Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/01/13/E9-499/international-fisheries-pacific-tuna-fisheries-revisions-to-regulations-for-vessels-authorized-to
Timestamp: 2017-08-18 13:24:19
Document Index: 484829088

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A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 01/13/2009
1607-1620 (14 pages)
E9-499
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-499 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-499
NMFS issues this final rule to revise regulations governing vessels authorized by the United States to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP). This final rule updates and clarifies regulations promulgated by NMFS to implement the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Tuna Conventions Act, the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, and resolutions adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and by the Parties to the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP). This rule modifies the procedures and requirements for the Vessel Register, the list of vessels authorized to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the ETP. Requirements for the submission of certifications by importers are also revised. This rule is intended to clarify the regulations, facilitate management of U.S. vessels, Start Printed Page 1608and update the regulations to be consistent with resolutions adopted by the members of the IATTC and the Parties to the AIDCP.
Response: Even if our vessel numbers are relatively few, the United States is still obligated by the AIDCP and the Convention to ensure that U.S. vessels and persons operate in compliance with our treaty obligations. Participation of U.S. vessels in the ETP tuna purse seine fishery has fluctuated over the years. Although current participation is low, NMFS recognizes that conditions could change and participation increase again. It is also important to prevent the transfer of capacity to other nations to fulfill our commitment to limiting the total purse seine fleet capacity in the ETP (IATTC Resolution on the capacity of the tuna fleet operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean; C-02-03, June 2002). Finally, the IATTC requires that all vessels (purse seine and non-purse seine) authorized to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the ETP be listed on the Vessel Register (IATTC Resolution on a Regional Vessel Register; C-00-06, June 2000). The IATTC imposes additional requirements for purse seine vessels listed on the Vessel Register, but not for non-purse seine vessels. Thus, the regulations being revised by this rule focus primarily on the ETP tuna purse seine fleet. The regulations Start Printed Page 1609governing non-purse seine vessels are not being changed at this time and are located at other sections of the CFR.
Response: The IATTC Vessel Register, established in June 2000 by the IATTC Resolution on a Regional Vessel Register (C-00-06), is the list of all vessels authorized by the member nations to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area. As a member of the IATTC, the United States is required to submit specific information on such vessels, in order to update and maintain the Vessel Register. To meet this requirement, the revised regulations would require collection of vessel information from all commercial fishing vessels and CPFVs authorized by the United States to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area. One piece of information required for the Vessel Register is the vessel's fish hold capacity in cubic meters. For vessels authorized to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area under the HMS FMP, the fish hold capacity in cubic meters is already Start Printed Page 1610collected on the Pacific HMS permit application. For all other non-purse seine vessels, NMFS is planning a separate rulemaking action to collect this and other required Vessel Register information through the HSFCA permit application. The commenter is correct that fish hold capacity in cubic meters is not currently collected on the HSFCA permit application. However, as stated above, this information is required to be collected for the purposes of the IATTC Vessel Register.
Comment 10: One commenter identified two problems with the regulations at 50 CFR 216.91(a)(2)(i) requiring written certification of the dolphin-safe status of tuna caught by purse seine: (1) the falsification of dolphin-safe verification forms by observers; and (2) the requirement that observers issue or endorse only documents approved by the Parties to the AIDCP (this was identified as a problem, because the Parties to the AIDCP do not recognize United States standards for dolphin-safe tuna). The Start Printed Page 1611commenter recommended holding a workshop to discuss these problems.
In response to the public comments, the definition of the term “tuna product” will not be revised as described in the proposed rule. The definition for “tuna product” will remain as defined at 50 CFR 216.3 to mean “any food product processed for retail sale and intended for human or animal consumption that contains an item listed in § 216.24(f)(2)(i) or (ii), but does not include perishable items with a shelf life of less than 3 days.”
In response to the public comments, this final rule revises 50 CFR 300.22(b)(4)(i) to remove outdated provisions that were established to specify how requests for active status would be handled in 2005 and 2006, because these provisions are no longer applicable. Revisions are made to 50 CFR 300.22(b)(4)(i) to: (1) remove paragraph § 300.22(b)(4)(i)(C), which states that for 2005 only, requests for active status on the purse seine list will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis; (2) remove the references to the years 2005 and 2006 in the introductory paragraph of § 300.22(b)(4)(i)(D) and paragraphs § 300.22(b)(4)(i)(D)(1) and (2); and (3) redesignate paragraph § 300.22(b)(4)(i)(D) as paragraph § 300.22(b)(4)(i)(C). This final rule also revises the introductory paragraph to 50 CFR 300.22(b)(4)(ii) to remove the phrase “Beginning with requests made Start Printed Page 1612for 2005”, because this is an outdated provision.
NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a final rule (70 FR 19004, April 12, 2005) to implement resolutions adopted by the IATTC and the IDCP. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries concluded that fishing activities conducted under the 2004 final rule would not be expected to Start Printed Page 1613result in significant effects on the human environment. This rule would not be expected to result in modifications to fisheries operations or effects on the human environment beyond those considered under the alternatives in the EA. This action has been categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. A memo to the record was prepared for the proposed rule memorializing this decision and is available at the Federal E-rulemaking Portal Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. No comments were received regarding the categorical exclusion memo, and no further analyses were conducted under NEPA for this rule.
2. In § 216.3, add definitions for “Albacore tuna”, “Bigeye tuna”, “Bluefin tuna”, “Longtail tuna”, “Skipjack tuna”, “Southern bluefin tuna”, “Tuna”, and “Yellowfin tuna” in alphabetical order to read as follows:
3. In § 216.24, redesignate paragraph (f)(8)(i)(D)(
(B) The owner or managing owner of a purse seine vessel for which active or inactive status on the Vessel Register, as defined in § 300.21 of this title, has been requested, but for which a DML has not been requested, must submit payment of the vessel assessment fee, as established by the IATTC or other approved observer program, to the Administrator, Southwest Region, no later than November 30 of the year prior to the calendar year in which the vessel will be listed on the Vessel Register. Payment of the vessel assessment fee is required only if the vessel is listed as active and is required to carry an Start Printed Page 1614observer, or if the vessel is listed as inactive and exceeds 400 st (362.8 mt) in carrying capacity. Payment of the vessel assessment fee must be consistent with the vessel's status, either active or inactive, on the Vessel Register in § 300.22(b)(4) of this title.
(D) The owner or managing owner of a purse seine vessel listed as inactive on the Vessel Register at the beginning of the calendar year and who requests to replace a vessel removed from active status on the Vessel Register under § 300.22(b)(4) of this title during the year, must pay the vessel assessment fee associated with active status, less the vessel assessment fee associated with inactive status that was already paid, before NMFS will request the IATTC Director change the status of the vessel from inactive to active. Payment of the vessel assessment fee is required only if the vessel is required to carry an observer.
(E) The owner or managing owner of a purse seine vessel not listed on the Vessel Register at the beginning of the calendar year and who requests to replace a vessel removed from active status on the Vessel Register under § 300.22(b)(4) of this title during the year, must pay the vessel assessment fee associated with active status only if the vessel is required to carry an observer, before NMFS will request the IATTC Director change the status of the vessel to active.
0303.42.0060 Yellowfin tunas frozen, except whole, head-on, fillets, livers and roes
0304.29.6097 Tuna fish fillets, frozen, Not elsewhere specified or indicated (NESOI)
0304.99.1090 Tuna, frozen, in bulk or in immediate containers weighing with their contents over 6.8 kg each, NESOI
Start Printed Page 1615
0303.45.0000 Bluefin tunas, frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.49.0100 Tunas, frozen, except fillets, livers and roes, NESOI
0304.29.6097 Tuna fish fillets, frozen, NESOI
0303.19.0012 Chinook (King) salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.19.0022 Chum (dog) salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.19.0032 Pink (humpie) salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.19.0052 Coho (silver) salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.19.0062 Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus masou, Oncorhynchus rhodurus), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes, NESOI
0303.21.0000 Trout (Salmo trutta; Oncorhynchus mykiss, clarki, aguabonita, gilae, apache, and chrysogaster), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.22.0000 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Danube salmon (Hucho hucho), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.29.0000 Salmonidae, frozen, except fillets, livers and roes, NESOI
0303.61.0010 Swordfish steaks, frozen, except fillets
0303.61.0090 Swordfish, frozen, except steaks, fillets, livers and roes
0303.75.0010 Dogfish (Squalus spp.), frozen, except fillets, livers and roes
0303.75.0090 Sharks, frozen, except dogfish, fillets, livers and roes
0303.79.0079 Fish, frozen, except fillets, livers and roes, NESOI
0304.21.0000 Swordfish fillets, frozen, NESOI
0304.29.2066 Fish fillets, skinned, frozen blocks weighing over 4.5 kg each, to be minced, ground or cut into pieces of uniform weights and dimensions, NESOI
0304.29.6006 Atlantic Salmonidae (Salmo salar) fillets, frozen, NESOI
0304.29.6008 Salmonidae fillets, frozen, except Atlantic salmon, NESOI
0304.29.6099 Fish fillets, frozen, NESOI
1604.19.2000 Fish, NESOI, not in oil, in airtight containers
1604.19.3000 Fish, NESOI, in oil, in airtight containers
1605.90.6050 Loligo squid, prepared or preserved
1605.90.6055 Squid except Loligo, prepared or preserved
0305.30.6080 Fish fillets, dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked, NESOI
0305.41.000 Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and Danube salmon (Hucho hucho), including fillets, smoked
0305.49.4040 Fish including fillets, smoked, NESOI
0305.59.2000 Shark fins, dried, whether or not salted but not smoked
0305.59.4000 Fish, dried, whether or not salted but not smoked, NESOI
0305.69.5000 Fish in immediate containers weighing with their contents 6.8 kg or less each, salted but not dried or smoked; in brine, NESOI
0305.69.6000 Fish, salted but not dried or smoked; in brine, NESOI
0307.49.0029 Loligo squid, frozen (except fillets), dried, salted or in brine, NESOI
0307.49.0050 Squid, frozen (except fillets), dried, salted or in brine, except Loligo squid
(ii) FCOs and associated certifications as described in § 216.91(a), if any, that accompany imported shipments of tuna must be submitted by the importer of record to the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program, Southwest Region, within 10 calendar days of the shipment's entry into the commerce of the United States. FCOs submitted via mail should be sent to the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program, Southwest Region, P.O. Box 32469, Long Beach, CA 90832-2469. Copies of the documents may be submitted electronically using a secure file transfer protocol (FTP) site. Importers of record interested in submitting FCOs and associated certifications via FTP may contact a representative of the Tuna Tracking and Verification Program at the following email address: SWRTuna.Track@noaa.gov. The Tuna Tracking and Verification Program will facilitate secure transfer and protection of certifications by assigning a separate electronic folder for each importer. Access to the electronic folder will require a user identification and password. The Tuna Tracking and Verification Program will assign each importer a unique user identification and password. Safeguarding the confidentiality of the user identification and password is the responsibility of the importer to whom they are assigned. Copies of the documents may also be submitted via mail either on compact disc or as hard copies. All electronic submissions, whether via FTP or on compact disc, must be in Portable Document Format (PDF).
(4) Other fisheries. By a vessel in a fishery other than one described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this section that is identified by the Assistant Administrator as having a regular and significant mortality or serious injury of dolphins, unless such product is accompanied as described in § 216.24(f)(3) by a written statement, executed by the Captain of the vessel and an observer participating in a national or international program acceptable to the Assistant Administrator, that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured in the sets or other gear deployments in which the tuna were caught, provided that the Assistant Administrator determines that such an observer statement is necessary.
(e) Tracking imports. All tuna products, except fresh tuna, that are imported into the United States must be accompanied as described in § 216.24(f)(3) by a properly certified FCO as required by § 216.24(f)(2). For tuna tracking purposes, copies of FCOs and associated certifications must be submitted by the importer of record to the Administrator, Southwest Region, within 10 calendar days of the shipment's entry into the commerce of the United States as required by § 216.24 (f)(3)(ii).
8. In § 300.21, remove the definition for “Vessel Register” and add definitions for “Commercial passenger fishing vessel”, “Regional Administrator”, “Regional Vessel Register”, and “Tuna” in alphabetical order to read as follows:
(3) Vessel information. Information on each commercial fishing vessel or CPFV authorized to use purse seine, longline, drift gillnet, harpoon, troll, rod and reel, or pole and line fishing gear to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the Convention Area for sale shall be collected by the Regional Administrator to conform to IATTC resolutions governing the Vessel Register. This information initially includes, but is not limited to, the vessel name and registration number; the name and business address of the owner(s) and managing owner(s); a photograph of the vessel with the registration number legible; previous vessel name(s) and previous flag (if known and if any); port of registry; International Radio Call Sign; vessel length, beam, and moulded depth; gross tonnage, fish hold capacity in cubic meters, and carrying capacity Start Printed Page 1619in metric tons; engine horsepower; date and place where built; and type of fishing method or methods used. The required information shall be collected as part of existing information collections as described in this and other parts of the CFR.
(4) Purse seine vessel register status. For a purse seine vessel to be listed on the Vessel Register and to be categorized as either “active” or “inactive” in the following calendar year, the vessel owner or managing owner must submit to the Regional Administrator the required permit applications, written notifications, and fees as described under § 216.24(b) of this title and under paragraphs (b)(4)(i) and (b)(4)(iii) of this section.
(3) Requests for vessels not described in paragraphs (b)(4)(i)(C)(1) or (2) of this section will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date and time stamp printed by the incoming fax machine upon receipt, provided that the associated vessel assessment fee is paid by the applicable deadline described in § 216.24(b)(6)(iii) of this title; and
(viii) For tuna purse seine vessels, if the request for active status on the Start Printed Page 1620Vessel Register has been determined to be a frivolous request.
(v) Vessel owners or managing owners may request a purse seine vessel in excess of 400 st (362.8 mt) carrying capacity be categorized as active to replace a vessel or vessels removed from the Vessel Register by submitting to the Regional Administrator the vessel permit application as described under § 216.24(b) of this title and payment of the vessel assessment fee and permit application fee within 10 business days after submission of the faxed vessel permit application for the replacement vessel. The replacement vessel will be eligible to be categorized as active on the Vessel Register if it has a carrying capacity equal to or less than the vessel or vessels being replaced, and the captain of the replacement vessel possesses an operator permit under § 216.24(b) of this title. Payments received will be subject to a 10 percent surcharge for vessels that were listed as active on the Vessel Register in the previous calendar year, but not listed as inactive at the beginning of the calendar year for which active status was requested.
(j) Fail to provide written notification as described under § 300.22(b)(8) to the Regional Administrator at least 10 business days prior to submission of an application to transfer a purse seine vessel listed on the Vessel Register to foreign registry and flag, unless transfer of the vessel requires approval by the U.S. Maritime Administration.