[Federal Register: April 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 76)]
[Notices]
[Page 21111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap08-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG93
Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Marine Conservation Plan for
Pacific Insular Areas; Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of agency decision.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of a three-year marine
conservation plan (MCP) for Pacific Insular Areas other than American
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
DATES: This agency decision is effective April 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marine conservation plan 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Katekaru, NMFS Pacific Islands
Regional Office, 808-944-2207.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 204(e)of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the
Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) and in consultation with the Council, may negotiate and
enter into a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement (PIAFA) to allow
foreign fishing within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent
to any Pacific Insular Area other than American Samoa, Guam, or the
Northern Mariana Islands, which, by definition, does not include the
State of Hawaii. Prior to entering into a PIAFA, the Council shall
develop a three-year Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) providing details
on uses for funds to be collected by the Secretary under the PIAFA. The
Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes that any payment received under a PIAFA
in support of conservation and management objectives in an MCP
developed by the Council and, in the case of violations by foreign
vessels occurring within the EEZ off any Pacific Insular Area (other
than American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands), any
amounts received by the Secretary attributable to fines and penalties
imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, shall be deposited into the
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund for use by the Council.
The MCP to be approved by the Secretary must be consistent with the
Council's fishery management plans, must identify conservation and
management objectives (including criteria for determining when such
objectives have been met), and must prioritize planned marine
conservation projects. Although no foreign fishing is being
contemplated at this time, the Council has developed an MCP for the
Pacific Insular Areas here defined as the EEZ around Johnston and
Palmyra Atolls, Kingman Reef, and Jarvis, Howland, Baker, and Wake
Islands. These areas are sometimes known as the ``Pacific remote island
areas'' or ``U.S. island possessions in the Central Pacific Ocean.''
At its 139th meeting held in October 2007, the Council approved its
``Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund Marine Conservation
Plan,'' dated August 29, 2007. The MCP contains seven objectives:
1. Support quality research and obtain the most complete scientific
information available to assess and manage fisheries;
2. Promote an ecosystem approach in fisheries management, including
reducing waste in fisheries and minimizing impacts on marine habitats
and impacts on protected species;
3. Conduct education and outreach to foster good stewardship
principles and broad and direct public participation in the Council's
decision-making process;
4. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional
fishing practices in managing fishery resources, and foster
opportunities for participation;
5. Promote environmentally-responsible fishing and the utilization
of sustainable fisheries that provide long-term economic growth and
stability;
6. Promote regional cooperation to manage domestic and
international fisheries; and
7. Encourage development of technologies and methods to achieve the
most effective level of monitoring, control, and surveillance, and to
ensure safety at sea.
The MCP also identifies major task areas that include data
collection and monitoring, management, biological research and
assessment, social economic research and assessment, policy
development, protected species, public outreach, etc., within which
projects are ranked in order of priority.
On November 6, 2007, the Council transmitted its MCP to NMFS
(designee of the Secretary) for approval. This notice announces that
NMFS has determined that the Council's MCP satisfies the requirements
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and that NMFS has approved the MCP for the
three-year period from April 11, 2008, through April 10, 2011.
Dated: April 14, 2008.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08-1150 Filed 4-15-08; 2:24 pm]
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