DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
                50 CFR Part 648
                [Docket No.: 191220012]
                RIN 0648BH67
                Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment
                
                    AGENCY:
                    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
                
                
                    ACTION:
                    Proposed rule, request for comments.
                
                
                    SUMMARY:
                    NMFS proposes to approve and implement the measures of the New England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. This action would protect deep-sea corals from the impacts of commercial fishing gear on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. These proposed management measures are intended to reduce, to the extent practicable, impacts of fishing gear on deep-sea corals in New England while balancing their costs to commercial fisheries.
                
                
                    DATES:
                    Public comments must be received by February 18, 2020.
                
                
                    ADDRESSES:
                    
                        The New England Fishery Management Council has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for this action that describes the proposed measures in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment and other considered alternatives and analyzes the impacts of the proposed measures and alternatives. The Council submitted a draft of the amendment to NMFS that includes the draft EA, a description of the Council's preferred alternatives, the Council's rationale for selecting each alternative, and a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA). Copies of supporting documents used by the New England Fishery Management Council, including the EA and RIR/IRFA, are available from: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 and accessible via the internet in documents available at: 
                        https://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-deep-sea-coral-amendment.
                    
                    You may submit comments, identified by NOAANMFS20190092, by either of the following methods:
                    
                         
                        Electronic Submission:
                         Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
                        
                        www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0092,
                         click the Comment Now! icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
                    
                    
                         
                        Mail:
                         Submit written comments to NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope Comments on Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment.
                    
                    
                        Instructions:
                         Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
                        www.regulations.gov
                         without change. All personal identifying information (
                        e.g.,
                         name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
                    
                
                
                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                    Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 2819233.
                
            
            
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                
                Background
                
                    The coral protection zones included in this amendment were initially developed during 2010 and 2011 as part of the Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 (OHA2), finalized April 9, 2018 (83 FR 15240; April 9, 2018). In September 2012, the Council split the coral protection zones and associated management measures out of OHA2 into a separate omnibus amendment. On March 13 and 15, 2017, the Council held workshops in New Bedford, MA, and Portsmouth, NH, to discuss the coral zone boundaries, considering the canyon and slope zones on Georges Bank (broad zone) at the first meeting, and the offshore Gulf of Maine zones at the second. On April 18, 2017, the Council chose preferred alternatives for the coral zones to go out to public hearing. The Council held public hearings throughout New England in May of 2017, and revisited its preferred alternatives at its June 2017 meeting. These meetings were noticed in the 
                    Federal Register
                     (82 FR 21809; May 10, 2017) and advertised on the Council's website and at meetings of the Council's Habitat Committee and the full Council. Many small entities were in attendance and commented at each hearing. Based on the attendance sheets, over 150 people attended the hearings, many of which either were or were representing small entities. Testimony was given by approximately 50 individuals, with individuals sometimes providing comments at more than one hearing. On June 22, 2017, the Council took final action on the Gulf of Maine portions of the amendment, but did not select final preferred alternatives for the broad coral protection zone on Georges Bank. Instead, the Council added a new alternative for analysis that was suggested during the public hearings. Finally, on January 30, 2018, the Council selected a final preferred alternative for the broad coral protection zone on Georges Bank and adopted the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment.
                
                The Council submitted the Amendment to NMFS for initial review on December 21, 2018. The Council submitted a revised draft of the Amendment on June 25, 2019, for final review by NMFS, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce.
                The Council developed this action, and the measures described in this proposed rule, under the discretionary provisions for deep-sea coral protection in section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This provision gives the Regional Fishery Management Councils the authority to:
                (A) Designate zones where, and periods when, fishing shall be limited, or shall not be permitted, or shall be permitted only by specified types of fishing vessels or with specified types and quantities of fishing gear; and
                (B) Designate such zones in areas where deep-sea corals are identified under section 408 (this section describes the deep-sea coral research and technology program), to protect deep-sea corals from physical damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or damage to such fishing gear from interactions with deep-sea corals, after considering long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources in such areas.
                Deep-sea corals can build reef-like structures or occur as thickets, isolated colonies, or solitary individuals, and often are significant components of deep-sea ecosystems, providing habitat (substrate, refuge) for a diversity of other organisms, including many economically important fish and invertebrate species. All corals are vulnerable to fishing gear impacts, but the degrees of susceptibility and the rates of recovery vary, depending both on coral biology and on spatial overlap between corals and fishing grounds, which influences the likelihood of gear interactions. Deep corals can be found from near the surface to 6,000 m depth, but most commonly occur between 501,000 m on hard substrate. Deep-sea coral habitats have been noted to have higher associated concentrations of fish than surrounding areas and are believed to serve as nursery grounds and provide habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates at various life stages, including commercially important fish species. Consistent with these provisions, the Council proposed the measures in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment to identify and protect concentrations of corals in select areas and restrict the expansion of fishing effort into areas where corals are likely to be present while taking into account long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources in the areas and the costs to commercial fisheries.
                Proposed Measures
                Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area
                The Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment would establish deep-sea coral protection areas on the outer continental shelf in New England waters. It would complement the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area established by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in Amendment 16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (81 FR 90246; December 14, 2016) as described in  648.372. The area would run along the outer continental shelf in waters no shallower than 600 meters and extend to the outer limit of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary to the east and north, and south to the intercouncil boundary as described in  600.105(a).
                The Council proposed this coral protection area to prevent the expansion of fishing effort into deep-water coral areas, while limiting impacts on current fishing operations. This area would be designated with the landward boundary drawn between the 600-m contour as a hard landward boundary and the 650-m contour as a hard seaward boundary. In some areas the boundary crosses the 650-m contour to draw this line as straight as possible; however, the boundary was constrained on its shallow side by the 600-m contour. From the landward boundary, the boundaries would extend along the northern and southern boundaries of the New England Council's management region and to the edge of the EEZ as the eastward boundary.
                Gear Restrictions in the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area
                
                    This action would prohibit the use of bottom-tending commercial fishing gear 
                    
                    within the designated Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area, including: Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; bottom-tending seines; bottom longlines; pots and traps; and sink or anchored gillnets. The prohibition on these gears would protect deep-sea corals from interaction with and damage from bottom-tending fishing gear. Red crab pot gear would be exempt from the prohibition.
                
                Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area
                
                    This action would designate a coral protection area in an 8-mi
                    2
                     (21-km
                    2
                    ) area southwest of Mount Desert Rock, a small, rocky island off the eastern Maine coast, about 20 nm (37 km) south of Mount Desert Island, encompassing depths of 100200 m. Corals have been documented in this area from historic data dating back to the 19th century from both fisheries bycatch and naturalist surveys and from recent deep-sea coral oriented cruises within the New England region in 2000s. Vessels would be prohibited from fishing with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area. Bottom-tending mobile gear includes but is not limited to: Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; and seines (with the exception of a purse seine). This would protect corals in this area from fishing impacts from these gears. Vessels would still be able to fish for lobster in this area using trap gear.
                
                Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area
                
                    This action would designate a coral protection area in a 31-mi
                    2
                     (79-km
                    2
                    ) area on the Outer Schoodic Ridge, roughly 25 nm (46 km) southeast of Mount Desert Island, encompassing depths of 104248 m. Corals have been documented in both historic and recent data. Vessels would be prohibited from fishing with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area. Bottom-tending mobile gear includes but is not limited to: Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; and seines (with the exception of a purse seine). This would protect corals in this area from fishing impacts from these gears. Vessels would still be able to fish for lobster in this area using trap gear.
                
                Transiting Provisions
                
                    Vessels would be allowed to transit the Georges Bank, Mount Desert Rock, and Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Areas provided the vessels bring bottom-tending fishing gear onboard the vessel, and reel bottom-tending trawl gear onto the net reel. These transiting provisions are consistent with those established by the Mid-Atlantic Council in Amendment 16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP. The Mid-Atlantic Council proposed these slightly less restrictive transiting provisions because the majority of transiting will be through the very narrow canyon heads (
                    i.e.,
                     the narrow tips of the canyons that extend landward of the broad coral zone landward boundary). The Mid-Atlantic Council determined that the normal gear stowage requirements and requirements that gear be unavailable for immediate use (at 50 CFR 648.2) would be too burdensome for commercial vessels within the narrow areas of the coral protection areas.
                
                Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area
                This action would designate the area around Jordan Basin in the Gulf of Maine as a dedicated habitat research area, but it would not impose any additional restrictions on fishing in this area. The purpose of this designation is to encourage further exploration of coral habitats at the site, and to encourage research on fishing gear impacts on these habitats.
                Framework Adjustments
                This action would add framework adjustment provisions to facilitate future modifications to the New England Deep-Sea Coral Protection Areas. The new measures that may be changed using a framework adjustment would include adding, revising, or removing coral areas; changing fishing restrictions in coral areas; and developing new, or changing existing, coral area fishery access or exploratory fishing programs.
                Letters of Acknowledgement for Vessels Conducting Scientific Research
                The Council requested that researchers seek a Letter of Acknowledgement (LOA) from NMFS before conducting research in these areas. Scientific research on a scientific research vessel is not considered fishing and is therefore exempt from the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, Sec. 3, 50 CFR 600.10 and 600.512). NMFS cannot require that scientific research institutions request an LOA when conducting scientific research at sea on a scientific research vessel, but we will encourage researchers to do so, consistent with regulations implementing the Magnuson-Stevens Act provisions at 50 CFR 600.512.
                Classification
                Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has preliminarily determined that this Amendment and proposed rule are consistent with the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment.
                This proposed rule has been determined to be significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
                
                    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A summary of the analysis follows. The IRFA is incorporated into the Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral AmendmentJune 25, 2019, section 11.3. A copy of this analysis is available from the Council (see 
                    ADDRESSES
                    ) or via online at 
                    https://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-deep-sea-coral-amendment.
                
                Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered and Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule
                This action proposes to implement measures to protect deep-sea corals from fishing gear. The background section of the preamble to this proposed rule includes a complete description of the reasons why this action is being considered, and the objectives of and legal basis for this action.
                Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule
                This action contains no new collection-of-information, reporting, or recordkeeping requirements. There would be economic impacts to small entities associated with this proposed rule. Those impacts are described in detail in the Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment, specifically, in the IRFA section 11.3.3.1 and in the analysis of the impacts on human communities in section 7.1.3.
                Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap or Conflict With This Proposed Rule
                
                    Parts of the proposed action overlap spatially with the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, defined by Presidential Proclamation 9496 of September 15, 2016 (81 FR 65159). However, this 
                    
                    action is being proposed under the Council's discretionary authority granted in section 303(b)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act which is separate from the authority granted to the President in 320301 of title 54, United States Code, which the Monument was originally designated under. In addition, this action would protect deep-sea corals from the impacts of fishing gear across a much larger area. The proposed action does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules.
                
                Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which This Proposed Rule Would Apply
                
                    On July 18, 2019, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final rule (84 FR 34261) effective August 19, 2019, that adjusted the monetary-based industry size standards (
                    i.e.,
                     receipts- and assets-based) for inflation for many industries. For fisheries for-hire businesses and marinas, the rule changes the small business size standard from $7.5 million in annual gross receipts to $8 million. 
                    See
                     84 Fed Reg at 34273 (adjusting NAICS 487990 (Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other) and 713930 (Marinas)).
                
                Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and prior to SBA's July 18, 2019 interim final rule, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis was developed for this action using SBA's former size standards. NMFS has reviewed the analyses prepared for this action in light of the new size standards. Under the former, SBA size standards, all entities subject to this action were considered small entities, and they all would continue to be considered small under the new standards.
                Taking this change and public comment into consideration, NMFS has identified no additional significant alternatives that accomplish statutory objectives and minimize any significant economic impacts of the proposed rule on small entities. This is because the recreational for-hire sector is not active in the management regions identified in this action.
                Further, the new size standards do not affect the decision to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis as opposed to a certification for this action. This is because all for-hire entities in the region are already classified as small businesses.
                For RFA purposes, NMFS has established a small business size standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily engaged in commercial fishing is classified as a small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates) and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. For-hire businesses are categorized as a small business if combined annual receipts do not exceed $7.5 million. The Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment regulates all fishermen with Federal permits allowing the holder to fish in the Federal waters off Southern New England, Georges Bank, and the Gulf of Maine. In 2017, this represents 10 large commercial fishing businesses, 3,832 small commercial fishing businesses and 351 recreational for-hire businesses, all of the latter being categorized as small businesses.
                Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statues and Which Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities
                The Council considered an alternative for the Georges Bank Coral Protection Area that would have had less economic impact on small businesses. This alternative would have prohibited the use of bottom-tending commercial fishing gear (with the exception of red crab gear) in waters deeper than 900 m. The impacts on small entities would have been neutral under this alternative because no fishing activity with bottom-tending gears is known to occur at these depths. There would be slight negative impacts on small entities if the proposed measures outlined in the preamble are implemented. Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) analysis indicates that large and small businesses are not facing substantially different impact levels overall, although the most highly exposed small businesses generate a larger fraction of their overall revenue from areas within the preferred alternative when compared to large businesses. This analysis indicates that between $6.5$8.5 million in gross revenue will be potentially displaced under the preferred alternatives, although VTR data suggests this revenue number is an overestimate. The major caveat to this analysis is the lack of information for the inshore lobster fishery, and the complete lack (and thus uncertainty) of value estimates for the benefits associated with deep-sea coral conservation, although it is known that deep-sea corals can provide habitat (substrate, refuge) for a diversity of other organisms, including many economically important fish and invertebrate species. The largest revenue estimates are attributed to lobster, Jonah and red crab, silver hake, longfin squid, and sea scallop. However, based on discussions at the Council's coral workshops in March 2017, it was determined that the designation of a broad coral protection zone in waters no shallower than 600 m would cause little change in bottom trawl, trap/pot, and gillnet effort, and that the VTR data were overestimating the potential displacement of effort because of the lack of precision in the data. Furthermore, this is an estimate of gross revenue of displaced effort, and fishermen could relocate that displaced effort to an area outside the closure and still generate revenue. The red crab fishery would be exempt from these restrictions in the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area because it is a small fishery that takes place entirely within the proposed zone, and prohibiting the red crab effort from the area would essentially end the red crab fishery. To better understand these issues, NMFS seeks public comment on the VTR analysis (described in section 7.1.3.1 of the Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment), specifically regarding the revenue number generated by the analysis and the lack of information for the inshore lobster fishery. In addition, NMFS seeks comment on value estimates for the benefits associated with deep-sea coral conservation.
                
                    The proposed Georges Bank measures protect more known coral habitat and habitat suitable for corals compared with the 900-m alternative. The proposed action would protect 525 known coral records compared with 422 known records for the 900-m alternative (24-percent increase). In addition, the proposed alternative would protect 3,587 km
                    2
                     area highly likely to be suitable habitat for soft corals compared with 2,821 km
                    2
                     for the 900-m alternative (27-percent increase).
                
                
                    List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
                    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
                
                
                    Dated: December 30, 2019.
                    Alan D. Risenhoover,
                    Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                
                For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is proposed to be amended as follows:
                
                    PART 648FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
                
                1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
                
                    Authority: 
                    
                        16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        et seq.
                    
                
                
                2. In  648.14, add paragraphs (b)(13) through (15) to read as follows:
                
                     648.14 
                    Prohibitions.
                    
                    (b) * * *
                    (13) Fish with bottom-tending gear within the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area described at  648.373(a)(2), unless transiting pursuant to  648.373(d), or fishing red crab trap gear in accordance with  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes, but is not limited to, bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gill nets.
                    (14) Fish with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area described at  648.373(b), unless transiting pursuant to  648.373(d). Bottom-tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited, to otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a purse seine).
                    (15) Fish with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area described at  648.373(c), unless transiting pursuant to  648.373(d). Bottom-tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited to, otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a purse seine).
                    
                
                3. In  648.371 revise paragraph (d) and add paragraph (f) to read as follows:
                
                     648.371 
                    Dedicated Habitat Research Areas.
                    
                    
                        (d) 
                        Transiting.
                         Unless otherwise restricted or specified in this paragraph (d), a vessel may transit the Dedicated Habitat Research Areas of this section provided that its prohibited gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in  648.2.
                    
                    
                    
                        (f) 
                        Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area.
                         (1) The 
                        Jordan Basin
                         DHRA is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by straight lines:
                    
                    
                        
                            Table 1 to Paragraph (
                            f
                            )
                        
                        
                            Point
                            Longitude
                            Latitude
                        
                        
                            DHRA1
                            6751.38
                            4327.47
                        
                        
                            DHRA2
                            6747.38
                            4327.46
                        
                        
                            DHRA3
                            6747.18
                            4316.92
                        
                        
                            DHRA4
                            6751.05
                            4317.05
                        
                        
                            DHRA1
                            6751.38
                            4327.47
                        
                    
                    
                        (2) Fishing vessels, regardless of gear type, may fish within the 
                        Jordan Basin
                         DHRA.
                    
                    
                
                4. Add  648.373 to read as follows:
                
                     648.373 
                    New England Deep-Sea Coral Protection Areas.
                    
                        (a) 
                        Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.
                         (1) No vessel may fish with bottom-tending gear within the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area described in this section, unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section or fishing red crab trap gear in accordance with  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes, but is not limited to, bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gillnets.
                    
                    
                        (2)
                        
                         The Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area is bound on the west by the New England/Mid-Atlantic Inter-council Boundary line (detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section); bound on the north by a simplified line (detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section) following the 600m depth contour along the southern flank of Georges Bank; and bound on the east and south by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section).
                    
                    (i) The western boundary is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed, south to north, by straight lines:
                    
                        
                            Table 1 to Paragraph (
                            a
                            )(
                            2
                            )(
                            i
                            )
                        
                        
                            Point
                            Longitude
                            Latitude
                            Note
                        
                        
                            1
                            6847.62
                            382.21
                            
                                (
                                1
                                )
                            
                        
                        
                            2
                            6849.99
                            384.84
                        
                        
                            3
                            6857.35
                            3813.00
                        
                        
                            4
                            694.73
                            3821.15
                        
                        
                            5
                            6912.13
                            3829.29
                        
                        
                            6
                            6919.57
                            3837.42
                        
                        
                            7
                            6927.03
                            3845.54
                        
                        
                            8
                            6934.53
                            3853.66
                        
                        
                            9
                            6942.05
                            391.77
                        
                        
                            10
                            6949.60
                            399.86
                        
                        
                            11
                            6957.18
                            3917.96
                        
                        
                            12
                            704.78
                            3926.04
                        
                        
                            13
                            7012.42
                            3934.11
                        
                        
                            14
                            7020.09
                            3942.18
                        
                        
                            15
                            7027.78
                            3950.24
                        
                        
                            16
                            7031.64
                            3954.26
                        
                        
                            17
                            7032.09
                            3954.72
                            
                                (
                                2
                                )
                            
                        
                        
                            Notes:
                        
                        
                            (
                            1
                            ) POINT 1 represents the outer limit of the US EEZ.
                        
                        
                            (
                            2
                            ) POINT 17 represents where the western and northern boundaries meet.
                        
                    
                    (ii) The northern (nearshore) boundary is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed, west to east, by straight lines.
                    
                    
                        
                            Table 1 to Paragraph (
                            a
                            )(2)(
                            ii
                            )
                        
                        
                            Point
                            Longitude
                            Latitude
                            Note
                        
                        
                            17
                            7032.09
                            3954.72
                            
                                (
                                3
                                )
                            
                        
                        
                            18
                            7029.83
                            3959.78
                        
                        
                            19
                            7028.72
                            3954.41
                        
                        
                            20
                            7027.52
                            3953.44
                        
                        
                            21
                            7026.05
                            3953.13
                        
                        
                            22
                            7023.81
                            3953.13
                        
                        
                            23
                            7022.44
                            3953.72
                        
                        
                            24
                            7021.97
                            3954.94
                        
                        
                            25
                            7020.12
                            3953.97
                        
                        
                            26
                            7016.98
                            3953.60
                        
                        
                            27
                            7017.35
                            3954.55
                        
                        
                            28
                            7016.99
                            3954.77
                        
                        
                            29
                            7017.55
                            3957.01
                        
                        
                            30
                            7016.69
                            3957.06
                        
                        
                            31
                            7014.54
                            3957.75
                        
                        
                            32
                            7013.64
                            3958.44
                        
                        
                            33
                            7012.58
                            3958.82
                        
                        
                            34
                            7012.16
                            3958.32
                        
                        
                            35
                            7013.85
                            3956.68
                        
                        
                            36
                            7014.29
                            3956.56
                        
                        
                            37
                            7012.51
                            3955.18
                        
                        
                            38
                            7011.17
                            3955.2
                        
                        
                            39
                            7011.19
                            3954.34
                        
                        
                            40
                            7010.33
                            3953.64
                        
                        
                            41
                            707.98
                            3954.17
                        
                        
                            42
                            706.99
                            3954.94
                        
                        
                            43
                            706.56
                            3953.85
                        
                        
                            44
                            704.99
                            3953.24
                        
                        
                            45
                            7002.97
                            3952.62
                        
                        
                            46
                            7002.70
                            3953.66
                        
                        
                            47
                            7001.24
                            3954.69
                        
                        
                            48
                            7000.34
                            3953.26
                        
                        
                            49
                            6959.41
                            3952.49
                        
                        
                            50
                            6957.88
                            3952.61
                        
                        
                            51
                            6957.05
                            3953.05
                        
                        
                            52
                            6956.35
                            3953.59
                        
                        
                            53
                            6956.11
                            3954.94
                        
                        
                            54
                            6955.76
                            3955.08
                        
                        
                            55
                            6954.62
                            3953.23
                        
                        
                            56
                            6953.02
                            3954.29
                        
                        
                            57
                            6952.21
                            3954.39
                        
                        
                            58
                            6952.34
                            3953.64
                        
                        
                            59
                            6950.97
                            3953.36
                        
                        
                            60
                            6950.65
                            3953.73
                        
                        
                            61
                            6949.45
                            3952.85
                        
                        
                            62
                            6949.63
                            3952.32
                        
                        
                            63
                            6948.88
                            3952.96
                        
                        
                            64
                            6947.91
                            3952.54
                        
                        
                            65
                            6948.06
                            3951.85
                        
                        
                            66
                            6942.35
                            3952.03
                        
                        
                            67
                            6942.19
                            3952.68
                        
                        
                            68
                            6941.32
                            3952.27
                        
                        
                            69
                            6939.66
                            3952.33
                        
                        
                            70
                            6940.03
                            3953.03
                        
                        
                            71
                            6939.34
                            3953.81
                        
                        
                            72
                            6938.51
                            3953.04
                        
                        
                            73
                            6938.11
                            3953.27
                        
                        
                            74
                            6937.59
                            3952.38
                        
                        
                            75
                            6936.93
                            3951.89
                        
                        
                            76
                            6936.99
                            3953.42
                        
                        
                            77
                            6937.44
                            3953.85
                        
                        
                            78
                            6937.02
                            3954.34
                        
                        
                            79
                            6937.52
                            3955.59
                        
                        
                            80
                            6937.01
                            3957.70
                        
                        
                            81
                            6936.71
                            3956.34
                        
                        
                            82
                            6936.27
                            3955.53
                        
                        
                            83
                            6934.57
                            3954.60
                        
                        
                            84
                            6933.63
                            3952.98
                        
                        
                            85
                            6932.47
                            3952.93
                        
                        
                            86
                            6931.87
                            3953.95
                        
                        
                            87
                            6930.29
                            3953.10
                        
                        
                            88
                            6929.48
                            3953.43
                        
                        
                            
                            89
                            6928.95
                            3954.14
                        
                        
                            90
                            6927.35
                            3954.43
                        
                        
                            91
                            6927.56
                            3953.86
                        
                        
                            92
                            6926.77
                            3953.38
                        
                        
                            93
                            6926.07
                            3953.97
                        
                        
                            94
                            6925.88
                            3953.50
                        
                        
                            95
                            6924.94
                            3953.79
                        
                        
                            96
                            6924.47
                            3953.50
                        
                        
                            97
                            6923.95
                            3954.81
                        
                        
                            98
                            6923.32
                            3954.05
                        
                        
                            99
                            6921.95
                            3954.09
                        
                        
                            100
                            6921.07
                            3954.38
                        
                        
                            101
                            6920.72
                            3954.97
                        
                        
                            102
                            6919.83
                            3954.78
                        
                        
                            103
                            6919.16
                            3955.00
                        
                        
                            104
                            6918.60
                            3956.03
                        
                        
                            105
                            6918.28
                            3955.46
                        
                        
                            106
                            6917.12
                            3955.53
                        
                        
                            107
                            6916.92
                            3956.20
                        
                        
                            108
                            6916.27
                            3955.87
                        
                        
                            109
                            6915.58
                            3956.29
                        
                        
                            110
                            6914.44
                            3957.54
                        
                        
                            111
                            6913.82
                            3957.37
                        
                        
                            112
                            6913.47
                            3958.01
                        
                        
                            113
                            6912.44
                            3956.95
                        
                        
                            114
                            6912.06
                            3957.69
                        
                        
                            115
                            6911.10
                            3956.69
                        
                        
                            116
                            6910.92
                            3957.04
                        
                        
                            117
                            6910.86
                            3958.26
                        
                        
                            118
                            6910.40
                            3958.14
                        
                        
                            119
                            6910.07
                            3959.85
                        
                        
                            120
                            6908.70
                            3959.01
                        
                        
                            121
                            6907.72
                            3959.00
                        
                        
                            122
                            6907.97
                            3958.50
                        
                        
                            123
                            6907.00
                            3957.74
                        
                        
                            124
                            6906.31
                            3957.59
                        
                        
                            125
                            6905.31
                            3958.82
                        
                        
                            126
                            6904.61
                            3958.14
                        
                        
                            127
                            6904.44
                            3958.88
                        
                        
                            128
                            6903.89
                            3958.95
                        
                        
                            129
                            6904.27
                            4000.04
                        
                        
                            130
                            6903.33
                            4000.15
                        
                        
                            131
                            6903.04
                            4000.45
                        
                        
                            132
                            6903.43
                            4002.96
                        
                        
                            133
                            6902.67
                            4004.10
                        
                        
                            134
                            6903.34
                            4005.17
                        
                        
                            135
                            6902.91
                            4005.86
                        
                        
                            136
                            6902.12
                            4004.15
                        
                        
                            137
                            6901.85
                            4002.32
                        
                        
                            138
                            6901.28
                            4001.87
                        
                        
                            139
                            6900.75
                            4001.92
                        
                        
                            140
                            6859.76
                            4000.83
                        
                        
                            141
                            6859.08
                            4001.51
                        
                        
                            142
                            6858.63
                            4000.89
                        
                        
                            143
                            6857.67
                            4000.45
                        
                        
                            144
                            6856.65
                            4000.44
                        
                        
                            145
                            6856.3
                            4000.92
                        
                        
                            146
                            6855.27
                            4000.56
                        
                        
                            147
                            6855.34
                            4001.22
                        
                        
                            148
                            6853.97
                            4001.40
                        
                        
                            149
                            6853.58
                            4000.82
                        
                        
                            150
                            6853.14
                            4001.24
                        
                        
                            151
                            6852.73
                            4000.99
                        
                        
                            152
                            6851.53
                            4002.81
                        
                        
                            153
                            6850.76
                            4003.08
                        
                        
                            154
                            6850.10
                            4003.77
                        
                        
                            155
                            6850.40
                            4004.73
                        
                        
                            156
                            6848.94
                            4004.35
                        
                        
                            157
                            6849.05
                            4005.84
                        
                        
                            158
                            6848.11
                            4005.05
                        
                        
                            159
                            6847.58
                            4003.99
                        
                        
                            160
                            6847.90
                            4003.25
                        
                        
                            
                            161
                            6847.71
                            4002.93
                        
                        
                            162
                            6846.96
                            4003.36
                        
                        
                            163
                            6846.51
                            4004.02
                        
                        
                            164
                            6846.21
                            4003.41
                        
                        
                            165
                            6845.61
                            4003.36
                        
                        
                            166
                            6845.44
                            4003.86
                        
                        
                            167
                            6845.08
                            4003.60
                        
                        
                            168
                            6845.11
                            4004.24
                        
                        
                            169
                            6844.63
                            4004.06
                        
                        
                            170
                            6844.12
                            4004.58
                        
                        
                            171
                            6843.78
                            4002.68
                        
                        
                            172
                            6842.97
                            4003.02
                        
                        
                            173
                            6842.28
                            4001.90
                        
                        
                            174
                            6841.01
                            4002.72
                        
                        
                            175
                            6841.16
                            4003.54
                        
                        
                            176
                            6841.50
                            4004.04
                        
                        
                            177
                            6841.06
                            4004.02
                        
                        
                            178
                            6840.15
                            4005.30
                        
                        
                            179
                            6839.31
                            4004.19
                        
                        
                            180
                            6838.69
                            4004.57
                        
                        
                            181
                            6837.78
                            4003.47
                        
                        
                            182
                            6837.07
                            4004.08
                        
                        
                            183
                            6836.76
                            4003.68
                        
                        
                            184
                            6836.36
                            4004.02
                        
                        
                            185
                            6836.55
                            4004.82
                        
                        
                            186
                            6835.91
                            4005.56
                        
                        
                            187
                            6835.16
                            4004.83
                        
                        
                            188
                            6833.63
                            4004.04
                        
                        
                            189
                            6832.76
                            4004.76
                        
                        
                            190
                            6832.44
                            4005.91
                        
                        
                            191
                            6831.58
                            4005.48
                        
                        
                            192
                            6830.88
                            4005.81
                        
                        
                            193
                            6830.89
                            4006.29
                        
                        
                            194
                            6830.29
                            4006.40
                        
                        
                            195
                            6831.11
                            4006.95
                        
                        
                            196
                            6830.46
                            4007.60
                        
                        
                            197
                            6830.46
                            4008.19
                        
                        
                            198
                            6829.29
                            4008.05
                        
                        
                            199
                            6829.48
                            4009.55
                        
                        
                            200
                            6830.08
                            4011.48
                        
                        
                            201
                            6828.16
                            4010.69
                        
                        
                            202
                            6827.41
                            4010.95
                        
                        
                            203
                            6827.66
                            4010.26
                        
                        
                            204
                            6826.67
                            4009.09
                        
                        
                            205
                            6826.81
                            4007.63
                        
                        
                            206
                            6825.20
                            4006.46
                        
                        
                            207
                            6824.46
                            4006.12
                        
                        
                            208
                            6824.07
                            4007.70
                        
                        
                            209
                            6823.39
                            4007.29
                        
                        
                            210
                            6822.17
                            4007.15
                        
                        
                            211
                            6821.86
                            4008.26
                        
                        
                            212
                            6822.03
                            4008.77
                        
                        
                            213
                            6821.58
                            4008.86
                        
                        
                            214
                            6820.52
                            4009.57
                        
                        
                            215
                            6819.88
                            4009.36
                        
                        
                            216
                            6819.14
                            4010.44
                        
                        
                            217
                            6818.51
                            4010.02
                        
                        
                            218
                            6817.72
                            4009.64
                        
                        
                            219
                            6817.76
                            4010.66
                        
                        
                            220
                            6816.86
                            4010.68
                        
                        
                            221
                            6816.78
                            4011.65
                        
                        
                            222
                            6816.70
                            4012.27
                        
                        
                            223
                            6816.81
                            4013.24
                        
                        
                            224
                            6816.29
                            4014.68
                        
                        
                            225
                            6814.75
                            4013.04
                        
                        
                            226
                            6814.00
                            4012.79
                        
                        
                            227
                            6813.88
                            4012.21
                        
                        
                            228
                            6813.14
                            4011.49
                        
                        
                            229
                            6813.30
                            4012.07
                        
                        
                            230
                            6812.84
                            4012.48
                        
                        
                            231
                            6812.54
                            4013.08
                        
                        
                            232
                            6812.20
                            4012.80
                        
                        
                            
                            233
                            6811.51
                            4013.48
                        
                        
                            234
                            6810.65
                            4012.05
                        
                        
                            235
                            6810.05
                            4013.00
                        
                        
                            236
                            6808.65
                            4012.16
                        
                        
                            237
                            6808.33
                            4013.06
                        
                        
                            238
                            6808.60
                            4014.17
                        
                        
                            239
                            6808.15
                            4015.30
                        
                        
                            240
                            6808.33
                            4015.56
                        
                        
                            241
                            6809.02
                            4016.17
                        
                        
                            242
                            6808.73
                            4016.56
                        
                        
                            243
                            6809.02
                            4017.94
                        
                        
                            244
                            6808.82
                            4018.63
                        
                        
                            245
                            6809.14
                            4021.96
                        
                        
                            246
                            6809.19
                            4022.96
                        
                        
                            247
                            6807.89
                            4024.16
                        
                        
                            248
                            6808.53
                            4022.91
                        
                        
                            249
                            6808.36
                            4021.85
                        
                        
                            250
                            6807.94
                            4020.88
                        
                        
                            251
                            6807.22
                            4019.75
                        
                        
                            252
                            6806.28
                            4017.81
                        
                        
                            253
                            6805.00
                            4016.41
                        
                        
                            254
                            6803.61
                            4017.70
                        
                        
                            255
                            6803.27
                            4015.88
                        
                        
                            256
                            6802.93
                            4015.07
                        
                        
                            257
                            6801.95
                            4014.69
                        
                        
                            258
                            6800.78
                            4015.22
                        
                        
                            259
                            6800.67
                            4015.85
                        
                        
                            260
                            6759.14
                            4014.75
                        
                        
                            261
                            6758.80
                            4015.83
                        
                        
                            262
                            6758.28
                            4015.58
                        
                        
                            263
                            6757.85
                            4016.63
                        
                        
                            264
                            6757.58
                            4017.38
                        
                        
                            265
                            6756.51
                            4016.19
                        
                        
                            266
                            6755.99
                            4016.45
                        
                        
                            267
                            6755.23
                            4014.90
                        
                        
                            268
                            6754.31
                            4016.24
                        
                        
                            269
                            6753.88
                            4017.41
                        
                        
                            270
                            6752.96
                            4016.95
                        
                        
                            271
                            6752.29
                            4017.18
                        
                        
                            272
                            6752.46
                            4019.25
                        
                        
                            273
                            6752.26
                            4019.59
                        
                        
                            274
                            6752.88
                            4020.05
                        
                        
                            275
                            6752.54
                            4020.86
                        
                        
                            276
                            6753.31
                            4021.24
                        
                        
                            277
                            6753.07
                            4022.08
                        
                        
                            278
                            6751.62
                            4021.24
                        
                        
                            279
                            6751.26
                            4020.48
                        
                        
                            280
                            6749.97
                            4018.81
                        
                        
                            281
                            6749.29
                            4018.78
                        
                        
                            282
                            6749.49
                            4018.49
                        
                        
                            283
                            6749.40
                            4018.13
                        
                        
                            284
                            6749.12
                            4018.09
                        
                        
                            285
                            6747.94
                            4015.79
                        
                        
                            286
                            6746.47
                            4016.00
                        
                        
                            287
                            6746.23
                            4016.37
                        
                        
                            288
                            6745.61
                            4016.18
                        
                        
                            289
                            6745.80
                            4016.54
                        
                        
                            290
                            6745.66
                            4017.53
                        
                        
                            291
                            6745.34
                            4018.75
                        
                        
                            292
                            6744.52
                            4018.25
                        
                        
                            293
                            6744.13
                            4018.39
                        
                        
                            294
                            6743.50
                            4018.84
                        
                        
                            295
                            6743.42
                            4018.00
                        
                        
                            296
                            6742.81
                            4018.27
                        
                        
                            297
                            6742.61
                            4017.62
                        
                        
                            298
                            6741.69
                            4017.88
                        
                        
                            299
                            6741.81
                            4019.20
                        
                        
                            300
                            6742.61
                            4020.29
                        
                        
                            301
                            6739.96
                            4022.27
                        
                        
                            302
                            6740.38
                            4024.07
                        
                        
                            303
                            6739.92
                            4025.32
                        
                        
                            304
                            6739.77
                            4024.13
                        
                        
                            
                            305
                            6739.64
                            4023.12
                        
                        
                            306
                            6739.20
                            4021.31
                        
                        
                            307
                            6739.88
                            4020.41
                        
                        
                            308
                            6739.06
                            4019.39
                        
                        
                            309
                            6737.75
                            4018.86
                        
                        
                            310
                            6737.54
                            4019.41
                        
                        
                            311
                            6736.18
                            4019.12
                        
                        
                            312
                            6735.49
                            4020.23
                        
                        
                            313
                            6734.74
                            4019.65
                        
                        
                            314
                            6734.16
                            4021.13
                        
                        
                            315
                            6733.06
                            4020.46
                        
                        
                            316
                            6732.36
                            4021.41
                        
                        
                            317
                            6731.99
                            4020.77
                        
                        
                            318
                            6730.93
                            4020.91
                        
                        
                            319
                            6730.69
                            4020.52
                        
                        
                            320
                            6730.02
                            4021.66
                        
                        
                            321
                            6729.38
                            4021.09
                        
                        
                            322
                            6728.94
                            4021.57
                        
                        
                            323
                            6728.35
                            4022.81
                        
                        
                            324
                            6727.79
                            4022.19
                        
                        
                            325
                            6726.75
                            4021.57
                        
                        
                            326
                            6725.66
                            4022.31
                        
                        
                            327
                            6725.43
                            4022.61
                        
                        
                            328
                            6725.30
                            4023.42
                        
                        
                            329
                            6725.36
                            4024.34
                        
                        
                            330
                            6725.16
                            4024.64
                        
                        
                            331
                            6725.53
                            4024.93
                        
                        
                            332
                            6724.73
                            4025.43
                        
                        
                            333
                            6724.13
                            4027.58
                        
                        
                            334
                            6723.69
                            4024.23
                        
                        
                            335
                            6722.74
                            4023.27
                        
                        
                            336
                            6721.70
                            4023.12
                        
                        
                            337
                            6721.33
                            4023.77
                        
                        
                            338
                            6720.68
                            4023.40
                        
                        
                            339
                            6720.05
                            4024.39
                        
                        
                            340
                            6719.11
                            4023.85
                        
                        
                            341
                            6718.75
                            4025.17
                        
                        
                            342
                            6718.09
                            4024.77
                        
                        
                            343
                            6717.32
                            4025.14
                        
                        
                            344
                            6717.33
                            4025.59
                        
                        
                            345
                            6716.37
                            4025.50
                        
                        
                            346
                            6715.62
                            4025.40
                        
                        
                            347
                            6715.19
                            4025.64
                        
                        
                            348
                            6714.76
                            4026.24
                        
                        
                            349
                            6714.99
                            4026.93
                        
                        
                            350
                            6713.99
                            4026.63
                        
                        
                            351
                            6713.29
                            4027.31
                        
                        
                            352
                            6712.58
                            4026.87
                        
                        
                            353
                            6712.77
                            4027.74
                        
                        
                            354
                            6712.23
                            4028.01
                        
                        
                            355
                            6712.05
                            4027.56
                        
                        
                            356
                            6711.37
                            4027.75
                        
                        
                            357
                            6710.84
                            4027.12
                        
                        
                            358
                            6710.19
                            4027.14
                        
                        
                            359
                            6709.05
                            4028.84
                        
                        
                            360
                            6707.83
                            4028.25
                        
                        
                            361
                            6707.55
                            4028.65
                        
                        
                            362
                            6707.58
                            4029.49
                        
                        
                            363
                            6705.80
                            4028.71
                        
                        
                            364
                            6704.83
                            4029.41
                        
                        
                            365
                            6704.52
                            4029.86
                        
                        
                            366
                            6703.56
                            4029.83
                        
                        
                            367
                            6703.27
                            4031.27
                        
                        
                            368
                            6701.67
                            4030.25
                        
                        
                            369
                            6700.06
                            4031.03
                        
                        
                            370
                            6659.48
                            4031.63
                        
                        
                            371
                            6700.01
                            4032.61
                        
                        
                            372
                            6659.56
                            4032.78
                        
                        
                            373
                            6700.34
                            4034.03
                        
                        
                            374
                            6701.15
                            4034.92
                        
                        
                            375
                            6701.25
                            4036.83
                        
                        
                            376
                            6659.94
                            4035.55
                        
                        
                            
                            377
                            6659.40
                            4035.40
                        
                        
                            378
                            6658.89
                            4035.52
                        
                        
                            379
                            6658.73
                            4034.91
                        
                        
                            380
                            6658.44
                            4034.94
                        
                        
                            381
                            6658.13
                            4035.50
                        
                        
                            382
                            6657.52
                            4034.93
                        
                        
                            383
                            6657.43
                            4035.42
                        
                        
                            384
                            6656.72
                            4035.16
                        
                        
                            385
                            6656.44
                            4035.81
                        
                        
                            386
                            6656.09
                            4035.36
                        
                        
                            387
                            6655.56
                            4035.65
                        
                        
                            388
                            6655.61
                            4034.90
                        
                        
                            389
                            6654.85
                            4034.42
                        
                        
                            390
                            6654.68
                            4035.40
                        
                        
                            391
                            6652.45
                            4036.18
                        
                        
                            392
                            6652.51
                            4036.80
                        
                        
                            393
                            6651.93
                            4036.82
                        
                        
                            394
                            6651.88
                            4037.40
                        
                        
                            395
                            6651.38
                            4037.30
                        
                        
                            396
                            6651.44
                            4037.81
                        
                        
                            397
                            6650.36
                            4037.77
                        
                        
                            398
                            6650.78
                            4038.81
                        
                        
                            399
                            6649.27
                            4038.41
                        
                        
                            400
                            6648.84
                            4038.70
                        
                        
                            401
                            6649.25
                            4039.85
                        
                        
                            402
                            6647.92
                            4039.57
                        
                        
                            403
                            6647.83
                            4039.82
                        
                        
                            404
                            6647.79
                            4040.82
                        
                        
                            405
                            6646.91
                            4040.33
                        
                        
                            406
                            6646.02
                            4040.07
                        
                        
                            407
                            6645.89
                            4041.47
                        
                        
                            408
                            6644.79
                            4041.19
                        
                        
                            409
                            6644.30
                            4041.37
                        
                        
                            410
                            6644.17
                            4042.32
                        
                        
                            411
                            6643.43
                            4042.42
                        
                        
                            412
                            6642.39
                            4042.67
                        
                        
                            413
                            6642.87
                            4044.75
                        
                        
                            414
                            6642.49
                            4045.21
                        
                        
                            415
                            6642.67
                            4045.83
                        
                        
                            416
                            6643.02
                            4046.23
                        
                        
                            417
                            6641.12
                            4045.96
                        
                        
                            418
                            6640.98
                            4045.61
                        
                        
                            419
                            6640.63
                            4045.35
                        
                        
                            420
                            6639.37
                            4045.98
                        
                        
                            421
                            6639.74
                            4046.65
                        
                        
                            422
                            6639.99
                            4046.93
                        
                        
                            423
                            6639.23
                            4046.97
                        
                        
                            424
                            6638.17
                            4047.99
                        
                        
                            425
                            6637.69
                            4047.13
                        
                        
                            426
                            6636.94
                            4047.36
                        
                        
                            427
                            6637.05
                            4047.83
                        
                        
                            428
                            6636.49
                            4047.87
                        
                        
                            429
                            6636.12
                            4048.59
                        
                        
                            430
                            6635.63
                            4048.13
                        
                        
                            431
                            6635.30
                            4048.35
                        
                        
                            432
                            6635.35
                            4049.96
                        
                        
                            433
                            6634.96
                            4050.30
                        
                        
                            434
                            6634.50
                            4050.33
                        
                        
                            435
                            6634.26
                            4050.91
                        
                        
                            436
                            6634.76
                            4051.34
                        
                        
                            437
                            6633.57
                            4051.38
                        
                        
                            438
                            6634.29
                            4052.10
                        
                        
                            439
                            6633.55
                            4052.16
                        
                        
                            440
                            6633.32
                            4052.70
                        
                        
                            441
                            6632.88
                            4052.69
                        
                        
                            442
                            6632.62
                            4051.96
                        
                        
                            443
                            6632.01
                            4051.53
                        
                        
                            444
                            6630.28
                            4053.07
                        
                        
                            445
                            6630.69
                            4053.61
                        
                        
                            446
                            6630.15
                            4053.84
                        
                        
                            447
                            6630.14
                            4054.17
                        
                        
                            448
                            6630.67
                            4054.62
                        
                        
                            
                            449
                            6628.81
                            4054.47
                        
                        
                            450
                            6628.84
                            4055.04
                        
                        
                            451
                            6628.16
                            4055.03
                        
                        
                            452
                            6627.30
                            4055.99
                        
                        
                            453
                            6625.16
                            4058.14
                        
                        
                            454
                            6624.11
                            4059.64
                        
                        
                            455
                            6624.37
                            4100.32
                        
                        
                            456
                            6623.57
                            4100.33
                        
                        
                            457
                            6622.61
                            4101.68
                        
                        
                            458
                            6623.05
                            4102.64
                        
                        
                            459
                            6624.77
                            4103.86
                        
                        
                            460
                            6624.03
                            4104.11
                        
                        
                            461
                            6624.60
                            4104.95
                        
                        
                            462
                            6622.60
                            4104.23
                        
                        
                            463
                            6621.17
                            4104.35
                        
                        
                            464
                            6621.11
                            4105.02
                        
                        
                            465
                            6619.77
                            4104.45
                        
                        
                            466
                            6618.07
                            4106.00
                        
                        
                            467
                            6618.24
                            4107.82
                        
                        
                            468
                            6617.07
                            4108.68
                        
                        
                            469
                            6616.90
                            4108.93
                        
                        
                            470
                            6616.86
                            4108.98
                            
                                (
                                4
                                )
                            
                        
                        
                            Notes:
                        
                        
                            (
                            3
                            ) POINT 17 represents where the western and northern boundaries meet.
                        
                        
                            (
                            4
                            ) POINT 470 represents the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
                        
                    
                    (iii) The eastern and southern boundary (from Point 470) follows the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary southeasterly to its intersection with the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The boundary then follows the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone southwesterly back to its origin at POINT 01.
                    
                        (b) 
                        Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area.
                         (1) No vessel may fish with bottom-tending mobile gear, as defined in  648.2, within the Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area described in this section, unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section. Bottom-tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited to, otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a purse seine).
                    
                    (2) The Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by straight lines:
                    
                        
                            Table 1 to Paragraph (
                            b
                            )
                        
                        
                            Point
                            Longitude
                            Latitude
                        
                        
                            MDR1
                            6813.16
                            4356.99
                        
                        
                            MDR2
                            6812.00
                            4357.00
                        
                        
                            MDR3
                            6811.45
                            4356.17
                        
                        
                            MDR4
                            6812.21
                            4352.62
                        
                        
                            MDR5
                            6814.32
                            4352.11
                        
                        
                            MDR1
                            6813.16
                            4356.99
                        
                    
                    
                        (c) 
                        Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area.
                         (1) No vessel may fish with bottom-tending mobile gear, as defined in  648.2, within the Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area described in this section, unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section. Bottom-tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited to, otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a purse seine).
                    
                    (2) The Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by straight lines:
                    
                        
                            Table 1 to Paragraph (
                            c
                            )(2)
                        
                        
                            Point
                            Longitude
                            Latitude
                        
                        
                            OSR1
                            6735.60
                            4413.49
                        
                        
                            OSR2
                            6733.10
                            4412.56
                        
                        
                            OSR3
                            6739.70
                            4402.48
                        
                        
                            OSR4
                            6742.29
                            4403.48
                        
                        
                            OSR1
                            6735.60
                            4413.49
                        
                    
                    
                        (d) 
                        Transiting.
                         Vessels may transit the New England Deep-Sea Coral Management Areas defined in this section, provided bottom-tending trawl nets are out of the water and stowed on the reel and any other fishing gear that is prohibited in these areas is onboard, out of the water, and not deployed. Fishing gear is not required to meet the definition of not available for immediate use in  648.2, when a vessel transits the New England Deep-Sea Coral Management Areas.
                    
                    
                        (e) 
                        Framework adjustments.
                         The Council may at any time initiate a framework adjustment to add or adjust management measures within the New England Deep-Sea Coral Management Areas if it finds that action is necessary to meet or be consistent with the goals and objectives of those areas. The Council shall develop and analyze appropriate management actions over the span of at least two Council meetings. The Council shall provide the public with advance notice of the availability of both the proposals and the analyses, and opportunity to comment on them prior to and at the second Council meeting. Measures that may be changed or implemented through framework action include:
                    
                    (1) Adding, revising, or removing coral areas;
                    (2) Changing fishing restrictions in coral areas; and
                    (3) Developing new, or changing existing, coral area fishery access or exploratory fishing programs.
                
            
            [FR Doc. 201928424 Filed 1220; 8:45 am]
             BILLING CODE 351022P