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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11518-11519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5888]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RIN 0648-AW49

Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Pelagic Fisheries; Hawaii-based 
Shallow-set Longline Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery management plan amendment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) proposes to amend the Fishery Management Plan for 
Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP). If approved by 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), Amendment 18 would remove the 
annual limit on the number of fishing gear deployments (sets) for the 
Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. The amendment would also revise 
the current maximum limit on the number of physical interactions that 
occur annually between loggerhead sea turtles and vessels registered 
for use under Hawaii longline limited access permits while shallow-
setting. Other measures currently applicable to the fishery would 
remain unchanged. Amendment 18 is intended to increase opportunities 
for the shallow-set fishery to sustainably harvest swordfish and other 
fish species, without jeopardizing the continued existence of sea 
turtles and other protected resources.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 18 must be received by May 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments on Amendment 18, identified by 0648-
AW49, to either of the following addresses:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov; or
     Mail: Mail written comments to William L. Robinson, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to www.regulations.gov without change. All 
personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted 
voluntarily by the commenter may 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). Attachments to 
electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of Amendment 18 (which includes a final supplemental 
environmental impact statement) are available from www.regulations.gov, 
and the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 
808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Bailey, Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, NMFS PIR, 808-944-2248.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This proposed rule is also accessible at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr.

Background

    The Hawaii-based shallow-set pelagic longline fishery primarily 
targets swordfish in the western Pacific north of the Hawaiian 
Archipelago. The fishery is carefully regulated through a management 
program intended, among other goals, to reduce the number and severity 
of unintended bycatch interactions, particularly between longline 
fishing gear and sea turtles. Management measures include the mandatory 
use of large (18/0) offset circle hooks and mackerel-type bait, and 100 
percent observer coverage. The required use of circle hooks and 
mackerel-type bait has reduced the sea turtle interaction rate by 
approximately 90 percent for loggerheads, and 83 percent for 
leatherbacks, compared to the period 1994-2002 when the fishery was 
operating without such requirements.
    Because the use of circle hooks and mackerel-type bait have proven 
effective in reducing sea turtle interaction rates, the Council has 
recommended in Amendment 18 changes to the management program that 
would enable the shallow-set fishery to increase and sustainably 
harvest swordfish and other fish, without jeopardizing the continued 
existence and recovery of threatened and endangered sea turtles and 
other protected resources.
    Amendment 18 would remove the annual limit on the number of 
longline shallow sets. The shallow-set certificate program, which is 
used to monitor and control the number of sets, with the elimination of 
set limits. Amendment 18 would also increase the number of allowable 
incidental interactions between longline fishing gear to 46 for 
loggerhead sea turtles (from the current limit of 17). The allowable 
interaction limit for leatherback sea turtles would remain unchanged at 
16.
    All other measures currently applicable to the fishery would remain 
unchanged, including, but not limited to, limited access permits, 
vessel and gear marking requirements, vessel length restrictions, 
Federal catch and effort logbooks, 100 percent observer coverage, large 
longline restricted areas around the Hawaiian Archipelago, vessel 
monitoring system (VMS), annual protected species workshops, and the 
use of sea turtle, seabird, and marine

[[Page 11519]]

mammal handling and mitigation gear and techniques.
    The proposed management changes are intended to further the intent 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by 
fostering optimum yield from the shallow-set longline fishery, while 
minimizing bycatch and associated bycatch mortality.
    Public comments on proposed Amendment 18 must be received by May 
18, 2009 to be considered by NMFS in the decision to approve, partially 
approve, or disapprove the amendment. A proposed rule to implement the 
measures recommended in Amendment 18 has been prepared for Secretarial 
review and approval, and NMFS expects to publish and request public 
comment on the proposed rule in the near future.

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

    Dated: March 13, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-5888 Filed 3-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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