Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2019/11/15/2019-24308.html
Timestamp: 2020-05-31 23:21:35
Document Index: 156573571

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2902', 'art 2902', 'arts 622', 'art 622', 'art 635', 'art 635', 'art 622', 'art 635', 'ART 622', 'arts 622', 'art 622', '§ 622', 'art 11434', '§ 622', 'ART 635', 'art 635', '§ 635', '§ 635', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', 'arts 622', 'art\n622', 'art 635', 'art 635', 'arts 622', 'art 11434', 'ART 635']

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 9, 62491-62501 [2019-24308] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 9, 62491-62501 [2019-24308]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 9, 62491-62501 [2019-24308]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-AMOCREQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD to obtain instructions from a manufacturer, the instructions must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. (3) Required for Compliance (RC): For any service information referenced in EASA AD 2019–0188 that contains RC procedures and tests: Except as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, RC procedures and tests must be done to comply with this AD; any procedures or tests that are not identified as RC are recommended. Those procedures and tests that are not identified as RC may be deviated from using accepted methods in accordance with the operator’s maintenance or inspection program without obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided the procedures and tests identified as RC can be done and the airplane can be put back in an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or changes to procedures or tests identified as RC require approval of an AMOC. (j) Related Information (1) For information about EASA AD 2019– 0188, contact the EASA, Konrad-AdenauerUfer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 89990 6017; email ADs@ easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA AD on the EASA website at https:// ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this material at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. This material may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–2019–0864. (2) For more information about this AD, contact Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206– 231–3225. Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 1, 2019. Dionne Palermo, Acting Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2019–24531 Filed 11–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 62491 List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 2902 Government procurement. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 48 CFR Part 2902 [DOL Docket No. DOL–2019–0002] Bryan Slater, Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Labor. RIN 1291–AA42 [FR Doc. 2019–24681 Filed 11–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–04–P Department of Labor Acquisition Regulations: Definitions for Head of Agency, Head of Contracting Activity, and Senior Procurement Executive Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Department of Labor. ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal. AGENCY: With this notice, the Department of Labor (Department) is withdrawing the proposed rule that accompanied its direct final rule (DFR) amending three definitions in the Department of Labor Acquisition Regulation (DOLAR) in order to provide the Secretary of Labor greater flexibility and a streamlined procedure to delegate procurement authority and appoint procurement officials. DATES: The proposed rule published August 29, 2019 (84 FR 45456) is withdrawn as of November 15, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Press inquiries: Ms. Megan P. Sweeney, Office of Public Affairs, Room No. S–2514, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693–4676; email: sweeney.megan.p@dol.gov. General information: Herman J. Narcho, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N– 5305, Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693–7171 (this is not a toll-free number). SUMMARY: On August 29, 2019, the Department published a proposed rule amending three DOLAR definitions found at 48 CFR 2902.101(b): Head of Agency, Head of Contracting Activity, and Senior Procurement Executive. The Department published a companion DFR rule proposing the same changes to the DOLAR definitions. In the DFR, the Department stated that it would withdraw the companion proposed rule and confirm the effective date of the DFR if no significant adverse comments were submitted on the DFR by September 30, 2019. The Department received no comments on the proposed rule. Accordingly, the Department is not proceeding with the proposed rule and is withdrawing it from the rulemaking process. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 622 and 635 [Docket No. 191101–0072] RIN 0648–BI61 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 9 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 9) and an associated framework action to the FMP, as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish new habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), some of which include a prohibition of the deployment of bottom-tending gear, and modify current fishing regulations for the other existing HAPCs in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Additionally, this proposed rule would implement complementary management measures for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in the Gulf. The purpose of this proposed rule is to protect coral essential fish habitat in the Gulf. DATES: Written comments must be received by December 16, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this proposed rule identified by ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2017–0146’’ by either 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-20170146, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 62492 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules • Mail: Submit written comments to Lauren Waters, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Electronic copies of Amendment 9 and the framework action may be obtained from www.regulations.gov or the Southeast Regional Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ amendment-9-coral-habitat-areasconsidered-management-gulf-mexico. Amendment 9 includes a final environmental impact statement (EIS), fishery impact statement, regulatory impact review, and a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Waters, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– 5305; email: lauren.waters@noaa.gov. Karyl Brewster-Geisz, NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division, telephone: 301–427–8503; email: karyl.brewstergeisz@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage coral and coral reef resources in the Gulf under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS manages Atlantic HMS under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments, under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act. The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Background The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that each fishery management plan identify and describe essential fish habitat (EFH) and minimize, to the extent practicable, adverse effects on these habitats caused by fishing. The FMP describes coral EFH as those areas where managed corals exist. HAPCs are VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 a subset of EFH that meet specified criteria identified at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(8). An area in which corals exist in sufficient numbers or diversity could be designated as an HAPC if it is significantly ecologically important, habitat that is sensitive to humaninduced degradation, located in an environmentally stressed area, or considered rare in abundance. Corals and coral habitat are especially sensitive to human-induced degradation by fishing and non-fishing activities because of their unique life history. An HAPC designation by NMFS does not confer any additional specific protections to such designated areas, but can be used to focus management attention on those areas when considering measures to minimize adverse impacts from fishing. In December 2014, the Council convened a Coral Working Group to discuss which areas in the Gulf may warrant additional specific protection for corals. The group identified numerous new areas and existing HAPCs that may be in need of new or revised protection. In May 2015, the Council’s Special Coral Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Coral Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed these areas along with members of the shrimp fishing community and recommended that the boundaries of some of the areas be refined based on available fishing information. In August 2016, the Council’s Coral SSC, Coral AP, Shrimp AP, as well as Council invitees, which included royal red shrimp fishermen and bottom longline fishermen, provided input to the Council. These groups recommended that 15 new areas be designated as HAPCs in which fishing with bottom-tending gear be prohibited and 8 areas be designated as HAPCs without any prohibitions on fishing. Based on this input, the Council began developing Amendment 9. On December 18, 2017, NMFS published a notice of intent to prepare a draft EIS for Amendment 9 in the Federal Register and solicited public comment (82 FR 60003). In April 2018, based on a recommendation by the Council’s SSC, the Council modified the alternatives in Amendment 9 to combine three previously proposed HAPCs in the southeastern Gulf that were separate but geographically close to one another into a single slightly smaller proposed HAPC. As a result, Amendment 9 recommends 13 new HAPCs in which fishing with bottom-tending gear would be prohibited. During subsequent discussions associated with Amendment 9, the Council decided to refine the fishing PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 prohibition in the proposed and existing HAPCs. The Council determined that the broad definition of ‘‘fishing’’ in the Magnuson-Stevens Act might unnecessarily restrict activities that would have no impact on these HAPCs. Therefore, in August 2018, the Council approved a framework action that would modify the specific prohibitions on ‘‘fishing with bottom-tending gear’’ to ‘‘deployment of bottom-tending gear’’ for existing HAPCs listed in 50 CFR 622.74, except the Tortugas marine reserves HAPC, and those recommended in Amendment 9. Further, the Council recommended that ‘‘deploy’’ in this context be defined to mean that fishing gear is in contact with the water. In November 2018, the Council also requested that NMFS develop complimentary gear deployment prohibitions for Atlantic HMS fisheries in the Gulf (see 50 CFR part 635). The management actions selected by the Council in Amendment 9 and as subsequently modified in the framework action are described in this proposed rule. Management Measure Contained in This Proposed Rule This proposed rule would establish 13 new HAPCs in the Gulf in which the deployment of certain bottom-tending gears would be prohibited. The proposed rule would also prohibit the deployment of dredge fishing gear in existing Gulf HAPCs that are managed with fishing regulations. Further, this proposed rule would modify the restrictions in the existing HAPCs that prohibit fishing with specific gears to prohibit the deployment of those gears. NMFS and the Council are proposing these areas and fishing regulations to protect coral EFH in the Gulf. HAPCs With Fishing Regulations This proposed rule would establish 13 HAPCs in which the deployment of specified bottom-tending gear would be prohibited. For purpose of the prohibition, fishing gear is ‘‘deployed’’ if any part of the gear is in contact with the water. The 13 proposed HAPCs are called West Florida Wall, Alabama Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef (combined), Mississippi Canyon 118, Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826, Viosca Knoll 862/906, AT 047, AT 357, Green Canyon 852, Southern Bank, Harte Bank, and Pulley Ridge South Portion A. Pulley Ridge South Portion A is adjacent to the current Pulley Ridge South HAPC. For these areas, excluding Pulley Ridge South Portion A, prohibitions on the following activities would apply year-round: Deployment of bottom E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. The buoy gear defined in 50 CFR 622.2 is not the same as HMS buoy gear defined in 50 CFR 635.2. HMS buoy gear is not a bottom-tending gear. Within the proposed Viosca Knoll 862/906 area, the proposed gear deployment prohibitions would not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement, as specified in 50 CFR 622.50(c) while fishing for royal red shrimp. The areas around this proposed HAPC are used to fish for royal red shrimp. Fishing for royal red shrimp occurs in deep waters and requires a few miles of continuous forward movement to lift the nets up in the water column to the vessel. Therefore, requiring that these nets be out of the water would effectively prevent the use of an area much larger than the proposed HAPC. The exemption would allow royal red shrimp fishermen to continue the historic practice of lifting the nets off the bottom but keeping them in the water as they travel through this area. Within the proposed Pulley Ridge South Portion A area, the following prohibitions would apply year-round: Deployment of a bottom trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. Pulley Ridge South Portion A would not include a restriction on the deployment of bottom longline gear to allow fishing that has historically occurred in this area to continue. This proposed rule would not change any other boundaries or regulations within the existing Pulley Ridge HAPC. The Council concluded that the exception for royal red shrimp fishing in the proposed Viosca Knoll 862/906 area and for bottom longline fishing in the proposed Pulley Ridge South Portion A area was unlikely to adversely affect the habitat. Both types of fishing have occurred in the respective areas for over a decade without causing significant harm. Dredge Fishing Prohibition Currently, only some existing HAPCs in the Gulf have fishing regulations that prohibit dredge fishing within the designated areas. This proposed rule would prohibit the deployment of dredge fishing gear in all existing HAPCs in the Gulf in which other bottom-tending gear are already prohibited. Dredge fishing is most commonly used to harvest shellfish and is not known to occur in the Gulf. Therefore, this proposed management measure would not restrict any known VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 fishing activity in the Gulf, but increase consistency of management measures across HAPCs with fishing regulations. Fishing Restrictions in Existing HAPCs This proposed rule would modify restrictions associated with bottomtending fishing gear in the existing HAPCs. Currently, the regulations at 50 CFR 622.74 prohibit ‘‘fishing’’ in the existing HAPCs with bottom-tending gear with specific types of gear prohibitions varying by HAPC. As explained above, the Council determined that it was more appropriate to prohibit the ‘‘deployment’’ of bottomtending gear. Therefore, this proposed rule would change the prohibition for existing HAPCs listed in 50 CFR 622.74, other than the Tortugas marine reserves HAPC, to prevent the deployment of the bottom-tending gear to be consistent with the prohibition in the proposed HAPCs. The Tortugas marine reserves HAPC already has a broader prohibition on all fishing and anchoring by fishing vessels. HMS Fisheries in the Gulf This proposed rule would modify regulations at 50 CFR 635.21 for Atlantic HMS fisheries that operate in the Gulf to complement the proposed fishing vessel anchoring and gear deployment prohibitions in 50 CFR 622.74. Management Measure Contained in Amendment 9 But Not Codified Through This Proposed Rule Amendment 9 would also establish eight HAPCs with no associated fishing regulations. The Council determined that fishing regulations in these eight proposed HAPCs are unnecessary because there is no known fishing activity that occurs within them, partly because the areas are located in very deep water (greater than 984 ft or 300 m). The proposed HAPCs without fishing regulations in Amendment 9 are South John Reed, Garden Banks 299, Garden Banks 535, Green Canyon 140 and 272 (combined), Green Canyon 234, Green Canyon 354, Mississippi Canyon 751, and Mississippi Canyon 885. Although fishing impacts were not identified as a concern in these eight areas, establishing these HAPCs would inform the public that the Council considers these areas to be of particular importance and could help guide NMFS’ review of non-fishing impacts during EFH consultations. Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 62493 that this proposed rule is consistent with Amendment 9, the FMP for the Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico, the 2006 Consolidated FMP for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, subject to further consideration after public comment. This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. This proposed rule is not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because this proposed rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for this determination follows. A description of the proposed rule, why it is being considered, and the objectives of, and legal basis for this proposed rule are contained in the preamble of this proposed rule at the beginning of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section and in the SUMMARY section. The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this proposed rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have been identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or other compliance requirements are introduced by this proposed rule. Accordingly, the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act do not apply to this proposed rule. The proposed action would designate several areas in the Gulf as HAPCs and establish or modify fishing regulations in new and existing HAPCs. In some of the proposed HAPCs the deployment of specific bottom-tending gear would be prohibited. The proposed action would also change the prohibition in the existing HAPCs with fishing regulations to a prohibition on the deployment of the gear as opposed to fishing with the gear. As a result, this proposed action would directly affect federally permitted commercial fishermen fishing for reef fish, shrimp, or sharks. Recreational anglers fishing in the designated HAPCs would also be directly affected by this proposed action, but anglers are not considered business entities under the RFA. Recreational charter vessels and headboats would also be affected by this action but only in an indirect way. Thus, only the effects on federally permitted commercial fishing vessels harvesting reef fish, shrimp, and shark will be discussed. For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 62494 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules business size standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including affiliates), and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. To determine whether a substantial number of small entities would be affected by the proposed rule, NMFS first describes the characteristics of the Federal commercial reef fish, shrimp, and shark fisheries that operate in the Gulf. NMFS then describes the data available to determine the number of small entities that operate in the proposed HAPCs and applies these data to each proposed HAPC or groups of HAPCs. With respect to the Gulf reef fish fishery, as of July 14, 2018, there were 841 vessels with valid or renewable Federal Gulf reef fish commercial vessel permits. From 2010 through 2016, an average of 554 federally permitted commercial reef fish vessels per year landed any reef fish species in the Gulf. These vessels, combined, averaged 6,608 trips per year in the Gulf on which reef fish were landed and 810 other trips. The average annual total dockside revenue (2016 dollars) for these vessels combined was approximately $52.13 million from reef fish, approximately $1.32 million from other species co-harvested with reef fish (on the same trips), and approximately $1.54 million from other trips by these vessels in the Gulf on which no reef fish were harvested or where fishing occurred in other areas. Total average annual revenue from all species harvested by these vessels in the Gulf or other areas was approximately $54.95 million, or approximately $99,000 per vessel. These vessels generated approximately 95 percent of their total revenues from reef fish. Commercial reef fish vessels used a variety of gears in harvesting reef fish. For the period 2010–2016, an average of 68 vessels used longlines and generated revenues of approximately $250,000 per vessel; 267 vessels used bandit gear generating approximately $109,000 revenue per vessel; 273 vessels used hook-and-line generating approximately $27,000 revenue per vessel; 47 vessels used diving gear generating approximately $13,000 revenue per vessel; and, 6 vessels used other gears generating approximately $40,000 revenue per vessel. Therefore, all federally permitted VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 commercial vessels fishing for reef fish are assumed to be small entities. In the Gulf shrimp fishery, brown and white shrimp are the dominant shrimp species in terms of landings, ex-vessel revenues, and number of participating vessels. For the period 2010–2016, an annual average of 3,552 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134 kg) of brown shrimp with an ex-vessel value of about $206 million; an annual average of 3,914 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134 kg) of white shrimp valued at about $210 million; an annual average of 175 vessels landed pink shrimp valued at about $18 million; and, an annual average of 8 vessels landed approximately 154,000 lb (69,853 kg) of royal red shrimp valued at about $964,000. Not all vessels that landed Gulf shrimp are federally permitted, and not all federally permitted vessels landed shrimp. In 2014, for example, only 74 percent of federally permitted vessels landed shrimp. As of July 14, 2018, there were 1,422 valid or renewable Gulf shrimp commercial permits and 305 valid Gulf royal red shrimp endorsements. The latest data on the economics and financial conditions of the Gulf shrimp fishery are for 2014. Data for later years are still being processed and compiled by NMFS. Between 2011 and 2014, the average gross revenue from fishing operations of federally permitted shrimp vessels was approximately $343,000, but net revenue from operations was only about $8,300. These estimates best approximate expected financial and economic conditions for these vessels in the foreseeable future. Therefore, all federally permitted commercial vessels fishing for shrimp are assumed to be small entities. The HMS shark fishery is the fishery that most likely would be affected by the proposed action. To commercially fish for sharks, fishermen need to possess a Federal shark directed or incidental permit, or smoothhound shark permit. Shark directed and incidental permits are currently limited access permits, while the smoothhound shark permit is an open access permit. As of September 12, 2018, there were 220 and 267 valid or renewable shark directed and incidental permits, respectively, and 164 valid or renewable smoothhound shark permits. Vessels can possess shark permits in addition to commercial reef fish or shrimp permits. In 2017, there were 18 vessels with limited access permits that were actively fishing for sharks in the Gulf. Of the 18 vessels, 11 possessed both a shark limited access permit and a commercial reef or shrimp permit, while PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 7 possessed only a shark limited access permit. These vessels, combined, generated $4.7 million of revenue from HMS. When tracked back to 2013, these vessels generated an average revenue of $4.8 million per year, indicating a close match between their 2017 revenue and 2013–2017 average revenue. The 2013– 2017 average revenue per vessel was approximately $267,000. Therefore, all federally permitted commercial vessels fishing for sharks are assumed to be small entities. As stated earlier in the preamble, the proposed rule would establish 13 HAPCs in which the deployment of specific bottom-tending gear would be prohibited. Unless otherwise noted, the following prohibitions would apply to each of the 13 HAPCs: Deployment of bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. The available data allows NMFS to estimate the number of federally permitted reef fish, shrimp, and shark vessels potentially affected by the proposed rule. Information on fishing activities in the proposed HAPCs is based on the electronic logbook (ELB) program for commercial shrimp vessels, the vessel monitoring system (VMS) for commercial reef fish vessels, and shark bottom longline observer program (SBLOP) for shark vessels. Available ELB data are for the years 2004–2013, VMS data are for the years 2007–2015, and SBLOP data are for the years 2008– 2016. ELB data are collected from approximately one-third of the federally permitted shrimp vessels, while VMS data collection is required of all federally permitted reef fish vessels. Vessels that were included in the SBLOP are also in the VMS data set because these vessels have both shark and commercial reef fish permits. The VMS and ELB data sets provide data points and number of fishing vessels by area, while the SBLOP data provides some information on the number of fishing sets by shark vessels. Although VMS data are collected from all reef fish vessels, the points refer to the number of times the electronic system detects the vessel in a specific area, but it does not distinguish between fishing and non-fishing activity. In contrast, ELB data points are collected from approximately one-third of permitted shrimp vessels but this occurs every 10 minutes, which allows NMFS to determine likely fishing activity from non-fishing activity based on vessel speed. Therefore, the ELB data points in this analysis are those that NMFS has E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules determined to represent active shrimp fishing. Because the VMS, ELB, and SBLOP data sources do not provide information on the number of trips or fishing intensity per vessel, it is not possible to estimate the revenue and profit effects of the proposed rule. Therefore, the extent of economic impacts is based on the number of vessels potentially affected by the proposed rule. In the following discussion, data points and vessels are expressed as annual averages for each of the 13 proposed HAPCs. In addition, only information on bottom longline vessels from VMS data is reported as only these vessels would likely be affected by the proposed rule. In the Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC, ELB data indicate one data point corresponding to one shrimp vessel. VMS data indicate 638 data points corresponding to 11 bottom longline vessels. However, to allow fishing that has historically occurred to continue, the proposed regulations would not prohibit the deployment of bottom longlines. Therefore, longline vessels would not be affected by the gear prohibitions in this area. SBLOP recorded only two fishing sets by shark longline vessels, which are included in the VMS data set. Based on the above information, the gear prohibitions in this area would not affect a substantial number of small entities. For the West Florida Wall HAPC, which is located in the southeastern Gulf, ELB did not record any data point or shrimp vessel fishing in the proposed area. VMS recorded 4 data points corresponding to two bottom longline vessels. SBLOP data indicate very low shark fishing effort in the area. Therefore, the proposed gear prohibitions in this area would not affect a substantial number of small entities. Six new HAPCs would be established in the northeastern Gulf: Alabama Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, Mississippi Canyon 118, Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826, and Viosca Knoll 862/906. For Alabama Alps Reef, ELB recorded one data point corresponding to one vessel and VMS recorded seven data points and one bottom longline vessel. For L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, ELB recorded 2 data points and 1 vessel while VMS recorded 42 data points 3 bottom longline vessels. For Mississippi Canyon 118, ELB recorded four data points and one vessel while VMS recorded four data points and one bottom longline vessel. For Roughtongue Reef, ELB recorded 1 data point and 1 vessel while VMS recorded 40 data points and 3 bottom longline VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 vessels. For Viosca Knoll 826, ELB recorded one data point and one vessel while VMS recorded one data point and one bottom longline vessel. For Viosca Knoll 862/906, ELB recorded 168 data points and 2 vessels while VMS recorded 8 data points and 2 bottom longline vessels. NMFS notes that shrimp vessels fishing in Viosca Knoll 862/906 are mainly those fishing for royal red shrimp. Vessels with a royal red shrimp endorsement fishing for this species in this area are exempt from the prohibition on bottom-tending gear and would not be affected by this proposed rule. SBLOP reported only two sets by two shark fishing vessels for L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, and none for the other areas. Because of the general location of this group of HAPCs, it is likely that certain vessels could be fishing in multiple HAPCs within this group in any given year. It is also possible that a vessel would fish in different HAPCs from year to year. Thus, the total number of vessels affected by the proposed prohibitions applicable in this group of HAPCs would be less than the sum of vessels fishing in each HAPC as noted above. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these six areas would not affect a substantial number of small entities. The proposed rule would establish three new HAPCs in the northwestern Gulf: AT 047, AT 357, and Green Canyon 852. Both ELB and VMS recorded very few data points and vessels fishing in each of these three areas. ELB recorded at most one data point and one vessel for each of these three areas while VMS recorded at most one data point and one bottom longline vessel in each of the AT 047 and AT 357 HAPCs and none for Green Canyon 852. In addition, no shark fishing sets were observed in these areas. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these three areas would not affect a substantial number of small entities. The proposed rule would establish two new HAPCs in the southwestern Gulf: Harte Bank and Southern Bank. ELB recorded at most one data point and one vessel while VMS recorded at most one data point and one bottom longline vessel for Harte Bank HAPC. ELB recorded one data point and one vessel, while VMS recorded no data points or bottom longline vessels for the Southern Bank HAPC. In addition, no bottom longlining for sharks was observed in these two areas. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these two areas would not affect a substantial number of small entities. The proposed action to change the prohibition in the existing HAPCs with fishing regulations to a prohibition on PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 62495 the ‘‘deployment’’ of bottom-tending gear, as opposed to a prohibition on ‘‘fishing’’ with the bottom-tending gear, would have no effects on the revenues of fishing vessels. These vessels do not currently derive any revenues from fishing with bottom-tending gear in any existing HAPCs with fishing regulations. This proposed action would make fishing regulations in existing HAPCs consistent with the regulations in the proposed new HAPCs, and therefore would lessen confusion on the part of fishermen as well as simplify enforcement. Amendment 9 would also establish eight new deep-water HAPCs without fishing regulations, which would have no accompanying economic effects on small entities. The effects of prohibiting the deployment of dredge fishing gear in all HAPCs that have fishing regulations are included in the discussion of effects for each HAPC. This prohibition would not impact any small entities as there is no known dredge fishing in any existing or proposed HAPCs. In summary, there are three Federal fisheries that operate in the proposed HAPCs, and although all of the commercially permitted reef fish, shrimp, and shark vessels are small entities, based on available data only a small number of vessels are estimated to have fished with bottom-tending gear in each of the proposed HAPCs, and all HAPCs combined. Therefore, this proposed rule would not affect a substantial number of small entities. The information provided above supports a determination that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Because this proposed rule, if implemented, is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has been prepared. List of Subjects 50 CFR Part 622 Coral, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico. 50 CFR Part 635 Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Imports, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties. E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 62496 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules Dated: November 4, 2019. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service. PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 622 and 635 are proposed to be amended as follows: 1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. Section 622.74 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 622.74 corals. Area closures to protect Gulf For the purposes of this section, fishing gear is deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water. (a) Florida Middle Grounds HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited year-round in the area bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (a) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (b) Tortugas marine reserves HAPC. Fishing for any species and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the areas of the HAPC. (1) EEZ portion of Tortugas North HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: From point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point B at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. to point C at 24°46.000′ N lat., 83°00.000′ W long.; then along the line denoting the seaward limit of Florida’s waters, as 28°42.500′ 28°42.500′ 28°11.000′ 28°11.000′ 28°26.600′ 28°42.500′ West long. 84°24.800′ 84°16.300′ 84°00.000′ 84°07.000′ 84°24.800′ 84°24.800′ shown on the current edition of NOAA chart 11434, to point A at 24°40.000′ N lat., 83°06.000′ W long. (2) Tortugas South HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(2) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (c) Pulley Ridge South HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb 24°33.000′ 24°33.000′ 24°18.000′ 24°18.000′ 24°33.000′ West long. 83°09.000′ 83°05.000′ 83°05.000′ 83°09.000′ 83°09.000′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (c) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (d) Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC. Deployment of a bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines 24°58.300′ 24°58.300′ 24°41.183′ 24°40.000′ 24°43.917′ 24°58.300′ West long. 83°38.550′ 83°37.000′ 83°37.000′ 83°41.367′ 83°47.250′ 83°38.550′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (d) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 24°40.000′ 24°39.666′ 24°47.555′ 24°57.065′ West long. 83°41.366′ 83°42.648′ 83°55.240′ 83°48.405′ Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules 62497 TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (d)—Continued Point North lat. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... F ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (e) West Florida Wall HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb 24°52.859′ 24°43.917′ 24°40.000′ West long. 83°41.841′ 83°47.250′ 83°41.366′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (e) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... F ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (f) Alabama Alps Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the 26°28.835′ 26°28.816′ 26°10.471′ 26°10.528′ 26°25.028′ 26°25.100′ 26°28.835′ West long. 84°47.955′ 84°46.754′ 84°42.076′ 84°44.577′ 84°47.986′ 84°47.980′ 84°47.955′ area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (f) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (g) L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the 29°16.160′ 29°15.427′ 29°13.380′ 29°14.140′ 29°16.160′ West long. 88°20.525′ 88°18.990′ 88°19.051′ 88°20.533′ 88°20.525′ HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (g) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... F ............................................................................................................................................................................... G .............................................................................................................................................................................. H .............................................................................................................................................................................. I ................................................................................................................................................................................ J ............................................................................................................................................................................... K ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (h) Mississippi Canyon 118 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 29°18.595′ 29°18.484′ 29°19.754′ 29°20.401′ 29°20.095′ 29°20.832′ 29°21.473′ 29°21.314′ 29°22.518′ 29°21.144′ 29°19.269′ 29°18.595′ West long. 87°48.757′ 87°50.688′ 87°52.484′ 87°51.449′ 87°50.933′ 87°46.631′ 87°46.326′ 87°45.535′ 87°43.465′ 87°42.632′ 87°45.525′ 87°48.757′ lines connecting the following points in order: E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 62498 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (h) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (i) Roughtongue Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb 28°53.183′ 28°53.216′ 28°50.602′ 28°48.944′ 28°48.962′ 28°53.183′ West long. 88°30.789′ 88°27.819′ 88°27.782′ 88°27.759′ 88°30.727′ 88°30.789′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (i) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (j) Viosca Knoll 826 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by rhumb 29°27.596′ 29°27.621′ 29°25.007′ 29°24.981′ 29°27.596′ West long. 87°37.527′ 87°31.552′ 87°31.539′ 87°37.510′ 87°37.527′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (j) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (k) Viosca Knoll 862/906 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC. This prohibition does not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement, as specified in § 622.50(c), while the vessel is fishing for royal red shrimp. The 29°10.920′ 29°10.877′ 29°07.974′ 29°08.017′ 29°10.920′ West long. 88°03.509′ 87°59.460′ 87°59.448′ 88°03.532′ 88°03.509′ HAPC is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (k) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. E ............................................................................................................................................................................... F ............................................................................................................................................................................... G .............................................................................................................................................................................. H .............................................................................................................................................................................. I ................................................................................................................................................................................ A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (l) McGrail Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 29°07.640′ 29°07.603′ 29°03.749′ 29°03.734′ 29°02.367′ 29°02.281′ 29°07.568′ 29°07.592′ 29°07.676′ 29°07.640′ West long. 88°23.608′ 88°20.590′ 88°20.554′ 88°22.016′ 88°21.998′ 88°24.972′ 88°25.044′ 88°25.044′ 88°25.045′ 88°23.608′ connecting the following points in order: E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules 62499 TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (l) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (m) AT 047 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 27°59.100′ 27°59.100′ 27°55.925′ 27°55.925′ 27°59.100′ West long. 92°37.320′ 92°32.290′ 92°32.290′ 92°37.320′ 92°37.320′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (m) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (n) AT 357 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 27°54.426′ 27°54.486′ 27°51.874′ 27°51.814′ 27°54.426′ West long. 89°49.404′ 89°46.464′ 89°46.397′ 89°49.336′ 89°49.404′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (n) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (o) Green Canyon 852 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb 27°36.259′ 27°36.315′ 27°33.703′ 27°33.646′ 27°36.259′ West long. 89°43.068′ 89°40.136′ 89°40.073′ 89°43.004′ 89°43.068′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (o) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (p) West Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb 27°08.354′ 27°05.740′ 27°05.762′ 27°08.376′ 27°08.354′ West long. 91°08.929′ 91°08.963′ 91°10.610′ 91°10.567′ 91°08.929′ lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (p) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 27°55.380′ 27°55.380′ 27°49.050′ 27°49.050′ 27°55.380′ West long. 93°53.160′ 93°46.767′ 93°46.767′ 93°53.160′ 93°53.160′ 62500 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules (q) East Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (q) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (r) Stetson Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 27°59.240′ 27°59.240′ 27°52.608′ 27°52.608′ 27°59.240′ West long. 93°38.970′ 93°34.058′ 93°34.058′ 93°38.970′ 93°38.970′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (r) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (s) Harte Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 28°10.638′ 28°10.638′ 28°09.310′ 28°09.310′ 28°10.638′ West long. 94°18.608′ 94°17.105′ 94°17.105′ 94°18.608′ 94°18.608′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (s) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... (t) Southern Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 26°40.826′ 26°40.789′ 26°37.992′ 26°38.043′ 26°40.826′ West long. 96°36.590′ 96°32.220′ 96°32.308′ 96°36.636′ 96°36.590′ connecting the following points in order: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (t) Point North lat. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... B ............................................................................................................................................................................... C .............................................................................................................................................................................. D .............................................................................................................................................................................. A ............................................................................................................................................................................... PART 635—ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISHERIES 3. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows: ■ VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 27°26.923′ 27°26.989′ 27°25.958′ 27°25.958′ 27°26.923′ West long. 96°31.902′ 96°30.881′ 96°31.134′ 96°31.892′ 96°31.902′ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. § 635.21 Gear operation and deployment restrictions. 4. In § 635.21, revise paragraph (a)(3)(i) and add paragraph (a)(3)(v) to read as follows: * ■ PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 * * (a) * * * E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1 * * Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2019 / Proposed Rules (3) * * * (i) No person may fish for, catch, possess, or retain any Atlantic HMS or anchor a fishing vessel that has been issued a permit or is required to be permitted under this part, in the areas VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 250001 and seasons designated at § 622.34(a)(3) of this chapter. * * * * * (v) Within the areas of the Gulf coral HAPCs designated at § 622.74 of this chapter, no person may bottom anchor a fishing vessel or deploy fishing gear that may not be deployed pursuant to PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 62501 § 622.74 of this chapter. For purposes of this provision, fishing gear is deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2019–24308 Filed 11–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\15NOP1.SGM 15NOP1
[Pages 62491-62501]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24308]
50 CFR Parts 622 and 635
[Docket No. 191101-0072]
RIN 0648-BI61
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of
Mexico; Amendment 9
Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coral and
Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 9) and an associated
framework action to the FMP, as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish new
habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), some of which include a
prohibition of the deployment of bottom-tending gear, and modify
current fishing regulations for the other existing HAPCs in the Gulf of
Mexico (Gulf). Additionally, this proposed rule would implement
complementary management measures for Atlantic highly migratory species
(HMS) in the Gulf. The purpose of this proposed rule is to protect
coral essential fish habitat in the Gulf.
DATES: Written comments must be received by December 16, 2019.
``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0146'' by either of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0146, click the
[[Page 62492]]
Electronic copies of Amendment 9 and the framework action may be
obtained from www.regulations.gov or the Southeast Regional Office
website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-9-coral-habitat-areas-considered-management-gulf-mexico. Amendment 9 includes a
final environmental impact statement (EIS), fishery impact statement,
regulatory impact review, and a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; email: [email protected]. Karyl
Brewster-Geisz, NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division, telephone: 301-
427-8503; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage coral and coral
reef resources in the Gulf under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the
Council and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part
622 under the authority of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS manages Atlantic HMS
under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments, under
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act. The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP is implemented
by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that each fishery management plan
identify and describe essential fish habitat (EFH) and minimize, to the
extent practicable, adverse effects on these habitats caused by
fishing. The FMP describes coral EFH as those areas where managed
corals exist. HAPCs are a subset of EFH that meet specified criteria
identified at 50 CFR 600.815(a)(8). An area in which corals exist in
sufficient numbers or diversity could be designated as an HAPC if it is
significantly ecologically important, habitat that is sensitive to
human-induced degradation, located in an environmentally stressed area,
or considered rare in abundance. Corals and coral habitat are
especially sensitive to human-induced degradation by fishing and non-
fishing activities because of their unique life history. An HAPC
designation by NMFS does not confer any additional specific protections
to such designated areas, but can be used to focus management attention
on those areas when considering measures to minimize adverse impacts
In December 2014, the Council convened a Coral Working Group to
discuss which areas in the Gulf may warrant additional specific
protection for corals. The group identified numerous new areas and
existing HAPCs that may be in need of new or revised protection. In May
2015, the Council's Special Coral Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) and Coral Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed these areas along with
members of the shrimp fishing community and recommended that the
boundaries of some of the areas be refined based on available fishing
information. In August 2016, the Council's Coral SSC, Coral AP, Shrimp
AP, as well as Council invitees, which included royal red shrimp
fishermen and bottom longline fishermen, provided input to the Council.
These groups recommended that 15 new areas be designated as HAPCs in
which fishing with bottom-tending gear be prohibited and 8 areas be
designated as HAPCs without any prohibitions on fishing. Based on this
input, the Council began developing Amendment 9. On December 18, 2017,
NMFS published a notice of intent to prepare a draft EIS for Amendment
9 in the Federal Register and solicited public comment (82 FR 60003).
In April 2018, based on a recommendation by the Council's SSC, the
Council modified the alternatives in Amendment 9 to combine three
previously proposed HAPCs in the southeastern Gulf that were separate
but geographically close to one another into a single slightly smaller
proposed HAPC. As a result, Amendment 9 recommends 13 new HAPCs in
which fishing with bottom-tending gear would be prohibited.
During subsequent discussions associated with Amendment 9, the
Council decided to refine the fishing prohibition in the proposed and
existing HAPCs. The Council determined that the broad definition of
``fishing'' in the Magnuson-Stevens Act might unnecessarily restrict
activities that would have no impact on these HAPCs. Therefore, in
August 2018, the Council approved a framework action that would modify
the specific prohibitions on ``fishing with bottom-tending gear'' to
``deployment of bottom-tending gear'' for existing HAPCs listed in 50
CFR 622.74, except the Tortugas marine reserves HAPC, and those
recommended in Amendment 9. Further, the Council recommended that
``deploy'' in this context be defined to mean that fishing gear is in
contact with the water. In November 2018, the Council also requested
that NMFS develop complimentary gear deployment prohibitions for
Atlantic HMS fisheries in the Gulf (see 50 CFR part 635).
The management actions selected by the Council in Amendment 9 and
as subsequently modified in the framework action are described in this
This proposed rule would establish 13 new HAPCs in the Gulf in
which the deployment of certain bottom-tending gears would be
prohibited. The proposed rule would also prohibit the deployment of
dredge fishing gear in existing Gulf HAPCs that are managed with
fishing regulations. Further, this proposed rule would modify the
restrictions in the existing HAPCs that prohibit fishing with specific
gears to prohibit the deployment of those gears. NMFS and the Council
are proposing these areas and fishing regulations to protect coral EFH
This proposed rule would establish 13 HAPCs in which the deployment
of specified bottom-tending gear would be prohibited. For purpose of
the prohibition, fishing gear is ``deployed'' if any part of the gear
is in contact with the water. The 13 proposed HAPCs are called West
Florida Wall, Alabama Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef
(combined), Mississippi Canyon 118, Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826,
Viosca Knoll 862/906, AT 047, AT 357, Green Canyon 852, Southern Bank,
Harte Bank, and Pulley Ridge South Portion A. Pulley Ridge South
Portion A is adjacent to the current Pulley Ridge South HAPC.
For these areas, excluding Pulley Ridge South Portion A,
prohibitions on the following activities would apply year-round:
Deployment of bottom
longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge,
pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. The buoy gear
defined in 50 CFR 622.2 is not the same as HMS buoy gear defined in 50
CFR 635.2. HMS buoy gear is not a bottom-tending gear.
Within the proposed Viosca Knoll 862/906 area, the proposed gear
deployment prohibitions would not apply to a fishing vessel issued a
Gulf royal red shrimp endorsement, as specified in 50 CFR 622.50(c)
while fishing for royal red shrimp. The areas around this proposed HAPC
are used to fish for royal red shrimp. Fishing for royal red shrimp
occurs in deep waters and requires a few miles of continuous forward
movement to lift the nets up in the water column to the vessel.
Therefore, requiring that these nets be out of the water would
effectively prevent the use of an area much larger than the proposed
HAPC. The exemption would allow royal red shrimp fishermen to continue
the historic practice of lifting the nets off the bottom but keeping
them in the water as they travel through this area.
Within the proposed Pulley Ridge South Portion A area, the
following prohibitions would apply year-round: Deployment of a bottom
trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and
bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. Pulley Ridge South Portion A would
not include a restriction on the deployment of bottom longline gear to
allow fishing that has historically occurred in this area to continue.
This proposed rule would not change any other boundaries or regulations
within the existing Pulley Ridge HAPC.
The Council concluded that the exception for royal red shrimp
fishing in the proposed Viosca Knoll 862/906 area and for bottom
longline fishing in the proposed Pulley Ridge South Portion A area was
unlikely to adversely affect the habitat. Both types of fishing have
occurred in the respective areas for over a decade without causing
Currently, only some existing HAPCs in the Gulf have fishing
regulations that prohibit dredge fishing within the designated areas.
This proposed rule would prohibit the deployment of dredge fishing gear
in all existing HAPCs in the Gulf in which other bottom-tending gear
are already prohibited. Dredge fishing is most commonly used to harvest
shellfish and is not known to occur in the Gulf. Therefore, this
proposed management measure would not restrict any known fishing
activity in the Gulf, but increase consistency of management measures
across HAPCs with fishing regulations.
This proposed rule would modify restrictions associated with
bottom-tending fishing gear in the existing HAPCs. Currently, the
regulations at 50 CFR 622.74 prohibit ``fishing'' in the existing HAPCs
with bottom-tending gear with specific types of gear prohibitions
varying by HAPC. As explained above, the Council determined that it was
more appropriate to prohibit the ``deployment'' of bottom-tending gear.
Therefore, this proposed rule would change the prohibition for existing
HAPCs listed in 50 CFR 622.74, other than the Tortugas marine reserves
HAPC, to prevent the deployment of the bottom-tending gear to be
consistent with the prohibition in the proposed HAPCs. The Tortugas
marine reserves HAPC already has a broader prohibition on all fishing
and anchoring by fishing vessels.
This proposed rule would modify regulations at 50 CFR 635.21 for
Atlantic HMS fisheries that operate in the Gulf to complement the
proposed fishing vessel anchoring and gear deployment prohibitions in
50 CFR 622.74.
Management Measure Contained in Amendment 9 But Not Codified Through
Amendment 9 would also establish eight HAPCs with no associated
fishing regulations. The Council determined that fishing regulations in
these eight proposed HAPCs are unnecessary because there is no known
fishing activity that occurs within them, partly because the areas are
located in very deep water (greater than 984 ft or 300 m). The proposed
HAPCs without fishing regulations in Amendment 9 are South John Reed,
Garden Banks 299, Garden Banks 535, Green Canyon 140 and 272
(combined), Green Canyon 234, Green Canyon 354, Mississippi Canyon 751,
and Mississippi Canyon 885. Although fishing impacts were not
identified as a concern in these eight areas, establishing these HAPCs
would inform the public that the Council considers these areas to be of
particular importance and could help guide NMFS' review of non-fishing
impacts during EFH consultations.
consistent with Amendment 9, the FMP for the Coral and Coral Reefs of
the Gulf of Mexico, the 2006 Consolidated FMP for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws,
Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because this proposed rule is
in the preamble of this proposed rule at the beginning of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section and in the SUMMARY section. The
Accordingly, the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act do not
apply to this proposed rule.
The proposed action would designate several areas in the Gulf as
HAPCs and establish or modify fishing regulations in new and existing
HAPCs. In some of the proposed HAPCs the deployment of specific bottom-
tending gear would be prohibited. The proposed action would also change
the prohibition in the existing HAPCs with fishing regulations to a
prohibition on the deployment of the gear as opposed to fishing with
the gear. As a result, this proposed action would directly affect
federally permitted commercial fishermen fishing for reef fish, shrimp,
or sharks. Recreational anglers fishing in the designated HAPCs would
also be directly affected by this proposed action, but anglers are not
considered business entities under the RFA. Recreational charter
vessels and headboats would also be affected by this action but only in
an indirect way. Thus, only the effects on federally permitted
commercial fishing vessels harvesting reef fish, shrimp, and shark will
be discussed. For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small
business size standard for businesses, including their affiliates,
business primarily engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is
operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including
To determine whether a substantial number of small entities would
be affected by the proposed rule, NMFS first describes the
characteristics of the Federal commercial reef fish, shrimp, and shark
fisheries that operate in the Gulf. NMFS then describes the data
available to determine the number of small entities that operate in the
proposed HAPCs and applies these data to each proposed HAPC or groups
of HAPCs.
With respect to the Gulf reef fish fishery, as of July 14, 2018,
there were 841 vessels with valid or renewable Federal Gulf reef fish
commercial vessel permits. From 2010 through 2016, an average of 554
federally permitted commercial reef fish vessels per year landed any
reef fish species in the Gulf. These vessels, combined, averaged 6,608
trips per year in the Gulf on which reef fish were landed and 810 other
trips. The average annual total dockside revenue (2016 dollars) for
these vessels combined was approximately $52.13 million from reef fish,
approximately $1.32 million from other species co-harvested with reef
fish (on the same trips), and approximately $1.54 million from other
trips by these vessels in the Gulf on which no reef fish were harvested
or where fishing occurred in other areas. Total average annual revenue
from all species harvested by these vessels in the Gulf or other areas
was approximately $54.95 million, or approximately $99,000 per vessel.
These vessels generated approximately 95 percent of their total
revenues from reef fish. Commercial reef fish vessels used a variety of
gears in harvesting reef fish. For the period 2010-2016, an average of
68 vessels used longlines and generated revenues of approximately
$250,000 per vessel; 267 vessels used bandit gear generating
approximately $109,000 revenue per vessel; 273 vessels used hook-and-
line generating approximately $27,000 revenue per vessel; 47 vessels
used diving gear generating approximately $13,000 revenue per vessel;
and, 6 vessels used other gears generating approximately $40,000
revenue per vessel. Therefore, all federally permitted commercial
vessels fishing for reef fish are assumed to be small entities.
In the Gulf shrimp fishery, brown and white shrimp are the dominant
shrimp species in terms of landings, ex-vessel revenues, and number of
participating vessels. For the period 2010-2016, an annual average of
3,552 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134 kg) of
brown shrimp with an ex-vessel value of about $206 million; an annual
average of 3,914 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134
kg) of white shrimp valued at about $210 million; an annual average of
175 vessels landed pink shrimp valued at about $18 million; and, an
annual average of 8 vessels landed approximately 154,000 lb (69,853 kg)
of royal red shrimp valued at about $964,000. Not all vessels that
landed Gulf shrimp are federally permitted, and not all federally
permitted vessels landed shrimp. In 2014, for example, only 74 percent
of federally permitted vessels landed shrimp. As of July 14, 2018,
there were 1,422 valid or renewable Gulf shrimp commercial permits and
305 valid Gulf royal red shrimp endorsements. The latest data on the
economics and financial conditions of the Gulf shrimp fishery are for
2014. Data for later years are still being processed and compiled by
NMFS. Between 2011 and 2014, the average gross revenue from fishing
operations of federally permitted shrimp vessels was approximately
$343,000, but net revenue from operations was only about $8,300. These
estimates best approximate expected financial and economic conditions
for these vessels in the foreseeable future. Therefore, all federally
permitted commercial vessels fishing for shrimp are assumed to be small
The HMS shark fishery is the fishery that most likely would be
affected by the proposed action. To commercially fish for sharks,
fishermen need to possess a Federal shark directed or incidental
permit, or smoothhound shark permit. Shark directed and incidental
permits are currently limited access permits, while the smoothhound
shark permit is an open access permit. As of September 12, 2018, there
were 220 and 267 valid or renewable shark directed and incidental
permits, respectively, and 164 valid or renewable smoothhound shark
permits. Vessels can possess shark permits in addition to commercial
reef fish or shrimp permits. In 2017, there were 18 vessels with
limited access permits that were actively fishing for sharks in the
Gulf. Of the 18 vessels, 11 possessed both a shark limited access
permit and a commercial reef or shrimp permit, while 7 possessed only a
shark limited access permit. These vessels, combined, generated $4.7
million of revenue from HMS. When tracked back to 2013, these vessels
generated an average revenue of $4.8 million per year, indicating a
close match between their 2017 revenue and 2013-2017 average revenue.
The 2013-2017 average revenue per vessel was approximately $267,000.
Therefore, all federally permitted commercial vessels fishing for
sharks are assumed to be small entities.
As stated earlier in the preamble, the proposed rule would
establish 13 HAPCs in which the deployment of specific bottom-tending
gear would be prohibited. Unless otherwise noted, the following
prohibitions would apply to each of the 13 HAPCs: Deployment of bottom
pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels.
The available data allows NMFS to estimate the number of federally
permitted reef fish, shrimp, and shark vessels potentially affected by
the proposed rule. Information on fishing activities in the proposed
HAPCs is based on the electronic logbook (ELB) program for commercial
shrimp vessels, the vessel monitoring system (VMS) for commercial reef
fish vessels, and shark bottom longline observer program (SBLOP) for
shark vessels. Available ELB data are for the years 2004-2013, VMS data
are for the years 2007-2015, and SBLOP data are for the years 2008-
ELB data are collected from approximately one-third of the
federally permitted shrimp vessels, while VMS data collection is
required of all federally permitted reef fish vessels. Vessels that
were included in the SBLOP are also in the VMS data set because these
vessels have both shark and commercial reef fish permits. The VMS and
ELB data sets provide data points and number of fishing vessels by
area, while the SBLOP data provides some information on the number of
fishing sets by shark vessels. Although VMS data are collected from all
reef fish vessels, the points refer to the number of times the
electronic system detects the vessel in a specific area, but it does
not distinguish between fishing and non-fishing activity. In contrast,
ELB data points are collected from approximately one-third of permitted
shrimp vessels but this occurs every 10 minutes, which allows NMFS to
determine likely fishing activity from non-fishing activity based on
vessel speed. Therefore, the ELB data points in this analysis are those
that NMFS has
determined to represent active shrimp fishing.
Because the VMS, ELB, and SBLOP data sources do not provide
information on the number of trips or fishing intensity per vessel, it
is not possible to estimate the revenue and profit effects of the
proposed rule. Therefore, the extent of economic impacts is based on
the number of vessels potentially affected by the proposed rule. In the
following discussion, data points and vessels are expressed as annual
averages for each of the 13 proposed HAPCs. In addition, only
information on bottom longline vessels from VMS data is reported as
only these vessels would likely be affected by the proposed rule.
In the Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC, ELB data indicate one
data point corresponding to one shrimp vessel. VMS data indicate 638
data points corresponding to 11 bottom longline vessels. However, to
allow fishing that has historically occurred to continue, the proposed
regulations would not prohibit the deployment of bottom longlines.
Therefore, longline vessels would not be affected by the gear
prohibitions in this area. SBLOP recorded only two fishing sets by
shark longline vessels, which are included in the VMS data set. Based
on the above information, the gear prohibitions in this area would not
For the West Florida Wall HAPC, which is located in the
southeastern Gulf, ELB did not record any data point or shrimp vessel
fishing in the proposed area. VMS recorded 4 data points corresponding
to two bottom longline vessels. SBLOP data indicate very low shark
fishing effort in the area. Therefore, the proposed gear prohibitions
in this area would not affect a substantial number of small entities.
Six new HAPCs would be established in the northeastern Gulf:
Alabama Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, Mississippi Canyon
118, Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826, and Viosca Knoll 862/906. For
Alabama Alps Reef, ELB recorded one data point corresponding to one
vessel and VMS recorded seven data points and one bottom longline
vessel. For L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, ELB recorded 2 data points
and 1 vessel while VMS recorded 42 data points 3 bottom longline
vessels. For Mississippi Canyon 118, ELB recorded four data points and
one vessel while VMS recorded four data points and one bottom longline
vessel. For Roughtongue Reef, ELB recorded 1 data point and 1 vessel
while VMS recorded 40 data points and 3 bottom longline vessels. For
Viosca Knoll 826, ELB recorded one data point and one vessel while VMS
recorded one data point and one bottom longline vessel. For Viosca
Knoll 862/906, ELB recorded 168 data points and 2 vessels while VMS
recorded 8 data points and 2 bottom longline vessels. NMFS notes that
shrimp vessels fishing in Viosca Knoll 862/906 are mainly those fishing
for royal red shrimp. Vessels with a royal red shrimp endorsement
fishing for this species in this area are exempt from the prohibition
on bottom-tending gear and would not be affected by this proposed rule.
SBLOP reported only two sets by two shark fishing vessels for L & W
Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, and none for the other areas. Because of the
general location of this group of HAPCs, it is likely that certain
vessels could be fishing in multiple HAPCs within this group in any
given year. It is also possible that a vessel would fish in different
HAPCs from year to year. Thus, the total number of vessels affected by
the proposed prohibitions applicable in this group of HAPCs would be
less than the sum of vessels fishing in each HAPC as noted above.
Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these six areas would not affect a
The proposed rule would establish three new HAPCs in the
northwestern Gulf: AT 047, AT 357, and Green Canyon 852. Both ELB and
VMS recorded very few data points and vessels fishing in each of these
three areas. ELB recorded at most one data point and one vessel for
each of these three areas while VMS recorded at most one data point and
one bottom longline vessel in each of the AT 047 and AT 357 HAPCs and
none for Green Canyon 852. In addition, no shark fishing sets were
observed in these areas. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these
three areas would not affect a substantial number of small entities.
The proposed rule would establish two new HAPCs in the southwestern
Gulf: Harte Bank and Southern Bank. ELB recorded at most one data point
and one vessel while VMS recorded at most one data point and one bottom
longline vessel for Harte Bank HAPC. ELB recorded one data point and
one vessel, while VMS recorded no data points or bottom longline
vessels for the Southern Bank HAPC. In addition, no bottom longlining
for sharks was observed in these two areas. Therefore, the gear
prohibitions in these two areas would not affect a substantial number
The proposed action to change the prohibition in the existing HAPCs
with fishing regulations to a prohibition on the ``deployment'' of
bottom-tending gear, as opposed to a prohibition on ``fishing'' with
the bottom-tending gear, would have no effects on the revenues of
fishing vessels. These vessels do not currently derive any revenues
from fishing with bottom-tending gear in any existing HAPCs with
fishing regulations. This proposed action would make fishing
regulations in existing HAPCs consistent with the regulations in the
proposed new HAPCs, and therefore would lessen confusion on the part of
fishermen as well as simplify enforcement.
Amendment 9 would also establish eight new deep-water HAPCs without
fishing regulations, which would have no accompanying economic effects
on small entities. The effects of prohibiting the deployment of dredge
fishing gear in all HAPCs that have fishing regulations are included in
the discussion of effects for each HAPC. This prohibition would not
impact any small entities as there is no known dredge fishing in any
existing or proposed HAPCs.
In summary, there are three Federal fisheries that operate in the
proposed HAPCs, and although all of the commercially permitted reef
fish, shrimp, and shark vessels are small entities, based on available
data only a small number of vessels are estimated to have fished with
bottom-tending gear in each of the proposed HAPCs, and all HAPCs
combined. Therefore, this proposed rule would not affect a substantial
implemented, is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a
Coral, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 622 and 635
Sec.  622.74   Area closures to protect Gulf corals.
For the purposes of this section, fishing gear is deployed if any
part of the gear is in contact with the water.
(a) Florida Middle Grounds HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited year-round in the area
bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
A.......................................  28[deg]42.500'  84[deg]24.800'
B.......................................  28[deg]42.500'  84[deg]16.300'
C.......................................  28[deg]11.000'  84[deg]00.000'
D.......................................  28[deg]11.000'  84[deg]07.000'
E.......................................  28[deg]26.600'  84[deg]24.800'
(b) Tortugas marine reserves HAPC. Fishing for any species and
bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the
areas of the HAPC.
(1) EEZ portion of Tortugas North HAPC. The area is bounded by
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: From point A at
24[deg]40.000' N lat., 83[deg]06.000' W long. to point B at
24[deg]46.000' N lat., 83[deg]06.000' W long. to point C at
24[deg]46.000' N lat., 83[deg]00.000' W long.; then along the line
denoting the seaward limit of Florida's waters, as shown on the current
edition of NOAA chart 11434, to point A at 24[deg]40.000' N lat.,
83[deg]06.000' W long.
(2) Tortugas South HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines
connecting the following points in order:
A.......................................  24[deg]33.000'  83[deg]09.000'
B.......................................  24[deg]33.000'  83[deg]05.000'
C.......................................  24[deg]18.000'  83[deg]05.000'
D.......................................  24[deg]18.000'  83[deg]09.000'
(c) Pulley Ridge South HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC
A.......................................  24[deg]58.300'  83[deg]38.550'
B.......................................  24[deg]58.300'  83[deg]37.000'
C.......................................  24[deg]41.183'  83[deg]37.000'
D.......................................  24[deg]40.000'  83[deg]41.367'
E.......................................  24[deg]43.917'  83[deg]47.250'
(d) Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC. Deployment of a bottom
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
A.......................................  24[deg]40.000'  83[deg]41.366'
B.......................................  24[deg]39.666'  83[deg]42.648'
C.......................................  24[deg]47.555'  83[deg]55.240'
D.......................................  24[deg]57.065'  83[deg]48.405'
[[Page 62497]]
E.......................................  24[deg]52.859'  83[deg]41.841'
F.......................................  24[deg]43.917'  83[deg]47.250'
(e) West Florida Wall HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  26[deg]28.835'  84[deg]47.955'
B.......................................  26[deg]28.816'  84[deg]46.754'
C.......................................  26[deg]10.471'  84[deg]42.076'
D.......................................  26[deg]10.528'  84[deg]44.577'
E.......................................  26[deg]25.028'  84[deg]47.986'
F.......................................  26[deg]25.100'  84[deg]47.980'
(f) Alabama Alps Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
rhumb lines connecting the following points in:
A.......................................  29[deg]16.160'  88[deg]20.525'
B.......................................  29[deg]15.427'  88[deg]18.990'
C.......................................  29[deg]13.380'  88[deg]19.051'
D.......................................  29[deg]14.140'  88[deg]20.533'
(g) L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom
longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom
anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of
the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in
A.......................................  29[deg]18.595'  87[deg]48.757'
B.......................................  29[deg]18.484'  87[deg]50.688'
C.......................................  29[deg]19.754'  87[deg]52.484'
D.......................................  29[deg]20.401'  87[deg]51.449'
E.......................................  29[deg]20.095'  87[deg]50.933'
F.......................................  29[deg]20.832'  87[deg]46.631'
G.......................................  29[deg]21.473'  87[deg]46.326'
H.......................................  29[deg]21.314'  87[deg]45.535'
I.......................................  29[deg]22.518'  87[deg]43.465'
J.......................................  29[deg]21.144'  87[deg]42.632'
K.......................................  29[deg]19.269'  87[deg]45.525'
(h) Mississippi Canyon 118 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
[[Page 62498]]
A.......................................  28[deg]53.183'  88[deg]30.789'
B.......................................  28[deg]53.216'  88[deg]27.819'
C.......................................  28[deg]50.602'  88[deg]27.782'
D.......................................  28[deg]48.944'  88[deg]27.759'
E.......................................  28[deg]48.962'  88[deg]30.727'
(i) Roughtongue Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  29[deg]27.596'  87[deg]37.527'
B.......................................  29[deg]27.621'  87[deg]31.552'
C.......................................  29[deg]25.007'  87[deg]31.539'
D.......................................  29[deg]24.981'  87[deg]37.510'
(j) Viosca Knoll 826 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  29[deg]10.920'  88[deg]03.509'
B.......................................  29[deg]10.877'  87[deg]59.460'
C.......................................  29[deg]07.974'  87[deg]59.448'
D.......................................  29[deg]08.017'  88[deg]03.532'
(k) Viosca Knoll 862/906 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC. This
prohibition does not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red
shrimp endorsement, as specified in Sec.  622.50(c), while the vessel
is fishing for royal red shrimp. The HAPC is bounded by rhumb lines
A.......................................  29[deg]07.640'  88[deg]23.608'
B.......................................  29[deg]07.603'  88[deg]20.590'
C.......................................  29[deg]03.749'  88[deg]20.554'
D.......................................  29[deg]03.734'  88[deg]22.016'
E.......................................  29[deg]02.367'  88[deg]21.998'
F.......................................  29[deg]02.281'  88[deg]24.972'
G.......................................  29[deg]07.568'  88[deg]25.044'
H.......................................  29[deg]07.592'  88[deg]25.044'
I.......................................  29[deg]07.676'  88[deg]25.045'
(l) McGrail Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by
A.......................................  27[deg]59.100'  92[deg]37.320'
B.......................................  27[deg]59.100'  92[deg]32.290'
C.......................................  27[deg]55.925'  92[deg]32.290'
D.......................................  27[deg]55.925'  92[deg]37.320'
(m) AT 047 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl,
buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels
are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines
A.......................................  27[deg]54.426'  89[deg]49.404'
B.......................................  27[deg]54.486'  89[deg]46.464'
C.......................................  27[deg]51.874'  89[deg]46.397'
D.......................................  27[deg]51.814'  89[deg]49.336'
(n) AT 357 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl,
buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing
A.......................................  27[deg]36.259'  89[deg]43.068'
B.......................................  27[deg]36.315'  89[deg]40.136'
C.......................................  27[deg]33.703'  89[deg]40.073'
D.......................................  27[deg]33.646'  89[deg]43.004'
(o) Green Canyon 852 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  27[deg]08.354'  91[deg]08.929'
B.......................................  27[deg]05.740'  91[deg]08.963'
C.......................................  27[deg]05.762'  91[deg]10.610'
D.......................................  27[deg]08.376'  91[deg]10.567'
(p) West Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded
by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:
A.......................................  27[deg]55.380'  93[deg]53.160'
B.......................................  27[deg]55.380'  93[deg]46.767'
C.......................................  27[deg]49.050'  93[deg]46.767'
D.......................................  27[deg]49.050'  93[deg]53.160'
[[Page 62500]]
(q) East Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline,
A.......................................  27[deg]59.240'  93[deg]38.970'
B.......................................  27[deg]59.240'  93[deg]34.058'
C.......................................  27[deg]52.608'  93[deg]34.058'
D.......................................  27[deg]52.608'  93[deg]38.970'
(r) Stetson Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  28[deg]10.638'  94[deg]18.608'
B.......................................  28[deg]10.638'  94[deg]17.105'
C.......................................  28[deg]09.310'  94[deg]17.105'
D.......................................  28[deg]09.310'  94[deg]18.608'
(s) Harte Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl,
A.......................................  26[deg]40.826'  96[deg]36.590'
B.......................................  26[deg]40.789'  96[deg]32.220'
C.......................................  26[deg]37.992'  96[deg]32.308'
D.......................................  26[deg]38.043'  96[deg]36.636'
(t) Southern Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom
A.......................................  27[deg]26.923'  96[deg]31.902'
B.......................................  27[deg]26.989'  96[deg]30.881'
C.......................................  27[deg]25.958'  96[deg]31.134'
D.......................................  27[deg]25.958'  96[deg]31.892'
PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISHERIES
4. In Sec.  635.21, revise paragraph (a)(3)(i) and add paragraph
(a)(3)(v) to read as follows:
Sec.  635.21   Gear operation and deployment restrictions.
(3) * * * (i) No person may fish for, catch, possess, or retain any
Atlantic HMS or anchor a fishing vessel that has been issued a permit
or is required to be permitted under this part, in the areas and
seasons designated at Sec.  622.34(a)(3) of this chapter.
(v) Within the areas of the Gulf coral HAPCs designated at Sec.
622.74 of this chapter, no person may bottom anchor a fishing vessel or
deploy fishing gear that may not be deployed pursuant to Sec.  622.74
of this chapter. For purposes of this provision, fishing gear is
deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water.