Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules 18801 

length of the following recreational 

fishing season, the following closure 

provisions apply: The bag and 

possession limits for snowy grouper in 

or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. 

These bag and possession limits also 

apply in the South Atlantic on board a 

vessel for which a valid Federal 

commercial or charter vessel/headboat 

permit for South Atlantic snappergrouper has been issued, without regard 

to where such species were harvested, 

i.e., in state or Federal waters. 

Recreational landings will be evaluated 

relative to the ACL based on a moving 

multi-year average of landings, as 

described in the FMP. 

(ii) The recreational ACL for snowy 

grouper is 4,152 fish for 2015; 4,483 fish 

for 2016; 4,819 fish for 2017, 4,983 fish 

for 2018; 5,315 fish for 2019 and 

subsequent fishing years. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2015–08067 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 648 

[Docket No. 150205118–5290–01] 

RIN 0648–BE87 

Fisheries of the Northeastern United 

States; Small-Mesh Multispecies 

Specifications 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The purpose of this action is 

to set the small-mesh multispecies 

specifications for the 2015–2017 fishing 

years, clarify what measures can be 

modified in a specifications package, 

and to correct the northern red hake 

accountability measure trigger rate. This 

action is necessary to implement the 

Council’s recommended measures 

intended to reduce the risk of 

continuing overfishing of northern red 

hake and set catch and possession limits 

for the 2015–2017 fishing years. The 

proposed specifications are designed to 

help achieve sustainable yield and to 

inform the public of these measures. 

DATES: Public comments must be 

received by April 23, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document, identified by NOAA– 

NMFS–2012–0170, by any of the 

following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

www.regulations.gov/

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012- 

0170, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

John K. Bullard, Regional 

Administrator, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2276. 

Mark the outside of the envelope: 

‘‘Comments on Whiting Specifications.’’ 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

New England Fishery Management 

Council staff prepared an environmental 

assessment (EA) for the small-mesh 

multispecies specifications that 

describes the proposed action and other 

considered alternatives. The EA 

provides a thorough analysis of the 

biological, economic, and social impacts 

of the proposed measures and other 

considered alternatives. An Initial 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 

was also prepared for this action. The 

IRFA is contained in the EA prepared 

for this action, but also is summarized 

in the Classification section of this 

proposed rule. Copies of the 

specifications EA are available on 

request from Thomas A. Nies, Executive 

Director, New England Fishery 

Management Council, 50 Water Street, 

Newburyport, MA 01950. This 

document is also available from the 

following internet addresses: 

www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

or www.nefmc.org. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jason Berthiaume, Fishery Management 

Specialist, (978) 281–9177. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The New England Fishery 

Management Council manages the 

small-mesh multispecies fishery 

primarily through a series of exemptions 

from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 

Management Plan (FMP). The smallmesh multispecies fishery is composed 

of five stocks of three species of hakes 

(northern and southern silver hake, 

northern and southern red hake, and 

offshore hake). It is managed separately 

from the other stocks of groundfish such 

as cod, haddock, and flounders, 

primarily because the fishing is 

prosecuted with much smaller mesh 

and does not generally result in the 

catch of these other stocks. Amendment 

19 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP 

(April 4, 2013; 78 FR 20260) established 

a process and framework for setting the 

small-mesh multispecies catch 

specifications, as well as set the 

specifications for the 2012–2014 fishing 

years. 

The purpose of this action is to set the 

specifications for the 2015–2017 fishing 

years, based on the New England 

Fishery Management Council’s 

recommendation. In 2012 and 2013, 

northern red hake catch rates exceeded 

the annual catch limits (ACL) and the 

acceptable biological catch (ABC). As a 

result, northern red hake was 

determined to be experiencing 

overfishing. To reduce the risk of 

continued overfishing of northern red 

hake and constrain catch within the 

proposed ACL, this action proposes to 

adopt the Council’s recommended 

measures to adjust the northern red 

hake possession limits per trip and 

trigger points at which possession limits 

are reduced in-season. 

This proposed rule also includes a 

correction to the small-mesh 

accountability measures and clarifies 

what measures can be modified in a 

small-mesh multispecies specifications 

action. 

Proposed Measures 

1. 2015–2017 Small-Mesh Multispecies 

Specifications 

The Council’s Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC) met on 

August 26, 2014, to discuss the 

specifications and to recommend ABCs 

for the 2015–2017 small-mesh fishery. 

The FMP’s implementing regulations 

require the involvement of an SSC in 

the specification process. Following the 

SSC, the Whiting Oversight Committee 

met on September 9 and October 30, 

2014, to discuss and recommend smallmesh specifications. The Council 

approved the final specifications on 

November 17, 2014. 

This action proposes new 

specifications for the 2015–2017 fishing 

years, derived from a stock assessment 

update for northern and southern red 


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and silver hakes. The recent stock 

assessment was updated with survey 

data through spring 2014 for red hake, 

and through fall 2013 for silver hake. 

Reported landings and estimated 

discards were updated through calendar 

year 2013. Limits on fishing year 

catches for northern and southern stocks 

of red and silver hakes are based on the 

recommendations from the SSC and 

Committee to the Council which, in 

turn, recommended measures to NMFS 

for review and implementation. Changes 

to the total allowable landings (TAL) are 

needed to respond to changes in the 

discard rate of red and silver hakes. 

These specifications would remain 

effective for fishing years 2015–2017 

unless otherwise changed during that 

time. 

TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF THE SMALL-MESH MULTISPECIES SPECIFICATIONS FOR 2015–2017 

Stock 

Overfishing 

limit 

(OFL) (mt) 

ABC 

(mt) 

ACL 

(mt) 

Percent change 

from 2012– 

2014 

Discard rate 

(percent) TAL 

Percent 

change from 

2012–2014 

N. Silver Hake ............ 43,608 24,383 23,161 85 11.2 19,948.7 122.3 

N. Red Hake .............. 331 287 273 2 .6 60.6 104.2 15.4 

S. Whiting * ................. 60,148 31,180 29,621 ¥8 .2 17.1 23,833.4 ¥12.6 

S. Red Hake .............. 3,400 3,179 3,021 ¥2 .4 55.3 1,309.4 ¥2.0 

* Southern whiting includes southern silver hake and offshore hake 

2. Northern Red Hake Possession Limit 

Reduction 

This action proposes to reduce the 

northern red hake possession limit from 

5,000 lb (2,268 kg) to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg). 

This reduction in possession limit is 

intended to delay the in-season 

accountability measure (AM) until later 

in the year and to reduce the potential 

for northern red hake catches to exceed 

the ACL (as occurred in fishing years 

2012 and 2013). Lowering the 

possession limit is expected to 

discourage the targeting of red hake and 

to encourage fishing in areas, seasons, or 

ways that avoid catching excess red 

hake. Compared to starting the fishing 

year with a 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) 

possession limit, it is expected that the 

in-season AM would be delayed, 

possibly increasing revenue for trips 

taken later in the year to target silver 

hake, and reducing discarding. This 

measure is intended to be combined 

with the proposed northern red hake 

possession limit reduction trigger to 

effectively constrain catch of northern 

red hake to the ACL and to slow catch 

rates to extend the fishing season. 

3. Additional Northern Red Hake 

Possession Limit Reduction Trigger 

This measure would implement an 

additional possession limit reduction 

trigger for northern red hake of 1,500 lb 

(680 kg) when 45 percent of the TAL is 

reached. When the in-season possession 

limit reduction triggers were initially 

implemented, the trigger was set at 90 

percent of the TAL. When landings 

reach the 90-percent trigger, the red 

hake possession limit would be reduced 

to the incidental level of 400 lb (181 kg). 

In both 2012 and 2013, the 90-percent 

trigger was reached and the ACL was 

still exceeded. As a result, in 2014, the 

90-percent trigger was reduced to 45 

percent in accordance with the AM 

regulations. However, this rule’s 

proposed regulatory correction would 

increase the 45-percent trigger to 62.5 

percent. Because this trigger did not 

function as well as intended to ensure 

that the ACL is not exceeded, this rule 

proposes a second, earlier possession 

limit reduction trigger of 1,500 lb (680 

kg) when 45 percent of the TAL is 

reached. For clarity, as a result of these 

proposed specifications, there would be 

two in-season possession limit triggers 

for northern red hake: At 45 percent of 

the TAL, the per-trip possession limit 

would be decreased from 3,000 lb (1,361 

kg) to 1,500 lb (680 kg); and then when 

62.5 percent of the TAL is reached, the 

per-trip possession limit would be 

decreased from 1,500 lb (680 kg) to 400 

lb (181 kg). 

As previously discussed, this 

additional possession limit trigger is 

intended to slow catch of northern red 

hake and to reduce the potential for 

northern red hake catch from exceeding 

the ACL. 

4. Clarification on Modifications in a 

Specifications Action 

When developing the rulemaking for 

this action, we determined that the 

current regulations governing the 

specifications process as recommended 

in Amendment 19 do not fully reflect 

the Council’s intent regarding the scope 

of measures that can be implemented 

pursuant to the specifications process. 

Amendment 19 specified that the 

Council shall specify on at least a 3-year 

basis the OFL, ABC, ACLs, and TALs for 

each small-mesh multispecies stock as 

well as the corresponding possession 

limits, including in-season possession 

limit triggers to be consistent with the 

revised specification recommendations 

and estimates of scientific and 

management uncertainty from the SSC. 

However, the implementing regulations 

for Amendment 19 inadvertently failed 

to specify that adjustments to 

possession limits and the in-season 

possession limit triggers were among the 

items that could be modified in a 

specifications action. This rule proposes 

to correct this problem by including 

possession limits and in-season 

possession limit triggers in small-mesh 

multispecies specifications regulations. 

The Magnuson-Stevens Act at section 

305(d) grants the agency the authority to 

promulgate regulations necessary to 

carry out any FMP or amendment to an 

FMP. 

5. Regulatory Correction 

When the specifications were being 

developed, the Whiting Plan 

Development Team identified an error 

in the previous set of specifications (i.e., 

fishing years 2012–2014). This error 

resulted in a 39-mt underestimate of the 

ABC for northern red hake and a 552- 

mt underestimate for southern red hake 

ABC. Due to the 39-mt underestimate, 

fishing year 2012 catches were actually 

only 27.5 percent over the ACL rather 

than 45 percent as previously 

announced. As a result, the northern red 

hake post-season accountability 

measure that was triggered for fishing 

year 2014 used the incorrect catch and 

landings limits. Using MagnusonStevens Act section 305(d) authority, 

this action would correct the AM based 

on the corrected information. No 

correction is required for the southern 

red hake error, because only a small 

fraction of the southern red hake ABC 

was caught and an increase in the ABC 

would have no effect. 

Currently, the northern red hake 

accountability measure trigger is 45 

percent, which would reduce the 

possession limit to 400 lb (181 kg) when 

45 percent of the TAL is landed. This 

correction would increase the 400-lb 


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(181-kg) possession limit trigger point 

from 45 percent of the TAL to 62.5 

percent. This correction would result in 

a 1,500-lb (680-kg) possession limit 

when 45 percent of the TAL is landed 

and a subsequent possession limit 

reduction to 400 lb (181 kg) when 62.5 

percent of the TAL is landed. 

Future AMs for fishing years in which 

the catch exceeds the ACL would be 

deducted from the corrected 62.5- 

percent trigger, pursuant to the smallmesh AM regulations at § 648.90. 

Classification 

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

Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Assistant 

Administrator has determined that this 

proposed rule is consistent with the 

Northeast Multispecies FMP, other 

provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, and other applicable law, subject to 

further consideration after public 

comment. 

The Office of Management and Budget 

has determined that this action is not 

significant for the purpose of E.O. 

12866. 

An IRFA was prepared, as required by 

section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act (RFA), which describes the 

economic impact this proposed rule, if 

adopted, would have on small entities. 

Description of the Reasons Why Action 

by the Agency Is Being Considered 

A description of the action and why 

it is being considered are contained at 

the beginning of this preamble and in 

the SUMMARY. 

Statement of the Objectives of, and 

Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule 

The statement of the objective and the 

legal basis for this action are contained 

at the beginning of this preamble and in 

the SUMMARY. 

Description and Estimate of the Number 

of Small Entities to Which This 

Proposed Rule Would Apply 

On June 12, 2014, the Small Business 

Administration (SBA) issued an interim 

final rule revising the small business 

size standards for several industries 

effective July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33467). 

The rule increased the size standard 

from $19.0 million to $20.5 million for 

finfish fishing, from $5.0 to $5.5 million 

for shellfish fishing, and from $7.0 

million to $7.5 million for other marine 

fishing, for-hire businesses, and 

marinas. The small-mesh multispecies 

fishery falls under the finfish category 

and, thus, has a threshold of $20.5 

million for determining small versus 

large entities. However, having different 

size standards for different types of 

commercial fishing activities creates 

difficulties in categorizing business that 

participate in multiple fishing related 

activities, which is typically the case in 

the fishing industry. 

In order to fish for small-mesh 

multispecies, a vessel owner must be 

issued either a limited access Northeast 

multispecies permit or an open access 

Northeast Multispecies Category K 

Permit; however, there are many vessels 

issued both of these types of permits 

that may not actually fish for smallmesh multispecies. Based on ownership 

data for 2011–2013, there were 1,087 

distinct ownership entities based on 

calendar year 2013 permits that could 

potentially target small mesh 

multispecies. Of these, 1,069 are 

categorized as small and 18 are 

categorized as large entities per the SBA 

guidelines. While 1,087 commercial 

entities are directly regulated by the 

proposed action, not all of these entities 

land small-mesh multispecies and 

would, therefore, not be directly 

impacted by this action. To estimate the 

number of commercial entities that may 

experience impacts from the proposed 

action, active small-mesh multispecies 

entities are defined as those entities 

containing permits that are directly 

regulated and that landed any silver 

hake or red hake in 2013 for commercial 

sale. There are 298 potentially 

impacted, directly regulated commercial 

entities, 295 (99 percent) of which are 

classified as small entities. 

According to SBA’s new size 

standards, a business involved in 

harvesting finfish is classified as small 

business if it is independently owned 

and operated, not dominant in its field 

of operation, with receipts not 

exceeding $20.5 million for all its 

affiliated operations worldwide. To 

identify an independent business, 

ownership information was used. The 

ownership data identifies individuals 

who own multiple vessels or a single 

vessel with multiple owners. This 

methodology assigns all the vessels 

owned by an individual into the same 

entity and including the co-owners in 

the same pool of affiliation following 

SBA’s criteria for affiliation based on 

the principle of control that ‘‘may arise 

through ownership, management, or 

other relationships or interactions 

between the parties’’ even when the 

control is not exercised. Section 8.9 in 

the specifications EA describes the 

vessels, key ports, and revenue 

information for the small-mesh 

multispecies fishery, and is not repeated 

here. 

Description of the Projected Reporting, 

Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance 

Requirements of This Proposed Rule 

This action does not introduce any 

new reporting, recordkeeping, or other 

compliance requirements. This 

proposed rule does not duplicate, 

overlap, or conflict with other Federal 

rules. 

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, 

Overlap, or Conflict With This Proposed 

Rule 

NMFS is not aware of any relevant 

Federal rules that may duplicate, 

overlap, or conflict with this proposed 

rule. 

Description of Significant Alternatives 

to the Proposed Action Which 

Accomplish the Stated Objectives of 

Applicable Statutes and Which 

Minimize Any Significant Economic 

Impact on Small Entities 

The Council conducted a 

comprehensive evaluation of the 

potential socioeconomic impacts of the 

specifications in the EA (see 

ADDRESSES), and a discussion of this 

evaluation follows. 

Overall, the expected impact from the 

proposed changes to the ACL 

specifications is neutral to low positive, 

relative to the no-action alternative. The 

proposed specifications in this action 

would revise the ACL specifications for 

northern and southern stocks of silver 

and red hakes for fishing years 2015– 

2017 based on updated stock 

assessments. The proposed 

specifications would increase the 

northern red and silver hake TALs, but 

reduce the TALs of the southern red and 

silver stocks. Landings of southern red 

hake and both stocks of silver hake were 

well below the 2013 TALs and the 

proposed 2015–2017 TALs. Therefore, 

the proposed limits would not be 

restrictive for the fishery and as a result, 

compared to taking no action, impact on 

revenues would be neutral. In 2013, 

landings of northern red hake exceeded 

the TAL and also exceed the proposed 

2015–2017 TAL. Thus, if the fishery 

stays under the TAL to prevent 

overfishing as is expected, the impacts 

on revenue from northern red hake 

landings would be negative, but 

insignificant when compared with 

status quo. Compared to the no action 

alternative, the status quo northern red 

hake TAL is 15 percent lower than the 

proposed TAL. Because the proposed 

specifications generally increase quotas, 

compared to taking no action the 

proposed specifications would be 

positive, but insignificant. However, 

over the long term, the proposed limits 


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18804 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

are intended to reduce the risk of 

overfishing to maintain a healthy, 

sustainable stock which would in turn 

maximize revenues. Thus, compared to 

taking no action, the proposed 

specifications would have positive long 

term impacts on revenues. 

This action also proposes to reduce 

the possession limit for northern red 

hake from 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) to 3,000 

lb (1,361 kg). The preferred alternative 

may reduce catch and landings (on trips 

targeting red hake) early in the season. 

However, the alternative may also 

potentially delay the time when the AM 

is triggered, allowing more red hake 

catch to be landed later in the season. 

It is expected, based on input from 

industry advisors, that the in-season AM 

trigger would be delayed with a lower 

initial possession limit, increasing 

revenue for trips taken later in the 

fishing year and reducing discards. 

Compared to taking no action, reducing 

the northern red hake possession limit 

is intended to prevent early closures, 

thus extending the season and fishing 

opportunity. This alternative is 

intended to support better market 

conditions by allowing small-mesh 

vessels to operate at a more consistent 

level for a longer period of time. As 

such, although this measure reduces a 

possession limit, the reduction is 

intended to prolong the fishing season 

and provide for better and more 

consistent market conditions, thus 

increasing overall revenues. As such, 

the preferred alternative’s impact on 

profitability is expected to be neutral to 

low positive relative to the no-action 

alternative. Actual impact will depend 

on how fishermen who target this 

species in the northern area adapt their 

targeted fishing activity (and discarding 

activity) to the proposed lower initial 

possession limit and in-season 

accountability measures. 

This action also proposes to 

implement an additional in-season 

possession limit reduction trigger for 

red hake. This proposed measure would 

reduce the possession limit to 1,500 lb 

(680 kg) when landings reach 45 percent 

of the TAL. This measure, in 

conjunction with the measure to reduce 

the initial northern red hake possession 

limit to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) are designed 

to slow catches of northern red hake. 

Although this would implement an 

additional possession limit reduction 

trigger, further reducing possession 

limits, the reduction is intended to 

extend the overall season and delay the 

reduction to incidental levels. 

Compared to taking no action, 

implementing an additional northern 

red hake possession limit trigger at 45 

percent is intended to prevent early 

closures, thus extending the season. 

Without this additional trigger, 

possession limits could likely be 

reduced to the incidental limit trigger 

earlier in the year. Similar to the 

reduction in northern red hake 

possession limit, this alternative is 

expected to have neutral to slightly 

positive impacts compared to taking no 

action. 

In regard to correcting the 

accountability measure trigger for 

northern red hake, when the 

specifications were being developed the 

Whiting Plan Development Team 

identified an error in the previous set of 

specifications (i.e., fishing years 2012– 

2014). As a result, the northern red hake 

post-season accountability measure was 

triggered for fishing year 2014 using the 

incorrect catch and landings limits. This 

action would correct the AM trigger rate 

from 45 to 62.5 percent based on the 

corrected information. This should be 

beneficial for the industry and is not 

expected to have any negative economic 

impacts. Not doing this correction 

would result in the trigger rate 

remaining at 45 percent. This would 

result in the possession limit being 

reduced to the incidental level of 400 lb 

(181 kg) earlier in the season at 45 

percent of the TAL compared to 62.5 

percent. Reducing the possession limit 

to the incidental level earlier in the 

season would not only reduce landings, 

but would also be damaging to market 

conditions as it would likely result in a 

shorter season, and less consistent catch 

rates. Therefore, this measure is 

expected to delay reducing possession 

limits, increase landings, and provide 

for better market conditions. Compared 

to taking no action, the proposed 

correction would have positive impacts. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648 

Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

Dated: April 2, 2015. 

Eileen Sobeck, 

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is proposed 

to be amended as follows: 

PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE 

NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 648 

continues to read as follows: 

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

■ 2. In § 648.86, revise paragraphs 

(d)(1)(i) introductory text, (d)(1)(ii) 

introductory text, (d)(1)(iii) introductory 

text, and (d)(4) introductory text, and 

add paragraph (d)(5) to read as follows: 

§ 648.86 NE Multispecies possession 

restrictions. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(i) Vessels possessing on board or 

using nets of mesh size smaller than 2.5 

in (6.35 cm). Owners or operators of a 

vessel may possess and land not more 

than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of red hake, and 

not more than 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) of 

combined silver hake and offshore hake, 

if either of the following conditions 

apply: 

* * * * * 

(ii) Vessels possessing on board or 

using nets of mesh size equal to or 

greater than 2.5 in (6.35 cm) but less 

than 3 in (7.62 cm). An owner or 

operator of a vessel that is not subject 

to the possession limit specified in 

paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section may 

possess and land not more than 3,000 lb 

(1,361 kg) of red hake, and not more 

than 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) of combined 

silver hake and offshore hake if either of 

the following conditions apply: 

* * * * * 

(iii) Vessels possessing on board or 

using nets of mesh size equal to or 

greater than 3 in (7.62 cm). An owner 

or operator of a vessel that is not subject 

to the possession limits specified in 

paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this 

section may possess and land not more 

than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of red hake, and 

not more than 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) of 

combined silver hake and offshore hake 

when fishing in the Gulf of Maine or 

Georges Bank Exemption Areas, as 

described in § 648.80(a), and not more 

than 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) of combined 

silver hake and offshore hake when 

fishing in the Southern New England or 

Mid-Atlantic Exemption Areas, as 

described in § 648.80(b)(10) and (c)(5), 

respectively, if both of the following 

conditions apply: 

* * * * * 

(4) Accountability measure in-season 

adjustment of small-mesh multispecies 

possession limits. If the Regional 

Administrator projects that an in-season 

adjustment TAL trigger level for any 

small-mesh multispecies stock, as 

specified in § 648.90(b)(5)(iii), has been 

reached or exceeded, the Regional 

Administrator shall reduce the 

possession limit of that stock to the 

incidental level for that stock, as 

specified in this paragraph (d)(4), for the 

remainder of the fishing year through 

notice consistent with the 

Administrative Procedure Act, unless 

such a reduction in the possession limit 

would be expected to prevent the TAL 

from being reached. 

* * * * * 


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(5) In-season adjustment of northern 

red hake possession limits. In addition 

to the accountability measure in-season 

adjustment of small-mesh multispecies 

possession limits specified in 

§ 648.86(d)(4), if the Regional 

Administrator projects that 45 percent 

of the northern red hake TAL has been 

reached or is exceeded, the Regional 

Administrator shall reduce the 

possession limit for northern red hake to 

1,500 lb (680 kg) for the remainder of 

the fishing year unless further reduced 

to the incidental possession limit 

according to the accountability measure 

in-season adjustment of small-mesh 

multispecies possession limits specified 

in § 648.86(d)(4). 

* * * * * 

■ 3. In § 648.90, revise paragraphs 

(b)(4)(i) and (b)(5)(iii) to read as follows: 

§ 648.90 NE multispecies assessment, 

framework procedures and specifications, 

and flexible area action system. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(4) * * * 

(i) The Whiting PDT shall prepare a 

specification package, including a SAFE 

Report, at least every 3 years. Based on 

the specification package, the Whiting 

PDT shall develop and present to the 

Council recommended specifications as 

defined in paragraph (a) of this section 

for up to 3 fishing years. The 

specifications package shall be the 

primary vehicle for the presentation of 

all updated biological and socioeconomic information regarding the 

small-mesh multispecies fishery. The 

specifications package shall provide 

source data for any adjustments to the 

management measures that may be 

needed to continue to meet the goals 

and objectives of the FMP. The 

specifications package may include 

modifications to the OFL, ABC, ACL, 

TAL, possession limits, and in-season 

possession limit triggers. 

* * * * * 

(5) * * * 

(iii) Small-mesh multispecies inseason adjustment triggers. The smallmesh multispecies in-season 

accountability measure adjustment 

triggers are as follow: 

Species 

In-season 

adjustment 

trigger 

(percent) 

Northern Red Hake ............ 62 .5 

Northern Silver Hake .......... 90 

Southern Red Hake ............ 90 

Southern Whiting ................ 90 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2015–08078 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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