International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Fishing Restrictions for Bigeye Tuna and Yellowfin Tuna in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2012

This interim rule extends the dates of applicability of existing regulations applicable to U.S. purse seine vessels operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) through December 31, 2012. NMFS issues this rule under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) to implement a decision of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC). The WCPFC decision, made December 20, 2011, extends the effectiveness of the WCPFC's "Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean" (CMM 2008-01), originally scheduled to expire on December 31, 2011. CMM 2008-01 is the basis for the existing regulations whose dates of applicability are being extended by this interim rule. Under this rulemaking, these regulations now apply through December 31, 2012, and include limits on fishing effort, restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), closed areas, catch retention requirements, and requirements to carry observers. This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its international obligations under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), to which it is a Contracting Party.