[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 117 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29158-29163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14487]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 300 and 665

[Docket No. 080225267-9319-02]
RIN 0648-AW49


International Fisheries Regulations; 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: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This proposed rule would remove the annual limit on the number 
of fishing gear deployments (sets) for the Hawaii-based pelagic 
longline fishery. The rule would also increase the current limit on 
incidental interactions that occur annually between loggerhead sea 
turtles and shallow-set longline fishing. The proposed rule 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. This 
proposed rule would also make several administrative clarifications to 
the regulations.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received by August 3, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed rule, identified by 0648-AW49, may 
be sent to either of the following addresses:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov; or

[[Page 29159]]

    <bullet> Mail: 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 sender 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 name and organization 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 the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the 
Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FMP) and Amendment 18, including a 
final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS), are available 
from www.regulations.gov, and the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (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

    Pelagic fisheries in the U.S. western Pacific are managed under the 
Pelagics FMP, developed by the Council and approved and implemented by 
NMFS. The Council has submitted Amendment 18 and draft regulations to 
NMFS for review under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This proposed rule would 
implement the management provisions recommended in Amendment 18. This 
proposed rule would also make housekeeping changes to the pelagic 
fishing regulations, not related to Amendment 18.
    The Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery began in late 2004 to 
test the effectiveness in the Pacific of a hook-and-bait combination 
that was found to dramatically reduce interactions with sea turtles 
when tested in the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. A combination of 
circle hooks and mackerel-type bait was found to reduce interactions 
with leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles by 67 and 92 percent, 
respectively, in the Atlantic. A final rule, published and effective on 
April 2, 2004 (69 FR 17329), established a limited ``model'' Hawaii-
based shallow-set swordfish fishery requiring the use of circle hooks 
and mackerel-type bait. To test the effectiveness of the gear 
combination and measure its impact on the environment, fishing effort 
in the model Hawaii fishery was limited to 2,120 sets, roughly 50 
percent of the 1994-99 annual average number of sets. Those sets were 
distributed equally among permit holders who applied each year to 
participate in the fishery. As an additional safeguard, a limit was 
implemented on the number of unintended interactions with sea turtles 
that could occur in the shallow-set fishery. The fishery would be 
closed for the remainder of the calendar year if either interaction 
limit was reached.
    Under the requirements implemented by that 2004 final rule, vessel 
operators in the Hawaii-based shallow-set fishery must currently use 
large circle hooks and mackerel-type bait. The fishery operates under a 
set certificate program that ensures that the fleet does not make more 
than a total of 2,120 shallow-sets per year. The fleet may not interact 
with (hook or entangle) more than 17 loggerhead sea turtles or 16 
leatherback sea turtles each year. NMFS requires every vessel to carry 
an observer when shallow setting.
    The current sea turtle interaction limits do not represent the 
upper limit of interactions that would avoid jeopardizing the continued 
existence of sea turtles, but instead are the annual number of sea 
turtle interactions anticipated to occur in this fishery, as calculated 
by multiplying expected fishing effort by interaction rates derived 
from studies using circle hooks and mackerel bait in U.S. longline 
fisheries in the Atlantic.
    The use of large circle hooks and mackerel-type bait in Hawaii's 
shallow-set longline fishery has reduced sea turtle interaction rates 
by approximately 90 percent for loggerheads and 83 percent for 
leatherbacks, compared to the previous period 1994-2002 when the 
fishery was operating without these requirements. The fishery has been 
closed once, in 2006, as a result of reaching an interaction limit. See 
www.fpir.noaa.gov/SFD/SFD_turtleint.html for a history of shallow-set 
fishery interactions with loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles. 
Because this gear combination has proven to be highly effective in 
reducing sea turtle interaction rates, the Council examined and 
considered a range of management alternatives that would allow 
increased shallow-set fishing effort. An increase in fishing effort 
would be associated with an increase in the allowable associated sea 
turtle interaction limits. The shallow-set certificate program used to 
govern the effort limit would be removed. This proposed rule intends to 
optimize the harvest of swordfish and other fish, without jeopardizing 
the continued existence and recovery of threatened and endangered sea 
turtles and other protected species. The proposed rule is consistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act goals 
to achieve optimum yield from the shallow-set fishery, while minimizing 
bycatch and associated mortality.
    A range of management alternatives was identified during the 
development of this proposed rule, as described in the summary of the 
SEIS in the Classification section below. Under all analyzed management 
alternatives, other measures that are 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 mammal 
handling and mitigation gear and techniques.
    This proposed rule would remove the annual limits on shallow-set 
fishing effort and the requirements of the shallow-set certificate 
program found at 50 CFR 665.33, the related prohibitions at 50 CFR 
665.22, and the definition of a shallow-set certificate found at 50 CFR 
665.12. The annual limits for sea turtle interactions would be revised 
in 50 CFR 665.33. Also in that section, the Regional Administrator 
would be required to publish an annual notification in the Federal 
Register of the applicable annual sea turtle interaction limits, and if 
an interaction limit is exceeded in any one calendar year, the annual 
limit for that sea turtle species would be adjusted downward the 
following year by the number of interactions by which the limit was 
exceeded.
    In addition to Amendment 18's recommended modifications to the 
shallow-set effort and turtle interaction measures, this proposed rule 
would make several technical clarifications to the longline 
regulations, unrelated to Amendment 18. First, this proposed rule would 
clarify the technical specifications regarding required circle

[[Page 29160]]

hooks. In a final rule published on November 15, 2005, NMFS implemented 
a requirement for Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishermen to use 
circle hooks, size 18/0 or larger with an offset of 10 degrees (70 FR 
69282). The wording of this requirement was intended to mirror the 
requirement for Atlantic longline fishing, which require the use of 
circle hooks with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees (69 FR 40734; July 
6, 2004). The November 2005 final rule for the western Pacific shallow-
set fishery inadvertently omitted the phrase ``not to exceed.'' This 
proposed rule would correct the error. The result would be that 
shallow-set longline fishermen could use hooks with a range of offset 
from zero to 10 degrees.
    The second proposed technical change to longline regulations would 
clarify the requirement to carry line clippers, including the design 
specifications, on vessels registered for use under a Hawaii longline 
limited access permit. On March 28, 2000, NMFS published a final rule 
that implemented several measures designed to mitigate injuries to sea 
turtles by the Hawaii longline pelagic fishery, including requirements 
to carry and use line clippers, dip nets, and dehookers (65 FR 16347). 
In a subsequent final rule relating to sea turtle mitigation measures 
(70 FR 69282, November 15, 2005), the requirements in 50 CFR 665.32 
specifically relating to line clippers were inadvertently omitted. This 
proposed rule would correct the error. The corrected regulation would 
require fishermen to carry on board their vessels and use line cutters 
meeting NMFS design specifications. The proposed rule would also 
redesignate several paragraphs in 50 CFR 665.32 for organizational 
clarity.
    In the third technical clarification, this proposed rule would 
remove two regulations that have been superseded by more stringent 
regulations. In 50 CFR 665.22, paragraph (gg) prohibits shallow-set 
longline fishing from a vessel registered for use under a Hawaii 
longline limited access permit north of the Equator with hooks other 
than circle hooks. That paragraph was superseded by paragraph (jj), 
which prohibits such fishing from a vessel registered under any western 
Pacific longline permit. Similarly, paragraph (hh) prohibits shallow-
set longline fishing from a vessel registered for use under a Hawaii 
longline limited access permit north of the Equator with bait other 
than mackerel-type bait. That paragraph was superseded by paragraph 
(kk), which prohibits such fishing from a vessel registered for use 
under any western Pacific longline permit. Thus, paragraphs (gg) and 
(hh) would be removed.
    Finally, a technical clarification would be made to the high seas 
fishing regulations to correct a reference to western Pacific domestic 
fishing regulations. In 50 CFR 300, paragraph (1)(v) incorrectly refers 
to Pacific longline reporting requirements at 50 CFR 660.14. This 
reference would be corrected to refer to the requirements at 50 CFR 
665.14.
    Public comments on this proposed rule must be received by close of 
business on August 3, 2009, not postmarked or otherwise transmitted by 
that date.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the Pelagics FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    A final SEIS is included with Amendment 18. A notice of 
availability of the draft SEIS was published on August 22, 2008 (73 FR 
49667). To reduce the complexity of the SEIS analyses, the proposal was 
divided into three topic areas, each with its own range of alternatives 
as summarized below.

Topic 1: Shallow-set Longline Fishing Effort Limits

    The fishery is currently limited to 2,120 shallow sets per year, 
which is half the average annual fishing effort during 1994-99. The 
existing annual sea turtle interaction limits of 17 loggerhead sea 
turtles and 16 leatherback sea turtles were determined based on 
experimental (Atlantic Ocean) interaction rates multiplied by the 2,120 
set limit. Under Alternatives 1A-1E below, the annual sea turtle 
interaction limits for the fishery were similarly predicted using 
observed Pacific Ocean sea turtle interaction rates multiplied by each 
alternative's effort limit. In the case of Alternative 1F (remove 
effort limit), revised sea turtle interaction limits were recommended 
by the Council, taking into account the potential for reasonable 
increases in fishing effort, as well as likely impacts on sea turtle 
populations.
    Alternative 1A: No action; continue the current annual set limit. 
Under this alternative, the maximum annual limit on the number of 
shallow-sets would remain at 2,120.
    Alternative 1B: Allow up to 3,000 sets per year. This effort limit 
was chosen as a middle-ground effort alternative in-between the current 
set limit and the average annual effort during 1994-99 (approximately 
4,240 sets).
    Alternative 1C: Allow up to 4,240 shallow sets per year. This 
effort limit represents the average number of annual sets during 1994-
99, or double the current set limit of 2,120.
    Alternative 1D: Allow up to 5,500 shallow sets per year. This 
effort limit is nearly the annual maximum number of sets for any one 
year from 1994-99.
    Alternative 1E: Set effort level commensurate with current 
conditions and the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of North Pacific 
swordfish stock (about 9,925 sets per year). This effort limit would 
take into account catches by other longline fleets and the portion of 
the total swordfish catch already made by the Hawaii fleet. Current 
domestic and foreign swordfish landings in the North Pacific amount to 
about 14,500 mt, which, according to a recent stock assessment, amounts 
to about 60 percent of an estimated MSY of 22,284 mt. Given that MSY 
and a current swordfish catch by the Hawaii-based fishery of between 
850 to 1,637 mt, the amount of effort to catch the remaining available 
7,784 mt of additional swordfish would be about 9,925 sets per year. 
The effort limit under this alternative would be adjusted over time, as 
appropriate.
    Alternative 1F (preferred): Remove fishing effort limits, increase 
the annual sea turtle interaction limit to 46 interactions with 
loggerhead sea turtles, and retain the current limit of 16 interactions 
with leatherback sea turtles. This alternative would also retain all 
other shallow-set fishery management measures.

Topic 2: Fishery Participation

    Shallow-set fishing effort is currently administered through a set 
certificate program. The 2,120 set certificates are allocated equally 
among permit holders who indicate that they wish to receive them. A set 
certificate must be attached to each daily fishing log for shallow-set 
longline fishing. The set certificates may be sold, traded, or 
otherwise exchanged among other permit holders in the Hawaii-based 
longline fleet.
    Alternative 2A: No action; continue the set certificate program. 
For each shallow set made north of the Equator, vessel operators would 
continue to be required to possess and submit one valid shallow-set 
certificate for each shallow set made. The number of certificates could 
increase under Topic 1, Alternatives 1B-1E.
    Alternative 2B: Discontinue the set certificate program 
(preferred). Shallow-set certificates would no longer be issued. For 
those management

[[Page 29161]]

alternatives in Topic 1 that include effort limits, NMFS would account 
for all shallow sets on a fleet-wide basis through routine fishery 
monitoring and observer placement, and the fishery would close for the 
remainder of the year, if and when an annual set limit was reached.

Topic 3: Time-Area Closures

    Time-area closures were considered by the Council as a way to 
increase annual fishery profits through potential reductions in the 
number of sea turtle interactions that may occur during January through 
March. Interaction rates for loggerhead sea turtles have typically been 
highest during this period, and it has been hypothesized that, in areas 
where swordfish and loggerhead sea turtle habitats may overlap, 
reducing fishing effort could increase fishery profits by reducing the 
risk of exceeding a sea turtle interaction limit very early in the 
year, which would close the fishery when there were still many more 
shallow sets allowed to be made.
    Alternative 3A: No action; do not implement time-area closures 
(preferred). Fishermen would continue to strive to minimize sea turtle 
interactions under the existing sea turtle handling and mitigation 
requirements and guidance.
    Alternative 3B: Implement a January time-area closure. The area 
closure would be located between 175[deg] W and 145[deg] W longitude 
and encompass the sea surface temperature band of 17.5[deg] to 
18.5[deg] C. The latitude of this temperature band varies over time, 
but in January it is generally located near 31[deg] to 32[deg] N. 
Research has suggested that the area between sea surface temperatures 
of 17.5[deg] to 18.5[deg] C may be an area of high loggerhead sea 
turtle concentrations, based on historical and contemporary 
distribution and foraging studies, and observed loggerhead sea turtle 
interactions with the fishery. The month of January was selected 
because it may be that the number of loggerhead interactions during 
January is pivotal to whether or not the fishery will reach its annual 
sea turtle interaction limit before all allowable shallow sets are 
deployed. For example, in 2006, the fishery interacted with eight 
loggerheads in January and the fishery reached the limit of 17 in mid-
March. In 2007, the fishery did not interact with any loggerheads 
during January, but had interacted with 15 loggerheads by the end of 
the first quarter, and still did not reach the annual sea turtle 
interaction limit.
    Alternative 3C: Implement in-season time-area closures. Under 
Alternative 3C, the sea surface temperature-based area closure 
described for Alternative 3B would be implemented only in those years 
in which 75 percent of the annual loggerhead turtle limit was reached 
during the first quarter, and the closure would remain in effect for 
the remainder of the first quarter. As with Alternative 3B, this 
alternative is being considered as a way to increase annual fishery 
profits through reductions in the number of turtle interactions that 
occur in the first quarter of each year. This alternative differs from 
3B in that its implementation would be contingent on relatively high 
numbers of sea turtle interactions during the first quarter.
    Under the preferred alternatives, Amendment 18 and this proposed 
rule would remove the effort limit. The Loggerhead sea turtle 
interaction limit would be increased to 46, and the leatherback sea 
turtle interaction limit would remain unchanged at 16. The set 
certificate program would be eliminated. No time/area closures would be 
implemented. Under these alternatives, shallow-set fishing effort would 
not be limited, and could increase to historic levels of 4,000 to 5,000 
sets per year (3.4 to 4.2 million hooks/yr). Some increased 
participation in the shallow-set fishery is anticipated with fishermen 
from the Hawaii-based deep-set tuna fishery moving into the fishery as 
a result of quotas being established for bigeye tuna. Entry into the 
Hawaii longline fishery, including both shallow- and deep-set 
techniques, would remain limited to 164 vessels.
    Based on the information in the draft SEIS, as compared to the no-
action alternative, implementing the preferred alternatives would not 
have significant adverse impacts on target (swordfish) stocks because 
harvests would not exceed MSY. The preferred alternatives are not 
expected to significantly alter fishing operations, and catch and 
discard rates of non-target fish species would remain at an estimated 
6-7 percent of the fishery's total annual catch. Resulting fishing 
mortality of non-target fish species would be expected to be a minor 
fraction of Pacific-wide catches and well below known MSY levels.
    Implementing the preferred alternatives would have no adverse 
impacts to essential fish habitat or habitat areas of particular 
concern. The preferred alternatives are expected to affect listed 
marine mammals, but are not likely to adversely affect Hawaiian monk 
seals, and blue, fin, sei, sperm, and North Pacific Right whales. The 
preferred alternatives may affect, and are likely to adversely affect, 
humpback whales, and loggerhead, leatherback, olive ridley, green, and 
hawksbill sea turtles. Under the preferred alternatives, other marine 
mammal interactions are expected to continue to be relatively low. The 
preferred alternatives are consistent with the October 2008 Biological 
Opinion's Reasonable and Prudent Measures and Terms and Conditions.
    The fishery will likely result in interactions with Laysan and 
black-footed albatrosses, but the fishery is not expected to result in 
a significant impact on any albatross populations, including the 
endangered short-tailed albatross. No significant cumulative impacts or 
environmental justice issues were identified.
    The complete analysis of the alternatives is contained in Amendment 
18 and final SEIS, and is not repeated here. Copies of the 
environmental analytical documents are available from 
www.regulations.gov and the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The 
IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would have on small entities. A description of the action, why it is 
being considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained at 
the beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY 
section of the proposed rule. A summary of the IRFA follows:

    This rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other 
Federal rules. There are no disproportionate economic impacts from 
this rule based on home port, gear type, or relative vessel size. 
There are no recordkeeping, reporting, or other compliance costs 
associated with this rulemaking. In the absence of relevant cost 
data, gross revenue is used as proxy for profitability.

Description and estimate of the number of small entities to which the 
rule applies

    There are approximately 30 active Hawaii-based shallow-set 
swordfish longline vessels, and an indeterminate number of non-
active permit holders that may be affected by this rulemaking. All 
are considered to be small entities (fish-harvesting business) under 
the definition provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) 
as follows: independently owned and operated, not dominant in its 
field of operation, and having annual receipts not in excess of $4.0 
million. Between 2005 and 2007, 29 to 37 vessels participated in the 
shallow-set longline fishery, and the average revenue earned by the 
vessels was $225,227. In addition, it is believed that the majority 
of participants are also active in the deep-set longline fishery 
during the course of a year. Thus, their shallow-set revenues 
represent one portion of their total revenue. In 2007, the overall 
average (combined deep-set and shallow-set

[[Page 29162]]

longline fisheries) ex-vessel revenue was $62.6 million realized by 
129 active vessels. On a per-vessel basis, this yields an average 
ex-vessel revenue of $486,039 per vessel, still far below the $4.0 
million threshold.

Economic Impacts

    Preferred Alternative 1F would be expected to have no adverse 
economic impact on the 30 individual vessels comprising the 2008 
fishery. In 2007, 29 vessels made only 1,497 sets. By interpolating 
this number, the 30 vessels fishing in 2008 are expected to make 
approximately 1,549 sets. Since the fishery had reopened in 2004, it 
has never approached the current cap of 2,120 sets. Therefore, this 
rule would lift a constraint that has not been historically tested 
by the present participants in the fishery. The elimination of the 
cap, therefore, would be expected to have no economic impact on the 
30 participants in the fishery in 2009. In the long term, removal of 
the set limit is expected to allow for the entry of new vessels into 
the fishery, increasing available rents to the fishery as a whole. 
This is discussed at length in the Regulatory Impact Review (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Because the fishery was closed one year as a result of reaching 
the present loggerhead interaction limit of 17, the increase in 
allowable turtle interactions for loggerheads to 46 would 
theoretically translate to a potential increase in gross revenues 
and vessel profitability that could be measured by comparing the 
total revenues associated with the old interaction cap and the new 
interaction cap. The continuation in allowable leatherback 
interactions, however, would theoretically have no economic impact 
to the fishery in the short run since, historically, the leatherback 
cap of 16 has not been reached. However, data on the relationship 
between turtle interactions and catch are uncertain because of the 
newness of the managed fishery and the lack of data points. 
Therefore, those economic impacts would be indeterminate in the 
short term.
    Preferred Alternative 2B, the removal of the requirement for set 
certificates, will have a minimal yet positive impact on individual 
vessel owners that would have needed additional certificates to 
prosecute the fishery. The gross revenue derived from a set averages 
approximately $5,000, and the sale of set certificates by those 
owning a limited access permit has been reported by industry to be 
between $50 and $100, or 2-3 percent of gross revenue per set. This 
would reflect a cost savings to the vessel and an enhancement of 
profitability. Alternatively, those that have historically sold 
their certificates in lieu of fishing could lose $50 to $100 dollars 
per set per year. The private sale of certificates has not been 
tracked by NMFS due to privacy considerations and the lack of any 
legal requirements to do so. However, if opportunities outside of 
fishing for swordfish are assumed to be equal to or exceed profits 
that could be obtained by using their certificates to fish, the 
adverse impact to these permit holders would be three percent or 
less.

Preferred Alternative 3A (no action) will have no impact on the 
fishery.

    There are no significant alternatives to this rulemaking that 
would have a less adverse or more beneficial economic impact than 
the preferred. All other alternatives considered regarding number of 
sets allowed, including the no-action alternative, are expected to 
have no adverse economic impact to the present participants in the 
fishery. The no-action alternative for elimination of set 
certificates would have no economic impact with regard to the 
present fishery and the permit holders selling certificates. 
Alternatives that would require the fishery to implement time/area 
closures would have an indeterminate economic impact on the fishery 
because the trade-offs between catch and turtle interactions that 
could close the fishery cannot be estimated with limited existing 
data. However, there are early indications that time/area closures 
would not have a substantial impact on turtle interactions or 
profitability of fishing operations.

    A formal section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act 
was conducted for Amendment 18 on the effects of the proposed action on 
ESA-listed marine species. In a Biological Opinion dated October 15, 
2008, NMFS determined that fishing activities under Amendment 18 and 
its implementing regulations may affect, but are not likely to 
adversely affect, seven ESA-listed species (Hawaiian monk seal, and 
blue, fin, sei, sperm, and North Pacific Right whales). NMFS also 
determined that the proposed action may affect, and is likely to 
adversely affect, six other ESA-listed marine species that occur in the 
action area (humpback whale, and loggerhead, leatherback, olive ridley, 
green, and hawksbill sea turtles). This proposed rule is consistent 
with the October 2008 Biological Opinion's Reasonable and Prudent 
Measures and Terms and Conditions.
    Additionally, an informal consultation was conducted under section 
7 of the ESA with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the 
effects of the proposed rule on the endangered short-tailed albatross. 
The USFWS concurred with the NMFS determination that the proposed 
action is not expected to result in a significant impact on short-
tailed albatross during 2009.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 300
    Administrative practice and procedure, International fishing and 
related activities.
50 CFR Part 665
    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Fisheries, 
Fishing, Guam, Hawaii, Hawaiian Natives, Northern Mariana Islands, 
Pacific remote island areas, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 16, 2009.
Samuel D. Rauch III
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR chapters III and VI 
are proposed to be amended as follows:

CHAPTER III

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart B, continues 
to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.
    2. In Sec.  300.17, revise paragraph (b)(1)(v) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.17  Reporting.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (v) Pacific Pelagic Longline -- Longline Logbook (Sec.  665.14(a) 
of this title);
* * * * *

CHAPTER VI

PART 665--FISHERIES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

    3. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 665 continues to read as 
follows:

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


Sec.  665.12  [Amended]

    4. In Sec.  665.12, remove the definition of ``Shallow-set 
certificate.''
    5. In Sec.  665.22, remove and reserve paragraphs (bb), (gg), and 
(hh), and revise paragraph (jj) to read as follows:


Sec.  665.22  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (jj) Engage in shallow-setting from a vessel registered for use 
under any longline permit issued under Sec.  665.21 north of the 
Equator (0[deg] lat.) with hooks other than circle hooks sized 18/0 or 
larger, with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees, in violation of Sec.  
665.33(f).
* * * * *
    6. In Sec.  665.32,
    a. Revise paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2);
    b. Redesignate paragraphs (a)(5) and (a)(6) as paragraphs (a)(6) 
and (a)(7), respectively;
    c. Add new paragraph (a)(5);

[[Page 29163]]

    d. Revise introductory text to newly-redesignated paragraphs 
(a)(7)(ii) and (a)(7)(iii);
    e. Add new paragraph (a)(7)(iii)(C);
    f. In newly-redesignated paragraph (a)(7), redesignate paragraphs 
(a)(7)(iv), (a)(7)(vii), (a)(7)(viii), (a)(7)(ix), and (a)(7)(x) as 
paragraphs (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(10), (a)(11), and (a)(12), respectively; 
and
    g. In newly-redesignated paragraph (a)(7), redesignate paragraph 
(a)(7)(v) as paragraph (a)(7)(iv), and redesignate paragraph (a)(7)(vi) 
as paragraph (a)(7)(v).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  665.32  Sea turtle take mitigation measures.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Hawaii longline limited access permits. Any owner or operator 
of a vessel registered for use under a Hawaii longline limited access 
permit must carry aboard the vessel line clippers meeting the minimum 
design standards specified in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, dip 
nets meeting the minimum design standards specified in paragraph (a)(6) 
of this section, and dehookers meeting minimum design and performance 
standards specified in paragraph (a)(7) of this section.
    (2) Other longline vessels with freeboards of more than 3 ft (0.91 
m). Any owner or operator of a longline vessel with a permit issued 
under Sec.  665.21 other than a Hawaii limited access longline permit 
and that has a freeboard of more than 3 ft (0.91 m) must carry aboard 
the vessel line clippers meeting the minimum design standards specified 
in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, dip nets meeting the minimum 
design standards specified in paragraph (a)(6) of this section, and 
dehookers meeting the minimum design and performance standards 
specified in paragraph (a)(7) of this section.
* * * * *
    (5) Line clippers. Line clippers are intended to cut fishing line 
as close as possible to hooked or entangled sea turtles. NMFS has 
established minimum design standards for line clippers. The Arceneaux 
line clipper (ALC) is a model line clipper that meets these minimum 
design standards and may be fabricated from readily available and low-
cost materials (see Figure 1 to this section). The minimum design 
standards are as follows:
    (i) A protected cutting blade. The cutting blade must be curved, 
recessed, contained in a holder, or otherwise afforded some protection 
to minimize direct contact of the cutting surface with sea turtles or 
users of the cutting blade.
    (ii) Cutting blade edge. The blade must be capable of cutting 2.0-
2.1 mm monofilament line and nylon or polypropylene multistrand 
material commonly known as braided mainline or tarred mainline.
    (iii) An extended reach handle for the cutting blade. The line 
clipper must have an extended reach handle or pole of at least 6 ft 
(1.82 m).
    (iv) Secure fastener. The cutting blade must be securely fastened 
to the extended reach handle or pole to ensure effective deployment and 
use.
* * * * *
    (7) * * *
    (ii) Long-handled dehooker for external hooks. This item is 
intended to be used to remove externally-hooked hooks from sea turtles 
that cannot be brought aboard. The long-handled dehooker for ingested 
hooks described in paragraph (a)(7)(i) of this section meets this 
requirement. The minimum design and performance standards are as 
follows: * * *
* * * * *
    (iii) Long-handled device to pull an ``inverted V''. This item is 
intended to be used to pull an ``inverted V'' in the fishing line when 
disentangling and dehooking entangled sea turtles. One long handled 
device to pull an ``inverted V'' is required on the vessel. The minimum 
design and performance standards are as follows: * * *
* * * * *
    (C) The long-handled dehookers described in paragraphs (a)(7)(i) 
and (ii) of this section meet this requirement.
* * * * *
    7. In Sec.  665.33, remove and reserve paragraphs (a), (c), and 
(e), and revise paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  665.33  Western Pacific longline fishing restrictions.

* * * * *
    (b) Limits on sea turtle interactions. (1) Maximum annual limits 
are established on the number of physical interactions that occur each 
calendar year between leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles and 
vessels registered for use under Hawaii longline limited access permits 
while shallow-setting.
    (i) The annual limit for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys 
coriacea) is 16, and the annual limit for loggerhead sea turtles 
(Caretta caretta) is 46.
    (ii) If any annual sea turtle interaction limit in paragraph (b)(i) 
of this section is exceeded in a calendar year, the annual limit for 
that sea turtle species will be adjusted downward the following year by 
the number of interactions by which the limit was exceeded.
    (iii) No later than January 31 of each year the Regional 
Administrator will publish a notice in the Federal Register of the 
applicable annual sea turtle interaction limits established pursuant to 
paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) of this section.
* * * * *
    (f) Any owner or operator of a vessel registered for use under any 
longline permit issued under Sec.  665.21 must use only circle hooks 
sized 18/0 or larger, with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees, when 
shallow-setting north of the Equator (0[deg] lat.). As used in this 
paragraph, an offset circle hook sized 18/0 or larger is one with an 
outer diameter at its widest point no smaller than 1.97 inches (50 mm) 
when measured with the eye of the hook on the vertical axis (y-axis) 
and perpendicular to the horizontal axis (x-axis). As used in this 
paragraph, the allowable offset is measured from the barbed end of the 
hook, and is relative to the parallel plane of the eyed-end, or shank, 
of the hook when laid on its side.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E9-14487 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S