[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8637-8638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4778]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 961121322-7033-02; I.D. 110696B]
RIN 0648-AJ02


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Bottomfish Fishery; Mau Zone Moratorium

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to impose a 2-year moratorium on 
issuing new permits for harvesting bottomfish in the Mau Zone of the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands so that effort in the fishery will be 
stabilized while the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) develops a limited access program for the area. This will 
stabilize effort in the fishery while the Council develops a management 
system for the Mau Zone that may limit access to the fishery.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ms. Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Administrator, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802. Copies of the Environmental Assessment can be obtained 
from the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alvin Katekaru, NMFS, (808) 973-
2985; Mr. Svein Fougner, NMFS, (562) 980-4034; or Ms. Kitty Simonds, 
Council, (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following extensive review by the Council's 
advisory bodies, the details of which were summarized in the proposed 
rule (61 FR 60255, November 27, 1996) and will not be repeated here, 
the Council, at its 90th meeting, August 7-9, 1996, recommended that a 
moratorium be implemented for 2 years to allow sufficient time to 
complete an access limitation program for the Mau Zone bottomfish 
fishery. The Council recommended this action in accordance with the 
framework procedures of 50 CFR 660.67(d), which specifically addresses 
the access limitation process. During the moratorium, the Council will 
develop a program for the Mau Zone that aims to reduce the potential 
increase in fishing pressure in the Mau Zone and increase the economic 
efficiency of the fishery.
    Discussions among the members of the Council's Bottomfish Plan 
Team, Task Force, Advisory Panel, and Review Board have pointed out the 
necessity of three elements in any limited access plan: Simplicity, 
equity, and the importance of restricting the number of potential 
participants. Approximately 80 vessels have had permits for the Mau 
Zone at some time in the past; however, some owners of vessels have 
died, and some vessels have permanently left the fishery, leaving a 
core of perhaps 30 vessels, whose owners could renew their permits and 
participate in the fishery. Any plan that the Council adopts is likely 
to contain some kind of qualifying criteria. A permit obtained by a 
former permittee during the moratorium may not guarantee a permit under 
the permanent limited access system. The Council is considering using 
qualification criteria based on historical landings data and current 
landings data, coupled with non-transferable permits for reducing the 
number of bottomfish vessels in the fishery and maintaining an active 
fleet at an optimal level.
    Upon the effective date of this rule, only those vessel owners who 
have held Mau Zone permits will be eligible to renew or obtain permits 
for the length of the moratorium.

Classification

    The Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, determined that the 
regulatory amendment is necessary for the conservation and management 
of the bottomfish fishery and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable 
law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the 
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration that this rule would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The reasons were published on November 27, 1996 (61 FR 60255). No 
public comments were received on the certification. As a result, no 
final regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared.

[[Page 8638]]

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reason set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended 
as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST AND WESTERN PACIFIC STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 660.61, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 660.61  Permits.

    (a) The owner of any vessel used to fish for bottomfish in the Mau 
Zone must have a permit issued under this section for that vessel. 
Permits for persons not previously permitted to fish in the Mau Zone 
will not be issued for a 2-year period beginning March 27, 1997.
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[FR Doc. 97-4778 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F