AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule reclassifies certain management unit species in the Pacific Islands as ecosystem component species. The rule also updates the scientific and local names of certain species. The intent of this final rule is to prioritize conservation and management efforts and to improve efficiency of fishery management in the region.
DATES: This rule is effective March 11, 2019.
ADDRESSES: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared Amendment 4 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) for American Samoa, Amendment 5 to the FEP for the Marianas Archipelago, and Amendment 5 to the FEP for Hawaii. Those amendments, available as a single document, include an environmental assessment (EA) that describes the potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the action. This document is available at http://www.regulations.gov or from the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel (808) 522–8220, fax (808) 522–8226, or https://www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Taylor, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, 808–725–5182.

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