Supplemental Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Implement Decision of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for: Fishing Effort Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2015

Supplemental document to take into consideration effects of the prohibition on bunkering that are affecting the U.S. purse seine fleet during a fishery closure on the high seas and U.S. EEZ in the western and central Pacific Ocean as part of a final rule package. These effects were not considered in the previous EA for the interim rule. NMFS is also undertaking a separate but related interim rule to remove the bunkering prohibitions, due to the economic consequences being experienced by the fleet.

Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Implement Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for: Fishing Effort Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2015 -- RIN 0648-BF03

Due to the economic consequences being experienced by the fleet, we are attempted to issue this final rule and the related interim rule as soon as possible.