Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2009/01/16/E9-846/fisheries-of-the-northeastern-united-states-northeast-multispecies-fishery-secretarial-interim
Timestamp: 2015-09-02 12:51:47
Document Index: 371564075

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Federal Register | Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Secretarial Interim Action
-2984 (26 pages)
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/E9-846 Action
Interim Action To Reduce Fishing Mortality and Maintain Stock Rebuilding; Northeast Multispecies Fishery 1 action from November 2008 November 2008
Table 1. GARM III Stock Status Determination Criteria and 2007 Status
Table 2. Fishing Mortality Reduction Objectives for the Proposed Interim Action
Table 3. Target TACs (mt) for FY 2009
Table 4. Incidental Catch TACs for FY 2009
Table 5. Modifications to the Incidental Catch TAC Allocations for FY 2009
Table 6. Specification of Incidental Catch TACs for Special Management Programs (mt) for FY 2009
Table 7. 2009 U.S./Canada TACs (mt) and Percentage Shares (in parentheses)
Table 8. 2008 U.S./Canada TACs (mt) and Percentage Shares (in parentheses)
SNE Closure Area
Windowpane Flounder Northern Stock Area:
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/frdoc/08/08MultiInterimEA.pdf.
The Council subsequently developed a revised schedule of development for Amendment 16, which, if approved, would be implemented on May 1, 2010. The Council voted on September 4, 2008, to request that NMFS implement an interim action for the duration of FY 2009 (May 1, 2009-April 30, 2010), and recommended a specific suite of management measures for the interim action. As explained fully under section 12 below, NMFS did not adopt the Council's recommendations for this proposed interim action because it was determined that the Council's recommended alternative was insufficient to end overfishing.
GARM III, completed in August 2008, was an extensive benchmark assessment. GARM III evaluated the underlying data and models utilized for assessment of the groundfish stocks, evaluated the biological reference points, established new reference points, assessed the biomass and fishing mortality status of the groundfish stocks in 2007, and provided examples of fishing mortality rates that would be expected to rebuild overfished stocks.
Table 1. GARM III Stock Status Determination Criteria and 2007 Status Back to Top
2007 Fishing Mortality (2007 F/ Fmsy)
2007 Biomass (2007 B/Bmsy)
* Pollock and windowpane flounder information was revised subsequent to GARM III in order to utilize 3 yr averages. Pollock is approaching an overfished condition.
SNE/MA
CC/GOM
Table 2. Fishing Mortality Reduction Objectives for the Proposed Interim Action Back to Top
Fishing Mortality Rate Goal
Value Associated with Fishing Mortality Rate Goal
Fishing Mortality Rate Reduction Objective
Proposed Management Measures Back to Top
Under this proposed interim action, the existing differential DAS areas in the GOM and SNE would no longer apply, and a single, larger differential DAS area would be implemented in the entire GOM and in the northern portion of GB, north of 41o 30'N. lat. For the revised Interim Differential DAS Area, the DAS accrual rate would be 2:1. In other words, under this action, if a vessel declares into the Interim Differential DAS Area for 10 hr, the vessel's DAS balance would be debited 20 hr. A vessel would not be charged at the differential DAS rate if it declared and transited to another area outside of the Interim Differential DAS Area. For example, if a vessel steams through the Interim Differential DAS Area on its way to and from the fishing grounds in the southern portion of the U.S./Canada Management Area, where DAS are not counted differentially, it would not be charged at the 2:1 rate for part of the trip spend steaming through the Interim Differential DAS Area. If a vessel declared and fished both inside the Interim Differential DAS Area and outside that area on the same trip, it would be charged differential DAS (2:1) for all the DAS accrued on that trip.
Table 3. Target TACs (mt) for FY 2009 Back to Top
* A hard TAC, set through a separate process described in item 6.
Windowpane flounder N.
Windowpane flounder S.
This proposed interim action would revise the specification of incidental catch TACs applicable to the Special Management Programs of the FMP based upon the most recent scientific information. Incidental catch TACs are specified for certain stocks of concern for Special Management Programs in order to limit the amount of catch of stocks of concern that can be caught under such programs, and to fully account for fishing mortality. The incidental catch TACs apply to catch (landings and discards) caught under Category B DAS (either Regular or Reserve B DAS) on trips that end on a Category B DAS. The catch of stocks for which incidental catch TACs are specified on trips that start under a Category B DAS and then flip to a Category A DAS do not accrue toward such TACs. A stock of concern is defined as a stock that is in an overfished condition or subject to overfishing. Due to the revised status of stocks (GARM III) that would be adopted under this action, an incidental catch TAC would no longer be appropriate for American plaice, because it would no longer be considered a stock of concern. Further, new incidental catch TACs would be required for GOM winter flounder and pollock, because they would now be considered stocks of concern. The percentages that the TACs are currently based on would remain unchanged, with the exception of witch flounder, which would be reduced from 5-percent to 2-percent, due to its new proposed status and the fact that the fishing mortality rate and total catch need to be reduced. The incidental catch TACs for GOM winter flounder would be set at 5-percent, based on the rationale described in Framework (FW) 40A to the FMP: If the recent catch levels are less than the expected future catch levels, and proposed management measures are likely to achieve more than the required reduction in fishing mortality, then the size of an incidental catch TAC relative to the size of the overall TAC is larger (set as a larger percent). The incidental catch TAC for pollock would be set at 5-percent because of the prevalence of pollock catch in the Special Management Programs, and based upon the rationale cited above. The utility of the Special Management Programs would be severely constrained if the incidental catch TAC is set too low. The number of total incidental catch TACs would increase from the current number (8), to 10. Due to the severe fishing mortality reduction necessary for the SNE/MA stock of winter flounder, no retention of this stock would be allowed under this alternative, and there would be no incidental catch TAC specified (see additional discussion under item 10, Mitigating Measures). The calculation of incidental catch TACs by stock based on the target TACs is shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Incidental Catch TACs for FY 2009 Back to Top
Percentage of Total TAC
Incidental TAC
GOM winter
Table 5. Modifications to the Incidental Catch TAC Allocations for FY 2009 Back to Top
Table 6. Specification of Incidental Catch TACs for Special Management Programs (mt) for FY 2009 Back to Top
Annual TACs are determined through a process involving the Council, the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC), and the U.S./Canada Transboundary Resources Steering Committee. In September 2008, the TMGC approved the 2008 Guidance Document for Eastern GB cod, Eastern GB haddock, and GB yellowtail flounder, which included recommended U.S. TACs for these stocks. The recommended FY 2008 TACs were based upon the most recent stock assessments TRAC Status Reports for 2008), and the fishing mortality strategy shared by both NMFS and DFO. The strategy is to maintain a low to neutral (less than 50-percent) risk of exceeding the fishing mortality limit reference (Fref = 0.18, 0.26, and 0.25 for cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder, respectively). When stock conditions are poor, fishing mortality rates should be further reduced to promote rebuilding. The TMGC concluded that the most appropriate combined U.S./Canada TAC for Eastern GB cod for FY 2009 is 1,700 mt. This corresponds to a low risk (less than 25- percent) of exceeding the Fref of 0.18 (i.e., Fmsy) in 2009. However, due to poor recruitment, there is a high risk (greater than 75-percent) that stock biomass will not increase from CY 2009 to CY 2010. The annual allocation shares between countries for FY 2009 are based on a combination of historical catches (15-percent weighting) and resource distribution based on trawl surveys (85-percent weighting). Combining these factors entitles the United States to 31-percent of the shared TAC and Canada to 69- percent, resulting in a national quota of 527 mt for the United States and 1,173 mt for Canada.
Table 7. 2009 U.S./Canada TACs (mt) and Percentage Shares (in parentheses) Back to Top
11,100 (37%)
1,617 (77%)
1,173 (69%)
18,900 (63%)
Table 8. 2008 U.S./Canada TACs (mt) and Percentage Shares (in parentheses) Back to Top
* Adjusted downward to 1,868.7 mt due to overharvest of 2007 TAC
667 (29%)
8,050 (35%)
* 1,950 (78%)
1,633 (71%)
14,950 (65%)
550 (22%)
NMFS is also proposing, through the authority granted to the Regional Administrator by the FMP, measures to optimize the harvest of the shared resources. The regulations under § 648.85(a)(3)(iv)(D) provide the Regional Administrator the authority to implement in-season adjustments to various measures in order to prevent over-harvesting, or to facilitate achieving the TAC.
Secondly, the Regional Administrator is proposing implementation of a possession limit of 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per trip for GB yellowtail flounder. Although the regulations under § 648.86(a)(3)(iv)(C) indicate an initial trip limit of 10,000-lb (4,536 kg) at the beginning of a fishing year for GB yellowtail flounder, based on the yellowtail flounder catch rate from the U.S./Canada Management Area under a 5,000-lb (2,268-kg) trip limit during FY 2008, and analyses conducted by NMFS during FY 2007, a 5,000-lb (2,268-kg) trip limit would be an appropriate trip limit to allow harvesting of the TAC and increase the likelihood that further restrictions will not be necessary during the fishing year to slow the catch rate.
Extension of the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP. The Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2008 on April 30, 2009, would be extended through this proposed interim action, in order to continue to facilitate access to GB haddock. This SAP allows vessels fishing with trawl gear to fish in a portion of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, including a section of the northern portion of CA II (the “triangle”), under a Regular B DAS or a Reserve B DAS. This SAP allows a vessel to utilize a Category B DAS and fish in the “triangle” that is not otherwise accessible. The geographic area would remain unchanged, and the rules that apply would remain unchanged, with the exception of the reallocation of the incidental catch TACs (see Table 5).
When fishing in this SAP, vessels must currently fish with either a haddock separator trawl or a Ruhle Trawl, and are subject to restrictive possession limits in order to provide an incentive to correctly use the specialized trawl gear to help minimize bycatch of stocks of concern. Catch of stocks of concern on trips that end under a B DAS count toward the incidental catch TACs specified for pollock, GB cod, GB winter flounder, and GB yellowtail flounder (see Table 6). The total amount of these stocks of concern caught is limited by these incidental catch TACs and the program is typically subject to a higher level of observer coverage than the NE multispecies fishery at large. Furthermore, there are specialized rules that are required when fishing in this SAP, including those regarding observer notification, VMS declaration, reporting requirements, and a no discard provision.
Modifications to the Regular B DAS Program. The Regular B DAS Program was designed to provide opportunities to target healthy stocks without threatening stocks for which a mortality reduction is required. The program allows the use of Regular B DAS, provided the Program requirements designed to minimize impacts of stocks of concern are met. Under this proposed rule, in addition to the modifications proposed under item 5 (Revisions to Incidental Catch TACs and Allocations to Special Management Programs), several revisions would be made to the Regular B DAS Program in order to address the current status of stocks and necessary reductions to fishing mortality, as well as to maintain the usefulness of the Regular B DAS Program. Under current regulations, the Regional Administrator has the authority to close the Regular B DAS Program if it is projected that continuation of the Regular B DAS Program would undermine the achievement of the objectives of the FMP. In addition to monitoring the incidental TACs proposed under item 5, NMFS would closely monitor the level of discarding of stocks that are proposed to have zero retention, but for which there is no incidental TAC proposed (i.e., SNE/MA winter flounder, northern windowpane flounder, and ocean pout) to ensure that fishing mortality objectives for all stocks are not jeopardized.
In order to prevent the quarterly incidental catch TACs from limiting the usefulness of the program, any quarterly incidental catch TAC that remains uncaught from quarters one, two, and three would roll over into the subsequent quarter.
Due to the number of flatfish stocks that need reductions in fishing mortality, the use of low profile (tie-down) gillnets under this interim action would be prohibited on trips fishing under the Regular B DAS Program. Within the NE multispecies fishery, flatfish are traditionally targeted by reducing the vertical height of bottom-set gillnets by tying the floatline of a gillnet to the leadline, or modifying the construction of the floatline to reduce or eliminate its buoyancy. Thus, because most stocks of concern are flatfish and targeting stocks of concern is not consistent with the goals of the Regular B DAS Program, the use of low profile gillnet gear would be prohibited under this Program. The use of gillnet gear to catch haddock would still be allowed.
At it's September 4, 2008, meeting, the Council recommended that NMFS implement an interim action for the duration of FY 2009 and proposed specific management measures. The Council's alternative proposed an 18-percent default DAS reduction; and target TACs for GB yellowtail flounder, SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, CC/GOM yellowtail flounder, American plaice, witch flounder, GB winter flounder, GOM winter flounder, redfish, white hake, pollock, GB cod, and GOM cod. The Council's proposed TACs were those associated with Frebuild for all stocks except for the two cod stocks, which would be the TACs associated with Fmsy, and the TAC for SNE/MA winter flounder, which would be lower than that associated with Fmsy. The Council's proposal also included a 5,000-lb (2,268-kg) trip limit for SNE/MA winter flounder, and a 1,000-lb (454-kg)/DAS and 5,000-lb (2,268-kg)/trip limit for witch flounder. TAC overharvests in FY 2009 would be deducted from the FY 2010 TACs, and sectors would not be held responsible for FY 2009 over-harvests that they were not responsible for. Amendment 16 was proposed as the means by which the FY 2009 TAC overharvests would be reconciled in FY 2010.
As described above, this action is necessary to comply with the fish stock rebuilding requirements of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. In response to new scientific information, this action would reduce fishing mortality on all groundfish stocks and provide flexibility to the fishing industry to adapt to the new regulations and help mitigate negative economic impacts. The principal goal of this interim action is to eliminate or reduce overfishing and achieve the rebuilding fishing mortality rates to the extent practicable for an interim period, while the Council develops more comprehensive, permanent measures. The Preferred Alternative would achieve an appropriate balance of short-term costs and benefits that would strictly maintain adherence to rebuilding plans for most stocks, and reduce fishing mortality to Fmsy or below for all stocks except northern windowpane flounder.
Region-wide, the impact on revenue received on trips where groundfish were landed was estimated to fall by 31 percent, while sales of all species was estimated to be reduced by 20 percent (from $156 million to $126 million). Among individual vessels, a small number of regulated entities, primarily from NJ, may be able to increase sales due to the location of the SNE Closure Area relative to taking no action (i.e., the SNE Differential DAS Area would remain in place under the No Action Alternative). That is, fishing opportunities in the area that would now be opened to these vessels would more than offset the changes in trip limits and DAS reduction. However, for the overwhelming majority of regulated small entities, the economic impacts would be negative. The impact on total revenue would vary depending on a port's dependence on groundfish, with the greatest reductions for ME and MA (34 percent and 27 percent, respectively). For vessels that fish exclusively in the GOM, the 2:1 differential DAS counting, coupled with the default 18-percent reduction in DAS, is equivalent to a 36-percent reduction in DAS. For vessels with a low dependence on groundfish, even this reduction in DAS may not result in a large reduction in total catch. The combination of where vessels fish, and higher dependence on groundfish trip income, results in the highest impacts on fishing revenue.
The proposed measures would affect not only regulated entities engaged in commercial fishing for groundfish, but also entities that provide recreational fishing services to anglers. Available data indicate that, of the 92 federally permitted charter/party vessels that reported keeping cod, haddock, or winter flounder, approximately one-third would be adversely affected by one or more of the proposed measures, and about two-thirds of participating party/charter operators would not be adversely affected. Party/charter receipts may be expected to be reduced by approximately 6 percent. The impact of extending the closed season for recreationally caught GOM cod is difficult to predict due to the highly variable catch during the month of April. Reducing the size limit for haddock would increase the number of opportunities to keep haddock on all fishing trips.
The overall economic impact of the FY 2009 U.S./Canada TACs would likely be similar or slightly negative, compared to the economic impacts of the TACs specified for FY 2008. The specification of the proposed U.S./Canada TACs would result in a similar, or slightly reduced level of income from trips into the U.S./Canada Management Area. The FY 2009 cod and yellowtail flounder TACs would represent a decrease from the FY 2008 TAC levels. The changes in TAC reflect changes in stock size and the U.S. percentage share.
Alternative 1 reduces fishing effort, and therefore reduces opportunities to catch and land skates. Compared to the No Action alternative, Alternative 1 would have negative economic impacts on skate fishing vessels. The SNE Closure Area may have greater negative economic impacts on the skate bait fishery than on the skate wing fishery. Skate vessels potentially impacted by the SNE Closure Area may be able to mitigate some of their revenue losses by fishing in exempted fisheries. In general terms, Alternative 1 could have greater negative economic impacts on skate vessels than the other alternatives due to the 2.25:1 differential DAS area in the western GOM, where a great deal of skate fishing occurs.
Deputy Assistant Administrator For RegulatoryPrograms, National Marine Fisheries Service.
2. In § 648.2, a new definition for “low profile gillnet” is added, in alphabetical order, to read as follows:
3. In § 648.10, paragraph (b)(5) is suspended, and paragraph (b)(6) is added to read as follows:
§ 648.10 DAS and VMS notification requirements.
(6) VMS notification requirements for other fisheries. Unless otherwise specified in this part, or via letters sent to affected permit holders under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the owner or authorized representative of a vessel that is required to use VMS, as specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, must notify the Regional Administrator of the vessel's intended fishing activity by entering the appropriate VMS code prior to leaving port at the start of each fishing trip. Notification of a vessel's intended fishing activity includes, but is not limited to, gear and DAS type to be used; area to be fished; and whether the vessel will be declared out of the DAS fishery, or will participate in the NE multispecies and monkfish DAS fisheries, including approved special management programs. A vessel cannot change any aspect of its VMS activity code outside of port, except that a NE multispecies vessel is authorized to change the category of DAS used (i.e., flip its DAS), as provided at § 648.85(b), or change the area declared to be fished so that the vessel may fish both inside and outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on the same trip, as provided at§ 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A). VMS activity codes and declaration instructions are available from the Regional Administrator upon request.
4. In § 648.14:
(183) Enter, or be on a fishing vessel with a NE multispecies permit in the area described in § 648.81(n), except as provided for in § 648.81(n).
(184) Fish for, harvest, possess, or land regulated species in or from the closed area specified in § 648.81(n), unless otherwise allowed under § 648.81(n).
(185) Enter or fish in the Western U.S./Canada Area or Eastern U.S./Canada Area specified in § 648.85(a)(1), unless declared into the area in accordance with§ 648.85(a)(3)(viii).
(186) If declared into one of the areas specified in § 648.85(a)(1), fish during that same trip outside of the declared area, unless in compliance with the applicable restrictions specified under § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A) or (B).
(187) Fail to notify NMFS via VMS prior to departing the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, when fishing inside and outside of the area on the same trip, in accordance with § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A)(1).
(188) When fishing inside and outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on the same trip, fail to abide by the most restrictive DAS counting, trip limits, and reporting requirements that apply, as described in § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A).
(189) If fishing inside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area and in possession of fish in excess of what is allowed under most restrictive regulations that apply outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, fish outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on the same trip, as prohibited under § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A).
(190) Fail to comply with the reporting requirements under § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A)(2) when fishing inside and outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on a trip.
(191) If fishing with trawl gear under a NE multispecies DAS in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area defined in § 648.85(a)(1)(ii), fail to fish with a haddock separator trawl, flounder trawl net, or Ruhle trawl, as specified in § 648.85(a)(3)(ix) and (b)(10)(iv)(J)(3), unless otherwise allowed under the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP rules in § 648.85(b)(8)(v)(E).
(192) Possess, land, or fish for regulated species while in possession of scallop dredge gear on a vessel not fishing under the scallop DAS program as described in § 648.53, or fishing under a general scallop permit, unless the vessel and the dredge gear conform with the stowage requirements of § 648.23(b), or unless the vessel has not been issued a multispecies permit and fishes for NE multispecies exclusively in state waters.
(90) If fishing under the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP, fish for, harvest, possess, or land any regulated NE multispecies from the area specified in § 648.85(b)(8)(ii), unless in compliance with the restrictions and conditions specified in § 648.85(b)(8)(v)(A) through (M).
(91) If fishing under a Category B DAS in the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder SAP specified in § 648.85(b)(3), the Regular B DAS Pilot Program specified in§ 648.85(b)(10), or the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP Pilot Program specified in § 648.85(b)(8), remove any fish caught with any gear, including dumping the contents of a net, except on board the vessel.
(92) Possess or land per trip more than the possession or landing limits specified under § 648.86(a), (g), (h), and (l), if the vessel has been issued a limited access NE multispecies permit or open access NE multispecies permit, as applicable.
(93) Fail to declare through VMS the intent to be exempt from the GOM cod trip limit under § 648.86(l)(1), as required under § 648.86(l)(4), or fish north of the exemption line if in possession of more than the GOM cod trip limit specified under § 648.86(l)(1).
(94) Enter port, while on a NE multispecies DAS trip, in possession of more than the allowable limit of cod specified in § 648.86(l)(1), unless the vessel is fishing under the cod exemption specified in § 648.86(l)(4).
(95) For vessels fishing in the NE multispecies DAS program under the provisions of § 648.10(c), the call-in system, fail to remain in port for the appropriate time specified in § 648.86(l)(1)(ii)(A), except for transiting purposes, provided the vessel complies with § 648.86(l)(3). For vessels fishing in the NE multispecies DAS program under the provisions of § 648.10(b), the VMS system, fail to declare through VMS that insufficient DAS have elapsed in order to account for the amount of cod on board the vessel as required under § 648.86(l)(1)(ii)(B).
(96) Enter port, while on a NE multispecies DAS trip, in possession of more than the allowable limit of cod specified in § 648.86(l)(2).
(97) For vessels fishing in the NE multispecies DAS program under the provisions of § 648.10(c), the call-in system, fail to remain in port for the appropriate time specified in § 648.86(l)(2)(ii)(A), except for transiting purposes, provided the vessel complies with § 648.86(l)(3). For vessels fishing in the NE multispecies DAS program under the provisions of § 648.10(b), the VMS system, fail to declare through VMS that insufficient DAS have elapsed in order to account for the amount of cod on board the vessel as required under § 648.86(l)(2)(ii)(B).
(98) If fishing under the party/charter or private recreational regulations in the SNE Closure Area defined under § 648.81(n)(1), fish for or retain winter flounder.
(99) Discard legal-sized NE regulated multispecies, ocean pout, Atlantic halibut, or monkfish while fishing under a Regular B DAS in the Regular B DAS Program, as described in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(E).
(100) If fishing under a Regular B DAS in the Regular B DAS Program, fail to comply with the DAS flip requirements of § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(E) if the vessel harvests and brings on board more than the landing limit for a groundfish stock of concern specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(D), other groundfish specified under § 648.86, or monkfish under § 648.94.
(101) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the requirements and restrictions specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(A) through (F), (I), and (J).
(102) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(6), fail to comply with the VMS requirement specified in § 648.85(b)(6)(iv)(A).
(103) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the observer notification requirement specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(B).
(104) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the VMS declaration requirement specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(C).
(105) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the landing limits specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(D).
(106) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the no discard and DAS flip requirements specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(E).
(107) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the minimum Category A DAS and Category B DAS accrual requirements specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(F).
(108) Use a Regular B DAS in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), if the program has been closed as specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(H) or (b)(10)(vi).
(109) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), use a Regular B DAS after the program has closed, as required under § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(G) or (H).
(110) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to comply with the reporting requirements specified in § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(I).
(111) If fishing in the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP specified in § 648.85(b)(7), fail to comply with the DAS use restrictions specified in § 648.85(b)(7)(iv)(J), and (b)(7)(v)(A) or (b)(7)(vi)(A), whichever is applicable.
(112) If fishing in the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP specified in § 648.85(b)(7), fail to comply with the reporting requirement specified in § 648.85(b)(7)(v)(F) or (b)(7)(vi)(D), whichever is applicable.
(113) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to use a haddock separator trawl as described under § 648.85(a)(3)(iii)(A), or other approved gear as described under § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(J).
(114) If fishing under a NE multispecies Category A DAS in the Interim Differential DAS Area, defined under § 648.82(e)(4)(i), fail to declare into the area through VMS as required under § 648.82(e)(4)(ii).
(115) If fishing under a NE multispecies Category A DAS in the Interim Differential DAS Area defined in § 648.82(e)(4)(i), and under the restrictions of one or more of the Special Management Programs under § 648.85, fail to comply with the most restrictive regulations.
(116) Possess or land more white hake than allowed under § 648.86(m).
(117) Retain or land zero retention stocks as specified under § 648.86(n).
(118) If possessing a Ruhle Trawl, either at sea or elsewhere, as allowed under § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(J)(1) or (b)(8)(v)(E)(1), fail to comply with the net specifications under § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(J)(3).
(119) If fishing as a private recreational and charter/party vessel in the SNE/MA winter flounder stock area defined in§ 648.85(b)(10)(v)(E), fish for or retain winter flounder or transit this area in possession of winter flounder caught outside this area, unless all bait and hooks are removed from fishing rods and any winter flounder on board has been gutted and stored.
(120) If fishing in the Regular B DAS Program specified in § 648.85(b)(10), fail to use a haddock separator trawl as described under § 648.85(a)(3)(ix)(A), or other approved gear as described under § 648.85(b)(10)(iv)(J).
(121) For vessels fishing inside and outside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on the same trip, fail to comply with the most restrictive regulations that apply on the trip as required under § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A).
(122) For vessels fishing inside and outside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area on the same trip, fail to notify NMFS via VMS that the vessel is electing to fish in this manner, as required by § 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A)(1).
(6) If the vessel is a private recreational fishing vessel, fail to comply with the seasonal GOM cod possession prohibition described in § 648.89(c)(1)(vi) or, if the vessel has been issued a charter/party permit or is fishing under charter/party regulations, fail to comply with the prohibition on fishing under § 648.89(c)(5)(v).
(7) If fishing under the recreational or charter/party regulations, fish for or possess cod caught in the GOM Regulated Mesh Area during the seasonal GOM cod possession prohibition under § 648.89(c)(1)(vi) or (c)(5)(v) or, fail to abide by the appropriate restrictions if transiting with cod on board.
§ 648.80 [Amended]
5. In § 648.80, paragraph (i) is suspended.
6. In § 648.81, paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(B) is suspended, and paragraphs (b)(2)(iv)(C) and (n) are added to read as follows:
(C) The vessel has declared into the Eastern U.S./Canada Area as specified in § 648.85(a)(3)(viii) and is transiting CA II in accordance with the provisions of § 648.85(a)(3)(vii).
SNE Closure Area Back to Top
(1) Intersection of the shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and 70°00' W. long.
(2) Intersection of the shoreline of Staten Island, New York, and 40°30' N. lat.
SNECA1
SNECA2
SNECA3
SNECA4
SNECA5
(i) Fishing with exempted gear, as defined in this part, or under the exemptions specified in § 648.80(b)(2)(vi) and (b)(3);
(ii) Fishing with hook gear, provided that no gear other than hook gear is on board, and the vessel abides by the NE multispecies possession restrictions under § 648.86; or
(iii) Fishing under the charter/party or private recreational regulations, provided that vessel abides by the recreational restrictions under § 648.89, and:
(3) NE multispecies permitted vessels possessing NE multispecies on board the vessel and transiting through the SNE Closure Area, provided gear other than hook gear is stowed in accordance with § 648.23(b).
7. In § 648.82:
A. Paragraphs (e)(2) and (3); (j)(1)(iii)(A) through (D); (k)(4)(iv) and (x); and (l)(1)(iv) and (ix) are suspended. B. Paragraphs (e)(4) and (5), and (j)(1)(iii)(E), (F), and (G) are added.
(1) The U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
(2) The intersection of the Cape Cod, Massachusetts, shoreline and 70°00' W. long.
66°35'(1)
(ii) Declaration. A NE multispecies DAS vessel that intends to fish, or fishes under a Category A DAS in the Interim Differential DAS Area, as described in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section, must, prior to leaving the dock, declare through the VMS, in accordance with instructions to be provided by the Regional Administrator, that the vessel will fish in the Interim Differential DAS Area. A DAS vessel that fishes in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area and intends to fish, or fishes, subsequently in the Interim Differential DAS Area under a Category A DAS, must declare its intention to do so through its VMS prior to leaving the dock at the start of the trip or prior to leaving the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, as specified in§ 648.85(a)(3)(viii)(A)(3).
(iii) Differential DAS counting. For a NE multispecies DAS vessel that intends to fish, or fishes for some or all of its trip other than for transiting purposes under a Category A DAS in the Interim Differential DAS Area, each Category A DAS, or part thereof, shall be counted at the ratio of 2 to 1 for the entire trip, even if only a portion of the trip is spent fishing in the Interim Differential DAS Area. A vessel that has not declared its intent to fish in the Interim Differential DAS Area and that is not transiting, as specified in paragraph (e)(4)(v) of this section, may be in the Interim Differential DAS Area, provided the vessel's fishing gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of§ 648.23(b) for the entire time the vessel is in the area, and the vessel declares immediately upon entering the Interim Differential DAS Area, via VMS, that it is in the area.
(iv) Restrictions. A NE multispecies vessel fishing under a Category A DAS in the Interim Differential DAS Area defined in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section, under the restrictions of this paragraph (e)(4) and under the restrictions of one or more of the Special Management Programs under§ 648.85, must comply with the most restrictive DAS counting, trip limits, and reporting requirements, specified in this paragraph (e)(4) and in § 648.85, under the pertinent Special Management Program.
(v) Transiting. A vessel may transit the Interim Differential DAS Area, as defined in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section, provided the gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of § 648.23(b).
(5) Regular B DAS Program 24-hr clock. For a vessel electing to fish in the Regular B DAS Program, as specified at § 648.85(b)(10), and that remains fishing under a Regular B DAS for the entire fishing trip (without a DAS flip), DAS used shall accrue at the rate of 1 full DAS for each calendar day, or part of a calendar day fished. For example, a vessel that fished on one calendar day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. would be charged 24 hr of Regular B DAS, not 16 hr; a vessel that left on a trip at 11 p.m on the first calendar day and returned at 10 p.m. on the second calendar day would be charged 48 hr of Regular B DAS instead of 23 hr, because the fishing trip would have spanned 2 calendar days. For the purpose of calculating trip limits specified under § 648.86, the amount of DAS deducted from a vessel's DAS allocation shall determine the amount of fish the vessel can legally land. For a vessel electing to fish in the Regular B DAS Program, as specified at § 648.85(b)(10), while also fishing in the Interim Differential DAS Area, defined in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section, Category B DAS shall accrue at the rate described in this paragraph (e)(5), unless the vessel flips to a Category A DAS, in which case the vessel is subject to the pertinent DAS accrual restrictions of paragraph (e)(4)(iii) of this section for the entire trip. For vessels electing to fish in both the Regular B DAS Program, as specified in § 648.85(b)(10), and in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, as specified in§ 648.85(a), DAS counting will begin and end according to the DAS accounting rules specified in § 648.10(b)(2)(iii).
(E) A Day gillnet vessel fishing with gillnet gear that has elected to fish in the Regular B DAS Program, as specified in § 648.85(b)(10), under a Category B DAS, is subject to the DAS accrual provisions of paragraph (e)(5) of this section.
8. In § 648.83, paragraph (a)(1) is suspended and paragraph (a)(3) is revised to read as follows:
(3) Minimum fish sizes for recreational vessels and charter/party vessels that are not fishing under a NE multispecis DAS are specified in § 648.89. Except as provided in § 648.17, all other vessels are subject to the following minimum fish sizes, determined by total length (TL): Minimum Fish Sizes (TL) for Commercial Vessels Back to Top
13 (33.0 cm)
9 (22.9 cm)
9. In § 648.85:
(1) The vessel operator must notify NMFS via VMS any time prior to leaving the dock at the start of the trip or prior to leaving the Eastern U.S./Canada Area (including at the time of initial declaration into the Eastern U.S./Canada Area) that it is also electing to fish outside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area. With the exception of vessels participating in the Regular B DAS Program and fishing under a Regular B DAS, once a vessel that has elected to fish outside of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area leaves the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, Category A DAS shall accrue from the time the vessel crosses the VMS demarcation line at the start of its fishing trip until the time the vessel crosses the demarcation line on its return to port, in accordance with § 648.10(b)(2)(iii).
(3) If the vessel fishes or intends to fish in the Interim Differential DAS Area defined under § 648.82(e)(4)(i), it must declare its intent to fish in the Interim Differential DAS Area prior to leaving the Eastern U.S./Canada Area (including at the time of initial declaration into the Eastern U.S./Canada Area) , and must not have exceeded the CC/GOM or SNE/MA yellowtail flounder trip limits, specified in § 648.86(g), for the respective areas.
(4) If a vessel possesses yellowtail flounder in excess of the trip limits for CC/GOM yellowtail flounder or SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, as specified in§ 648.86(g), the vessel may not fish in either the CC/GOM or SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area during that trip (i.e., may not fish outside of the U.S./Canada Management Area).
(ix) Gear requirements. NE multispecies vessels fishing with trawl gear in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area defined in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, unless otherwise provided in paragraphs (b)(8) and (b)(10) of this section, must fish with a Ruhle trawl, as described in paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(J)(1) of this section, or a haddock separator trawl or a flounder trawl net, as described in paragraphs (a)(3)(ix)(A) and (B) of this section (all three nets may be onboard the fishing vessel simultaneously). Gear other than the Ruhle trawl, haddock separator trawl, or the flounder trawl net as described in paragraph (a)(3)(ix) of this section, or gear authorized under paragraphs (b)(8) and (b)(10) of this section, may be on board the vessel during a trip to the Eastern U.S./Canada Area, provided the gear is stowed according to the regulations at § 648.23(b). The description of the Ruhle trawl, the haddock separator trawl and flounder trawl net in paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(J)(1) of this section and in this paragraph (a)(3)(ix) may be further specified by the Regional Administrator through publication of such specifications in the Federal Register, consistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.
(A) Haddock separator trawl. A haddock separator trawl is defined as a groundfish trawl modified to a vertically oriented trouser trawl configuration, with two extensions arranged one over the other, where a codend shall be attached only to the upper extension, and the bottom extension shall be left open and have no codend attached. A horizontal large-mesh separating panel constructed with a minimum of 6.0- inch (15.2-cm) diamond mesh must be installed between the selvedges joining the upper and lower panels, as described in this paragraph (a)(3)(ix)(A) and in paragraph (B) of this section, extending forward from the front of the trouser junction to the aft edge of the first belly behind the fishing circle.
(1) Two-seam bottom trawl nets.—For two-seam nets, the separator panel will be constructed such that the width of the forward edge of the panel is 80-85 percent of the width of the after edge of the first belly of the net where the panel is attached. For example, if the belly is 200 meshes wide (from selvedge to selvedge), the separator panel must be no wider than 160-170 meshes.
(1) A two-seam, low-rise net constructed with mesh size in compliance with § 648.80(a)(4), where the maximum footrope length is not greater than 105 ft (32.0 m) and the headrope is at least 30-percent longer than the footrope. The footrope and headrope lengths shall be measured from the forward wing end.
(2) A two-seam, low-rise net constructed with mesh size in compliance with § 648.80(a)(4), with the exception that the top panel of the net contains a section of mesh at least 10 ft (3.05 m) long and stretching from selvedge to selvedge, composed of at least 12-inch (30.5-cm) mesh that is inserted no farther than 4.5 meshes behind the headrope.
(J) DAS use restrictions. A vessel fishing in the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP may not initiate a DAS flip. A vessel is prohibited from fishing in the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP while making a trip under the Regular B DAS Program described under paragraph (b)(10) of this section. DAS will be charged as described in § 648.10.
(9) Incidental Catch TACs. Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph (b)(9), Incidental Catch TACs shall be specified through the periodic adjustment process described in § 648.90, and allocated as described in this paragraph (b)(9), for each of the following stocks: GOM cod, GB cod, GB yellowtail flounder, GB winter flounder, GOM winter, white hake, CC/GOM yellowtail flounder, SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, witch flounder, and pollock. NMFS shall sent letters to limited access NE multispecies permit holders notifying them of such TACs.
(iii) Quarterly Incidental Catch TACs. The Incidental Catch TACs specified in accordance with paragraph (b)(9) of this section shall be divided into quarterly catch TACs as follows: The first quarter shall received 13 percent of the Incidental Catch TACs and the remaining three quarters shall each receive 29 percent of the Incidental Catch TACs. When the Regional Administrator projects that there is uncaught TAC in quarters one, two, or three, the uncaught TAC will be added to the TAC allocated for the subsequent quarter. Uncaught TAC at the end of the fishing year will not be added to allocations in subsequent fishing years. NMFS shall send letters to all limited access NE multispecies permit holders notifying them of such TACs and any adjustments to such TACs.
(iv) Program requirements—(A) VMS requirement. A NE multispecies DAS vessel fishing in the Regular B DAS Program described in paragraph (b)(10)(i) of this section must have installed on board an operational VMS unit that meets the minimum performance criteria specified in§§ 648.9 and 648.10.
(D) Landing limits. Unless otherwise specified in this paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(D), a NE multipecies vessel fishing in the Regular B DAS Program described in this paragraph (b)(10), and fishing under a Regular B DAS, may not land more than 100 lb (45.5 kg) per DAS, or any part of a DAS, up to a maximum of 1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip of any of the following species/stocks from the areas specified in paragraph (b)(10)(v) of this section: Cod, pollock, white hake, witch flounder, GB winter flounder, GB yellowtail flounder, and southern windowpane flounder; and may not land more than 25 lb (11.3 kg) per DAS, or any part of a DAS, up to a maximum of 250 lb (113 kg) per trip of CC/GOM or SNE/MA yellowtail flounder. In addition, trawl vessels that are required to fish with a haddock separator trawl or Ruhle trawl, as specified under paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(J) of this section, and other gear that may be required in order to reduce catches of stocks of concern as described under paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(J) of this section, are restricted to the following trip limits: 500 lb (227 kg) of all flatfish species (American plaice, witch flounder, winter flounder (GOM or GB), windowpane flounder (south), and yellowtail flounder), combined; 500 lb (227 kg) of monkfish (whole weight); 500 lb (227 kg) of skates (whole weight); and zero possession of lobsters, ocean pout, SNE/MA winter flounder, and windowpane (north), unless otherwise restricted by § 648.94(b)(3).
(E) No-discard provision and DAS flips. A vessel fishing in the Regular B DAS Program under a Regular B DAS may not discard legal-sized regulated species, Atlantic halibut, or monkfish, unless otherwise specified in this paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(E). This prohibition on discarding does not apply to ocean pout, windowpane (north), or SNE winter flounder, or in areas or times where the possession or landing of regulated species is prohibited. If such a vessel harvests and brings on board legal-sized regulated NE multispecies, or Atlantic halibut (unless exempted above) in excess of the allowable landing limits specified in paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(D) of this section, or § 648.86, the vessel operator must notify NMFS immediately via VMS to initiate a DAS flip from a B DAS to an A DAS. Once this notification has been received by NMFS, the vessel shall automatically be switched by NMFS to fishing under a Category A DAS for its entire fishing trip. Thus, any Category B DAS that accrued between the time the vessel declared into the Regular B DAS Program at the beginning of the trip (i.e., at the time the vessel crossed the demarcation line at the beginning of the trip) and the time the vessel declared its DAS flip shall be accrued as Category A DAS, and not Regular B DAS. After flipping to a Category A DAS, the vessel is subject to the applicable trip limits specified under § 648.86 or paragraph (a) of this section and may discard fish in excess of the applicable trip limits.
(F) Minimum Category A DAS and B DAS accrual. For a vessel fishing under the Regular B DAS Program, the number of Regular B DAS that may be used on a trip cannot exceed the number of Category A DAS that the vessel has at the start of the trip. If a vessel is fishing in the Interim Differential DAS area, as described in § 648.82(e)(4)(i), the number of Regular B DAS that may be used on a trip cannot exceed the number of Category A DAS that the vessel has at the start of the trip divided by 2. For example, if a vessel plans a trip under the Regular B DAS Program into the Interim Differential DAS Area and has 10 Category A DAS available at the start of the trip, the maximum number of Regular B DAS that the vessel may fish under the Regular B DAS Program is 5. A vessel fishing in the Regular B DAS Program for its entire trip shall accrue DAS in accordance with § 648.82(e)(4).
(H) Closure of Regular B DAS Program and quarterly DAS limits. Unless otherwise closed as a result of the harvest of an Incidental Catch TAC as described in paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(G) of this section, or as a result of an action by the Regional Administrator under paragraph (b)(10)(vi) of this section, the use of Regular B DAS shall, in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act, be prohibited when 500 Regular B DAS have been used during the first quarter of the fishing year (May-July), or when 1,000 Regular B DAS have been used during any of the remaining quarters of the fishing year, in accordance with § 648.82(e)(5).
(3) Ruhle Trawl. The Ruhle Trawl is a four-seam bottom groundfish trawl designed to reduce the bycatch of cod while retaining or increasing the catch of haddock, when compared to traditional groundfish trawls. A Ruhle Trawl must be constructed in accordance with the standards described and referenced in this paragraph (b)(10)(iv)(J)(3). The mesh size of a particular section of the Ruhle Trawl is measured in accordance with § 648.80(f)(2), unless insufficient numbers of mesh exist, in which case the maximum total number of meshes in the section will be measured (between 2 and 20 meshes).
(iii) Mesh size in all other sections must be consistent with mesh size requirements specified under § 648.80 and meet the following minimum specifications: Each mesh in the square, square side panels, and second bottom belly must be 31.5 inches (80 cm); each mesh in the first and second top belly, the first belly side panels, and the third bottom belly must be at least 7.9 inches (20 cm); and 6 inches (15.24 cm) or larger in sections following the second top belly and third bottom belly sections, all the way to the codend. The mesh size requirements of the top sections apply to the side panel sections.
(vi) The sweep must include rockhoppers of various sizes, which are arranged along the sweep in size order, graduated from 16-inch (40-cm) diameter in the sweep center down to 12-inch (30-cm) diameter at the wing ends. There must be six or fewer 12- to16-inch (30- to 40-cm) rockhopper discs over any 10-ft (3.0-m) length of the sweep. The 12- to16- inch (30- to 40-cm) discs (minimum size) must be spaced evenly, with one disc placed approximately every 2 ft (60 cm) along the sweep. The 12- to 16-inch (30- to 40-cm) discs must be separated by smaller discs, no larger than 3.5 inches (8.8 cm) in diameter.
(vii) Definition of incidental TAC stock areas. For the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program, including the stocks that may not be retained by vessels as specified under § 648.86, the species stock areas are defined below. Copies of a chart depicting these areas are available from the Regional Administrator upon request.
Gulf of Maine Cod Stock Area Back to Top
(1) Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and 70° 00' W. Long.
(2) Intersection of the south-facing Maine coastline and 67° 00' W. Long.
Georges Bank Cod Stock Area Back to Top
(2) Intersection of the east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and 35° 00' N. Lat.
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area Back to Top
1Intersection with the New Hampshire coastline.
2Intersection of the south-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
3Intersection with the east-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
4Intersection with the west-facing shoreline of Massachusetts
CCGOM1
CCGOM2
CCGOM3
CCGOM4
CCGOM5
CCGOM6
CCGOM7
CCGOM8
CCGOM9
CCGOM10
CCGOM11
35°00')
CCGOM12
CCGOM13
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area Back to Top
(1) South-facing shoreline of Connecticut.
(2) North-facing shoreline of Long Island, New York.
(3) South-facing shoreline of Long Island, New York.
SNEMA1
SNEMA2
SNEMA3
SNEMA4
SNEMA5
SNEMA6
SNEMA7
SNEMA8
SNEMA9
SNEMA10
SNEMA11
SNEMA12
SNEMA13
SNEMA14
SNEMA15
SNEMA16
SNEMA17
(E) SNE/MA winter flounder stock area. The SNE winter flounder stock area, for the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program and the prohibition on retention of winter flounder specified under § 648.86, is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder Stock Area Back to Top
(2) The intersection of the east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and 35° 00' N. Lat.
(F) Windowpane flounder northern stock area. The windowpane flounder northern stock area, for the purposes of prohibition on retention of northern windowpane flounder specified under § 648.86, is the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
Windowpane Flounder Northern Stock Area: Back to Top
(1) South-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA.
(2) Intersection of 39° 00' N. Lat. and the boundary of the EEZ.
(viii) Closure and in-season modification to the Regular B DAS Program. The Regional Administrator, based upon information required under §§ 648.7, 648.9, 648.10, or this paragraph 648.85, and any other relevant information, may, in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act, may prohibit the use of Regular B DAS, modify possession restrictions, or implement other measures, including a partial closure for the Regular B DAS Program, for the duration of a quarter or fishing year, if it is projected that continuation of the Regular B DAS Program would undermine the achievement of the objectives of the FMP or Regular B DAS Program. Reasons for modification or termination of the program include, but are not limited to, the following: Inability to constrain catches to the Incidental Catch TACs; evidence of excessive discarding; a significant difference in flipping rates between observed and unobserved trips; or insufficient observer coverage to adequately monitor the program.
10. In § 648.86, paragraphs (b), (e), and (j) are suspended, and paragraphs (l), (m), and (n) are added to read as follows:
(l) Cod—(1) GOM cod landing limit. (i) Except as provided in paragraphs (l)(1)(ii) and (l)(4) of this section, or unless otherwise restricted under § 648.85, a vessel fishing under a NE multispecies DAS may land only up to 800 lb (362.9 kg) of cod during the first 24-hr period after the vessel has started a trip on which cod were landed (e.g., a vessel that starts a trip at 6 a.m. may call out of the DAS program at 11 a.m. and land up to 800 lb (362.9 kg), but the vessel cannot land any more cod on a subsequent trip until at least 6 a.m. on the following day). For each trip longer than 24 hr, a vessel may land up to an additional 800 lb (362.9 kg) for each additional 24-hr block of DAS fished, or part of an additional 24-hr block of DAS fished, up to a maximum of 4,000 lb (1,814.4 kg) per trip (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for more than 24 hr, but less than 48 hr, may land up to, but no more than, 1,600 lb (725.7 kg) of cod). A vessel that has been called into only part of an additional 24-hr block of a DAS (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for more than 24 hr, but less than 48 hr) may land up to an additional 800 lb (362.9 kg) of cod for that trip, provided the vessel complies with the provisions of paragraph (l)(1)(ii) of this section. Cod on board a vessel subject to this landing limit must be separated from other species of fish and stored so as to be readily available for inspection.
(ii) A vessel that has been called into or declared into only part of an additional 24-hr block may come into port with and offload cod up to an additional 800 lb (362.9 kg), provided that the vessel operator, with the exception of vessels fishing in the Interim Differential DAS Area under the restrictions of § 648.82(e)(4)(i), complies with the following:
(A) For a vessel that is subject to the VMS provisions specified under § 648.10(b), the vessel declares through VMS that insufficient DAS have elapsed in order to account for the amount of cod onboard and, after returning to port, does not depart from a dock or mooring in port, unless transiting as allowed under paragraph (l)(3) of this section, until the rest of the additional 24-hr block of the DAS has elapsed, regardless of whether all of the cod on board is offloaded (e.g., a vessel that has been in the DAS program for 25 hr prior to crossing the VMS demarcation line on the return to port may land only up to 1,600 lb (725.7 kg) of cod, provided the vessel does not declare another trip or leave port until 48 hr have elapsed from the beginning of the trip).
(B) For a vessel that has been authorized by the Regional Administrator to utilize the DAS call-in system, as specified under § 648.10(c), in lieu of VMS, the vessel does not call out of the DAS program as described under § 648.10(c)(3) and does not depart from a dock or mooring in port, unless transiting as allowed in paragraph (l)(3) of this section, until the rest of the additional 24-hr block of DAS has elapsed, regardless of whether all of the cod on board is offloaded (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for 25 hr at the time of landing may land only up to 1,600 lb (725.6 kg) of cod, provided the vessel does not call out of the DAS program or leave port until 48 hr have elapsed from the beginning of the trip).
(2) GB cod landing and maximum possession limits. (i) Unless otherwise restricted under § 648.85 or the provisions of paragraph (l)(2)(ii) of this section, or unless exempt from the landing limit under paragraph (l)(1) of this section as authorized under the Sector provisions of § 648.87, a NE multispecies DAS vessel may land up to 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of cod per DAS, or part of a DAS, provided it complies with the requirements specified at paragraph (l)(4) of this section and this paragraph (l)(2). A NE multispecies DAS vessel may land up to 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of cod during the first 24-hr period after such vessel has started a trip on which cod were landed (e.g., a vessel that starts a trip at 6 a.m. may call out of the DAS program at 11 a.m. and land up to 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of cod, but the vessel cannot land any more cod on a subsequent trip until at least 6 a.m. on the following day). For each trip longer than 24 hr, a vessel may land up to an additional 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of cod for each additional 24-hr block of DAS fished, or part of an additional 24-hr block of DAS fished, up to a maximum of 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) of cod per trip (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for more than 24 hr, but less than 48 hr, may land up to, but no more than, 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of cod). A vessel that has been called into only part of an additional 24-hr block of a DAS (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for more than 24 hr, but less than 48 hr) may land up to an additional 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of cod for that trip, provided the vessel complies with the provisions of paragraph (l)(2)(ii) of this section. Cod on board a vessel subject to this landing limit must be separated from other species of fish and stored so as to be readily available for inspection.
(ii) A vessel that has been called into or declared into only part of an additional 24-hr block may come into port with and offload cod up to an additional 1,000 lb (453.6 kg), provided that the vessel operator, with the exception of vessels fishing in the Interim Differential DAS Area under the restrictions of § 648.82(e)(4)(i), complies with the following:
(A) For a vessel that has been authorized by the Regional Administrator to utilize the DAS call-in system as specified under § 648.10(c), in lieu of VMS, the vessel does not call out of the DAS program as described under § 648.10(c)(3) and does not depart from a dock or mooring in port, unless transiting, as allowed in paragraph (l)(3) of this section, until the rest of the additional 24-hr block of DAS has elapsed, regardless of whether all of the cod on board is offloaded (e.g., a vessel that has been called into the DAS program for 25 hr at the time of landing may land only up to 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of cod, provided the vessel does not call out of the DAS program or leave port until 48 hr have elapsed from the beginning of the trip.)
(B) For a vessel that is subject to the VMS provisions specified under § 648.10(b), the vessel declares through VMS that insufficient DAS have elapsed in order to account for the amount of cod onboard, and after returning to port does not depart from a dock or mooring in port, unless transiting, as allowed under paragraph (l)(3) of this section, until the rest of the additional 24-hr block of the DAS has elapsed, regardless of whether all of the cod on board is offloaded (e.g., a vessel that has been in the DAS program for 25 hr prior to crossing the VMS demarcation line on the return to port may land only up to 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of cod, provided the vessel does not declare another trip or leave port until 48 hr have elapsed from the beginning of the trip.)
(3) Transiting. A vessel that has exceeded the cod landing limit as specified in paragraphs (l)(1) and (2) of this section, and that is, therefore, subject to the requirement to remain in port for the period of time described in paragraphs (l)(1)(ii)(A) and (l)(2)(ii)(A) of this section, may transit to another port during this time, provided that the vessel operator notifies the Regional Administrator, either at the time the vessel reports its hailed weight of cod, or at a later time prior to transiting, and provides the following information: Vessel name and permit number, destination port, time of departure, and estimated time of arrival. A vessel transiting under this provision must stow its gear in accordance with one of the methods specified in § 648.23(b) and may not have any fish on board the vessel.
(4) Exemption. A vessel fishing under a NE multispecies DAS is exempt from the landing limit described in paragraph (l)(1) of this section when fishing south of the Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area, defined in § 648.80(a)(1), provided that it complies with the requirement of this paragraph (l)(4).
(i) Declaration. With the exception of vessels declared into the U.S./Canada Management Area, as described under § 648.85(a)(3)(ii), a NE multispecies DAS vessel that fishes or intends to fish south of the line described in this paragraph (l)(4), under the cod trip limits described under paragraph (l)(2) of this section, must, prior to leaving the dock, declare its intention to do so through the VMS, in accordance with instructions to be provided by the Regional Administrator. In lieu of a VMS declaration, the Regional Administrator may authorize such vessels to obtain a letter of authorization. If a letter of authorization is required, such vessel may not fish north of the exemption area for a minimum of 7 consecutive days (when fishing under the NE multispecies DAS program), and must carry the authorization letter on board.
(ii) A vessel exempt from the GOM cod landing limit may not fish north of the line specified in this paragraph (l)(4) for the duration of the trip, but may transit the GOM Regulated Mesh Area, provided that its gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of § 648.23(b). A vessel fishing north and south of the line on the same trip is subject to the most restrictive applicable cod trip limit.
(n) Zero retention stocks—(1) SNE winter flounder. Private recreational vessels fishing in the EEZ, and vessels issued a NE multispecies permit, may not fish for, possess, or land winter flounder caught in the SNE/MA winter flounder stock area, defined in § 648.85(b)(10)(v)(E). Vessels may transit this area with GOM or GB winter flounder on board the vessel, provided that gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of § 648.23(b). Vessels fishing for winter flounder in multiple stock areas would be subject to the most restrictive possession limit.
(2) Northern windowpane flounder. Vessels issued a NE multispecies permit may not fish for, possess, or land windowpane flounder caught in the northern windowpane flounder stock area, defined in § 648.85(b)(10)(v)(F). Vessels may transit this area with southern windowpane flounder on board, provided that gear is stowed in accordance with the provisions of § 648.23(b) or § 648.89(f), as appropriate. Vessels fishing for windowpane flounder in multiple stock areas would be subject to the most restrictive possession limit.
11. In § 648.89, paragraphs (b)(1), (c)(1)(v), and (c)(2) are suspended, and paragraphs (b)(5), (c)(1)(vi), (c)(5), and (f) are added to read as follows:
Minimum Fish Sizes (TL) for Charter, Party, and Private Recreational Vessels Back to Top
22in (58.4 cm)
18in (45.7 cm)
19in (48.3 cm)
13in (33.0 cm)
36in (91.4 cm)
9in (22.9 cm)
(vi) Seasonal GOM cod possession prohibition. Persons aboard private recreational fishing vessels fishing in the GOM Regulated Mesh Area specified under § 648.80(a)(1) may not fish for, possess, or land any cod from November 1 through April 15. Private recreational vessels in possession of cod caught outside the GOM Regulated Mesh Area may transit this area, provided all bait and hooks are removed from fishing rods and any cod on board has been gutted and stored.
(5) Charter/party vessels. Charter/party vessels fishing any part of a trip in the GOM Regulated Mesh Area, as defined in § 648.80(a)(1), are subject to the following possession limit restrictions:
(v) Seasonal GOM cod possession prohibition. Persons aboard charter/party fishing vessels fishing in the GOM Regulated Mesh Area specified under § 648.80(a)(1) may not fish for or possess any cod from November 1 through April 15. Charter/party vessels in possession of cod caught outside the GOM Regulated Mesh Area may transit this area, provided all bait and hooks are removed from fishing rods and any cod on board has been gutted and stored.
(f) SNE/MA winter flounder retention prohibition. Private recreational and charter/party vessels fishing in the SNE/MA winter flounder stock area as defined in § 648.85(b)(10)(v)(E), may not fish for, posses, or land winter flounder. Recreational vessels in possession of winter flounder caught outside of the SNE/MA winter flounder may transit this area, provided all bait and hooks are removed from fishing rods and any winter flounder on board has been stored.