AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed specifications; request for comments.
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes a 2020 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)). NMFS would allow each territory to allocate up to 1,500 t each year to U.S. longline fishing vessels in a specified fishing agreement that meets established criteria, but the overall allocation limit among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t. As an accountability measure, NMFS would monitor, attribute, and restrict (if necessary) catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna, including catches made
under a specified fishing agreement. The proposed catch limits and accountability measures would support the long-term sustainability of fishery
resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
DATES: NMFS must receive comments by July 24, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2020–0078, by either of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0078, 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: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 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. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous). The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS prepared a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA), that describes the potential impacts on the human environment that could result from the proposed action. The SEA 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: Lynn Rassel, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808–725–5184.
Click here for the full FR Notice
Click here for the Supplemental Environmental Assessment