Fishing Effort Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2016 RIN 0648-BF93

This rule established limits on U.S. purse seine fishing effort on the high seas and in the U.S. exclusive economic zone for 2016. The action was taken pursuant to a decision made by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The Commission's decision is intended to reduce or otherwise control the fishing mortality rates of bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna stocks. This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, to which it is a Contracting Party. This action was included in the analysis undertaken in a 2015 programmatic environmental assessment and a supplemental information report for NEPA purposes was prepared was this specific action.