Pelagic FEP Amd 9 Modify Pelagic Catch & Allocation Framework

This EA analyses the potential environmental impacts of allowing the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to recommend multi-year catch and U.S. territorial allocation limits for big eye tuna. Currently, the Council can only set annual catch and allocation limits, and must first establish a catch limit for U.S. territories before specifying an allocation limit. The proposed action would allow the Council to set multi-year catch and U.S. territorial allocation limits instead of annual catch and allocation limits. The action would also allow the Council to modify the territorial catch and allocation limit measure to set allocation limits without recommending a total catch or effort limit. The proposed action is needed to provide flexibility to the Council for managing big eye tuna catch limits while continuing to ensure harvests are sustainable.