Overview
Title
Pacific Island Fisheries; Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to make sure there are enough fish in the ocean for people to catch now and in the future. So, they're setting limits on how many fish can be caught around the Mariana Islands each year. They're also checking to make sure these rules help keep the fish numbers healthy and not too many fish are taken.
Summary AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a rule to establish annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) for bottomfish in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to promote sustainability. These measures, effective from 2020 to 2022 for Guam and 2020 to 2023 for the Northern Mariana Islands, aim to prevent overfishing and rebuild fish stocks if necessary. Public comments on this proposal are being requested, with a submission deadline of March 15, 2021. The NMFS plans to adjust catch limits in future years based on average catches to maintain healthy fish populations.
Abstract
This rulemaking proposes to establish annual catch limits (ACL) and annual catch targets (ACT) for bottomfish in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and accountability measures (AM) to correct or mitigate any overages by reducing the ACL and or ACT for the subsequent year. The proposed ACLs, ACTs, and AMs would be effective for fishing years 2020-2022 in Guam and for fishing years 2020-2023 in the CNMI. The proposed action supports the long-term sustainability of the bottomfish fishery in the Mariana Islands.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
In 2021, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) introduced a proposal intended to regulate fishing activities in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. This proposal sets forth annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) for bottomfish. These regulations are planned to be effective from 2020 to 2022 for Guam and from 2020 to 2023 for the Northern Mariana Islands. They aim to prevent overfishing and foster the sustainability of fish stocks, with adjustments made based on average catches to maintain healthy fish populations. Public feedback was solicited, with a comment period concluding on March 15, 2021.
Key Issues and Concerns
A notable aspect of the document is its complex regulatory language, which could be challenging for those without specialized knowledge to easily understand. This complexity primarily revolves around the management and evaluation of ACLs, ACTs, and AMs. Effective communication is essential to ensure that stakeholders comprehend the regulations intended to govern their activities.
The potential economic impact on small entities, while briefly mentioned, could benefit from greater detail. This would enhance transparency and help stakeholders better understand the specific implications for small-scale fishing businesses.
There is some ambiguity in statements such as "without an in-season AM, fishing activity is not likely to be constrained." This implies uncertainty about how the absence of immediate accountability measures could affect ongoing fishing activities, especially given the delays in available catch data.
Also notably absent from the proposal is a discussion of costs associated with implementing these fishery regulations. Addressing such costs is crucial for assessing whether the measures are financially viable and not unnecessarily burdensome.
Furthermore, the language surrounding accountability measures seems heavily reliant on familiarity with previous regulatory texts. This reliance could present a barrier to understanding for those without access to, or comprehensive knowledge of, such previous texts.
The proposal is grounded in a 2019 stock assessment, but it does not elaborate on how frequently these assessments are updated. Having clear policies for regular updates would assure stakeholders that the regulations reflect current and actual stock conditions.
Broader Public Impact
For the public, and particularly those engaged or interested in fisheries, these proposed regulations signify a governmental effort to balance marine resource sustainability with economic interests. The public will benefit from long-term conservation measures that protect the environment and sustain the availability of fish in marine ecosystems.
Impact on Stakeholders
For commercial fishers in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, these regulations could bring both challenges and benefits. Professionally, fishers may feel burdened by the new limits and targets, which could restrict their operations. However, these measures also ensure that fish populations are maintained, which is vital for long-term fishing viability. Small-scale fishers, who form a significant portion of this sector, might need more detailed guidance to effectively adapt to these regulations without disrupting their livelihoods.
Environmental organizations and advocates for sustainable fishing practices will likely view these proposed regulations favorably, as they are designed to reduce overfishing risks and promote marine conservation.
In conclusion, while these proposed regulations aim to manage fishing sustainably, they also highlight the need for clear, accessible communication and consideration of economic impacts to fully achieve their intended benefits across all stakeholder groups.
Financial Assessment
In the proposed rule regarding the annual catch limits and management measures for bottomfish fisheries in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, there are several notable references to financial elements that warrant attention.
Financial Projections and Revenues
The document provides specific figures related to the revenue generated from bottomfish sales. It estimates that in 2019, the application of the 2018 percentage of catch sold (11 percent) and the price per pound ($5.05) suggests that approximately 4,147 pounds of fish were sold, yielding an estimated revenue of $20,942. Moreover, for the fisheries in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the estimated revenue for the same year was $35,840.
These revenue figures are crucial as they offer a snapshot of the economic scale of the fishery operations and provide an insight into how these activities contribute to local economies. Attaining a broader understanding of these financial details can illuminate the economic impacts regulatory changes might pose to local fisheries and small businesses operating therein.
Classification of Small Businesses
The document references a classification criterion for what constitutes a small business in the context of commercial fishing. According to the rule, a business primarily engaged in commercial fishing is considered small if it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and its combined annual receipts do not exceed $11 million worldwide. This classification is significant in understanding the baseline economic framework within which these fisheries operate. The financial threshold here sets a context for evaluating whether the proposed regulations might impact smaller entities disproportionately.
Relation to Identified Issues
While the document provides some financial data, there is a notable gap in explaining the direct economic impacts that these regulatory changes might have. Specifically, there is a lack of detailed discussion on how potential reductions in annual catch limits might affect the revenue potential for these small entities. Moreover, understanding whether the projected financial figures consider market variations and operational costs, which are pertinent to the foreseeable economic impact, is not addressed in detail.
Additionally, the issue regarding the absence of in-season accountability measures and how this might affect operations ties into financial uncertainties. Without clear, real-time financial data reflecting the impact of these regulations, fisheries could face unpredictable economic constraints.
Overall, while the financial references provided in the document give a baseline understanding, they would benefit from a more comprehensive examination revealing potential costs of compliance with these regulations and potential economic adjustments fisheries may need to make. Addressing these financial implications transparently could contribute to better-informed stakeholders and more effective regulation compliance.
Issues
• The document contains complex regulatory language that may be difficult for laypersons to understand, particularly related to the management and evaluation of ACLs, ACTs, and AMs.
• The potential economic impacts on small entities, while mentioned, could be more detailed to ensure transparency and understanding of the actual implications on small fisheries businesses.
• Ambiguity exists around the phrase 'without an in-season AM, fishing activity is not likely to be constrained,' which may need clarification on how catch data unavailability might affect fisheries operations.
• There is no mention of specific costs associated with the implementation of these fishery regulations, which might be necessary to evaluate potential wasteful or excessive spending.
• The language regarding the accountability measures could be clearer, as it is heavily reliant on understanding previous regulatory texts, which might not be accessible to all readers.
• The proposed rule relies on a 2019 stock assessment; however, it does not provide information on how often such assessments are updated or what measures are in place to ensure they remain current and reflective of actual stock conditions.