[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16583-16589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06988]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02]
RIN 0648-BE20


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 32

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 32 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 
Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (Council). This rule removes blueline tilefish from 
the deep-water complex; establishes blueline tilefish commercial and 
recreational sector annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability 
measures (AMs); revises the deep-water complex ACLs and AMs; 
establishes a blueline tilefish commercial trip limit; and revises the 
blueline tilefish recreational bag limit. The purpose of this rule is 
to specify ACLs and AMs for blueline tilefish to end overfishing of the 
stock and maintain catch levels consistent with achieving optimum yield 
(OY) for the blueline tilefish resource.

DATES: This rule is effective March 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 32, which includes an 
environmental assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, 
and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the Southeast 
Regional Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2014/am32/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick DeVictor, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c0e151f175218190a151f08130e3c12131d1d521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e4968d878fca8081928d87908b96a48a8b8585ca838b92">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The blueline tilefish is a species included 
in the snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic, and the fishery 
is managed under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and is 
implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    On December 19, 2014, NMFS published a notice of availability for 
Amendment 32 and requested public comment (79 FR 75780). On January 22, 
2015, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 32 and requested 
public comment (80 FR 3207). The proposed rule and Amendment 32 outline 
the rationale for the actions contained in this final rule. A summary 
of the actions implemented by Amendment 32 and this final rule is 
provided below.
    A benchmark assessment for the blueline tilefish stock in the South 
Atlantic was conducted through the Southeast, Data, Assessment, and 
Review (SEDAR) process in 2013 (SEDAR 32). The assessment determined 
that the blueline tilefish stock is undergoing overfishing in the South 
Atlantic. NMFS published an emergency rule on April 17, 2014 (79 FR 
21636), that implemented temporary measures to reduce overfishing of 
blueline tilefish while Amendment 32 was under development. Those 
measures were extended through a temporary rule (79 FR 61262, October 
10, 2014), and are effective through April 18, 2015. The temporary 
measures of the emergency action include the following: Removal of 
blueline tilefish from the deep-water complex, specification of sector 
ACLs and AMs for blueline tilefish, and revision to the deep-water 
complex ACL to reflect the removal of blueline tilefish from the 
complex. Unless otherwise noted, all weights in this rule are expressed 
in round weight.

[[Page 16584]]

Management Measures Contained in This Final Rule

Removal of Blueline Tilefish From the Deep-Water Complex

    This final rule removes blueline tilefish from the deep-water 
complex. In 2012, the Comprehensive ACL Amendment established a deep-
water complex that contained the following eight species: Blueline 
tilefish, yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen 
snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, and blackfin snapper (77 FR 
15916, March 16, 2012).
    As a result of blueline tilefish being assessed through SEDAR 32 
and the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) providing 
an assessment-based acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendation 
for blueline tilefish, the Council decided to remove blueline tilefish 
from the deep-water complex and establish individual ACLs and AMs for 
the blueline tilefish stock. Amendment 29 to the FMP, which was 
approved by the Secretary of Commerce on February 20, 2015, revised the 
deep-water complex ABC, and Amendment 32 then revised the deep-water 
complex commercial and recreational ACLs.

Blueline Tilefish Commercial and Recreational ACLs and AMs

    This final rule implements blueline tilefish commercial and 
recreational ACLs to end overfishing of the stock. The total ACLs 
(combined commercial and recreational ACLs, equivalent to a total ACL) 
for blueline tilefish are set at 35,632 lb (16,162 kg) for 2015, 53,457 
lb (24,248 kg) for 2016, 71,469 lb (32,418 kg) for 2017, and 87,974 lb 
(39,904 kg) for 2018, and subsequent fishing years. Based on the sector 
allocations of 50.07 percent and 49.93 percent for the commercial and 
recreational sectors, the commercial ACLs are set at 17,841 lb (8,093 
kg) for 2015, 26,766 lb (12,141 kg) for 2016, 35,785 lb (16,232 kg) for 
2017, and 44,048 lb (19,980 kg) for 2018, and subsequent fishing years. 
The recreational ACLs are set at 17,791 lb (8,070 kg) for 2015, 26,691 
lb (12,107 kg) for 2016, 35,685 lb (16,186 kg) for 2017, and 43,925 lb 
(19,924 kg) for 2018, and subsequent fishing years.
    This final rule implements commercial and recreational in-season 
AMs for blueline tilefish. If commercial or recreational landings for 
blueline tilefish reach or are projected to reach the applicable ACL, 
then the commercial or recreational sector, as applicable, would be 
closed for the remainder of the fishing year. The recreational sector 
would not have an in-season closure if the Regional Administrator (RA) 
determines, using the best scientific information available, that a 
closure would be unnecessary.
    Additionally, if the total ACLs are exceeded in a fishing year, 
then during the following fishing year the commercial and recreational 
sectors will not have an increase in their respective ACLs.
    This rule also implements post-season ACL overage adjustments 
(paybacks) for blueline tilefish. For the commercial sector, if 
commercial landings exceed the commercial ACL, and the total ACL is 
exceeded, and blueline tilefish are overfished, then during the 
following fishing year the commercial ACL would be reduced for that 
following year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior 
fishing year. For the recreational sector, if recreational landings for 
blueline tilefish exceed the applicable recreational ACL, and the total 
ACL is exceeded, and blueline tilefish are overfished, then the length 
of the recreational fishing season in the following fishing year would 
be reduced to ensure recreational landings do not exceed the 
recreational ACL the following fishing year. Additionally, the 
recreational ACL would be reduced by the amount of the recreational ACL 
overage from the prior fishing year. However, the recreational fishing 
season and recreational ACL would not be reduced if the RA determines, 
using the best scientific information available that no reduction is 
necessary.

Additional Blueline Tilefish Management Measures

    This final rule implements a commercial trip limit of 100 lb (45 
kg), gutted weight; 112 lb (51 kg), round weight, and revises the 
recreational bag limit for blueline tilefish. The recreational bag 
limit within the aggregate grouper and tilefish bag limit is set at one 
per vessel per day for the months of May through August. There is no 
retention of blueline tilefish by the recreational sector from January 
through April and from September through December each year.

Deep-Water Complex Commercial and Recreational ACLs and AMs

    This final rule revises the ACLs and AMs for the deep-water complex 
(composed of yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen 
snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, and blackfin snapper). This rule 
changes the deep-water complex total ACL (both sectors without blueline 
tilefish but with the increased catch levels for silk snapper and 
yellowedge grouper resulting from their increased ABCs in Amendment 
29), to 170,278 lb (77,237 kg). Additionally, this rule establishes 
sector-specific ACLs for the deep-water complex based on the 
allocations for species in the deep-water complex that were established 
in the Comprehensive ACL Amendment (77 FR 15916, March 16, 2012). The 
commercial ACL for the complex is set at 131,634 lb (59,708 kg) and the 
recreational ACL for the complex is set at 38,644 lb (17,529 kg).
    This final rule revises the AMs for the deep-water complex 
including the commercial post-season AM and the recreational AMs. The 
commercial post-season AM is revised as follows: If commercial landings 
exceed the commercial ACL, and the combined commercial and recreational 
ACL (total ACL) is exceeded, and at least one species in the deep-water 
complex is overfished, then during the following fishing year the 
complex commercial ACL would be reduced for that following year by the 
amount of the complex's commercial ACL overage in the prior fishing 
year.
    The recreational post-season AM is revised as follows: For the 
recreational sector, if recreational landings for the deep-water 
complex exceed the applicable recreational ACL, and the combined 
commercial and recreational ACL is exceeded, and at least one species 
in the complex is overfished, then the length of the recreational 
fishing season in the following fishing year would be reduced to ensure 
recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL the following 
fishing year. Additionally, the recreational ACL would be reduced by 
the amount of the recreational ACL overage from the prior fishing year. 
However, the recreational fishing season and recreational ACL would not 
be reduced if the RA determined, using the best scientific information 
available, that no reduction is necessary.

Additional Measures Contained in Amendment 32

    Amendment 32 also contains actions that are not specified in the 
regulations. Amendment 32 revises the definitions of management 
thresholds for South Atlantic blueline tilefish, including maximum 
sustainable yield (MSY), OY, and ABC, and establishes recreational 
annual catch targets (ACTs) for blueline tilefish and revises the ACTs 
for the deep-water complex.

[[Page 16585]]

Comments and Responses

    A total of 76 comments were received on Amendment 32 and the 
proposed rule from fishers, a fishing association, and a Federal 
agency. All of the public comments received were against the proposed 
actions, with the exception of the comment letter from a Federal agency 
that had no comment. Specific comments related to the actions contained 
in Amendment 32 and the proposed rule, and NMFS' respective responses, 
are summarized and responded to below.
    Comment 1: The proposed ACLs are too low. Higher ACLs should be 
implemented or the ABC and ACLs should be returned to the levels in 
place before the emergency rule was implemented.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that the ACLs being implemented in this 
final rule are too low. A benchmark assessment for the blueline 
tilefish stock in the South Atlantic was conducted in 2013 (SEDAR 32). 
At its October 2013 meeting, the Council's SSC determined the 2013 
stock assessment was based on the best scientific information available 
and considered the assessment to be appropriate for management 
decisions.
    The assessment determined that the blueline tilefish stock is 
undergoing overfishing in the South Atlantic. As required by the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Council must therefore implement measures to 
end overfishing within 2 years of notification of an overfishing 
status, and NMFS notified the Council of the blueline tilefish stock 
status on December 6, 2013. If the Council and NMFS allow the ACLs to 
return to levels in place prior to the emergency rule, overfishing of 
the blueline tilefish stock would continue.
    The ACLs in Amendment 32 are based on the stock assessment and the 
Council's SSC recommendation for the ABC. In Amendment 32, the Council 
decided to set the total (stock) ACL at 98 percent of the ABC to 
account for landings that occur north of the Council's area of 
jurisdiction. As estimated in SEDAR 32, using data through 2011, 
approximately 2 percent of the total blueline tilefish harvest was 
landed north of the North Carolina/Virginia border. NMFS, the Council, 
and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council are aware of recent 
reports of increased landings north of the Council's area of 
jurisdiction and are considering measures to address the issue.
    Comment 2: Beginning in 2015, North Carolina has been requiring 
catch reports from all for-hire vessels in North Carolina. The Council 
should wait one more year before taking action in Amendment 32 to allow 
the incorporation of the information from the North Carolina for-hire 
catch reports.
    Response: The Council and NMFS cannot delay the actions in 
Amendment 32 to end overfishing of blueline tilefish to include new 
information being developed in North Carolina beginning in 2015. As 
required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Council must implement 
measures to end overfishing within 2 years of notification of an 
overfishing status, and NMFS notified the Council of the blueline 
tilefish stock status on December 6, 2013. The next blueline tilefish 
stock assessment is scheduled to begin in 2016. That assessment will 
evaluate the available scientific information, including the new for-
hire catch reports.
    Comment 3: The proposed blueline tilefish recreational bag limit of 
one per vessel per day from May to August is too low. Implement higher 
bag limits or retain blueline tilefish in the three fish per person per 
day grouper and tilefish aggregate bag limit.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that the recreational bag limit being 
established in this final rule is too low. To end overfishing of the 
blueline tilefish stock in the South Atlantic, the Council and NMFS are 
implementing blueline tilefish specific ACLs and AMs. One of the 
recreational AMs is to close the recreational season when the 
recreational ACL is met or projected to be met. If a higher bag limit 
were to be implemented, the likelihood of an ACL overage would increase 
as landings could exceed the recreational ACL before NMFS could close 
the recreational sector.
    A recreational bag limit of one blueline tilefish per vessel per 
day and an 8-month annual closure was determined to be most likely to 
end overfishing, reduce recreational harvest, and potentially reduce 
blueline tilefish discards if blueline tilefish are targeted less 
during the open season as a result of the reduced bag limit. The 
Council determined that the shortened summer seasonal opening could 
provide increased stability to recreational fishers for planning 
purposes as it could minimize the risk of an in-season closure and the 
recreational ACL being exceeded, which may require post-season AMs in 
the following fishing year. In addition, the Council determined that an 
opening during the summer months could increase safety-at-sea by 
allowing fishing to occur in the generally calmer summer weather 
compared to a January 1 season opening during the winter. The 
recreational bag limit and seasonal closure for the blueline tilefish 
recreational sector would match what is being proposed by the Council 
for snowy grouper through Regulatory Amendment 20 to the FMP. The 
Council determined that similar recreational management measures and 
fishing seasons would be beneficial to the fish stocks as both species 
are caught at similar depths and have similar high release mortality 
rates.
    Comment 4: The blueline tilefish commercial trip limit should be 
1,000 lb (450 kg) instead of 100 lb (45 kg).
    Response: NMFS disagrees that the commercial trip limit should be 
1,000 lb (450 kg). The commercial ACL implemented by this rule in 2015 
is 17,841 lb (8,093 kg), round weight with a commercial trip limit of 
100 lb (45 kg), gutted weight. The commercial AM implemented by this 
rule is to close the commercial sector when the commercial ACL is met 
or projected to be met. It is estimated that the combination of the 
commercial ACL, AM, and trip limit will create a commercial fishing 
season length of 156 days in 2015. The Council considered a range of 
trip limit alternatives, including those greater than 100 lb (45 kg). A 
1,000-lb (450-kg) trip limit would be likely to greatly reduce the 
length of the commercial fishing season and increase the likelihood of 
a derby (race-to-fish) fishery occurring. The Council determined, after 
reviewing the analysis of the estimated season length, that a trip 
limit of 100 lb (45 kg), gutted weight, best meets the purpose of 
ending overfishing while extending the commercial fishing season and 
minimizing the adverse effects of a derby fishery.
    Comment 5: The commercial ACL should be divided 50/50 between the 
longline and hook-and-line gear components.
    Response: The Council did not consider dividing the blueline 
tilefish commercial ACL into separate ACLs for long-line and hook-and-
line gear for the commercial sector in Amendment 32. Therefore, in 
Amendment 32, the commercial ACL is not further divided by gear type.
    Comment 6: Is blueline tilefish overfished and if not, is Amendment 
32 legally credible? If blueline tilefish are not overfished, haven't 
the Council and NMFS already legally ended overfishing as required by 
law?

[[Page 16586]]

    Response: The blueline tilefish stock is not overfished but it is 
undergoing overfishing. Overfishing occurs whenever a stock is 
subjected to a rate or level of fishing mortality that jeopardizes the 
capacity of a stock to produce MSY. A stock is overfished when its size 
is sufficiently small that a change in management practices is required 
to achieve an appropriate level and rate of rebuilding.
    Based on the SEDAR 32 assessment conducted in 2013, NMFS determined 
that the blueline tilefish stock in the South Atlantic is experiencing 
overfishing and notified the Council of the stock status on December 6, 
2013. At the time, NMFS also notified the Council that the stock was 
overfished according to the definition of the minimum stock size 
threshold (MSST). However, since that notification, the Council re-
defined the MSST for blueline tilefish and other fish with low natural 
mortality rates in Regulatory Amendment 21 to the FMP, and blueline 
tilefish is no longer overfished (79 FR 60379, October 7, 2014). Even 
though the stock is not overfished, NMFS and the Council must still 
prepare and implement a plan amendment and regulations to end 
overfishing of blueline tilefish by December 6, 2015.
    Comment 7: The South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) should 
be divided into separate management zones for the Florida Keys and 
North Carolina. Overfishing is not occurring throughout the entire EEZ 
and catches should only be limited in the areas where overfishing is 
occurring.
    Response: The Council did not consider regional management zones 
for blueline tilefish in Amendment 32. The SEDAR 32 stock assessment 
indicated that blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic is undergoing 
overfishing throughout the entire South Atlantic and not just for 
certain areas within the South Atlantic.
    The Council has discussed dividing the South Atlantic EEZ into 
management areas, such as by state or region, several times in 
reference to various fish species. The Council may revisit these issues 
and explore such options in the future.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS has determined 
that this final rule is necessary for the conservation and management 
of South Atlantic snapper-grouper and is consistent with Amendment 32, 
the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have 
been identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or 
other compliance requirements are introduced by this final rule.
    In compliance with section 604 of the RFA, NMFS prepared a Final 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) for this final rule. The FRFA 
uses updated information, when available, and analyzes the anticipated 
economic impacts of the final actions and any significant economic 
impacts on small entities. The FRFA follows.
    The description of the action, why it is being considered and the 
legal basis for the rule are contained in the preamble of the proposed 
rule and in the preamble of this final rule. Section 604(a)(2) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NMFS to summarize significant 
issues raised by the public in response to the IRFA, a summary of the 
assessment of such issues, and a statement of any changes made as a 
result of the comments. None of the public comments received 
specifically concerned the IRFA; however, NMFS received several 
comments regarding regional differences in recreational for-hire 
(charter vessel or headboat) fishing businesses indirectly affected by 
the proposed vessel recreational bag limit and economic impacts of that 
limit on those businesses.
    Several comments did not support the change of the recreational bag 
limit for blueline tilefish. Presently, an angler can land and possess 
up to three blueline tilefish per day, and any limit to the number of 
blueline tilefish landed by a for-hire fishing vessel is only limited 
by the number of persons on board. This final rule establishes a 
recreational vessel limit of one blueline tilefish per day from May 
through August, regardless of how many persons are onboard the vessel, 
and zero for all other months. Most recreational landings of blueline 
tilefish have occurred in North Carolina, which indicates for-hire 
fishing businesses in North Carolina will experience the largest 
adverse indirect economic impact among the affected for-hire fishing 
businesses if the recreational bag limit causes demand for for-hire 
fishing trips to decline.
    Up to 681 commercial fishing vessels operate in the snapper-grouper 
fishery of the South Atlantic and up to 282 of those vessels will be 
directly affected by this final rule. It is estimated that up to 282 
businesses will be directly affected; however, the number of businesses 
is likely closer to 126, because 126 is the average number of vessels 
with blueline tilefish landings annually from 2009 through 2013. 
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards, a 
business in the finfish fishing industry (NAICS 114111) is considered a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $20.5 million. It is 
estimated that all of the directly affected businesses have annual 
revenues less than the size standard. Consequently, up to 282, but more 
likely closer to 126, small commercial fishing businesses own and 
operate the directly affected vessels.
    Anglers who catch deep-water complex species and blueline tilefish 
in the EEZ will be directly affected; however, anglers are not 
considered small entities as that term is defined in 5 U.S.C. 601(6), 
whether fishing from for-hire fishing, private or leased vessels. For-
hire fishing vessels will be indirectly affected, and as of February 
20, 2015, there are up to 1,390 for-hire fishing vessels with a Federal 
charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper that 
will be indirectly affected. The SBA annual receipts threshold for a 
for-hire fishing business is $7 million (NAICS 487210). It is unknown 
how many small businesses own and operate the above 1,390 for-hire 
fishing vessels.
    The revised commercial ACL for deep-water complex species is 
estimated to benefit up to 156, but more likely closer to 126, vessels 
annually by increasing average annual dockside revenue of each vessel 
by $1,565, but more likely closer to $1,937 (2012 dollars). If those 
vessels represent from 126 to 156 small businesses, the average annual 
benefit would be from $1,937 to $1,565 (2012 dollars), respectively.

[[Page 16587]]

    The combination of the commercial ACL and in-season AM for blueline 
tilefish is expected to directly affect 126 vessels and will reduce 
average annual dockside revenue. The decrease will range from $4,574 to 
$5,390 (2012 dollars) per vessel. The commercial trip limit for 
blueline tilefish will reduce the average annual dockside revenue of 21 
vessels with a 225-lb (102.1-kg) trip limit snapper-grouper permit by 
$1,777 each and 105 vessels with an unlimited permit by $5,990 each 
(2012 dollars). The decrease in average annual dockside revenue caused 
by the combination of the commercial ACL, AM, and trip limit for 
blueline tilefish will range from $5,751 to $11,380 (2012 dollars) per 
vessel and small business.
    It is unknown how many of the 126 small businesses referenced above 
land both deep-water complex species and blueline tilefish. However, if 
all of the 126 small businesses that land blueline tilefish also 
account for all of the landings of the deep-water complex species, the 
annual benefit from increased landings of deep-water complex species 
and annual cost from decreased landings of blueline tilefish would 
produce a combined net loss of annual dockside revenue that ranges from 
$3,814 to $9,443 (2012 dollars) per small business.
    No changes were made after publication of the proposed rule to 
reduce the adverse economic impacts of the rule. However, considered, 
but not adopted, alternatives included a smaller commercial ACL for the 
deep-water complex that would have increased the adverse economic 
impact and a larger commercial ACL and trip limit for blueline tilefish 
that would have reduced the direct adverse economic impacts of finfish 
fishing businesses. A larger trip limit, however, would decrease the 
likelihood that all of the estimated 126 vessels and small businesses, 
especially the smallest of the small, have blueline tilefish landings 
during the year. Considered, but not adopted, alternatives would have 
either increased or decreased the indirect adverse economic impact on 
for-hire fishing businesses.
    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as small entity compliance 
guides. As part of the rulemaking process, NMFS prepared a fishery 
bulletin, which also serves as a small entity compliance guide. The 
fishery bulletin will be sent to all interested parties.
    The AA finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 
of the actions in this final rule under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) because it 
would be contrary to the public interest. Delaying the effectiveness of 
this rule would be contrary to the public interest because delaying the 
implementation of the measures contained within this rule is likely to 
allow the emergency measures to lapse and overfishing of blueline 
tilefish to continue. The time needed for the Council to develop, 
approve, and submit Amendment 32 on November 13, 2014, and the required 
schedules of the Federal rulemaking process did not allow for 
additional time to be available with respect to this rule's 
effectiveness and the ending of the emergency measures. Blueline 
tilefish are currently undergoing overfishing so any delay would 
undermine the purpose of this rule. If the rule is not implemented 
immediately, NMFS will likely be required to implement more severe 
harvest reductions and/or implement AMs that could have greater socio-
economic impacts on South Atlantic blueline tilefish fishers. Any delay 
in the implementation of this final rule would allow the emergency 
measures to lapse and would allow harvest to continue at a level that 
is not consistent with National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 
Additionally, delaying the implementation of the measures within this 
rule for the deep-water complex would be contrary to the public 
interest as the ACLs for the species within the complex are increasing 
and thereby this rule increases the potential benefit to fishers with 
respect to the revised complex ACL.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Blueline tilefish, deep-water complex, Fisheries, Fishing, South 
Atlantic, Snapper-Grouper.

    Dated: March 23, 2015.
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 amended 
as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. In Sec.  622.183, paragraph (b)(7) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  622.183  Area and seasonal closures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (7) Blueline tilefish recreational sector closure. The recreational 
sector for blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is 
closed from January 1 through April 30, and September 1 through 
December 31, each year. During a closure, the bag and possession limit 
for blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is zero.

0
3. In Sec.  622.187, paragraphs (b)(2)(iii) and (iv) are revised and 
paragraph (b)(2)(v) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  622.187  Bag and possession limits.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) No more than one fish may be a golden tilefish;
    (iv) No more than one fish per vessel may be a blueline tilefish; 
and
    (v) No goliath grouper or Nassau grouper may be retained.
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  622.191, paragraph (a)(10) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  622.191  Commercial trip limits.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (10) Blueline tilefish. Until the applicable ACL specified in Sec.  
622.193(z)(1)(iii) is reached or projected to be reached, 100 lb (45 
kg), gutted weight; 112 lb (51 kg), round weight. See Sec.  
622.193(z)(1)(i) for the limitations regarding blueline tilefish after 
the commercial ACL is reached.
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  622.193:
0
a. The suspension on paragraph (h) is lifted;
0
b. Paragraph (h) is revised;
0
c. Paragraph (z) is revised; and
0
d. Paragraph (aa) is removed.
    The revisions read as follows:

[[Page 16588]]

Sec.  622.193  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (h) Deep-water complex (including yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, 
misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, and 
blackfin snapper)--(1) Commercial sector. (i) If commercial landings 
for the deep-water complex, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are 
projected to reach the commercial ACL of 131,634 lb (59,708 kg), round 
weight, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal 
Register to close the commercial sector for the remainder of the 
fishing year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, 
all sale or purchase of deep-water complex species is prohibited and 
harvest or possession of these species in or from the South Atlantic 
EEZ is limited to the bag and possession limits. These bag and 
possession limits apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for 
which a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where 
such species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters.
    (ii) If commercial landings exceed the ACL, and the combined 
commercial and recreational ACL (total ACL) specified in paragraph 
(h)(3) of this section, is exceeded, and at least one of the species in 
the deep-water complex is overfished, based on the most recent Status 
of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification 
with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of 
the following fishing year to reduce the commercial ACL for that 
following year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior 
fishing year.
    (2) Recreational sector. (i) If recreational landings for the deep-
water complex, as estimated by the SRD, are projected to reach the 
recreational ACL of 38,644 lb (17,529 kg), round weight, the AA will 
file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close 
the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year, unless 
the RA determines that no closure is necessary based on the best 
scientific information available. On and after the effective date of 
such a notification, the bag and possession limits are zero.
    (ii) If recreational landings for the deep-water complex, exceed 
the applicable recreational ACL, and the combined commercial and 
recreational ACL (total ACL) specified in paragraph (h)(3) of this 
section is exceeded, and at least one of the species in the deep-water 
complex is overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S. 
Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register, to reduce the length of the 
recreational fishing season in the following fishing year to ensure 
recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL the following 
fishing year. When NMFS reduces the length of the following 
recreational fishing season and closes the recreational sector, the 
following closure provisions apply: The bag and possession limits for 
the deep-water complex in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. 
Additionally, the recreational ACL will be reduced by the amount of the 
recreational ACL overage in the prior fishing year. The fishing season 
and recreational ACL will not be reduced if the RA determines, using 
the best scientific information available that no reduction is 
necessary.
    (3) The combined commercial and recreational sector ACL (total ACL) 
is 170,278 lb (77,237 kg), round weight.
* * * * *
    (z) Blueline tilefish--(1) Commercial sector. (i) If commercial 
landings for blueline tilefish, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are 
projected to reach the applicable ACL in paragraph (z)(1)(iii) of this 
section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal 
Register to close the commercial sector for the remainder of the 
fishing year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, 
all sale or purchase of blueline tilefish is prohibited and harvest or 
possession of this species in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is limited 
to the bag and possession limits. These bag and possession limits apply 
in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid Federal 
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic 
snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species 
were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters.
    (ii) If commercial landings exceed the ACL, and the combined 
commercial and recreational ACL (total ACL) specified in paragraph 
(z)(3) of this section is exceeded, and blueline tilefish are 
overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to 
Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the 
Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing 
year to reduce the commercial ACL for that following year by the amount 
of the commercial ACL overage in the prior fishing year.
    (iii) The applicable commercial ACLs, in round weight, are 17,841 
lb (8,093 kg) for 2015, 26,766 lb (12,141 kg) for 2016, 35,785 lb 
(16,232 kg) for 2017, and 44,048 lb (19,980 kg) for 2018 and subsequent 
fishing years. The commercial ACL will not increase automatically in a 
subsequent fishing year if landings exceed or are projected to exceed 
the total ACL in the prior fishing year, as specified in paragraph 
(z)(3) of this section.
    (2) Recreational sector. (i) If recreational landings for blueline 
tilefish, as estimated by the SRD, are projected to reach the 
applicable ACL in paragraph (z)(2)(iii) of this section, the AA will 
file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close 
the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year, unless 
the RA determines that no closure is necessary based on the best 
scientific information available. On and after the effective date of 
such a notification, the bag and possession limits are zero.
    (ii) If recreational landings for blueline tilefish, exceed the 
applicable recreational ACL, and the combined commercial and 
recreational ACL (total ACL) specified in paragraph (z)(3) of this 
section, is exceeded, and blueline tilefish is overfished, based on the 
most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will 
file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, to reduce 
the length of the recreational fishing season in the following fishing 
year to ensure recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL 
the following fishing year. When NMFS reduces the length of the 
following recreational fishing season and closes the recreational 
sector, the following closure provisions apply: The bag and possession 
limits for blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are 
zero. Additionally, the recreational ACL will be reduced by the amount 
of the recreational ACL overage in the prior fishing year. The fishing 
season and recreational ACL will not be reduced if the RA determines, 
using the best scientific information available that no reduction is 
necessary.
    (iii) The applicable recreational ACLs, in round weight, are 17,791 
lb (8,070 kg) for 2015, 26,691 lb (12,107 kg) for 2016, 35,685 lb 
(16,186 kg) for 2017, and 43,925 lb (19,924 kg) for 2018 and subsequent 
fishing years. The recreational ACL will not increase automatically in 
a subsequent fishing year if landings exceed or are projected to exceed 
the total ACL in the prior fishing year, as specified in paragraph 
(z)(3) of this section.

[[Page 16589]]

    (3) Without regard to overfished status, if the combined commercial 
and recreational ACL (total ACL), as estimated by the SRD, is exceeded 
in a fishing year, then during the following fishing year, an automatic 
increase will not be applied to the commercial and recreational ACLs. 
The RA will evaluate the landings data, using the best scientific 
information available, to determine whether or not an increase in the 
commercial and recreational ACLs will be applied. The applicable 
combined commercial and recreational sector ACLs (total ACLs), in round 
weight are 35,632 lb (16,162 kg) for 2015, 53,457 lb (24,248 kg) for 
2016, 71,469 lb (32,418 kg) for 2017, and 87,974 lb (39,904 kg) for 
2018 and subsequent fishing years.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-06988 Filed 3-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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