AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Proposed rule; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
NMFS proposes to remove the swordfish retention limit in the American Samoa deep-set longline fishery. NMFS originally implemented the limit as part of a suite of gear and operational requirements intended to discourage shallow-set fishing, thus reducing interactions with green sea turtles. The gear requirements have reduced green sea turtle interactions, and the swordfish retention limit is not needed. The proposed rule would remove the unnecessary restriction that results in the discard of small amounts of marketable swordfish that could otherwise be supplied as seafood. The
proposed rule is intended to promote efficiency in the fishery.
DATES:
NMFS must receive comments by July 14, 2020.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2019–0123, by either of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0123, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment
period. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov without
change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS prepared a regulatory amendment, including an environmental assessment (EA), that describes the potential impacts on the human environment that could result
from the proposed rule. The regulatory amendment is available at www.regulations.gov, or from 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:
Sarah Ellgen, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, 808–725–5173.
Click here for the complete FR Notice