[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 50, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 50CFR660.12] [Page 462-467] TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES AND IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC--Table of Contents Subpart B--Western Pacific Fisheries--General Sec. 660.12 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in the Magnuson Act and in Sec. 600.10 of this chapter, the terms used in subparts B through F of this part have the following meanings: Basket-style longline gear means a type of longline gear that is divided into units called ``baskets'' each consisting of a segment of main line to which 10 or more branch lines with [[Page 463]] hooks are spliced. The mainline and all branch lines are made of multiple braided strands of cotton, nylon, or other synthetic fibers impregnated with tar or other heavy coatings that cause the lines to sink rapidly in seawater. Bottomfish FMP means the Fishery Management Plan for Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish of the Western Pacific Region. Bottomfish management area means the areas designated in Sec. 660.69. Bottomfish management unit species means the following fish: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common name Local name Scientific name ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snappers: Silver jaw jobfish.......... Lehi (H); palu- Aphareus rutilans. gustusilvia (S). Gray jobfish................ Uku (H); asoama Aprion virescens. (S). Squirrelfish snapper........ Ehu (H); palu- Etelis malau (S). carbunculus. Longtail snapper............ Onaga, ula'T1ula Etelis coruscans. (H); palu-loa (S). Blue stripe snapper......... Ta'ape (H); savane Lutjanus kasmira. (S); funai (G). Yellowtail snapper.......... Palu-i' lusama Pristipomoides (S); yellowtail auricilla. kalekale. Pink snapper................ Opakapaka (H); Pristipomoides. palu-'Tlena'lena (S); gadao (G). Yelloweye snapper........... Palusina (S); Pristipomoides yelloweye flavipinnis. opakapaka. Snapper..................... Kalekale (H)...... Pristipomoides sieboldii. Snapper..................... Gindai (H,G); palu- Pristipomoides sega (S). zonatus. Jacks: Giant trevally.............. White ulua (H); Caranx ignoblis. tarakito (G); sapo-anae (S). Black jack.................. Black ulua (H); Caranx lugubris. tarakito (G); tafauli (S). Thick lipped trevally....... Pig ulua (H); Pseudocaranx butaguchi (H). dentex. Amberjack................... Kahala (H)........ Seriola dumerili. Groupers: Blacktip grouper............ Fausi (S); gadau Epinephelus (G). fasciatus. Sea bass.................... Hapu' 1upu'u (H).. Epinephelus quernus. Lunartail grouper........... Papa (S).......... Variola louti. Emperor fishes: Ambon emperor............... Filoa-gutumumu (S) Lethrinus amboinensis. Redgill emperor............. Filoa-pa'lo'omumu Lethrinus (S); mafuti (G). rubrioperculatus. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes: G--Guam; H--Hawaii; S--American Samoa. Carapace length means a measurement in a straight line from the ridge between the two largest spines above the eyes, back to the rear edge of the carapace of a spiny lobster (see Figure 1 of this part). Commercial fishing, as used in subpart D of this part, means fishing with the intent to sell all or part of the catch of lobsters. All lobster fishing in Crustaceans Permit Area 1 is considered commercial fishing. Council means the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. Crustaceans FMP means the Fishery Management Plan for Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. Crustaceans management area means the combined portions of the EEZ encompassed by Crustaceans Permit Areas 1, 2, and 3. Crustaceans management unit species means spiny lobster (Panulirus marginatus or Panulirus penicillatus), slipper lobster (family Scyllaridae), and Kona crab (Ranina ranina). Crustaceans Permit Area 1 (Permit Area 1) means the EEZ off the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Crustaceans Permit Area 2 (Permit Area 2) means the EEZ off the main Hawaiian Islands. Crustaceans Permit Area 3 (Permit Area 3) means the EEZ of the Territory of Guam and the EEZ of the Territory of American Samoa. Crustaceans Permit Area 1 VMS Subarea means an area within the EEZ off the NWHI 50 nm from the center geographical positions of the islands and reefs in the NWHI as follows: Nihoa Island 23 deg.05[min] N. lat., 161 deg.55[min] W. long.; Necker Island 23 deg.35[min] N. lat., 164 deg.40[min] W. long.; French Frigate Shoals 23 deg.45[min] N. lat., 166 deg.15[min] W. long; Garner Pinnacles 25 deg.00[min] N. lat., 168 deg.00[min] W. long.; Maro Reef 25 deg.25[min] N. lat., 170 deg.35[min] W. long.; Laysan Island 25 deg.45[min] N. lat., 171 deg.45[min] W. long; Lisianski Island 26 deg.00[min] N. lat., 173 deg.55[min] W. long.; Pearl and Hermes Reef 27 deg.50[min] N. lat., 175 deg.50[min] W. long.; Midway Islands 28 deg.14[min] N. lat., 177 deg.22[min] W. long.; and Kure [[Page 464]] Island 28 deg.25[min] N. lat., 178 deg.20[min] W. long. The remainder of the VMS subarea is delimited by parallel lines tangent to and connecting the 50-nm areas around the following: from Nihoa Island to Necker Island; from French Frigate Shoals to Gardner Pinnacles; from Gardner Pinnacles to Maro Reef; from Laysan Island to Lisianski Island; and from Lisianski Island to Pearl and Hermes Reef. Crustaceans receiving vessel means a vessel of the United States to which lobster taken in Permit Area 1 are transferred from another vessel. Dead coral means any precious coral that no longer has any live coral polyps or tissue. EFP means an experimental fishing permit. First level buyer means: (1) The first person who purchases, with the intention to resell, management unit species, or portions thereof, that were harvested by a vessel that holds a permit or is otherwise regulated under subpart D of this part; or (2) A person who provides recordkeeping, purchase, or sales assistance in the first transaction involving management unit species (such as the services provided by a wholesale auction facility). Fish dealer means any person who: (1) Obtains, with the intention to resell, Pacific pelagic management unit species, or portions thereof, that were harvested or received by a vessel that holds a permit or is otherwise regulated under subpart E of this part; or (2) Provides recordkeeping, purchase, or sales assistance in obtaining or selling such management unit species (such as the services provided by a wholesale auction facility). Fisheries Management Division (FMD) means the Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Southwest Regional Office, NMFS, or a designee. See Table 1 to Sec. 600.502 for the address of the Regional Office. Fishing gear, as used in subpart D of this part, includes: (1) Bottom trawl, which means a trawl in which the otter boards or the footrope of the net are in contact with the sea bed. (2) Gillnet, (see Sec. 600.10). (3) Hook-and-line, which means one or more hooks attached to one or more lines. (4) Set net, which means a stationary, buoyed, and anchored gill net. (5) Trawl, (see Sec. 600.10). Fishing trip means a period of time during which fishing is conducted, beginning when the vessel leaves port and ending when the vessel lands fish. Fishing year means the year beginning at 0001 local time on January 1 and ending at 2400 local time on December 31. Harvest guideline means a specified numerical harvest objective. Hawaii longline limited access permit means the permit required by Sec. 660.21 to use a vessel to fish for Pacific pelagic management unit species with longline gear in the EEZ around Hawaii or to land or transship longline-caught Pacific pelagic management unit species shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ around Hawaii. Incidental catch or incidental species means species caught while fishing for the primary purpose of catching a different species. Interested parties means the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Council, holders of permits issued under subpart D of this part, and any person who has notified the Regional Director of his or her interest in the procedures and decisions described in Secs. 660.51 and 660.52, and who has specifically requested to be considered an ``interested party.'' Land or landing means offloading fish from a fishing vessel, arriving in port to begin offloading fish, or causing fish to be offloaded from a fishing vessel. Large vessel means, as used in Secs. 660.22, 660.37, and 660.38, any vessel greater than 50 ft (15.2 m) in length overall. Length overall (LOA) or length of a vessel means, as used in Secs. 660.21(i) and 660.22, the horizontal distance, rounded to the nearest foot (with any 0.5 foot or 0.15 meter fraction rounded upward), between the foremost part of the stem and the aftermost part of the stern, excluding bowsprits, rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments (see Figure 2 to this part). ``Stem'' is the foremost part of the vessel, consisting of a section of timber or [[Page 465]] fiberglass, or cast forged or rolled metal, to which the sides of the vessel are united at the fore end, with the lower end united to the keel, and with the bowsprit, if one is present, resting on the upper end. ``Stern'' is the aftermost part of the vessel. Live coral means any precious coral that has live coral polyps or tissue. Lobster closed area means an area of the EEZ that is closed to fishing for lobster. Lobster grounds refers, singularly or collectively, to the following four areas in Crustaceans Permit Area 1 that shall be used to manage the lobster fishery: (1) Necker Island Lobster Grounds--waters bounded by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order presented: 24 deg.00[min] N. lat., 165 deg.00[min] W. long.; 24 deg.00[min] N. lat., 164 deg. 00[min] W. long.; 23 deg.00[min] N. lat., 164 deg.00[min] W. long.; and 23 deg.00[min] N. lat., 165 deg.00[min] W. long. (2) Gardner Pinnacles Lobster Grounds--waters bounded by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order presented: 25 deg.20[min] N. lat., 168 deg.20[min] W. long.; 25 deg.20[min] N. lat., 167 deg. 40[min] W. long.; 24 deg.20[min] N. lat., 167 deg.40[min] W. long.; and 24 deg.20[min] N. lat., 168 deg.20[min] W. long. (3) Maro Reef Lobster Grounds--waters bounded by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order presented: 25 deg.40[min] N. lat., 171 deg.00[min] W. long.; 25 deg.40[min] N. lat., 170 deg. 20[min] W. long.; 25 deg.00[min] N. lat., 170 deg.20[min] W. long.; and 25 deg.00[min] N. lat., 171 deg.00[min] W. long. (4) General NWHI Lobster Grounds--all waters within Crustaceans Permit Area 1 except for the Necker Island, Gardner Pinnacles, and Maro Reef Lobster Grounds. Longline fishing prohibited area means the portions of the EEZ in which longline fishing is prohibited as specified in Sec. 660.26. Longline fishing vessel means a vessel that has longline gear on board the vessel. Longline gear means a type of fishing gear consisting of a main line that exceeds 1 nm in length, is suspended horizontally in the water column either anchored, floating, or attached to a vessel, and from which branch or dropper lines with hooks are attached; except that, within the protected species zone, longline gear means a type of fishing gear consisting of a main line of any length that is suspended horizontally in the water column either anchored, floating, or attached to a vessel, and from which branch or dropper lines with hooks are attached. Longline general permit means the permit required by Sec. 660.21 to use a vessel to fish for Pacific pelagic management unit species in the fishery management area, excluding the EEZ around Hawaii, or to land or transship longline-caught fish shoreward of the outer boundary of the fishery management area, excluding the waters shoreward of the EEZ around Hawaii. Main Hawaiian Islands means the islands of the Hawaiian Islands Archipelago lying to the east of 161 deg. W. long. Non-precious coral means any species of coral other than those listed under the definition for precious coral in this section. Non-selective gear means any gear used for harvesting corals that cannot discriminate or differentiate between types, size, quality, or characteristics of living or dead corals. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) means the islands of the Hawaiian Islands Archipelago lying to the west of 161 deg. W. long. Offloading means removing management unit species from a vessel. Owner, as used in subparts C and D of this part and Sec. 660.61(i) through (m), means a person who is identified as the current owner of the vessel as described in the Certificate of Documentation (Form CG- 1270) issued by the USCG for a documented vessel, or in a registration certificate issued by a state, a territory, or the USCG for an undocumented vessel. As used in subpart F of this part and Sec. 660.61(c) through (h), the definition of ``owner'' in Sec. 600.10 of this chapter continues to apply. Pacific Islands Area Office means the Pacific Islands Area Office, (PIAO) Southwest Region, NMFS, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The address and phone number may be obtained from the Regional Administrator, whose address is in Table 1 to Sec. 600.502 of this chapter. Pacific pelagic management unit species means the following fish: [[Page 466]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common name Scientific name ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mahimahi (dolphin fish)................... Coryphaena spp. Marlin and spearfish...................... Makaira spp. Tetrapturus spp. Oceanic sharks............................ Family Alopiidae. Family Carcharhinidae. Family Lamnidae. Family Sphyrnidae. Sailfish.................................. Istiophorus platypterus. Swordfish................................. Xiphias gladius. Tuna and related species.................. Allothunnus spp., Auxis spp. Euthynnus spp., Gymnosarda spp. Katsuwonus spp., Scomber spp. Thunnus spp. Wahoo..................................... Acanthocybium solandri. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pelagics FMP means the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Species Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. Precious coral means any coral of the genus Corallium in addition to the following species of corals: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common name Scientific name ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pink coral (also known as red coral)...... Corallium secundum. Pink coral (also known as red coral)...... Corallium regale. Pink coral (also known as red coral)...... Corallium laauense. Gold coral................................ Gerardia spp. Gold coral................................ Callogorgia gilberti. Gold coral................................ Narella spp. Gold coral................................ Calyptrophora spp. Bamboo coral.............................. Lepidisis olapa. Bamboo coral.............................. Acanella spp. Black coral............................... Antipathes dichotoma. Black coral............................... Antipathes grandis. Black coral............................... Antipathes ulex. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Precious coral permit area means the area encompassing the precious coral beds in the management area. Each bed is designated by a permit area code and assigned to one of the following four categories: (1) Established beds. Makapuu (Oahu), Permit Area E-B-1, includes the area within a radius of 2.0 nm of a point at 21 deg.18.0[min] N. lat., 157 deg.32.5[min] W. long. (2) Conditional beds. (i) Keahole Point (Hawaii), Permit Area C-B-1, includes the area within a radius of 0.5 nm of a point at 19 deg.46.0[min] N. lat., 156 deg.06.0[min] W. long. (ii) Kaena Point (Oahu), Permit Area C-B-2, includes the area within a radius of 0.5 nm of a point at 21 deg.35.4[min] N. lat., 158 deg.22.9[min] W. long. (iii) Brooks Bank, Permit Area C-B-3, includes the area within a radius of 2.0 nm of a point at 24 deg.06.0[min] N. lat., 166 deg.48.0[min] W. long. (iv) 180 Fathom Bank, Permit Area C-B-4, N.W. of Kure Atoll, includes the area within a radius of 2.0 nm of a point at 28 deg.50.2[min] N. lat., 178 deg.53.4[min] W. long. (3) Refugia. Westpac Bed, Permit Area R-1, includes the area within a radius of 2.0 nm of a point at 23 deg.18' N. lat., 162 deg.35' W. long. (4) Exploratory areas. (1) Permit Area X-P-H includes all coral beds, other than established beds, conditional beds, or refugia, in the EEZ seaward of the State of Hawaii. (ii) Permit Area X-P-AS includes all coral beds, other than established beds, conditional beds, or refugia, in the EEZ seaward of American Samoa. (iii) Permit Area X-P-G includes all coral beds, other than established beds, conditional beds, or refugia, in the EEZ seaward of Guam. (iv) Permit Area X-P-PI includes all coral beds, other than established beds, conditional beds, or refugia, in the EEZ seaward of the U.S. Pacific Island possessions. Protected species means an animal protected under the MMPA, listed under the ESA, or subject to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended. Protected species study zones means the waters within a specified distance, designated by the Regional Director pursuant to Sec. 660.66, around the following islands of the NWHI and as measured from the following coordinates: Nihoa Island 23 deg.05[min] N. lat., 161 deg.55[min] W. long.; Necker Island 23 deg.35[min] N. lat., 164 deg.40[min] W. long.; French Frigate Shoals 23 deg.45[min] N. lat., 166 deg.15[min] W. long.; Gardner Pinnacles 25 deg.00[min] N. lat., 168 deg.00[min] W. long.; Maro Reef 25 deg.25[min] N. lat., 170 deg.35[min] W. long.; Laysan Island 25 deg.45[min] N. lat., 171 deg.45[min] W. long.; Lisianski Island 26 deg.00[min] N. lat., 173 deg.55[min] W. long.; Pearl and Hermes Reef 27 deg.50[min] N. lat., 175 deg.50[min] W. long.; Midway Island 28 deg.14[min] N. lat., 177 deg.22[min] W. long.; and Kure Island 28 deg.25[min] N. lat., 178 deg.20[min] W. long. The protected species study zones encompasses waters within 50 nm of the geographical coordinates listed above. Protected species zone means an area, designated under Sec. 660.26, measured from the center geographical positions of certain islands and reefs in the NWHI, as follows: Nihoa Island 23 deg.05[min] N. lat., 161 deg.55[min] W. long.; Necker Island 23 deg.35[min] N. lat., 164 deg.40[min] W. long.; French Frigate Shoals 23 deg.45[min] N. lat., 166 deg.15[min] W. long; Gardner Pinnacles 25 deg.00[min] N. lat., [[Page 467]] 168 deg.00[min] W. long.; Maro Reef 25 deg.25[min] N. lat., 170 deg.35[min] W. long.; Laysan Island 25 deg.45[min] N. lat., 171 deg.45[min] W. long; Lisianski Island 26 deg.00[min] N. lat., 173 deg.55[min] W. long.; Pearl and Hermes Reef 27 deg.50[min] N. lat., 175 deg.50[min] W. long.; Midway Islands 28 deg.14[min] N. lat., 177 deg.22[min] W. long.; and Kure Island 28 deg.25[min] N. lat., 178 deg.20[min] W. long. Where the areas are not contiguous, parallel lines drawn tangent to and connecting those semi-circles of the 50-nm areas that lie between Nihoa Island and Necker Island, French Frigate Shoals and Gardner Pinnacles, Gardner Pinnacles and Maro Reef, and Lisianski Island and Pearl and Hermes Reef, shall delimit the remainder of the protected species zone. Receiving vessel permit means a permit required by Sec. 660.21(c) for a receiving vessel to transship or land Pacific pelagic management unit species taken by other vessels using longline gear. Regional Director means the Director, Southwest Region, NMFS (see Table 1 of Sec. 600.502 for address). Seamount groundfish means the following species: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common name Scientific name ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Armorhead................................. Pentaceros richardsoni. Alfonsin.................................. Beryx splendens. Raftfish.................................. Hyperoglyphe japonica. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Selective gear means any gear used for harvesting corals that can discriminate or differentiate between type, size, quality, or characteristics of living or dead corals. Special Agent-In-Charge (SAC) means the Special Agent-In-Charge, NMFS, Office of Enforcement, Southwest Region, or a designee of the Special Agent-In-Charge. Transship means offloading or otherwise transferring management unit species or products thereof to a receiving vessel. Trap means a box-like device used for catching and holding lobsters. U.S. harvested corals means coral caught, taken, or harvested by vessels of the United States within any fishery for which a fishery management plan has been implemented under the Magnuson Act. Vessel monitoring system unit (VMS unit) means the hardware and software owned by NMFS, installed on vessels by NMFS, and required by subpart C of this part to track and transmit the positions of longline vessels or the hardware and software used by vessels to track and transmit the positions of vessels permitted under subpart D of this part to fish in Crustaceans Permit Area 1. [61 FR 34572, July 2, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 35449, July 1, 1997; 62 FR 47587, Sept. 10, 1997; 62 FR 43294, Aug. 13, 1997; 63 FR 20540, Apr. 27, 1998; 63 FR 29355, May 29, 1998; 64 FR 22811, Apr. 28, 1999; 64 FR 36822, July 8, 1999; 67 FR 4371, Jan. 30, 2002; 67 FR 11945, Mar. 18, 2002; 67 FR 34412, May 14, 2002] Effective Date Note: At 67 FR 56501, Sept. 4, 2002, Sec. 660.12, was amended by adding the definitions for ``Pacific remote island areas (PRIA, or U.S. island possessions in the Pacific Ocean)'',``Pelagic handline fishing'', and ``Pelagic troll fishing'', effective Oct. 4, 2002. For the convenience of the user the added text follows: Sec. 660.12 Definitions. * * * * * Pacific remote island areas (PRIA, or U.S. island possessions in the Pacific Ocean) means Palmyra Atoll, Kingman Reef, Jarvis Island, Baker Island, Howland Island, Johnston Atoll, Wake Island, and Midway Atoll. * * * * * Pelagic handline fishing means fishing for pelagic management unit species from a stationary or drifting vessel using hook and line gear other than longline gear. Pelagic troll fishing (trolling) means fishing for pelagic management unit species from a moving vessel using hook and line gear.