International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing Restrictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

NMFS is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement decisions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). At its eighty-fifth meeting in June 2013, the IATTC adopted a number of resolutions, some of which require rulemaking to implement domestic regulations in the United States. This final rule implements one of these decisions: the Resolution on a Multiannual Program for the Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean during 2014-2016 (Resolution C-13-01). This final rule extends the effective period of the regulations in the IATTC Convention Area that expired at the end of 2013 and provides purse seine owners with greater flexibility by allowing for an exemption during the closure periods due to force majeure. The expired regulations included a 500-metric ton bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) calendar year catch limit applicable to longline vessels greater than 24 meters in overall length and a 62-day closure period applicable each year to purse seine vessels of class size 4 to 6 (greater than 182 metric tons). The final rule also includes an exemption to the purse seine closures due to force majeure. Implementation of Resolution C-13-01 is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.