Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30455

Dated: June 1, 1998.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 98–14974 Filed 6–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Parts 222, 226, and 227

[I.D. 022398C]

Endangered and Threatened Species;

Extension of Comment Periods; and

Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed

Listing and Proposed Designation of

Critical Habitat for West Coast

Chinook, Chum, and Sockeye and on

Proposed Listing of West Coast

Steelhead

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; public hearing

and extension of public comment

periods.

SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public

comment periods and a public hearing

will be held on the proposed listings

and designations of critical habitat for

west coast chinook (Oncorhynchus

tshawytscha), sockeye (Oncorhynchus

nerka), and chum (Oncorhynchus keta)

salmon and on the proposed listings of

west coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus

mykiss). NMFS has received a request

for an additional public hearing to allow

further opportunity for the public to

participate in the exchange of

information and opinion among

interested parties and to provide oral

and written testimony. NMFS, finding

the request reasonable, has scheduled a

public hearing and extended the public

comment periods to facilitate the

reception of public views.

DATES: The meeting date is June 11,

1998, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Written

comments on the proposed chinook,

sockeye, and chum listing and critical

habitat designation and on the proposed

steelhead listing must be received by

June 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

Cunha Intermediate School, Kelly and

Church Streets, Half Moon Bay, CA

94019. Written comments on the

proposed chinook rule and requests for

reference materials should be sent to

Chief, Protected Species Division,

NMFS, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500,

Portland, OR 97232-2737.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005; Craig

Wingert, (562) 980–4021; or Joe Blum,

(301) 713–1401. Copies of the Federal

Register documents cited herein and

additional salmon-related materials are

available via the Internet at

www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 9, 1998 (63 FR 11482),

NMFS issued a proposed rule to list and

designate critical habitat for the

California Central Valley, spring-run

and the Washington Upper Columbia

River, spring-run Evolutionarily

Significant Units (ESUs) as endangered

and for the Central Valley fall-run, the

Southern Oregon and California Coastal,

the Puget Sound, the Lower Columbia

River, and the Upper Willamette River

ESUs as threatened, and to redefine the

Snake River fall-run chinook salmon

ESU to include fall chinook salmon

populations in the Deschutes River, to

list this redefined ESU as threatened,

and to revise its existing critical habitat

under the Endangered Species Act

(ESA). That proposal does not affect the

current definition and threatened status

of the listed Snake River fall chinook

salmon ESU.

On March 10, 1998, NMFS published

proposed rules listing the Hood Canal

summer-run and the Columbia River

Chum ESUs as threatened and

designating critical habitat (63 FR

11774), listing the Ozette Lake sockeye

as threatened and designating critical

habitat (63 FR 11750), and listing the

Middle Columbia River and the Upper

Willamette River ESUs as threatened (63

FR 11798).

Proposed critical habitat for all four

species’ ESUs is their current freshwater

and estuarine range, certain marine

areas for chinook, and all waterways,

substrate, and adjacent riparian zones

below longstanding, impassible, natural

barriers.

On April 7, 1998 (63 FR 16955),

NMFS announced the schedule for 20

public hearings in the states of

Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and

California to discuss the chinook, chum,

sockeye, and steelhead proposals. On

May 18, 1998, NMFS received a request

for an additional public hearing for the

chinook proposal from the Pacific Coast

Federation of Fishermen’s Association.

The reason given for the request was to

allow the many fishermen who could be

most effected by the chinook proposed

rule and who were participating in the

salmon fishery at the time of the public

hearings in California the opportunity to

comment firsthand with NMFS’

officials. NMFS finds that the request

reasonable and has scheduled a public

hearing, and extended the public

comment period for not only the

chinook proposal but also the chum,

sockeye, and steelhead proposals.

NMFS is soliciting specific

information, comments, data, and/or

recommendations on any aspect of the

March 9 and 10, 1998, proposals from

all interested parties. In particular,

NMFS is requesting information or data

as described in the Federal Register

notice announcing the proposed listings

and designations of critical habitat (see

63 FR 11482, 63 FR 11774, 63 FR 11750,

and 63 FR 11798). This information is

considered critical in helping NMFS

make final determinations on the

proposed listings and proposed

designations of critical habitat. NMFS

will consider all information,

comments, and recommendations

received during the comment period or

at the public hearings before reaching a

final decision.

Dated: May 28, 1998.

Rolland A. Schmitten,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–14870 Filed 6–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 980519132–8132–01;

I.D.022498F]

RIN 0648–AK49

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;

List of Fisheries and Gear, and

Notification Guidelines

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to establish a

list of fisheries and fishing gear used in

those fisheries under the authority of

each Regional Fishery Management

Council (Council), or the Secretary of

Commerce (Secretary) for Atlantic

highly migratory species. NMFS also

proposes guidelines for determining

when fishing gear or a fishery is

sufficiently different from those listed to

require notification of the appropriate

authority. The list of fisheries and gear

and the guidelines would apply only to

fisheries and gear that occur within the
30456 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules

U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

This proposed rule would also provide

a process by which fishermen can give

notification to the appropriate Council

or to the Secretary in order to use a gear

that does not appear on the list of

allowable gear types or to participate in

an unlisted fishery. The proposed list

and guidelines are required by the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and

Conservation and Management Act

(Magnuson-Stevens Act), as amended by

the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to

Dr. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of

Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910. Comments regarding the

collection-of-information requirement

contained in this rule should be sent to

the above address and to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB), Washington, DC 20503

(Attention: NOAA Desk Officer).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Millikin, NMFS, 301/713–2344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This rulemaking is required by the

Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801

et seq.), as amended by the SFA, which

was signed into law on October 11,

1996. Section 305(a) of the MagnusonStevens Act requires that the Secretary

of Commerce (Secretary), not later than

18 months after the date of enactment of

the SFA, publish in the Federal

Register, after notice and an opportunity

for public comment, a list of fisheries

under the authority of each Council and

all fishing gear used in such fisheries.

This list is to be based on information

submitted by the Councils under section

303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,

and for Atlantic highly migratory

pelagic fisheries to which section

302(a)(3) applies. In addition, the

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that the

Secretary include with such a list

guidelines for determining when fishing

gear or a fishery is sufficiently different

from those listed as to require fishermen

or other individuals to notify a Council

or the Secretary under section 305(a)(3).

List of Fisheries and Gear

As required by the SFA, the Councils

submitted to NMFS a list of fisheries

under their authority and the gear types

used in each fishery. Fisheries under a

Council’s authority include those

managed through a fishery management

plan (FMP) and fisheries occurring

within the geographical boundaries of

that Council not managed through an

FMP. In addition to these submissions,

the List of Fisheries (LOF), as required

by the Marine Mammal Protection Act

(MMPA) and published on February 4,

1998 (63 FR 5748), was used as an

additional source of information to

ensure the list of fisheries and gear

types was complete. The result is the

proposed list of fisheries and allowable

gear types for all fisheries within the

EEZ.

NMFS is not aware of any Treaty

Indian tribe or subsistence fisheries in

the EEZ other than those listed in

§ 600.725(v) of this proposed rule. This

action is not intended to supersede or

otherwise affect exemptions that exist

for subsistence or Native American

harvest under Treaty Indian fisheries.

However, NMFS is particularly

interested in receiving public comment

on this topic.

NMFS is considering the possibility

that exceptions to the full 90-day

waiting period, before using a new gear

or participating in a new fishery, may be

desirable under certain circumstances.

NMFS invites comments on what

conditions might warrant such an

expedited review and approval of a new

gear or fishery.

This rule is not intended to affect

experimental fisheries conducted for a

year or less elsewhere under Title 50,

Chapter VI of the CFR.

NMFS requests comments regarding

the completeness and accuracy of the

proposed list of gear, definitions, and

fisheries that may have been

inadvertently left off the proposed list of

fisheries and allowable gear. While gear

types were included on the list,

methods of gear deployment were not.

This explains the absence of ‘‘gears’’

such as pelagic longline, jig, troll,

bottom trawl, otter trawl, or drift gillnet

on the proposed list. For example, ‘‘jig’’

and ‘‘troll’’ are considered deployment

methods for hook-and-line gear, rather

than gear types. Terms such as

‘‘pelagic,’’ ‘‘bottom,’’ and ‘‘drift’’ are

modifiers that describe where in the

water column the specific gear type is

used. Also, ‘‘hand gear’’ is included on

the list only under fisheries where it is

the only allowed method of harvest—

the Caribbean Queen Conch FMP and

the Coral Reef FMPs in the South

Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

Definitions of each gear type were

developed to describe and differentiate

among gear used in the fisheries. In

order to derive these definitions of gear

types, existing definitions of gear types

were obtained from fishery regulations

in Title 50, Chapter VI of the CFR.

Various sources were used to obtain

general definitions for gear types not

contained in regulations, including staff

of the Councils, NMFS, and the

Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions.

Literature sources and manuals on gear

types were also used to obtain gear

definitions. The gear definitions are an

important aspect of this activity because

the definitions will determine the

specific allowable gear in each fishery.

In addition, the gear definitions have

implications for the guidelines when

determining if a particular gear type is

sufficiently different from those listed

so as to require notification under

section 305(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens

Act. General definitions would be added

to section 600.10.

Prohibitions on Use of Unlisted Gear

Listed gear would be allowed to be

used only in a manner that is consistent

with existing laws or regulations. The

list of fisheries and allowable gear

would not, in any way, alter or

supersede any definitions or regulations

contained elsewhere in 50 CFR chapter

VI. A person or vessel would be

prohibited from engaging in fishing or

employing fishing gear when such

fishing or gear is prohibited or restricted

by regulation under an FMP, as

implemented elsewhere in 50 CFR

chapter VI, or under other applicable

law.

Procedures for Notification of New

Gear or Fisheries

Based on comments received on this

proposed rule, NMFS will publish a

final rule containing the final list of

fisheries and gear used in those

fisheries. One hundred and eighty days

after the publication of the final list of

fisheries and gear, no individual or

vessel may employ unlisted fishing gear

or participate in an unlisted fishery

without providing notification of intent

to the appropriate Council, or to the

Director, Office of Sustainable fisheries,

NMFS (Director), in the case of Atlantic

highly migratory species fisheries.

Fishermen and vessels may not

participate in unlisted fisheries or use

unlisted gear for a period of 90 days

following notification of the Council or

the Director. Required information for

adequate notification is listed in section

600.747(c)(3).

Species Other Than Atlantic Highly

Migratory Species

After receiving notification regarding

intended participation in an unlisted

fishery or use of unlisted gear, a Council

would begin consideration of the

notification and immediately send a

copy of the notification to the

appropriate NMFS Regional

Administrator (RA). If, after
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30457

consideration of the notification and

accompanying information, a Council

found that the new gear or fishery

would not compromise the effectiveness

of conservation and management efforts

under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, it

would recommend to the RA that the

authorized list of fisheries and gear be

amended, provide rationale and

supporting analysis, and provide a draft

proposed rule to amend the authorized

list of fisheries and gear for publication

in the Federal Register. If the Council

found that the proposed new gear or

fishery would be detrimental to

conservation and management efforts,

the Council would recommend to the

RA that the authorized list of fisheries

and gear not be amended, that a

proposed rule not be published, give

reasons for its recommendation for a

disapproval, and might request NMFS to

issue emergency or interim regulations,

and begin preparation of an FMP or

amendment to an FMP, if appropriate.

Based on the information provided in

the notification and by the Council,

NMFS would determine if the new gear

or fishery would compromise the

effectiveness of conservation and

management efforts under the

Magnuson-Stevens Act and whether to

publish the proposed rule to amend the

list of fisheries and gear.

If the initial determination were

positive, NMFS would publish the

proposed rule, with a 30-day comment

period. Following the end of the

comment period, NMFS would either

approve or disapprove the change to the

list based on the potential impacts on

the effectiveness of conservation and

management efforts. If approved, NMFS

would publish a final rule revising the

list, and notify the applicant of the final

approval. If the use of the gear or

participation in a fishery were

determined to be detrimental to

conservation and management efforts

under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the

proposed addition to the list would be

disapproved, NMFS would notify the

applicant and the appropriate Council

of the negative determination and the

reasons for the determination, and

might publish emergency or interim

regulations in the Federal Register to

prohibit or restrict the use of the

unlisted gear or fishing in the unlisted

fishery. Upon notification by NMFS that

the proposed revision had been

disapproved, the Council should begin

preparation of an FMP or amendment to

an FMP in order to provide permanent

regulations relative to that gear type or

fishery.

If the initial determination by NMFS

were negative, because use of the gear

or participation in the fishery were

likely to compromise conservation and

management efforts under the

Magnuson-Stevens Act, and it were

unlikely that additional new

information would be gained from a

public comment period, then NMFS

would notify the applicant and the

Council of the negative determination

and the reasons for that determination,

and might publish emergency or interim

regulations in the Federal Register to

prohibit or restrict the use of the

unlisted gear or fishing in the unlisted

fishery. The Council should then begin

preparation of an FMP or an amendment

to an FMP to provide permanent

regulations relative to that gear type or

fishery.

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

Notification of intent to use an

unlisted gear or participate in an

unlisted fishery for Atlantic highly

migratory species would be addressed to

the Director. After receiving such

notification, a determination would be

made whether the new gear or new

fishery would compromise the

effectiveness of conservation and

management programs and whether to

publish a proposed rule to amend the

list of gear and fisheries.

If the determination were positive, a

proposed rule to amend the list of gear

and fisheries would be published in the

Federal Register for public comment.

Following the end of the public

comment period, NMFS would consider

comments or new information received

relative to the effect of the new gear or

fishery on conservation and

management programs, and would

either approve or disapprove the

proposed amendment. If approved, the

applicant would be notified, and a final

rule would be published amending the

list of fisheries and gear. If after

receiving public comment, NMFS

disapproved the proposed amendment,

the applicant would be notified of the

disapproval, including reasons for the

disapproval, and NMFS might publish

emergency or interim regulations and

subsequently develop or amend the

FMP to prohibit or restrict the use of the

unlisted gear or participation in the

unlisted fishery.

If the initial determination were

negative, NMFS would notify the

applicant, including the reasons for the

disapproval, and might publish

emergency or interim regulations and

subsequently develop or amend an FMP

to prohibit or restrict the use of the

unlisted gear or participation in the

unlisted fishery.

Issues or Topics of Special Concern

NMFS specifically encourages

comments on this proposed rule

regarding the determination of what

constitutes a ‘‘different’’ gear or fishery

when an individual is attempting to use

a new gear or enter a new fishery not on

the proposed list of fisheries and gear.

NMFS also requests comments

regarding the types of information that

would be required in the notification

that would be submitted to the

appropriate authority. The proposed list

of gear by fishery under the Councils, or

the Secretary in the case of Atlantic

highly migratory species, appears at

§ 600.725.

Classification

This proposed rule has been

determined to be not significant for

purposes of E.O. 12866.

The Assistant General Counsel for

Legislation and Regulation of the

Department of Commerce certified to

the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the

Small Business Administration that this

rule will not have a significant impact

on a substantial number of small

entities. This action does not change the

analyses already completed nor the

conclusions made under the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (RFA) for any gear that

can be used in a fishery or gear that is

prohibited seasonally, or year round, for

any previous rulemakings for fisheries

under 50 CFR parts 600, 622, 630, 640,

644, 648, 649, 654, 660, 678, and 679.

NMFS’ guidelines for preparation of

economic analyses to comply with the

RFA assume that a ‘‘substantial

number’’ of small entities would

generally be 20 percent of the total

universe of small entities affected by the

regulation. A regulation would have a

‘‘significant impact’’ on a substantial

number of small entities if any of the

following criteria are met: Annual gross

revenues are reduced by more than 5

percent, total costs of production are

increased by more than 5 percent,

compliance costs for small entities are at

least 10 percent higher than compliance

costs as a percent of sales for large

entities, or the action results in a

cessation of business operations of 2

percent or more of small entities

affected by the action. None of the

aforementioned criteria were met by this

action. The formalized list of fisheries

currently in the EEZ and gears within

those fisheries does not change any

costs or revenues for members of the

fishing industry. The new procedure

that will be required before a fisherman

may participate in a new fishery or

employ a new gear in an existing fishery

will affect only that small group of
30458 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules

individuals (about 20 per year) having

to comply with the notification

procedure because of reporting

requirements associated with it. As a

result, a regulatory flexibility analysis

was not prepared for this action. Any

future rule prohibiting or restricting use

of gear or prosecution of a fishery will

be analyzed in accordance with the

RFA.

This rule contains a collection-ofinformation requirement subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This

collection-of-information requirement

has been submitted to OMB for

approval. Public reporting burden for

this collection of information is

estimated to average 1 hour per

response for Council notification of

entry into a new fishery or use of a new

gear in a current fishery, including the

time for reviewing instructions,

searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data

needed, and completing and reviewing

the collection of information.

Public comment is sought regarding:

Whether this proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information has practical utility; the

accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity

of the information to be collected; and

ways to minimize the burden of

collection of information, including

through the use of automated collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology. Send comments regarding

these burden estimates or any other

aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this

burden, to NMFS and OMB (see

ADDRESSES).

Notwithstanding any other provision

of law, no person is required to respond

to, nor shall a person be subject to a

penalty for failure to comply with, a

collection of information subject to the

requirements of the PRA unless that

collection of information displays a

currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 600

Administrative practice and

procedure, Confidential business

information, Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing

vessels, Foreign relations,

Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Statistics.

Dated: May 27, 1998.

Rolland A. Schmitten,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR part 600 is proposed

to be amended as follows:

PART 600—MAGNUSON-STEVENS

ACT PROVISIONS

1. The authority citation for part 600

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et

seq.

2. In § 600.10, the definition for

‘‘trawl’’ is revised and new definitions

for ‘‘allowable chemical,’’ ‘‘bandit gear,’’

‘‘barrier net,’’ ‘‘bully net,’’ ‘‘buoy gear,’’

‘‘dip net,’’ ‘‘dredge,’’ ‘‘handline,’’ ‘‘hoop

net,’’ ‘‘lampara net,’’ ‘‘longline,’’ ‘‘pair

trawl,’’ ‘‘powerhead,’’ ‘‘purse seine,’’

‘‘rod and reel,’’ ‘‘seine,’’ ‘‘slurp gun,’’

‘‘snare,’’ ‘‘spear,’’ ‘‘tangle net dredge,’’

‘‘trammel net,’’ and ‘‘trap,’’ are added in

alphabetical order to read as follows:

§ 600.10 Definitions.

* * * * *

Allowable chemical means a

substance, generally used to immobilize

marine life so it can be captured alive,

that, when introduced into the water,

does not take Gulf and South Atlantic

prohibited coral and is allowed by

Florida for the harvest of tropical fish.

* * * * *

Bandit gear means vertical hook and

line gear with rods that are attached to

the vessel when in use. Lines are

retrieved by manual, electric, or

hydraulic reels.

Barrier net means a small-mesh net

used to capture coral reef fishes.

Bully net means a circular frame

attached at right angles to a pole and

supporting a conical bag of webbing.

Buoy gear means fishing gear

consisting of a float and one or more

weighted lines suspended therefrom,

generally long enough to reach the

bottom. A hook or hooks are on the lines

at or near the end. The float and line(s)

drift freely and are retrieved

periodically to remove catch and rebait

hooks.

* * * * *

Dip net means a small mesh bag,

sometimes attached to a handle, shaped

and framed in various ways. It is

operated by hand or partially by

mechanical power to capture the fish by

a scooping motion.

* * * * *

Dredge means a gear consisting of a

mouth frame attached to a holding bag

constructed of metal rings or mesh.

* * * * *

Handline means fishing gear that is

set and pulled by hand and consists of

one vertical line to which may be

attached leader lines with hooks.

* * * * *

Hoop net means a frame, circular or

otherwise, supporting a shallow bag of

webbing and suspended by a line and

bridles.

* * * * *

Lampara net means a surround net

with the sections of netting made and

joined to create bagging. It is hauled

with purse rings.

Longline means a line that is deployed

horizontally and to which gangions and

hooks or pots are attached. Longlines

can be stationary, anchored, or buoyed

lines that may be hauled manually,

electrically, or hydraulically.

* * * * *

Pair trawl means a cone or funnelshaped net that is towed through the

water by two boats simultaneously.

* * * * *

Powerhead means any device with an

explosive charge, usually attached to a

spear gun, spear, pole, or stick, that may

or may not fire a projectile upon

contact.

* * * * *

Purse seine means a floated and

weighted encircling net that is closed by

means of a drawstring threaded through

rings attached to the bottom of the net.

* * * * *

Rod and reel means a hand-held

(including rod holder) fishing rod with

a manually or electrically operated reel

attached.

* * * * *

Seine means a net with a small

conical bag and long narrow wings, that

is rigged with floats and weights.

Slurp gun means tube-shaped suction

device that operates somewhat like a

syringe by sucking up the fish into a

holding bag.

Snare means a device consisting of a

pole to which is attached a line forming

at its end a loop with a running knot

that tightens around the fish when the

line is pulled.

Spear means a sharp, pointed, or

barbed instrument on a shaft. Spears can

be operated manually or shot from a gun

or sling.

* * * * *

Tangle net dredge means dredge gear

consisting of weights and flimsy netting

that hangs loosely in order to

immediately entangle fish.

* * * * *

Trammel net means a net consisting

of two or more panels of netting,

suspended vertically in the water

column by a common float line and a
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30459

common weight line. One panel of

netting has a larger mesh size than the

other(s) in order to entrap fish in a

pocket.

* * * * *

Trap means a portable, enclosed

device with one or more gates or

entrances and one or more lines

attached to surface floats. Also called a

pot.

Trawl means a cone or funnel-shaped

net that is towed through the water.

* * * * *

3. In § 600.725, paragraph (v) is added

to read as follows:

§ 600.725 General prohibitions.

* * * * *

(v) The use of any gear or

participation in a fishery not on the

following list of authorized fisheries and

gear is prohibited after [date 180 days

after the date of publication of the final

rule]. Listed gear can only be used in a

manner that is consistent with existing

laws or regulations. The list of fisheries

and allowable gear does not, in any way,

alter or supersede any definitions or

regulations contained elsewhere in this

chapter. A person or vessel is prohibited

from engaging in fishing or employing

fishing gear when such fishing or gear

is prohibited or restricted by regulation

under an FMP or under other applicable

law. However, after [date 180 days after

the date of publication of the final rule],

an individual fisherman may notify the

appropriate Council, or the Assistant

Administrator in the case of Atlantic

highly migratory species, of the intent to

use a gear or participate in a fishery not

already on this list. Ninety days after

such notification, the individual may

use the gear or participate in that fishery

unless regulatory action is taken to

prohibit the use of the gear or

participate in the fishery (e.g., through

emergency or interim regulations). The

list of authorized fisheries and gear is as

follows:

Fishery Allowable gear types

New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC)

Atlantic Sea Scallops Fishery Management Plan FMP:

A. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... A. Dredge.

B. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ B. Trawl.

Atlantic Salmon FMP ....................................................................................................................... No harvest/possession in the EEZ.

Northeast (NE) Multispecies FMP:

A. NE Multispecies Sink Gillnet ............................................................................................... A. Gillnet.

B. North Atlantic bottom trawl .................................................................................................. B. Trawl.

C. Groundfish hook and line .................................................................................................... C. Longline, handline.

D. Mixed species trap/pot ........................................................................................................ D. Trap/pot.

E. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... E. Dredge.

F. Seine fishery ........................................................................................................................ F. Seine.

G. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................ G. Rod and reel, handline, spear.

American Lobster FMP:

A. Lobster pot/trap ................................................................................................................... A. Pot, trap.

B. North Atlantic bottom trawl .................................................................................................. B. Trawl.

C. Coastal/inshore gillnet ......................................................................................................... C. Gillnet.

D. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... D. Dredge.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Pot, trap.

Atlantic Herring Preliminary Fishery Management Plan:

A. Coastal herring trawl ........................................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Atlantic herring purse seine ................................................................................................. B. Purse seine.

C. Coastal/inshore gillnet ......................................................................................................... C. Gillnet.

D. Herring pair trawl fishery ..................................................................................................... D. Pair trawl.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Hook and line.

Dogfish Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Gillnet fishery ....................................................................................................................... A. Gillnet.

B. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ B. Trawl.

Atlantic Bluefish (FMP managed by MAFMC):

A. Pelagic longline/hook and line ............................................................................................. A. Longline, handline.

B. Seine fishery ........................................................................................................................ B. Purse seine, seine.

C. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................ C. Pot, trap.

D. Bluefish, croaker, flounder trawl .......................................................................................... D. Trawl.

E. Pelagic drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................... E. Gillnet.

F. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... F. Dredge.

G. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................ G. Rod and reel, handline, trap, pot.

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery (FMP managed by the MAFMC):

A. Mackerel, squid, butterfish trawl .......................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Pelagic drift gillnet ............................................................................................................... B. Gillnet.

C. Pelagic longline/hook and line ............................................................................................ C. Longline, handline.

D. Purse seine fishery .............................................................................................................. D. Purse seine.

E. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................. E. Pot, trap.

F. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... F. Dredge.

G. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................ G. Rod and reel, handline, pot.

Atlantic Menhaden Purse Seine (Non-FMP) ................................................................................... Purse seine.

Atlantic Halibut Fishery (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................ Longline.

Weakfish Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Trawl, gillnet, hook and line.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hook and line.

Atlantic Mussel/Sea Urchin Dredge Fishery (Non-FMP) ................................................................ Dredge.

Atlantic Skate Fishery:

A. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ A. Trawl.

B. Gillnet fishery ....................................................................................................................... B. Gillnet.
30460 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Fishery Allowable gear types

Crab Fishery (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................................. Pot.

Northern Shrimp Fishery:

A. Shrimp trawl fishery ............................................................................................................. A. Trawl.

B. Shrimp pot fishery ............................................................................................................... B. Pot.

Monkfish Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ A. Trawl.

B. Gillnet fishery ....................................................................................................................... B. Gillnet.

Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Fishery (FMP managed by MAFMC):

A. Bluefish, croaker, flounder trawl .......................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Pelagic longline/hook and line ............................................................................................. B. Longline, handline.

C. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................ C. Pot, trap.

D. Pelagic drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................... D. Gillnet.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Rod and reel, handline, pot, trap.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC)

Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass FMP:

A. Bluefish, croaker, flounder trawl .......................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Pelagic longline/hook and line ............................................................................................. B. Longline, handline.

C. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................ C. Pot, trap.

D. Pelagic drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................... D. Gillnet.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Rod and reel, handline, pot, trap.

Atlantic Bluefish FMP:

A. Bluefish, Croaker, Flounder trawl ........................................................................................ A. Trawl.

B. Pelagic longline/hook and ................................................................................................... B. Longline, handline.

C. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................ C. Pot, trap.

D. Pelagic drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................... D. Gillnet.

E. Seine fishery ........................................................................................................................ E. Purse seine, seine.

F. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... F. Dredge.

G. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................ G. Rod and reel, handline, trap, pot.

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP:

A. Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish trawl ......................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Pelagic drift gillnet ............................................................................................................... B. Gillnet.

C. Pelagic longline/hook and ................................................................................................... C. Longline, handline.

D. Purse seine fishery .............................................................................................................. D. Purse seine.

E. Mixed species pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................. E. Pot, trap.

F. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... F. Dredge.

G. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................ G. Rod and reel, handline, pot.

Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog FMP ...................................................................................................... Dredge.

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery (FMP managed by NEFMC):

A. Dredge fishery ..................................................................................................................... A. Dredge.

B. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ B. Trawl.

Atlantic Menhaden Purse Seine Fishery (Non-FMP) ...................................................................... Purse seine.

Northern Shrimp Trawl (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................. Trawl.

American Lobster Fishery (FMP managed by NEFMC) ................................................................. Pot, trap.

Weakfish fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Trawl, gillnet, hook and line.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hook and line.

Mixed Species Trawl (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Trawl.

Whelk Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ A. Trawl.

B. Pot/trap fishery .................................................................................................................... B. Pot/trap.

Monkfish Trawl (Non-FMP) ............................................................................................................. Trawl.

Coastal Gillnet Fishery (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................. Gillnet.

Recreational Fishery (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Rod and reel, handline.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Golden Crab FMP ........................................................................................................................... Trap.

Atlantic Red Drum FMP .................................................................................................................. No harvest/possession in EEZ.

Coral and Coral Reef FMP:

A. Octocoral commercial fishery .............................................................................................. Hand harvest only.

B. Live rock aquaculture .......................................................................................................... Hand harvest only.

C. Octocoral recreational fishery ............................................................................................. Hand harvest only.

South Atlantic Shrimp FMP ............................................................................................................. Trawl.

South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP:

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Longline, rod and reel, bandit gear,

handline, spear.

B. Black sea bass trap/pot ....................................................................................................... B. Pot, trap.

C. Wreckfish fishery ................................................................................................................. C. Rod and reel, bandit gear, handline.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Handline, rod and reel, pot, trap, bandit

gear, slurp gun, spear, powerhead.

South Atlantic Spiny Lobster FMP:

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Trap, pot, dip net, bully net, snare.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30461

Fishery Allowable gear types

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Trap, pot, dip net, bully net, snare.

South Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP:

A. Commercial Spanish mackerel fishery ................................................................................ A. Handline, rod and reel, bandit gear, gillnet,

cast net.

B. Commercial King mackerel fishery ...................................................................................... B. Handline, rod and reel, bandit gear.

C. Other commercial coastal migratory pelagics ..................................................................... C. Longline, handline, rod and reel, bandit

gear.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Bandit gear, rod and reel, handline.

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and ......................................................................................................... Trawl.

Butterfish Trawl (Non-FMP).

Weakfish Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Trawl, gillnet, hook and line.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hook and line.

Whelk Trawl Fishery (non-FMP) ..................................................................................................... Trawl.

Marine Life Aquarium Fishery (Non-FMP) ...................................................................................... Dip net, slurp gun, barrier net, allowable chemical.

Calico Scallops Trawl (non-FMP) ................................................................................................... Trawl.

Bluefish, Croaker, Flounder Trawl (Non-FMP) ................................................................................ Trawl.

Recreational Fishery (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Handline, bandit gear, rod and reel.

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum FMP ....................................................................................................... No harvest/possession in EEZ.

Coral Reef FMP:

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Hand harvest only.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hand harvest only.

Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish FMP:

A. Snapper-Grouper reef fish longline/hook and line .............................................................. A. Longline, handline, bandit gear, rod and

reel, buoy gear.

B. Pot/trap reef fish .................................................................................................................. B. Pot, trap.

C. Other commercial fishery .................................................................................................... C. Spear, powerhead, cast net, trawl.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Spear, powerhead, bandit gear, handline,

rod reel, cast net.

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp FMP:

A. Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl ................................................................................................. A. Trawl.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Trawl.

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP:

A. Large pelagics longline ........................................................................................................ A. Longline.

B. King/Spanish mackerel gillnet fishery ................................................................................. B. Gillnet.

C. Pelagic hook and line .......................................................................................................... C. Bandit gear, handline, rod and reel.

D. Pelagic species purse seine ............................................................................................... D. Purse seine.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Bandit gear, handline, rod and reel, spear.

Gulf of Mexico Spiny Lobster FMP:

A. Spiny lobster pot/trap fishery ............................................................................................... A. Trap, pot.

B. Dip net fishery ..................................................................................................................... B. Dip net, bully net, hoop net.

C. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. C. Dip net, bully net, pot, trap, snare.

Stone Crab FMP:

A. Trap/pot crab fishery ........................................................................................................... A. Trap, pot.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Trap, pot.

Mullet Fishery (Non-FMP):

A. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ A. Trawl.

B. Gillnet fishery ....................................................................................................................... B. Gillnet.

C. Pair trawl fishery .................................................................................................................. C. Pair trawl.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Bandit gear, handline, rod and reel.

Inshore Coastal Gillnet (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................. Gillnet.

Golden Crab Fishery (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Trap.

Octopus Fishery (Non-FMP) ........................................................................................................... Trap.

Marine Life Aquarium Fishery (Non-FMP) ...................................................................................... Dip net, slurp gun, barrier net, allowable chemical.

Coastal Herring Trawl (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................. Trawl.

Butterfish Trawl (Non-FMP) ............................................................................................................ Trawl.

Gulf of Mexico Groundfish (Non-FMP):

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Trawl, purse seine, gillnet.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hook and line.

Gulf of Mexico Menhaden Purse (Non-FMP) ................................................................................. Purse seine.

Sardine Purse Seine (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Purse seine.

Recreational fishery (Non-FMP) ...................................................................................................... Bandit gear, handline, rod and reel,

spearfishing gear, bully net, gillnet, dip net,

longline powerhead, seine, slurp gun, trap,

trawl, harpoon.

Caribbean Fishery Management Council

Caribbean Spiny Lobster FMP:
30462 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Fishery Allowable gear types

A. Trap/pot fishery .................................................................................................................... A. Trap/pot.

B. Dip net fishery ..................................................................................................................... B. Dip net.

C. Entangling net fishery .......................................................................................................... C. Gillnet, trammel net.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Dip net, trap, pot, gillnet, trammel net.

Caribbean Shallow Water Reef Fish FMP:

A. Longline/hook and line fishery ............................................................................................. A. Longline, hook and line.

B. Trap/pot fishery .................................................................................................................... B. Trap, pot.

C. Entangling net fishery .......................................................................................................... C. Gillnet, trammel net.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Dip net, handline, rod and reel, slurp gun,

spear.

Coral and Reef Resources FMP:

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Dip net, slurp gun.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Dip net, slurp gun.

Queen Conch FMP:

A. Commercial fishery .............................................................................................................. A. Hand harvest only.

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Hand harvest only.

Caribbean Pelagics (Non-FMP):

A. Pelagics drift gillnet ............................................................................................................. A. Gillnet.

B. Pelagics longline/hook and line ........................................................................................... B. Longline/hook and line.

C. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. C. Spear, handline, longline.

Pacific Fishery Management Council

Washington, Oregon, and California FMP:

A. Salmon set gillnet fishery .................................................................................................... A. Gillnet.

B. Salmon hook and line fishery .............................................................................................. B. Hook and line.

C. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ C. Trawl.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Rod and reel.

West Coast Groundfish FMP:

A. Pacific groundfish trawl ....................................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Set gillnet fishery ................................................................................................................. B. Gillnet.

C. Groundfish longline/setline .................................................................................................. C. Longline.

D. Groundfish handline/hook and line ..................................................................................... D. Handline, hook and line.

E. Groundfish pot/trap fishery .................................................................................................. E. Pot, trap.

F. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. F. Rod and reel, handline, spear, hook and

line.

Northern Anchovy FMP ................................................................................................................... Purse seine, lampara net.

Angel Shark, White Croaker, California Halibut, White Sea Bass, Pacific Mackerel Large-Mesh

Set Net Fishery (Non-FMP).

Gillnet.

Thresher Shark/ Swordfish Drift Gillnet (Non-FMP) ........................................................................ Gillnet.

Pacific Shrimp/Prawn (Non-FMP):

A. Pot/trap fishery .................................................................................................................... A. Pot/trap.

B. Trawl fishery ........................................................................................................................ B. Trawl.

Lobster, Rock Crab Pot/Trap Fishery (Non-FMP) .......................................................................... Pot, trap.

Pacific Halibut Longline/Setline (Non-FMP) .................................................................................... Longline.

Shark/Bonito Longline/Setline (Non-FMP) ...................................................................................... Longline.

Dungeness Crab Pot/Trap (Non-FMP) ........................................................................................... Pot, trap.

Hagfish Trap/Pot Fishery (Non-FMP) ............................................................................................. Trap, pot.

Pacific Albacore, Other Tuna Hook and Line Fishery (Non-FMP) ................................................. Hook and line.

Pacific Swordfish Harpoon (Non-FMP) ........................................................................................... Harpoon.

Pacific Scallop Dredge (Non-FMP) ................................................................................................. Dredge.

Pacific Yellowfin, Skipjack, Tuna, Purse Seine (Non-FMP) ............................................................ Purse seine.

Market Squid Purse Seine, Fishery (Non-FMP) ............................................................................. Purse seine.

Pacific Sardine, Pacific, Mackerel, Pacific Saury, Pacific, Bonito Purse Seine Fishery, (NonFMP).Purse seine.

Finfish and Shellfish Live, Trap, Hook and line/Handline (Non-FMP) ............................................ Trap, handline, hook and line.

Recreational Fishery ....................................................................................................................... Spear, trap, handline, pot, hook and line, rod

and reel.

North Pacific Fishery Management Council

Alaska Scallop FMP ........................................................................................................................ Dredge.

Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) King and Tanner Crab FMP:

A. Alaskan crustacean crab pot ............................................................................................... A. Pot

B. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. B. Pot.

BS and AI Groundfish FMP:

A. Groundfish trawl fishery ....................................................................................................... A. Trawl.

B. Bottomfish hook and line, handline ..................................................................................... B. Hook and line, handline.

C. Longline fishery ................................................................................................................... C. Longline

D. BS and AI and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pot/trap fishery ........................................................ D. Pot, trap.

E. Recreational fishery .................................................................................................................... E. Handline, rod and reel, hook and line, pot,

trap.

Pacific Halibut (Non-FMP):

A. Pacific halibut handline/hook and line ................................................................................. A. Hook and line, handline.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30463

Fishery Allowable gear types

B. Pacific halibut longline/ setline ............................................................................................ B. Longline.

C. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. C. Handline, rod and reel, hook and line.

Alaska High Seas Salmon FMP:.

A. Alaska salmon hook and line .............................................................................................. A. Hook and line.

B. Alaska salmon gillnet fishery ............................................................................................... B. Gillnet.

C. Alaska salmon purse seine ................................................................................................. C. Purse seine.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Handline, rod and reel, hook and line.

Alaska Pair Trawl (Non-FMP) ......................................................................................................... Pair trawl.

Alaska Finfish Otter/Beam Trawl (Non-FMP) .................................................................................. Trawl.

Octopus/Squid Purse Seine (Non-FMP) ......................................................................................... Purse seine.

Finfish Purse Seine (Non-FMP) ...................................................................................................... Purse seine.

Octopus/Squid Longline (Non-FMP) ............................................................................................... Longline.

Finfish Handline/Hook and Line (Non-FMP) ................................................................................... Handline, hook and line.

Octopus/Squid Handline (Non-FMP) ............................................................................................... Handline.

Recreational Fishery (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Handline, rod and reel, hook line.

Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

Western Pacific Crustacean FMP:

A. Lobster/crab/shrimp trap fishery .......................................................................................... A. Trap.

B. Crab hoop net fishery .......................................................................................................... B. Hoop net.

C. Shrimp trawl fishery ............................................................................................................. C. Trawl.

D. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. D. Hoop net, trap.

Western Pacific Precious Coral FMP Tangle Net Dredge Fishery ................................................. Tangle net dredge.

Western Pacific Bottomfish/Seamount Groundfish FMP:

A. Bottomfish handline fishery ................................................................................................. A. Handline.

B. Hook and line/rod and reel .................................................................................................. B. Hook and line, rod and reel.

C. Longline fishery ................................................................................................................... C. Longline.

D. Trap/pot fishery ................................................................................................................... D. Trap/pot.

E. Spear fishery ....................................................................................................................... E. Spear, powerhead.

F. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. Handline, rod and reel, spear, powerhead, pot,

trap, hook and line.

Western Pacific Pelagics FMP:

A. Swordfish, tuna, billfish Mahi mahi, wahoo, shark longline/setline fishery ......................... A. Longline.

B. Tuna handline/hook and line ............................................................................................... B. Handline, hook and line.

C. Pole and line fishery ............................................................................................................ C. Rod and reel, handline, hook and line.

D. Purse seine fishery .............................................................................................................. D. Purse seine.

E. Dip net/hoop net fishery ...................................................................................................... E. Dip net, hoop net.

F. Spear fishery ........................................................................................................................ F. Spear, powerhead.

Gillnet Fishery (Non-FMP) .............................................................................................................. Gillnet.

Recreational Fishery (Non-FMP) .................................................................................................... Rod and reel, handline, hook and line.

Secretary of Commerce

Atlantic Swordfish FMP:

A. Hook and line fishery ........................................................................................................... A. Rod and reel, handline.

B. Longline fishery ................................................................................................................... B. Longline.

C. Drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................................ C. Gillnet.

D. Harpoon fishery ................................................................................................................... D. Harpoon.

Atlantic Sharks FMP:

A. Hook and line fishery ........................................................................................................... A. Rod and reel, handline, bandit gear.

B. Longline fishery ................................................................................................................... B. Longline.

C. Drift gillnet fishery ................................................................................................................ C. Gillnet.

D. Harpoon fishery ................................................................................................................... D. Harpoon.

Atlantic Billfish FMP (Recreational only):

A. Hook and line fishery ........................................................................................................... A. Rod and reel, handline, bandit gear.

B. Harpoon fishery ................................................................................................................... B. Harpoon.

Atlantic Tunas (Non-FMP):

A. Hook and line fishery ........................................................................................................... A. Rod and reel, handline, bandit gear.

B. Purse seine fishery .............................................................................................................. B. Purse seine.

C. Longline fishery ................................................................................................................... C. Longline.

D. Harpoon fishery ................................................................................................................... D. Harpoon.

E. Recreational fishery ............................................................................................................. E. Rod and reel, bandit gear, harpoon,

handline.

4. Section 600.747 is added to read as

follows:

§ 600.747 Guidelines and procedures for

determining new fisheries and gear.

(a) General. Section 305(a) of the

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the

Secretary to prepare a list of all fisheries

under the authority of each Council, or

the Director in the case of Atlantic

highly migratory species, and all gear

used in such fisheries. This section

contains guidelines in paragraph (b) for

determining when fishing gear or a

fishery is sufficiently different from
30464 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules

those listed in § 600.725(v) as to require

notification of a Council or the Director

in order to use the gear or participate in

the unlisted fishery. This section also

contains procedures in paragraph (c) for

notification of a Council or the Director

of potentially new fisheries or gear, and

for amending the list of fisheries and

gear.

(b) Guidelines. The following

guidance establishes the basis for

determining when fishing gear or a

fishery is sufficiently different from

those listed to require notification of the

appropriate Council or the Director.

(1) The initial step in the

determination of whether a fishing gear

or fishery is sufficiently different to

require notification is to compare the

gear or fishery in question to the list of

authorized fisheries and gear in

§ 600.725(v) and to the existing gear

definitions in § 600.10.

(2) If the gear in question falls within

the bounds of a definition in § 600.10

for an allowable gear type within that

fishery, as listed under section

600.725(v), then the gear is not

considered different, is considered

allowable gear, and does not require

notification of the Council or Secretary

90 days before it can be used in that

fishery.

(3) If, for any reason, the gear is not

consistent with a gear definition for a

listed fishery as described in paragraph

(b)(2) of this section, the gear is

considered different and requires

Council or Secretarial notification as

described in paragraph (c) of this

section 90 days before it can be used in

that fishery.

(4) If a fishery falls within the bounds

of the list of authorized fisheries and

gear in § 600.725(v) under the Council’s

or Secretary’s authority, then the fishery

is not considered different, is

considered an allowable fishery and

does not require notification of the

Council or Director before that fishery

can occur.

(5) If a fishery is not already listed in

the list of authorized fisheries and gear

in § 600.725(v), then the fishery is

considered different and requires

notification as described in paragraph

(c) of this section 90 days before it can

occur.

(c) Procedures. If a gear or fishery

does not appear on the list in

§ 600.725(v), or if the gear is different

from that defined in § 600.10, the

process for notification, and

consideration by a Council or the

Director, is as follows:

(1) Notification. After [date 180 days

from date of publication in the Federal

Register of the final rule], no person or

vessel may employ fishing gear or

engage in a fishery not included on the

list of approved gear types in

§ 600.725(v) without notifying the

appropriate Council or the Director at

least 90 days before the intended use of

that gear.

(2) Notification procedures. (i) A

signed return receipt for the notice

serves as adequate evidence of the date

that the notification was received by the

appropriate Council or the Director, in

the case of Atlantic highly migratory

species, and establishes the beginning of

the 90-day notification period, unless

required information in the notification

is incomplete.

(ii) The notification must include:

(A) Name, address, and telephone

number of the person submitting the

notification.

(B) Description of the gear.

(C) The fishery or fisheries in which

the gear is or will be used.

(D) A diagram and/or photograph of

the gear, as well as any specifications

and dimensions necessary to define the

gear.

(E) The season(s) in which the gear

will be fished.

(F) The area(s) in which the gear will

be fished.

(G) The anticipated bycatch species

associated with the gear, including

protected species, such as marine

mammals, sea turtles, sea birds, or

species listed as endangered or

threatened under the ESA.

(H) How the gear will be deployed

and fished, including the portions of the

marine environment where the gear will

be deployed (surface, midwater, and

bottom).

(iii) Failure to submit complete and

accurate information will result in a

delay in beginning the 90-day

notification period. The 90-day

notification period will not begin until

the information received is determined

to be accurate and complete.

(3) Action upon receipt of

notification—(i) Species other than

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species. (A)

Upon signing a return receipt of the

notification by certified mail regarding

an unlisted fishery or gear, a Council

must immediately begin consideration

of the notification and send a copy of

the notification to the appropriate

Regional Administrator.

(B) If the Council finds that the use of

an unlisted gear or participation in a

new fishery would not compromise the

effectiveness of conservation and

management efforts, it shall:

(1) Recommend to the RA that the list

be amended;

(2) Provide rationale and supporting

analysis, as necessary, for proper

consideration of the proposed

amendment; and

(3) Provide a draft proposed rule for

notifying the public of the proposed

addition, with a request for comment.

(C) If the Council finds that the

proposed gear or fishery will be

detrimental to conservation and

management efforts, it will recommend

to the RA that the authorized list of

fisheries and gear not be amended, that

a proposed rule not be published, give

reasons for its recommendation of a

disapproval, and may request NMFS to

publish emergency or interim

regulations, and begin preparation of an

FMP or amendment to an FMP, if

appropriate.

(D) After considering information in

the notification and Council’s

recommendation, NMFS will decide

whether or not to publish a proposed

rule. If information on the new gear or

fishery being considered indicates it is

likely that it will compromise

conservation and management efforts

under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and

no additional new information is likely

to be gained from a public comment

period, then a proposed rule will not be

published and NMFS will notify the

appropriate Council. In such an

instance, NMFS will publish emergency

or interim regulations to prohibit or

restrict use of the gear or participation

in the fishery. If NMFS determines that

the proposed amendment is not likely to

compromise conservation and

management efforts under the

Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS will

publish a proposed rule in the Federal

Register with a request for public

comment.

(ii) Atlantic Highly Migratory Species.

(A) Upon signing a return receipt of the

notification by certified mail regarding

an unlisted fishery or gear for Atlantic

highly migratory species (HMS), NMFS

will immediately begin consideration of

the notification.

(B) Based on information in the

notification and submitted by the

Council, NMFS will make a

determination whether the use of an

unlisted gear or participation in an

unlisted HMS fishery will compromise

the effectiveness of conservation and

management efforts under the

Magnuson-Stevens Act. If it is

determined that the proposed

amendment will not compromise

conservation and management efforts,

NMFS will publish a proposed rule.

(C) If NMFS finds that the proposed

gear or fishery will be detrimental to

conservation and management efforts in

this initial stage of review, it will not

publish a proposed rule and notify the
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 107 /Thursday, June 4, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30465

applicant of the negative determination

with the reasons therefore.

(4) Final determination and

publication of a final rule. Following

public comment, NMFS will approve or

disapprove the amendment to the list of

gear and fisheries.

(i) If approved, NMFS will publish a

final rule in the Federal Register and

notify the applicant and the Council, if

appropriate, of the final approval.

(ii) If disapproved, NMFS will

withdraw the proposed rule, notify the

applicant and the Council, if

appropriate, of the disapproval; publish

emergency or interim regulations, if

necessary, to prohibit or restrict the use

of gear or the participation in a fishery;

and either notify the Council of the need

to amend an FMP or prepare an

amendment to an FMP in the case of

Atlantic highly migratory species.

[FR Doc. 98–14735 Filed 6–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 052698C]

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings;

request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

convene public hearings on the Draft

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Generic

Amendment to the Fishery Management

Plans (FMP) of the Gulf of Mexico.

Public meetings on the NMFS draft EFH

recommendations will be held following

one of the public hearings.

DATES: Written comments on the

Council’s draft EFH amendment will be

accepted through July 17, 1998. Written

comments on NMFS’ draft EFH

recommendation will be accepted

through July 15, 1998.

The public hearings will be held in

June and July. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for specific dates and times

of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the

draft amendment should be sent to, and

copies of the draft amendment are

available from, the Council at the

following address: Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S.

Highway 301, North, Suite 1000,

Tampa, FL 33619. Copies of the

amendment can be obtained by calling

(813) 228–2815.

Written comments on the NMFS draft

EFH recommendations should be

addressed to: Habitat Conservation

Division, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center

Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432,

Attn: Draft EFH Recommendation to

GMFMC. Copies of the draft

recommendations can be obtained by

calling (813) 570-5317.

Public hearings will be held in

Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi,

Alabama, and Texas. See

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for

locations of the hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director,

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; telephone: (813) 228–2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Council will hold public hearings on a

draft generic amendment addressing

EFH in the Gulf of Mexico; eight public

hearings will be held to obtain public

comments. The description and

identification of EFH is mandated by

section 305(b) the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The

generic EFH amendment that is the

subject of these hearings addresses EFH

in all seven of the Council’s FMPs. The

following is a summary of the

amendment:

1. EFH is identified and described

based on areas where various life stages

of 21 selected managed species and the

coral complex commonly occur. The

selected species are: Shrimp (brown

shrimp, Penaeus aztecus; white shrimp,

Penaeus setiferus; pink shrimp, Penaeus

duorarum); red drum, Sciaenops

ocellatus; reef fish (red grouper,

Epinephelus morio; gag grouper,

Mycteroperca microlepsis; scamp

grouper, Mycteroperca phenax; red

snapper, Lutjanus campechanus; gray

snapper, Lutjanus griseus; yellowtail

snappper, Ocyurus chrysurus; lane

snapper, Lutjanus synagris; greater

amberjack, Seriola dumerili; lesser

amberjack, Seriola fasciata; tilefish,

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps; and

gray triggerfish, Balistes capriscus),

coastal migratory pelagic species (king

mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla;

Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus

maculatus; cobia, Rachycentron

canadum; and dolphin, Coryphaena

hippurus), stone crab, Menippe

mercenaria; spiny lobster, Panulirus

argus; and the coral complex.

2. The selected species represent

about a third of the species under

management by the Council.

Collectively, these species commonly

occur throughout all of the marine and

estuarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

EFH for the remaining managed species

will be addressed in future FMP

amendments, as appropriate.

3. EFH is defined as everywhere that

the above managed species commonly

occur. Because these species

collectively occur in all estuarine and

marine habitats of the Gulf of Mexico,

EFH is separated into estuarine and

marine components. For the estuarine

component, EFH includes all estuarine

waters and substrates (mud, sand, shell,

rock, and associated biological

communities), including subtidal

vegetation (seagrasses and algae) and

adjacent intertidal vegetation (marshes

and mangroves). In marine waters of the

Gulf of Mexico, EFH includes virtually

all marine waters and substrates (mud,

sand, shell, rock, and associated

biological communities) from the

shoreline to the seaward limit of the

EEZ.

4. Threats to EFH from fishing and

nonfishing activities are identified.

5. Options to conserve and enhance

EFH are provided and research needs

are identified.

6. No management measures and,

therefore, no regulations are proposed at

this time. Fishing-related management

measures to minimize any identified

impacts are deferred to future

amendments when the Council has the

information necessary to decide if the

measures are practicable.

NMFS is in the process of developing

an EFH recommendation to the Council

in accordance with the 1996

amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens

Act. The NMFS draft EFH

recommendation to the Council

includes a review and comments on the

Council’s draft EFH amendment. The

NMFS draft EFH recommendation to the

Council will be available for public

distribution June 8, 1998, and will be

available at the Council’s public

hearings. Copies may be requested from

the NMFS Habitat Conservation

Division (see ADDRESSES). Written

comments on the NMFS draft EFH

recommendation may be sent to the

NMFS Habitat Conservation Division

(see ADDRESSES). NMFS will hold a

public meeting on the NMFS draft EFH

recommendations immediately

following the Council’s June 22, 1998,

public hearing in Kenner, LA.

Public hearings will be held from 7:00

p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at all of the following

locations:

1. Wednesday, June 17, 1998—

Ramada Airport Inn & Conference