News + Annoucements

FR Notice – Area of Overlap Between the Convention Areas of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (June 22, 2020)

Federal Register Notices, News and Updates

Action – Final rule.

Summary

Under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA) and the Tuna Conventions Act, NMFS issues this final rule that revises the management regime for U.S. fishing vessels that target tunas and other highly migratory fish species (HMS) in the area of overlapping jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean between the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC). The rule applies all regulations implementing IATTC resolutions in the area of overlapping jurisdiction and some regulations implementing WCPFC provisions. NMFS is undertaking this action based on an evaluation of the management regime in the area of overlapping jurisdiction, in order to satisfy the obligations of the United States as a member of the IATTC and the WCPFC, pursuant to the authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA) and the Tuna Conventions Act.

Dates

This rule is effective on July 22, 2020, except for 50 CFR 300.218, which is delayed. NOAA will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date.

Addresses

Copies of supporting documents prepared for this final rule, including the regulatory impact review (RIR) and the environmental assessment (EA), as well as the proposed rule (84 FR 60040; November 7, 2019), are available via the Federal e-rulemaking Portal, at www.regulations.gov (search for Docket ID NOAA-NMFS-2018-0049). Those documents are also available from NMFS at the following address: Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) prepared under authority of the Regulatory Flexibility Act is included in the Classification section of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this rule may be submitted to PIRO at the address listed above, by email to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or by fax to (202) 395-5806.