Overview
Title
International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; 2021 Commercial Fishing Restrictions for Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service wants to make sure there are enough Pacific bluefin tuna in the ocean by setting rules on how many can be caught in 2021, and they want people's thoughts on this plan by February 4, 2021. They aim to be fair to everyone catching the fish and make sure we don’t catch too many at once.
Summary AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a rule to set annual catch limits for Pacific bluefin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean for 2021. This rule follows an international agreement to help preserve this overfished species. The total limit for U.S. commercial fishing is set at 425 metric tons with specific trip limits that decrease as cumulative catches increase throughout the year, ensuring tighter control over the fishing activities. Comments on this proposal must be submitted by February 4, 2021.
Abstract
NMFS is proposing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended (TCA), to implement Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-20-02 ("Measures for the Conservation and Management of Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 2021"). This proposed rule would implement annual limits on commercial catch of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) for 2021. This action is necessary to conserve Pacific bluefin tuna and for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The proposal from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks to regulate the fishing of Pacific bluefin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean during 2021 to help conserve this overfished species. The proposed rule aims to align U.S. fishing practices with international agreements through the implementation of specific annual catch and trip limits. For the U.S. commercial fishing industry, the total allowable catch has been set at 425 metric tons for the year, with varying trip limits that decrease as cumulative catches increase throughout different periods.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the significant issues with this document is its complex and technical language, which might be challenging for non-experts to understand. Many references are made to various resolutions, regulations, and acts, necessitating additional research for full comprehension. Such complexity could potentially discourage public engagement and feedback, as the public comment period ends just a month after this proposal's publication.
Furthermore, the regulations involve intricate conditions and thresholds that might complicate compliance and monitoring for the fisheries affected. While the proposal outlines decreasing catch limits when certain cumulative amounts are reached, it is not clear how these thresholds were chosen or the exact methodology that NMFS will employ to monitor and predict cumulative catches. Moreover, the procedure for addressing any overestimation in catch forecasts resulting in premature fishery closures is not explicit, raising concerns about the potential socioeconomic impact on fisheries.
Public Impact
This proposal reflects broader public interest in sustainable fisheries and the conservation of marine resources. By controlling the fishing of Pacific bluefin tuna, a species currently subjected to overfishing, it aims to contribute positively to environmental conservation. However, the rule's implementation could lead to regulatory discards if the fisheries reach their catch limits prematurely. While helping the fish stock, it might dampen short-term profitability and operational flexibility for fishers.
The reliance on electronic communication and updates, primarily through online postings and Coast Guard broadcasts, assumes stakeholders have consistent access to these channels, which may not be the case. This reliance poses a risk of communication gaps, potentially leaving some fishers without timely updates affecting their operations.
Stakeholder Impact
The fishing industry, particularly commercial fishers, will feel the most significant impact of these regulations. The document states that all affected business entities are small businesses, indicating no disproportionate impacts between different business sizes. Nonetheless, stakeholders, especially small-scale fishers and those involved in coastal pelagic purse seine fishing, could face economic disruptions. The specified trip limits and closure of fishing activities once the yearly quota is met could curtail expected revenues derived from the Pacific bluefin tuna catches.
On the positive side, the proposal may lead to the long-term sustainability of the fish stocks and larger quotas in future, benefiting industries reliant on sustainable fisheries. However, the temporary operational challenges could necessitate adjustments and increased monitoring for affected fisheries, ensuring they can adapt to the new regulations without significant economic distress.
Conclusion
The NMFS's proposed rule to regulate Pacific bluefin tuna catches is a response to international and environmental pressures to protect an overexploited resource. While aiming for long-term ecological sustainability, its immediate impact on the fishing sector requires careful consideration and potentially adaptive strategies. The communication of these regulatory changes also needs to be accessible and timely to minimize misunderstandings and ensure fishing entities are well-prepared in navigating the dynamic regulatory landscape.
Financial Assessment
In the proposed rule document, several financial references provide context for the economic framework within which the regulations are being considered. These references are crucial for understanding the impact of fishing restrictions on Pacific bluefin tuna, particularly for small business entities.
Small Business Revenue Standards
The document establishes financial benchmarks for defining small businesses in the commercial fishing industry. It specifies that according to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a small business is one with annual gross receipts of less than $11 million. This standard was implemented effective July 1, 2016, replacing the U.S. Small Business Administration's various thresholds of $20.5 million, $5.5 million, and $7.5 million applicable to different marine fishing sectors. This standard helps identify businesses eligible for any specific considerations afforded under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).
Revenue Analysis for Affected Vessels
The document highlights that since 2006, the average annual revenue for U.S. purse seine vessels targeting Pacific bluefin tuna has not exceeded $11 million. Further detail for the years 2015-2019 reveals the average ex-vessel revenue per purse seine vessel catching Pacific bluefin tuna was approximately $986,000 per year in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars. For vessels using other gear types, the annual average for small quantities of bluefin tuna landed amounted to about $290,735, indicating a significant variance based on fishing methods and volumes.
These revenue figures are significant in understanding how the proposed regulations might financially impact different segments within the industry. For smaller fishing businesses, adhering to reduced catch limits could affect their revenue streams, albeit the Pacific bluefin tuna represents a relatively small portion of overall revenues.
Economic Impact on Fishery
A pivotal issue identified is how catch limits could lead to economic challenges for participating vessels due to the potential underutilization of their capacity. Particularly for purse seine vessels, which averaged a trip catch of over 15 metric tons, any restrictions lowering trip limits to 15 metric tons or even 2 metric tons could necessitate operational adjustments. This shift could compel vessels to focus on alternate species like yellowfin tuna, as the document suggests, thereby impacting their profitability related to Pacific bluefin tuna.
The potential premature closure of fisheries due to catch overestimation might pose an economic risk, despite assurances in place by NMFS to reverse such actions swiftly. The financial implications of this could be acute for stakeholders relying on predictable access to the fisheries, as it can lead to both direct and opportunity costs.
In conclusion, the financial references in the document are focused on defining the scope and impact of proposed regulations on small business entities within the U.S. fishing sector. These definitions are crucial for crafting policies that are equitable and sensitive to the economic realities of the industry. However, any regulatory adjustments will need careful monitoring to ensure they do not disproportionately disadvantage particular groups within the industry while achieving conservation goals.
Issues
• The document contains complex legal language and jargon that may be difficult for the general public to fully understand without specialist knowledge.
• There are multiple references to various regulations, resolutions, and acts, which may require cross-referencing a large number of documents to fully comprehend the nuances of this proposed rule.
• The structure of the proposed regulations and actions involve detailed conditions and thresholds, which might complicate compliance and monitoring efforts by affected entities.
• The document does not specify how potential overestimates of catch leading to premature fishery closures would be addressed in terms of compensating affected fisheries, which could lead to economic concerns for those impacted.
• The language around inseason action announcements seems to rely heavily on electronic and Coast Guard notifications, which may not account for all stakeholders not having consistent access to these communication channels.
• There is no information provided on the specific economic impacts on large entities, although the assessment claims no disproportionate impact based on the assertion that all affected entities are small businesses.
• The issue of regulatory discards is mentioned but not thoroughly addressed in terms of potential impact on the fishery or proposed mitigation measures.
• Ambiguity can arise around how NMFS will estimate cumulative catch rates and what specific methods will be used to ensure accurate forecasting to inform regulatory actions.