[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6474-6479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02162]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 216 and 300

[Docket No. 220128-0036]
RIN 0648-BK88


International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Purse Seine 
Observer Exemptions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations under the authority of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) of 
1950, as amended, to allow NMFS to issue temporary exemptions from 
purse seine observer requirements in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) in 
accordance with procedures adopted by Parties to the Agreement on the 
International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP) and members of the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). This proposed rule is 
necessary for the continuity of fishing activities for large U.S. purse 
seine vessels and for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a 
member of the IATTC.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted in writing by 
March 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0111, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2021-0111'' in the Search 
box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and 
enter or attach your comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to William Stahnke, NMFS 
West Coast Region (WCR), Long Beach Office, 501 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Include the identifier ``NOAA-NMFS-2021-
0111'' in the comments.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods

[[Page 6475]]

to ensure they are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. 
Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, 
or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. 
All comments received are a part of the public record and will 
generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without 
change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. 
Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive 
or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Copies of supporting documents that were prepared for this proposed 
rule, including the Regulatory Impact Review, are available via the 
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov, docket NOAA-NMFS-
2021-0111, or contact William Stahnke, NMFS WCR, Long Beach Office, 501 
W Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#46110514680e0b15062829272768212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ecbbafbec2a4a1bfac82838d8dc28b839a">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Stahnke, NMFS WCR, at (562) 
980-4088.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on the AIDCP and IATTC

    The AIDCP has been ratified or acceded by 14 countries, including 
the United States, and is applied provisionally by another two. Among 
the objectives of the AIDCP are to reduce dolphin mortalities and 
ensure the long-term sustainability of the tuna stocks within the AIDCP 
Agreement Area.\1\ The full text of the AIDCP is available online at: 
https://www.iattc.org/PDFFiles/AIDCP/_English/AIDCP.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Defined as waters of the EPO within the area bounded by the 
west coast of the Americas and by 50[deg] N latitude, 150[deg] W 
longitude, and 50[deg] S latitude.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The United States is a member of the IATTC, which was established 
under the 1949 Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American 
Tropical Tuna Commission (1949 Convention). The 1949 Convention was 
updated by the Convention for the Strengthening of the IATTC 
Established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America 
and the Republic of Costa Rica (Antigua Convention). The full text of 
the Antigua Convention is available online at: https://www.iattc.org/PDFFiles/IATTC-Instruments/_English/IATTC_Antigua_Convention%20vJun%202003.vpdf.
    The IATTC consists of 21 member nations and five cooperating non-
member nations. The IATTC facilitates scientific research, as well as 
the conservation and management, of tuna and tuna-like species in the 
IATTC Convention Area.\2\ The IATTC maintains a scientific research and 
fishery monitoring program and regularly assesses the status of tuna, 
sharks, and billfish stocks in the IATTC Convention Area to determine 
appropriate catch limits and other measures deemed necessary to promote 
sustainable fisheries and prevent the overexploitation of these stocks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Defined as waters of the EPO within the area bounded by the 
west coast of the Americas and by 50[deg] N latitude, 150[deg] W 
longitude, and 50[deg] S latitude.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

International Obligations of the United States Under the Antigua 
Convention and AIDCP

    As a Party to the Antigua Convention and AIDCP and a Member of the 
IATTC, the United States is legally bound to implement decisions of the 
IATTC under the Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) and 
decisions of the Parties to the AIDCP under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). The Tuna Conventions Act 
directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary 
of State and, with respect to enforcement measures, the U.S. Coast 
Guard, to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
the United States' obligations under the Antigua Convention, including 
recommendations and decisions adopted by the IATTC. The authority of 
the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate such regulations has been 
delegated to NMFS. The MMPA directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue 
regulations, and revise those regulations as may be appropriate, to 
implement the International Dolphin Conservation Program. As with the 
TCA, the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate such 
regulations has been delegated to NMFS.

AIDCP and IATTC Observer Program and U.S. Observer Requirements

    U.S. large purse seine vessels (i.e., those greater than 400 short 
ton carrying capacity) fishing for tuna in the EPO are subject to 100 
percent observer coverage obligations under Annex II, paragraph 2 of 
the AIDCP and IATTC Resolution C-09-04, Resolution on the International 
Dolphin Conservation Program. The United States implemented this 
requirement for 100 percent observer coverage into domestic regulation 
at 50 CFR 216.24(e)(1), which requires vessel permit holders to allow 
an authorized observer to accompany the vessel on all fishing trips in 
the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) for the purpose of collecting 
information pertaining to research and observing operations and 
prohibits vessels that fail to carry an observer in accordance with 
these requirements from engaging in fishing operations. The United 
States does not have its own national observer program for the large 
tuna purse seine fishery and relies solely on the AIDCP/IATTC program 
to place observers on U.S. large purse seine vessels. The observers are 
typically foreign nationals that board U.S. vessels at ports throughout 
Central and South America, as well as American Samoa.

AIDCP and IATTC Agreement for Exemptions and NMFS Emergency Observer 
Exemption Rule

    On April 16, 2020, the IATTC issued a memorandum (Ref.: 0173-420) 
\3\ indicating that the AIDCP Parties and the IATTC Members adopted 
procedures to provide for the temporary exemption, on a case-by-case 
basis, from purse seine observer requirements in the EPO for each 
vessel and trip where it is not possible to place an observer due to 
operational and logistical constraints arising from actions taken by 
governments or organizations to safeguard health in response to the 
COVID-19 Pandemic. Under these exemption procedures, owners and 
operators of vessels must continue requesting the placement of 
observers in accordance with pre-existing procedures. An AIDCP/IATTC 
exemption is considered granted when the IATTC Director, or the head of 
the field office and the national observer program office of AIDCP 
Parties, certify the unavailability of an observer for the vessel. 
These procedures were set to expire June 1, 2020, but the AIDCP/IATTC 
issued several subsequent memoranda extending the procedures, most 
recently until March 31, 2022 (0564-420; December 16, 2021), and they 
are expected to be extended further. The current AIDCP/IATTC exemption 
procedures are discussed in greater detail in the next section of this 
preamble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Copies of IATTC Memo #0173-420 as well as the original NMFS 
exemption procedures can be found in the docket for this rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the AIDCP/IATTC procedures, NMFS needed authority to 
provide exemptions from domestic regulations requiring observer 
coverage. On March 27, 2020, NMFS published a

[[Page 6476]]

temporary rule for an emergency action in response to the COVID-19 
Pandemic (85 FR 17285) that provides the authority to waive observer 
coverage requirements implemented under certain statutes, including the 
MMPA and TCA (``NMFS Emergency Rule''). That NMFS Emergency Rule 
permits NMFS to waive observer coverage requirements if:
    (1) Placing an observer conflicts with travel restrictions or other 
requirements addressing COVID-19 related concerns issued by local, 
state, or national governments, or the private companies that deploy 
observers pursuant to NMFS regulations; or
    (2) No qualified observer(s) are available for placement due to 
health, safety, or training issues related to COVID-19.
    That temporary NMFS Emergency Rule was extended and is currently in 
effect until March 26, 2022, or until the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services determines that the COVID-19 Pandemic is no longer a public 
health emergency, whichever is earlier (March 29, 2021; 86 FR 16307). 
Pursuant to the NMFS Emergency Rule, and in accordance with exemption 
procedures adopted by the AIDCP/IATTC, NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) 
established a process, subject to revocation or extension as 
circumstances warrant, for issuing temporary exemptions on an 
individual basis to the U.S. regulatory requirements for observer 
requirements for large U.S. tuna purse seine vessels in the EPO. This 
process, which NMFS is proposing to maintain under the proposed rule, 
is discussed in greater detail in the next section of this preamble.

Proposed Amendment to 50 CFR 216.24(e) To Allow for Exemptions From 
Purse Seine Observer Requirements in the EPO

    Though difficult to predict, NMFS expects travel restrictions will 
likely continue in American Samoa and other port States where observers 
are placed on purse seine vessels beyond March 26, 2022. As noted, the 
AIDCP/IATTC exemptions procedures have been extended until March 31, 
2022, and are expected to be extended further. However, the temporary 
NMFS Emergency Rule that provides the United States domestic authority 
to waive observer coverage for large EPO purse seine vessels will 
expire on March 26, 2022. After this time, NMFS will no longer have the 
authority to issue exemptions from observer requirements to large purse 
seine vessels fishing in the EPO. Without the authority to issue 
observer exemptions, the United States would likely be the only AIDCP 
Party and IATTC Member unable to issue these exemptions to its purse 
seine vessels. This proposed rule is therefore necessary to allow NMFS 
to continue issuing temporary exemptions from the observer requirements 
beyond the NMFS Emergency Rule expiration date in March 2022 in 
accordance with continuing AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures and, 
potentially, in accordance with exemption procedures adopted in the 
future. Because the AIDCP contains an unqualified requirement for 100 
percent observer coverage, NMFS anticipates that the AIDCP/IATTC will 
only adopt exemption procedures in the future under emergency 
circumstances similar to the COVID-19 pandemic and that those 
procedures would be similarly limited to single fishing trips for which 
it would be impossible to place an observer on a vessel.
    This rule is proposed under the authorities of the MMPA and TCA. 
This rule would amend Sec.  216.24(e)(1) to add a provision that will 
allow NMFS to issue temporary exemptions from purse seine observer 
requirements, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with procedures 
adopted by the Parties to the AIDCP and Members of the IATTC. These 
temporary exemptions would apply to U.S. large purse seine vessels that 
are used to catch tropical tuna in the IATTC Convention Area and would 
exempt a single vessel from the requirement to carry an observer during 
a single fishing trip, provided the vessel complies with AIDCP/IATTC 
exemption procedures and with other applicable regulations and 
requirements. Although the proposed provision would not expire, it 
would only be applicable for the duration that AIDCP and IATTC observer 
exemption procedures are effective. In other words, the proposed 
provision would only give NMFS the authority to grant an exemption: (1) 
If the Parties to the AIDCP and Members of the IATTC have collectively 
agreed to adopt procedures for exempting observer coverage requirements 
under certain emergency circumstances; and (2) in accordance with the 
specific procedures adopted by AIDCP/IATTC for granting those 
exemptions.
    NMFS will notify the affected fleet via email when the current 
AIDCP/IATTC emergency exemption procedures are no longer in effect. 
NMFS will also notify the affected fleet via email and the public by 
publication of a notice in the Federal Register if new exemption 
procedures are adopted by the Parties to the AIDCP and Members of the 
IATTC. New exemptions would not be issued by NMFS when AIDCP/IATTC 
exemption procedures are not in effect and exemptions issued by NMFS 
while AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures are in effect would only be 
effective for as long as the AIDCP/IATTC procedures remain in effect.

Process for Obtaining an Observer Exemption From the IATTC

    As previously noted, the AIDCP Parties and the IATTC Members 
adopted procedures for the temporary exemption, on a case-by-case 
basis, of the requirement to carry an observer for trips where it is 
not possible to place an observer on a vessel. The process for a vessel 
to be granted an exemption from the IATTC is outlined below:
    <bullet> Vessel owners/operators planning a fishing trip in the EPO 
are to contact the IATTC Director and Observer Coordinator to request 
an observer.
    <bullet> If the IATTC Director, or the head of the field office and 
the national program office, certifies, in coordination with Flag State 
Authorities, that it is not possible to place an observer on the 
vessel, then an exemption from AIDCP observer requirements will be 
considered granted for the fishing trip.

Process for Obtaining an Observer Exemption From NMFS

    In addition, U.S. large purse seine vessels must also obtain from 
NMFS WCR an individual exemption from regulatory observer coverage 
requirements. As discussed previously, NMFS has been issuing those 
exemptions under the authority of the NMFS Emergency Rule; however, if 
finalized, this proposed rule would provide NMFS the authority to 
continue issuing such exemptions while AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures 
are in effect. NMFS would continue using the existing process for a 
U.S. vessel to obtain an exemption from domestic regulations, as 
outlined below:
    <bullet> Once NMFS West Coast Region receives certification from 
the IATTC or the vessel owner/operator that an exemption has been 
granted, NMFS will confirm that the vessel owner/operator meets the 
criteria set forth in the AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures.
    <bullet> If the criteria are met, NMFS will issue the permit holder 
a letter documenting that the requirement to carry an observer has been 
exempted for that vessel trip.
    <bullet> A NMFS observer exemption may be requested from the NMFS 
West Coast Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Branch, via <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5e2f6e79bfdf8e6f5dbdad4d49bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acfbeffe82e4e1ffecc2c3cdcd82cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a>.
    NMFS anticipates working in coordination with the IATTC and being 
able to provide individual vessel

[[Page 6477]]

exemptions without significant delay to U.S. large purse seine vessels. 
Any changes to these procedures will be notified by email directly and/
or via relevant email distribution lists to vessel owners, operators, 
and permit holders.

Dolphin-Safe Requirements

    It should be noted that although these proposed regulations will 
allow NMFS to waive the regulatory requirements in Sec.  216.24(e)(1) 
to carry an observer, tuna caught in the ETP on a trip without an 
AIDCP-approved observer will be ineligible for a United States dolphin-
safe label or an AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna Certificate. With respect to 
the U.S. dolphin-safe label, any tuna harvested by large purse seine 
vessels fishing in the ETP is subject to U.S. dolphin-safe labeling 
requirements at 50 CFR part 216, subpart H, and also subject to the 
authority of the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (ICDPA; 
16 U.S.C. 1417). Without an AIDCP-approved observer on a fishing trip 
(even with an observer exemption), the Tuna Tracking Forms (TTFs) 
cannot be completed by an observer for that trip and, thus, the tuna 
would be ineligible for a dolphin-safe label. TTFs are necessary for 
the issuance of the U.S.-required IDCP-member nation certification to 
accompany the NOAA Form 370 for tuna harvested by large purse seine 
vessels in the ETP. However, such tuna harvested in the ETP without an 
observer may still be legally sold in the United States as non-dolphin-
safe, provided it was harvested in accordance with other relevant 
requirements.
    With respect to the AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna Certificate, it should 
also be noted that the AIDCP Parties did not waive the requirement for 
the observer's role in verifying the dolphin-safe status of the catches 
under the AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna Certification Program. Therefore, any 
trip by a vessel of an AIDCP Party that is made without an observer 
would not have valid TTFs and, thus, no valid AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna 
Certificate can be issued by a Party for any catches made on that 
particular fishing trip.

Proposed Amendments to 50 CFR 300.24 and 300.25 To Incorporate Existing 
Purse Seine Observer Requirements Into the Regulations That Govern 
Eastern Pacific Tuna Fisheries

    As noted earlier, the regulatory requirement for large purse seine 
vessels to carry observers during fishing operations in the EPO are 
found in 50 CFR part 216, which contains regulations governing the 
taking and importing of marine mammals. This proposed rule would 
incorporate that requirement into 50 CFR part 300, subpart C, which 
contains regulations governing eastern Pacific tuna fisheries. 
Specifically, NMFS proposes to add to Sec.  300.25, Fisheries 
Management, a provision that re-states, and cross-references to, the 
existing observer coverage requirement in Sec.  216.24(e)(1). This 
provision would clarify that the requirements in Sec.  216.24(e)(1) 
apply within the IATTC Convention Area. NMFS also proposes to add to 
Sec.  300.24(n) a prohibition against operating a large purse seine 
vessel in the IATTC Convention Area in contravention of applicable 
observer requirements.

Classification

    The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed 
rule is consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Tuna 
Conventions Act of 1950, and other applicable laws.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    There are no new collection-of-information requirements associated 
with this action that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 
and the existing collection-of-information requirements still apply 
under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Numbers 0648-0148 
(West Coast Region Pacific Tuna Fisheries Logbook, Fish Aggregating 
Device Form, and Observer Safety Reporting) and 0648-0335 (Fisheries 
Certificate of Origin). Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, 
no person is required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to 
penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject 
to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. All currently approved 
NOAA collections of information may be viewed at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the 
Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 
rationale for the certification is provided in the following 
paragraphs.
    As previously mentioned, NMFS expects that travel restrictions due 
to the COVID-19 pandemic will likely continue in American Samoa and 
foreign ports where observers are placed on purse seine vessels into 
the foreseeable future. NMFS also expects that the AIDCP/IATTC will 
extend their observer exemptions procedures beyond the current March 
31, 2022, expiration date. With the NMFS Emergency Rule that provides 
the United States domestic authority to waive observer coverage for 
large EPO purse seine vessels expiring on March 26, 2022, NMFS will no 
longer have the authority to issue exemptions from observer 
requirements to large purse seine vessels fishing in the or EPO after 
that date. This proposed rule will allow NMFS to continue issuing 
temporary exemptions from the observer requirements. The absence of 
this proposed rule would result in NMFS being unable to issue 
exemptions in cases where no observer is available, preventing U.S. 
large purse seine vessels from legally fishing, thereby decreasing 
fishing opportunities and putting the U.S. fleet at a competitive 
disadvantage.
    The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a 
``small business'' (or ``small entities'') as one with annual revenue 
that meets or is below an established size standard. NMFS has 
established that the small business size standard for all businesses 
primarily engaged in the commercial fishing industry (NAICS 11411) for 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) compliance purposes (80 FR 81194, 
December 29, 2015), is $11 million in annual gross receipts. The 
standard is to be used in place of the U.S. SBA standards of $20.5 
million, $5.5 million, and $7.5 million for the finfish (NAICS 114111), 
shellfish (NAICS 114112), and other marine fishing (NAICS 114119) 
sectors, respectively, of the U.S. commercial fishing industry.
    The entities directly affected by the actions of this proposed 
action are U.S. large (i.e., well volume greater than 425 cubic meters) 
tuna purse seine vessels that are required to carry fisheries 
observers, pursuant to the AIDCP and U.S. regulations at Sec.  
216.24(e). Per the $11 million size standard, these purse seine vessels 
are both large and small businesses.
    Estimates of ex-vessel revenues for large U.S. purse seine vessels 
fishing in the IATTC Convention Area before 2015 have been confidential 
and may not be publicly disclosed because of the small number of 
vessels in the fishery. However, beginning in 2015, more than three 
large purse seine vessels fished either exclusively in the EPO, or 
fished in both the EPO and WCPO. Thus, information from 2015 to 2020 is 
not confidential.
    Ex-vessel price information specific to individual large U.S. purse 
seine vessels are not available to NMFS because these

[[Page 6478]]

vessels did not land on the U.S. West Coast and the cannery receipts 
are not available through the IATTC. However, Regional Purse Seine 
Logbook (RPL) data from NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 
(PIFSC), and observer data from the IATTC may be used as a proxy for 
fish landings by large U.S. purse seiners, in lieu of cannery receipts. 
Since neither gross receipts nor ex-vessel price information specific 
to individual fishing vessels are available to NMFS, NMFS applied 
indicative regional cannery prices--as approximations of ex-vessel 
prices--to annual catches of individual vessels obtained from RPLs and 
IATTC observer data, to estimate the vessels' annual receipts. 
Indicative regional cannery prices are available through 2020 
(developed by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency; available at 
(https://www.ffa.int/node/425). NMFS estimated vessels' annual receipts 
during 2019-2020. Using this approach, NMFS estimates that among the 
affected vessels, the range in annual average receipts in 2019-2020 was 
$400,000 to $15 million with an average of approximately $8 million. 
U.S. EPO purse seine vessels that carry observers in the IATTC 
Convention Area are both large and small entities. While vessels often 
fluctuate from year to year as being classified as a large or small 
entity, the majority of large U.S. purse seine vessels typically fall 
under the small entity category.
    As of December 2021, there are 17 U.S. purse seine vessels on the 
IATTC active purse seine register that are expected to be impacted by 
this action. These vessels are large, size class 6 purse seine vessels, 
registered to fish in the IATTC Convention Area, and primarily based in 
the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). They are subject to the 
100 percent observer coverage requirement pursuant to the AIDCP and 
U.S. domestic regulations at Sec.  216.24(e)(1).
    As described in the previous section, even though NMFS would exempt 
the regulatory requirements in Sec.  216.24(e) to carry an observer, if 
there are any tuna caught on a trip in the ETP, it would be ineligible 
for a U.S. dolphin-safe label or an AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna Certificate 
if no observer was on board. However, such tuna harvested in the ETP 
without an observer may still be legally sold in the United States, 
provided it was harvested in accordance with other relevant 
requirements.
    Despite these restrictions for use of the U.S. dolphin-safe label 
or an AIDCP Dolphin-Safe Tuna Certificate, some U.S. purse seine 
vessels have made determinations that there is still a market for tuna 
caught without an observer. Out of the 87 trips by U.S. vessels that 
occurred since the observer exemptions were approved in March 2020, the 
United States has issued 17 observer exemptions under the authority of 
the NMFS Emergency Rule. Of those exemptions, approximately one third 
were not utilized, i.e., no fishing occurred in the IATTC Convention 
Area during the trip for which the exemption was issued. For trips 
where no observer was deployed, vessels are required to submit directly 
to the IATTC an IATTC bridge log and a fish aggregating device (FAD) 
form that contains fields that would have otherwise been collected by 
the observer. The compliance rate with these requirements is 100 
percent as of December 2021.
    Lastly, beyond the aforementioned IATTC bridge log, FAD form, and 
NOAA Form 370 that are already collected for large purse seine trips, 
there are no new recordkeeping or reporting requirements associated 
with this action. There are also no relevant Federal rules that may 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this action.
    This proposed action is not expected to substantially change the 
typical fishing practices of affected vessels or have a significant 
impact on the profitability of the affected U.S. vessels, as a 
relatively small number of U.S. vessels have been issued observer 
exemptions for trips under the NMFS Emergency Rule since March 2020. 
Though observer exemptions make catch of tuna in the EPO ineligible for 
U.S. dolphin safe label and AIDCP dolphin safe certificate, U.S. 
vessels and other IATTC members have found markets for catch without 
these labels/certificates and continue to request exemptions. The 
proposed action would allow U.S. large purse seine vessels to continue 
fishing activities in cases where it is not possible to place an 
observer. As such, this action is not expected to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and will not 
have a disproportionate economic impact on small business entities 
relative to the large entities. Therefore, an Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis is not required and none has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 216 and 300

    Administrative practice and procedure, Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, 
Marine resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

     Dated: January 28, 2022.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service proposes to amend 50 CFR parts 216 and 300 as 
follows:

PART 216--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE 
MAMMALS

Subpart C--General Exceptions

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 216, subpart C, continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

0
2. Amend Sec.  216.24(e)(1) by adding paragraphs (i) and (ii) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  216.24   Taking and related acts in commercial fishing operations 
including tuna purse seine vessels in the eastern tropical Pacific 
Ocean.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Exemption from observer requirement. The Administrator, West 
Coast Region (or designee), may issue a temporary written exemption 
from the observer requirement in paragraph (e)(1) of this section if 
the Parties to the AIDCP and/or Members of the IATTC have adopted 
emergency observer exemption procedures to address relevant global or 
regional health, safety, and security concerns, as well as other 
international emergencies and crises. Such exemptions will be issued on 
a case-by-case basis for a single fishing trip, in accordance with the 
AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures in effect at the time of the request. 
Exemptions from the requirement in paragraph (e)(1) of this section 
will only be issued when AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures are in effect 
and are only valid for as long as the AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures 
remain in effect. NMFS will notify the affected fleet via email when 
existing AIDCP/IATTC exemption procedures expire. NMFS will also notify 
the affected fleet via email and the public by publication of a notice 
in the Federal Register if new exemption procedures are adopted by the 
Parties to the AIDCP and/or the Members of the IATTC. Requests for 
exemption must be made to the Administrator, West Coast Region, via 
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3849081fd9b9e8093bdbcb2b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dc8b9f8ef294918f9cb2b3bdbdf2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a>, or in a manner acceptable to the 
Administrator, West Coast Region.
    (ii) [Reserved]
* * * * *

[[Page 6479]]

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart C--Eastern Pacific Tuna Fisheries

0
3. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart C, continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

0
4. In Sec.  300.24, revise paragraph (n) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.24  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (n) Use a fishing vessel of class size 4-6 to fish with purse seine 
gear in the Convention Area in contravention of the observer 
requirements in Sec.  300.25(d) or the purse seine closure period 
requirements in Sec.  300.25(e)(1), (2), or (5).
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  300.25, add paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.25  Fisheries management.

* * * * *
    (d) Observer requirements.
    (1) Purse seine vessels.
    (i) The holder of an eastern tropical Pacific Ocean vessel permit, 
as required by Sec.  216.24(b) of this title, must allow an observer 
duly authorized by the Administrator, West Coast Region, to accompany 
the vessel on all fishing trips in the IATTC Convention Area for the 
purpose of conducting research and observing operations, including 
collecting information that may be used in civil or criminal penalty 
proceedings, forfeiture actions, or permit sanctions, pursuant to the 
requirements in Sec.  216.24(e) of this title. A vessel that fails to 
carry an observer in accordance with these requirements may not engage 
in fishing operations unless an exemption has been granted from these 
requirements as provided for in Sec.  216.24(e)(1)(i) of this title.
    (ii) [Reserved].
    (2) [Reserved].
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2022-02162 Filed 2-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>