Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/04/12/2012-8770/taking-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-commercial-fishing-operations-bottlenose-dolphin-take
Timestamp: 2016-12-03 10:07:20
Document Index: 724345341

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009229', '§\u2009229', '§\u2009600', '§\u2009622', '§\u2009600', '§\u2009622']

:: Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan
21946-21955
2012-8770
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-8770
Annually, NMFS reviews the Federal FMP and ASMFC reviews the Interstate FMP, based on the most recent estimate of spiny dogfish fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass. The 2006 estimate of fishing mortality for spiny dogfish indicated the population was not overfished and overfishing was not occurring (NMFS 2006). In 2010, the spiny dogfish stock was declared rebuilt based on 2009 spawning stock biomass estimates exceeding biomass targets since 2008 (75 FR 36012, June 24, 2010; Rago and Sosebee 2010). Both state and Federal annual commercial coastwide quotas and possession limits have increased in accordance with changes in the spiny dogfish stock status (see Table 1). Table 1—State and Federal FMP Quotas and Possession Limits Since 2006Fishing yearState (ASFMC)Federal (NMFS)Coastwide quota (million pounds)Possession limit (pounds)Coastwide quota (million pounds)Possession limit (pounds)2006/20076States determine46002007/200863,00046002008/200983,00046002009/2010123,000123,0002010/2011153,000153,0002011/2012203,000203,000
Figure 1. Spiny Dogfish Landings in North Carolina From 1996 Through 2010 (NMFS, Fisheries Statistic Division, pers. comm. and ASMFC 2011a) Because the semi-annual quota was not maintaining the historical distribution of landings or allowing for consistent quota allocation for southern states, ASMFC approved Addendum II and III to the Interstate FMP in October 2008 and April 2011, respectively. Addendum II was issued retroactively for the 2008/2009 fishing year, establishing regional quotas replacing the overall seasonal allocation. The quota was redistributed at 58% for the Northern Region (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut); 26% for the Southern Region (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia); and 16% for North Carolina. If the quota was exceeded in a region or North Carolina, the amount exceeding the allocation was deducted from the corresponding region or North Carolina for the next fishing season. North Carolina was specifically allocated a percentage of the quota to ensure available quota when the fish arrive in North Carolina waters (ASMFC 2008). Following Addendum II, average landings for spiny dogfish in North Carolina from 2009-2010 increased to 1,562,400 pounds (NMFS, Fisheries Statistic Division, pers. comm. and ASMFC 2011a).
Since finalizing and implementing the BDTRP in May 2006, two errors in the BDTRP implementing regulations were identified. This proposed rule corrects the two errors as follows: (1) The current boundary for Southern North Carolina State Waters and South Carolina in 50 CFR 229.35(b) uses North Carolina/South Carolina at the coast (33°52′ N.) for the southern part of the boundary. Similarly, the definition for South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida waters use the same latitude for the northern part of the boundary. The latitude 33°52′ N., however, does not accurately reflect the actual border. This proposed rule modifies the coordinate to accurately reflect the North Carolina/South Carolina border at the coast. The border for North Carolina/South Carolina would be defined as the latitude corresponding with 33°51′07.9″ N. at the coast as described by “Off South Carolina” in 50 CFR 622.2 of this title (Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic—Definitions and Acronyms); and (2) In the regulatory text implementing the BDTRP, both 50 CFR 229.35(d)(1)(i) and 229.35(d)(2)(i) describe regional management measures for New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia state waters specific to medium and large mesh gillnet gear. In specifying the regulated gear type, the word “gillnet” was not included in the titled description of the management measures, reading “Medium and large mesh”. It is clear in the regulatory text these regulations are for both medium and large mesh gillnet gear. Therefore, this proposed rule corrects this omission in the two title descriptions by adding the word “gillnet”, so the title would read “Medium and large mesh gillnets” for gear regulated under § 229.35(d)(1)(i) and 229.35(d)(2)(i).
Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
2. In § 229.35 paragraph (a), the definitions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida waters and Southern North Carolina State waters in paragraph (b), and paragraphs (d)(1)(i), (d)(2)(i), (d)(4)(ii), and (d)(5)(i) are revised to read as follows:
(a) Purpose and scope. The purpose of this section is to implement the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP) to reduce incidental mortality and serious injury of stocks of bottlenose dolphins within the Western North Atlantic coastal morphotype in specific Category I and II commercial fisheries from New Jersey through Florida. Specific Category I and II commercial fisheries within the scope of the BDTRP are indentified and updated in the annual List of Fisheries. Gear restricted by this section includes small, medium, and large mesh gillnets. The geographic scope of the BDTRP is all tidal and marine waters within 6.5 nautical miles (12 km) of shore from the New York-New Jersey border southward to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and within 14.6 nautical miles (27 km) of shore from Cape Hatteras, southward to, and including the east coast of Florida down to the fishery management council demarcation line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (as described in § 600.105 of this chapter).
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida waters means the area consisting of all marine and tidal waters, within 14.6 nautical miles (27 km) of shore, between 33°51′07.9″ N. (North Carolina/South Carolina border at the coast and as described by “Off South Carolina” in § 622.2 of this title) and the fishery management council demarcation line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (as described in § 600.105 of this chapter).
Southern North Carolina State waters means the area consisting of all marine and tidal waters, within 3 nautical miles (5.56 km) of shore, bounded on the north by 34°35.4′ N. (Cape Lookout, North Carolina) and on the south by 33°51′07.9″ N. (North Carolina/South Carolina border at the coast and as described by “Off South Carolina” in § 622.2 of this title).