Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules 84511 

Dated: October 17, 2024. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–24533 Filed 10–22–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 660 

[Docket No. 241018–0275] 

RIN 0648–BN15 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 

Management Plan; Amendment 34; 

Groundfish Exclusion Area for Coral 

Research and Restoration 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS issues these proposed 

regulations to implement amendment 34 

to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 

Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). 

The proposed regulations include a 

closure to commercial groundfish 

bottom contact gear in Monterey Bay 

National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). 

Specifically, NMFS proposes to 

implement a new groundfish exclusion 

area (GEA) for the purposes of coral 

research and restoration within MBNMS 

at the site of Sur Ridge. The purpose of 

this proposed action is to close the Sur 

Ridge site within the MBNMS off 

California to commercial groundfish 

bottom contact gear in order to protect 

future deep-sea coral research and 

restoration projects from the impact of 

fishing gear. The Office of National 

Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) conducts 

scientific research in National Marine 

Sanctuaries, including on deep sea coral 

survival, growth and reproduction, 

under the National Marine Sanctuaries 

Act (NMSA) and the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule 

must be received on or before November 

22, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: A plain language summary 

of this proposed rule is available at 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

NOAA-NMFS-2024-0081. You may 

submit comments on this document, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2024–0081, 

by the following method: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and type 

NOAA–NMFS–2024–0081 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

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 https://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). 

Electronic copies of proposed 

amendment 34 and the draft analysis 

that addresses Presidential Executive 

Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act (RFA), and the statutory 

requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act (the Analysis), may be obtained 

from https://www.regulations.gov and 

the NMFS West Coast Region website at 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/ 

west-coast. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Megan Mackey, 206–526–6140, 

megan.mackey@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Pacific Coast groundfish fishery in the 

U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 

seaward of Washington, Oregon, and 

California is managed under the 

Groundfish FMP. The Council 

developed the Groundfish FMP 

pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 

16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The Secretary of 

Commerce approved the Groundfish 

FMP and implemented the provisions of 

the plan at 50 CFR part 660, subparts C 

through G. Species managed under the 

Groundfish FMP include more than 90 

species of groundfish, flatfish, rockfish, 

sharks, and skates. 

This proposed rule (also referred to 

interchangeably as ‘‘this proposed 

action’’) would implement regulations 

for amendment 34 to the Groundfish 

FMP. Consistent with MagnusonStevens Act section 303(c)(1), the 

Council deemed the proposed 

regulations consistent with and 

necessary to implement amendment 34 

in an October 1, 2024 letter from 

Council Chairman, Merrick Burden, to 

Regional Administrator, Jennifer Quan. 

The Notice of Availability for 

amendment 34 that published on 

October 9, 2024 (89 FR 81878) describes 

the details of the Groundfish FMP 

changes established through this 

proposed action. NMFS is concurrently 

seeking comment on the Council’s 

proposed measures in amendment 34. 

Background 

The Council met over 2023 and 2024 

to consider developing fisheries 

closures for deep-sea coral restoration 

and research in response to a request 

from the ONMS. ONMS conducts 

scientific research in National Marine 

Sanctuaries, including within MBNMS, 

under the NMSA and the MagnusonStevens Act. 

In September 2023, ONMS presented 

a scoping paper that posed 5 locations 

with 10 sites within Greater Farallones 

National Marine Sanctuary and 

MBNMS, for deep seas coral restoration 

and research (section 1.2 of the 

Analysis). At that meeting, the Council 

chose to continue to scope closures in 

MBNMS only, at the locations of An ̃ o 

Nuevo and Ascension Canyons (two 

sites) and Sur Ridge (one site), for areas 

to conduct coral research and 

restoration. The Council proposed that 

these areas could be closed to bottom 

contact gears as GEAs. GEAs were 

established by amendment 32 to the 

Groundfish FMP (88 FR 83830, 

December 1, 2023) and are a 

management tool intended to mitigate 

the impacts to sensitive environments 

from certain groundfish fishing activity. 

At the March 2024 meeting, the 

Council adopted a range of alternatives 

for this proposed action that included 

modified versions of the An ̃ o Nuevo and 

Ascension Canyon sites to address 

concerns raised by the public regarding 

closing off key fishing grounds 

shallower than 400 fathoms (fm) and 

enforcement concerns (section 1.2 of the 

Analysis). The Council also confirmed 

that the potential sites would only be 

proposed to be closed to commercial 

groundfish bottom contact gears and 

that no other gear types or fisheries 

would be proposed in the closures. 

At the June 2024 meeting, the Council 

adopted its final preferred alternative to 

develop a GEA for commercial 

groundfish bottom contact gear at Sur 

Ridge in MBNMS. If the GEA is 

established, it is expected that ONMS 

would begin deep-sea coral outplanting 

at Sur Ridge in 2025. 

The proposed GEA at Sur Ridge 

would apply to commercial groundfish 

vessels using bottom contact gear. 

Currently, the GEA area is within a 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
84512 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

1 Vessels were selected based on FOS_

Groundfish_Sector_Codes of ‘‘Catch Shares’’, ‘‘LE 

Fixed Gear Daily Trip Limit’’, ‘‘Limited entry 

Sablefish’’, and ‘‘OA Fixed Gear’’ and were not 

declared (using declaration code) associated with 

non-bottom contact gears. 

bottom trawl essential fish habitat 

conservation area (EFHCA), and 

therefore no bottom trawling is 

permitted. If the EFHCA were to be 

removed in the future, the GEA would 

continue to prohibit bottom trawl. The 

GEA would create new restrictions for 

non-trawl commercial groundfish 

vessels using bottom contact gears in the 

limited entry fixed gear, directed open 

access, and shore-based individual 

fishing quota sectors. Vessels using nonbottom contact gear would still be 

permitted to operate in the area. The 

proposed GEA would close 36.64 square 

nautical miles of area, with depths 

ranging from 2,690 to 5,118 feet (448 to 

853 fm). Overall, this proposed GEA 

would allow ONMS to perform deep-sea 

coral research and restoration while 

having limited impact on the groundfish 

fisheries. 

Amendment 34 

NMFS is proposing amendment 34 to 

the Groundfish FMP in alignment with 

the Council’s recommendation in June 

2024. Amendment 34 would revise the 

description of GEAs in the FMP to 

remove references to specific GEAs, 

consistent with how other closed area 

types are included in the FMP. Active 

GEAs would instead be noted in the 

Federal groundfish regulations at 

proposed § 660.70, and the history of a 

specific GEA would likely be provided 

in the groundfish Stock Assessment 

Fishery Evaluation document. 

Proposed Rule 

In addition to revising the description 

of GEAs under amendment 34, in 

alignment with the Council’s 

recommendation, NMFS proposes 

regulations to modify the use of GEAs 

as a management tool in the following 

ways. This proposed rule would: 

• Add GEAs to the general groundfish 

prohibitions found at § 660.12; 

• Revise the descriptions of GEAs 

found in §§ 660.230, 660.330, and 

660.360 to remove the specific 

references to the Southern California 

Bight; and, 

• Establish a new GEA at Sur Ridge 

in MBNMS. 

To add GEAs to the general 

groundfish prohibitions found in the 

regulations, this proposed rule would 

add proposed § 660.12(a)(22) to the list 

of prohibitions in § 660.12(a) to clarify 

that it is unlawful for fishermen to 

violate any regulations that apply to 

activity in GEAs. To revise the 

descriptions of GEAs in regulations, this 

proposed rule would update §§ 660.230, 

660.330, and 660.360 to remove specific 

references to the Southern California 

Bight and generalize the GEA 

descriptions to allow for GEAs to be 

located more broadly. This proposed 

rule would also update the GEA 

description at § 660.70(t) to note that 

there would be a total of nine GEAs and 

to remove the specific reference to GEAs 

being areas south of Point Conception, 

California. And, finally, this proposed 

rule would add § 660.70(t)(9) to the list 

of GEAs found in that section and 

would include the latitude and 

longitude coordinates and other 

information relevant to establishing the 

proposed Sur Ridge GEA. 

Classification 

Pursuant to sections 303(C) and 

304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator 

has determined that this proposed rule 

is consistent with the Groundfish FMP, 

other provisions of the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable law, 

subject to further consideration after 

public comment. 

This proposed rule has been 

determined to be not significant for 

purposes of Executive Order 12866. 

There are no relevant Federal rules 

that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict 

with this action. 

Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) 

An RIR was prepared to assess all 

costs and benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives. A copy of this Analysis is 

available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES

section). NMFS is recommending 

amendment 34 and the regulatory 

revisions in this proposed rule based on 

its assessment of the net benefits to the 

Nation of these measures. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

NMFS has recommended that the 

Chief Counsel for Regulation of the 

Department of Commerce certify to the 

Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 

Business Administration that this 

proposed rule, if adopted, would not 

have a significant adverse economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. 

For purposes of the RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq.) only, 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. This standard 

applies to all businesses classified 

under North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS) code 

11411 for commercial fishing, including 

all businesses classified as commercial 

finfish fishing (NAICS 114111), 

commercial shellfish fishing (NAICS 

114112), and other commercial marine 

fishing (NAICS 114119) businesses (50 

CFR 200.2; 13 CFR 121.201). 

All commercial groundfish 

participants that use bottom contact gear 

for fisheries in the EEZ off Washington, 

Oregon, and California, which are 

managed under the Groundfish FMP, 

may be affected by this proposed rule. 

Bottom contact gear is defined at 50 CFR 

660.11: ‘‘fishing gear designed or 

modified to make contact with the 

bottom. This includes, but is not limited 

to, beam trawl, bottom trawl, dredge, 

fixed gear, set net, demersal seine, 

dinglebar gear, and other gear (including 

experimental gear) designed or modified 

to make contact with the bottom. Gear 

used to harvest bottom dwelling 

organisms (e.g. by hand, rakes, and 

knives) are also considered bottom 

contact gear for purposes of this 

subpart.’’ 

This list is non-exhaustive. The 

proposed coral research and restoration 

area is within existing bottom trawl 

EFHCAs, which prohibit all bottom 

trawl gears from operating within those 

EFHCA boundaries. Given that these 

areas are currently closed to bottom 

trawl vessels, this action would 

establish no new impact to those 

vessels. Therefore, the proposed action 

would impact only fishing with nontrawl bottom contact gear types within 

the proposed GEA at Sur Ridge. The 

commercial gears that would be 

permitted to operate within the newly 

closed area, as currently proposed, are 

midwater trawl and select non-trawl 

gear types (troll gear and commercial 

vertical hook-and-line gear not anchored 

to the bottom, such as vertical jig gear 

or rod-and-reel gear with weights 

suspended off the bottom). 

From 2019 to 2023, there were 429 

distinct vessels that utilized non-trawl 

bottom contact gears 1 in the 3 

commercial groundfish sectors (directed 

open access (OA), limited entry fixed 

gear (LEFG), and individual fishing 

quota (IFQ) gear switching) with an 

annual average of 175 vessels operating 

annually (table 1) between the latitudes 

of 40° 30′ N and 36° N. As described in 

section 3.5.2 of the Analysis, this is the 

catch area that encompassed the three 

coral restoration and research areas 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules 84513 

proposed within MBNMS in late 2023. 

The Council ultimately only 

recommended one offshore area to move 

forward as a GEA. Therefore, the 

estimated values here are expected to 

reflect the maximum number of vessels 

that could potentially be affected by this 

proposed action. The actual number is 

likely lower. The majority of affected 

vessels would participate in the directed 

OA fishery. To protect the 

confidentiality of vessel data, IFQ gear 

switching vessels were combined with 

LEFG vessels in table 1. 

TABLE 1—RANGE OF VESSELS BY

FISHERY SECTOR

[2019–2023] 

Fishery 

sector Range Average 

OA ............................. 130–172 149 

LEFG/IFQ ................. 24–29 26 

For purposes of this analysis, directed 

OA vessels are assumed to be small 

entities, with ex-vessel revenues for all 

landings (groundfish and nongroundfish) averaging $71,959. In 2023, 

26 of the 29 LEFG permits associated 

with vessels that would likely be subject 

to this action (i.e., required to fish in the 

primary or LE trip limit fisheries) were 

owned by small entities (self-reported). 

For gear switching vessels likely to be 

affected by this action, all were reported 

as small entities in 2023. 

Note that there is not a strict one-toone correlation between vessels and 

entities, nor between permits and 

entities; therefore, some persons or 

firms likely have ownership interests in 

more than one vessel or permit. 

Therefore, the actual number of entities 

regulated by this proposed action may 

be lower than the estimates presented 

here. 

If the proposed area to be closed is 

key to the affected parties’ fishing, and 

if there are limited replacement fishing 

opportunities available, the economic 

impact of the proposed action may 

disproportionately affect small entities 

compared to large entities and may 

result in some profit loss. Given other 

likely current and future fishing 

restrictions impacting the relevant catch 

area (e.g., nearshore restrictions north of 

the area and limited or non-existent 

salmon seasons), offshore opportunities 

are likely to be of greater importance in 

the portfolios of California fishing 

vessels. However, given the limited 

documented historical fishing activity at 

Sur Ridge and the depth of the proposed 

closure, it is likely that a limited subset 

of vessels might be impacted. 

Additionally, these vessels could 

potentially move to other fishing areas 

to maintain similar harvest 

opportunities. 

Therefore, although this action would 

apply to the entirety of all entities 

fishing with bottom contact gear within 

the proposed GEA and the majority of 

those entities are considered small 

entities, because there has been limited 

documented fishing activity in the Sur 

Ridge area and because bottom trawl 

gear is currently prohibited within the 

proposed GEA under the EFHCA, this 

proposed rule is expected to have a 

limited impact on a modest number of 

small entities. For these reasons, NMFS 

believes that this proposed rule would 

not have a significant adverse 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. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This proposed rule contains no new 

information collection requirements 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 

Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

Dated: October 18, 2024. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 

CFR part 660 as follows: 

PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST 

COAST STATES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 660 

continues to read as follows: 

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

U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. 

■ 2. Amend § 660.12 by adding 

paragraph (a)(22) to read as follows: 

§ 660.12 General groundfish prohibitions. 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(22) Fish for, take and retain, possess 

(except for the purpose of continuous 

transit), or land any species of 

groundfish in the GEAs as defined at 

§ 660.11 with coordinates defined at 

§ 660.70. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. Amend § 660.70 by revising the 

introductory text of paragraph (t) and 

adding paragraph (t)(9) to read as 

follows: 

§ 660.70 Groundfish conservation areas. 

* * * * * 

(t) Groundfish Exclusion Areas. The 

Groundfish Exclusion Areas (GEAs) 

include nine areas off the coast of 

California intended to protect sensitive 

areas, including areas with coral and sea 

pens. GEAs are closed to both 

commercial and recreational groundfish 

fisheries unless otherwise noted. 

* * * * * 

(9) Sur Ridge. The Sur Ridge GEA is 

closed to commercial groundfish bottom 

contact gear only and is defined by 

straight lines connecting the following 

specific latitude and longitude 

coordinates in the order listed and 

connecting back to 36°26.00′ N lat., 

122°20.81′ W long: 

(i) 36°26.00′ N lat., 122°20.81′ W 

long.; 

(ii) 36°25.55′ N lat., 122°15.23′ W 

long.; 

(iii) 36°21.71′ N lat., 122°15.32′ W 

long.; 

(iv) 36°17.95′ N lat., 122°17.13′ W 

long.; 

(v) 36°16.42′ N lat., 122°16.69′ W 

long.; and 

(vi) 36°16.41′ N lat., 122°20.76′ W 

long. 

* * * * * 

■ 4. Amend § 660.230 by revising 

paragraphs (a) and (d)(17) to read as 

follows: 

§ 660.230 Fixed gear fishery— 

management measures. 

(a) General. Most species taken in 

limited entry fixed gear (longline and 

pot/trap) fisheries will be managed with 

cumulative trip limits (see trip limits in 

tables 2 (North) and 2 (South) of this 

subpart), size limits (see § 660.60(h)(5)), 

seasons (see trip limits in tables 2 

(North) and 2 (South) of this subpart 

and sablefish primary season details in 

§ 660.231), gear restrictions (see 

paragraph (b) of this section), and closed 

areas (see paragraph (d) of this section 

and §§ 660.70 through 660.79). Cowcod 

retention is prohibited in all fisheries, 

and groundfish vessels must adhere to 

GEA restrictions (see paragraph (d)(17) 

of this section and § 660.70). Yelloweye 

rockfish retention is prohibited in the 

limited entry fixed gear fisheries. 

Regulations governing tier limits for the 

limited entry, fixed gear sablefish 

primary season north of lat. 36° N are 

found in § 660.231. Vessels not 

participating in the sablefish primary 

season are subject to daily or weekly 

sablefish limits in addition to 

cumulative limits for each cumulative 

limit period. Only one sablefish landing 

per week may be made in excess of the 

daily trip limit and, if the vessel chooses 

to make a landing in excess of that daily 

trip limit, then that is the only sablefish 

landing permitted for that week. The 


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I I 
84514 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

trip limit for black rockfish caught with 

hook-and-line gear also applies, see 

§ 660.230(e). The trip limits in tables 2 

(North) and 2 (South) of this subpart 

apply to vessels participating in the 

limited entry groundfish fixed gear 

fishery and may not be exceeded. 

Federal commercial groundfish 

regulations are not intended to 

supersede any more restrictive state 

commercial groundfish regulations 

relating to federally managed 

groundfish. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(17) Groundfish exclusion areas 

(GEAs). GEAs are closed areas defined 

by specific latitude and longitude 

coordinates (specified at § 660.70) 

where recreational and/or commercial 

fishing for groundfish is prohibited. It is 

unlawful to fish for, take and retain, 

possess (except for the purpose of 

continuous transit) or land groundfish 

within the GEAs. All fishing gear for 

targeting groundfish must be stowed 

while transiting through a GEA. If 

fishing for non-groundfish species 

within a GEA, then no groundfish may 

be on board the vessel. 

* * * * * 

■ 5. Amend § 660.330 by revising 

paragraphs (a) and (d)(19) to read as 

follows: 

§ 660.330 Open access fishery— 

management measures. 

(a) General. Groundfish species taken 

in open access fisheries will be managed 

with cumulative trip limits (see trip 

limits in tables 3 (North) and 3 (South) 

of this subpart), size limits (see 

§ 660.60(h)(5)), seasons (see seasons in 

tables 3 (North) and 3 (South) of this 

subpart), gear restrictions (see paragraph 

(b) of this section), and closed areas (see 

paragraph (d) of this section and 

§§ 660.70 through 660.79). Unless 

otherwise specified, a vessel operating 

in the open access fishery is subject to, 

and must not exceed any trip limit, 

frequency limit, and/or size limit for the 

open access fishery. Cowcod retention is 

prohibited in all fisheries, and 

groundfish vessels must adhere to GEA 

restrictions (see paragraph (d)(19) of this 

section and § 660.70). Retention of 

yelloweye rockfish is prohibited in all 

open access fisheries. For information 

on the open access daily/weekly trip 

limit fishery for sablefish, see § 660.332 

of this subpart and the trip limits in 

tables 3 (North) and 3 (South) of this 

subpart. Open access vessels are subject 

to daily or weekly sablefish limits in 

addition to cumulative limits for each 

cumulative limit period. Only one 

sablefish landing per week may be made 

in excess of the daily trip limit and, if 

the vessel chooses to make a landing in 

excess of that daily trip limit, then that 

is the only sablefish landing permitted 

for that week. The trip limit for black 

rockfish caught with hook-and-line gear 

also applies, see paragraph (e) of this 

section. Open access vessels that fish 

with non-groundfish trawl gear or in the 

salmon troll fishery north of lat. 40°10′ 

N are subject the cumulative limits and 

closed areas (except the pink shrimp 

fishery which is not subject to RCA 

restrictions) listed in tables 3 (North) 

and 3 (South) of this subpart. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(19) Groundfish exclusion areas 

(GEAs). GEAs are closed areas defined 

by specific latitude and longitude 

coordinates (specified at § 660.70) 

where recreational and/or commercial 

fishing for groundfish is prohibited. It is 

unlawful to fish for, take and retain, 

possess (except for the purpose of 

continuous transit) or land groundfish 

within the GEAs. All fishing gear for 

targeting groundfish must be stowed 

while transiting through a GEA. If 

fishing for non-groundfish species 

within a GEA, then no groundfish may 

be on board the vessel. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. Amend § 660.360 by revising 

paragraph (c)(3)(i)(B) to read as follows: 

§ 660.360 Recreational fishery— 

management measures. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) * * * 

(B) Groundfish exclusion areas 

(GEAs). GEAs are closed areas defined 

by specific latitude and longitude 

coordinates (specified at § 660.70) 

where recreational and/or commercial 

fishing for groundfish is prohibited. It is 

unlawful to fish for, take and retain, 

possess (except for the purpose of 

continuous transit) or land groundfish 

within the GEAs. Recreational fishing 

gear for targeting groundfish may not be 

deployed while transiting through a 

GEA. If fishing for non-groundfish 

species within a GEA, then no 

groundfish may be on board the vessel. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2024–24556 Filed 10–22–24; 8:45 a.m.] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 241017–0274] 

RIN 0648–BM77 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone; Authorizing Hook-and-Line 

Catcher/Processors To Use Longline 

Pot Gear in the Bering Sea Greenland 

Turbot Fishery 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations 

that would authorize hook-and-line 

catcher/processors (C/Ps) to use longline 

pot gear when directed fishing for 

Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea (BS) 

subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands (BSAI). This proposed rule is 

necessary to improve efficiency, provide 

economic benefits for the hook-and-line 

C/P sector, and minimize potential 

fishery interactions with killer whales. 

This proposed rule would promote the 

goals and objectives of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens 

Act), the Fishery Management Plan 

(FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

(BSAI FMP) and other applicable laws. 

DATES: Submit comments on or before 

November 22, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: A plain language summary 

of this proposed rule is available at 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

NOAA-NMFS-2023-0156. You may 

submit comments on this document, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2023–0156 

by any of the following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit 

https://www.regulations.gov and type 

NOAA–NMFS–2023–0156 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Gretchen Harrington, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS. Mail 

comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 

AK 99802–1668. 

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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS