Rule2021-16888
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 9, 2021
Effective
August 4, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is transferring 30 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category. With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota for the 2021 fishing season is 76 mt. The 2021 Harpoon category fishery is open until November 15, 2021, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first. The action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, and applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted vessels.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43420-43421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16888]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 180117042-8884-02]
RTID 0648-XB214
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is transferring 30 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin
tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category.
With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota for the 2021
fishing season is 76 mt. The 2021 Harpoon category fishery is open
until November 15, 2021, or until the Harpoon category quota is
reached, whichever comes first. The action is based on consideration of
the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments,
and applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted
vessels.
DATES: Effective August 4, 2021, through November 15, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Redd, Jr., <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99f5f8ebebe0b7ebfcfdfdd9f7f6f8f8b7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f19d90838388df83949595b19f9e9090df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>,
301-427-8503, Nicholas Velseboer, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87e9eee4efe8ebe6f4a9f1e2ebf4e5e8e2f5c7e9e8e6e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1cfc8c2c9cecdc0d28fd7c4cdd2c3cec4d3e1cfcec0c08fc6ced7">[email protected]</span></a>, 978-675-
2168, or Lauren Latchford, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95f9f4e0e7f0fbbbf9f4e1f6fdf3fae7f1d5fbfaf4f4bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1ddd0c4c3d4df9fddd0c5d2d9d7dec3d5f1dfded0d09fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>, 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS)
fisheries, including BFT fisheries, are managed under the authority of
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic
HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments are implemented by
regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27 divides the U.S. BFT
quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and as implemented by the United States among
the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations
established in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS
is required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing
vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant
international fishery agreements such as the ICCAT Convention, which is
implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA.
The current baseline quotas for the Harpoon and Reserve categories
are 46 mt and 29.5 mt, respectively. To date for 2021, NMFS has
published one action that has adjusted the available 2021 Reserve
category quota, which currently is 168 mt (86 FR 8717, February 9,
2021). The 2021 Harpoon category fishery opened June 1, and is open
through November 15, 2021, or until the Harpoon category quota is
reached, whichever comes first.
Transfer of 30 mt From the Reserve Category to the Harpoon Category
Under Sec. 635.27(a)(9), NMFS has the authority to transfer quota
among fishing categories or subcategories after considering the
determination criteria provided under Sec. 635.27(a)(8). NMFS has
considered all of the relevant determination criteria and their
applicability to the Harpoon category fishery. These criteria include,
but are not limited to, the following:
Regarding the usefulness of information obtained from catches in
the particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of the
status of the stock (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(i)), biological samples
collected from BFT landed by Harpoon category fishermen and provided by
BFT dealers continue to provide NMFS with valuable parts and data for
ongoing scientific studies of BFT age and growth, migration, and
reproductive status. Additional opportunity to land BFT in the Harpoon
category would support the collection of a broad range of data for
these studies and for stock monitoring purposes.
NMFS also considered the catches of the Harpoon category quota to
date and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no
adjustment is made (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(ii) and (ix)). As of August 3,
2021, the Harpoon category has landed 39.7 mt. Commercial-size BFT are
currently readily available to vessels fishing under the Harpoon
category quota. Without a quota transfer at this time, Harpoon category
participants would have to stop BFT fishing activities with very short
notice, while commercial-sized BFT remain available in the areas
Harpoon category permitted vessels operate. Transferring 30 mt of BFT
quota from the Reserve category would result in a total of 76 mt being
available for the Harpoon category for the 2021 Harpoon category
fishing season.
Regarding the projected ability of the vessels fishing under the
Harpoon category to harvest the additional amount of BFT before the end
of the fishing year (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(iii)), NMFS considered Harpoon
category landings over the last several years. Landings are highly
variable and depend on access to commercial-sized BFT and fishing
conditions, among other factors. NMFS anticipates that the Harpoon
category could harvest the transferred 30 mt prior to the end of the
Harpoon category season, subject to weather conditions and BFT
availability. NMFS may transfer unused Harpoon category quota to other
quota categories, as appropriate. NMFS also anticipates that some
underharvest of the 2020 adjusted U.S. BFT quota will be carried
forward to 2021 and placed in the Reserve category, in accordance with
the regulations. Thus, this quota transfer would allow fishermen to
take advantage of the availability of fish on the fishing grounds,
consider the expected increases in available 2021 quota, and provide a
reasonable opportunity to harvest the available U.S. BFT quota.
NMFS also considered the estimated amounts by which quotas for
other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded (Sec.
635.27(a)(8)(iv)) and the ability to account for all 2020 landings and
dead discards. In the last several years, total U.S. BFT landings have
been below the available U.S. quota such that the United States has
carried forward the maximum amount of underharvest allowed by ICCAT
from one year to the next. NMFS will need to account for 2021 landings
and dead discards within the adjusted U.S. quota, consistent with ICCAT
recommendations, and anticipates having sufficient quota to do that.
NMFS also considered the effects of the adjustment on the BFT stock
and the effects of the transfer on accomplishing the objectives of the
FMP (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(v) and (vi)). This transfer would be consistent
with established quotas and subquotas, which are implemented consistent
with ICCAT recommendations, (established in Recommendation 17-06 and
maintained in Recommendation 20-06), ATCA, and the objectives of the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments. In
[[Page 43421]]
establishing these quotas and subquotas and associated management
measures, ICCAT and NMFS considered the best scientific information
available, objectives for stock management and status, and effects on
the stock. This quota transfer is in line with the established
management measures and stock status determinations. Another principal
consideration is the objective of providing opportunities to harvest
the available Harpoon category quota without exceeding the annual
quota, based on the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and
amendments, including to achieve optimum yield on a continuing basis
and to optimize the ability of all permit categories to harvest
available BFT quota allocations (related to Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(x)).
Given these considerations, NMFS is transferring 30 mt of the
available 168 mt of Reserve category quota to the Harpoon category.
Therefore, NMFS adjusts the Harpoon category quota to 76 mt for the
2021 Harpoon category fishing season (i.e., through November 15, 2021,
or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first),
and adjusts the Reserve category quota to 138 mt.
Monitoring and Reporting
NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fishery closely. Dealers are
required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer
receiving BFT. Late reporting by dealers compromises NMFS' ability to
timely implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments,
as well as closures, and may result in enforcement actions.
Additionally, and separate from the dealer reporting requirement,
Harpoon category vessel owners are required to report their own catch
of all BFT retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s)
or end of each trip, by accessing <a href="http://hmspermits.noaa.gov">hmspermits.noaa.gov</a> or by using the
HMS Catch Reporting app, or calling (888) 872-8862 (Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.).
Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT,
NMFS may determine that additional adjustments are necessary to ensure
available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data
collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. If
needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal
Register. In addition, fishermen may call the Atlantic Tunas
Information Line at (978) 281-9260, or access <a href="http://hmspermits.noaa.gov">hmspermits.noaa.gov</a>, for
updates on quota monitoring and inseason adjustments.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 635.27(a)(9) (inseason
adjustments), which was issued pursuant to section 304(c), and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that it is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior
notice of, and an opportunity for public comment on, this action for
the following reasons:
The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and
amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments to respond
to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds,
the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in
the BFT fishery. Affording prior notice and opportunity for public
comment to implement the quota transfer for the remainder of 2021 is
also contrary to the public interest as such a delay would likely
result in closure of the Harpoon fishery when the baseline quota is met
and the need to re-open the fishery, with attendant administrative
costs and costs to the fishery. The delay would preclude the fishery
from harvesting BFT that are available on the fishing grounds and that
might otherwise become unavailable during a delay. This action does not
raise conservation and management concerns. Transferring quota from the
Reserve category to the Harpoon category does not affect the overall
U.S. BFT quota, and available data show the adjustment would have a
minimal risk of exceeding the ICCAT-allocated quota. NMFS notes that
the public had an opportunity to comment on the underlying rulemakings
that established the U.S. BFT quota and the inseason adjustment
criteria. For the same reasons discussed above, the AA finds good cause
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for
public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 3, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16888 Filed 8-4-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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