Download or read book Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Implementation of Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission on Management of Tropical Tunas in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean from 2015 2020 written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "At its Eleventh Regular Session, in December 2014, the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission or WCPFC) adopted Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2014-01, "Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean." CMM 2014-01 is generally applicable for the 2015-2017 calendar year period, and only contains minor modifications to CMM 2013-01, the predecessor CMM for the three main tropical tunas (skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)). CMM 2014-01 includes provisions for purse seine vessels and longline vessels. The CMM's provisions for purse seine vessels include limits on the allowable level of fishing effort, restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices, and a general provision not to increase catches of yellowfin tuna. The CMM's provisions for longline vessels include catch limits for bigeye tuna and a general provision not to increase catches of yellowfin tuna"--Cover letter summary.

Download or read book Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Implementation of the Decisions of the Fifth Regular Annual Session of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 77 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the effects on the human environment that could result from implementation of two rules to implement certain decisions made by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) at its Fifth Regular Session, in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2008. One rule implements specific management measures for the U.S. purse seine fleet operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) (hereafter 'U.S. Purse Seine Rule'). The other rule implements a specific catch limit established by the WCPFC for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obsesus) for the U.S. longline fleets in the WCPO (hereafter 'U.S. Longline Rule'). NMFS issued the EA ('Environmental Assessment for the Implementation of the Decisions of the Fifth Regular Annual Session of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: Fishing Restrictions and Observer Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2009-2011 and Turtle Mitigation Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries and Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits in Longline Fisheries in 2009, 2010, and 2011') in draft form in conjunction with the issuance of the proposed U.S. Purse Seine Rule on June 1, 2009, for public review and comment. Two comment letters were received, one of which included comments on the EA, including several comments pertaining to the U.S. Longline Rule. NMFS issued the proposed U.S. Longline Rule on July 8, 2009, for public review and comment, reissuing the EA in draft form. NMFS received six comment letters, two of which raised issues pertaining to the EA. On August 4, 2009, NMFS issued the final U.S. Purse Seine Rule as well as the EA (July 2009 version), finding of no significant impact for the U.S. Purse Seine Rule, and an Errata sheet, indicating several corrections to the draft EA. In the final rule, NMFS indicated that the specific comments pertaining to the U.S. Longline Rule would be addressed, as appropriate, in the context of the U.S. Longline Rule. This Supplemental EA has been prepared to address those comments received on the U.S. Longline Rule that can be answered by additional environmental analysis or information. The Supplemental EA has been prepared pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and related authorities, such as the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing NEPA (NAO 216-6). This document supplements the EA and refers to specific sections of the EA, where appropriate; as a supplement it is meant to be read in conjunction with the original EA."--Page 9-10.

Download or read book Programmatic Environmental Assessment to Revise U S Commercial Fishing Regulations for Rebuilding Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean written by Amber Rhodes and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) analyzes conservation and management measures that are part of an international agreement to conserve Pacific bluefin tuna caught (PBF) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). The measures would only apply to vessels that commercially catch PBF in the EPO. The average annual PBF landings by U.S. vessels fishing in the EPO represent less than two percent of the average annual PBF landings by all fleets fishing in the EPO for 2007 through 2014. While the catch and trip limits pose restrictions for the U.S. fleet, the average annual PBF catch for the U.S. fleet is below the proposed catch limit, and more than 50 percent of the trips landing PBF in that time were within the proposed trip limit. Impacts to the human environment (e.g., effects of the proposed action alternatives on the natural environment and the socioeconomic environment) were found to be insignificant"--Cover letter summary.

Download or read book Environmental Assessment for the Initial Implementation of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This environmental assessment (EA) describes and analyzes the impacts of action the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to take to implement an international fisheries agreement, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (hereafter, "the Convention"). The Convention was signed in Honolulu in September 2000 and came into force in June 2004. The Convention was ratified by, and came into force for, the United States in 2007. The Convention text can be found at http://www.wcpfc.int. The proposed action described and analyzed in this EA is intended to implement the provisions of the Convention itself and not, with some minor exceptions, the decisions of the commission established by the Convention. The proposed action will establish the initial set of regulations needed for the United States to fulfill its obligations as a Party to the Convention"--Page 1-2.

Download or read book Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management written by Jason S. Link and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-11-15 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) is rapidly becoming the default approach in global fisheries management. The clarity of what EBFM means is sharpening each year and there is now a real need to evaluate progress and assess the effectiveness and impacts. By examining a suite of over 90 indicators (including socioeconomic, governance, environmental forcing, major pressures, systems ecology, and fisheries criteria) for 9 major US fishery ecosystem jurisdictions, the authors systematically track the progress the country has made towards advancing EBFM and making it an operational reality. The assessment covers a wide range of data in both time (multiple decades) and space (from the tropics to the poles, representing over 10% of the world's ocean surface area). The authors view progress towards the implementation of EBFM as synonymous with improved management of living marine resources in general, and highlight the findings from a national perspective. Although US-centric, the lessons learned are directly applicable for all parts of the global ocean. Much work remains, but significant progress has already been made to better address many of the challenges facing the sustainable management of our living marine resources. This is an essential and accessible reference for all fisheries professionals who are currently practicing, or progressing towards, ecosystem-based fisheries management. It will also be of relevance and use to researchers, teachers, managers, and graduate students in marine ecology, fisheries biology, biological oceanography, global change biology, conservation biology, and marine resource management.

Download or read book U S Commercial Fishing for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean written by Taylor D. Debevec and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) analyzes fishing for tropical tunas (bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)) by U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) under regulations proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in accordance with resolutions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The IATTC Convention Area includes the waters of the EPO bounded by the west coast of the Americas, the 50° N. and 50° S. parallels, and the 150° W. meridian. IATTC Resolutions on tropical tuna have been adopted by the IATTC since 1998. Resolutions for bigeye and yellowfin have been revised through the years to also include skipjack tuna and to implement both catch and effort controls for commercial purse seine (PS) and longline (LL) vessels fishing in the IATTC Convention Area. These resolutions are agreed upon through consensus from all IATTC members, after scientific review of the IATTC Scientific Advisory Committee and the IATTC scientific staff. NMFS is obligated to implement and enforce regulations consistent with IATTC resolutions. Given that the EPO stocks of bigeye and yellowfin tuna are near fully exploited (Aires-da-Silva, Minte-Vera, & Maunder, 2017; Minte-Vera, Aires-da-Silva, & Maunder, 2017), NMFS anticipates that the IATTC (with input from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Delegation) will continue to adopt a suite of management measures for tropical tunas into the future. Therefore, this PEA analyzes a broad range of alternatives. The PEA will assess the potential environmental impacts on the human environment that could result from fishing by U.S. commercial vessels under the 2017 IATTC resolution, as well as similar actions in future years. If future IATTC resolutions fall within the scope of those analyzed in this PEA, and the impacts or the affected environment have not significantly changed, this document may be used to analyze the impacts of those actions"--Introduction.

Download or read book Environmental Assessment to Implement a Program for the Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in 2009 2011 as Agreed Upon by the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing regulations under authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 to implement a resolution adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). That resolution requires that members of the IATTC, including the United States, ensure that in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) the total catch of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) by longline vessels over 24 m in length overall (large-scale longline vessels) does not exceed specified harvest levels in each of the years 2009, 2010, and 2011, and that purse seine vessels class sizes 4-6 do not fish during established closure periods. This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its international obligations under the 1949 Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna, to which it is a Contracting Party. This environmental assessment (EA) assesses the potential environmental impacts on the human environment that could result from implementation of the proposed restrictions on the longline and purse seine fisheries in the EPO. Various alternatives for implementing these restrictions are analyzed in this EA. Impacts to the human environment (e.g., effects of the proposed action on the natural environment (i.e., protected species, finfish, seabirds), and the socioeconomic environment) were found to be insignificant. The proposed action is to implement a 500 metric ton (mt) quota on bigeye tuna caught by large-scale longline vessels in the EPO and prohibit purse seine vessels class sizes 4-6 (greater than 182 mt carrying capacity) from fishing in the IATTC Convention Area for a period of 59 days in 2009, 62 days in 2010, and 73 days in 2011. The IATTC Convention Area includes the waters bounded by the coast of the Americas, the 40° N. and 40° S. parallels, and the 150° W. meridian. Class size 4 purse seine vessels would be allowed to make one fishing trip of up to 30 days duration during the specified closure periods, provided that the vessel carries an observer of the On-Board Observer Program of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP). In addition, a closure would be implemented which would prohibit purse seine vessels class sizes 4-6 from fishing for yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), bigeye, and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tunas within an established closure area to the west of the Galapagos Islands for 30 days in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Purse seine vessels would also continue to be required to retain and land all skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tunas caught; however, the measure would only apply to purse seine vessels class sizes 4-6, and the exception would be modified to only apply to fish considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size (a single exemption of this would be the final set of a trip, when there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set)"--Page iii.

Download or read book 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 written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Supplemental Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Implement Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for written by Rini Ghosh and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to establish restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) by U.S. purse seine vessels in the western and central Pacific Ocean. The restrictions include a prohibition on setting on FADs and other specific uses of FADs during January and February, and July through September of 2015, and a limit of 3,061 sets that may be made on FADs in 2015. This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, to which it is a Contracting Party. NMFS prepared a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) that analyzed two action alternatives for implementing the FAD restrictions for 2015, as well as the No-Action Alternative. One action alternative (Alternative 2) would prohibit setting on FADs and on fish that have aggregated in association with a fishing vessel, in the WCPFC’s area of competence between the latitudes of 20° North and 20° South, from July 1 through September 30, 2015. There would also be a specified 2,202 limit on the number of FAD sets that could be made in 2015. The other action alternative (Alternative 3, which is NMFS’ preferred alternative and what is being implemented in the final rule) would prohibit setting on FADs and on fish that have aggregated in association with a fishing vessel, in the Convention Area between the latitudes of 20° North and 20° South, during the months of January, February, July, August and September in 2015. There would also be a specified 3,061 limit on the number of FAD sets that could be made in 2015. The SEA concluded that all of the alternatives would have similar and minor effects to resources in the human environment. However, the extent of the effects could vary somewhat depending on the period of time that the FAD restrictions would be in effect under the different action alternatives"--Summary from cover letter.

Download or read book Supplemental Environmental Assessment Implementation of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for Longline Fisheries in 2012 written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In December 2008, the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (hereafter Commission or WCPFC) adopted 'Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean' (CMM 2008-01). CMM 2008-01 set forth specific provisions to reduce fishing mortality on western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) bigeye tuna (Thunnus obsesus) and control fishing mortality on WCPO yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). CMM 2008-01 had the stated objective of reducing, over the period 2009-2011, the fishing mortality rate for bigeye tuna in the WCPO by at least 30% from the annual average during the period 2001-2004 or 2004 and ensuring that there was no increase in fishing mortality for yellowfin tuna beyond the annual average during the period 2001-2004 or 2004. In March 2011, the Commission adopted 'Conservation and Management Measure for Temporary Extension of CMM 2008-01' (CMM 2011-01), which extends the majority of the provisions of CMM 2008-01 until February 28, 2013. The Commission is scheduled to discuss a follow-on measure to CMM 2008-01 at its next regular session in December 2012. In 2009, NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed the effects on the human environment that could result from the promulgation of two rules to implement CMM 2008-01. In order to respond to public comments on the 2009 EA, NMFS prepared a Supplemental EA in 2009. NMFS has prepared a Supplemental EA (2012 SEA) to provide information and analyses to take into consideration significant new information and changed circumstances relevant to the proposed action and the assessment of its potential environmental impacts. The 2012 SEA analyzes the effects of an interim final rule that would extend the bigeye tuna catch limits specified in CMM 2011-01 for U.S. longline fisheries for 2012"--cover letter.

Download or read book Environmental Assessment for a Proposed Rule to Implement Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Transshipping Bunkering Reporting and Purse Seine Discard Requirements written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "NMFS is implementing provisions adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (hereafter Commission or WCPFC) in Conservation and Management Measures (CMMs) 2009-06, 2009-01, 2010-02, 2009-02. The specific provisions include the following: (1) reporting requirements for transshipments in the WCPFC area (Convention Area) or of fish caught in the Convention Area and transshipped elsewhere; (2) notification requirements for transshipments on the high seas or for emergency transshipments that would otherwise be prohibited; (3) observer coverage for transshipments at sea; (4) limitations on the categories of vessels with which transshipping and bunkering may be conducted; (5) requirements regarding notification of entry into and exit from a particular area of the high seas (Eastern High Seas Special Management Area or Eastern SMA); (6) requirements regarding discards from purse seine fishing vessels; (7) provisions regarding net sharing (i.e., the transfer of fish that have not yet been loaded on board any fishing vessel from the purse seine net of one vessel to another fishing vessel) for purse seine fishing vessels; and (8) several amendments or technical corrections to regulatory language at 50 CFR part 300 subpart O"--Cover letter.

Download or read book Environmental Assessment to Revise the United States Commercial Fishery Regulations in Accordance with Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission Resolution for the Conservation and Management of Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean C 13 02 written by Amber Rhodes and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing regulations under authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement commercial catch limits for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) that are consistent with a resolution adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, specifically Resolution C-13-02, Measures for the Conservation and Management of Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Convention Area includes the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean bounded by the coast of the Americas, the 50° N. and 50° S. parallels, and the 150° W. meridian. Resolution C-13-02 includes two catch limits for 2014: (1) a Commission-wide limit for all commercial fishing vessels of all IATTC Members and Cooperating Non-Members (CPCs) fishing in the IATTC Convention Area of the eastern Pacific Ocean and (2) notwithstanding the Commission-wide limit, a catch limit of 500 metric tons for each CPC with a historical record of eastern Pacific bluefin catch--such as the United States--to allow these nations to catch a small share of Pacific bluefin tuna even if the Commission-wide limit is reached. Currently, U.S. fishing vessels that commercially catch Pacific bluefin tuna are constrained by a 500 metric ton catch limit if and when the Commission-wide catch limit for all CPCs is met; however, these measures expired December 31, 2013. The proposed regulations would extend these catch limits beyond 2013, apply only to U.S. vessels that commercially catch Pacific bluefin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and ensure that the United States is satisfying its obligations as a member of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. The National Marine Fisheries Service is obligated to implement and enforce regulations consistent with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission resolutions and does not make substantive decisions in promulgating such actions. Given that the recent results of the draft 2014 updated Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) (PBF) assessment by the International Scientific Committee (ISC) for Tuna and Tuna-Like Species in the North Pacific Ocean reports that overfishing is occurring and the population is overfished, the same results as the 2012 assessment, the National Marine Fisheries Service anticipates that the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission with input from the U.S. Department of State and National Marine Fisheries Service will resolve into the foreseeable future, as in 2011 and 2013, to impose catch limits for Pacific bluefin tuna. Therefore, this Environmental Assessment includes essential components of environmental impact analyses in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to consider a range of Pacific bluefin tuna catch limits for U.S. commercial vessels fishing in the Convention Area and to assess the potential environmental impacts on the human environment that could result from the proposed action as well as similar actions in future years. The 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.

Download or read book Programmatic Environmental Assessment PEA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Federal Financial Assistance and Special Permits written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The PEA was initiated in August 2009 to streamline the NOAA grants and special permitting processes in the NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Region (SER). The SER has received submittals from states and other entities for 20 types of grants and 22 special permits, all were determined to have no significant impact. All those actions have been determined to be categorically excluded actions per NAO 216-6, with the exception of three construction projects that required environmental assessments. Proposed actions have been grouped in the PEA into three categories for analytical purposes: Category A: Special permits and grants that have no potential for environmental impacts; Category B: Special permits and grants that have little to no potential for environmental effects; and Category C: Special permits and grants that have the potential for significant environmental impacts. Proposed actions in Category A would be analyzed and tracked under the PEA using a new reporting form. Proposed actions in Category B and Category C would undergo tracking and case-bycase analysis, and would not be approved without further NEPA analysis as appropriate. Using the process summarized above, the PEA will substantially reduce the time and effort spent on preparing redundant documentation for actions in Category A, without potential for significant environmental impacts. This proposed action will also optimize use of scarce agency resources for more effective analysis of future actions with the potential for significant environmental effects (Categories B and C)"--Cover letter.

Download or read book Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center written by Jeremy D. Rusin and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "NMFS has prepared this Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Final PEA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate several alternatives for conducting and funding these fisheries and ecosystem research activities as the primary federal action. NMFS is also evaluating in this Final PEA a related action-also called a "connected action" under NEPA (Sec. 1508.25)-which is the proposed promulgation of regulations and authorization of "takes" of marine mammals incidental to the research activities through issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (see Section 6.3 for detailed discussion). Additionally, because the proposed fisheries and ecological research activities occur in areas inhabited by a number of marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, fishes, and invertebrates listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened or endangered, this Final PEA evaluates activities that could result in unintentional impacts on ESA-listed marine species"--Executive summary (ES-2).

Download or read book Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Implement Deicisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 105 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is promulgating a rule to implement certain provisions adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish STocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The specific provisions are part of the 'Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean' (CMM 2012-01) and include the following: (1) limits on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and on the high seas; (2) restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs); and (3) requirements for U.S. purse seine vessels to carry observers. NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed three action alternatives for implementing the purse seine provisions of CMM 2012-01, as well as the No-Action Alternative. Each of the action alternatives includes a different variation of the fishing effort limits. NMFS identified two variations for implementing the Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) restrictions, which were incorporated into the three action alternatives. NMFS identified only one manner of implementing the observer requirements, so all the action alternatives include identical observer requirements. Alternative 1 is the No-Action Alternative. Alternative 2 includes the most restrictive fishing effort limits as well as the FAD restrictions prohibing fishing on FADs during certain periods. Alternative 3 including the fishing effort limits based on past regulatory precedent, and FAD restrictions prohibiting fishing on FADs and setting on fish that have aggregated in association with a vessel during certain periods. Alternative 4 includes the least restrictive fishing effort alternative as well as FAD restrictions prohibting fishing on FADs during certain periods. The rule implements Alternative 3, which includes neither the most restrictive nor the least restrictive fishing effort limits, but rather, is based on similar fishing effort limits established in past regulations. The FAD restrictions under Alternative 3 are expected to serve CMM 2012-01's objective of reducing the tuna stocks' fishing mortality rates through seasonal prohibitions on the use of FADs better than the variation for this element of the rule considered under Alternatives 2 and 4"--Summary from cover letter.

Download or read book Environmental Assessment to Analyze Impacts of a NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service Determination that the Snake Basin Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan Submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Satisfies the Section 4 d Rule and Does Not Appreciably Reduce the Likelihood of Survival and Recovery of Snake River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment Or Snake River Fall and Spring summer Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "On December 16, 2009, NMFS received a Fisheries Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), addressing activities affecting Snake River steelhead, Snake River spring and summer Chinook salmon, and Snake River fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River in 2010 and beyond (WDFW 2009). In the review of a FMEP, NMFS must consider whether it satisfactorily addresses the criteria contained in the ESA 4(d) Rule. If NMFS determines that the FMEP " ... is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery ..." and otherwise satisfies the 4(d) Rule, then NMFS will publish that determination. NMFS' determination constitutes the Federal action that is subject to analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)"--Page 1.

Download or read book Supplemental Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Implement Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing a rule under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to make final a limit for calendar year 2015 on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (U.S. EEZ) and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20° N. and 20° S. in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The limit is 1,828 fishing days and was implemented under an interim rule (see 80 FR 29220, published May 21, 2015). This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party. NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzed two action alternatives for implementing purse seine fishing effort limits for 2015, as well as the No-Action Alternative. The EA was issued with the interim rule. Each of the action alternatives included a different variation of the fishing effort limits. Alternative B, the preferred alternative, included a limit of 1,828 fishing days for the ELAPS for the calendar year 2015. Alternative C included separate limits of 1,270 fishing days for the high seas and 558 fishing days for the U.S. EEZ for the calendar year 2015. The analysis in the EA indicated that the two action alternatives would be very similar in terms of effects on fishing patterns, and consequently, in terms of effects on the human environment"--Cover letter summary.