International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Implementation of Emergency Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

This interim final rule establishes a framework to implement short-notice decisions of the Commission on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission or WCPFC). Using the framework established through this interim final rule, this action also includes temporary specifications to implement three short-notice WCPFC decisions. NMFS is undertaking this action under the authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) to satisfy the obligations of the United States as a Contracting Party to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). NMFS seeks comments on this interim final rule and will respond to those comments in a subsequent final rule.