule and will make adjustments in the final rule
as warranted.
CMM 2023-01 is in effect until February 15, 2027. However, as has
been NMFS's practice, the elements of the proposed rule would remain in
effect until they are replaced or amended, to avoid a lapse in the
management of the fisheries.
Proposed Action
The elements of the proposed rule are detailed below.
In accordance with CMM 2023-01, NMFS proposes to shorten the
duration of the FAD prohibition period from July 1 through August 15
during each calendar year in the Convention Area between the latitudes
of 20[deg] N and 20[deg] S (inclusive of the EEZs and high seas in the
Convention Area and excluding the area of overlap between the WCPFC and
the IATTC). Regarding the additional one-month FAD prohibition period
on the high seas in the Convention Area, after considering the
objectives of CMM 2023-01, the expected economic impacts on U.S.
fishing operations and the nation as a whole, and expected
environmental and other effects, NMFS expects that a high seas FAD
prohibition period in December of each calendar year may be the most
cost effective. Thus, NMFS is proposing to implement the high seas FAD
prohibition period in December in 2024 and during each calendar year
thereafter. NMFS specifically seeks public comment on this aspect of
the proposed rule. A comparison of the options' expected direct
economic impacts on affected fishing businesses is
[[Page 46354]]
provided in the RIR. The RIR also includes discussion of potential
impacts to the cannery in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
To the extent that the FAD closures under the proposed rule cause
more fishing effort and/or catches, the delivery of more tuna from the
U.S. purse seine fleet, and consequent reduced adverse economic impacts
to the producers (fishing businesses), they could also bring reduced
adverse impacts to business sectors with forward linkages to the
producers, such as the cannery in Pago Pago that processes much of
their catches.
NMFS also analyzed the environmental effects of the proposed action
on living marine resources in the affected environment. NMFS published
a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) in 2021 that analyzed the
the potential impacts of implementation of WCPFC tropical tunas
measures through 2025. In the SEA, NMFS analyzed the impacts of the FAD
prohibition periods of various lengths that were either shorter or
longer in duration than the FAD prohibition periods under this proposed
rule. The SEA considered that FAD prohibition periods might influence
the overall composition of catch of the fishery, both in terms of
species and fish sizes. If there is a transfer of effort to fishing on
unassociated sets during the prohibition periods, catches would more
likely consist of less bigeye tuna, and possibly more larger-sized
yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna. It is possible that shorter FAD
prohibition periods could result in reduced mortality for some stocks.
However, to the extent there is a shift in fishing patterns and
practices, any effects on stocks are expected to be small compared to
typical year-to-year interactions driven by changing oceanic and
economic conditions. Indeed, many other factors affect these stocks,
and it is unlikely that changes to the duration of FAD fishing alone
would significantly impact their statuses. The WCPO stocks of the tuna
species mostly likely to be caught while fishing on FADs--yellowfin
tuna, bigeye tuna, and skipjack tuna--are all determined to be not
overfished and not subject to overfishing. The SEA also considered
impacts of FAD fishing on non-target species and protected resources
and likewise determined that any reduction in interactions resulting
from longer FAD prohibition periods would likely be small compared to
typical year-to-year variations in such interactions. Based on the
analyses in the SEA, NMFS concluded that the FAD prohibition periods
would not significantly impact living marine resources in the affected
environment.
As currently defined in 50 CFR 300.211, a FAD is ``any artificial
or natural floating object, whether anchored or not and whether
situated at the water surface or not, that is capable of aggregating
fish, as well as any object used for that purpose that is situated on
board a vessel or otherwise out of the water. The definition of FAD
does not include a vessel.'' Under this proposed rule, the regulatory
definition of a FAD would not change. Although the definition of a FAD
does not include a vessel, the restrictions during the FAD prohibition
periods would include certain activities related to fish that have
aggregated in association with a vessel, or drawn by a vessel, as
described below.
The prohibitions applicable to these proposed FAD-related measures
are in existing regulations at 50 CFR 300.223(b)(1)(i)-(v).
Specifically, during the FAD prohibition periods in each calendar year,
owners, operators, and crew of fishing vessels of the United States
equipped with purse seine gear shall not do any of the following
activities in the Convention Area (excluding the area of overlap
between the WCPFC and IATTC) between 20[deg] N latitude and 20[deg] S
latitude:
(1) Set a purse seine around a FAD or within 1 nautical mile (1,852
meters) of a FAD;
(2) Set a purse seine in a manner intended to capture fish that
have aggregated in association with a FAD or a vessel, such as by
setting the purse seine in an area from which a FAD or a vessel has
been moved or removed within the previous 8 hours, setting the purse
seine in an area in which a FAD has been inspected or handled within
the previous 8 hours, or setting the purse seine in an area into which
fish were drawn by a vessel from the vicinity of a FAD or a vessel;
(3) Deploy a FAD into the water;
(4) Repair, clean, maintain, or otherwise service a FAD, including
any electronic equipment used in association with a FAD, in the water
or on a vessel while at sea, except that: a FAD may be inspected and
handled as needed to identify the FAD, identify and release
incidentally captured animals, un-foul fishing gear, or prevent damage
to property or risk to human safety; and a FAD may be removed from the
water and if removed may be cleaned, provided that it is not returned
to the water; or
(5) From a purse seine vessel or any associated skiffs, other
watercraft or equipment, submerge lights under water, suspend or hang
lights over the side of the purse seine vessel, skiff, watercraft or
equipment, or direct or use lights in a manner other than as needed to
illuminate the deck of the purse seine vessel or associated skiffs,
watercraft or equipment, to comply with navigational requirements, and
to ensure the health and safety of the crew.
These prohibitions would not apply during emergencies as needed to
prevent human injury or the loss of human life, the loss of the purse
seine vessel, skiffs, watercraft or aircraft, or environmental damage.
The proposed rule also would make a technical correction regarding
the area of application in 50 CFR 300.223(b)(3)(i) to explicitly state
that the requirements regarding activating FADs apply in the Convention
Area. The current regulatory text does not include the specific area of
application.
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.
Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
NMFS finds that a 15-day comment period for this action provides a
reasonable opportunity for public participation in this action pursuant
to APA section 553(c) (5 U.S.C. 553(c)), while also ensuring that the
first revised FAD prohibition period is finalized before the end date
of August 15, 2024. The Commission adopted CMM 2023-01 in December
2023, and NMFS has been diligently working on completing the rulemaking
since that time. Rulemakings of this nature generally take
approximately one-year to complete in order to satisfying the
requirements of APA and other U.S. laws, and thus, in order to complete
the rulemaking by August 15, 2024, NMFS is proceeding in an accelerated
manner. Stakeholder and industry groups have been involved with the
development of this action. Providing for more than 15 days advance
notice and public comment on the proposed rule increases the risk that
the existing regulations extending the FAD prohibition period through
September 30th would remain in place causing unnecessary burden on the
regulated community. Thus, in order to provide the public with the
opportunity to comment on this proposed rule while ensuring that the
agency has sufficient time to consider any public comments and publish
a final rule that is effective by August 15, 2024, NMFS is providing
the public
[[Page 46355]]
with a 15-day comment period on this proposed rule.
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 CNMI, Guam, and the
State of Hawaii. Determinations to Hawaii and each of the Territories
were submitted on March 8, 2024, for review by the responsible state
and territorial agencies under section 307 of the CZMA. The Hawaii
Coastal Zone Management Program responded on March 12, 2024, stating
that because the U.S. WCPO purse seine fishery operates outside the
jurisdiction of its enforceable policies, it would not be reviewing the
consistency determination. Guam requested supplemental information that
NMFS provided on March 28, 2024.
Executive Order 12866
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (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.
The IRFA includes analysis of two no-action alternatives in comparison
to the proposed action. The first no-action alternative is no FAD
closure periods in place at all. The second no-action alternative is
maintaining the status quo, as included in the current regulations at
50 CFR 300.223(b)(2), which is the three-month FAD closures in the full
Convention Area and the separate two-month FAD closure just on the high
seas in the Convention Area.
A detailed description of the proposed rule, why it is being
considered as well as its objectives, and the legal basis for the
proposed rule 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 purse seine fishing vessels used to fish for HMS in the
Convention Area. Based on the number of U.S. purse seine vessels with
WCPFC Area Endorsements, which are required to fish on the high seas in
the Convention Area, the estimated numbers of affected purse seine
fishing vessels is 13.
Based on limited financial information about the affected fishing
fleets, and using individual vessels as proxies for individual
businesses, NMFS believes 80 percent of the vessels in the purse seine
fleet are small entities as defined by the RFA (i.e., 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 average revenue, by vessel,
for 2020-2022 reveals that average annual revenue among vessels in the
fleet was about $7 million (NMFS unpublished data combined with price
data from the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency and https://investor.thaiunion.com/raw_material.html accessed on June 12, 2023),
and 12 participating vessels qualified as small entities, with
estimated vessel revenue of less than $11 million (based on the average
revenue across the most recent 3 years for which data is available).
Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Other Compliance Requirements
The reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements of
this proposed rule are described earlier in the Proposed Action sub-
section of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the preamble. The
classes of small entities subject to the requirements and the types of
professional skills necessary to fulfill the requirements are described
below.
The FAD restrictions being implemented under the proposed rule
would not establish any new reporting or recordkeeping requirements.
The new requirement would be for affected vessel owners and operators
to comply with the FAD restrictions described earlier in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the preamble, including FAD
prohibition periods throughout the Convention Area from July 1 through
August 15 in each calendar and FAD prohibition periods just on the high
seas in the Convention Area from December 1 through December 31 in each
calendar year. The proposed rule would reduce the current FAD
prohibitions periods by 50 percent in terms of duration.
Fulfillment of the element's requirements is not expected to
require any professional skills that the vessel owners and operators do
not already possess. The costs of complying with the requirements are
described below to the extent possible.
The proposed FAD restrictions would substantially constrain the
manner in which purse seine fishing could be conducted in the specified
areas and periods in the Convention Area compared to the no-action
alternative of no closure periods in place at all; in those areas and
during those periods, vessels would be able to set only on free, or
``unassociated,'' schools.
With respect to the one and a half month FAD closure throughout the
Convention Area, assuming that sets would be evenly distributed through
the year, the number of annual FAD sets would be expected to be about
87.5 percent of the number that would occur without a seasonal FAD
closure, and 12.5 percent more than during the existing three-month FAD
closure. This is calculated by assuming FAD setting would occur at the
same rate throughout the year and that a one and half month closure
would lead to FAD setting for 10.5 out of 12 months of the year instead
of for the full 12 months (i.e., 87.5 percent of the year). The
existing 3-month closure currently leads to FAD setting for 9 out of 12
months of the year instead of the full 12 months (i.e., 75 percent of
the year).
With respect to the additional one-month high seas FAD closure, the
effects of this element are difficult to predict. CMM 2023-01 includes
four options for the one-month high seas FAD closure: April, May,
November, or December. In 2018, NMFS analyzed the impacts of the two
previous options included in earlier CMMs, which were the 2-month high
seas FAD closure in April and May and the 2-month high seas FAD closure
in November and December, using data from 2014-2017, and did not find
any statistically significant differences between the average number of
sets in high seas areas, or the number of FAD associated sets in the
high seas across months. The earlier CMMs only included those two
options for two-month high seas FAD closures and did not include the
four options for one-month high seas FAD closures included in CMM 2023-
01. However, NMFS did observe trends in the number of high seas and the
number of FAD sets in the high seas areas that supported selection of
the November-December FAD prohibition period. In
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particular, the number of FAD sets in the high seas areas were low
during November and December due to fishing effort limits met prior to
the end of the season. If the effort limit was reached prior to
November, then the later prohibition period would have a lesser adverse
direct economic impact on the U.S. purse seine fleet. The analysis also
noted that unpredictable future conditions such as ex-vessel price and
environmental conditions--could result in either closure period having
a greater adverse direct economic impact on the fleet. In 2018-2023,
NMFS chose to implement the 2-month high seas FAD closure in November-
December, and in 2018, the high seas was closed from September 19-
December 31, and in 2019, the U.S. EEZ and the high seas were closed
from October 9-November 28 and from December 9-31. Thus, in 2018 and
for most of 2019, the 2-month high seas FAD closure had little to no
additional impacts due to the closures from the fishing effort limits
already being reached. Similarly, for 2024-2026, if the high seas are
closed to all purse seine fishing towards the end of the year as a
result of the fishing effort limit being reached, the high seas FAD
closure during either November or December would have no additional
effect whatsoever. In that situation, given that any closure would
likely occur later in the year, implementing the one-month closure in
December would be likely to have less effect than implementing the one-
month closure in November. However, if the high seas are not closed to
fishing during the closure period, given the performance of the fleet
in recent years, the prohibition on FAD setting would make the high
seas less favorable for fishing than they otherwise would be, since
only unassociated sets would be allowed there, but it is not possible
to characterize how influential that factor would be. Thus, it is not
possible to predict the effects in terms of the spatial distribution of
fishing effort or the proportion of fishing effort that is made on
FADs.
With respect to both the one and a half month FAD closure and one-
month additional high seas FAD closure compared to the no-action
alternative of no FAD closures in place at all, as for the limits on
fishing effort, vessel operators might choose to schedule their routine
maintenance periods so as to take best advantage of the available
opportunities for making FAD sets (e.g., during the FAD closures).
However, the limited number of vessel maintenance facilities in the
region might constrain vessel operators' ability to do this.
Vessels in the U.S. WCPO purse seine fleet make both unassociated
sets and FAD sets when not constrained by regulation, so one type of
set is not always more valuable or efficient than the other. Which set
type is optimal at any given time is a function of immediate conditions
in and on the water. Other factors, such as fuel prices (unassociated
sets involve more searching time and thus tend to bring higher fuel
costs than FAD sets) and market conditions (e.g., FAD fishing, which
tends to result in greater catches of lower-value skipjack tuna and
smaller yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna than unassociated sets, might be
more attractive and profitable when canneries are not rejecting small
fish) also contribute to whichever set type is optimal at a given time.
Clearly, the ability to do either type of set is valuable, and
constraints on the use of either type can be expected to bring adverse
economic impacts to fishing operations. Thus, the greater the
constraints on the ability to make FAD sets, the greater the expected
economic impacts of the action. Because the factors affecting the
relative value of FAD sets and unassociated sets are many, and because
the relationships among them are not well known, it is not possible to
quantify the expected economic impacts of the FAD restrictions.
However, it appears reasonable to conclude two points. First, the FAD
restrictions would adversely impact producer surplus relative to the
no-action alternative of no FAD prohibiton periods in place. The fact
that the fleet has made such a substantial portion of its sets on FADs
in the past indicates that prohibiting the use of FADs in the specified
areas and periods could bring substantial costs and/or revenue losses.
Second, vessel operators might be able to mitigate the impacts of the
FAD restrictions by scheduling their routine vessel and equipment
maintenance during the FAD closures, but this opportunity might be
constrained by the limited vessel maintenance facilities in the region.
Compared to the second no-action alternative or status quo
alternative of FAD prohibition periods that would be twice as long as
the FAD prohibition periods that would be implemented under the
proposed rule, any adverse effects would be proportionally reduced.
Thus the adverse effects in terms of costs and revenue losses would be
less under the proposed rule than under the status quo no-action
alternative.
Disproportionate Impacts
In the purse seine fishing sector, approximately 80 percent of the
affected entities are small entities, so disproportionate impacts would
not be expected. The direct effect of the proposed rule would be to
constrain fishing effort, as compared to the no-action alternative of
no closure periods in place at all, by purse seine fishing vessels,
with consequent constraining effects on both revenues (because catches
would be less) and operating costs (because less fishing would be
undertaken). Although some purse seine fishing entities are larger than
others, NMFS is not aware of any differences between the small entities
and the large entities (as defined by the RFA) in terms of their
capital costs, operating costs, or other aspects of their businesses.
Accordingly, there is no information to suggest that the direct adverse
economic impacts on small purse seine entities would be
disproportionately greater than those on large purse seine entities.
However, the direct effect of the proposed rule would be to reduce
constraints on fishing effort, as compare to the status quo no-action
alternative, by purse seine fishing vessels.
Duplicating, Overlapping, and Conflicting Federal Regulations
NMFS has not identified any Federal regulations that duplicate,
overlap with, or conflict with the proposed regulations.
Alternatives to the Proposed Rule
NMFS has sought to identify alternatives that would minimize the
proposed rule's economic impacts on small entities (i.e., significant
alternatives). Taking the no-action alternative of no FAD prohibition
periods could result in lesser adverse economic impacts than the
proposed action for affected entities, but NMFS does not prefer this
no-action alternative, because it would be inconsistent with the United
States' obligations under the Convention. Taking the no-action
alternative of retaining the status quo FAD prohibition periods that
are twice as long in duration could result in greater adverse economic
impacts than the proposed action for affected entities. This
alternative would also be inconsistent with the United States'
obligations under the Convention. Alternatives identified for the
proposed rule are discussed below.
NMFS considered in detail the timing of the additional one-month
FAD closure for the high seas. CMM 2023-01 allows members to choose
either April,
[[Page 46357]]
May, November, or December, as the additional month for the high seas
FAD closure. NMFS has compared the expected direct economic impacts of
these four options (implementing a high seas FAD closure in April, May,
November, or December) on purse seine fishing businesses in the RIR for
the proposed rule, by analyzing two discrete alternatives. Due to the
similarities between implementing the high seas FAD closure in April or
May (a spring closure) or in November or December (a winter closure),
the RIR analyzed the impacts of implementing the closure in April or
May as compared to November or December. The analysis finds a closure
later in the year--a December closure--is more likely to have a lesser
direct economic impact on those businesses for the following reasons:
because the later closure period is more likely to run concurrently
with a closure of the high seas in the Convention Area to purse seine
fishing (if the fishing effort limits are reached), in which case the
FAD closure would bring no additional economic impacts.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300
Administrative practice and procedure, Fish, Fisheries, Fishing,
Marine resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50
CFR part 300 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. 300.223, revise paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3)(i) to read as
follows:
Sec. 300.223 Purse seine fishing restrictions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(2) The requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall
apply:
(i) From July 1 through August 15, in each calendar year;
(ii) In any area of high seas, from December 1 through December 31,
in each calendar year.
(3) Activating FADs for purse seine vessels. (i) A vessel owner,
operator, or crew of a fishing vessel of the United States equipped
with purse seine gear shall turn on the tracking equipment of an active
FAD while the FAD is onboard the vessel and before it is deployed in
the water in the Convention Area.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2024-11732 Filed 5-28-24; 8:45 am]
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