Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/07/15/2010-17166/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-bering-sea-subarea
Timestamp: 2017-10-20 09:12:52
Document Index: 738190739

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', 'art 679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', 'art 679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009680', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', 'art 679']

Federal Register :: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea Subarea
A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/15/2010
41123-41138 (16 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-17166 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-17166
NMFS issues a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 94 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). Amendment 94, if approved, would require participants using nonpelagic trawl gear in the directed fishery for flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea to modify the trawl gear to raise portions of the gear off the ocean bottom. Amendment 94 also would change the boundaries of the Northern Bering Sea Research Area to establish the Modified Gear Trawl Zone (MGTZ) and to expand the Saint Matthew Island Habitat Conservation Area. Nonpelagic trawl gear also would be required to be modified to raise portions of the gear off the ocean bottom if used in any directed fishery for groundfish in the proposed MGTZ. This action is necessary to reduce potential adverse effects of nonpelagic trawl gear on bottom habitat, to protect additional blue king crab habitat near St. Matthew Island, and to allow for efficient flatfish harvest as the Start Printed Page 41124distribution of flatfish in the Bering Sea changes. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
The first proposed standard would apply to the location of the elevating devices on the gear. Proposed Figure 26 Start Printed Page 41125to part 679 shows a diagram of the modified nonpelagic trawl gear, including identification of the parts of the gear. The portion of the gear where elevating devices would be required is identified as the elevated section shown in the proposed Figure 26. The elevated section is identified in proposed Figure 26 both for gear using, and for gear not using, headline extensions from the net to provide flexibility in the construction of the modified gear. A vessel would be required to place elevating devices on the sweeps beginning no more than 180 feet (54.9 m) from the door bridles and ending at the connection of the net bridles to the sweeps, if the net bridles are 180 feet (54.9 m) or less in length. If the net bridles are longer than 180 feet (54.9 m), then the elevating devices would be required on the bottom net bridle ending 180 feet (54.9 m) before the net attachment to the net bridles. Elevating devices would not be required on the 180-foot (54.9 m) portion of the bottom lines adjacent to the door bridle and the portion of the net bridle less than 180 feet (54.9 m), because these locations either do not contact the bottom, or the elevating devices in these locations may interfere with the handling of the gear. This 180-foot (54.9 m) elevating device allowance for the net bridles provides some flexibility in the construction of the gear as net bridles are typically between 90 feet (27.4 m) and 200 feet (61 m). Some vessels may use pelagic doors, which are likely to lift up to 180 feet (54.9 m) of the sweep off the bottom; therefore the 180-foot (54.9 m) elevating device allowance at the door end of the gear would ensure elevating devices are not required where the gear is not likely to contact the bottom. These 180-foot (54.9 m) allowances would result in approximately two to four fewer elevating devices being used on part of this portion of gear that may contact the bottom. The locations of the elevating devices were recommended to the Council by the AFSC in consultation with the fishing industry. The Council determined that the recommended locations were appropriate to raise the sweeps and any bottom lines beyond the 180-foot (54.9 m) allowances, while not requiring more elevating devices than would be necessary to achieve results similar to the AFSC-modified nonpelagic trawl gear studies.
The AFSC studies determined that spacing the devices at 60 feet (18.3 m), with a clearance of less than 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) produced similar reductions in impacts to benthic organisms as spacing the elevating devices at 90 feet (27.4 m) with more than 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of clearance. The spacing standard would require that if the elevating devices provide more than 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of clearance, the devices must be spaced at least 30 feet (9.1 m) and no more than 95 feet (29 m) apart. If the elevating devices provide between 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of clearance, the devices must be spaced at least 30 feet (9.1 m) and no more than 65 feet (19.8 m) apart. The additional 5 feet (1.5 m) in the spacing standard compared to the spacing used in the AFSC studies would allow for minor movement of the elevating devices during use, as well as for minor amounts of extra spacing that may occur Start Printed Page 41126from gear construction and maintenance. This would allow some flexibility in the construction and maintenance of the gear, while reducing impacts to a similar degree as seen in the AFSC-modified nonpelagic trawl gear studies. Manufacturers of the modified nonpelagic trawl gear likely would place the elevating devices at 60 feet (18.3 m) and 90 feet (27.4 m) spacing as the devices would likely be mounted where sections of line are joined, and the line is available in 90 feet (27.4 m) lengths. By working with the nonpelagic trawl fishing industry, the AFSC determined that locating the elevating devices on the gear in this manner would elevate the majority of the gear similar to the elevation used in the AFSC research and allow for operational and maintenance efficiencies for the vessel operators.
Start Printed Page 41127
1. Section 679.2 would be revised to add a definition for the MGTZ, and to add text to several definitions to support the requirement to use nonpelagic trawl gear that has been modified to meet the gear standards that would be specified at § 679.24. The definition for “directed fishing” would be revised by adding a subparagraph specific to directed fishing for flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea. This revision would require the use of modified nonpelagic trawl gear for the directed flatfish fishery in the Bering Sea subarea under proposed § 679.7(c)(5), and would list the species that are flatfish for purposes of the modified nonpelagic trawl gear requirement. The definition for “federally permitted vessels” would be revised to include the fishery restrictions that would be established for the MGTZ, and for modified nonpelagic trawl gear fishing in the Bering Sea subarea. This revision would identify vessels that would need to comply with the modified nonpelagic trawl gear requirements. The definition for “fishing trip” would be revised to apply to vessels that are directed fishing for flatfish based on a fishing trip and the species composition of the catch, as described in the proposed definition for directed fishing for flatfish. The fishing trip definition also applies to recordkeeping and reporting requirements in § 679.5. Under this proposed rule, the heading for the first definition of a fishing trip would be revised to add “recordkeeping and reporting requirements under § 679.5” to reflect the full scope of the current application of this definition in 50 CFR part 679. A definition for the “Modified Gear Trawl Zone” would be added to define this proposed fishery Start Printed Page 41130management area consistent with other fishery management area definitions and for use under the proposed revised definition for “federally permitted vessels.”
2. Subparagraph (5) would be added to § 679.7(c) to prohibit directed fishing for Bering Sea flatfish without modified nonpelagic trawl gear that meets the standards specified at proposed § 679.24(f). This revision is needed to require the use of modified nonpelagic trawl gear for directed fishing for flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea, for directed fishing for groundfish with nonpelagic trawl gear within the MGTZ, and to ensure the modified nonpelagic trawl gear meets the standards specified at § 679.24(f). Subparagraphs (3) and (4) would be added and reserved to allow for future rulemaking recommended by the Council for Pacific cod fishing in the BSAI parallel fisheries. If approved, the Pacific cod parallel fishery rulemaking is likely to be effective before rulemaking for Amendment 94. Adding and reserving subparagraphs (3) and (4) will provide less confusion as these rulemakings progress simultaneously.
7. Paragraph (f) would be added to § 679.24 to establish enforceable standards for modified nonpelagic trawl gear. The standards would include a minimum clearance for the sweeps, and a minimum and maximum distance between elevating devices, depending on the clearance provided by the elevating devices. The standards also would describe the measuring locations to determine compliance with the clearance requirement and cross section limitations for the line between elevating devices. This revision is necessary to ensure that standards are described in the regulations to facilitate construction, maintenance, and inspection of modified nonpelagic trawl gear that would meet the intent of the Council to reduce potential adverse impacts on bottom habitat from nonpelagic trawl gear.
8. Figures 25, 26, and 27 to part 679 would be added to describe the measuring locations for determining compliance with the clearance standards, and to describe the location of the elevating devices that would be required under proposed § 679.24(f). Section 679.24(f) would refer to these figures to facilitate the description of how the modified nonpelagic trawl gear is to be configured and how to determine compliance with the clearance standard for the gear. This revision is necessary to facilitate compliance with the gear standards for those who may be constructing, maintaining, or inspecting the modified nonpelagic trawl gear.
The Council considered three alternatives, an option, and a set of minor technical changes for this action. Alternative 1 is the status quo, which does not meet the Council's Start Printed Page 41131recommendations to further protect Bering Sea bottom habitat. Both Alternatives 2 and 3 would require modified nonpelagic trawl gear for vessels directly fishing for flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea. Additionally, under Alternative 3, which is the preferred alternative, an area that is currently closed to nonpelagic trawling would be opened to vessels using modified nonpelagic trawl gear. Alternative 2 does not provide fishing opportunity within the MGTZ, and therefore does not minimize the potential economic impact on small entities in the same manner as provided by Alternative 3. The SMIHCA option has no economic effect on small entities as this area is currently closed to nonpelagic trawling as part of the NBSRA. The minor changes ensure the FMP is easier to read and understand, and that the FMP accurately reflects the Council's intent and the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
2. In § 679.2, revise the definitions for “Federally permitted vessels” and “Fishing trip,” add in alphabetical order the definition for “Modified Gear Trawl Zone” and paragraph (5) to “Directed fishing,” to read as follows:
Federally permitted vessel means a vessel that is named on either a Federal fisheries permit issued pursuant to § 679.4(b) or on a Federal crab vessel permit issued pursuant to § 680.4(k) of this chapter. Federally permitted vessels must conform to regulatory requirements for purposes of fishing Start Printed Page 41132restrictions in habitat conservation areas, habitat conservation zones, habitat protection areas, and the Modified Gear Trawl Zone; for purposes of anchoring prohibitions in habitat protection areas; for purposes of requirements for the BS nonpelagic trawl fishery pursuant to § 679.7(c)(5) and § 679.24(f); and for purposes of VMS requirements.
3. In § 679.7, reserve paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(4), and add paragraph (c)(5) to read as follows:
(A) For elevating devices spaced 30 feet (9.1 m) to 65 feet (19.8 m), the required minimum clearance is ≥ [2.5 inches−((support material cross section−line material cross section)/2)], or
(B) For elevating device spaced 66 feet (19.8 m) to 95 feet (29 m), the required minimum clearance is ≥ [3.5 inches−((support material cross section−line material cross section)/2)]. 6. Table 43 to part 679 is revised to read as follows: