[Federal Register: April 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 17455-17456]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap06-51]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 033106D]
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold its 132nd meeting to consider and take final action on
recommendations to limit fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
(NWHI). The Council will also hold a public hearing during this 132nd
Council meeting.
DATES: The 132nd Council meeting and public hearing will be held on
Thursday, April 20, 2006. For specific dates, times and locations of
the public hearing, and the agenda for the 132nd Council meeting, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The 132nd Council meeting and public hearing will be held at
the Council's office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI
96813. The 132nd Council meeting telephone conference call-in-number
is: (866) 867-8289, passcode 1683776. For Guam and International
Participants, the call-in-number is: (813) 276-1442, passcode 1683776.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director;
telephone: (808) 522-8220; fax: (808) 522-8226.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
On January 18, 2006, the Council was informed by the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, that NOAA is
developing alternatives in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
the proposed NWHI National Marine Sanctuary that would enable the
Council to continue to recommend management measures to limit
bottomfish and pelagic fisheries through regulations under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), consistent with the goals and objectives of the proposed
sanctuary. While the preferred alternative has not been selected, the
range of alternatives under consideration includes a regulatory regime
allowing commercial bottomfishing and non-longline pelagic fishing to
continue either: (1) indefinitely, (2) until 2025, or (3) for 5 years
with a ban on fishing thereafter.
The Council was also informed that if, by May 1, 2006, it transmits
for Secretarial review, an amendment to the Bottomfish and Pelagics
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) and corresponding proposed regulations
implementing limits to bottomfish and pelagic fishing, NOAA may review
those Magnuson-Stevens Act regulations as potential mechanisms to
implement NOAA's preferred alternative for the proposed sanctuary,
rather than implementing the alternative via the National Marine
Sanctuaries Act.
At its 131st Council meeting held March 13-16, 2006, the Council
took initial action and recommended that limited fishing be allowed in
federal waters of the proposed NWHI National Marine Sanctuary and
managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (except for recreational fishing
at Midway Atoll), consistent with all codified federal regulations and
subject to the following restrictions:
a. A closure be established indefinitely for all harvests of
crustacean, precious coral and coral reef ecosystem species;
b. All commercial and recreational fishing be subject to Magnuson-
Stevens Act permit and logbook reporting requirements
c. Recreational fishing permits be issued on a case-by case basis,
and that the Council will evaluate the need for further management;
d. Limited-entry NWHI bottomfish permits be capped at 14, with 7
permits for the Ho'omalu Zone and 7 permits for the Mau Zone (the two
Community Development Program permits for indigenous use to be included
in the latter and issued as previously recommended by the Council);
e. The annual bottomfish catch be limited to 381,500 lbs (85% of
Maximum Sustainable Yield);
f. Non-longline commercial pelagic fishing permits be capped at
three (3);
g. The annual commercial pelagic catch by the non-longline pelagic
fishery and the limited-entry bottomfish fishery be limited to 180,000
lbs.;
h. No-take Marine Protected Areas be established around French
Frigate Shoals and West of 174 W longitude;
i. The use-or-lose requirements for renewal of commercial
bottomfish permits be removed;
j. Relinquished or revoked commercial bottomfish permits be
reissued by NMFS in accordance with the existing procedures for
Ho'omalu Zone permits and as described in the Council's previous
recommendation for Mau Zone permits; and
k. Federally permitted research regarding fishery and ecosystem
conservation and management would be allowed in Federal waters.
The Council will consider final action on these proposed limits to
fishing in the NWHI at this 132nd meeting.
[[Page 17456]]
132nd Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 20, 2006, 1 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Limits to Fishing in the NWHI
4. Public Hearing
5. Council Discussion and Action
6. Other Business
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal Council action during its 132nd meeting. Council action will
be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and
any issue arising after publication of this document that requires
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220
(voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting
date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 3, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4983 Filed 4-5-06; 8:45 am]
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