Specification of 2020-2023 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Hawaii Kona Crab (RIN 0648-BJ84)

This EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of a range of possible annual catch limits (ACLs) for Hawaii Kona crab and accountability measures (AMs) that would address any overages of catch limits. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to specify an ACL of 30,802 lb and an annual catch target (ACT) of 25,491 lb for the Hawaii Kona crab fishery in fishing years 2020 through 2023. NMFS based the proposed specifications on a 2018 benchmark stock assessment, in consideration of the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fishery. The proposed action includes in-season and post-season AMs but would not require a change to monitoring or fishery data collection. NMFS does not anticipate that the fishery would reach the proposed limit in any fishing year, or that fishing for MHI Kona crab would be constrained during the fishing year, and this proposed action is not likely to be controversial. The ACL and AMs support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.