[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4608]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 681
[I.D. 022296D]
RIN 0648-AI32
Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Amendment 9
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment
and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice that the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Crustaceans Fisheries of the Western Pacific
Region for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and is
requesting comments from the public. Amendment 9 would change the
current harvest strategy to adapt to lower recruitment in the lobster
fishery of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
DATES: Written comments on the amendment must be received on or before
April 26, 1996.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be sent to, Hilda Diaz-Soltero,
Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200,
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Copies of the amendment are available upon
request from the Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1405, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96813. Telephone 808-522-8220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Svein Fougner, (310) 980-4034, Alvin
Katekaru, (808) 973-2985, or Robert Harman, (808) 522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson Act) 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. requires that a
Regional Fishery Management Council submit any amendment to a fishery
management plan it has prepared to NMFS for review, disapproval, or
partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, upon
receiving an amendment, immediately publish a notice that the amendment
is available for public review and comment. The NMFS will consider all
public comments received during the comment period in determining
whether to approve the amendment for implementation.
Amendment 9 would:
(1) Establish an annual harvest guideline based on a constant
harvest rate, which would replace the current system of harvesting all
legal-sized lobsters above a certain population level;
(2) eliminate size limits and the prohibition on retaining egg-
bearing lobsters because lobsters returned to the sea are believed to
suffer a high mortality;
(3) implement framework procedures to modify management measures
triggered by biological, social, or economic problems in the fishery;
and
(4) authorize the Director, Southwest Region, to close the fishery
by direct notice to fishermen.
An environmental assessment and regulatory impact review are
incorporated in Amendment 9. These documents are available for review
(see ADDRESSES).
The receipt date for Amendment 9 was February 21, 1996. Proposed
regulations to implement Amendment 9 are scheduled to be published
within 15 days of the receipt date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 23, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4608 Filed 2-26-96; 3:40 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
