[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7262-7264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2250]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF50


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Western Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public meeting in Pago 
Pago, American Samoa to discuss potential

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management actions pertaining to pelagic longline and pelagic purse 
seine fishing in offshore waters around American Samoa.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Saturday February 23, 2008 at 
the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources 
Conference Room. Written comments will be accepted until March 7, 2008. 
For specific times, and the agenda, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held on Saturday February 23, 
2008 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Samoa Department of Marine 
and Wildlife Resources Conference Room, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Send 
written comments to Kitty M. Simonds, Western Pacific Regional Fishery 
Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: (808)522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Agenda

    The agenda for the meeting is as follows. Council is seeking public 
input on agenda items 2 and 3.

Saturday February 23, 2008 9 a.m.--1 p.m.

1. Introductions
2. American Samoa Purse-Seine Close Area Alternatives
3. American Samoa Pelagic Longline Management Program Modification 
Alternatives
4. Public Comments

American Samoa Purse-Seine Closed Area Alternatives

    At its 138th meeting held in June 2007, the Council discussed the 
potential for increases in purse seine fishing within the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding American Samoa and directed staff 
to develop a paper examining potential options to expand the existing 
50 miles large pelagic vessel exclusion zone specifically for purse 
seine vessels to avoid potential gear conflicts between these vessels 
and the American Samoa longline and domestic troll vessels. At its 
139th meeting held in October 2007, the Council recommended an 
amendment be developed which included a range of preliminary 
alternatives as follows:
Alternative 1: No-Action
    Under the no-action alternative waters within 3-50 nm around 
American Samoa would continue to be closed to pelagic fishing by 
vessels greater than 50ft in length including purse seine vessels
Alternative 2: Close Entire EEZ Waters around American Samoa to Purse 
Seine Fishing
    Under Alternative 2, a closed area would be established to exclude 
purse seine vessels from operating within all EEZ waters around 
American Samoa
Alternative 3: Close 75 nm around American Samoa to Purse Seine Fishing 
(Preliminarily Preferred)
    Under Alternative 3, a closed area would be established to exclude 
purse seine vessels from operating within 75 nm around American Samoa

American Samoa Longline Management Program Modification Alternatives

    At its 139th Council meeting, the Council directed staff to draft a 
regulatory amendment that would provide a framework to adjust the 
American Samoa longline limited entry program, including establishing a 
process to reopen the limited entry permit application process, 
amending the large (>50ft) pelagic vessel 50 nm closed areas, and 
eliminating the minimum landing requirements for all vessel size 
classes in the American Samoa longline limited entry program.
    These issues were brought before the Council by fishery 
participants who were concerned that rapid changes in the American 
Samoa pelagic longline fishery over the past several years has resulted 
in lower than anticipated participation in the fishery, and that the 
current measures including the large vessel area closure, minimum 
landing requirements and initial permit qualification criteria be 
reviewed in order to ensure that the management program continues to 
ensure sustained participation in the domestic longline fishery and to 
maintain opportunities for substantial participation by indigenous 
American Samoans in this fishery while minimizing adverse impacts on 
American Samoa communities.
    Regarding potential modification to the American Samoa pelagic 
longline limited entry permit and landing requirements, the preliminary 
alternatives to be discussed include:
Alternative 1: No Action
    Under Alternative 1, the Council would not re-open the permit 
application process and would not remove the minimum landing 
requirement.
Alternative 2
    Under Alternative 2, the Council would not re-open the permit 
application process but would remove the minimum landing requirement.
Alternative 3
    Under Alternative 3 the Council would re-open the permit 
application process but would not remove the minimum landing 
requirement.
Alternative 4
    Under Alternative 4 the Council would re-open the permit 
application process and would also remove the minimum landing 
requirement.
    Regarding the American Samoa large pelagic vessel area closure, the 
preliminary alternatives to be discussed include:
    Alternative 1: No Action, Maintain Current 50 nm closure to vessels 
greater than 50 ft.
    Under Alternative 1, the Council would maintain the current 50 
nautical mile area closure for pelagic fishing vessels greater than 50 
ft. around the islands of the American Samoa Archipelago
    Alternative 2: Modify the area closure to 25 nautical miles
    Under Alternative 2, the Council would temporarily reduce the area 
closure from 50 nautical miles to 25 nautical miles. The Council would 
also review the status of the fishery every two years to determine 
whether the closure should be maintained at 25 miles or return back to 
50 nautical miles.
    Alternative 3: Modify the area closure to 12 nautical miles
    Under Alternative 3, the Council would temporarily reduce the area 
closure from 50 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles. The Council would 
also review the status of the fishery every two years to determine 
whether the closure should be maintained at 12 miles or return back to 
50 nautical miles.
    Alternative 4: Suspend the 50 mile area closure indefinitely
    Under Alternative 4, the Council would suspend the 50 mile area 
closure indefinitely. The Council would also review the status of the 
fishery every two years to determine whether the closure should be 
returned back to 50 nautical miles.
    The order in which agenda items addressed may change. Public 
comment periods will be provided throughout the agenda and written 
comments will be accepted until March 7, 2008.

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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: February 4, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2250 Filed 2-6-08; 8:45 am]
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