Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In this final rule, NMFS modifies its seabird interaction mitigation measures to require federally permitted Hawaii deep-set longline vessels that set fishing gear from the stern to use a tori line (i.e., bird scaring streamer) in place of the currently required thawed, blue-dyed bait and strategic offal (i.e., fish, fish parts, or spent bait) discharge when fishing above latitude (lat.) 23[deg] N. This action is expected to improve the overall efficacy and operational practicality of required seabird mitigation measures by reducing seabird bycatch and creating operational and administrative efficiency for fishermen and NMFS.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 [Docket No. 231010-0243] RIN 0648-BL34 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: In this final rule, NMFS modifies its seabird interaction mitigation measures to require federally permitted Hawaii deep-set longline vessels that set fishing gear from the stern to use a tori line ( i.e., bird scaring streamer) in place of the currently required thawed, blue-dyed bait and strategic offal ( i.e., fish, fish parts, or spent bait) discharge when fishing above latitude (lat.) 23° N. This action is expected to improve the overall efficacy and operational practicality of required seabird mitigation measures by reducing seabird bycatch and creating operational and administrative efficiency for fishermen and NMFS. DATES: The final rule is effective April 1, 2024. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific are available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or https://www.wpcouncil.org . Copies of the environmental assessment and other supporting documents for this action are available at https://www.regulations.gov , or from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-522-8220, or https:…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 89 FR 15062
