"This environmental assessment (EA) describes and analyzes the impacts of action the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to take to implement an international fisheries agreement, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (hereafter, "the Convention"). The Convention was signed in Honolulu in September 2000 and came into force in June 2004. The Convention was ratified by, and came into force for, the United States in 2007. The Convention text can be found at http://www.wcpfc.int. The proposed action described and analyzed in this EA is intended to implement the provisions of the Convention itself and not, with some minor exceptions, the decisions of the commission established by the Convention. The proposed action will establish the initial set of regulations needed for the United States to fulfill its obligations as a Party to the Convention"--Page 1-2.

"At its Eleventh Regular Session, in December 2014, the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission or WCPFC) adopted Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2014-01, "Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean." CMM 2014-01 is generally applicable for the 2015-2017 calendar year period, and only contains minor modifications to CMM 2013-01, the predecessor CMM for the three main tropical tunas (skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)). CMM 2014-01 includes provisions for purse seine vessels and longline vessels. The CMM's provisions for purse seine vessels include limits on the allowable level of fishing effort, restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices, and a general provision not to increase catches of yellowfin tuna. The CMM's provisions for longline vessels include catch limits for bigeye tuna and a general provision not to increase catches of yellowfin tuna"--Cover letter summary.

"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the effects on the human environment that could result from implementation of two rules to implement certain decisions made by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) at its Fifth Regular Session, in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2008. One rule implements specific management measures for the U.S. purse seine fleet operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) (hereafter 'U.S. Purse Seine Rule'). The other rule implements a specific catch limit established by the WCPFC for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obsesus) for the U.S. longline fleets in the WCPO (hereafter 'U.S. Longline Rule'). NMFS issued the EA ('Environmental Assessment for the Implementation of the Decisions of the Fifth Regular Annual Session of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: Fishing Restrictions and Observer Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2009-2011 and Turtle Mitigation Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries and Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits in Longline Fisheries in 2009, 2010, and 2011') in draft form in conjunction with the issuance of the proposed U.S. Purse Seine Rule on June 1, 2009, for public review and comment. Two comment letters were received, one of which included comments on the EA, including several comments pertaining to the U.S. Longline Rule. NMFS issued the proposed U.S. Longline Rule on July 8, 2009, for public review and comment, reissuing the EA in draft form. NMFS received six comment letters, two of which raised issues pertaining to the EA. On August 4, 2009, NMFS issued the final U.S. Purse Seine Rule as well as the EA (July 2009 version), finding of no significant impact for the U.S. Purse Seine Rule, and an Errata sheet, indicating several corrections to the draft EA. In the final rule, NMFS indicated that the specific comments pertaining to the U.S. Longline Rule would be addressed, as appropriate, in the context of the U.S. Longline Rule. This Supplemental EA has been prepared to address those comments received on the U.S. Longline Rule that can be answered by additional environmental analysis or information. The Supplemental EA has been prepared pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and related authorities, such as the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing NEPA (NAO 216-6). This document supplements the EA and refers to specific sections of the EA, where appropriate; as a supplement it is meant to be read in conjunction with the original EA."--Page 9-10.

"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing a rule under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to make final a limit for calendar year 2015 on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (U.S. EEZ) and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20° N. and 20° S. in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The limit is 1,828 fishing days and was implemented under an interim rule (see 80 FR 29220, published May 21, 2015). This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party. NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzed two action alternatives for implementing purse seine fishing effort limits for 2015, as well as the No-Action Alternative. The EA was issued with the interim rule. Each of the action alternatives included a different variation of the fishing effort limits. Alternative B, the preferred alternative, included a limit of 1,828 fishing days for the ELAPS for the calendar year 2015. Alternative C included separate limits of 1,270 fishing days for the high seas and 558 fishing days for the U.S. EEZ for the calendar year 2015. The analysis in the EA indicated that the two action alternatives would be very similar in terms of effects on fishing patterns, and consequently, in terms of effects on the human environment"--Cover letter summary.

"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act to implement a limit for calendar year 2015 on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (U.S. EEZ) and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20° N. and 20° S. in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The limit is 1,828 fishing days. This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party. NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that analyzed two action alternatives for implementing purse seine fishing effort limits for 2015, as well as the No-Action Alternative. Each of the action alternatives included a different variation of the fishing effort limits. Alternative B, the preferred alternative, included a limit of 1,828 fishing days for the Effort Limit Area for Purse Seine (ELAPS) for the calendar year 2015. Alternative C included separate limits of 1,270 fishing days for the high seas and 558 fishing days for the U.S. EEZ for the calendar year 2015. The analysis in the EA indicated that the two action alternatives would be very similar in terms of effects on fishing patterns, and consequently, in terms of effects on the human environment"--Cover letter summary.

"The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is promulgating a rule to implement certain provisions adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish STocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The specific provisions are part of the 'Conservation and Management Measure for Bigeye, Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean' (CMM 2012-01) and include the following: (1) limits on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and on the high seas; (2) restrictions on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs); and (3) requirements for U.S. purse seine vessels to carry observers. NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed three action alternatives for implementing the purse seine provisions of CMM 2012-01, as well as the No-Action Alternative. Each of the action alternatives includes a different variation of the fishing effort limits. NMFS identified two variations for implementing the Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) restrictions, which were incorporated into the three action alternatives. NMFS identified only one manner of implementing the observer requirements, so all the action alternatives include identical observer requirements. Alternative 1 is the No-Action Alternative. Alternative 2 includes the most restrictive fishing effort limits as well as the FAD restrictions prohibing fishing on FADs during certain periods. Alternative 3 including the fishing effort limits based on past regulatory precedent, and FAD restrictions prohibiting fishing on FADs and setting on fish that have aggregated in association with a vessel during certain periods. Alternative 4 includes the least restrictive fishing effort alternative as well as FAD restrictions prohibting fishing on FADs during certain periods. The rule implements Alternative 3, which includes neither the most restrictive nor the least restrictive fishing effort limits, but rather, is based on similar fishing effort limits established in past regulations. The FAD restrictions under Alternative 3 are expected to serve CMM 2012-01's objective of reducing the tuna stocks' fishing mortality rates through seasonal prohibitions on the use of FADs better than the variation for this element of the rule considered under Alternatives 2 and 4"--Summary from cover letter.

"The Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission or WCPFC) adopted "Conservation and Management Measure for Oceanic Whitetip Shark" (CMM 2011-04) to address recent declines in catch rates and size of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the longline and purse seine fisheries. The WCPFC also adopted “Conservation and Management Measure for Protection of Whale Sharks from Purse Seine Fishing Operations" (CMM 2012-04) in response to concerns about the potential impacts of purse seine fishing operations on the sustainability of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and “Conservation and Management Measure for Silky Sharks” (CMM 2013-08) to address fisheries impacts to silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is promulgating a rule to implement the applicable provisions of CMM 2011-04, CMM 2012-04, and CMM 2013-08 for U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species (HMS) in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The regulations for oceanic whitetip sharks and silky sharks would prohibit the retention, transshipment, storage, or landing of either of the two species and would require the release of any oceanic whitetip shark or silky shark as soon as possible after it is caught with as little harm to the shark as possible. The regulations for whale sharks would prohibit setting a purse seine on a whale shark and would specify certain measures to be taken and reporting requirements in the event a whale shark is encircled in a purse seine net. NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the impacts of the rule on the human environment. The EA analyzed the rule (Alternative B), as well as the No-Action Alternative (Alternative A) and concluded that the rule would not have substantial effects on resources in the human environment"--Cover letter summary.

The law of the sea is an important area of international law which must be able to adapt to the changing needs of the international community. Making the Law of the Sea examines how various international organizations have contributed to the development of this law and what kinds of instruments and law-making techniques have been used. Each chapter considers a different international institution - including the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations - and analyses its functions and powers. Important questions are posed about the law-making process, including what actors are involved and what procedures are followed. Potential problems for the development of the law of the sea are considered and solutions are proposed. In particular, James Harrison explores and evaluates the current methods employed by international institutions to coordinate their law-making activities in order to overcome fragmentation of the law-making process.

The aim of the workshop was to develop national capacity and promote regional co-ordination to strengthen and harmonise port State measures and meet the requirements of relevant FAO plans of action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Topics addressed include: the role of the port State in combating IUU fishing and promoting long-term sustainability in fisheries; the FAO Model Scheme; international developments; issues relating to port State measures at the regional level; regional issues and priorities of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).