80 FR 31347 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 105 (June 2, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 105 (June 2, 2015)
| Page Range | 31347-31348 | |
| FR Document | 2015-13408 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 31347-31348] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-13408] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 150506428-5468-01] RIN 0648-BF07 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces a control date that may limit or restrict access into the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. This action is necessary to inform fishery participants that we are considering future action. We intend for this notice to promote awareness of possible future rulemaking, and discourage speculative entry into and/or investment in the Jonah crab fishery. DATES: June 2, 2015 is established as the ``control date'' for the Jonah crab fishery, and may be used as a reference date for future management measures related to the Jonah crab fishery, consistent with applicable Federal laws and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's recommendations. Written comments must be received on or before July 2, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0065 by any of the following methods: [ssquf] Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0065, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. [ssquf] Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Jonah crab Control Date.'' Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered. We may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9122. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jonah crab (Cancer borealis), also known locally as rock crab, is not currently managed under Federal regulations or a coastwide Interstate Fishery Management Plan. Some individual Atlantic states do have management measures or permit requirements for Jonah crab. In May 2014, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's American Lobster Management Board initiated the development of an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab, throughout the species range within United States waters. The Board's development of a formal management plan was based on its [[Page 31348]] concern about potential impacts to the Jonah crab resource with recent increases in landings. At its May 2015 meeting, the Board voted to approve a draft Jonah crab Interstate Fishery Management Plan for public comment. The draft Plan includes options for a limited access program for the fishery, such as an option that would limit Jonah crab fishing only to those fishermen who could document Jonah crab landings occurring before a certain date, known as a control date. Also during the May 2015 meeting, the Commission requested that we establish a control date for the Jonah crab fishery that may be used to affect future participation in the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. The control date communicates to fishermen that participation and landing history after the date of publication may not be treated the same as participation and landings history that occurred prior to the control date. New entrants into the Jonah crab fishery after the control date could potentially be restricted from harvesting Jonah crab depending on the management options ultimately chosen by the Commission. This notification establishes June 2, 2015 as a control date for potential use in determining historical or traditional participation for the Jonah crab fishery. Consideration of a control date does not commit us to develop any particular management program or criteria for participation in the fishery. We may choose a different control date; or may choose a management program that does not make use of such a date. We may also choose to take no further action to control entry or access to the Jonah crab fishery. Any action we take will be taken pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, will be discussed at Commission and Board meetings, and will make have additional Federal rulemaking, including opportunity to comment. This notification gives the public notice that interested Jonah crab fishery participants should locate and preserve records that substantiate and verify their participation in the fishery. This notification and control date do not impose any legal obligations, requirements, or expectation. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. Dated: May 28, 2015. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-13408 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Proposed Rules 31347
operator’s name, signature, and baseline length overall of the transferor fishery, and may be used as a reference
operator’s permit number (if applicable). vessel. For the purposes of this program, date for future management measures
* * * * * the baseline horsepower and length related to the Jonah crab fishery,
(f) * * * overall are those associated with the consistent with applicable Federal laws
(2) * * * permit as of January 29, 2004. Upon and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
(i) For any vessel not issued a NE approval of the transfer, the baseline of Commission’s recommendations.
multispecies; Atlantic herring permit; or the transferee vessel would be the Written comments must be received on
any Atlantic mackerel, longfin squid, smaller baseline of the two vessels or or before July 2, 2015.
Illex squid, or butterfish permit; fishing the vessel owner could choose to adopt ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
vessel log reports, required by paragraph the larger baseline of the two vessels on this document, identified by NOAA–
(b)(1)(i) of this section, must be provided such an upgrade is consistent NMFS–2015–0065 by any of the
postmarked or received by NMFS with provisions of this paragraph following methods:
within 15 days after the end of the (l)(1)(ii). A vessel that has executed a D Electronic Submission: Submit all
reporting month. For any vessel issued one-time downgrade of a DAS Leasing electronic public comments via the
a NE multispecies permit; Atlantic Program baseline in accordance with Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
herring permit; or any Atlantic paragraph (k)(4)(xi) is subject to the www.regulations.gov/
mackerel, longfin squid, Illex squid, or restrictions of paragraph (k)(4)(xi)(C) of #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-
butterfish permit; fishing vessel log this section. 0065, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
reports must be postmarked or received (iii) The transferor vessel must complete the required fields, and enter
by midnight of the first Tuesday transfer all of its Federal limited access or attach your comments.
following the end of the reporting week. permits for which it is eligible to the D Mail: Submit written comments to
For the purposes of this paragraph transferee vessel in accordance with the John K. Bullard, Regional
(f)(2)(i), the date when fish are offloaded vessel replacement restrictions under Administrator, National Marine
will establish the reporting week or § 648.4, or permanently cancel such Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic
month the VTR must be submitted to permits. When duplicate permits exist, Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
NMFS, as appropriate. i.e., those permits for which both the outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on
transferor and transferee vessel are Jonah crab Control Date.’’
* * * * * Instructions: Comments must be
■ 5. In § 648.14, revise paragraphs (b)(4)
eligible, one of the duplicate permits
must be permanently cancelled. submitted by one of the above methods
and (k)(2)(i) to read as follows: to ensure that the comments are
* * * * *
§ 648.14 Prohibitions. [FR Doc. 2015–13349 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am] received, documented, and considered.
* * * * * BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
We may not consider comments sent by
(b) * * * any other method, to any other address
(4) Fish for, possess, or land species or individual, or received after the end
regulated under this part with or from DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the comment period. All comments
a vessel that is issued a limited access received are a part of the public record
or moratorium permit under § 648.4(a) National Oceanic and Atmospheric and will generally be posted for public
and that has had the horsepower or Administration viewing on www.regulations.gov
length overall of such vessel or its without change. All personal identifying
replacement upgraded or increased in 50 CFR Part 648 information (e.g., name, address, etc.)
excess of the limitations specified in submitted voluntarily by the sender will
[Docket No. 150506428–5468–01]
§ 648.4(a)(1)(i)(E) and (F). be publicly accessible. Do not submit
RIN 0648–BF07 confidential business information, or
* * * * * otherwise sensitive or protected
(k) * * * Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative information. We will accept anonymous
(2) * * * Management Act Provisions; Jonah comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required
(i) Fish for, possess, or land NE Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah fields if you wish to remain
multispecies with or from a vessel that Crab Fishery anonymous).
has had the length overall of such
vessel, or its replacement, increased or AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
upgraded in excess of limitations Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst,
specified in § 648.4(a)(1)(i)(E) and (F). Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 978–281–9122.
* * * * * Commerce. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jonah crab
■ 6. In § 648.82, revise paragraphs ACTION: Advance notice of proposed (Cancer borealis), also known locally as
(l)(1)(ii) and (l)(1)(iii) to read as follows: rulemaking (ANPR); request for rock crab, is not currently managed
comments. under Federal regulations or a
§ 648. 82 Effort-control program for NE coastwide Interstate Fishery
multispecies limited access vessels. SUMMARY: This notice announces a Management Plan. Some individual
(l) * * * control date that may limit or restrict Atlantic states do have management
(1) * * * access into the Jonah crab fishery in measures or permit requirements for
(ii) NE multispecies DAS may be Federal waters. This action is necessary Jonah crab. In May 2014, the Atlantic
to inform fishery participants that we
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
transferred only to a vessel with a States Marine Fisheries Commission’s
baseline main engine horsepower rating are considering future action. We intend American Lobster Management Board
that is no more than 20 percent greater for this notice to promote awareness of initiated the development of an
than the baseline engine horsepower of possible future rulemaking, and Interstate Fishery Management Plan for
the transferor vessel. NE multispecies discourage speculative entry into and/or Jonah Crab, throughout the species
DAS may be transferred only to a vessel investment in the Jonah crab fishery. range within United States waters. The
with a baseline length overall that is no DATES: June 2, 2015 is established as the Board’s development of a formal
more than 10 percent greater than the ‘‘control date’’ for the Jonah crab management plan was based on its
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![31348 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Proposed Rules
concern about potential impacts to the landings history that occurred prior to will be discussed at Commission and
Jonah crab resource with recent the control date. New entrants into the Board meetings, and will make have
increases in landings. At its May 2015 Jonah crab fishery after the control date additional Federal rulemaking,
meeting, the Board voted to approve a could potentially be restricted from including opportunity to comment.
draft Jonah crab Interstate Fishery harvesting Jonah crab depending on the This notification gives the public
Management Plan for public comment. management options ultimately chosen notice that interested Jonah crab fishery
The draft Plan includes options for a by the Commission.
This notification establishes June 2, participants should locate and preserve
limited access program for the fishery,
2015 as a control date for potential use records that substantiate and verify their
such as an option that would limit
in determining historical or traditional participation in the fishery. This
Jonah crab fishing only to those
fishermen who could document Jonah participation for the Jonah crab fishery. notification and control date do not
crab landings occurring before a certain Consideration of a control date does not impose any legal obligations,
date, known as a control date. commit us to develop any particular requirements, or expectation.
Also during the May 2015 meeting, management program or criteria for Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16
the Commission requested that we participation in the fishery. We may U.S.C. 5101 et seq.
establish a control date for the Jonah choose a different control date; or may
Dated: May 28, 2015.
crab fishery that may be used to affect choose a management program that does
future participation in the Jonah crab not make use of such a date. We may Samuel D. Rauch III,
fishery in Federal waters. The control also choose to take no further action to Deputy Assistant Administrator for
date communicates to fishermen that control entry or access to the Jonah crab Regulatory Programs, National Marine
participation and landing history after fishery. Any action we take will be Fisheries Service.
the date of publication may not be taken pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal [FR Doc. 2015–13408 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am]
treated the same as participation and Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Jun 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\02JNP1.SGM 02JNP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_31452/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:12:24
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:12:24
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. | |
| Dates | June 2, 2015 is established as the ``control date'' for the Jonah crab fishery, and may be used as a reference date for future management measures related to the Jonah crab fishery, consistent with applicable Federal laws and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's recommendations. Written comments must be received on or before July 2, 2015. | |
| Contact | Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9122. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 31347 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-BF07 |
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