Environmental Assessment for Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries in 2012 and 2013
Environmental Assessment for Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries in 2012 and 2013

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Published: 2011

Total Pages: 224

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"NMFS proposes to specify an annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for each coral reef ecosystem stock and stock complex in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii. The ACLs and AMs will be applicable in fishing years 2012 and 2013, which run from January 1 to December 31. The purpose of this action is to comply with provisions of the fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for American Samoa, the Mariana Archipelago, and Hawaii which require NMFS to specify an ACL for each stock and stock complex in the western Pacific coral reef ecosystem fisheries and implement AMs that prevent ACLs from being exceeded, and correct or mitigate overages should they occur. The ACL specifications and AMs were developed by the Council using The best available scientific information and were coordinated with the public. The ACLs and AMs are intended to provide for long-term sustainability of the coral reef fisheries of the western Pacific. NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to consider the effects of the proposed specifications on the environment. The ACL specifications are not accompanied by in-season closures, but rather, by AMs that call for a post-season fishery review of the fishery to determine whether an ACL was exceeded, and, if so, additional consideration of whether stocks were adversely affected, and the possibility of adjusting the ACL. Because there is no in-season management measure (such as a fishery closure should an ACL be reached), the manner in which the coral reef fisheries of the region are conducted is not likely to change. Future evaluations of the fishery and ACL adjustments are expected to prevent any of the fish stocks from being subject to overfishing or becoming overfished"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.

Environmental Assessment for Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Bottomfish Fisheries in 2012 and 2013
Environmental Assessment for Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Bottomfish Fisheries in 2012 and 2013

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Published: 2011

Total Pages: 118

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"NMFS proposes to specify an annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for bottomfish stocks and stock complexes in American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for non-Deep 7 bottomfish stock Hawaii. The ACLs and AMs will be applicable in fishing years 2012 and 2013, which run from January 1 to December 31. The purpose of this action is to comply with provisions of the fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for American Samoa, the Mariana Archipelago, and Hawaii which require NMFS to specify an ACL for each stock and stock complex in the western Pacific bottomfish fisheries and implement AMs that prevent ACLs from being exceeded, and correct or mitigate overages should they occur. The ACL specifications and AMs were developed by the Council using the best available scientific information and were coordinated with the public. The ACLs and AMs are intended to provide for long-term sustainability of the bottomfish fisheries of the western Pacific. NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to consider the effects of the proposed specifications on the environment. The ACL specifications are not accompanied by in-season closures, but rather, by AMs that call for a post-season fishery review of the fishery to determine whether an ACL was exceeded, and, if so, additional consideration of whether stocks were adversely affected, and the possibility of adjusting the ACL. Because there is no in-season management measure (such as a fishery closure should an ACL be reached), the manner in which the coral reef fisheries of the region are conducted is not likely to change. Future evaluations of the fishery and ACL adjustments are expected to prevent any of the fish stocks from being subject to overfishing or becoming overfished"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.

Environmental Assessment, Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Bottomfish Fisheries in 2013 and 2014 Including a Regulatory Impact Review
Environmental Assessment, Annual Catch Limit Specifications and Accountability Measures for Pacific Islands Bottomfish Fisheries in 2013 and 2014 Including a Regulatory Impact Review

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Published: 2012

Total Pages: 133

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"NMFS proposes to specify annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for the multi-species bottomfish stock complexes in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and for the non-Deep 7 bottomfish stock complex in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). The ACLs and AMs would be applicable in fishing year 2013, which begins on January 1 and ends on December 31, 2013, which NMFS may re-specify again in fishing year 2014"--Abstract (page 1).

Final Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Deep 7 Bottomfish in the Main Hawaiian Islands in 2014-15 and 2015-16
Final Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Deep 7 Bottomfish in the Main Hawaiian Islands in 2014-15 and 2015-16

Author: Jarad Makaiau

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Published: 2015

Total Pages: 67

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NMFS proposes to specify an annual catch limit (ACL) of 346,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in federal waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; generally 3 to 200 nautical miles or nm) around the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), as recommended by the Council. Based on a 2011 NMFS stock assessment for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish, the proposed ACL is associated with a 41 percent probability of overfishing. As an accountability measure (AM) to prevent the fishery from exceeding the ACL, NMFS proposes to close, the commercial and non-commercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish in federal waters on the date the NMFS projects the fishery will reach ACL through the end of the fishing year. Although not part of the proposed action, during a federal fishery closure, the State of Hawaii implements a complementary fishery closure in State waters 0-3 nm. In addition, if NMFS and the Council determines that the 2014-15 Deep 7 bottomfish catch exceeded the ACL, NMFS would reduce the Deep 7 bottomfish ACL for the 2015-16 fishing year by the amount of the overage. The fishing year for Deep 7 bottomfish begins September 1 and ends on August 31 the following year annually. Unless modified by NMFS, the ACL and AM would be applicable in the fishing 2 year 2014-15. The proposed ACL and AM is identical to the specifications NMFS implemented in the previous 2013-14 fishing year (78 FR 59626, September 27, 2013). The proposed action is needed to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and is consistent with the provisions of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaii Archipelago, through which NMFS specifies ACLs and AMs for all federally managed species. The Council recommended the ACL and AM, based upon the best available scientific and commercial information and taking into account risk of overfishing, past fishery performance, and acceptable biological catch recommendation from the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee, and input from the public. NMFS prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed ACL specification and AMs in fishing years 2014-15 and again in 2015-16. The EA includes a description of the information and methods used by the Council to develop the proposed ACL, and alternatives to the proposed ACL specifications. The analysis revealed that the specification of ACLs and the AM would not result in large and adverse impacts on target, non-target, or bycatch species, protected species, or on marine habitats. This is because the proposed action will continue the existing management regime and would not change the conduct of commercial or non-commercial MHI bottomfish fisheries in any way. NMFS considers the harvest of Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI bottomfish fisheries to be sustainable, and expects that the ACL and AM specifications to prevent overfishing and provide for continued sustainable harvest. On April 21, 2015, NMFS solicited public comments on the proposed ACL and AM specification for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish and a draft EA (80 FR 22158). NMFS received three letters of comments, which were considered before finalizing the EA. The draft and final versions of this EA, and public comments received, can be found by searching on RIN 0648-XD082 at www.regulations.gov, or by contacting the responsible NMFS official or the Council at the above address.

Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Main Hawaiian Islands Non-deep 7 Bottomfish Fisheries in Fishing Years 2015 Through 2018
Environmental Assessment Specification of Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Main Hawaiian Islands Non-deep 7 Bottomfish Fisheries in Fishing Years 2015 Through 2018

Author: Nikhil Mehta

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 86

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The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended that NMFS specify multi-year annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) effective in fishing years 2015-2018, the environmental effects of which are analyzed in this document. NMFS proposes to implement the specifications for fishing year 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 separately prior to each fishing year. The specifications pertain to ACLs for non-Deep 7 bottomfish fisheries in federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; generally 3-200 nautical miles or nm) around the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and a post-season accountability measure (AM) to correct the overage of the ACL if it occurs. For the purpose of ACLs, MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish include uku (Aprion virescens), white ulua (Caranx ignoblis), black ulua (Caranx lugubris), yellowtail kalekale (Pristipomoides auricilla), and butaguchi (Pseudocaranx dentex). The proposed ACL is associated with a less than a 30 percent probability of overfishing. 2 The fishing year for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish begins January 1 and ends December 31 annually. Unless modified by NMFS, the ACL and AM would be applicable in fishing years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Each fishing year, non-Deep 7 bottomfish catches from both local state/territorial waters (generally from the shoreline to three miles offshore), and federal waters of the EEZ around the MHI would be counted towards the specified ACL.

Environmental Assessment to Revise the United States Commercial Fishery Regulations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in Accordance with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Resolution C-12-09
Environmental Assessment to Revise the United States Commercial Fishery Regulations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in Accordance with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Resolution C-12-09

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Published: 2013

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13:

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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing regulations under authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement a resolution adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in June 2012, specifically the Resolution on Conservation and Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (C-12-09). The proposed regulation would only apply to vessels that commercially catch Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). Resolution C-12-09 included both a cumulative catch limit of 10,000 metric tons (mt) for member countries fishing in the EPO for 2012 and 2013 combined and an annual catch limit of 500 mt for individual member countries should the cumulative limit be reached. In accordance with the 10,000 mt cumulative catch limit adopted in Resolution C-12-09 for both 2012 and 2013 combined, the catch limit for 2013 is 3,295 metric tons because the cumulative catch of all IATTC member countries in the Convention Area reached 6,705 metric tons in 2012. Currently, the U.S. commercial fishery has no catch limit on the PBT in the EPO. The eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) includes the waters bounded by the coast of the Americas, the 40° N. and 40° S. parallels, and the 150° W. meridian. These revisions would ensure that the United States is satisfying its obligations as a member of the IATTC. This environmental assessment (EA) assesses the potential environmental impacts on the human environment that could result from implementation of the proposed rule which would implement a commercial catch limit on PBT in the EPO. Alternatives and potential impacts are analyzed in this EA. Impacts to the human environment (e.g., effects of the proposed action on the natural environment and the socioeconomic environment) were found to be insignificant.

Final Environmental Assessment and Initial Regulatory Impact Review for Pacific Coast Salmon Plan Amendment 16
Final Environmental Assessment and Initial Regulatory Impact Review for Pacific Coast Salmon Plan Amendment 16

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Published: 2011

Total Pages:

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"The proposed action is to Amend the Salmon Fishery Management Plan to provide a framework for specifying biological and management reference points and accountability measures (AMs) that will meet the requirements of the revised MSA and National Standard 1 Guidelines (NS 1Gs) to account for uncertainty in the fishery management process, reduce the probability of overfishing, and include clear and objective status determination criteria (SDC), while integrating with existing management processes and capabilities to the degree possible. No significant impacts are anticipated"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.

Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of a Special Fishing Permit to Authorize the Use of an Anchored Pod to Culture and Harvest a Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Unit Species, Seriola Rivoliana, in Federal Waters West of Hawaii Island (RIN 0648-XC791)
Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of a Special Fishing Permit to Authorize the Use of an Anchored Pod to Culture and Harvest a Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Unit Species, Seriola Rivoliana, in Federal Waters West of Hawaii Island (RIN 0648-XC791)

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Published: 2013

Total Pages: 120

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The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to issue a Special Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishing Permit (SCREFP) to Kampachi Farms, LLC, in accordance with the Hawaii Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and consistent with federal regulations for Hawaii fisheries at 50 CFR 665.224 pertaining to management of coral reef ecosystem fisheries. The SCREFP is required because the gear proposed to be used for the harvest of the coral reef ecosystem management unit species (MUS) kampachi (Almaco jack or Seriola rivoliana) is not currently an approved gear under the Hawaii FEP and fishing regulations. The permit would authorize Kampachi Farms to harvest kampachi using a 132-m3 (approximately 21 ft in diameter) brass-link mesh aquapod (CuPod) tethered to a moored feed vessel (a 28-ft long sportfisher). The feed vessel would be connected to a singlepoint mooring established at around 6,000 ft deep approximately 5.5 nautical miles (nm) west of Keauhou Bay, Hawaii. The Velella array (CuPod and vessel) would be located in Federal waters with the exact position depending on wind and currents. It would not be closer than 3 nm from shore. If the permit is issued, the applicant would use the Velella array to grow and harvest 2,000 fingerlings/juveniles. The stock would be first generation offspring of the native coral reef species, kampachi, (marketed as 'Kona Kampachi®') obtained from a local hatchery. The permit duration is for a one-year period. To implement its project, the applicant must also obtain a Department of the Army (DA) permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). NMFS prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) with input and review by the USACE. The EA will serve as the basis for a determination by NMFS whether or not issuing the SCREFP permit would be a major federal action with the potential for significant environmental impacts, in which case there would be a need to prepare an environmental impact statement. The document will also inform NMFS in its decision about whether to issue a permit. The USACE will be using this document to inform its environmental evaluations in accordance with USACE NEPA Implementation Procedures for the Regulatory Program (33 CFR 325, Appendix B). The small size of the CuPod, and limited number of fish, established procedures for the careful application of feed, and near constant water flow are expected to minimize impacts on water quality. The strong brass mesh net material is resistant to biofouling, tearing, and leaching. The strong mesh material and the use of a mesh entry panel during routine maintenance work would prevent fish escapes. The CuPod and vessel would each have a global positioning system (GPS) transponder to provide ongoing location information and to allow retrieval of the CuPod in the unlikely case of separation from the mooring. In addition to the applicant monitoring the CuPod and feed vessel remotely, NMFS permit conditions would include requirements for avoiding and reporting protected resources interactions and fish escapes, and collecting and discarding dead fish, filing harvest and transshipment reports, and accommodating an observer upon request. These operational features together with the limited scale and duration of the project help to ensure that the project would have a very limited impact on the environment. It is expected that the array (feed vessel and CuPod) would aggregate pelagic fish. Fishermen would be able to fish around the array. The small size of the array is not expected to have a substantial adverse effect on other fishermen off of west Hawaii. NMFS published a Notice of Availability of a draft EA on August 13, 2013, and provided the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the draft EA. NMFS considered all comments and either made no change to the document or improved information in the baseline and the clarity of the document. None of the comments resulted in substantial changes to the analysis about the significance of impacts of the proposed action on the human environment.