Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules 12163 

Allotments under Texas by revising the 

entry for Corpus Christi to read as 

follows: 

§ 73.622 Digital television table of 

allotments. 

* * * * * 

(i) * * * 

Community Channel No. 

*****

TEXAS 

*****

Corpus Christi ....... 8, 10, * 23, 26, 27, 38 

*****

[FR Doc. 2021–04289 Filed 3–1–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

47 CFR Part 73 

[MB Docket No. 21–61; RM–11885; DA 21– 

204; FR ID 17519] 

Television Broadcasting Services 

Lubbock, Texas 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Commission has before it 

a petition for rulemaking (Petition) filed 

by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray 

or the Petitioner), licensee of KCBD, 

channel 11, Lubbock, Texas, requesting 

the substitution of UHF channel 36 for 

VHF channel 11 at Lubbock in the DTV 

Table of Allotments. Gray states that 

many of its viewers experience 

significant difficulty receiving the 

station’s VHF signal and that all but 350 

of the 414,091 persons currently served 

by KCBD will continue to be well served 

by at least five other stations, a number 

which the Commission has recognized 

as de minimus. 

DATES: Comments must be filed on or 

before April 1, 2021 and reply 

comments on or before April 16, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications 

Commission, Office of the Secretary, 45 

L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. In 

addition to filing comments with the 

FCC, interested parties should serve 

counsel for petitioner as follows: Joan 

Stewart, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K 

Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at (202) 

418–1647; or Joyce.Bernstein@fcc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a 

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, MB Docket No. 

21–61; RM–11885; DA 21–204, adopted 

February 22, 2021, and released 

February 22, 2021. The full text of this 

document is available for download at 

https://www.fcc.gov/edocs. To request 

materials in accessible formats (braille, 

large print, computer diskettes, or audio 

recordings), please send an email to 

FCC504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & 

Government Affairs Bureau at (202) 

418–0530 (VOICE), (202) 418–0432 

(TTY). 

This document does not contain 

information collection requirements 

subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 

of 1995, Public Law 104–13. In addition, 

therefore, it does not contain any 

proposed information collection burden 

‘‘for small business concerns with fewer 

than 25 employees,’’ pursuant to the 

Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 

2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(4). Provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601– 

612, do not apply to this proceeding. 

Members of the public should note 

that all ex parte contacts are prohibited 

from the time a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking is issued to the time the 

matter is no longer subject to 

Commission consideration or court 

review, see 47 CFR 1.1208. There are, 

however, exceptions to this prohibition, 

which can be found in Section 1.1204(a) 

of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 

1.1204(a). 

See Sections 1.415 and 1.420 of the 

Commission’s rules for information 

regarding the proper filing procedures 

for comments, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.420. 

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73 

Television. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Thomas Horan, 

Chief of Staff, Media Bureau. 

Proposed Rule 

For the reasons discussed in the 

preamble, the Federal Communications 

Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR 

part 73 as follows: 

PART 73—Radio Broadcast Service 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 73 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303, 

307, 309, 310, 334, 336, and 339. 

■ 2. In § 73.622 in paragraph (i) amend 

the Post-Transition Table of DTV 

Allotments under Texas by revising the 

entry for Lubbock to read as follows: 

§ 73.622 Digital television table of 

allotments. 

* * * * * 

(i) * * * 

Community Channel No. 

*****

TEXAS 

*****

Lubbock ................ 16, 27, 35, 36, * 39, 40 

*****

[FR Doc. 2021–04293 Filed 3–1–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[Docket No. 210219–0026] 

RIN 0648–BK01 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish 

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 

Framework Action 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement 

management measures described in a 

framework action to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Reef 

Fish FMP), as prepared and submitted 

by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council). This 

proposed rule would prohibit certain 

fishing activities and, with one 

exception, the possession of Gulf of 

Mexico (Gulf) reef fish within the 

Madison-Swanson and Steamboat 

Lumps Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 

The purpose of this proposed rule and 

the framework action is to protect 

spawning aggregations of mature reef 

fish species by reducing the potential 

for illegal fishing activities within these 

MPAs. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
12164 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

DATES: Written comments on the 

proposed rule must be received by April 

1, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the proposed rule, identified by 

‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2020–0142,’’ by either 

of the following methods: 

• Electronic submission: Submit all 

electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://

www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAANMFS-2020-0142, click the ‘‘Comment 

Now!’’ icon, complete the required 

fields, and enter or attach your 

comments. 

• Mail: Submit all written comments 

to Rich Malinowski, NMFS Southeast 

Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

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 required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

Electronic copies of the framework 

action may be obtained from 

www.regulations.gov or the Southeast 

Regional Office website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ 

modification-fishing-access-easterngulf-mexico-marine-protected-areas. 

The framework action includes an 

environmental assessment, regulatory 

impact review, and Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich 

Malinowski, NMFS Southeast Regional 

Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, or 

email: rich.malinowski@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and 

the Council manage the reef fish fishery 

under the Reef Fish FMP. The Reef Fish 

FMP was prepared by the Council and 

is implemented by NMFS through 

regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 

1801 et seq.). 

Background 

The Madison-Swanson and Steamboat 

Lumps MPAs were established on June 

19, 2000 (65 FR 31827, May 19, 2000). 

The two MPAs combined cover 219 

square nautical miles (nmi2) (751 square 

kilometers (km2)) near the 240-foot (73- 

meter) contour, also known as the 40- 

fathom contour, off northwest and west 

Florida. The area of Madison-Swanson 

is 115 nmi2 (394 km2) and the area of 

Steamboat Lumps is 104 nmi2 (357 

km2). The distance between these MPAs 

is approximately 69 nmi (127 km). The 

Council and NMFS created the MPAs to 

provide protection to spawning 

aggregations of gag, which is a species 

of grouper, and other reef fish. When the 

MPAs were implemented, all fishing 

inside the MPAs was prohibited, except 

for Atlantic highly migratory species 

(HMS) such as tunas, billfishes, and 

oceanic sharks, which are managed 

separately by NMFS’ Atlantic HMS 

Management Division. Since 2004, 

surface trolling has been allowed for 

non-reef fish species in the MPAs from 

May 1 through October 31 annually (69 

FR 24532, May 4, 2004). In 2006, NMFS 

implemented complementary 

management measures to prohibit 

fishing for Atlantic HMS except by 

surface trolling from May 1 through 

October 31 annually (71 FR 58058, 

October 2, 2006). In addition, the 

possession of Gulf reef fish while inside 

the MPAs is prohibited, except on a 

vessel in transit with fishing gear 

stowed as specified in § 622.34(a)(4). 

At its October 2019 meeting, the 

Council’s Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP) 

discussed observations of illegal harvest 

of reef fish species under the 

appearance of trolling within the 

boundaries of the MPAs. Reef Fish AP 

members believed that the MPAs are not 

a legitimate trolling destination for nonreef fish species and that the illegal 

harvest of reef fish is occurring in these 

areas. Reef Fish AP members also 

acknowledged that it was possible to 

drift through the MPAs with fishing 

tackle weighted deep below the vessel 

to increase the probability of hooking a 

reef fish. At this meeting, an 

enforcement officer from the Florida 

Fish and Wildlife Conservation 

Commission noted that enforcement of 

the MPAs is challenging due to the 

remote locations. 

At its January 2020 meeting, the 

Council discussed the Reef Fish AP’s 

recommendation to prohibit all fishing 

(other than for Atlantic HMS) in the 

MPAs year-round to reduce the 

potential for targeting reef fish while 

bottom fishing under the guise of 

trolling within the MPAs. The U.S. 

Coast Guard representative on the 

Council agreed that enforcement in the 

MPAs can be difficult due to the 

distance from port. 

In response to these concerns, the 

Council developed a framework action 

that would modify the restrictions on 

fishing in, and transiting through, the 

Madison-Swanson and Steamboat 

Lumps MPAs in the eastern Gulf. The 

framework action would prohibit all 

fishing, except for HMS, year-round in 

the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat 

Lumps MPAs, and prohibit the 

possession of Gulf reef fish year-round 

in these areas unless a vessel has a valid 

Federal commercial permit for Gulf reef 

fish, an operating satellite-based VMS, 

and is in transit with fishing gear 

appropriately stowed. The Council 

determined that eliminating surface 

trolling from May 1 through October 31, 

which would effectively close the MPAs 

to fishing year-round, would make it 

easier for law enforcement to detect 

whether a vessel was fishing within the 

MPAs and result in direct positive 

effects for mature spawning gag that are 

known to inhabit the MPAs, as well as 

other resident federally managed reef 

fish. The Council also determined that 

a prohibition on possession Gulf reef 

fish would aid law enforcement. 

However, in response to concerns raised 

by fishermen who hold Federal 

commercial reef fish permits, the 

Council made an exception to this 

prohibition for vessels issued these 

permits because those vessels are easily 

tracked through the required VMS. 

These prohibitions would not apply 

to Atlantic HMS. However, on July 20, 

2020, the Council sent a letter that 

requested the NMFS Atlantic HMS 

Management Division consider 

developing compatible regulations for 

HMS to the proposed management 

measures in the framework action. 

Federal regulations currently applicable 

to Atlantic HMS in the MPAs are 

located at 50 CFR 635. 

Management Measures Contained in 

This Proposed Rule 

This proposed rule would prohibit 

fishing year-round in the MadisonSwanson and Steamboat Lumps MPAs. 

Additionally, the possession of any Gulf 

reef fish would be prohibited yearround in the MPAs, with a limited 

exception. 

This proposed rule would revise 

current fishing restrictions in the MPAs. 

Currently, surface trolling is the only 

allowable fishing activity and is only 

permitted from May through October 

each year. Surface trolling is defined in 

§ 622.34(a)(5) as fishing with lines 

trailing behind a vessel which is in 

constant motion at speeds in excess of 

four knots (4.6 mph) with a visible 

wake, and the use of downriggers, wire 

lines, planers, or similar devices is not 

allowed. Federally managed species that 

may be targeted by surface trolling in 

the MPAs include the Gulf CMP species 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules 12165 

king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, 

and HMS. 

This proposed rule would prohibit 

fishing year-round for all species except 

HMS. However, as stated earlier, NMFS 

may implement compatible regulations 

for HMS later, as requested by the 

Council. 

Currently, fishing vessels with Gulf 

reef fish on board may transit through 

the MPAs as long as all fishing gear is 

appropriately stowed. This provision 

allows transiting fishing vessels to 

proceed between destinations, without 

the need to reroute to avoid a specific 

area even if they are in possession of 

reef fish. For these MPAs, transit means 

non-stop progression through the area 

and fishing gear appropriately stowed is 

defined in 50 CFR 622.34(a)(4)(i) 

through (iv). This proposed rule would 

prohibit the possession of Gulf reef fish 

in the MPAs even when transiting 

unless the vessel was issued a valid 

Federal commercial permit for Gulf reef 

fish, which requires an operating 

satellite-based VMS. As with the current 

regulation, all fishing gear would need 

to be appropriately stowed. 

Classification 

Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS 

Assistant Administrator has determined 

that this proposed rule is consistent 

with the framework amendment, the 

FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 

other applicable laws, subject to further 

consideration after public comment. 

This proposed rule has been 

determined to be not significant for 

purposes of Executive Order 12866. 

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of 

the Department of Commerce certified 

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

Small Business Administration that this 

proposed rule, if adopted, would not 

have a significant economic impact on 

a substantial number of small entities. 

The factual basis for this certification is 

as follows. A copy of the full analysis 

is available from NMFS (see 

ADDRESSES). 

A description of the action, why it is 

being considered, and the objectives of 

and legal basis for this action are 

contained at the beginning of this 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section and 

in the SUMMARY section of the preamble. 

The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides 

the statutory basis for this proposed 

rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or 

conflicting Federal rules have been 

identified. In addition, no new reporting 

or recordkeeping compliance 

requirements are introduced in this 

proposed rule. 

The proposed rule concerns 

recreational and commercial fishing 

within the Madison-Swanson and 

Steamboat Lumps MPAs within the Gulf 

exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Currently, the possession of Gulf reef 

fish in these MPAs is generally 

prohibited, and surface trolling is the 

only allowable fishing activity during 

May through October. As stated 

previously, this proposed rule does not 

affect Atlantic HMS. Therefore, the 

proposed rule directly affects both 

anglers (recreational fishers) and 

commercial fishing businesses that 

harvest non-reef fish species, such as 

king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or 

cobia within the MPAs by surface 

trolling and both anglers, and charter 

vessels and headboats (for-hire) fishing 

businesses that operate vessels that 

transit through the MPAs with reef fish 

onboard. Because of the proximity of the 

MPAs to the west coast of Florida, 

NMFS expects that any entity that may 

surface troll for CMP species within the 

MPAs or operate a vessel that transits 

through the MPAs with reef fish 

onboard lands its catch in Florida. 

Anglers are not considered small 

entities as that term is defined in 5 

U.S.C. 601(6), whether fishing from forhire fishing, private, or leased vessels. 

Therefore, neither estimates of the 

number of anglers, nor the impacts on 

them are required or provided in this 

analysis. 

Any business that operates a 

commercial fishing vessel that harvests 

either king mackerel or Spanish 

mackerel in the Gulf EEZ must have a 

valid Federal permit for these Gulf CMP 

species issued to that vessel. From 2014 

through 2018, an annual average of 

2,081 vessels had Federal commercial 

permits for one or both of those CMP 

species, and 77 (3.7 percent) of those 

permitted vessels used surface trolling 

to harvest the CMP species and land 

their catch in Florida. An estimated 74 

businesses operate the 77 vessels, and 

all of these businesses are expected to 

operate primarily in the commercial 

fishing industry (NAICS code 11411). 

No Federal permit is required for the 

commercial harvest and sale of Gulf 

cobia. However, from 2014 through 

2018, an annual average of 5 of the 

above 77 commercial fishing vessels 

reported harvesting Gulf cobia by 

surface trolling. 

For Regulatory Flexibility Act 

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 

involved in commercial fishing (NAICS 

11411) 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 

its combined annual receipts are not in 

excess of $11 million for all of its 

affiliated operations worldwide. The 

average annual revenue per vessel for 

the 77 vessels that harvest CMP species 

by surface trolling and land those fish 

in Florida is $14,707 (2018 dollars). 

Therefore, the 74 commercial fishing 

businesses that operate the 77 vessels 

are classified as small. 

Any business that operates a for-hire 

fishing vessel that has reef fish onboard 

in the Gulf EEZ must have a valid 

Federal charter vessel/headboat permit 

for Gulf reef fish. As of June 23, 2020, 

there were 770 such permits held by 

entities residing in Florida. That figure 

is also consistent with the average 

annual number of Federal charter 

vessel/headboat permits for Gulf reef 

fish held by entities residing in Florida 

from 2014 through 2018. The proposed 

rule would not directly affect for-hire 

vessels with both valid Federal charter 

vessel/headboat permits and 

commercial permits for Gulf reef fish, 

and approximately 24 percent (183) of 

the for-hire vessels have both permits. 

Therefore, 587 vessels with a Federal 

charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf 

reef fish could be directly affected by 

the proposed rule. An estimated 411 

businesses operate these 587 vessels. 

A business in the for-hire fishing 

industry (NAICS code 487210) is a small 

business if it is independently owned 

and operated, is not dominant in its 

field of operation (including its 

affiliates) and its combined annual 

receipts that are no more than $8.0 

million for all of its affiliated operations 

worldwide. The average charter vessel 

operating in the Gulf with a Federal reef 

fish permit is estimated to receive 

approximately $88,095 (2018 dollars) in 

gross revenue annually. The average 

headboat operating in the Gulf with a 

Federal reef fish permit is estimated to 

receive approximately $267,358 (2018 

dollars) in gross revenue annually. From 

that, NMFS concludes that the above 

411 for-hire fishing businesses are 

classified as small. 

Currently, from May through October, 

surface trolling is allowed within the 

MPAs. The proposed rule would 

prohibit surface trolling within the 

MPAs year-round. 

Average annual dockside revenue 

from CMP species landed by federally 

permitted commercial vessels from May 

through October of 2014 through 2018 

accounted for 20 percent ($2,948 in 

2018 dollars) of the annual dockside 

revenue from all landings by the average 

federally permitted vessel that used 

surface trolling and landed CMP species 

in Florida. If all May through October 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
12166 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

landings of CMP species by these 

vessels were entirely of CMP species 

harvested from the MPAs, the average 

adverse economic impact of the 

proposed rule would be $2,948 annually 

per vessel for 77 CMP federally 

permitted vessels. However, that is 

highly unlikely. The MPAs are small 

and represent a relatively small 

percentage of the Gulf EEZ. MadisonSwanson is 115 nmi2 (394 km2) and 

Steamboat Lumps is 104 nmi2 (357 

km2). Moreover, the MPAs are 

considered as relatively poor 

destinations for successful surface 

trolling. Therefore, NMFS expects any 

adverse economic impact of a yearround surface trolling prohibition on the 

74 small commercial fishing businesses 

to be minimal. 

Currently, possession of Gulf reef fish 

year-round or any other species of fish 

from November through April, 

including CMP species, is prohibited in 

the MPAs, except on a vessel in transit 

with fishing gear appropriately stowed. 

Under the proposed rule, the possession 

of any species of Gulf reef fish would be 

prohibited year-round in the MPAs, 

except for a vessel with a valid Federal 

commercial Gulf reef fish permit, which 

is required to have an operating 

satellite-based VMS, that is in transit 

with fishing gear stowed. 

Under the proposed rule, the 411 

small businesses that operate the 587 

for-hire fishing vessels that have a forhire reef fish permit, but do not have a 

Gulf commercial reef fish permit, would 

no longer be able to transit through the 

MPAs with reef fish onboard. It is 

unknown how many, if any, of the 587 

for-hire vessels transit through the 

MPAs with reef fish onboard. However, 

because of the relatively small size of 

the MPAs and the distance between 

them, NMFS expects that any of those 

vessels could relatively easily avoid 

transiting through the MPAs if they 

have reef fish on board and any 

additional cost to transit around the 

MPAs would be minimal. 

From the above, NMFS expects any 

impacts from the proposed rule on small 

businesses in the commercial fishing 

and for-hire fishing industries to be 

minimal. Therefore, NMFS concludes 

that this proposed rule would not have 

a significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. As 

a result, an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis is not required and none has 

been prepared. 

This proposed rule contains no 

information collection requirements 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622 

Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, 

Marine protected area, Reef fish. 

Dated: February 22, 2021. 

Samuel D. Rauch, III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is proposed 

to be amended as follows: 

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE 

CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND 

SOUTH ATLANTIC 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 622 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

■ 2. Amend § 622.34 by: 

■ a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory 

text and paragraphs (a)(2) and (3), and 

■ b. Removing paragraphs (a)(5) and (6). 

The revisions read as follows: 

§ 622.34 Seasonal and area closures 

designed to protect Gulf reef fish. 

(a) Closure provisions applicable to 

the Madison and Swanson sites, 

Steamboat Lumps, and the Edges. For 

the purpose of this paragraph (a), fish 

means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, 

and all other forms of marine animal 

and plant life other than marine 

mammals and birds. The provisions of 

this paragraph (a) do not apply to 

Atlantic highly migratory species, such 

as tunas, billfishes, and oceanic sharks. 

See 50 CFR part 635 for any provisions 

applicable to fishing for or possession of 

Atlantic highly migratory species in 

these areas. 

* * * * * 

(2) Within the Madison and Swanson 

sites and Steamboat Lumps: Fishing is 

prohibited year-round; possession of 

Gulf reef fish is prohibited year-round 

except when such possession is on a 

vessel that has been issued a valid 

Federal commercial permit for Gulf reef 

fish, has an operating satellite-based 

VMS unit, and is in transit with fishing 

gear stowed as specified in paragraph 

(a)(4) of this section; and possession of 

any non-Gulf reef fish species is 

prohibited year-round, except for such 

possession on a vessel in transit with 

fishing gear stowed as specified in 

paragraph (a)(4) of this section. 

(3) Within the Edges during January 

through April each year, all fishing is 

prohibited and the possession of any 

fish species is prohibited, except for 

such possession on a vessel in transit 

with fishing gear appropriately stowed 

as specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this 

section. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2021–04178 Filed 3–1–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[Docket No. 210224–0029] 

RIN 0648–BK22 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Dolphin 

and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic 

States; Amendment 12 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to 

implement Amendment 12 to the 

Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 

Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the 

Atlantic States (Dolphin Wahoo FMP), 

as prepared and submitted by the South 

Atlantic Fishery Management Council 

(Council). This proposed rule would 

add bullet mackerel and frigate 

mackerel to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP 

and designate them as ecosystem 

component (EC) species. The purpose of 

this proposed rule and Amendment 12 

is to acknowledge the ecological role of 

bullet mackerel and frigate mackerel as 

forage fish and to achieve the ecosystem 

management objectives in the Dolphin 

Wahoo FMP. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before April 1, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the proposed rule, identified by 

‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2020–0146,’’ by either 

of the following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and enter 

‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2020–0146’’, in the 

Search box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional 

Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, 

St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS