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Timestamp: 2019-12-11 19:37:19
Document Index: 283881100

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 622', '§ 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', 'art 622', 'art 622', 'ART 622', 'art 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', 'art 648', '§ 648']

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 37, 27084-27088 [2013-11072] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 37, 27084-27088 [2013-11072]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 37, 27084-27088 [2013-11072]
Download as PDF tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES 27084 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations (4) Include evidence that the museum receives Federal funds. * * * * * (i) * * * (3) File a petition for relief. You may file a petition for relief within 45 calendar days of receiving the notice of assessment. A petition for relief is to be sent to the NAGPRA Civil Penalties Coordinator, National NAGPRA Program, at the mailing address listed on the National NAGRPA Contact Information Web site, http:// www.nps.gov/nagpra/CONTACTS/ INDEX.HTM. Your petition may ask the Secretary not to assess a penalty or to reduce the penalty amount. Your petition must: (i) Be in writing and signed by an official authorized to sign such documents; and (ii) Fully explain the legal or factual basis for the requested relief. * * * * * (j) How you request a hearing. You may file a written, dated request for a hearing on a notice of failure to comply or notice of assessment with the Departmental Cases Hearings Division, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 405 South Main Street, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. You must also serve a copy of the request on the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior personally or by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) at the address specified in the notice. (1) Your request for a hearing must: (i) Include a copy of the notice of failure to comply or the notice of assessment; (ii) State the relief sought; (iii) State the basis for challenging the facts used as the basis for determining the failure to comply or fixing the assessment; and (iv) State your preferred place and date for a hearing. * * * * * (6) Hearing Administration. Hearings must take place following the procedures in 43 CFR Part 4, Subparts A and B. (i) The administrative law judge has all powers accorded by law and necessary to preside over the parties and the proceedings and to make decisions under 5 U.S.C. 554–557. * * * * * (k) * * * (1) Either you or the Secretary may appeal the decision of an administrative law judge by filing a Notice of Appeal. Send your Notice of Appeal to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 800 North VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 May 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, within 30 calendar days of the date of the administrative law judge’s decision. The notice must be accompanied by proof of service on the administrative law judge and the opposing party. * * * * * (3) You may obtain copies of decisions in civil penalty proceedings instituted under the Act by sending a request to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 800 North Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203. Fees for this service are established by the director of that office. * * * * * DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 10. Amend § 10.13 by revising paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows: SUMMARY: ■ § 10.13 Future applicability. * * * * * (c) * * * (2) The list of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs is published in the Federal Register as required by section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a1 (2006)). * * * * * ■ 11. In § 10.15, revise paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows: § 10.15 Limitations and remedies. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) A person’s administrative remedies are exhausted only when the person has filed a written claim with the responsible Federal agency and the claim has been duly denied under this part. This paragraph applies to both: (i) Human remains, associated funerary objects, unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony subject to Subpart B of this part; and (ii) Federal collections subject to Subpart C of this part. * * * * * Appendices A and B to Part 10 [Removed] 12. Remove Appendices A and B to Part 10. ■ Dated: May 1, 2013. Rachel Jacobson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 2013–10966 Filed 5–8–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–EJ–P PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 121004518–3398–01] RIN 0648–BC66 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 37 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: NMFS issues this final rule to implement management measures for gray triggerfish described in Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule revises the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) and annual catch targets (ACTs) for gray triggerfish; revises the recreational accountability measures (AMs) for gray triggerfish; revises the gray triggerfish recreational bag limit; establishes a commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish; and establishes a fixed closed season for the gray triggerfish commercial and recreational sectors. Additionally, Amendment 37 modifies the gray triggerfish rebuilding plan. The purpose of Amendment 37 and this final rule is to end overfishing of gray triggerfish and help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the gray triggerfish resource in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). DATES: This rule is effective June 10, 2013 except for the amendments to §§ 622.39(a)(1)(vi) and 622.41(b) which are effective May 9, 2013. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 37, which includes an environmental assessment, a regulatory flexibility act analysis (RFAA), and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office Web site at http:// sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/ GrouperSnapperandReefFish.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, telephone 727–824–5305, email rich.malinowski@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf is managed E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and is implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Act. All gray triggerfish weights discussed in this rule are in round weight. On January 25, 2013, NMFS published a notice of availability for Amendment 37 and requested public comment (78 FR 5404). On February 13, 2013, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 37 and requested public comment (78 FR 10122). The proposed rule and Amendment 37 outline the rationale for the actions contained in this final rule. A summary of the actions implemented by this final rule is provided below. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Management Measures Contained in This Final Rule ACLs and ACTs This rule revises the ACLs for the gray triggerfish commercial and recreational sectors. This rule also revises the ACTs for both sectors. The commercial ACT is expressed as a quota in the regulatory text. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommended that the gray triggerfish acceptable biological catch (ABC) be reduced to 305,300 lb (138,346 kg) from the current gray triggerfish ABC of 595,000 lb (269,887 kg). In Amendment 30A to the FMP, the Council established a 21 percent commercial and 79 percent recreational allocation of the gray triggerfish ABC (73 FR 38139, July 3, 2008), and set the ABC equal to the ACL. Applying those sector allocations to the revised ACL of 305,300 lb (138,346 kg) results in a reduced commercial ACL of 64,100 lb (29,075 kg), and a reduced recreational ACL of 241,200 lb (109,406 kg). The Generic Annual Catch Limit Amendment developed by the Council and implemented by NMFS (76 FR 82044, December 29, 2011) established a standardized procedure to set sectorspecific ACTs based on the ACLs. This procedure evaluates components that were selected to represent proxies for various sources of management uncertainty and uses a formula to determine the appropriate buffer between the ACL and ACT. The Council used this procedure for Amendment 37, which resulted in a 5 percent buffer between the commercial ACL and ACT, and a 10 percent buffer between the recreational ACL and ACT. Therefore, this final rule sets the commercial ACT (commercial quota) at 60,900 lb (27,624 kg), and the recreational ACT at 217,100 lb (98,475 kg). The ACLs and ACTs in VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 May 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 this rule are the same as those implemented through the temporary rule for gray triggerfish (77 FR 28308, May 14, 2012, and extended in 77 FR 67303, November 9, 2012), which remains in effect until the effective date of this final rule because this final rule replaces the measures implemented in the temporary rule. AMs For the commercial sector, the FMP contains both in-season and post-season AMs. The in-season AM closes the commercial sector when the commercial ACT (commercial quota) is reached or projected to be reached. Additionally, if the commercial ACL is exceeded despite the quota closure, the post-season AM reduces the following year’s commercial ACT (commercial quota) by the amount of the prior-year’s commercial ACL overage. Prior to the promulgation of the temporary rule, the FMP contained no in-season AM for the recreational sector, but only a post-season AM. The recreational post-season AM provides that if the recreational ACL is exceeded, NMFS will reduce the length of the following year’s fishing season by the amount necessary to ensure that recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACT during the following year. The temporary rule established an in-season AM for the recreational sector to prohibit the recreational harvest of gray triggerfish (a recreational sector closure) after the recreational ACT is reached or projected to be reached. Consistent with the temporary rule, this final rule replaces the current postseason AM with an in-season AM for the recreational sector, and will close that sector when its ACT is reached or projected to be reached. This rule also adds a post-season AM in the form of an overage adjustment that would apply if the recreational ACL is exceeded and gray triggerfish are overfished. This post-season AM would reduce the recreational ACL and ACT for the following year by the amount of the ACL overage in the prior fishing year, unless the best scientific information available determines that a greater, lesser, or no overage adjustment is necessary. Commercial Trip Limit There is currently no trip limit for the commercial sector. This rule establishes a commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish of 12 fish. The trip limit applies until the commercial ACT (commercial quota) is reached or projected to be reached during a fishing year and the commercial sector is closed. PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 27085 Seasonal Closure of the Commercial and Recreational Sectors This final rule establishes a seasonal closure of the gray triggerfish commercial and recreational sectors in the Gulf from June through July, each year. This fixed seasonal closure assists the rebuilding of the gray triggerfish stock by prohibiting harvest during the gray triggerfish peak spawning season. Additionally, June and July are the months that have the highest percentage of recreational landings. Recreational Bag Limit Gray triggerfish currently have a recreational bag limit that is part of the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag limit. However, the aggregate recreational bag limit has no specific limit for recreational gray triggerfish landings, meaning all 20 fish harvested under the bag limit could be gray triggerfish. This final rule establishes a 2-fish gray triggerfish recreational bag limit within the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag limit. This bag limit would apply until the recreational ACT is reached or projected to be reached during a fishing year and the recreational sector is closed. Other Action Contained in Amendment 37 Amendment 37 revises the rebuilding plan for gray triggerfish by modifying the mortality rate and resulting time period to rebuild the gray triggerfish stock. The gray triggerfish stock is currently in the 5th year of a rebuilding plan that began in 2008. Amendment 37 modifies the rebuilding plan in response to the results from the 2011 Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment and the subsequent review and recommendations by the SSC for the gray triggerfish ABC. The modified rebuilding plan is based on a constant fishing mortality rate that does not exceed the fishing mortality rate at OY and will rebuild the stock by the end of 2017. Comments and Responses NMFS received nine comment letters from individuals, two submissions from non-governmental organizations, and two submissions from Federal agencies on Amendment 37 and the proposed rule. The Federal agencies indicated they had no objection to Amendment 37 or the proposed rule. Specific comments related to the actions contained in Amendment 37 and the proposed rule are summarized and responded to below. Comment 1: The proposed combination of commercial management measures in Amendment 37 (June through July seasonal closure E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES 27086 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations and a 12-fish commercial trip limit), are not projected to constrain harvest below the commercial ACT and ACL, meaning an in-season closure will likely be necessary. A far more effective approach would be a combination of options that result in projected landings that stay below the ACT and certainly below the ACL. This would result in more predictability for commercial fishermen and reduce the risk of exceeding the ACL and compromising the rebuilding schedule. Response: NMFS has determined that the full combination of management measures selected by the Council adequately reduces the risk of exceeding the ACL and will ensure that the rebuilding plans remains on schedule. Although the seasonal closure and trip limit, standing alone, are not projected to constrain harvest below the commercial ACT and ACL, there is an in-season AM that closes the commercial sector when it reaches or is projected to reach the ACT and there is a 5 percent buffer between the commercial ACL and ACT. This buffer addresses the uncertainty in projecting when the ACT will be reached and reduces the risk of exceeding the commercial ACL. NMFS also determined that the Council sufficiently considered the predictability for commercial fishermen in selecting seasonal closure and trip limit. The Council reviewed 16 combinations of trips limits and seasonal closures and determined that the preferred alternatives best addressed the needs of fishermen while ensuring that the grey trigger stock continues to rebuild as scheduled. Although the projections indicate that an in-season closure will be necessary, this closure would occur in the fall, which is near the end of the fishing year. Comment 2: The proposed recreational management measures in Amendment 37 (June through July seasonal closure and a 2-fish bag limit) result in projected recreational landings that remain below the recreational ACT, which is highly desirable because inseason recreational landings data are not as timely and accurate as commercial data, making in-season closures a less effective management tool for the recreational sector than for the commercial sector. However, a concern remains because the underlying analysis is based on an assumption that fishermen comply with the 14-inch (35.6-cm), fork length (FL), minimum size limit. In 2011, the SEDAR 9 update assessment analysis indicated that a significant portion of recreational landings were smaller than the 14-inch (35.6-cm), FL, minimum size limit over VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 May 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 the last 3 years. Non-compliance with the minimum size limit may cause the actual reduction in landings to be less than the SEDAR model predictions, resulting in recreational landings that may exceed the ACT and ACL. The Council and NMFS should conduct outreach and education to improve compliance with the minimum size limit. However, in the meantime, NMFS and the Council should consider the proportion of undersized fish landed to avoid exceeding the gray triggerfish ACL. Response: NMFS recognizes that prior analysis indicated that fishers are landing gray triggerfish that are smaller than the 14-inch (35.6-cm) minimum size limit and that this may cause the actual reduction in landings to be less than the SEDAR model predictions. However, in addition to the seasonal closure and bag limit, this rule will modify the recreational AMs to allow for an in-season closure if necessary. Inseason recreational landings are monitored through the Marine Recreational Information Program, which incorporates information on all sizes of fish landed. Further, the closure authority is based on the recreational ACT and there is a 10 percent buffer between the ACL and ACT. This buffer addresses uncertainty in the recreational landings data that may make it more difficult to accurately project when the recreational ACT will be met and helps ensure that the recreational ACL will not be exceeded. With regard to outreach and education to improve compliance with the minimum size limit, that confusion may exist among Gulf fishers measuring gray triggerfish because of inconsistences between state and Federal size limits. In August of 2012, NMFS and the Council developed a guidance document to provide further clarification in identifying and measuring gray triggerfish. The document was sent to all Gulf States and is also listed on the Southeast Regional Office Web site at: http:// sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/ sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/ reef_fish/2013/am37/documents/pdfs/ gray_triggerfish_outreach.pdf. The document includes the proper method of identifying and measuring gray triggerfish, and explains why compliance with the size limits is important. Comment 3: Because of the urgent need to reduce gray triggerfish catch levels in order to get the rebuilding plan on track, NMFS should approve and implement Amendment 37. However, NMFS should also immediately instruct the Council that some level of discard PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 mortality should be factored into both the catch setting and catch monitoring process for gray triggerfish. Response: NMFS disagrees that the Council needs to factor in some level of discard mortality in the catch setting and catch monitoring process for gray triggerfish. The NMFS decision tool included a discard mortality of zero percent for Amendment 37 because, unlike many other reef fish species the Council manages, gray triggerfish are considered less susceptible to discard mortality. Previous assessments of gray triggerfish, including SEDAR 9, determined that the discard mortality rate was minimal (one to two percent) and that using this rate made little difference in the model outputs. Thus, these assessments used a zero-percent discard mortality rate when calculating stock status. For consistency, the SSC also modeled discard mortality at zero percent. However, to account for scientific uncertainty in the model, the SSC determined that a buffer should be included when setting gray triggerfish catch limits and thus, set the ABC at 305,300 lb (269,887 kg), which is 25 percent below the overfishing limit of 401,600 lb (182,163 kg) recommended by the SEDAR 9 update assessment. Changes from the Proposed Rule On April 17, 2013, NMFS published in the Federal Register an interim final rule to reorganize the regulations in 50 CFR part 622 for the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and the Caribbean (78 FR 22950). That interim final rule did not create any new rights or obligations; it reorganized the existing regulatory requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations into a new format. This final rule incorporates this new format into the regulatory text; it does not change the specific regulatory requirements that were contained in the proposed rule. Therefore, as a result of this reorganization, the gray triggerfish commercial quota regulatory text previously located at § 622.42(a)(1)(vi) is now at § 622.39(a)(1)(vi), the seasonal closure text located at § 622.34(w) is now at § 622.34(f), the commercial trip limit text located at § 622.44(g) is now at § 622.43(b), the recreational bag limit text located at § 622.39(b)(1)(v) is now at § 622.38(b)(5), and the ACL/ACT/AM text located at § 622.49(a)(2) is now at § 622.41(b). Classification The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS has determined that this final rule is necessary for the conservation and management of the species within Amendment 37 and is consistent with E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration during the proposed rule stage that this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for this determination was published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received regarding the certification and NMFS has not received any new information that would affect its determination. As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared. The AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness for the revised commercial and recreational ACLs and ACTs and the recreational sector AMs for gray triggerfish contained in this final rule at §§ 622.39(a)(1)(vi) and 622.41(b). The rest of the management measures contained in this final rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Allowing for a 30-day delay in effectiveness of the gray triggerfish ACLs, ACTs, and recreational sector AMs would be contrary to the public interest because delaying their implementation would likely allow overfishing of gray triggerfish, resulting in more severe reductions in gray triggerfish catch levels in the future, which could have higher socioeconomic impacts on gulf reef fish fishers. A temporary rule published on May 14, 2012 (77 FR 28308) and extended on November 9, 2012 (77 FR 67303) implemented these same reduced ACLs and ACTs, and similar recreational AMs in order to end overfishing of gray triggerfish and rebuild the stock, and this final rule replaces those interim measures currently in effect. Any delay in implementing these reduced catch limits would undermine the intent of this rule, Amendment 37, and the interim measures currently in effect. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622 Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Virgin Islands. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 May 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 Dated: May 3, 2013. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended as follows: PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC 1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. In § 622.34, paragraph (f) is added to read as follows: ■ § 622.34 Seasonal and area closures designed to protect Gulf reef fish. * * * * * (f) Seasonal closure of the commercial and recreational sectors for gray triggerfish. The commercial and recreational sectors for gray triggerfish in or from the Gulf EEZ are closed from June 1 through July 31, each year. During the closure, all harvest or possession in or from the Gulf EEZ of gray triggerfish is prohibited and the sale and purchase of gray triggerfish taken from the Gulf EEZ is prohibited. ■ 3. In § 622.38, paragraph (b)(5) is revised to read as follows: § 622.38 Bag and possession limits. * * * * * (b) * * * (5) Gulf reef fish, combined, excluding those specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(4) and paragraphs (b)(6) through (b)(7) of this section—20. In addition, within the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag limit, no more than two fish may be gray triggerfish. * * * * * ■ 4. In § 622.39, paragraph (a)(1)(vi) is revised to read as follows: § 622.39 Quotas. * * * * * (a) * * * (1) * * * (vi) Gray triggerfish—60,900 lb (27,624 kg), round weight. * * * * * ■ 5. In § 622.41, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows: § 622.41 Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs). * * * * * (b) Gray triggerfish—(1) Commercial sector. If commercial landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 27087 projected to reach the commercial ACT (commercial quota) specified in § 622.39(a)(1)(vi), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for the remainder of the fishing year. In addition, if despite such closure, commercial landings exceed the commercial ACL, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the commercial ACL and ACT (commercial quota) for that following year by the amount the prior-year ACL was exceeded. The commercial ACL is 64,100 lb (29,075 kg), round weight. (2) Recreational sector. (i) Without regard to overfished status, if gray triggerfish recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the applicable ACT specified in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, to close the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, the bag and possession limit of gray triggerfish in or from the Gulf EEZ is zero. This bag and possession limit applies in the Gulf on board a vessel for which a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e. in state or Federal waters. (ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) of this section, if gray triggerfish recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the applicable ACL specified in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, and gray triggerfish are overfished, based on the most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register, at or near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the ACL and the ACT for that following year by the amount of the ACL overage in the prior fishing year, unless the best scientific information available determines that a greater, lesser, or no overage adjustment is necessary. (iii) The recreational ACL for gray triggerfish is 241,200 lb (109,406 kg), round weight. The recreational ACT for gray triggerfish is 217,100 lb (98,475 kg), round weight. Recreational landings will be evaluated relative to the ACL based on a moving multi-year average of landings, as described in the FMP. * * * * * 6. In § 622.43, paragraph (b) is added to read as follows: ■ E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1 27088 § 622.43 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 90 / Thursday, May 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations Commercial trip limits. * * * * * (b) Gray triggerfish. Until the commercial ACT (commercial quota) specified in § 622.39(a)(1)(vi) is reached—12 fish. See § 622.39(b) for the limitations regarding gray triggerfish after the commercial ACT (commercial quota) is reached. [FR Doc. 2013–11072 Filed 5–8–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 121129661–3389–02] RIN 0648–BC81 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 24 and Framework Adjustment 49 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This action approves and implements Framework Adjustment 24 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Framework 24) and Framework Adjustment 49 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Framework 49), which the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. Framework 24 sets specifications for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery for the 2013 fishing year, including days-at-sea allocations, individual fishing quotas, and sea scallop access area trip allocations. This action also sets default fishing year 2014 specifications, in case the New England Fishery Management Council delays the development of the next framework, resulting in implementation after the March 1, 2014, start of the 2014 fishing year, and transitional measures are needed. In addition, Framework 24 adjusts the Georges Bank scallop access area seasonal closure schedules, and because that changes exemptions to areas closed to fishing specified in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, Framework 24 must be a joint action with that plan (Framework 49). Framework 24 also continues the closures of the Delmarva and Elephant Trunk scallop access areas, refines the tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 May 08, 2013 Jkt 229001 management of yellowtail flounder accountability measures in the scallop fishery, makes adjustments to the industry-funded observer program, and provides more flexibility in the management of the individual fishing quota program. DATES: Effective May 20, 2013, except for the amendment to § 648.58(b), which is effective May 9, 2013. ADDRESSES: The New England Fishery Management Council developed an environmental assessment (EA) for this action that describes the action and other considered alternatives, and provides a thorough analysis of the impacts of these final measures and alternatives. Copies of the Joint Frameworks, the EA, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are available upon request from Thomas Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. The EA/IRFA is also accessible via the Internet at http://www.nefmc.org/ scallops/index.html. Copies of the small entity compliance guide are available from John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930– 2298, or available on the Internet at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nr/. Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule may be submitted to the Regional Administrator, at the address above, and by email to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or fax to (202) 395–7285. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Gilbert, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978–281–9244; fax 978–281–9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The management unit of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery (scallop) ranges from the shorelines of Maine through North Carolina to the outer boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Scallop FMP), first established in 1982, includes a number of amendments and framework adjustments that have revised and refined the fishery’s management. The Council sets scallop fishery specifications through framework adjustments that occur annually or biennially. This action includes allocations for fishing year (FY) 2013, as well as other scallop fishery management measures. The Council adopted Framework 24/ Framework 49 on November 15, 2012, PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 initially submitted it to NMFS on January 22, 2013, for review and approval, and submitted a revised final framework document on February 15, 2013. This action is a joint framework with the Northeast (NE) Multispecies FMP because it includes a single measure that adjusts the Georges Bank scallop access area seasonal closure schedules, thus changing exemptions to areas closed to fishing specified in the NE Multispecies FMP. However, the majority of measures contained within this action are specific to the Scallop FMP and, as such, this final rule refers to this action primarily as Framework 24, unless otherwise noted. Framework 24 specifies measures for FY 2013, but includes FY 2014 measures that will go into place as a default, should the next specifications-setting framework be delayed beyond the start of FY 2014. NMFS is implementing Framework 24 after the start of FY 2013; FY 2013 default measures have been in place since March 1, 2013. Because some of the FY 2013 default allocations are higher than what are set under Framework 24, the Council included ‘‘payback’’ measures, which are identified and described below, to address unintended consequences of the late implementation of this action. This action includes some measures that are not explicitly in Framework 24, but NMFS is approving them under the authority of section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which provides that the Secretary of Commerce may promulgate regulations necessary to ensure that amendments to an FMP are carried out in accordance with the FMP and the MSA. These measures, which are identified and described below, are necessary to address unintended consequences of late implementation of this action, as well as to clarify implied measures that may not have been explicitly included in Framework 24. The Council reviewed Framework 24 proposed rule regulations as drafted by NMFS, and deemed them to be necessary and appropriate as specified in section 303(c) of the MSA. The proposed rule for Framework 24 published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2013 (78 FR 16574), with a 15-day public comment period that ended April 1, 2013. NMFS received eight comments on the proposed measures. The final Framework 24 management measures are described below. NMFS presented details concerning the Council’s development of and rationale for these measures in the preamble of E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1
[Pages 27084-27088]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11072]
RIN 0648-BC66
for gray triggerfish described in Amendment 37 to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
(FMP), prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(Council). This final rule revises the commercial and recreational
annual catch limits (ACLs) and annual catch targets (ACTs) for gray
triggerfish; revises the recreational accountability measures (AMs) for
gray triggerfish; revises the gray triggerfish recreational bag limit;
establishes a commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish; and
establishes a fixed closed season for the gray triggerfish commercial
and recreational sectors. Additionally, Amendment 37 modifies the gray
triggerfish rebuilding plan. The purpose of Amendment 37 and this final
rule is to end overfishing of gray triggerfish and help achieve optimum
yield (OY) for the gray triggerfish resource in accordance with the
DATES: This rule is effective June 10, 2013 except for the amendments
to Sec. Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(vi) and 622.41(b) which are effective May 9,
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 37, which includes an
environmental assessment, a regulatory flexibility act analysis (RFAA),
Magnuson-Stevens Act. All gray triggerfish weights discussed in this
rule are in round weight.
On January 25, 2013, NMFS published a notice of availability for
Amendment 37 and requested public comment (78 FR 5404). On February 13,
2013, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 37 and requested
public comment (78 FR 10122). The proposed rule and Amendment 37
This rule revises the ACLs for the gray triggerfish commercial and
recreational sectors. This rule also revises the ACTs for both sectors.
The commercial ACT is expressed as a quota in the regulatory text.
The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)
recommended that the gray triggerfish acceptable biological catch (ABC)
be reduced to 305,300 lb (138,346 kg) from the current gray triggerfish
ABC of 595,000 lb (269,887 kg). In Amendment 30A to the FMP, the
Council established a 21 percent commercial and 79 percent recreational
allocation of the gray triggerfish ABC (73 FR 38139, July 3, 2008), and
set the ABC equal to the ACL. Applying those sector allocations to the
revised ACL of 305,300 lb (138,346 kg) results in a reduced commercial
ACL of 64,100 lb (29,075 kg), and a reduced recreational ACL of 241,200
lb (109,406 kg).
The Generic Annual Catch Limit Amendment developed by the Council
and implemented by NMFS (76 FR 82044, December 29, 2011) established a
standardized procedure to set sector-specific ACTs based on the ACLs.
This procedure evaluates components that were selected to represent
proxies for various sources of management uncertainty and uses a
formula to determine the appropriate buffer between the ACL and ACT.
The Council used this procedure for Amendment 37, which resulted in a 5
percent buffer between the commercial ACL and ACT, and a 10 percent
buffer between the recreational ACL and ACT. Therefore, this final rule
sets the commercial ACT (commercial quota) at 60,900 lb (27,624 kg),
and the recreational ACT at 217,100 lb (98,475 kg). The ACLs and ACTs
in this rule are the same as those implemented through the temporary
rule for gray triggerfish (77 FR 28308, May 14, 2012, and extended in
77 FR 67303, November 9, 2012), which remains in effect until the
effective date of this final rule because this final rule replaces the
measures implemented in the temporary rule.
For the commercial sector, the FMP contains both in-season and
post-season AMs. The in-season AM closes the commercial sector when the
commercial ACT (commercial quota) is reached or projected to be
reached. Additionally, if the commercial ACL is exceeded despite the
quota closure, the post-season AM reduces the following year's
commercial ACT (commercial quota) by the amount of the prior-year's
commercial ACL overage.
Prior to the promulgation of the temporary rule, the FMP contained
no in-season AM for the recreational sector, but only a post-season AM.
The recreational post-season AM provides that if the recreational ACL
is exceeded, NMFS will reduce the length of the following year's
fishing season by the amount necessary to ensure that recreational
landings do not exceed the recreational ACT during the following year.
The temporary rule established an in-season AM for the recreational
sector to prohibit the recreational harvest of gray triggerfish (a
recreational sector closure) after the recreational ACT is reached or
projected to be reached.
Consistent with the temporary rule, this final rule replaces the
current post-season AM with an in-season AM for the recreational
sector, and will close that sector when its ACT is reached or projected
This rule also adds a post-season AM in the form of an overage
adjustment that would apply if the recreational ACL is exceeded and
gray triggerfish are overfished. This post-season AM would reduce the
recreational ACL and ACT for the following year by the amount of the
ACL overage in the prior fishing year, unless the best scientific
There is currently no trip limit for the commercial sector. This
rule establishes a commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish of 12
fish. The trip limit applies until the commercial ACT (commercial
quota) is reached or projected to be reached during a fishing year and
the commercial sector is closed.
This final rule establishes a seasonal closure of the gray
triggerfish commercial and recreational sectors in the Gulf from June
through July, each year. This fixed seasonal closure assists the
rebuilding of the gray triggerfish stock by prohibiting harvest during
the gray triggerfish peak spawning season. Additionally, June and July
are the months that have the highest percentage of recreational
Gray triggerfish currently have a recreational bag limit that is
part of the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag limit. However, the
aggregate recreational bag limit has no specific limit for recreational
gray triggerfish landings, meaning all 20 fish harvested under the bag
limit could be gray triggerfish. This final rule establishes a 2-fish
gray triggerfish recreational bag limit within the 20-fish aggregate
reef fish bag limit. This bag limit would apply until the recreational
ACT is reached or projected to be reached during a fishing year and the
recreational sector is closed.
Amendment 37 revises the rebuilding plan for gray triggerfish by
modifying the mortality rate and resulting time period to rebuild the
gray triggerfish stock. The gray triggerfish stock is currently in the
5th year of a rebuilding plan that began in 2008. Amendment 37 modifies
the rebuilding plan in response to the results from the 2011 Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment and the
subsequent review and recommendations by the SSC for the gray
triggerfish ABC. The modified rebuilding plan is based on a constant
fishing mortality rate that does not exceed the fishing mortality rate
at OY and will rebuild the stock by the end of 2017.
NMFS received nine comment letters from individuals, two
submissions from non-governmental organizations, and two submissions
from Federal agencies on Amendment 37 and the proposed rule. The
Federal agencies indicated they had no objection to Amendment 37 or the
proposed rule. Specific comments related to the actions contained in
Amendment 37 and the proposed rule are summarized and responded to
Comment 1: The proposed combination of commercial management
measures in Amendment 37 (June through July seasonal closure
and a 12-fish commercial trip limit), are not projected to constrain
harvest below the commercial ACT and ACL, meaning an in-season closure
will likely be necessary. A far more effective approach would be a
combination of options that result in projected landings that stay
below the ACT and certainly below the ACL. This would result in more
predictability for commercial fishermen and reduce the risk of
exceeding the ACL and compromising the rebuilding schedule.
Response: NMFS has determined that the full combination of
management measures selected by the Council adequately reduces the risk
of exceeding the ACL and will ensure that the rebuilding plans remains
on schedule. Although the seasonal closure and trip limit, standing
alone, are not projected to constrain harvest below the commercial ACT
and ACL, there is an in-season AM that closes the commercial sector
when it reaches or is projected to reach the ACT and there is a 5
percent buffer between the commercial ACL and ACT. This buffer
addresses the uncertainty in projecting when the ACT will be reached
and reduces the risk of exceeding the commercial ACL.
NMFS also determined that the Council sufficiently considered the
predictability for commercial fishermen in selecting seasonal closure
and trip limit. The Council reviewed 16 combinations of trips limits
and seasonal closures and determined that the preferred alternatives
best addressed the needs of fishermen while ensuring that the grey
trigger stock continues to rebuild as scheduled. Although the
projections indicate that an in-season closure will be necessary, this
closure would occur in the fall, which is near the end of the fishing
Comment 2: The proposed recreational management measures in
Amendment 37 (June through July seasonal closure and a 2-fish bag
limit) result in projected recreational landings that remain below the
recreational ACT, which is highly desirable because in-season
recreational landings data are not as timely and accurate as commercial
data, making in-season closures a less effective management tool for
the recreational sector than for the commercial sector. However, a
concern remains because the underlying analysis is based on an
assumption that fishermen comply with the 14-inch (35.6-cm), fork
length (FL), minimum size limit. In 2011, the SEDAR 9 update assessment
analysis indicated that a significant portion of recreational landings
were smaller than the 14-inch (35.6-cm), FL, minimum size limit over
the last 3 years. Non-compliance with the minimum size limit may cause
the actual reduction in landings to be less than the SEDAR model
predictions, resulting in recreational landings that may exceed the ACT
and ACL. The Council and NMFS should conduct outreach and education to
improve compliance with the minimum size limit. However, in the
meantime, NMFS and the Council should consider the proportion of
undersized fish landed to avoid exceeding the gray triggerfish ACL.
Response: NMFS recognizes that prior analysis indicated that
fishers are landing gray triggerfish that are smaller than the 14-inch
(35.6-cm) minimum size limit and that this may cause the actual
reduction in landings to be less than the SEDAR model predictions.
However, in addition to the seasonal closure and bag limit, this rule
will modify the recreational AMs to allow for an in-season closure if
necessary. In-season recreational landings are monitored through the
Marine Recreational Information Program, which incorporates information
on all sizes of fish landed. Further, the closure authority is based on
the recreational ACT and there is a 10 percent buffer between the ACL
and ACT. This buffer addresses uncertainty in the recreational landings
data that may make it more difficult to accurately project when the
recreational ACT will be met and helps ensure that the recreational ACL
With regard to outreach and education to improve compliance with
the minimum size limit, that confusion may exist among Gulf fishers
measuring gray triggerfish because of inconsistences between state and
Federal size limits. In August of 2012, NMFS and the Council developed
a guidance document to provide further clarification in identifying and
measuring gray triggerfish. The document was sent to all Gulf States
and is also listed on the Southeast Regional Office Web site at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2013/am37/documents/pdfs/gray_triggerfish_outreach.pdf. The document
includes the proper method of identifying and measuring gray
triggerfish, and explains why compliance with the size limits is
Comment 3: Because of the urgent need to reduce gray triggerfish
catch levels in order to get the rebuilding plan on track, NMFS should
approve and implement Amendment 37. However, NMFS should also
immediately instruct the Council that some level of discard mortality
should be factored into both the catch setting and catch monitoring
process for gray triggerfish.
Response: NMFS disagrees that the Council needs to factor in some
level of discard mortality in the catch setting and catch monitoring
process for gray triggerfish. The NMFS decision tool included a discard
mortality of zero percent for Amendment 37 because, unlike many other
reef fish species the Council manages, gray triggerfish are considered
less susceptible to discard mortality. Previous assessments of gray
triggerfish, including SEDAR 9, determined that the discard mortality
rate was minimal (one to two percent) and that using this rate made
little difference in the model outputs. Thus, these assessments used a
zero-percent discard mortality rate when calculating stock status. For
consistency, the SSC also modeled discard mortality at zero percent.
However, to account for scientific uncertainty in the model, the SSC
determined that a buffer should be included when setting gray
triggerfish catch limits and thus, set the ABC at 305,300 lb (269,887
kg), which is 25 percent below the overfishing limit of 401,600 lb
(182,163 kg) recommended by the SEDAR 9 update assessment.
rule. Therefore, as a result of this reorganization, the gray
triggerfish commercial quota regulatory text previously located at
Sec.  622.42(a)(1)(vi) is now at Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(vi), the seasonal
closure text located at Sec.  622.34(w) is now at Sec.  622.34(f), the
commercial trip limit text located at Sec.  622.44(g) is now at Sec.
622.43(b), the recreational bag limit text located at Sec.
622.39(b)(1)(v) is now at Sec.  622.38(b)(5), and the ACL/ACT/AM text
located at Sec.  622.49(a)(2) is now at Sec.  622.41(b).
of the species within Amendment 37 and is consistent with
The AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-
day delay in effectiveness for the revised commercial and recreational
ACLs and ACTs and the recreational sector AMs for gray triggerfish
contained in this final rule at Sec. Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(vi) and
622.41(b). The rest of the management measures contained in this final
rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register. Allowing for a 30-day delay in effectiveness of the gray
triggerfish ACLs, ACTs, and recreational sector AMs would be contrary
to the public interest because delaying their implementation would
likely allow overfishing of gray triggerfish, resulting in more severe
reductions in gray triggerfish catch levels in the future, which could
have higher socioeconomic impacts on gulf reef fish fishers. A
temporary rule published on May 14, 2012 (77 FR 28308) and extended on
November 9, 2012 (77 FR 67303) implemented these same reduced ACLs and
ACTs, and similar recreational AMs in order to end overfishing of gray
triggerfish and rebuild the stock, and this final rule replaces those
interim measures currently in effect. Any delay in implementing these
reduced catch limits would undermine the intent of this rule, Amendment
37, and the interim measures currently in effect.
2. In Sec.  622.34, paragraph (f) is added to read as follows:
(f) Seasonal closure of the commercial and recreational sectors for
gray triggerfish. The commercial and recreational sectors for gray
triggerfish in or from the Gulf EEZ are closed from June 1 through July
31, each year. During the closure, all harvest or possession in or from
the Gulf EEZ of gray triggerfish is prohibited and the sale and
purchase of gray triggerfish taken from the Gulf EEZ is prohibited.
fish bag limit, no more than two fish may be gray triggerfish.
4. In Sec.  622.39, paragraph (a)(1)(vi) is revised to read as follows:
(vi) Gray triggerfish--60,900 lb (27,624 kg), round weight.
5. In Sec.  622.41, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
(b) Gray triggerfish--(1) Commercial sector. If commercial
commercial ACT (commercial quota) specified in Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(vi),
to close the commercial sector for the remainder of the fishing year.
In addition, if despite such closure, commercial landings exceed the
commercial ACL, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the
year to reduce the commercial ACL and ACT (commercial quota) for that
following year by the amount the prior-year ACL was exceeded. The
commercial ACL is 64,100 lb (29,075 kg), round weight.
if gray triggerfish recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD,
reach or are projected to reach the applicable ACT specified in
paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, the AA will file a notification
with the Office of the Federal Register, to close the recreational
sector for the remainder of the fishing year. On and after the
effective date of such a notification, the bag and possession limit of
gray triggerfish in or from the Gulf EEZ is zero. This bag and
(ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i)
of this section, if gray triggerfish recreational landings, as
estimated by the SRD, exceed the applicable ACL specified in paragraph
(b)(2)(iii) of this section, and gray triggerfish are overfished, based
near the beginning of the following fishing year to reduce the ACL and
the ACT for that following year by the amount of the ACL overage in the
is 217,100 lb (98,475 kg), round weight. Recreational landings will be
6. In Sec.  622.43, paragraph (b) is added to read as follows:
specified in Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(vi) is reached--12 fish. See Sec.