[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15452-15457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8767]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 681
[Docket No. 960401094-6094-01; I.D. 022296D]
RIN 0648-AI32
Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Amendment 9
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues a proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 to the
Fishery Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries of the Western
Pacific Region (FMP). The rule would establish a new annual harvest
limitation program for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) lobster
fishery based on the status of stocks and an explicit level of risk of
overfishing. This would eliminate operational problems with the current
quota system. Current prohibitions on retaining juvenile lobsters and
berried lobsters would be eliminated. The rule would establish
framework procedures to implement regulatory changes if needed in the
future. The rule is intended to maintain the productivity of the stocks
while providing a reasonable opportunity for permit holders to
participate in the fishery and to maintain their markets. The changes
also would improve the
[[Page 15453]]
administration of the management program and improve enforcement
efforts.
DATES: Written comments must be received by May 23, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Copies of Amendment 9 and the associated environmental
assessment and Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA) may be obtained from Kitty M. Simonds, Executive
Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164
Bishop St., Suite 1405, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Comments on the proposed rule should be sent to Hilda Diaz-
Soltero, Director, Southwest Region, NMFS (Regional Director), 501 West
Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Send comments on the
modifications to approved collection-of-information requirements to the
Regional Director and to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, ATTN: Paperwork Reduction
Project 0648-0204 and 0648-0214, Washington, D.C. 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds at (808) 522-8220;
Svein Fougner at (310) 980-4034; or Alvin Z. Katekaru at (808) 973-
2985.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP was originally approved in 1983 and
governs fishing for spiny and slipper lobster in the NWHI. The FMP
originally included a variety of measures that have traditionally been
used in crustacean fisheries, including size limits, a ban on retention
of berried female lobsters, area closures, and escape vents for
sublegal lobsters. At that time, the stock was estimated to be able to
support a fishery of one million or more lobsters per year.
The FMP has been amended eight times as more information has become
available and problems in the fishery have been identified. In 1992,
through Amendment 7, an annual quota, closed season, and limited entry
program were established (57 FR 10437, March 26, 1992) in response to a
dramatic decline in lobster landings and catch-per-unit effort (CPUE)
from 1990 through 1991. The annual quota is derived by a formula that
reflects a ``constant escapement'' management goal; that is, the
harvest is limited to the surplus above a given ``optimum'' biomass of
about 1.4 million lobsters. Amendment 8 to the FMP, which NMFS approved
in 1994, eliminated a landing requirement for permit renewal and
modified notification and reporting procedures (Final rule, 59 FR
56004, November 10, 1994).
Amendment 9 is the result of a comprehensive review by NMFS of the
quota-setting procedure established under Amendment 7. The review was
prompted by the difficulties in implementing the current annual quota
process and because information suggests that the overall productivity
of lobster stocks might be significantly lower than estimated in the
late 1970s and early 1980s. There appear to have been major
environmental shifts that have reduced overall marine resource
productivity in the NWHI, as declines similar to that seen in lobster
stocks are seen in sea bird populations as well as in Hawaiian monk
seals. Fishing mortality also is believed to have impacted lobster
productivity.
Scientists from the NMFS Honolulu Laboratory, Southwest Fisheries
Science Center, thoroughly reviewed the lobster stock model and
analyzed three alternative harvest policies for establishing an annual
quota or harvest guideline: Constant escapement, constant catch, and
constant harvest rate. Details of this analysis are contained in
Appendix 4 of Amendment 9.
On August 9, 1995, the Council approved Amendment 9, which was
received by NMFS on February 21, 1996. NMFS will approve, disapprove,
or partially disapprove Amendment 9 by May 24, 1996. See the Notice of
Availability published on February 22, 1996 (61 FR 7771). Amendment 9
includes the following measures:
1. Establish an annual harvest guideline based on a constant
harvest rate and a specific level of risk of overfishing. Under the
constant harvest rate policy, the harvest guideline, which is expressed
in terms of the total number of lobsters (spiny and slipper combined),
would be proportional to the estimated exploitable population size.
Harvest guidelines would be raised or lowered as the stock increased or
decreased, capitalizing on strong years and offering greater protection
during less productive periods. Under the proposed alternative, the
projected average catch would be 288,000 lobsters with a CPUE of 1.2
lobsters (total) and an average Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) of 0.5
(the overfishing level is 0.20 SPR).
The Council initially voted on a range of acceptable risk levels of
overfishing (7.5-10.0 percent) on which to base the annual harvest
guideline. The Council subsequently clarified its position (via fax on
November 2, 1995) and selected 10 percent as the risk level to be
applied by the Regional Director to determine the annual harvest
guideline. The Council believes that this is consistent with its
Scientific and Statistical Committee's (SSC) view that, with the
conservative nature of the harvest guideline and stock model, a 10
percent level of risk of dropping below the 0.2 SPR threshold for
overfishing in any given year is biologically acceptable. The Council
and its SSC believe this presents an extremely low risk of overfishing
the NWHI lobster stocks. Accordingly, the Council has concluded that
the constant harvest rate strategy is risk averse, which is consistent
with the prevention of overfishing as mandated by the Magnuson Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act).
The harvest guideline would be determined by the Regional Director.
The harvest guideline would be published in the Federal Register no
later than March 31 each year, and the Regional Director would directly
notify each permit holder of the harvest guideline by mail or by phone.
The harvest guideline would be used as an objective, but the Regional
Director would be expected to close the fishery as close as practicable
to the date on which the harvest guideline is projected to be reached
based on a continuing review of catch and effort data provided by
permit holders.
2. Allow the retention of egg-bearing (``berried'') female lobsters
and eliminate size limits. The FMP and implementing regulations
prohibit fishers from retaining berried lobsters or lobsters with a
tail width of less than 50 mm. While definitive data are not available,
there is good reason to believe that the mortality of small and berried
lobsters that are caught and released is very high. The lobsters share
the NWHI with large and relatively lightly fished stocks of predators
including snappers, jacks, and octopus. The NMFS Honolulu laboratory
has documented on videotape predation on released lobsters from a
research vessel. Common fishing practices result in lobsters being out
of the water for periods of 30 minutes or more. Lobsters may die from
exposure on a vessel, may be injured in handling and not be able to
recover after release, or may suffer mortality from predation upon
release. The members of the SSC agreed that mortality is probably high,
and concluded that a 75 percent mortality rate was appropriate for
modeling the effects of incidental mortality under different management
strategies and risk levels. The SSC noted that the retention of all
lobsters was beneficial when the mortality rate was higher than 25
percent.
The Council discussed the issues and concluded it would like to
minimize the waste associated with handling and release mortality by
eliminating the
[[Page 15454]]
prohibitions on retention of small or berried lobsters. Therefore,
Amendment 9 would allow, but not require, retention of small and
berried lobsters. The existing escape vent requirement would remain in
place to minimize the harvest of immature lobsters in the fishery.
The Council believes that the potential for highgrading (i.e., the
retention of only more valuable lobsters in the total catch) is low
when there are two or more permit holders competing for the harvest
guideline. Since this is a derby fishery, in which the permit holders
fish as quickly as possible without trip or vessel limits, a permit
holder who chooses not to retain all of the catch provides a greater
opportunity for competitors to increase their portion of a fixed
harvest limit. Since NMFS expects that few (if any) vessels will carry
observers, estimates of highgrading will be made using catch and effort
data. If these data indicate that juvenile or berried lobsters are not
being landed (but instead being discarded), NMFS will account for such
discards in calculating the subsequent year's harvest guideline.
Therefore, highgrading would result in a decrease in the following
year's harvest guideline.
NMFS recognizes that the retain-all strategy is a new approach to
the management of lobster. Success of this approach depends on the
actual mortality of discarded lobsters and how well uncertainties about
the actual mortality are taken into account. Likewise, if significant
highgrading occurs, the benefits gained from a retain-all approach
could be substantially reduced. In view of these uncertainties, NMFS
specifically requests comments on the proposed elimination of the size
limits and of the prohibition on retaining berried females. NMFS also
specifically requests comments on the potential for, and possible
problems resulting if, there is significant highgrading.
3. Eliminate the in-season quota adjustment. Under the current
system, NMFS announces an initial quota in February and announces a
final quota as soon as practicable after the first month of fishing.
The in-season quota adjustment has proven to be unworkable, given the
extreme sensitivity of the quota formula to changes in CPUE. For
example, in 1994, the initial quota was 200,000 lobsters, but after
applying the CPUE from the first month of fishing to the formula in the
FMP, NMFS calculated the final quota to be only 20,000 lobsters. The
fishery was closed by emergency action because the actual catch had
already exceeded the final quota by the time the final quota was
determined. The formula used to derive the initial quota reduces
variability through the use of a long time-series of data; however,
using data from the first month of fishing to derive the final quota
reintroduces variability. Under Amendment 9, the harvest guideline
would be set once annually and not be adjusted during the year.
4. Authorize the Regional Director to close the fishery. The
regulations do not now authorize closure of the fishery by direct
notice to the permit holders. Therefore, there can be considerable
delay between determination of the likely date the fishery would be
expected to reach its harvest limit and the actual publication of a
document in the Federal Register. The Council concluded that the
fishery is sufficiently small (there are only 15 persons with limited
entry permits) that direct notice to permit holders by telephone or
radio would be feasible and would provide the most effective means of
ensuring timely closure of the fishery with minimal likelihood of
premature or late closure.
5. Establish broad framework procedures for future regulatory
changes. The FMP currently has framework procedures dealing with
protected species conservation, and the annual harvest guideline is set
under a specific framework (i.e., formula). The Council concluded that
flexibility to consider future changes in management measures under
broad framework procedures would be advantageous, rather than relying
on the lengthy procedures of the FMP amendment process. In the
Council's view, the new framework procedures of Amendment 9 would
provide a mechanism for more rapid response to new information than
would the FMP amendment process.
6. Conduct a 5-year review of the new program. The Council is aware
that the proposed new management approach of Amendment 9 would be a
unique approach for crustacean fishery management and warrants a
complete review of effectiveness. There would be an annual stock
assessment and annual report on the fishery, but the overall management
program should be evaluated to determine how the stocks and the permit
holders have been affected. Therefore, Amendment 9 would commit the
Council to a full review of the program in 5 years.
This proposed rule would eliminate the requirement that fishers
notify NMFS in advance of plans to embark on each fishing trip, so that
NMFS may place observers on the fishing vessel. Although the single
vessel fishing in 1994 under an Experimental Fishing Permit carried a
NMFS observer, NMFS lacks the resources to send observers on lobster
trips on a regular basis. Therefore, NMFS proposes to relieve fishermen
of the burden of reporting each trip in advance. This proposal accords
with President Clinton's directive that agencies reduce public
reporting requirements.
No substantive changes were made in the proposed regulations as
submitted by the Council. The proposed rule includes some technical
changes to the current regulations. These include changes in the
definitions for clarity, eliminating the permit renewal process as
permits would not have a fixed expiration date, authorizing any NMFS
employee designated by the Regional Director to access sales data, and
removing gender specific language.
Classification
Section 304(a)(1)(D) of the Magnuson Act requires NMFS to publish
regulations proposed by a Council within 15 days of receipt of the
amendment and regulations. At this time, NMFS has not determined that
Amendment 9 is consistent with the national standards, other provisions
of the Magnuson Act, and other applicable law. In making that
determination, NMFS will take into account the data, views, and
comments received during the comment period.
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of E.O. 12866.
The Council prepared an IRFA as part of the regulatory impact
review, which describes the impact this proposed rule would have on
small entities, if adopted. To the extent there are impacts, they are
expected to be beneficial. Under the proposed harvest guideline, there
will likely be fewer years in which the fishery is closed. The proposed
harvest strategy would eliminate the prohibitions on retaining small or
berried lobsters. The increased harvest guideline and reduction in
costs may result in a substantial increase of gross annual revenues.
All vessels in this fishery (15 vessels have permits) are considered
small entities. No new reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance
requirements would be imposed by this rule. No Federal rules are known
to duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule. The reasons for,
objectives of, and legal basis for this rule are described elsewhere in
this preamble. Multiple alternatives are analyzed in the IRFA. A copy
of the IRFA is available from, and public comments on the IRFA may be
sent to, the Council (see ADDRESSES).
[[Page 15455]]
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with a collection-of-information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
This rule includes a reduction in collection-of-information
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The current rule,
which was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
OMB Control No. 0648-0204, requires that permits be renewed annually.
Under the proposed rule, permits would be effective until modified,
suspended, or revoked. It would be the responsibility of the permit
holder to advise NMFS of any changes in permit information such as
change of ownership or the vessel covered by the permit. The estimated
burden would decrease from one-half hour per year to one-half hour per
3 years. Vessel owners also would no longer be required to notify NMFS
prior to departing on each fishing trip, a requirement approved by OMB
under OMB Control No. 0648-0214. This would reduce the estimated burden
by 5 minutes per vessel per trip, or up to 30 minutes per year. The
total burden is estimated to decrease by about 10 hours per year. A
request for approval of this modification is being submitted to OMB for
approval. Send comments regarding these burden estimates or any other
aspect of these collection-of-information requirements, including
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Regional Director and to
OMB (see ADDRESSES).
The Southwest Region, NMFS, has initiated formal consultation under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to consider the possible
impacts of the fishery, as it would operate under the proposed rule, on
Hawaiian monk seals and other listed species and listed critical
habitat. The results of the consultation will be considered in
determining whether to approve the proposed amendment.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 681
Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 4, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 681 is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 681--WESTERN PACIFIC CRUSTACEAN FISHERIES
1. The authority citation for part 681 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. In Sec. 681.2, the definitions of ``Carapace length'', ``Final
quota'', ``Initial quota'', ``Processing'', ``Processor'', ``Receiving
Vessel'', ``Tail width of slipper lobster'', ``Tail width of spiny
lobster'', and ``U.S.-harvested lobster'' are removed; the definition
of ``Harvest guideline'' is added in alphabetical order, and the
definition of ``Slipper lobster'' is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 681.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Harvest guideline means a specified numerical harvest objective.
* * * * *
Slipper lobster means any crustacean of the family Scyllaridae.
* * * * *
3. In Sec. 681.4, paragraphs (b)(2), (d), and (f) are revised,
paragraph (g) is removed, paragraphs (h) through (l) are redesignated
as paragraphs (g) through (k) respectively, to read as follows:
Sec. 681.4 Permits.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) Each application must be submitted on a Southwest Region
Federal Fisheries application form obtained from the Pacific Area
Office containing all the necessary information, attachments,
certification, signature, and fees.
* * * * *
(d) Change in application information. Any change in information on
the permit application form submitted under paragraph (b)(2) of this
section must be reported to the Pacific Area Office at least 10 days
before the effective date of the change. Failure to report such change
is a basis for permit sanctions.
* * * * *
(f) Expiration. Permits issued under this section will remain valid
indefinitely unless transferred, revoked, suspended, or modified under
15 CFR part 904.
* * * * *
4. In Sec. 681.5, paragraphs (b) and (d) are removed, paragraphs
(c) and (e) are redesignated as paragraphs (b) and (c) respectively,
and paragraph (a) and newly redesignated (b) are revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 681.5 Recordkeeping and reporting.
(a) Daily Lobster Catch Report. The operator of any vessel engaged
in commercial fishing for lobster subject to this part must maintain on
board the fishing vessel, while fishing for lobster, an accurate and
complete NMFS Daily Lobster Catch Report on a form provided by the
Regional Director. All information specified on the form, which has
been approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act, must be recorded on
the form within 24 hours after the completion of the fishing day. The
Daily Lobster Catch Reports for a fishing trip must be submitted to the
Regional Director within 72 hours of each landing of lobsters.
(b) Lobster Sales Report. The operator of any vessel engaged in
commercial fishing for lobster subject to this part must submit to the
Regional Director, within 72 hours of off-loading of lobster, an
accurate and complete Lobster Sales Report on a form provided by the
Regional Director, and attach packing or weigh-out slips provided to
the operator by the first-level buyer(s), unless the packing/weigh-out
slips have not been provided in time by the buyer(s). The form, which
has been approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act, must be signed and
dated by the vessel operator.
* * * * *
5. In Sec. 681.7, paragraphs (a)(5), (b)(2) through (b)(4) are
removed, paragraphs (b)(5) through (b)(14) are redesignated as
paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(11) respectively, and paragraph (b)(1)(i)
through (b)(1)(v), newly redesignated paragraphs (b)(6), (b)(7),
(b)(9), and (b)(11) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 681.7 Prohibitions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) Without a limited access permit issued under Sec. 681.28;
(ii) By methods other than lobster traps or by hand for lobsters,
as specified in Sec. 681.22;
(iii) From closed areas for lobsters, as specified in Sec. 681.21;
(iv) During a closed season, as specified in Sec. 681.27; or
(v) After the date announced by the Regional Director, as specified
in Sec. 681.29(b)(3), and until the fishery opens again in the
following calendar year.
* * * * *
(6) Leave a trap unattended in the Management Area except as
provided in Sec. 681.22(f).
(7) Maintain on board the vessel or in the water, more than 1200
traps per fishing vessel, of which no more than
[[Page 15456]]
1100 can be assembled traps, as specified in Sec. 681.22(e).
* * * * *
(9) Land lobsters taken in Permit Area 1 after the closure date
announced by the Regional Director, as specified in Sec. 681.29 (b)(3),
until the fishery opens again the following year.
* * * * *
(11) Refuse to make available to an authorized officer and employee
of NMFS designated by the Regional Director for inspection and copying
any records that must be made available in accordance with
Sec. 681.11(a).
* * * * *
6. Section 681.10 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 681.10 Observers.
All fishing vessels subject to this part must carry an observer
when requested to do so by the Regional Director.
7. In Sec. 681.11, paragraph (a) introductory text is revised to
read as follows:
Sec. 681.11 Availability of records for inspection.
(a) Upon request, any first-level buyer must immediately allow an
authorized officer and any employee of NMFS designated by the Regional
Director, to access, inspect, and copy all records relating to the
harvest, sale, or transfer of management unit species taken by vessels
that have permits issued under this part or that are otherwise subject
to this part, including, but not limited to information concerning:
* * * * *
8. Section 681.12 is added to subpart A to read as follows:
Sec. 681.12 Framework procedures.
(a) Introduction. New management measures may be added through
rulemaking if new information demonstrates that there are biological,
social, or economic concerns in Permit Areas 1, 2, or 3. The following
framework process authorizes the implementation of measures that may
affect the operation of the fisheries, gear, harvest guidelines, or
changes in catch and/or effort.
(b) Annual report. By June 30 of each year, the Council-appointed
Crustaceans Plan Team will prepare an annual report on the fisheries in
the management area. The report shall contain, among other things,
recommendations for Council action and an assessment of the urgency and
effects of such action(s).
(c) Procedure for established measures. (1) Established measures
are management measures that, at some time, have been included in
regulations implementing the FMP, and for which the impacts have been
evaluated in Council/NMFS documents in the context of current
conditions.
(2) Following the framework procedures of Amendment 9 to the FMP,
the Council may recommend to the Regional Director that established
measures be modified, removed, or re-instituted. Such recommendation
shall include supporting rationale and analysis, and shall be made
after advance public notice, public discussion, and consideration of
public comment. NMFS may implement the Council's recommendation by
rulemaking if approved by the Regional Director.
(d) Procedure for New Measures. (1) New measures are management
measures that have not been included in regulations implementing the
FMP, or for which the impacts have not been evaluated in Council/NMFS
documents in the context of current conditions.
(2) Following the framework procedures of Amendment 9 to the FMP,
the Council will publicize, including by Federal Register notice, and
solicit public comment on, any proposed new management measure. After a
Council meeting at which the measure is discussed, the Council will
consider recommendations and prepare a Federal Register notice
summarizing the Council's deliberations, rationale, and analysis for
the preferred action, and the time and place for any subsequent Council
meeting(s) to consider the new measure. At subsequent public
meeting(s), the Council will consider public comments and other
information received to make a recommendation to the Regional Director
about any new measure. NMFS may implement the Council's recommendation
by rulemaking if approved by the Regional Director.
9. In Subpart B, Secs. 681.21 and 681.22 are removed and
Secs. 681.23 through 681.32 are redesignated as Secs. 681.21 through
681.30, respectively.
10. In newly redesignated Sec. 681.25, in paragraphs (b) and
(g)(1), the words ``He'' and ``he'' are removed and the words ``The
Regional Director'' and ``the Regional Director'' are added in their
place, respectively.
11. In newly redesignated Sec. 681.26, in paragraphs (a)
introductory text, (b)(1), and (b)(3), the words ``he'', ``He'', and
``He'' are removed and the words ``the Regional Director'', ``The
Regional Director'', and ``The Regional Director'' are added in their
place, respectively.
12. In newly redesignated Sec. 681.28, paragraphs (b) and (c) are
removed, paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) are redesignated as paragraphs
(b), (c) and (d), respectively, and paragraphs (a)(8) and newly
redesignated paragraph (c) are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 681.28 Limited access management program.
(a) * * *
(8) A limited entry permit has no fixed expiration date.
* * * * *
(c) Replacement of a vessel covered by a limited access permit. A
limited access permit issued under this section may, without limitation
as to frequency, be transferred by the permit holder to a replacement
vessel owned by that person.
* * * * *
13. In newly redesignated Sec. 681.29, the section heading is
revised, and paragraph (c) is removed, paragraph (d) is redesignated as
paragraph (c), and paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 681.29 Harvest limitation program.
(a) General. A harvest guideline for Permit Area 1 will be set
annually for the calendar year and shall:
(1) Apply to the total catch of spiny and slipper lobsters; and
(2) Be expressed in terms of numbers of lobsters.
(b) Harvest guideline. (1) The Regional Director shall use
information from daily lobster catch reports and lobster sales reports
from previous years, and may use information from research sampling and
other sources, to establish the annual harvest guideline in accordance
with the FMP.
(2) NMFS shall publish a document indicating the annual harvest
guideline in the Federal Register by March 31 each year, and shall use
other means to notify permit holders of the harvest guideline for the
year.
(3) The Regional Director shall determine, on the basis of the
information reported to NMFS during the open season by the operator of
each vessel fishing, when the harvest guideline will be reached. Notice
of this determination, with a specification of the date after which
fishing for lobster or further landings of lobster taken in Permit Area
1 is prohibited, will be announced to each permit holder and operator
of each permitted vessel not less than 7 days prior to the effective
date.
* * * * *
14. Newly redesignated Sec. 681.30 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 681.30 Five-year review.
Five years after the effective date of the rule implementing
Amendment 9, the Council, in cooperation with the NMFS, will conduct a
review of the
[[Page 15457]]
effectiveness and impacts of the NWHI management program, including
biological, economic, and social aspects of the fishery.
[FR Doc. 96-8767 Filed 4-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
