Notice2021-12560
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management; Rule Reconsideration
Primary source
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Published
June 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS published a final rule on April 2, 2020, that, among other things, established the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area in an area previously closed to pelagic longline fishing in April and May annually. This Monitoring Area is open to pelagic longline fishing to collect fishery-dependent data during a 3-year evaluation period. The rule also established a threshold amount of bluefin tuna incidental catch in the pelagic longline fishery in the area that, if reached, would close the area to pelagic longline fishing. Subsequently, the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement (JES) that accompanied the 2021 Appropriations Act included text on ``Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna'' directing NMFS to reconsider the decision in the final rule to open the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area to pelagic longline fishing or to take additional monitoring action. This notice announces NMFS's request for public input and two public webinars to gather information regarding the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area that may not have been considered in the final rule.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31701-31702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12560]
[[Page 31701]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB148]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management; Rule Reconsideration
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public webinars; request for information.
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SUMMARY: NMFS published a final rule on April 2, 2020, that, among
other things, established the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area in
an area previously closed to pelagic longline fishing in April and May
annually. This Monitoring Area is open to pelagic longline fishing to
collect fishery-dependent data during a 3-year evaluation period. The
rule also established a threshold amount of bluefin tuna incidental
catch in the pelagic longline fishery in the area that, if reached,
would close the area to pelagic longline fishing. Subsequently, the
Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement (JES) that accompanied the
2021 Appropriations Act included text on ``Western Atlantic Bluefin
Tuna'' directing NMFS to reconsider the decision in the final rule to
open the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area to pelagic longline
fishing or to take additional monitoring action. This notice announces
NMFS's request for public input and two public webinars to gather
information regarding the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area that
may not have been considered in the final rule.
DATES: Comments and information related to the reconsideration of the
Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area must be received on or before
July 15, 2021. NMFS will hold two public webinars on June 23, 2021,
from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on June 30, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For webinar registration information, see the ADDRESSES section of this
document.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035, by electronic submission. Submit all electronic
public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035'' in the Search
box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and
enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after July 15, 2021, may not be
considered by NMFS. All information received generally will be posted
for public viewing on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address), 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).
NMFS will hold two public webinars. Webinar details will be posted
to the web page for information related to the Gear Restricted Area-
Weak Hook final rule at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures</a>. At
the beginning of the conference call, the moderator will explain how
the conference call will be conducted and how and when attendees can
provide comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Cockrell at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e18293808886cf828e828a93848d8da18f8e8080cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7d4c5d6ded099d4d8d4dcc5d2dbdbf7d9d8d6d699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a> or 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 2, 2020, NMFS published a final rule in the Federal
Register (85 FR 18812) that adjusted regulatory measures put in place
to reduce incidental catch of bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline
fishery for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). Specifically, the
final measures converted the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area
to the ``Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area'' and established a 3-
year (2020-2022) evaluation period. During this period, NMFS would
evaluate whether gear restrictions in this area during the months of
April and May were still needed in tandem with other measures to
appropriately manage incidental catch of bluefin tuna in the pelagic
longline fishery. During the evaluation period, the area remains open
to pelagic longline fishing provided the amount of Individual Bluefin
Quota (IBQ) allocation used to account for bluefin catch (landings and
dead discards) stays below a specified threshold for the area. The
threshold for the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area is 63,150
pounds (28.6 metric tons) for each year of the evaluation period. If
the threshold is reached, the area closes. After the 3-year evaluation
period, NMFS will review data collected from the Monitoring Area,
including information from vessel monitoring system (VMS) vessel track
and set report data, IBQ System data, electronic monitoring data, and
other data streams; compile a report; and may take any further action
if needed.
Since April 2, 2020, no pelagic longline sets have occurred within
the boundaries of the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area. NMFS
continues to monitor any fishing activity and incidental catch
occurring during the evaluation period. Details on bluefin tuna catch
data are available and updated periodically on the web page for
information related to the Gear Restricted Area-Weak Hook final rule at
<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures</a>.
Reconsideration Process
The JES that accompanied the 2021 Appropriations Act included text
on ``Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna'' directing NMFS to reconsider the
decision in the Gear Restricted Area-Weak Hook final rule to open the
Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area to pelagic longline fishing or to
take additional monitoring action. The Appropriations Act and JES
language can be found at <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2020-12-21/pdf/CREC-2020-12-21-house-bk3.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2020-12-21/pdf/CREC-2020-12-21-house-bk3.pdf</a>. NMFS developed a plan for the
reconsideration of the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area, which is
available on the web page for information related to the Gear
Restricted Area-Weak Hook final rule at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures</a>. The plan, which NMFS reviewed with the Atlantic
HMS Advisory Panel on May 18, 2021, provides the public an opportunity
to submit information that may not have been considered in the final
rule. Once public input and information received are assessed, the
agency's conclusions will be communicated via appropriate mechanisms.
Request for Information
NMFS will consider public input and information provided through
this process. Comments and information may be submitted via
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and at the public webinar. NMFS requests
information be submitted by July 15, 2021.
NMFS will hold two public webinars on June 23, 2021, from 10 a.m.
to 12 p.m., and on June 30, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Registration
information for
[[Page 31702]]
the webinars can be found on the web page for information related to
the Gear Restricted Area-Weak Hook final rule at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures</a>. Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Craig
Cockrell at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9bf8e9faf2fcb5f8f4f8f0e9fef7f7dbf5f4fafab5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97f4e5f6fef0b9f4f8f4fce5f2fbfbd7f9f8f6f6b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a> or 301-427-8503, at least 7 days
prior to the meeting.
The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public
webinars to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each
the webinar, the moderator will explain how the webinar will be
conducted and how and when participants can provide comments. NMFS will
structure the webinars so that all members of the public will be able
to comment, if they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature
of the subject. Participants are expected to respect the ground rules,
and those that do not may be asked to leave the webinar.
Dated: June 10, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-12560 Filed 6-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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