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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-BD46

Publication ID: Spring 2014

Title: Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; U.S. Territory Catch and Fishing Effort Limits
Abstract: This action would amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. Amendment 7 would establish a management framework and process for specifying fishing catch and effort limits and accountability measures for pelagic fisheries in the U.S. Pacific territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). The framework would authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of its specified catch or effort limit to a U.S. fishing vessel or vessels through a specified fishing agreement, and establish criteria, which a specified fishing agreement must satisfy. The framework also includes measures to ensure accountability for adhering to fishing catch and effort limits. First, NMFS proposes regulations that would establish a management framework and process for specifying catch and fishing effort limits and accountability measures for pelagic fisheries in the U.S. Pacific territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). The framework would authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of its specified catch or fishing effort limit to a U.S. fishing vessel or vessels through a specified fishing agreement, and establish criteria which an agreement must satisfy. The framework also includes measures to ensure accountability for adhering to catch and fishing effort limits. Second, NMFS proposes to specify an annual limit of 2,000 metric tons (mt) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each territory, using the process described in the proposed rule. A territory would be allowed to allocate up to 1,000 mt of that limit annually to a U.S. longline fishing vessel or vessels identified in a specified fishing agreement. NMFS would monitor, attribute, and restrict catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna, including catches made by vessels identified in a specified fishing agreement.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 665
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Notice	12/30/2013	78 FR 79388
NPRM	01/08/2014	79 FR 1354
NPRM Comment Period End	02/24/2014
Final Action	06/00/2014

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: No	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands Region Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 Phone:808 725-5000 Email: michael.tosatto@noaa.gov