82_FR_12226 82 FR 12187 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 5

82 FR 12187 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 5

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 39 (March 1, 2017)

Page Range12187-12189
FR Document2017-04003

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Framework Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) as prepared and submitted jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Councils). If implemented, this proposed rule would remove the restriction on fishing for, or retaining the recreational bag and possession limits of, king and Spanish mackerel on a vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel when the vessel is on a private recreational fishing trip and commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in a zone or region is closed. The purpose of this proposed rule is to remove Federal permit restrictions unique to commercially permitted king and Spanish mackerel vessels and to standardize vessel permit restrictions applicable after a commercial quota closure of king or Spanish mackerel.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 39 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12187-12189]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04003]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 161222999-7145-01]
RIN 0648-BG56


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic 
Region; Framework Amendment 5

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in 
Framework Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region 
(FMP) as prepared and submitted jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(Councils). If implemented, this proposed rule would remove the 
restriction on fishing for, or retaining the recreational bag and 
possession limits of, king and Spanish

[[Page 12188]]

mackerel on a vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king or 
Spanish mackerel when the vessel is on a private recreational fishing 
trip and commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in a zone or 
region is closed. The purpose of this proposed rule is to remove 
Federal permit restrictions unique to commercially permitted king and 
Spanish mackerel vessels and to standardize vessel permit restrictions 
applicable after a commercial quota closure of king or Spanish 
mackerel.

DATES: Written comments must be received by March 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2016-0162'' by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter your 
attached comments.
     Mail: Submit all written comments to Rich Malinowski, NMFS 
Southeast Regional Office (SERO), 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. 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), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Framework Amendment 5, which includes an 
environmental assessment, Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, 
and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from 
www.regulations.gov or the SERO Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional 
Office, NMFS, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The coastal migratory pelagic fishery of the 
Gulf and Atlantic regions is managed under the FMP and includes the 
management of the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel, 
Spanish mackerel, and cobia. The FMP was prepared jointly by the 
Councils and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 
622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

Background

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS and regional fishery 
management councils to prevent overfishing and achieve on a continuing 
basis, the optimum yield from federally managed fish stocks. These 
mandates are intended to ensure that fishery resources are managed for 
the greatest overall benefit to the nation, particularly with respect 
to providing food production and recreational opportunities, while also 
protecting marine ecosystems. To further attain this goal, the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requires fishery managers to minimize bycatch and 
bycatch mortality to the extent practicable. Framework Amendment 5 and 
this proposed rule apply to the harvest of king and Spanish mackerel in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and 
Atlantic regions.
    Current Federal regulations state that a person aboard a vessel 
with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel may not 
fish for or retain king or Spanish mackerel in or from Federal waters 
under the recreational bag or possession limit if the commercial 
harvest for the species is closed (i.e., the species, migratory group, 
zone, subzone, or gear is closed). This provision prevents fishers on a 
vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel 
from recreationally fishing for or retaining bag and possession limits 
for these species outside of the applicable commercial season. An 
exception to this restriction currently applies to vessels that have 
both a Federal commercial and a charter vessel/headboat permit for king 
or Spanish mackerel. When operating as a charter vessel or headboat, 
the exception allows persons aboard these vessels to recreationally 
fish for or retain king or Spanish mackerel in or from Federal waters 
under the recreational bag or possession limits.
    The regulations specifying restrictions applicable after a 
commercial quota closure (50 CFR 622.384(e)) were originally necessary 
when the Gulf migratory group of king mackerel (Gulf king mackerel) had 
been overfished in the early 1990s, as a means of controlling fishing 
effort. In 2014, the most recent stock assessment of Gulf king mackerel 
and Atlantic migratory group king mackerel (Atlantic king mackerel) 
concluded that both Gulf and Atlantic king mackerel are not overfished 
or undergoing overfishing.
    This provision does not currently affect the recreational harvest 
of Spanish mackerel in the Gulf (Gulf Spanish mackerel), given the 
difference in how this migratory group is managed. Gulf Spanish 
mackerel is managed under a stock annual catch limit (ACL). Under the 
applicable accountability measures, the Spanish mackerel commercial and 
recreational sectors in the Gulf close at the same time if the stock 
ACL is reached or projected to be reached, as specified in Sec.  
622.388(c)(1). Thus, because the sectors close at the same time, the 
restriction described above does not apply in practice to those fishing 
for Gulf Spanish mackerel. In contrast, the accountability measures 
applicable to the commercial sector for king mackerel in the Gulf and 
Atlantic, and Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic, would close the 
applicable commercial sector independently from the recreational sector 
if the commercial landings reach or are projected to reach the 
applicable commercial quotas (Sec.  622.388(a)(1)(i), (b)(1)(i), and 
(d)(1)(i)).

Management Measure Contained in This Proposed Rule

    For the commercial sector, this proposed rule would remove the 
current prohibition that a person aboard a vessel with a Federal 
commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel may not fish for or 
retain king or Spanish mackerel in or from Federal waters under the bag 
or possession limits if commercial harvest for the applicable species 
is closed in a specific zone or for a certain gear type, unless the 
vessel also has a federal charter vessel/headboat permit and is 
operating as a federally permitted charter vessel or headboat. 
Therefore, if NMFS implements this proposed rule, commercial fishers 
with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel would be 
able to use their permitted vessels to recreationally fish for these 
species and retain the recreational bag and possession limits outside 
of the commercial seasons for those species.

Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule Not in Framework Amendment 5

    In addition to the changes to implement Framework Amendment 5, the 
proposed regulatory text contains changes consistent with the proposed 
regulatory text to implement Amendment 26 to the FMP, which is 
currently available for public comment (81 FR 95941, December 29, 
2016). The proposed regulatory text to implement Amendment 26 includes 
numerous

[[Page 12189]]

changes to the regulations implementing the FMP, including revisions to 
terminology and to the management boundaries for the Gulf of Mexico and 
Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel. Pertinent changes are 
reflected in the proposed text below, as well, for consistency in 
language. In addition, to improve clarity, we have made specific 
changes to Sec.  622.384(e)(3), proposed to be renumbered as Sec.  
622.384(e)(2), and to Sec.  622.386.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the framework action, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration after 
public comment.
    This proposed 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 (SBA) that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for this determination follows.
    A description of this proposed rule, why it is being considered, 
and the objectives of this proposed rule are contained in the preamble. 
The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this proposed 
rule.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would not be expected to 
directly affect any small entities. The proposed rule would remove the 
restriction on fishing for and retaining the recreational bag limit of 
king mackerel on a vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king 
mackerel when the vessel is on a recreational trip and commercial 
harvest of king mackerel in that zone is closed. Similarly, it would 
remove the restriction on fishing for and retaining the recreational 
bag limit of Spanish mackerel on a vessel with a Federal commercial 
permit for Spanish mackerel when the vessel is on a recreational trip 
and commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel in a zone or for a certain 
gear type is closed. Under this proposed rule, king or Spanish mackerel 
that are recreationally harvested on commercial vessels would not be 
permitted to be sold. Therefore, commercial fishers on these vessels 
would only be affected as recreational anglers. Recreational anglers, 
who would be directly affected by this proposed rule, are not 
considered small entities under the RFA, and are, therefore, outside 
the scope of this analysis. 5 U.S.C. 603. Small entities include 
``small businesses,'' ``small organizations,'' and ``small governmental 
jurisdictions.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(6) and 601(3)-(5). Recreational anglers 
are not businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions. No 
other small entities that would be directly affected by this proposed 
rule have been identified.
    The information provided above supports a determination that this 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Because this rule, if implemented, is not 
expected to have a significant economic impact on any small entities, 
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has 
been prepared.
    No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have been 
identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or other 
compliance requirements are introduced by this proposed rule. 
Accordingly, the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply to this 
proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, King Mackerel, 
Spanish Mackerel.

Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  622.379, revise the last sentence in paragraph (a) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  622.379  Purse seine incidental catch allowance.

    (a) * * * Incidentally caught king or Spanish mackerel are counted 
toward the quotas provided for under Sec.  622.384 and are subject to 
the prohibition of sale under Sec.  622.384(e)(2).
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  622.384, revise paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.384  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (e) Restrictions applicable after a commercial quota closure. (1) 
If the recreational sector for the applicable species, migratory group, 
zone, or gear is open, the bag and possession limits for king and 
Spanish mackerel specified in Sec.  622.382(a) apply to all harvest or 
possession for the closed species, migratory group, zone, or gear in or 
from the EEZ. If the recreational sector for the applicable species, 
migratory group, zone, or gear is closed, all applicable harvest or 
possession in or from the EEZ is prohibited.
    (2) The sale or purchase of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or 
cobia of the closed species, migratory group, zone, or gear type is 
prohibited, including any king or Spanish mackerel taken under the bag 
and possession limits specified in Sec.  622.382(a), or cobia taken 
under the limited-harvest species possession limit specified in Sec.  
622.383(b). The prohibition on the sale or purchase during a closure 
for coastal migratory pelagic fish does not apply to coastal migratory 
pelagic fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the 
effective date of the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer 
or processor.
0
4. In Sec.  622.386, revise the introductory paragraph to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.386  Restrictions on sale/purchase.

    The restrictions in this section are in addition to the 
restrictions on the sale or purchase related to commercial quota 
closures as specified in Sec.  622.384(e)(2).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-04003 Filed 2-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 39 / Wednesday, March 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                 12187

                                                    various levels of government. We have                   G. Protest Activities                                   Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05–1;
                                                    analyzed this proposed rule under that                                                                        Department of Homeland Security Delegation
                                                    Order and have determined that it is                      The Coast Guard respects the First                  No. 0170.1.
                                                    consistent with the fundamental                         Amendment rights of protesters.
                                                                                                                                                                  ■ 2. Amend § 117.205 by revising
                                                    federalism principles and preemption                    Protesters are asked to contact the
                                                                                                                                                                  paragraph (c) to read as follows:
                                                    requirements described in Executive                     person listed in the FOR FURTHER
                                                                                                            INFORMATION CONTACT section to                        § 117.205   Connecticut River.
                                                    Order 13132.
                                                       Also, this proposed rule does not have               coordinate protest activities so that your            *     *     *    *      *
                                                    tribal implications under Executive                     message can be received without                         (c) The draw of the Route 82 Bridge,
                                                    Order 13175, Consultation and                           jeopardizing the safety or security of                mile 16.8, at East Haddam, shall operate
                                                    Coordination with Indian Tribal                         people, places or vessels.                            as follows:
                                                    Governments, because it would not have                  V. Public Participation and Request for                 (1) From May 1 through October 31:
                                                    a substantial direct effect on one or                   Comments                                              The draw shall open on signal for
                                                    more Indian tribes, on the relationship                                                                       commercial vessels. For recreational
                                                    between the Federal Government and                         We view public participation as                    vessels, the draw shall open on signal,
                                                    Indian tribes, or on the distribution of                essential to effective rulemaking, and                except that from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., the
                                                    power and responsibilities between the                  will consider all comments and material               draw need open for recreational vessels
                                                    Federal Government and Indian tribes.                   received during the comment period.                   on the hour only.
                                                    If you believe this proposed rule has                   Your comment can help shape the                         (2) From November 1 through April
                                                    implications for federalism or Indian                   outcome of this rulemaking. If you                    30: The draw shall open on signal for all
                                                    tribes, please contact the person listed                submit a comment, please include the                  vessels, except that from 8 p.m. to 4
                                                    in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                          docket number for this rulemaking,                    a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at
                                                    CONTACT section above.                                  indicate the specific section of this                 least six-hours notice is given by calling
                                                                                                            document to which each comment                        the number posted at the bridge.
                                                    E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                         applies, and provide a reason for each                  Dated: 15 February 2017.
                                                      The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                      suggestion or recommendation.
                                                                                                                                                                  S.D. Poulin,
                                                    of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531–1538) requires                      We encourage you to submit
                                                    Federal agencies to assess the effects of                                                                     Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander,
                                                                                                            comments through the Federal                          First Coast Guard District.
                                                    their discretionary regulatory actions. In              eRulemaking Portal at http://
                                                    particular, the Act addresses actions                                                                         [FR Doc. 2017–03980 Filed 2–28–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            www.regulations.gov. If your material
                                                    that may result in the expenditure by a                 cannot be submitted using http://
                                                                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 9110–0–P

                                                    State, local, or tribal government, in the              www.regulations.gov, contact the person
                                                    aggregate, or by the private sector of                  in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                    $100,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) or                CONTACT section of this document for
                                                                                                                                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                    more in any one year. Though this                       alternate instructions.
                                                    proposed rule will not result in such an                                                                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                               We accept anonymous comments. All                  Administration
                                                    expenditure, we do discuss the effects of               comments received will be posted
                                                    this proposed rule elsewhere in this                    without change to http://
                                                    preamble.                                                                                                     50 CFR Part 622
                                                                                                            www.regulations.gov and will include
                                                    F. Environment                                          any personal information you have                     [Docket No. 161222999–7145–01]

                                                      We have analyzed this proposed rule                   provided. For more about privacy and                  RIN 0648–BG56
                                                    under Department of Homeland                            the docket, you may review a Privacy
                                                    Security Management Directive 023–01                    Act notice regarding the Federal Docket               Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
                                                    and Commandant Instruction                              Management System in the March 24,                    Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal
                                                    M16475.lD, which guides the Coast                       2005, issue of the Federal Register (70               Migratory Pelagic Resources in the
                                                    Guard in complying with the National                    FR 15086).                                            Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region;
                                                    Environmental Policy Act of 1969                           Documents mentioned in this notice                 Framework Amendment 5
                                                    (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f), and                      and all public comments, are in our                   AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                                    have made a preliminary determination                   online docket at http://                              Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                    that this action is one of a category of                www.regulations.gov and can be viewed                 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                    actions which do not individually or                    by following that Web site’s                          Commerce.
                                                    cumulatively have a significant effect on               instructions. Additionally, if you go to
                                                                                                                                                                  ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
                                                    the human environment. This proposed                    the online docket and sign up for email
                                                                                                                                                                  comments.
                                                    rule simply promulgates the operating                   alerts, you will be notified when
                                                    regulations or procedures for                           comments are posted or a final rule is                SUMMARY:   NMFS proposes to implement
                                                    drawbridges. Normally such actions are                  published.                                            management measures described in
                                                    categorically excluded from further                     List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117                   Framework Amendment 5 to the Fishery
                                                    review, under figure 2–1, paragraph                                                                           Management Plan for the Coastal
                                                    (32)(e), of the Instruction.                              Bridges.                                            Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf
                                                      Under figure 2–1, paragraph (32)(e), of                                                                     of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) as
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              For the reasons discussed in the
                                                    the Instruction, an environmental                       preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to                 prepared and submitted jointly by the
                                                    analysis checklist and a categorical                    amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:                     Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
                                                    exclusion determination are not                                                                               Council and South Atlantic Fishery
                                                    required for this rule. We seek any                     PART 117—DRAWBRIDGE                                   Management Council (Councils). If
                                                    comments or information that may lead                   OPERATION REGULATIONS                                 implemented, this proposed rule would
                                                    to the discovery of a significant                                                                             remove the restriction on fishing for, or
                                                    environmental impact from this                          ■ 1. The authority citation for part 117              retaining the recreational bag and
                                                    proposed rule.                                          continues to read as follows:                         possession limits of, king and Spanish


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:30 Feb 28, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00004   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\01MRP1.SGM   01MRP1


                                                    12188                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 39 / Wednesday, March 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    mackerel on a vessel with a Federal                     regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the              Atlantic king mackerel are not
                                                    commercial permit for king or Spanish                   authority of the Magnuson-Stevens                     overfished or undergoing overfishing.
                                                    mackerel when the vessel is on a private                Fishery Conservation and Management                      This provision does not currently
                                                    recreational fishing trip and commercial                Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C.                 affect the recreational harvest of
                                                    harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in                  1801 et seq.).                                        Spanish mackerel in the Gulf (Gulf
                                                    a zone or region is closed. The purpose                                                                       Spanish mackerel), given the difference
                                                    of this proposed rule is to remove                      Background                                            in how this migratory group is managed.
                                                    Federal permit restrictions unique to                      The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires                  Gulf Spanish mackerel is managed
                                                    commercially permitted king and                         NMFS and regional fishery management                  under a stock annual catch limit (ACL).
                                                    Spanish mackerel vessels and to                         councils to prevent overfishing and                   Under the applicable accountability
                                                    standardize vessel permit restrictions                  achieve on a continuing basis, the                    measures, the Spanish mackerel
                                                    applicable after a commercial quota                     optimum yield from federally managed                  commercial and recreational sectors in
                                                    closure of king or Spanish mackerel.                    fish stocks. These mandates are                       the Gulf close at the same time if the
                                                    DATES: Written comments must be                         intended to ensure that fishery                       stock ACL is reached or projected to be
                                                    received by March 31, 2017.                             resources are managed for the greatest                reached, as specified in § 622.388(c)(1).
                                                    ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                      overall benefit to the nation, particularly           Thus, because the sectors close at the
                                                    on the proposed rule, identified by                     with respect to providing food                        same time, the restriction described
                                                    ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2016–0162’’ by either                       production and recreational                           above does not apply in practice to
                                                    of the following methods:                               opportunities, while also protecting                  those fishing for Gulf Spanish mackerel.
                                                       • Electronic Submission: Submit all                  marine ecosystems. To further attain                  In contrast, the accountability measures
                                                    electronic comments via the Federal                     this goal, the Magnuson-Stevens Act                   applicable to the commercial sector for
                                                    Rulemaking Portal. Go to                                requires fishery managers to minimize                 king mackerel in the Gulf and Atlantic,
                                                    www.regulations.gov, click the                          bycatch and bycatch mortality to the                  and Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic,
                                                    ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the                     extent practicable. Framework                         would close the applicable commercial
                                                    required fields, and enter your attached                Amendment 5 and this proposed rule                    sector independently from the
                                                    comments.                                               apply to the harvest of king and Spanish              recreational sector if the commercial
                                                       • Mail: Submit all written comments                  mackerel in the exclusive economic                    landings reach or are projected to reach
                                                    to Rich Malinowski, NMFS Southeast                      zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf)               the applicable commercial quotas
                                                    Regional Office (SERO), 263 13th                        and Atlantic regions.                                 (§ 622.388(a)(1)(i), (b)(1)(i), and
                                                    Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.                                                                       (d)(1)(i)).
                                                                                                               Current Federal regulations state that
                                                       Instructions: Comments sent by any                   a person aboard a vessel with a Federal               Management Measure Contained in
                                                    other method, to any other address or                   commercial permit for king or Spanish                 This Proposed Rule
                                                    individual, or received after the end of                mackerel may not fish for or retain king
                                                    the comment period, may not be                                                                                  For the commercial sector, this
                                                                                                            or Spanish mackerel in or from Federal                proposed rule would remove the current
                                                    considered by NMFS. All comments                        waters under the recreational bag or
                                                    received are a part of the public record                                                                      prohibition that a person aboard a vessel
                                                                                                            possession limit if the commercial                    with a Federal commercial permit for
                                                    and will generally be posted for public                 harvest for the species is closed (i.e., the
                                                    viewing on www.regulations.gov                                                                                king or Spanish mackerel may not fish
                                                                                                            species, migratory group, zone, subzone,              for or retain king or Spanish mackerel
                                                    without change. All personal identifying                or gear is closed). This provision
                                                    information (e.g., name, address),                                                                            in or from Federal waters under the bag
                                                                                                            prevents fishers on a vessel with a                   or possession limits if commercial
                                                    confidential business information, or                   Federal commercial permit for king or
                                                    otherwise sensitive information                                                                               harvest for the applicable species is
                                                                                                            Spanish mackerel from recreationally                  closed in a specific zone or for a certain
                                                    submitted voluntarily by the sender will                fishing for or retaining bag and
                                                    be publicly accessible. NMFS will                                                                             gear type, unless the vessel also has a
                                                                                                            possession limits for these species                   federal charter vessel/headboat permit
                                                    accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/                   outside of the applicable commercial
                                                    A’’ in required fields if you wish to                                                                         and is operating as a federally permitted
                                                                                                            season. An exception to this restriction              charter vessel or headboat. Therefore, if
                                                    remain anonymous).                                      currently applies to vessels that have
                                                       Electronic copies of the Framework                                                                         NMFS implements this proposed rule,
                                                                                                            both a Federal commercial and a charter               commercial fishers with a Federal
                                                    Amendment 5, which includes an                          vessel/headboat permit for king or
                                                    environmental assessment, Regulatory                                                                          commercial permit for king or Spanish
                                                                                                            Spanish mackerel. When operating as a                 mackerel would be able to use their
                                                    Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, and a                   charter vessel or headboat, the
                                                    regulatory impact review, may be                                                                              permitted vessels to recreationally fish
                                                                                                            exception allows persons aboard these                 for these species and retain the
                                                    obtained from www.regulations.gov or                    vessels to recreationally fish for or
                                                    the SERO Web site at http://                                                                                  recreational bag and possession limits
                                                                                                            retain king or Spanish mackerel in or                 outside of the commercial seasons for
                                                    sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.                                     from Federal waters under the                         those species.
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich                   recreational bag or possession limits.
                                                    Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office,                     The regulations specifying restrictions            Measures Contained in This Proposed
                                                    NMFS, telephone: 727–824–5305, or                       applicable after a commercial quota                   Rule Not in Framework Amendment 5
                                                    email: rich.malinowski@noaa.gov.                        closure (50 CFR 622.384(e)) were                        In addition to the changes to
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                          originally necessary when the Gulf                    implement Framework Amendment 5,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    coastal migratory pelagic fishery of the                migratory group of king mackerel (Gulf                the proposed regulatory text contains
                                                    Gulf and Atlantic regions is managed                    king mackerel) had been overfished in                 changes consistent with the proposed
                                                    under the FMP and includes the                          the early 1990s, as a means of                        regulatory text to implement
                                                    management of the Gulf and Atlantic                     controlling fishing effort. In 2014, the              Amendment 26 to the FMP, which is
                                                    migratory groups of king mackerel,                      most recent stock assessment of Gulf                  currently available for public comment
                                                    Spanish mackerel, and cobia. The FMP                    king mackerel and Atlantic migratory                  (81 FR 95941, December 29, 2016). The
                                                    was prepared jointly by the Councils                    group king mackerel (Atlantic king                    proposed regulatory text to implement
                                                    and is implemented by NMFS through                      mackerel) concluded that both Gulf and                Amendment 26 includes numerous


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 39 / Wednesday, March 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                 12189

                                                    changes to the regulations implementing                 proposed rule, king or Spanish mackerel               ■ 2. In § 622.379, revise the last
                                                    the FMP, including revisions to                         that are recreationally harvested on                  sentence in paragraph (a) to read as
                                                    terminology and to the management                       commercial vessels would not be                       follows:
                                                    boundaries for the Gulf of Mexico and                   permitted to be sold. Therefore,
                                                    Atlantic migratory groups of king                       commercial fishers on these vessels                   § 622.379 Purse seine incidental catch
                                                                                                                                                                  allowance.
                                                    mackerel. Pertinent changes are                         would only be affected as recreational
                                                    reflected in the proposed text below, as                anglers. Recreational anglers, who                      (a) * * * Incidentally caught king or
                                                    well, for consistency in language. In                   would be directly affected by this                    Spanish mackerel are counted toward
                                                    addition, to improve clarity, we have                   proposed rule, are not considered small               the quotas provided for under § 622.384
                                                    made specific changes to                                entities under the RFA, and are,                      and are subject to the prohibition of sale
                                                    § 622.384(e)(3), proposed to be                         therefore, outside the scope of this                  under § 622.384(e)(2).
                                                    renumbered as § 622.384(e)(2), and to                   analysis. 5 U.S.C. 603. Small entities                *     *     *     *     *
                                                    § 622.386.                                              include ‘‘small businesses,’’ ‘‘small                 ■ 3. In § 622.384, revise paragraph (e) to
                                                                                                            organizations,’’ and ‘‘small                          read as follows:
                                                    Classification
                                                                                                            governmental jurisdictions.’’ 5 U.S.C.
                                                      Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the               601(6) and 601(3)–(5). Recreational                   § 622.384   Quotas.
                                                    Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS                          anglers are not businesses,                           *      *     *    *     *
                                                    Assistant Administrator has determined                  organizations, or governmental                           (e) Restrictions applicable after a
                                                    that this proposed rule is consistent                   jurisdictions. No other small entities                commercial quota closure. (1) If the
                                                    with the framework action, the FMP, the                 that would be directly affected by this               recreational sector for the applicable
                                                    Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other                         proposed rule have been identified.                   species, migratory group, zone, or gear
                                                    applicable law, subject to further                         The information provided above                     is open, the bag and possession limits
                                                    consideration after public comment.                     supports a determination that this rule               for king and Spanish mackerel specified
                                                      This proposed rule has been                           would not have a significant economic                 in § 622.382(a) apply to all harvest or
                                                    determined to be not significant for                    impact on a substantial number of small               possession for the closed species,
                                                    purposes of Executive Order 12866.                      entities. Because this rule, if                       migratory group, zone, or gear in or from
                                                      The Chief Counsel for Regulation of                   implemented, is not expected to have a                the EEZ. If the recreational sector for the
                                                    the Department of Commerce certified                    significant economic impact on any                    applicable species, migratory group,
                                                    to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the                small entities, an initial regulatory                 zone, or gear is closed, all applicable
                                                    Small Business Administration (SBA)                     flexibility analysis is not required and              harvest or possession in or from the EEZ
                                                    that this proposed rule, if adopted,                    none has been prepared.                               is prohibited.
                                                    would not have a significant economic                      No duplicative, overlapping, or
                                                    impact on a substantial number of small                                                                          (2) The sale or purchase of king
                                                                                                            conflicting Federal rules have been                   mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or cobia of
                                                    entities. The factual basis for this                    identified. In addition, no new
                                                    determination follows.                                                                                        the closed species, migratory group,
                                                                                                            reporting, record-keeping, or other                   zone, or gear type is prohibited,
                                                      A description of this proposed rule,                  compliance requirements are introduced
                                                    why it is being considered, and the                                                                           including any king or Spanish mackerel
                                                                                                            by this proposed rule. Accordingly, the               taken under the bag and possession
                                                    objectives of this proposed rule are                    Paperwork Reduction Act does not
                                                    contained in the preamble. The                                                                                limits specified in § 622.382(a), or cobia
                                                                                                            apply to this proposed rule.                          taken under the limited-harvest species
                                                    Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the
                                                    statutory basis for this proposed rule.                 List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622                   possession limit specified in
                                                      This proposed rule, if implemented,                                                                         § 622.383(b). The prohibition on the sale
                                                                                                              Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico,                 or purchase during a closure for coastal
                                                    would not be expected to directly affect                South Atlantic, King Mackerel, Spanish
                                                    any small entities. The proposed rule                                                                         migratory pelagic fish does not apply to
                                                                                                            Mackerel.                                             coastal migratory pelagic fish that were
                                                    would remove the restriction on fishing
                                                    for and retaining the recreational bag                  Alan D. Risenhoover,                                  harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior
                                                    limit of king mackerel on a vessel with                 Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for             to the effective date of the closure and
                                                    a Federal commercial permit for king                    Regulatory Programs, National Marine                  were held in cold storage by a dealer or
                                                    mackerel when the vessel is on a                        Fisheries Service.                                    processor.
                                                    recreational trip and commercial harvest                  For the reasons set out in the                      ■ 4. In § 622.386, revise the introductory
                                                    of king mackerel in that zone is closed.                preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is proposed                 paragraph to read as follows:
                                                    Similarly, it would remove the                          to be amended as follows:                             § 622.386   Restrictions on sale/purchase.
                                                    restriction on fishing for and retaining
                                                    the recreational bag limit of Spanish                   PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE                               The restrictions in this section are in
                                                    mackerel on a vessel with a Federal                     CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND                        addition to the restrictions on the sale
                                                    commercial permit for Spanish                           SOUTH ATLANTIC                                        or purchase related to commercial quota
                                                    mackerel when the vessel is on a                                                                              closures as specified in § 622.384(e)(2).
                                                    recreational trip and commercial harvest                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 622              *    *     *     *      *
                                                    of Spanish mackerel in a zone or for a                  continues to read as follows:                         [FR Doc. 2017–04003 Filed 2–28–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    certain gear type is closed. Under this                     Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.                 BILLING CODE P
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




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Document Created: 2017-03-01 03:38:53
Document Modified: 2017-03-01 03:38:53
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; request for comments.
DatesWritten comments must be received by March 31, 2017.
ContactRich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 12187 
RIN Number0648-BG56
CFR AssociatedFisheries; Fishing; Gulf of Mexico; South Atlantic; King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel

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