[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58011-58012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29020]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112197A]
Comprehensive Research and Monitoring Plan for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of final plan.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a plan for research and
monitoring to support the conservation and management of Atlantic
highly migratory species (HMS) as required by the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS has prepared the ``Comprehensive Research
and Monitoring Program for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species'' (Plan)
based on extensive consultation with relevant Federal and state
agencies, scientific and technical experts, commercial and recreational
fishermen, and other interested persons, public and private. Members of
the public were provided with an opportunity to submit comments on the
draft plan, and these comments were considered in developing the final
plan.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan should be sent to Dr.
Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/
SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Husted, telephone (301) 713-
2347; FAX (301) 713-1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS currently undertakes a broad range of
actions to address research and monitoring priorities, including
rulemaking, scientific activities within the agency, and external
partnerships that extend research capabilities. The agency has
developed its existing research and monitoring program for HMS through
a process of consultative reviews and public meetings with relevant
Federal and state agencies, scientific and technical experts,
commercial and recreational fishermen, and other interested persons,
public and private. NMFS will continue to follow this same public
process, which has proven to be an effective means of consulting all
interested parties.
The final plan is based on the existing research and monitoring
program at NMFS as well as on suggestions for future initiatives based
on domestic and international priorities. It has been prepared pursuant
to section 971i(b) of ATCA, which directs the Secretary of Commerce to
develop and implement a comprehensive research and monitoring program
to support the conservation
[[Page 58012]]
and management of Atlantic bluefin tuna and other HMS. Section 971i(b)
requires that the comprehensive research and monitoring program for HMS
shall provide for, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Statistically designed cooperative tagging studies;
2. Genetic and biochemical stock analyses;
3. Population censuses carried out through aerial surveys of
fishing grounds and known migration areas;
4. Adequate observer coverage and port sampling of commercial and
recreational fishing activity;
5. Collection of comparable real-time data on commercial and
recreational catches and landings through the use of permits, logbooks,
landings reports for charter operations and fishing tournaments, and
programs to provide reliable reporting of the catch by private anglers;
6. Studies of the life history parameters of bluefin tuna and other
highly migratory species;
7. Integration of data from all sources and the preparation of data
bases to support management decisions; and
8. Other research as necessary.
Comments and Responses
Research Priorities
Comment: The final plan should clearly outline research priorities,
rather than provide a compendium of possibilities for future research
activities. There should be a strong emphasis on submitting the results
to peer reviewed journals.
Response: NMFS agrees. The final plan has been restructured to
include a section on priorities. This approach should provide a better
context for the description of HMS research activities that follows.
NMFS will continue to submit the findings of research projects that are
conducted or sponsored by the agency to a vigorous peer review process
in the appropriate forum.
Funding for Research
Comment: The plan should include a section with a time line that
establishes a schedule for accomplishing this research. The document
should also outline how the agency anticipates funding the research
plan.
Response: These are not required elements of the plan, pursuant to
ATCA section 971i(b). NMFS is unable to predict future funding for
these projects since the appropriation process is revisited annually by
Congress and many HMS research initiatives are dependent upon
international cooperation and funding. Therefore, funding levels and
future dates of completion for the projects outlined in this plan have
not been identified.
Request for Proposals
Comment: NMFS should initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) as a
means of publicizing and undertaking the research in this comprehensive
plan. The RFP should indicate the amount of funding available for these
projects.
Response: NMFS has been unable to issue an RFP due to insufficient
discretionary funding. This year's funding is largely dedicated to
previous commitments to multi-year projects and implementation of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Data Collection in Commercial and Recreational Fisheries
Comment: NMFS should strengthen its data collection methodology to
ensure that comparable data are collected for commercial and
recreational fisheries, as required by ATCA.
Response: NMFS is aware that ATCA requires the collection of
comparable real-time data on commercial and recreational catches and
landings through the use of permits, logbooks, landings reports for
charter operations and fishing tournaments, and programs to provide
reliable reporting of catch by private anglers. Existing regulations,
as well as the draft Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS FMP) and the draft Amendment to the Fishery
Management Plan for Atlantic Billfishes (Billfish FMP), contain
specific proposed management measures to address this legal
requirement. NMFS is committed to strengthening and improving the
collection of data in all HMS fisheries as an integral part of a
comprehensive program for research and monitoring.
Comment: The Plan should include a more thorough discussion of the
Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey and the Large Pelagic
Survey that explains the parameters of these surveys, including sample
size and calibration.
Response: NMFS does not consider this level of detail to be an
appropriate part of the Plan. The draft HMS FMP provides more details
relative to these surveys of the recreational HMS fisheries.
Studies of Life Histories
Comment: The draft plan does not contain enough detail on how NMFS
intends to collect information on Essential Fish Habitat, pursuant to
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
Response: The draft HMS FMP and the draft Amendment to the Billfish
FMP each contain a substantial discussion of information needs relative
to Essential Fish Habitat for species covered by the Plan. Development
of these draft documents has included extensive involvement from the
Advisory Panels and the public. Therefore, while this information is
indeed relevant to the life histories of HMS, a complete discussion of
Essential Fish Habitat data needs is not repeated in the ATCA plan.
Socioeconomic Studies
Comment: NMFS should study the socioeconomic consequences of
proposed management measures for HMS fisheries, including limited
access.
Response: A number of socioeconomic research projects relative to
HMS were conducted in 1997 and 1998 with funding from NMFS, as
mentioned in the Plan. Numerous social and economic analyses have also
been conducted in conjunction with the preparation of the draft HMS FMP
and the draft Amendment to the Billfish FMP. NMFS agrees that
socioeconomic studies are an essential part of a comprehensive research
program for HMS.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
Dated: October 22, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-29020 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
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