Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2016/04/07/2016-07968.html
Timestamp: 2020-04-06 15:44:19
Document Index: 244758768

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 17', 'arts 13', '§ 17', 'art 648', '§ 23']

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications, 20316-20318 [2016-07968] :: 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 Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications, 20316-20318 [2016-07968]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications, 20316-20318 [2016-07968]
Download as PDF 20316 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules Species Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened Historic range Common name Scientific name Macaw, scarlet (Subspecies crosses). Ara macao macao x Ara macao cyanoptera. * * 3. Amend § 17.41 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows: Special rules—birds. Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * * (c) The following species in the parrot family: Salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), yellow-billed parrot (Amazona collaria), white cockatoo (Cacatua alba), and scarlet macaw (Ara macao macao and scarlet macaw subspecies crosses (Ara macao macao and Ara macao cyanoptera)). (1) Except as noted in paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section, all prohibitions of § 17.31 of this part apply to these species. (2) Import and export. You may import or export a specimen from the southern DPS of Ara macao macao and scarlet macaw subspecies crosses without a permit issued under § 17.52 of this part, and you may import or export all other specimen without a permit issued under § 17.32 of this part, only when the provisions of parts 13, 14, 15, and 23 of this chapter have been met and you meet the following requirements: (i) Captive-bred specimens: The source code on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) document accompanying the specimen must be ‘‘F’’ (captive born), ‘‘C’’ (bred in captivity), or ‘‘D’’ (bred in captivity for commercial purposes) (see 50 CFR 23.24); or (ii) Specimens held in captivity prior to certain dates: You must provide documentation to demonstrate that the specimen was held in captivity prior to the applicable date specified in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A), (B), or (C) of this section. Such documentation may include copies of receipts, accession or veterinary records, CITES documents, or wildlife declaration forms, which must be dated prior to the specified dates. (A) For salmon-crested cockatoos: January 18, 1990 (the date this species was transferred to CITES Appendix I). (B) For yellow-billed parrots: April 11, 2013 (the date this species was listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Apr 06, 2016 Entire ...................... * ■ § 17.41 Costa Rica, Nicaragua. Jkt 238001 * Status T(S/A) Dated: March 24, 2016. James W. Kurth Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2016–07492 Filed 4–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 160202068–6068–01] RIN 0648–XE425 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. AGENCY: The purpose of this action is to modify the specifications for northern and southern red hake for fishing years 2016 and 2017. This action is necessary to implement the Council’s recommended measures in response to updated scientific information. The proposed specifications are intended to help achieve sustainable yield and prevent overfishing. SUMMARY: Frm 00056 Fmt 4702 .................... * (C) For white cockatoos: July 24, 2014 (the date this species was listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)). (D) For scarlet macaws: [EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE FINAL RULE] (the date this species was listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)). (3) Interstate commerce. Except where use after import is restricted under § 23.55 of this chapter, you may deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate commerce and in the course of a commercial activity, or sell or offer to sell, in interstate commerce the species listed in this paragraph (c) without a permit under the Act. PO 00000 When listed Sfmt 4702 * Critical habitat Special rules NA 17.41(c) * Public comments must be received by April 22, 2016. DATES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA– NMFS–2016–0030, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20160030, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2276. Mark the outside of the envelope: ‘‘Comments on Red Hake Specifications.’’ Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). New England Fishery Management Council staff prepared a Supplemental Information Report for the small-mesh multispecies specifications that describes the proposed action. The Council’s document provides a discussion of the alternatives and the expected impacts. Copies of the specifications-related documents are available on request from Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. This document is also available from the following internet addresses: www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ or www.nefmc.org. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\07APP1.SGM 07APP1 20317 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281–9218. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The New England Fishery Management Council manages the small-mesh multispecies fishery primarily through a series of exemptions from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The smallmesh multispecies fishery is composed of five stocks of three species of hakes (northern and southern silver hake, northern and southern red hake, and offshore hake). It is managed separately from the other stocks of groundfish such as cod, haddock, and flounders, primarily because the fishery uses small mesh and modified nets that do not generally result in the catch of these other stocks. Amendment 19 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (April 4, 2013; 78 FR 20260) established a process and framework for setting the small-mesh multispecies catch specifications, as well as set the specifications for the 2012–2014 fishing years. On May 28, 2015, specifications for the 2015–2017 fishing years were published (80 FR 30379), based on stock assessment updates using data through the spring 2014 survey. These specifications were based on an update to the previously accepted stock assessment, using data through the 2014 Federal spring trawl survey. A stock assessment update was completed in 2015, using data through the 2015 spring survey. The 2015 update indicates that the northern red hake stock is increasing in biomass, while the southern stock is decreasing. Proposed Measures The purpose of this action is to modify the northern and southern red hake specifications for the 2016 and 2017 fishing years. The New England Fishery Management Council recommended these changes in response to its review of the most recent stock assessment update. A large yearclass of northern red hake was identified in the 2013 Federal survey data. Because those fish were small at the time the 2015–2017 specifications were set, the impact to the specifications was minimal; however, the potential for a large increase in biomass during the middle of the specifications period was likely. The Council requested an update to the stock assessment in 2015 to monitor this year class and to adjust the specifications, if warranted. As expected, the 2015 stock assessment update showed an increase in the northern red hake stock. The update also showed a decrease in the southern red hake stock; however, the reasons for the decline in the southern stock area are unclear. In response to these changes, this rule proposes to increase the northern red hake and to decrease the southern red hake 2016 and 2017 annual catch limits and total allowable landings limits (Table 1), consistent with the stock assessment update and the Council’s recommendation. The increase to the northern stock specifications will allow the fishery to benefit from this increase in biomass, as well as avoiding unnecessary discards by ensuring the possession limit is not reduced sooner than needed, while not substantially changing the already low risk of overfishing. The decrease in the southern stock specifications is necessary to reduce the risk of overfishing, even though recent landings are approximately 20 percent below the proposed revised specifications (Table 2). TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF THE RED HAKE SPECIFICATIONS, IN METRIC TONS Northern Red Hake Existing Overfishing Limit .............................................................................................. Acceptable Biological Catch ............................................................................ Annual Catch Limit (ACL) ................................................................................ Total Allowable Landings (TAL) ....................................................................... Southern Red Hake Proposed 331 287 273 104.2 556 496 471 120 Existing Proposed 3,400 3,179 3,021 1,309.4 1,816 1,717 1,631 746 TABLE 2—COMPARISON BETWEEN PROPOSED 2016–2017 RED HAKE SPECIFICATIONS AND 2014 CATCH AND LANDINGS, IN METRIC TONS Northern Red Hake Proposed ACL ..................................................................................................................................... 2014 Catch .......................................................................................................................................... % of Proposed ACL ............................................................................................................................. Proposed TAL ...................................................................................................................................... 2014 Landings ..................................................................................................................................... % of Proposed TAL ............................................................................................................................. Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is consistent with the Northeast Multispecies FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:16 Apr 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866 because this action contains no implementing regulations. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Council conducted an evaluation of the potential socioeconomic impacts of PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 471 278 56% 120 74 62% Southern Red Hake 1,631 1,277 74% 746 603 81% the proposed measures in conjunction with a supplemental information report. These analyses identified 1,007 unique fishing entities, 990 of which are considered small under current business standards, in the Greater Atlantic Region that could be affected by the proposed change. However, only 167 federally permitted vessels, all of which qualify as small entities under the Small Business Administration’s small business standards, are expected to E:\FR\FM\07APP1.SGM 07APP1 20318 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 67 / Thursday, April 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS participate in the small-mesh fishery in the next two years. The proposed measures would modify the total allowable landings and catch limits consistent with recent scientific information. Under the proposed measures, the northern red hake stock catch limits increase, while the southern red hake stock catch limits decrease. A slight positive impact from the northern red hake stock may occur; however, red hake is generally not the target species for a given small-mesh fishing trip. Its value is much lower than silver hake VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:16 Apr 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 (i.e., whiting), herring, and squid, which are the primary target species for vessels using small mesh. In addition, the southern red hake landings in recent years are below the proposed reduced landings limit, which is not expected to be constraining. Therefore, the economic impacts of this action are expected to be minimal. Although a large number of small entities may be affected, the effect will be neither negative nor significant. As a result, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has been prepared. PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 There are no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements contained in any of the alternatives considered for this action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 1, 2016. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–07968 Filed 4–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\07APP1.SGM 07APP1
[Pages 20316-20318]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07968]
[Docket No. 160202068-6068-01]
SUMMARY: The purpose of this action is to modify the specifications for
northern and southern red hake for fishing years 2016 and 2017. This
action is necessary to implement the Council's recommended measures in
response to updated scientific information. The proposed specifications
are intended to help achieve sustainable yield and prevent overfishing.
DATES: Public comments must be received by April 22, 2016.
NOAA-NMFS-2016-0030, by any of the following methods:
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0030, click the
``Comments on Red Hake Specifications.''
New England Fishery Management Council staff prepared a
Supplemental Information Report for the small-mesh multispecies
specifications that describes the proposed action. The Council's
document provides a discussion of the alternatives and the expected
impacts. Copies of the specifications-related documents are available
on request from Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ or www.nefmc.org.
a process and framework for setting the small-mesh multispecies catch
specifications, as well as set the specifications for the 2012-2014
fishing years. On May 28, 2015, specifications for the 2015-2017
fishing years were published (80 FR 30379), based on stock assessment
updates using data through the spring 2014 survey. These specifications
were based on an update to the previously accepted stock assessment,
using data through the 2014 Federal spring trawl survey. A stock
assessment update was completed in 2015, using data through the 2015
spring survey. The 2015 update indicates that the northern red hake
stock is increasing in biomass, while the southern stock is decreasing.
red hake specifications for the 2016 and 2017 fishing years. The New
England Fishery Management Council recommended these changes in
response to its review of the most recent stock assessment update. A
large year-class of northern red hake was identified in the 2013
Federal survey data. Because those fish were small at the time the
2015-2017 specifications were set, the impact to the specifications was
minimal; however, the potential for a large increase in biomass during
the middle of the specifications period was likely. The Council
requested an update to the stock assessment in 2015 to monitor this
year class and to adjust the specifications, if warranted.
As expected, the 2015 stock assessment update showed an increase in
the northern red hake stock. The update also showed a decrease in the
southern red hake stock; however, the reasons for the decline in the
southern stock area are unclear.
In response to these changes, this rule proposes to increase the
northern red hake and to decrease the southern red hake 2016 and 2017
annual catch limits and total allowable landings limits (Table 1),
consistent with the stock assessment update and the Council's
recommendation. The increase to the northern stock specifications will
allow the fishery to benefit from this increase in biomass, as well as
avoiding unnecessary discards by ensuring the possession limit is not
reduced sooner than needed, while not substantially changing the
already low risk of overfishing. The decrease in the southern stock
though recent landings are approximately 20 percent below the proposed
revised specifications (Table 2).
Table 1--Summary of the Red Hake Specifications, in Metric Tons
Northern Red Hake               Southern Red Hake
Existing        Proposed        Existing        Proposed
Table 2--Comparison Between Proposed 2016-2017 Red Hake Specifications
and 2014 Catch and Landings, in Metric Tons
Northern Red Hake    Southern Red Hake
Proposed ACL..................                  471                1,631
2014 Catch....................                  278                1,277
% of Proposed ACL.............                  56%                  74%
Proposed TAL..................                  120                  746
2014 Landings.................                   74                  603
% of Proposed TAL.............                  62%                  81%
impacts of the proposed measures in conjunction with a supplemental
information report. These analyses identified 1,007 unique fishing
entities, 990 of which are considered small under current business
standards, in the Greater Atlantic Region that could be affected by the
proposed change. However, only 167 federally permitted vessels, all of
which qualify as small entities under the Small Business
Administration's small business standards, are expected to
participate in the small-mesh fishery in the next two years. The
proposed measures would modify the total allowable landings and catch
limits consistent with recent scientific information. Under the
proposed measures, the northern red hake stock catch limits increase,
while the southern red hake stock catch limits decrease. A slight
positive impact from the northern red hake stock may occur; however,
red hake is generally not the target species for a given small-mesh
fishing trip. Its value is much lower than silver hake (i.e., whiting),
herring, and squid, which are the primary target species for vessels
using small mesh. In addition, the southern red hake landings in recent
years are below the proposed reduced landings limit, which is not
expected to be constraining. Therefore, the economic impacts of this
action are expected to be minimal. Although a large number of small
entities may be affected, the effect will be neither negative nor
[FR Doc. 2016-07968 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]