Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984;
Conservation and Management Measures
[Federal Register: April 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 76)]
[Notices]
[Page 20132-20134]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap01-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 041001D]
Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984;
Conservation and Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final notice.
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SUMMARY: At its Nineteenth Meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, October 23 to
[[Page 20133]]
November 3, 2000, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of which the United States is a
member, adopted conservation measures, pending members' approval,
pertaining to fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area in Antarctic
waters. These were agreed upon in accordance with Article IX of the
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCAMLR measures and the framework
environmental assessment may be obtained from the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Tuttle, 301-713-2282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See 50 CFR part 300, subpart G-Antarctic
Marine Living Resources, and the Department of State's notice at 66 FR
7527, January 23, 2001.
The measures restrict overall catches and bycatch of certain
species of fish, krill, squid, and crab; limit participation in several
exploratory fisheries; restrict fishing in certain areas and to certain
gear types; set fishing seasons; amend the catch documentation scheme
for Dissostichus species; add to the procedures for minimizing the
incidental take of seabirds in longline fishing; make technical
amendments to the conservation measures related to research activities;
and amend previously adopted measures relating to reporting
requirements, licensing and inspection obligations of Contracting
Parties, cooperation between Contracting Parties, and the use of
automated satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems (VMS) on
Contracting Party vessels fishing in the Convention Area. The
Commission also adopted resolutions urging action with respect to
illegal fishing and the implementation of the Catch Documentation
Scheme for Dissostichus species.
The measures and resolutions were announced by the Department of
State by a preliminary notice in the Federal Register on January 23,
2001. Public comments were invited, but none were received. NMFS
implements these measures by this final notice, consistent with the
framework process specified in the International Fisheries Regulations
(50 CFR 300.111).
CCAMLR approved several fisheries as exploratory fisheries for the
2000/2001 fishing season. These fisheries are limited total allowable
catch (TAC) fisheries and, with the exception of an exploratory fishery
for M. hyadesi in Statistical Subarea 48.3 open to all Contracting
Party vessels, are open only to the flagged vessels of the countries
that notified CCAMLR of an interest by participants in the fisheries.
The United States was not a notifying country, and, thus, U.S. fishers
are not eligible to participate in them. The exploratory fisheries are
for longline fishing for Dissostichus species in Statistical Subarea
48.6 by Argentina, Brazil and South Africa; trawl fishing on the
BANZARE Bank by Australia; longline fishing for Dissostichus species on
BANZARE Bank outside areas under national jurisdiction by Argentina and
France; trawl fishing for Dissostichus species on Elan Bank
(Statistical Division 58.4.3) by Australia; longline fishing for
Dissostichus species on Elan Bank (Statistical Division 58.4.3) outside
areas of national jurisdictions by Australia and France; trawl fishing
for Dissostichus species in Statistical Division 58.4.2 by Australia;
longline fishing for Dissostichus species in Statistical Division
58.4.4 by Argentina, Brazil, France, South Africa, Ukraine and Uruguay;
longline fishing for Dissostichus eleginoides in Statistical Subarea
58.6 by Argentina, France and South Africa; longline fishing for
Dissostichus species in Statistical Subareas 88.1 by New Zealand, South
Africa and Uruguay; longline fishing for Dissostichus species in
Statistical Subarea 88.2 by South Africa and Uruguay; and trawl fishing
for Chaenodraco wilsoni, Lepidonotothen kempi, Trematomus eulepidotus
and Pleuragramma antarcticum in Statistical Division 58.4.2 by
Australia.
Participation in the Convention Area crab fishery continues to be
limited to one vessel per Commission member. Applications for a crab
permit must be received no later than 90 days prior to intended
harvesting and will be considered in the order of application. If there
are multiple applicants, the one U.S. crab permit will be issued on the
basis of (1) order of receipt of applications (2) criteria for
harvesting permits appearing in 50 CFR 300.112 (3) willingness to
participate in CCAMLR pilot programs and (4) record of previous
participation, if any, in the crab fishery.
The Commission amended the conservation measure and Explanatory
Memorandum for the Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus species
to improve the catch document and clarify the memorandum.
The Commission also amended the conservation measure specifying
aspects of cooperation among Contracting Parties so that vessels known
to be engaged in illegal, unregulated or unreported fishing must be
denied port access, other than for emergency purposes.
The Commission revised the procedures for minimizing the incidental
mortality of seabirds in the course of longline fishing or longline
fishing research in two ways. One, by requiring that vessels using the
Spanish method of longline fishing release weights before line tension
occurs and use weights of at least 8.5 kg mass, spaced at intervals of
no more than 40 meters, or 6 kg mass spaced at intervals of no more
than 20 meters. Two, by requiring that vessels unable to process or
retain offal on board, or discharge offal on the opposite side of the
vessel, not be authorized to fish in the Convention area.
The Commission amended the 5-day catch and effort reporting system
by requiring that vessels failing to comply with the requirement cease
fishing.
The Commission updated the general measure for exploratory
fisheries for Dissostichus species to include changes to the Research
Plan and bycatch limits.
The Commission approved minor technical revisions to management
plans for CCAMLR Ecosystem Management Sites at Cape Shirreff and Seal
Islands and added a catch limit on the take of Dissostichus species by
any type of fishing gear during research fishing.
CCAMLR adopted four new resolutions relating to illegal fishing and
implementation of the catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus
species. These were a resolution urging all Contracting Parties to
avoid flagging a non-Contracting Party vessel or licensing such a
vessel to fish in waters under their fisheries jurisdiction, if that
particular vessel has a history of engagement in illegal, unregulated
or unreported fishing; urging all Acceding States and non-Contracting
Parties not participating in the Catch Documentation Scheme which fish
for, or trade in, Dissostichus species to implement the Scheme as soon
as possible; urging all Contracting Parties where they are unable to
provide an authorized Flag State official(s) to monitor a landing for
the purposes on validating Dissostichus Catch Documents, to discourage
their flag vessels authorized to fish for longline fishing for
Dissostichus species from using ports of Acceding States and non-
Contracting Parties which are not implementing the Catch Document
Scheme; and agreeing that, on a voluntary basis, subject to their laws
and regulations, Flag States participating in the Catch Document
[[Page 20134]]
Scheme for Dissostichus species should ensure that their flag vessels
authorized to fish for or transship Dissostichus species on the high
seas maintain an operational vessel monitoring system throughout the
whole calendar year.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.
Dated: April 12, 2001.
Clarence Pautzke,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9648 Filed 4-18-01; 8:45 am]
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