80 FR 168 pgs. 52415-52418 - Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
Type: RULEVolume: 80Number: 168Pages: 52415 - 52418
Pages: 52415, 52416, 52417, 52418Docket number: [Docket No. 141009847-5746-02]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2015-21394 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 665
[Docket No. 141009847-5746-02]
RIN 0648-XD558
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Final specifications.
SUMMARY:
In this final rule, NMFS specifies the 2015 annual catch limits (ACLs) for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem fisheries, and accountability measures (AMs) to correct or mitigate any overages of catch limits. The ACLs and AMs support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
DATES:
The final specifications are effective September 30, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES:
Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans are available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or www.wpcouncil.org. Copies of the environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact for this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0156, are available from www.regulations.gov, or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NMFS is specifying the 2015 ACLs and AMs for bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem fishery management unit species (MUS) in American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and Hawaii. NMFS proposed these specifications on July 21, 2015 (80 FR 43046), and the final specifications do not differ from those proposed. The 2015 fishing year began on January 1 and ends on December 31, except for precious coral fisheries, for which the fishing year began on July 1, 2015, and ends on June 30, 2016.
NMFS is not specifying ACLs for MUS that are currently subject to Federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions. These MUS include all species of gold coral, the three Hawaii seamount groundfish (pelagic armorhead, alfonsin, and raftfish), and deepwater precious corals at the Westpac Bed Refugia. The current prohibitions on fishing for these MUS serve as the functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
Additionally, NMFS is not specifying ACLs for bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS identified in the Pacific Remote Islands Area (PRIA) FEP. This is because fishing is prohibited in the EEZ within 12 nm of emergent land of the PRIA, unless authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in consultation with NMFS and the Council. Additionally, there is no suitable habitat for these stocks beyond the 12-nm no-fishing zone, except at Kingman Reef, where fishing for these resources does not occur. To date, the USFWS has not consulted with NMFS for any fishing that the USFWS may authorize within 12 nm of the PRIA. NMFS will continue to monitor authorized fishing within 12 nm of the PRIA in consultation with the USFWS, and may develop additional fishing requirements, including catch limits for species that may require them.
NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for pelagic MUS at this time, because NMFS previously determined that pelagic species are subject to international fishery agreements or have a life cycle of approximately 1 year and are, therefore, statutorily excepted from the ACL requirements.
2015 Annual Catch Limit Specifications
Tables 1-4 list the ACL specifications for 2015.
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| Fishery | Management unit species | ACL Specification (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 101,000 |
| Crustacean | Deepwater shrimp | 80,000 |
| Spiny lobster | 4,845 | |
| Slipper lobster | 30 | |
| Kona crab | 3,200 | |
| Precious Coral | Black coral | 790 |
| Precious corals in the American Samoa Exploratory Area | 2,205 | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Selar crumenophthalmus -atule, bigeye scad | 37,400 |
| Acanthuridae-surgeonfish | 129,400 | |
| Carangidae-jacks | 19,900 | |
| Carcharhinidae-reef sharks | 1,615 | |
| Crustaceans-crabs | 4,300 | |
| Holocentridae-squirrelfish | 15,100 | |
| Kyphosidae-rudderfishes | 2,000 | |
| Labridae-wrasses | 16,200 | |
| Lethrinidae-emperors | 19,600 | |
| Lutjanidae-snappers | 63,100 | |
| Mollusks-turbo snail; octopus; giant clams | 18,400 | |
| Mugilidae-mullets | 4,600 | |
| Mullidae-goatfishes | 11,900 | |
| Scaridae-parrotfish | 272,000 | |
| Serranidae-groupers | 25,300 | |
| Siganidae-rabbitfishes | 200 | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum- bumphead parrotfish | 235 | |
| Cheilinus undulatus- Humphead (Napoleon) wrasse | 1,743 | |
| All other CREMUS combined | 18,400 |
| Fishery | Management unit species | ACL Specification (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 66,800 |
| Crustaceans | Deepwater shrimp | 48,488 |
| Spiny lobster | 3,135 | |
| Slipper lobster | 20 | |
| Kona crab | 1,900 | |
| Precious Coral | Black coral | 700 |
| Precious corals in the Guam Exploratory Area | 2,205 | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Selar crumenophthalmus -atulai, bigeye scad | 50,200 |
| Acanthuridae-surgeonfish | 97,600 | |
| Carangidae-jacks | 29,300 | |
| Carcharhinidae-reef sharks | 1,900 | |
| Crustaceans-crabs | 7,300 | |
| Holocentridae-squirrelfish | 11,400 | |
| Kyphosidae-chubs/rudderfish | 9,600 | |
| Labridae-wrasses | 25,200 | |
| Lethrinidae-emperors | 53,000 | |
| Lutjanidae-snappers | 18,000 | |
| Mollusks-octopus | 23,800 | |
| Mugilidae-mullets | 17,900 | |
| Mullidae-goatfish | 15,300 | |
| Scaridae-parrotfish | 71,600 | |
| Serranidae-groupers | 22,500 | |
| Siganidae-rabbitfish | 18,600 | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum- bumphead parrotfish | 797 | |
| Cheilinus undulatus- humphead (Napoleon) wrasse | 1,960 | |
| All other CREMUS combined | 185,000 | |
| (CNMI and Guam combined) | ||
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| Fishery | Management unit species | ACL Specification (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 228,000 |
| Crustacean | Deepwater shrimp | 275,570 |
| Spiny lobster | 7,410 | |
| Slipper lobster | 60 | |
| Kona crab | 6,300 | |
| Precious Coral | Black coral | 2,100 |
| Precious corals in the CNMI Exploratory Area | 2,205 | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Selar crumenophthalmus -Atulai, bigeye scad | 77,400 |
| Acanthuridae-surgeonfish | 302,600 | |
| Carangidae-jacks | 44,900 | |
| Carcharhinidae-reef sharks | 5,600 | |
| Crustaceans-crabs | 4,400 | |
| Holocentridae-squirrelfishes | 66,100 | |
| Kyphosidae-rudderfishes | 22,700 | |
| Labridae-wrasses | 55,100 | |
| Lethrinidae-emperors | 53,700 | |
| Lutjanidae-snappers | 190,400 | |
| Mollusks-turbo snail; octopus; giant clams | 9,800 | |
| Mugilidae-mullets | 4,500 | |
| Mullidae-goatfish | 28,400 | |
| Scaridae-parrotfish | 144,000 | |
| Serranidae-groupers | 86,900 | |
| Siganidae-rabbitfish | 10,200 | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum -Bumphead parrotfish | 797 | |
| Cheilinus undulatus -Humphead (Napoleon) wrasse | 2,009 | |
| All other CREMUS combined | 7,300 | |
| (CNMI and Guam combined) | ||
| Fishery | Management unit species | ACL Specification (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Non-Deep 7 bottomfish | 178,000 |
| Crustacean | Deepwater shrimp | 250,773 |
| Spiny lobster | 15,000 | |
| Slipper lobster | 280 | |
| Kona crab | 27,600 | |
| Precious Coral | Auau Channel black coral | 5,512 |
| Makapuu Bed-Pink coral | 2,205 | |
| Makapuu Bed-Bamboo coral | 551 | |
| 180 Fathom Bank-Pink coral | 489 | |
| 180 Fathom Bank-Bamboo coral | 123 | |
| Brooks Bank-Pink coral | 979 | |
| Brooks Bank-Bamboo coral | 245 | |
| Kaena Point Bed-Pink coral | 148 | |
| Kaena Point Bed-Bamboo coral | 37 | |
| Keahole Bed-Pink coral | 148 | |
| Keahole Bed-Bamboo coral | 37 | |
| Precious corals in the Hawaii Exploratory Area | 2,205 | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Selar crumenophthalmus -akule, bigeye scad | 988,000 |
| Decapterus macarellus -opelu, mackerel scad | 438,000 | |
| Acanthuridae-surgeonfishes | 342,000 | |
| Carangidae-jacks | 161,200 | |
| Carcharhinidae-reef sharks | 9,310 | |
| Crustaceans-crabs | 33,500 | |
| Holocentridae-squirrelfishes | 148,000 | |
| Kyphosidae-rudderfishes | 105,000 | |
| Labridae-wrasses | 205,000 | |
| Lethrinidae-emperors | 35,500 | |
| Lutjanidae-snappers | 330,300 | |
| Mollusks-octopus | 35,700 | |
| Mugilidae-mullets | 19,200 | |
| Mullidae-goatfishes | 165,000 | |
| Scaridae-parrotfishes | 239,000 | |
| Serranidae-groupers | 128,400 | |
| All other CREMUS combined | 485,000 |
Accountability Measures
Federal logbook and reporting from fisheries in Federal waters is not sufficient to monitor and track catches towards the proposed ACL specifications accurately. This is because most fishing for bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem MUS occurs in state waters, generally 0-3 nm from shore. For these reasons, NMFS will apply a moving 3-yr average catch to evaluate fishery performance against the proposed ACLs. Specifically, NMFS and the Council will use the average catch during fishing year 2013, 2014, and 2015 to evaluate fishery performance against the appropriate 2015 ACL. At the end of each fishing year, the Council will review catches relative to each ACL. If NMFS and the Council determine the three-year average catch for the fishery exceeds the specified ACL, NMFS and the Council will reduce the ACL for that fishery by the amount of the overage in the subsequent year.
You may find additional background information on this action in the preamble to the proposed specifications published on July 21, 2015 (80 FR 43046).
Comments and Responses
[top] The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on August 5, 2015. NMFS received comments from a commercial bottomfish fisherman on the proposed specifications for non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and from the U.S. Air
Comment 1: The proposed ACL should account for changes in the historical landings of non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI that resulted from changes in market conditions and regulatory actions. The commenter suggested that, in the past, MHI fishermen limited their catch of certain non-Deep 7 bottomfish species because they were associated with ciguatera (a toxin) and because fishermen received low prices for their catch due to higher volume of fish provided by the bottomfish fishery in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The commenter noted, however, that the closure of the NWHI fishery in 2010 and restrictions on landing MHI Deep 7 bottomfish upon reaching the annual catch limit in past fishing season have resulted in MHI fishermen targeting non-Deep 7 bottomfish, and landing more fish in recent years.
Response: NMFS and the Council considered changes in the historical landing when specifying the ACL and AMs for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish. The Biomass Augmented Catch Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) model, which generates the estimate of MSY which is used as the basis for the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and ACL, uses the historical catch record for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish from 1966-2013. Thus, in estimating MSY, the model includes the period of time when changes occurred in the landings of MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish. NMFS and the Council continue to work on improving the scientific, commercial, and other information that provide the basis for management decisions, and are exploring fishery-independent methods and technologies for assessing bottomfish resources. As information becomes available, NMFS will accommodate such data in future models and stock assessments.
Comment 2: The commenter asserts that, because the ACL for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish is based on imperfect data, NMFS should allow more leeway in applying the AMs if the fishery exceeds the ACL.
Response: Under federal regulations at 50 CFR 600.310 implementing the ACL requirement, the ACL serves as the basis for invoking the AM. AMs are management controls to prevent a fishery from exceeding an ACL and to correct or mitigate any overage of the ACL. While the data may be imperfect, the Council and NMFS established the ACLs using the best available information, and NMFS must adhere to the established ACL and AM process. See 50 CFR 665.4 and 50 CFR 600.310.
Comment 3: The U.S. Air Force requested confirmation that the proposed ACLs and AMs for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral and coral reef fisheries at Wake Island take into account the annual recreational harvest levels described in the Air Force Fishing Management Plan for Wake Atoll.
Response: In the proposed specifications (80 FR 43046, July 21, 2015), NMFS explained that we did not propose ACLs for bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS regulated under the PRIA FEP. In the Supplementary section of this final rule, NMFS again clarifies that it is not specifying ACLs for PRIA bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS. This is because fishing is currently prohibited within 12 nm of emergent land, unless authorized by the USFWS in consultation with NMFS and the Council (See 50 CFR 665.933). Also, there is no coral reef habitat seaward of the 12-nm prohibited fishing area. To date, the USFWS has not consulted with NMFS for any fishing that the USFWS may authorize within 12 nm of the PRIA. Consultation with the USFWS would provide information that NMFS and the Council need to monitor catch and effort in the PRIA, and to develop any future catch limits that would be necessary.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action is necessary for the conservation and management of Pacific Island fishery resources, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. NMFS published the factual basis for the certification in the proposed rule and does not repeat it here. NMFS received no comments on this certification; as a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, and none has been prepared.
This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866 because it contains no implementing regulations.
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21394 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
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