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species. To ensure that the status review ICCAT does not recommend a new U.S.
Dated: February 3, 2006.
is complete and based on the best allocation, this action proposes to
available science and commercial Marshall P. Jones, extend the 2005 North Atlantic
information, we are soliciting additional Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. swordfish management measures until
information on the island marble [FR Doc. E6–1930 Filed 2–10–06; 8:45 am] such time as ICCAT provides the
butterfly. We are requesting additional BILLING CODE 4310–55–P recommendation.
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7500 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules
DATES: Written comments on the authority of ATCA carry out the Under this action, the underharvest
proposed rule must be received by 5 recommendations of ICCAT. from the 2004 fishing year (3,398.5 mt
p.m. on March 30, 2006. dw) would be added to the 2005
North Atlantic Swordfish Quota
NMFS will hold two public hearings baseline quota (2,937.6 mt dw) for an
to receive comments from fishery Prior to the 2002 meeting, ICCAT adjusted 2005 North Atlantic swordfish
participants and other members of the conducted a stock assessment quota of 6,336.1 mt dw. The reserve
public regarding the proposed swordfish examining the North Atlantic swordfish category would be allocated 101.5 mt
regulations. Additional public hearings population. The Standing Committee on dw, the incidental category would be
will be considered upon request and Research and Statistics (SCRS) allocated 300 mt dw, and the remaining
must be received by 5 p.m. on March 1, concluded that the stock could support quota would be divided into two equal
2006 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION an increase in the total allowable catch semiannual quotas of 2,967.3 mt dw for
CONTACT). The public hearing dates are: (TAC) of North Atlantic swordfish. the periods of June 1, 2005, through
1. Monday, March 13, 2006, 4–6 p.m., According to the stock assessment, the November 30, 2005, and December 1,
Silver Spring, MD. biomass at the start of 2002 was 2005, through May 31, 2006.
2. Friday, March 17, 2006, 2–5:30 estimated to be 94 percent of the The 2002 ICCAT recommendations
p.m., Gloucester, MA. biomass needed to produce maximum included management measures for the
ADDRESSES: The public hearing sustainable yield (MSY). The SCRS felt North Atlantic swordfish fishery from
locations are: that there was a greater that 50–percent 2003, 2004, and 2005 with the
1. Gloucester - Northeast Regional chance that a TAC of 14,000 metric tons expectation that a new stock assessment
Office, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, (mt) whole weight (ww) would allow would be reviewed by the SCRS in
Gloucester, MA 01930; and the stock to rebuild to MSY by the end 2005. The North Atlantic swordfish
2. Silver Spring - National Oceanic of 2009. Based on this information, stock assessment has been postponed
and Atmospheric Administration, SSMC ICCAT recommended a TAC of 14,000 until 2006; therefore in 2004, ICCAT
IV, NOAA Auditorium, 1301 East West mt ww for 2003, 2004, and 2005, which recommended that the 2005 North
Highway, Silver Spring 20910. is an increase from 10,400 mt ww in Atlantic swordfish quotas be extended
Written comments on the proposed 2002. Of the 14,000 mt ww, the United until new stock status information is
rule or the Draft Environmental States is allowed to catch 3,877 mt ww available (Recommendation 04–02).
Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/ (2,915.0 mt dressed weight (dw)) in This action proposes to implement the
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 2003 and 3,907 mt ww (2,937.6 mt dw) 2004 ICCAT recommendation.
(Draft EA/RIR/IRFA) may be submitted in 2004 and 2005 (Recommendation 02– Extending the 2005 North Atlantic
to Megan Caldwell, Fisheries 02). swordfish management measures is not
Management Specialist, Highly On November 23, 2004, NMFS expected to have a significant impact on
Migratory Species Management the stock because the quota has been
published a final rule to implement the
Division, using any of the following underharvested for the past several
ICCAT recommendations for the North
methods: years, restrictions on the pelagic
Atlantic swordfish quotas in 2003, 2004,
• Email: SF1.100405C@noaa.gov. longline fleet remain unchanged, and
and 2005 (69 FR 68090). Pursuant to 50
• Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, permits and effort continue to be low.
CFR 635.27(c)(3)(ii), total landings
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark below the annual North Atlantic South Atlantic Swordfish Quota
the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments swordfish quota shall be added to the The SCRS also conducted a stock
on Proposed Rule to Adjust the North following year’s quota. Any carryover is assessment of South Atlantic swordfish
and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas.’’ to be apportioned equally between the in 2002. Due to discrepancies between
• Fax: 301–713–1917. two semi-annual fishing seasons. several of the datasets, reliable stock
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:// The 2003 preliminary reported assessment results could not be
www.regulations.gov. Include in the landings were 1,509.0 mt dw, resulting produced. However, the SCRS noted
subject line the following identifier: I.D. in an underharvest of 2,517.8 mt dw. that the total reported catches have
100405C. These preliminary landings were decreased since 1995. ICCAT set a
Copies of the Fishery Management previously used to adjust the quota for South Atlantic swordfish TAC of 15,631
Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and the 2004 fishing year (November 23, mt ww in 2003, 15,776 mt ww in 2004,
Sharks (1999 FMP)and other relevant 2004; 69 FR 68090). The final landings 15,956 mt ww in 2005, and 16,055 mt
documents are also available from the for 2003 were 1,822.5 mt dw, thus ww in 2006. Of these amounts, the
Highly Migratory Species Management decreasing the 2003 underharvest to United States is allocated 100 mt ww
Division website at http:// 2,275.1 mt dw. (75.2 mt dw) in 2003, 2004, and 2005
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms. This action would adjust the total and 120 mt ww (90.2 mt dw) in 2006
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: available quota for the 2004 fishing year (Recommendation 02–03).
Megan Caldwell, by phone: 301–713– to account for the final 2003 landings The November 2004 final rule also
2347; by fax: 301–713–1917; or by information. The 2004 North Atlantic implemented the ICCAT
email: Megan.Caldwell@noaa.gov. swordfish baseline quota was 2,937.6 mt recommendations for the South Atlantic
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. dw. The baseline quota plus the final swordfish fishery in 2003, 2004, 2005,
Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed 2003 underharvest would result in a and 2006 (68 FR 68090). As mentioned
under the 1999 FMP. Implementing total 2004 quota of 5,212.7 mt dw. The above, the regulations also require that
regulations at 50 CFR part 635 are preliminary landings for the 2004 landings below the annual South
issued under the authority of the directed and incidental fishery are Atlantic quota shall be added to the
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules 7501
directed South Atlantic swordfish reel fishery is not likely to jeopardize a substantial number of small entities.
landings during the 2004 fishing year. the continued existence of the right This action proposes to modify the
The adjusted quota for the 2004 fishing whale, humpback, fin, or sperm whales, North and South Atlantic swordfish
year was 334.3 mt dw (75.2 mt dw or Kemp’s ridley, green, loggerhead, quotas for the 2005 fishing year to
baseline plus 259.1 mt dw carried over hawksbill, or leatherback sea turtles. account for the underharvest in
from the 2003 fishing year). Therefore, The June 2004 BiOp determined that the previous fishing years. Additionally,
this action proposes to combine 2005 continued operation of the PLL fishery this action proposes to extend the 2005
baseline quota (75.2 mt dw) with the is not likely to jeopardize the continued North Atlantic swordfish management
carryover from 2004 fishing year (334.3 existence of loggerhead, green, measures pursuant to a 2004 ICCAT
mt dw), increasing the total 2005 South hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, or olive ridley (Recommendation 04–02). These actions
Atlantic swordfish quota to 409.5 mt sea turtles, but is likely to jeopardize the are necessary to comply with the
dw. There is no incidental catch quota continued existence of leatherback sea recommendations of ICCAT, the
for South Atlantic swordfish. turtles. requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens
NMFS has since promulgated Act and ATCA, and the measures in the
Requests for Comments regulations required by the 2004 BiOp FMP for Atlantic tunas, sharks, and
NMFS will hold two public hearings to avoid jeopardy of leatherback sea swordfish.
(see DATES and ADDRESSES) to receive turtles, such as sea turtle bycatch and The commercial swordfish fishery is
comments from fishery participants and bycatch mortality mitigation measures composed of fishermen who hold a
other members of the public regarding for all Atlantic vessels with PLL gear swordfish directed, incidental, or
this proposed rule. These hearings will onboard. In addition, NMFS has handgear permit and the related
be physically accessible to people with implemented regulations requiring PLL industries including processors, bait
disabilities. Requests for sign language vessels to use only 18/0 hooks with houses, and equipment suppliers, all of
interpretation or other auxiliary aids whole mackerel and/or squid in the which NMFS considers to be small
should be directed to Megan Caldwell at Northeast Distant (NED) Statistical entities. In 2004, there were 390
301–713–2347 at least 5 days prior to Reporting Area, and 16/0 hooks and/or commercial permit holders and 142
the hearing date. For individuals unable 18/0 hooks everywhere outside the NED vessels reported landing swordfish
to attend a hearing, NMFS also solicits using whole finfish or squid, and to commercially. About 90 percent of the
written comments on the proposed rule possess and use sea turtle release vessels reporting commercial swordfish
(see DATES and ADDRESSES). equipment with specified sea turtle landings used pelagic longline gear. In
Classification handling and release protocols. 2005, the commercial swordfish permit
Handling and release guidelines are also holders declined to 372 permits for
This proposed rule is published under required to be posted in the directed, incidental, and handgear
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens wheelhouse. NMFS has also permits. In 2004, there were also 24,843
Act and ATCA. Consistent with 50 CFR implemented several time/area closures HMS Angling permit holders who could
635.27 (c)(3)(ii) and (iii), this action between 1999 and 2002, which in land swordfish recreationally (i.e., not
proposes to adjust the 2005 North and combination with the previously for profit), and 4,113 charter/headboat
South Atlantic swordfish annual quotas mentioned restrictions have contributed permit holders authorized to land
to account for the underharvest from to the quota underages for both the swordfish. Other sectors of highly
previous fishing years. Additionally this North and South Atlantic swordfish migratory species fisheries, such as
action proposes to implement the 2004 quotas since 2000. In 2004, there were dealers, processors, bait houses, and
ICCAT recommendation, which extends 390 commercial swordfish directed and gear manufacturers, could be indirectly
the 2005 North Atlantic swordfish incidental permit holders, but only 142 affected by the final regulations.
management measures. The proposed vessels reported commercial swordfish The proposed increased quota could
quota for the North Atlantic swordfish landings. Because NMFS is not altering potentially result in revenue increases;
fisheries would be apportioned equally the current restrictions on the PLL however, U.S. fishermen have not met
between the two semi-annual fishing fishery, the increased quota is not either the North or South Atlantic
seasons in the North Atlantic region. expected to increase effort. swordfish quotas since 2000. For
The Assistant Administrator for An additional short term example, in 2004, the North Atlantic
Fisheries, NOAA, has preliminarily consideration is the impact of swordfish fishery had an underharvest
determined that the regulations Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the of 3,398.5 mt dw and the South Atlantic
contained in this rule are necessary to pelagic longline fishing industry in the swordfish fishery had an underharvest
ensure continued progress toward the Gulf of Mexico. The effort in this area of 334.2 mt dw. The proposed action
conservation goals of ICCAT, the is not likely to increase during the 2005 would result in a quota that is greater
Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and the fishing year. than current catches. Thus, NMFS does
FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Thus, NMFS feels that the current not believe that the net benefits and
Sharks. level of incidental takes of protected costs would change significantly as a
The measures proposed in this rule species is not likely to be impacted by result of the proposed quota increases.
are not expected to alter fishing this proposed change. Accordingly, no In the Final Regulatory Flexibility
practices or fishing effort significantly irreversible or irretrievable commitment Analysis for the November 24, 2004,
and therefore should not have any of resources is expected from this final rule (69 FR 68090), the criteria
further impacts on endangered species, proposed action as this proposed rule is used to evaluate the potential impacts
marine mammals, or critical habitat not expected to adversely affect include analysis of gross revenues in
beyond those considered in the June protected species. recent years from pelagic longline
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2001 Biological Opinion (BiOp) on The Chief Counsel for Regulation of logbook data. In future fishing years, the
Atlantic HMS Fisheries and the June the Department of Commerce certified present value of gross and net revenues
2004 BiOp for the HMS pelagic longline to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the for the swordfish fishery at the ex-vessel
(PLL) fisheries. In the June 2001 BiOp, Small Business Administration that this level could increase, but that would
it was determined that the continued proposed rule, if adopted, would not depend on the extent to which
operation of the Atlantic HMS rod and have a significant economic impact on fishermen can expand their effort to
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7502 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 2006 / Proposed Rules
catch the quota. For example, increasing and Caribbean that have approved § 635.27 Quotas.
the North Atlantic swordfish quotas by coastal zone management programs. * * * * *
3,398.5 mt dw could increase ex-vessel Letters have been sent to the relevant
(c) * * *
revenues by as much as $23.5 million if states asking for their concurrence.
the entire adjusted quota were caught; (1) * * *
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635
and increasing the South Atlantic (i) * * *
swordfish quota by 334.3 mt dw could Fisheries, Fishing, Management,
Reporting and recordkeeping (A) A swordfish from the North
increase the ex-vessel revenues by $2.3
requirements, Treaties. Atlantic stock caught prior to the
million. Based on existing regulations,
directed fishery closure by a vessel for
including time/area closures, minimum Dated: February 7, 2006.
sizes, and permit restrictions, it is which a directed fishery permit, or a
William T. Hogarth,
unlikely that there will be an increase handgear permit for swordfish, has been
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
in effort in the fishery. If effort is National Marine Fisheries Service.
issued is counted against the directed
increased, U.S. fishermen would For the reasons set out in the fishery quota. The annual fishery quota,
potentially experience positive benefits preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is proposed not adjusted for over- or underharvests,
as a result of this proposed rule. to be amended as follows: is 2,937.6 mt dw for each fishing year
beginning June 1, 2004. The annual
This proposed rule has been
determined to be not significant for PART 635—ATLANTIC HIGHLY quota is subdivided into two equal
purposes of Executive Order 12866. MIGRATORY SPECIES semiannual quotas of 1,468.8 mt dw:
one for June 1 through November 30,
NMFS has determined preliminarily 1. The authority citation for part 635
and the other for December 1 through
that these regulations would be continues to read as follows:
May 31 of the following year.
implemented in a manner consistent to Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
the maximum extent practicable with 1801 et seq. * * * * *
the enforceable policies of those coastal 2. In § 635.27, paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) is [FR Doc. E6–1980 Filed 2–10–06; 8:45 am]
states in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, revised to read as follows: BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
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