Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 681

[I.D. 072094A]

RIN 0648-AF82

Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment

and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice that the Western Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 8 to the Fishery

Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific

Region (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and

is requesting comments from the public. Amendment 8 would implement

administrative changes to the FMP to address problems encountered

during the first year of a limited entry and quota management program.

DATES: Written comments on the amendment must be received on or before

September 19, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be sent to, Rodney R. McInnis, Acting

Regional Director (RD), Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries

Service, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-

4213. Copies of the amendment are available upon request from the

Council, 1164 Bishop Street, suite 1405, Honolulu, HI 96813 (808-522-

8220).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Svein Fougner, NMFS, (310) 980-4034,

or Alvin Katekaru, NMFS (808) 973-2939.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and

Management Act 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (Magnuson Act) requires that a

Regional Fishery Management Council submit any amendment to a fishery

management plan it has prepared to the Secretary for review,

disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires

that the Secretary, upon receiving an amendment, immediately publish a

notice that the amendment is available for public review and comment.

The Secretary will consider all public comments received during the

public comment period in determining whether to approve the amendment

for implementation.

Amendment 8 would implement largely administrative changes to the

FMP to address problems encountered during the first year of a limited

entry and quota management program established by Amendment 7. These

changes include:

1. Eliminating the landing requirement necessary for obtaining a

limited-entry permit for each new fishing season.

2. Implementing a framework procedure to adjust the target catch-

per-unit-of-effort so that it reflects the current productivity of the

stocks.

3. Implementing a framework procedure to allow some fishing, if

necessary, when the quota is zero in an effort to obtain important

fisheries data.

4. Reducing the period of time fishermen will have to notify NMFS

of their return to port.

5. Implementing a requirement that fishermen notify NMFS of the

time of unloading their vessels.

6. Revising the information on the report of sales of lobsters.

7. Providing first level buyers with worksheets to facilitate

information reporting.

8. Implementing a framework procedure authorizing the RD to modify

reporting requirements and call-in destinations.

An environmental assessment and regulatory impact review are

incorporated in Amendment 8. All are available for public review (see

ADDRESSES).

The receipt date for Amendment 8 was July 19, 1994. Proposed

regulations to implement Amendment 8 are scheduled to be published

within 15 days of the receipt date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: July 22, 1994.

David S. Crestin,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 94-18324 Filed 7-22-94; 4:48 pm]

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