82_FR_18656 82 FR 18581 - Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

82 FR 18581 - Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 75 (April 20, 2017)

Page Range18581-18587
FR Document2017-08022

This final rule announces the approval of the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (Plan) and codified regulations for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC or Commission) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California (Area 2A). In addition, NMFS announces the implementation of the portions of the Plan and management measures that are not regulated through the IPHC, including the sport fishery allocations and management measures for Area 2A. The intent of this final rule is to conserve Pacific halibut, provide angler opportunity where available, and minimize bycatch of overfished groundfish species.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18581-18587]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08022]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 161223999-7367-02]
RIN 0648-BG61


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule announces the approval of the Pacific Halibut 
Catch Sharing Plan (Plan) and codified regulations for the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC or Commission) 
regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California (Area 2A). In 
addition, NMFS announces the implementation of the portions of the Plan 
and management measures that are not regulated through the IPHC, 
including the sport fishery allocations and management measures for 
Area 2A. The intent of this final rule is to conserve Pacific halibut, 
provide angler opportunity where available, and minimize bycatch of 
overfished groundfish species.

[[Page 18582]]


DATES: This rule is effective April 20, 2017. The 2017 management 
measures are effective until superseded.

ADDRESSES: Additional information regarding this action may be obtained 
by contacting the Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS West Coast 
Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. For information 
regarding all halibut fisheries and general regulations not contained 
in this rule contact the International Pacific Halibut Commission, 2320 
W. Commodore Way, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98199-1287. Electronic copies 
of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained by contacting 
Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206-526-6147, email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206-526-6147, 
fax: 206-526-6736, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Northern Pacific Halibut Act (Halibut Act) of 1982, 16 U.S.C. 
773-773K, requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to adopt 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and 
objectives of the Halibut Convention between the United States and 
Canada (Halibut Convention) (16 U.S.C. 773c) and the Halibut Act. 
Section 773c of the Halibut Act also authorizes the regional fishery 
management councils to develop regulations in addition to, but not in 
conflict with, regulations of the IPHC to govern the Pacific halibut 
catch in their corresponding U.S. Halibut Convention waters.
    Each year between 1988 and 1995, the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) developed and NMFS implemented a catch sharing plan 
in accordance with the Halibut Act to allocate the total allowable 
catch (TAC) of Pacific halibut in Area 2A between treaty Indian and 
non-Indian harvesters, and among non-Indian commercial and sport 
fisheries. In 1995, NMFS implemented the Council-recommended long-term 
Plan (60 FR 14651; March 20, 1995). Every year since, the Council has 
recommended and NMFS has approved minor revisions to the Plan to adjust 
for the changing needs of the fisheries.
    For 2017, the Council recommendation includes minor modifications 
to sport fisheries to maximize harvest opportunities while keeping 
total catch within the available quota and changes to the inseason 
procedures to allow flexibility to address bycatch concerns. The IPHC 
recommended an Area 2A TAC for 2017 of 1,330,000 pounds (lb) (603.28 
metric tons (mt)), which was included in the IPHC regulations approved 
by the Secretary of State and published by NMFS on March 7, 2017 (82 FR 
12730). On February 23, 2017, NMFS published a proposed rule to approve 
the Council's recommended changes to the Plan and recreational 
management measures for Area 2A (82 FR 11419), including allocations 
consistent with the 2017 Area 2A TAC. NMFS also proposed changing the 
codified regulations to make them consistent with the Council's 
recommended changes to the inseason provisions of the Plan. This final 
rule includes these components of the proposed rule, and also contains 
dates for the sport fisheries based on the 2017 Plan and dates 
submitted by the state of California following publication of the 
proposed rule.

Incidental Halibut Retention in the Sablefish Primary Fishery North of 
Pt. Chehalis, WA

    The Plan provides that incidental halibut retention in the 
sablefish primary fishery north of Pt. Chehalis, WA, will be allowed 
when the Area 2A TAC is greater than 900,000 lb (408.2 mt), provided 
that a minimum of 10,000 lb (4.5 mt) is available above a Washington 
recreational TAC of 214,100 lb (97.1 mt). The Area 2A TAC for 2017 is 
high enough to allow incidental retention of halibut in this fishery. 
The Council recommended specific Pacific halibut landing restrictions 
for the sablefish primary fishery at its March 2017 meeting. NMFS will 
publish the restrictions in a separate Federal Register notice, as an 
inseason action in the groundfish fishery by April 1, 2017, or as soon 
as possible thereafter.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS accepted public comments on the Council's recommended 
modifications to the Plan and the resulting proposed domestic fishing 
regulations through March 15, 2017. NMFS received one comment letter 
from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommending 
final recreational fishing season dates for the 2017 season. Based on 
the increased TAC and greater fishing effort, CDFW recommended season 
dates of May 1-June 15, July 1-July 15, August 1-August 15, and 
September 1-October 31, until quota has been attained or until October 
31, whichever comes first. This 2017 season recommendation is 16 days 
longer than the 2016 season dates, with most of the additional open 
days in the month of May. CDFW expects catches to be higher than the 
historically low numbers of previous years, but does not expect the 
California sport fishery allocation to be exceeded. Inseason tracking 
and monitoring of catches will continue on a weekly basis. NMFS concurs 
that the CDFW-recommended season dates are appropriate, and California 
sport fishery season dates are updated in this final rule.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    As described in the proposed rule, additional stakeholder meetings 
took place during the winter. CDFW, in cooperation with their 
stakeholders, considered and recommended final sport fishery season 
dates. Washington and Oregon season dates were published in the 
proposed rule; this final rule includes the final California season 
dates in addition to the Washington and Oregon dates, as described 
above in Comments and Responses.
    This final rule includes introductory text at paragraph (8) that 
was mistakenly omitted in the proposed rule.
    The proposed rule included a new paragraph added at Sec.  
300.63(c)(2)(vi). The proposed text included the acronym ``YRCA,'' 
which was used for the first time in Sec.  300.63 but the proposed 
regulatory text did not define the acronym. This final rule includes a 
non-substantive revision at Sec.  300.63(c)(2)(vi), adding the 
definition of the Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area to the 
regulatory text, and removes the definition of the acronym from later 
in that same section, at Sec.  300.63(e)(2). The proposed rule also 
mistakenly omitted a cross-reference to Pacific coast groundfish 
regulations at Sec.  660.70(g) and (h). These two paragraphs define the 
boundaries for two Stonewall Bank YRCA expansions, which increase the 
size of the area closed by the standard Stonewall Bank YRCA (defined at 
Sec.  660.70(f)). For clarity, cross-references to the definitions of 
the two possible YRCA expansions that may be implemented inseason are 
added in this final rule. These changes to Sec.  300.63(c)(2)(vi) are 
not substantive and do not change the intent or meaning of the 
regulation described in the proposed rule.

2017 Sport Fishery Management Measures

    The sport fishing regulations for Area 2A, included in section 26 
(referring to the relevant section of the IPHC regulations) below, are 
consistent with the measures adopted by the IPHC and approved by the 
Secretary of State, but were developed by the Council and promulgated 
by the United States under

[[Page 18583]]

the Halibut Act. Section 26 refers to a section that is in addition to 
and corresponds to the numbering in the IPHC regulations published on 
March 7, 2017 (82 FR 12730). The Plan is published in the Federal 
Register but is not codified in the Code of Federal Regulations.
    In section 26 of the annual domestic management measures, ``Sport 
Fishing for Halibut'' paragraph (8) is revised to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (8) The sport fishing subareas, subquotas, fishing dates, and daily 
bag limits are as follows, except as modified under the inseason 
actions consistent with 50 CFR 300.63(c). All sport fishing in Area 2A 
is managed on a ``port of landing'' basis, whereby any halibut landed 
into a port counts toward the quota for the area in which that port is 
located, and the regulations governing the area of landing apply, 
regardless of the specific area of catch.
    (a) The quota for the area in Puget Sound and the U.S. waters in 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca, east of a line extending from 48[deg]17.30' 
N. lat., 124[deg]23.70' W. long. north to 48[deg]24.10' N. lat., 
124[deg]23.70' W. long. is 64,962 lb (29.47 mt).
    (i) The fishing seasons are:
    (A) Fishing is open May 4, 6, and 11. Any openings after May 11 
will be based on available quota and announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (B) If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen on May 21 
and/or May 25; June 1, and/or June 4, or until there is not sufficient 
quota for another full day of fishing and the area is closed by the 
Commission. After May 11, any fishery opening will be announced on the 
NMFS hotline at 800-662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed after 
May 11 unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (b) The quota for landings into ports in the area off the north 
Washington coast, west of the line described in paragraph (2)(a) of 
section 26 and north of the Queets River (47[deg]31.70' N. lat.) (North 
Coast subarea), is 115,599 lb (52.43 mt).
    (i) The fishing seasons are:
    (A) Fishing is open May 4, 6, and 11. Any openings after May 11 
will be based on available quota and announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (B) If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen on May 21 
and/or May 25; June 1, and/or June 4, or until there is not sufficient 
quota for another full day of fishing and the area is closed by the 
Commission. After May 11, any fishery opening will be announced on the 
NMFS hotline at 800-662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed after 
May 11 unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (iii) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation 
Area (YRCA). It is unlawful for recreational fishing vessels to take 
and retain, possess, or land halibut taken with recreational gear 
within the North Coast Recreational YRCA. A vessel fishing with 
recreational gear in the North Coast Recreational YRCA may not be in 
possession of any halibut. Recreational vessels may transit through the 
North Coast Recreational YRCA with or without halibut on board. The 
North Coast Recreational YRCA is a C-shaped area off the northern 
Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The North 
Coast Recreational YRCA is defined in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 
660.70(a).
    (c) The quota for landings into ports in the area between the 
Queets River, WA (47[deg]31.70' N. lat.), and Leadbetter Point, WA 
(46[deg]38.17' N. lat.) (South Coast subarea), is 50,307 lb (22.82 mt).
    (i) This subarea is divided between the all-waters fishery (the 
Washington South coast primary fishery), and the incidental nearshore 
fishery in the area from 47[deg]31.70' N. lat. south to 46[deg]58.00' 
N. lat. and east of a boundary line approximating the 30 fm depth 
contour. This area is defined by straight lines connecting all of the 
following points in the order stated as described by the following 
coordinates (the Washington South coast, northern nearshore area):
    (1) 47[deg]31.70' N. lat., 124[deg]37.03' W. long.;
    (2) 47[deg]25.67' N. lat., 124[deg]34.79' W. long.;
    (3) 47[deg]12.82' N. lat., 124[deg]29.12' W. long.; and
    (4) 46[deg]58.00' N. lat., 124[deg]24.24' W. long.
    The south coast subarea quota will be allocated as follows: 48,307 
lb (21.91 mt) for the primary fishery and 2,000 lb (0.91 mt) for the 
nearshore fishery. The primary fishery season dates are May 4, 6, and 
11. If the primary quota is projected to be obtained sooner than 
expected, the management closure may occur earlier. If sufficient quota 
remains the primary fishery will reopen on May 21 and/or May 25; June 
1, and/or June 4 until the quota for the south coast subarea primary 
fishery is taken and the season is closed by the Commission, or until 
September 30, whichever is earlier. The fishing season in the nearshore 
area commences on the first Saturday subsequent to closure of the 
primary fishery, and is open 7 days per week, until 50,307 lb (22.82 
mt) is projected to be taken by the two fisheries combined and the 
fishery is closed by the Commission or September 30, whichever is 
earlier. If the fishery is closed prior to September 30, and there is 
insufficient quota remaining to reopen the northern nearshore area for 
another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred in-
season to another Washington coastal subarea by NMFS via an update to 
the recreational halibut hotline.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (iii) Seaward of the boundary line approximating the 30-fm depth 
contour and during days open to the primary fishery, lingcod may be 
taken, retained and possessed when allowed by groundfish regulations at 
50 CFR 660.360, subpart G.
    (iv) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the South Coast Recreational YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA. It 
is unlawful for recreational fishing vessels to take and retain, 
possess, or land halibut taken with recreational gear within the South 
Coast Recreational YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA. A vessel fishing in 
the South Coast Recreational YRCA and/or Westport Offshore YRCA may not 
be in possession of any halibut. Recreational vessels may transit 
through the South Coast Recreational YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA 
with or without halibut on board. The South Coast Recreational YRCA and 
Westport Offshore YRCA are areas off the southern Washington coast 
established to protect yelloweye rockfish. The South Coast Recreational 
YRCA is defined at 50 CFR 660.70(d). The Westport Offshore YRCA is 
defined at 50 CFR 660.70(e).
    (d) The quota for landings into ports in the area between 
Leadbetter Point, WA (46[deg]38.17' N. lat.), and Cape Falcon, OR 
(45[deg]46.00' N. lat.) (Columbia River subarea), is 12,799 lb (5.81 
mt).
    (i) This subarea is divided into an all-depth fishery and a 
nearshore fishery. The nearshore fishery is allocated 500 pounds of the 
subarea allocation. The nearshore fishery extends from Leadbetter Point 
(46[deg]38.17' N. lat., 124[deg]15.88' W. long.) to the Columbia River 
(46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]15.88' W. long.) by connecting the 
following coordinates in Washington 46[deg]38.17' N. lat., 
124[deg]15.88' W. long., 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]15.88' W. long. 
and connecting to the boundary line approximating the 40 fm (73 m) 
depth contour in Oregon. The nearshore fishery opens May 2, and

[[Page 18584]]

continues 3 days per week (Monday-Wednesday) until the nearshore 
allocation is taken, or September 30, whichever is earlier. The all-
depth fishing season commences on May 1, and continues 4 days a week 
(Thursday-Sunday) until 12,799 lb (5.81 mt) are estimated to have been 
taken and the season is closed by the Commission, or September 30, 
whichever is earlier. Subsequent to this closure, if there is 
insufficient quota remaining in the Columbia River subarea for another 
fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred inseason to 
another Washington and/or Oregon subarea by NMFS via an update to the 
recreational halibut hotline. Any remaining quota would be transferred 
to each state in proportion to its contribution.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (iii) Pacific Coast groundfish may not be taken and retained, 
possessed or landed when halibut are on board the vessel, except 
sablefish, Pacific cod, flatfish species, and lingcod caught north of 
the Washington-Oregon border during the month of May, when allowed by 
Pacific Coast groundfish regulations, during days open to the all-depth 
fishery only.
    (iv) Taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on 
groundfish trips is only allowed in the nearshore area on days not open 
to all-depth Pacific halibut fisheries.
    (e) The quota for landings into ports in the area off Oregon 
between Cape Falcon (45[deg]46.00' N. lat.) and Humbug Mountain 
(42[deg]40.50' N. lat.) (Oregon Central Coast subarea), is 240,812 lb 
(109.23 mt).
    (i) The fishing seasons are:
    (A) The first season (the ``inside 40-fm'' fishery) commences June 
1, and continues 7 days a week, in the area shoreward of a boundary 
line approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth contour, until the sub-quota 
for the central Oregon ``inside 40-fm'' fishery of 28,897 lb (13.11 mt) 
or any in-season revised subquota, is estimated to have been taken and 
the season is closed by the Commission, or October 31, whichever is 
earlier. The boundary line approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth contour 
between 45[deg]46.00' N. lat. and 42[deg]40.50' N. lat. is defined at 
50 CFR 660.71(k).
    (B) The second season (spring season), which is for the ``all-
depth'' fishery, is open May 11, 12, 13; 18, 19, 20; June 1, 2, 3; 8, 
9, 10; and 15, 16, 17. The allocation to the spring season all-depth 
fishery is 151,172 lb (68.57 mt). If sufficient unharvested quota 
remains for additional fishing days, the season will re-open. Possible 
re-opening dates are June 29, 30, July 1; 13, 14, 15; and 27, 28, 29. 
Notice of the re-opening will be announced on the NMFS hotline (206) 
526-6667 or (800) 662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed on the 
re-opening dates unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (C) The third season (summer season), which is for the ``all-
depth'' fishery, will be open August 4, 5; 18, 19; September 1, 2; 15, 
16; 29, 30; October 13, 14; 27 and 28, and will continue until the 
combined spring season and summer season quotas in the area between 
Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, OR, are estimated to have been taken 
and the area is closed by the Commission, or October 31, whichever is 
earlier. The allocation to the summer season all-depth fishery is 
60,203 lb (27.31 mt). NMFS will announce on the NMFS hotline in July 
whether the fishery will re-open for the summer season in August. No 
halibut fishing will be allowed in the summer season fishery unless the 
dates are announced on the NMFS hotline. Additional fishing days may be 
opened if sufficient quota remains after the last day of the first 
scheduled open period. If, after this date, an amount greater than or 
equal to 60,000 lb (27.2 mt) remains in the combined all-depth and 
inside 40-fm (73-m) quota, the fishery may re-open every Friday and 
Saturday, beginning August 18 and ending October 31 or when there is 
insufficient quota remaining, whichever is earlier. If, after September 
4, an amount greater than or equal to 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) remains in 
the combined all-depth and inside 40-fm (73-m) quota, and the fishery 
is not already open every Friday and Saturday, the fishery may re-open 
every Friday and Saturday, beginning September 8 and 9, and ending 
October 31 or upon quota attainment, whichever is earlier. After 
September 4, the bag limit may be increased to two fish of any size per 
person, per day. NMFS will announce on the NMFS hotline whether the 
summer all-depth fishery will be open on such additional fishing days, 
what days the fishery will be open and what the bag limit is.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person, unless otherwise specified. NMFS will announce on the NMFS 
hotline any bag limit changes.
    (iii) During days open to all-depth halibut fishing when the 
groundfish fishery is restricted by depth, no groundfish may be taken 
and retained, possessed or landed, except sablefish, Pacific cod and 
flatfish species when allowed by groundfish regulations, if halibut are 
on board the vessel. During days open to all-depth halibut fishing when 
the groundfish fishery is open to all depths, any groundfish species 
permitted under the groundfish regulations may be retained, possessed 
or landed if halibut are on aboard the vessel. During days open to 
nearshore halibut fishing, flatfish species may be taken and retained 
seaward of the seasonal groundfish depths restrictions, if halibut are 
on board the vessel.
    (iv) When the all-depth halibut fishery is closed and halibut 
fishing is permitted only shoreward of a boundary line approximating 
the 40-fm (73-m) depth contour, halibut possession and retention by 
vessels operating seaward of a boundary line approximating the 40-fm 
(73-m) depth contour is prohibited.
    (v) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the Stonewall Bank YRCA. It is unlawful for recreational fishing 
vessels to take and retain, possess, or land halibut taken with 
recreational gear within the Stonewall Bank YRCA. A vessel fishing in 
the Stonewall Bank YRCA may not possess any halibut. Recreational 
vessels may transit through the Stonewall Bank YRCA with or without 
halibut on board. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is an area off central 
Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. 
The Stonewall Bank YRCA is defined at 50 CFR 660.70(f).
    (f) The quota for landings into ports in the area south of Humbug 
Mountain, OR (42[deg]40.50' N. lat.) to the Oregon/California Border 
(42[deg]00.00' N. lat.) (Southern Oregon subarea) is 10,039 lb (4.55 
mt).
    (i) The fishing season commences on May 1, and continues 7 days per 
week until the subquota is taken, or October 31, whichever is earlier.
    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut per person with no size 
limit.
    (iii) No Pacific Coast groundfish may be taken and retained, 
possessed or landed, except sablefish, Pacific cod, and flatfish 
species, in areas closed to groundfish, if halibut are on board the 
vessel.
    (g) The quota for landings into ports south of the Oregon/
California Border (42[deg]00.00' N. lat.) and along the California 
coast is 34,580 lb (15.69 mt).
    (i) The fishing season will be open May 1 through June 15, July 1 
through July 15, August 1 through August 15, and September 1 through 
October 31, or until the subarea quota is estimated to have been taken 
and the season is closed by the Commission, or October 31, whichever is 
earlier. NMFS will announce any closure by the Commission on the NMFS 
hotline (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.

[[Page 18585]]

    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.

Classification

    Regulations governing the U.S. fisheries for Pacific halibut are 
developed by the IPHC, the Council, the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, and the Secretary. Section 5 of the Halibut Act (16 
U.S.C. 773c) provides the Secretary with the general responsibility to 
carry out the Halibut Convention between Canada and the United States 
for the management of Pacific halibut, including the authority to adopt 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and 
objectives of the Halibut Convention and Halibut Act. This action is 
consistent with the Secretary's authority under the Halibut Act.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    When an agency proposes regulations, the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA) requires the agency to prepare and make available for public 
comment an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) document that 
describes the impact on small businesses, non-profit enterprises, local 
governments, and other small entities. The IRFA is to aid the agency in 
considering all reasonable regulatory alternatives that would minimize 
the economic impact on affected small entities. After the public 
comment period, the agency prepares a FRFA that takes into 
consideration any new information and public comments. This FRFA 
incorporates the IRFA and a summary of the analyses completed to 
support the action. The FRFA describes the impacts on small entities, 
which are defined in the IRFA for this action and are not repeated 
here. Below is a summary of the full analysis contained in the FRFA.
    The FRFA must contain: (1) A statement of the need for, and 
objectives of, the rule; (2) A statement of the significant issues 
raised by the public comments in response to the IRFA, a summary of the 
assessment of the agency of such issues, and a statement of any changes 
made in the proposed rule as a result of such comments; (3) The 
response of the agency to any comments filed by the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in response to the 
proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change made to the 
proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the comments; (4) A 
description and an estimate of the number of small entities to which 
the rule will apply, or an explanation of why no such estimate is 
available; (5) A description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping 
and other compliance requirements of the rule, including an estimate of 
the classes of small entities which will be subject to the requirement 
and the type of professional skills necessary for preparation of the 
report or record; and (6) A description of the steps the agency has 
taken to minimize the significant economic impact on small entities 
consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, including 
a statement of the factual, policy, and legal reasons for selecting the 
alternative adopted in the final rule and why each one of the other 
significant alternatives to the rule considered by the agency which 
affect the impact on small entities was rejected. The description of 
this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are described in the 
preamble to the proposed rule and are not repeated here.
    NMFS published the proposed rule on March 7, 2017 (82 FR 11419). An 
IRFA was prepared and summarized in the Classification section of the 
preamble to the proposed rule. The comment period for the proposed rule 
closed on March 15, 2017, and no comments were received on the IRFA or 
the economic impacts of this action. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the SBA did not file any comments on the proposed rule.

A Description and an Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which 
the Final Rule Will Apply

    This final rule directly affects charterboat operations, and 
participants in the non-treaty directed commercial fishery off the 
coast of Washington, Oregon, and California. Specific data on the 
economics of halibut charter operations is unavailable. However, in 
January 2004, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) 
completed a report on the overall West Coast charterboat fleet. In 
surveying charterboat vessels concerning their operations in 2000, the 
PSMFC estimated that there were about 315 charterboat vessels in 
operation off Washington and Oregon. In 2000, IPHC licensed 130 vessels 
to fish in the halibut sport charter fishery. Comparing the total 
charterboat fleet to the 130 and 142 IPHC licenses in 2000 and 2007, 
respectively, approximately 41 to 45 percent of the charterboat fleet 
could participate in the halibut fishery. The PSMFC has developed 
preliminary estimates of the annual revenues earned by this fleet and 
they vary by size class of the vessels and home state. Small 
charterboat vessels range from 15 to 30 feet and typically carry 5 to 6 
passengers. Medium charterboat vessels range from 31 to 49 feet in 
length and typically carry 19 to 20 passengers. (Neither state has 
large vessels of greater than 49 feet in their fleet.) Average annual 
revenues from all types of recreational fishing, whale watching and 
other activities ranged from $7,000 for small Oregon vessels to 
$131,000 for medium Washington vessels. These data confirm that 
charterboat vessels qualify as small entities under the RFA.
    Commercial harvest vessels in West Coast fisheries are generally 
considered ``small vessels'' unless they are associated with a catcher-
processor company or affiliated with a large shorebased processing 
company. Catcher-processors cannot target halibut or keep halibut as 
bycatch. NOAA is unaware that any ``large'' seafood processing 
companies are affiliated with any of the IPHC permit holders.
    Charterboats and the non-treaty directed commercial fishing vessels 
are considered small businesses. In 2016, 607 vessels were issued IPHC 
licenses to retain halibut. IPHC issues licenses for: The directed 
commercial fishery (159 licenses in 2016) and the incidental fishery in 
the sablefish primary fishery in Area 2A (8 licenses in 2016); 
incidental halibut caught in the salmon troll fishery (310 licenses in 
2016); and the charterboat fleet (120 licenses in 2016). No vessel may 
participate in more than one of these three fisheries per year. These 
license estimates indicate the maximum number of vessels that 
participate in the fishery, and may be an overestimate because some 
vessels that obtain a license do not always participate in the halibut 
fishery. IPHC estimates that 60 vessels participated in the directed 
commercial fishery, 100 vessels in the incidental commercial (salmon) 
fishery, and 13 vessels in the incidental commercial (sablefish) 
fishery. Recent information on charterboat activity is not available; 
prior analysis indicated that 60 percent of the IPHC charterboat 
license holders may be affected by these regulations.
    The major effect of halibut management on small entities will be 
from the internationally set TAC decisions made by the IPHC. Based on 
the recommendations of the states and the Council, NMFS is implementing 
minor changes to the Plan to provide increased recreational and 
commercial opportunities under the allocations that result from the 
TAC. There are no large entities involved in the halibut fisheries; 
therefore, none of these changes will have a disproportionate negative 
effect on small entities versus large entities. These minor changes to 
the Plan are not expected to have a significant economic

[[Page 18586]]

impact on a substantial number of small entities.

A Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes, Including a Statement of the 
Factual, Policy, and Legal Reasons for Selecting the Alternative 
Adopted in the Final Rule and the Reason That Each One of the Other 
Significant Alternatives to the Rule Considered by the Agency Was 
Rejected

    There were no significant alternatives to the final rule that would 
minimize any significant impact on small entities. The Council 
recommended minor changes including updates to sport fishery season 
dates, a new state-wide season date structure for Washington sport 
fisheries, catch monitoring improvements in Puget Sound, and refining 
management measures to better control fishing effort on Pacific halibut 
and bycatch of co-occurring species such as lingcod and yelloweye 
rockfish. The purpose of these changes is to allow increased access to 
quota of halibut and co-occurring species, reduce bycatch of overfished 
species, and improve management precision. In developing the minor 
changes to the Plan that it recommended to NMFS, the Council considered 
and accepted public comment on alternatives. In large part, these 
included ``status quo'' and ``action'' alternatives, where ``status 
quo'' represented the 2016 Plan. For example, with respect to a change 
from fixed seasons to inseason monitoring and management in Puget 
Sound, the Council considered retaining current management or changing 
to inseason monitoring and management.
    For the change to lingcod retention in the portion of the Columbia 
River subarea north of the Oregon/Washington border, the Council 
considered an alternative that would cap the number of lingcod that 
could be retained on halibut trips, in addition to an alternative that 
would allow unlimited lingcod retention. Also, the Council considered a 
few minor changes that were not adopted. These changes included non-
tribal allocation changes among commercial and recreational Pacific 
halibut fisheries, as well as shifting quota among Oregon state's 
recreational fisheries. Changing allocation schemes between the non-
tribal commercial and recreational fisheries proved to be difficult, 
and the Council ultimately decided that the potential benefits were too 
few. The Council chose to maintain the current Oregon recreational 
season structures, because other management measures were developed to 
reduce yelloweye rockfish bycatch that did not require changes to the 
season structures.
    The changes to the Plan are expected to slightly increase fishing 
opportunities in some areas at some times and to slightly decrease 
fishing opportunities in other areas at other times. None of these 
changes are controversial and none are expected to result in 
substantial environmental or economic impacts. These actions are 
intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut, to provide 
angler opportunity where available, and to protect overfished 
groundfish species from incidental catch in the halibut fisheries. NMFS 
does not consider the changes to the plan that were considered by the 
Council to constitute significant alternatives; therefore, NMFS did not 
analyze alternatives to the above changes to the Plan other than the 
proposed changes and the status quo for purposes of the FRFA. Effects 
of the status quo and the final changes are similar because the changes 
to the Plan for 2017 are not substantially different from the 2016 
Plan. The changes to the Plan are not expected to have a significant 
economic impact.
    The changes to the Plan and codified regulations are authorized 
under the Halibut Act, implementing regulations at 50 CFR 300.60-65, 
and the Council process of annually evaluating the utility and 
effectiveness of Area 2A halibut management under the Plan. The sport 
and commercial management measures implement the Plan by managing the 
fisheries to meet the differing fishery needs of the various areas 
along the coast according to the Plan's objectives. The changes to the 
Plan and domestic management measures do not include any new reporting 
or recordkeeping requirements. These changes will also not duplicate, 
overlap or conflict with other laws or regulations. Consequently, these 
changes are not expected to have a ``significant'' economic impact on a 
``substantial number'' of small entities. Nonetheless, NMFS has 
prepared a FRFA, for which the full analysis is available from the 
Council or NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    There are no projected reporting or recordkeeping requirements 
associated with this action.
    There are no relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with this action.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, the Secretary recognizes the 
sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes over shared 
Federal and tribal fishery resources. Section 302(b)(5) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act establishes a 
seat on the Pacific Council for a representative of an Indian tribe 
with Federally recognized fishing rights from California, Oregon, 
Washington, or Idaho.
    The U.S. Government formally recognizes that the 13 Washington 
Tribes have treaty rights to fish for Pacific halibut. In general 
terms, the quantification of those rights is 50 percent of the 
harvestable surplus of Pacific halibut available in the tribes' usual 
and accustomed fishing areas (described at 50 CFR 300.64). Each of the 
treaty tribes has the discretion to administer their fisheries and to 
establish their own policies to achieve program objectives. 
Accordingly, tribal allocations and regulations, including the proposed 
changes to the Plan, have been developed in consultation with the 
affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal consensus.
    NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the continued 
implementation of the Plan in 2014 and the Plan changes for 2017 are 
not expected to have any effects on the environment beyond those 
discussed in the EA and in the finding of no significant impact 
(FONSI). A copy of the EA is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS conducted a formal Section 7 consultation under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) for the Area 2A Catch Sharing Plan for 2017 (March 
17, 2017) addressing the effects of implementing the Plan on ESA-listed 
yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and bocaccio in Puget Sound, the 
Southern Distinct Population Segment of green sturgeon, salmon, marine 
mammals, and sea turtles. In the biological opinion the Regional 
Administrator determined that the implementation of the Plan for 2017 
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Puget Sound 
yelloweye rockfish, Puget Sound canary rockfish, Puget Sound bocaccio, 
Puget Sound Chinook, Lower Columbia River Chinook, and southern green 
sturgeon. It is not expected to result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat for green sturgeon or result in the 
destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat for 
Puget Sound yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, or bocaccio. In 
addition, the opinion concluded that the implementation of the Plan is 
not likely to adversely affect marine mammals, the remaining listed 
salmon species and sea turtles, and is not likely to adversely affect 
critical habitat for Southern resident killer whales, leatherback sea 
turtles, any listed salmonids, and

[[Page 18587]]

humpback whales. Further, the Regional Administrator determined, in a 
letter dated March 12, 2014, that implementation of the Plan will have 
no effect on the southern DPS of eulachon.
    NMFS has initiated consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service on the effects of the halibut fishery on seabirds, bull trout, 
and sea otters. This consultation is not complete at this time. NMFS 
has prepared a 7(a)(2)/7(d) determination memo under the ESA concluding 
that any effects of the 2017 fishery on listed seabirds are not likely 
to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species; nor will 
it make an irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources by the 
agency.
    NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 
and make this rule effective upon publication in the Federal Register, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule may become 
effective on April 1, 2017, when incidental halibut retention in the 
sablefish primary fishery begins, or as soon as possible thereafter. 
This rule includes NMFS' approval of the Council's recommended changes 
to the Plan for 2017. The Catch Sharing Plan includes the allocation to 
the sablefish primary fishery. Additionally, the Council's 2017 Plan 
approved in this rule includes changes that respond to the needs of the 
fisheries in each state, including fisheries that begin in early May. 
Therefore, allowing the 2016 subarea allocations and Plan to remain in 
place would not respond to the needs of the fishery and would be in 
conflict with the Council's final recommendation for 2017. For these 
reasons, a delay in effectiveness could cause economic harm to the 
fishing industry and associated fishing communities by reducing fishing 
opportunity at the start of the fishing year to keep catch within the 
lower 2016 allocations or result in harvest levels inconsistent with 
the best available scientific information. As a result of the potential 
harm to fishing communities that could be caused by delaying the 
effectiveness of this final rule, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delay in effectiveness and make this rule effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antarctica, Canada, Exports, 
Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, Imports, Indians, Labeling, Marine resources, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Russian Federation, 
Transportation, Treaties, Wildlife.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 
U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq., 31 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.

    Dated: April 17, 2017.
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 300, subpart 
E, is amended as follows:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart E--Pacific Halibut Fisheries

0
1. The authority citation for part 300, subpart E, continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.


0
2. In Sec.  300.63, add paragraph (c)(1)(v), revise paragraphs 
(c)(2)(iv) and (v), add paragraph (c)(2)(vi), and revise paragraph 
(e)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.63  Catch sharing plan and domestic management measures in 
area 2A.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (v) Notwithstanding regulations at (c)(1)(i) of this section, if 
the total estimated yelloweye rockfish bycatch mortality from 
recreational halibut trips in all Oregon subareas is projected to 
exceed 22 percent of the annual Oregon recreational yelloweye rockfish 
harvest guideline, NMFS may take inseason action to reduce yelloweye 
rockfish bycatch mortality in the halibut fishery while allowing 
allocation objectives to be met to the extent possible.
    (2) * * *
    (iv) Modification of sport fishing days per calendar week;
    (v) Modification of subarea quotas; and
    (vi) Modification of the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish 
Conservation Area (YRCA) restrictions off Oregon using YRCA expansions 
as defined in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.70(g) or (h).
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the incidental catch 
fishery during the sablefish primary fishery north of Pt. Chehalis, 
Washington, in Area 2A are required to fish outside of a closed area. 
Under Pacific Coast groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.230, fishing 
with limited entry fixed gear is prohibited within the North Coast 
Commercial YRCA. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land 
halibut taken with limited entry fixed gear within the North Coast 
Commercial YRCA. The North Coast Commercial YRCA is an area off the 
northern Washington coast, overlapping the northern part of the North 
Coast Recreational YRCA, and is defined by straight lines connecting 
latitude and longitude coordinates. Coordinates for the North Coast 
Commercial YRCA are specified in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 
660.70(b).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-08022 Filed 4-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              18581

                                             authority for this collection of                        companies. Moreover, the rules adopted                requirements, Satellites,
                                             information is contained in 47 U.S.C.                   in the 2016 Foreign Ownership Report                  Telecommunications.
                                             151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 160, 303(r), 309,             and Order included the following                      Federal Communications Commission.
                                             310 and 403.                                            broadcast-specific provisions in lieu of              Marlene H. Dortch,
                                                Total Annual Burden: 1,830 hours.                    provisions applicable to common carrier
                                                Total Annual Cost: $524,400.                                                                               Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
                                                                                                     licensees:
                                                Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:                   • Broadcast licensees filing a petition              For the reasons discussed in the
                                             In submitting the information requested,                for declaratory ruling (petition) to                  preamble, the Federal Communications
                                             respondents may need to disclose                        request Commission approval of foreign                Commission amends 47 CFR part 1 as
                                             confidential information to satisfy the                 ownership in excess of the 25 percent                 follows:
                                             requirements. However, covered entities                 benchmark in Section 310(b)(4) will use
                                             would be free to request that such                      the broadcast ‘‘attribution’’ criteria to             PART 1—PRACTICE AND
                                             materials submitted to the Commission                   determine those U.S. and foreign                      PROCEDURE
                                             be withheld from public inspection (see                 ownership interests that must be
                                             47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission’s                        disclosed in the petition. The disclosure             ■ 1. The authority citation for part 1 is
                                             rules).                                                 will ensure the Commission has                        revised to read as follows:
                                                Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No                    sufficient information to understand the                Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79, et seq.; 47 U.S.C.
                                             impact(s).                                              licensee’s ownership structure and to                 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 157, 160, 201, 225,
                                                Needs and Uses: On September 29,                     verify the identity and ultimate control              227, 303, 309, 310, 332, 1403, 1404, 1451,
                                             2016, the Commission adopted final                      of the foreign investor for which the                 1452, and 1455.
                                             rules in Review of Foreign Ownership                    petitioner seeks specific approval.                   §§ 1.990 through 1.994     [Removed]
                                             Policies for Broadcast, Common Carrier                     • Broadcast licensees will use the
                                             and Aeronautical Radio Licensees under                  broadcast ‘‘insulation criteria’’ set forth           ■ 2. In Subpart F, remove the
                                             Section 310(b)(4) of the                                in the broadcast attribution rules in                 undesignated center heading ‘‘Foreign
                                             Communications Act of 1934, as                          determining whether the broadcaster                   Ownership of Common Carrier,
                                             Amended, Report and Order, 31 FCC                       must include in its petition a request for            Aeronautical en Route, and
                                             Rcd 11272 (2016) (2016 Foreign                          ‘‘specific approval’’ of a particular                 Aeronautical Fixed Radio Station
                                             Ownership Report and Order). In the                     foreign investor because the investor                 Licensees’’ and §§ 1.990 through 1.994.
                                             2016 Foreign Ownership Order, the                       holds, or would hold, directly and/or                 [FR Doc. 2017–07808 Filed 4–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                             Commission:                                             indirectly, more than 5 percent (or, in               BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
                                                • Modified its foreign ownership                     the case of certain passive investors,
                                             filing and review process for broadcast                 more than 10 percent) of the total
                                             licensees by extending to such licensees                outstanding capital stock (equity) and/or
                                             the streamlined rules and procedures                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                                                                     voting stock (or a controlling share) of
                                             developed for foreign ownership                         the licensee’s controlling U.S.-organized             National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                             reviews of common carrier and certain                   parent company. The current insulation                Administration
                                             aeronautical licensees (collectively,                   criteria for common carrier licensees
                                             ‘‘common carrier’’ licensees) (previously               will continue to apply.                               50 CFR Part 300
                                             codified in Part 1, Subpart F, Sections                    In addition to these tailored changes
                                             1.990 through 1.994 of the                              to incorporate broadcast licensees into               [Docket No. 161223999–7367–02]
                                             Commission’s rules), adopted in Review                  the existing foreign ownership rules                  RIN 0648–BG61
                                             of Foreign Ownership Policies for                       applicable to common carrier licensees
                                             Common Carrier and Aeronautical                         under Section 310(b)(4), the 2016                     Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch
                                             Radio Licensees under Section 310(b)(4)                 Foreign Ownership Report and Order                    Sharing Plan
                                             of the Communications Act of 1934, as                   clarified the Commission’s foreign
                                             Amended, IB Docket No. 11–133,                          ownership compliance procedures (to                   AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                             Second Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd                     be codified in Section 1.5004(f)(3)–(4))              Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                             5741(2013), with certain modifications                  allowing a broadcast or common carrier                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                             to tailor them to the broadcast context;                licensee to file a petition for declaratory           Commerce.
                                             and                                                     ruling to remedy the licensee’s                       ACTION: Final rule.
                                                • Reformed the methodology used by                   inadvertent non-compliance with the
                                             both common carrier and broadcast                       statutory foreign ownership limits or the             SUMMARY:   This final rule announces the
                                             licensees that are, or are controlled by,               terms and conditions of the licensee’s                approval of the Pacific Halibut Catch
                                             U.S. publicly traded companies to                       existing foreign ownership ruling with                Sharing Plan (Plan) and codified
                                             assess their compliance with the foreign                reasonable assurance that the                         regulations for the International Pacific
                                             ownership limits in Sections 310(b)(3)                  Commission will not take enforcement                  Halibut Commission’s (IPHC or
                                             and 310(b)(4) of the Act, respectively.                 action.                                               Commission) regulatory Area 2A off
                                                The 2016 Foreign Ownership Report                       The Commission also made non-                      Washington, Oregon, and California
                                             and Order incorporated broadcasters                     substantial changes to this information               (Area 2A). In addition, NMFS
                                             into the common carrier foreign                         collection to renumber the foreign                    announces the implementation of the
                                             ownership rules through various                         ownership rules. There is for the most                portions of the Plan and management
                                             changes to the rules, including adding                  part a one-to-one correlation between                 measures that are not regulated through
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES




                                             new paragraph (e) to Section 1.5000,                    the existing rules (1.990–1.994) and the              the IPHC, including the sport fishery
                                             which sets forth the new methodology                    new rules (1.5000–1.5004).                            allocations and management measures
                                             for eligible public companies—both                                                                            for Area 2A. The intent of this final rule
                                             broadcast and common carrier—and                        List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 1, 25,               is to conserve Pacific halibut, provide
                                             new paragraphs (f)(2)–(3) of Section                    73 and 74                                             angler opportunity where available, and
                                             1.5004, which sets forth new                              Communications common carriers,                     minimize bycatch of overfished
                                             compliance provisions for such                          Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping                    groundfish species.


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                                             18582              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             DATES:  This rule is effective April 20,                address bycatch concerns. The IPHC                    catches to be higher than the historically
                                             2017. The 2017 management measures                      recommended an Area 2A TAC for 2017                   low numbers of previous years, but does
                                             are effective until superseded.                         of 1,330,000 pounds (lb) (603.28 metric               not expect the California sport fishery
                                             ADDRESSES: Additional information                       tons (mt)), which was included in the                 allocation to be exceeded. Inseason
                                             regarding this action may be obtained by                IPHC regulations approved by the                      tracking and monitoring of catches will
                                             contacting the Sustainable Fisheries                    Secretary of State and published by                   continue on a weekly basis. NMFS
                                             Division, NMFS West Coast Region,                       NMFS on March 7, 2017 (82 FR 12730).                  concurs that the CDFW-recommended
                                             7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA                    On February 23, 2017, NMFS published                  season dates are appropriate, and
                                             98115. For information regarding all                    a proposed rule to approve the Council’s              California sport fishery season dates are
                                             halibut fisheries and general regulations               recommended changes to the Plan and                   updated in this final rule.
                                             not contained in this rule contact the                  recreational management measures for
                                                                                                                                                           Changes From the Proposed Rule
                                             International Pacific Halibut                           Area 2A (82 FR 11419), including
                                             Commission, 2320 W. Commodore Way,                      allocations consistent with the 2017                     As described in the proposed rule,
                                                                                                     Area 2A TAC. NMFS also proposed                       additional stakeholder meetings took
                                             Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98199–1287.
                                                                                                     changing the codified regulations to                  place during the winter. CDFW, in
                                             Electronic copies of the Regulatory
                                                                                                     make them consistent with the                         cooperation with their stakeholders,
                                             Impact Review (RIR) and Final
                                                                                                     Council’s recommended changes to the                  considered and recommended final
                                             Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)
                                                                                                     inseason provisions of the Plan. This                 sport fishery season dates. Washington
                                             prepared for this action may be obtained
                                                                                                     final rule includes these components of               and Oregon season dates were
                                             by contacting Gretchen Hanshew,
                                                                                                     the proposed rule, and also contains                  published in the proposed rule; this
                                             phone: 206–526–6147, email:
                                                                                                     dates for the sport fisheries based on the            final rule includes the final California
                                             gretchen.hanshew@noaa.gov.
                                                                                                     2017 Plan and dates submitted by the                  season dates in addition to the
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                              Washington and Oregon dates, as
                                                                                                     state of California following publication
                                             Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206–526–                                                                             described above in Comments and
                                                                                                     of the proposed rule.
                                             6147, fax: 206–526–6736, or email:                                                                            Responses.
                                             gretchen.hanshew@noaa.gov.                              Incidental Halibut Retention in the                      This final rule includes introductory
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              Sablefish Primary Fishery North of Pt.                text at paragraph (8) that was mistakenly
                                                                                                     Chehalis, WA                                          omitted in the proposed rule.
                                             Background
                                                                                                        The Plan provides that incidental                     The proposed rule included a new
                                                The Northern Pacific Halibut Act                     halibut retention in the sablefish                    paragraph added at § 300.63(c)(2)(vi).
                                             (Halibut Act) of 1982, 16 U.S.C. 773–                   primary fishery north of Pt. Chehalis,                The proposed text included the
                                             773K, requires the Secretary of                         WA, will be allowed when the Area 2A                  acronym ‘‘YRCA,’’ which was used for
                                             Commerce (Secretary) to adopt                           TAC is greater than 900,000 lb (408.2                 the first time in § 300.63 but the
                                             regulations as may be necessary to carry                mt), provided that a minimum of 10,000                proposed regulatory text did not define
                                             out the purposes and objectives of the                  lb (4.5 mt) is available above a                      the acronym. This final rule includes a
                                             Halibut Convention between the United                   Washington recreational TAC of 214,100                non-substantive revision at
                                             States and Canada (Halibut Convention)                  lb (97.1 mt). The Area 2A TAC for 2017                § 300.63(c)(2)(vi), adding the definition
                                             (16 U.S.C. 773c) and the Halibut Act.                   is high enough to allow incidental                    of the Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation
                                             Section 773c of the Halibut Act also                    retention of halibut in this fishery. The             Area to the regulatory text, and removes
                                             authorizes the regional fishery                         Council recommended specific Pacific                  the definition of the acronym from later
                                             management councils to develop                          halibut landing restrictions for the                  in that same section, at § 300.63(e)(2).
                                             regulations in addition to, but not in                  sablefish primary fishery at its March                The proposed rule also mistakenly
                                             conflict with, regulations of the IPHC to               2017 meeting. NMFS will publish the                   omitted a cross-reference to Pacific coast
                                             govern the Pacific halibut catch in their               restrictions in a separate Federal                    groundfish regulations at § 660.70(g)
                                             corresponding U.S. Halibut Convention                   Register notice, as an inseason action in             and (h). These two paragraphs define
                                             waters.                                                 the groundfish fishery by April 1, 2017,              the boundaries for two Stonewall Bank
                                                Each year between 1988 and 1995, the                 or as soon as possible thereafter.                    YRCA expansions, which increase the
                                             Pacific Fishery Management Council                                                                            size of the area closed by the standard
                                             (Council) developed and NMFS                            Comments and Responses
                                                                                                                                                           Stonewall Bank YRCA (defined at
                                             implemented a catch sharing plan in                        NMFS accepted public comments on                   § 660.70(f)). For clarity, cross-references
                                             accordance with the Halibut Act to                      the Council’s recommended                             to the definitions of the two possible
                                             allocate the total allowable catch (TAC)                modifications to the Plan and the                     YRCA expansions that may be
                                             of Pacific halibut in Area 2A between                   resulting proposed domestic fishing                   implemented inseason are added in this
                                             treaty Indian and non-Indian harvesters,                regulations through March 15, 2017.                   final rule. These changes to
                                             and among non-Indian commercial and                     NMFS received one comment letter                      § 300.63(c)(2)(vi) are not substantive and
                                             sport fisheries. In 1995, NMFS                          from the California Department of Fish                do not change the intent or meaning of
                                             implemented the Council-recommended                     and Wildlife (CDFW) recommending                      the regulation described in the proposed
                                             long-term Plan (60 FR 14651; March 20,                  final recreational fishing season dates               rule.
                                             1995). Every year since, the Council has                for the 2017 season. Based on the
                                             recommended and NMFS has approved                       increased TAC and greater fishing effort,             2017 Sport Fishery Management
                                             minor revisions to the Plan to adjust for               CDFW recommended season dates of                      Measures
                                             the changing needs of the fisheries.                    May 1–June 15, July 1–July 15, August                   The sport fishing regulations for Area
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES




                                                For 2017, the Council                                1–August 15, and September 1–October                  2A, included in section 26 (referring to
                                             recommendation includes minor                           31, until quota has been attained or                  the relevant section of the IPHC
                                             modifications to sport fisheries to                     until October 31, whichever comes first.              regulations) below, are consistent with
                                             maximize harvest opportunities while                    This 2017 season recommendation is 16                 the measures adopted by the IPHC and
                                             keeping total catch within the available                days longer than the 2016 season dates,               approved by the Secretary of State, but
                                             quota and changes to the inseason                       with most of the additional open days                 were developed by the Council and
                                             procedures to allow flexibility to                      in the month of May. CDFW expects                     promulgated by the United States under


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         18583

                                             the Halibut Act. Section 26 refers to a                 fishery opening will be announced on                  nearshore area commences on the first
                                             section that is in addition to and                      the NMFS hotline at 800–662–9825. No                  Saturday subsequent to closure of the
                                             corresponds to the numbering in the                     halibut fishing will be allowed after                 primary fishery, and is open 7 days per
                                             IPHC regulations published on March 7,                  May 11 unless the date is announced on                week, until 50,307 lb (22.82 mt) is
                                             2017 (82 FR 12730). The Plan is                         the NMFS hotline.                                     projected to be taken by the two
                                             published in the Federal Register but is                   (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut            fisheries combined and the fishery is
                                             not codified in the Code of Federal                     of any size per day per person.                       closed by the Commission or September
                                             Regulations.                                               (iii) Recreational fishing for                     30, whichever is earlier. If the fishery is
                                                In section 26 of the annual domestic                 groundfish and halibut is prohibited                  closed prior to September 30, and there
                                             management measures, ‘‘Sport Fishing                    within the North Coast Recreational                   is insufficient quota remaining to
                                             for Halibut’’ paragraph (8) is revised to               Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area                  reopen the northern nearshore area for
                                             read as follows:                                        (YRCA). It is unlawful for recreational               another fishing day, then any remaining
                                             *       *    *     *     *                              fishing vessels to take and retain,                   quota may be transferred in-season to
                                                (8) The sport fishing subareas,                      possess, or land halibut taken with                   another Washington coastal subarea by
                                             subquotas, fishing dates, and daily bag                 recreational gear within the North Coast              NMFS via an update to the recreational
                                             limits are as follows, except as modified               Recreational YRCA. A vessel fishing                   halibut hotline.
                                             under the inseason actions consistent                   with recreational gear in the North Coast                (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut
                                                                                                     Recreational YRCA may not be in                       of any size per day per person.
                                             with 50 CFR 300.63(c). All sport fishing
                                                                                                     possession of any halibut. Recreational                  (iii) Seaward of the boundary line
                                             in Area 2A is managed on a ‘‘port of
                                                                                                     vessels may transit through the North                 approximating the 30-fm depth contour
                                             landing’’ basis, whereby any halibut                                                                          and during days open to the primary
                                             landed into a port counts toward the                    Coast Recreational YRCA with or
                                                                                                     without halibut on board. The North                   fishery, lingcod may be taken, retained
                                             quota for the area in which that port is                                                                      and possessed when allowed by
                                             located, and the regulations governing                  Coast Recreational YRCA is a C-shaped
                                                                                                     area off the northern Washington coast                groundfish regulations at 50 CFR
                                             the area of landing apply, regardless of                                                                      660.360, subpart G.
                                             the specific area of catch.                             intended to protect yelloweye rockfish.
                                                                                                     The North Coast Recreational YRCA is                     (iv) Recreational fishing for
                                                (a) The quota for the area in Puget                                                                        groundfish and halibut is prohibited
                                             Sound and the U.S. waters in the Strait                 defined in groundfish regulations at 50
                                                                                                     CFR 660.70(a).                                        within the South Coast Recreational
                                             of Juan de Fuca, east of a line extending                                                                     YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA. It
                                                                                                        (c) The quota for landings into ports
                                             from 48°17.30′ N. lat., 124°23.70′ W.                                                                         is unlawful for recreational fishing
                                                                                                     in the area between the Queets River,
                                             long. north to 48°24.10′ N. lat.,                                                                             vessels to take and retain, possess, or
                                                                                                     WA (47°31.70′ N. lat.), and Leadbetter
                                             124°23.70′ W. long. is 64,962 lb (29.47                                                                       land halibut taken with recreational gear
                                                                                                     Point, WA (46°38.17′ N. lat.) (South
                                             mt).                                                                                                          within the South Coast Recreational
                                                                                                     Coast subarea), is 50,307 lb (22.82 mt).
                                                (i) The fishing seasons are:                            (i) This subarea is divided between                YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA. A
                                                (A) Fishing is open May 4, 6, and 11.                the all-waters fishery (the Washington                vessel fishing in the South Coast
                                             Any openings after May 11 will be                       South coast primary fishery), and the                 Recreational YRCA and/or Westport
                                             based on available quota and announced                  incidental nearshore fishery in the area              Offshore YRCA may not be in
                                             on the NMFS hotline.                                    from 47°31.70′ N. lat. south to 46°58.00′             possession of any halibut. Recreational
                                                (B) If sufficient quota remains, the                 N. lat. and east of a boundary line                   vessels may transit through the South
                                             fishery will reopen on May 21 and/or                    approximating the 30 fm depth contour.                Coast Recreational YRCA and Westport
                                             May 25; June 1, and/or June 4, or until                 This area is defined by straight lines                Offshore YRCA with or without halibut
                                             there is not sufficient quota for another               connecting all of the following points in             on board. The South Coast Recreational
                                             full day of fishing and the area is closed              the order stated as described by the                  YRCA and Westport Offshore YRCA are
                                             by the Commission. After May 11, any                    following coordinates (the Washington                 areas off the southern Washington coast
                                             fishery opening will be announced on                    South coast, northern nearshore area):                established to protect yelloweye
                                             the NMFS hotline at 800–662–9825. No                       (1) 47°31.70′ N. lat., 124°37.03′ W.               rockfish. The South Coast Recreational
                                             halibut fishing will be allowed after                   long.;                                                YRCA is defined at 50 CFR 660.70(d).
                                             May 11 unless the date is announced on                     (2) 47°25.67′ N. lat., 124°34.79′ W.               The Westport Offshore YRCA is defined
                                             the NMFS hotline.                                       long.;                                                at 50 CFR 660.70(e).
                                                (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut                 (3) 47°12.82′ N. lat., 124°29.12′ W.                  (d) The quota for landings into ports
                                             of any size per day per person.                         long.; and                                            in the area between Leadbetter Point,
                                                (b) The quota for landings into ports                   (4) 46°58.00′ N. lat., 124°24.24′ W.               WA (46°38.17′ N. lat.), and Cape Falcon,
                                             in the area off the north Washington                    long.                                                 OR (45°46.00′ N. lat.) (Columbia River
                                             coast, west of the line described in                       The south coast subarea quota will be              subarea), is 12,799 lb (5.81 mt).
                                             paragraph (2)(a) of section 26 and north                allocated as follows: 48,307 lb (21.91                   (i) This subarea is divided into an all-
                                             of the Queets River (47°31.70′ N. lat.)                 mt) for the primary fishery and 2,000 lb              depth fishery and a nearshore fishery.
                                             (North Coast subarea), is 115,599 lb                    (0.91 mt) for the nearshore fishery. The              The nearshore fishery is allocated 500
                                             (52.43 mt).                                             primary fishery season dates are May 4,               pounds of the subarea allocation. The
                                                (i) The fishing seasons are:                         6, and 11. If the primary quota is                    nearshore fishery extends from
                                                (A) Fishing is open May 4, 6, and 11.                projected to be obtained sooner than                  Leadbetter Point (46°38.17′ N. lat.,
                                             Any openings after May 11 will be                       expected, the management closure may                  124°15.88′ W. long.) to the Columbia
                                             based on available quota and announced                  occur earlier. If sufficient quota remains            River (46°16.00′ N. lat., 124°15.88′ W.
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                                             on the NMFS hotline.                                    the primary fishery will reopen on May                long.) by connecting the following
                                                (B) If sufficient quota remains, the                 21 and/or May 25; June 1, and/or June                 coordinates in Washington 46°38.17′ N.
                                             fishery will reopen on May 21 and/or                    4 until the quota for the south coast                 lat., 124°15.88′ W. long., 46°16.00′ N.
                                             May 25; June 1, and/or June 4, or until                 subarea primary fishery is taken and the              lat., 124°15.88′ W. long. and connecting
                                             there is not sufficient quota for another               season is closed by the Commission, or                to the boundary line approximating the
                                             full day of fishing and the area is closed              until September 30, whichever is                      40 fm (73 m) depth contour in Oregon.
                                             by the Commission. After May 11, any                    earlier. The fishing season in the                    The nearshore fishery opens May 2, and


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                                             18584              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             continues 3 days per week (Monday–                      re-open. Possible re-opening dates are                days open to all-depth halibut fishing
                                             Wednesday) until the nearshore                          June 29, 30, July 1; 13, 14, 15; and 27,              when the groundfish fishery is open to
                                             allocation is taken, or September 30,                   28, 29. Notice of the re-opening will be              all depths, any groundfish species
                                             whichever is earlier. The all-depth                     announced on the NMFS hotline (206)                   permitted under the groundfish
                                             fishing season commences on May 1,                      526–6667 or (800) 662–9825. No halibut                regulations may be retained, possessed
                                             and continues 4 days a week                             fishing will be allowed on the re-                    or landed if halibut are on aboard the
                                             (Thursday–Sunday) until 12,799 lb (5.81                 opening dates unless the date is                      vessel. During days open to nearshore
                                             mt) are estimated to have been taken                    announced on the NMFS hotline.                        halibut fishing, flatfish species may be
                                             and the season is closed by the                            (C) The third season (summer season),              taken and retained seaward of the
                                             Commission, or September 30,                            which is for the ‘‘all-depth’’ fishery, will          seasonal groundfish depths restrictions,
                                             whichever is earlier. Subsequent to this                be open August 4, 5; 18, 19; September                if halibut are on board the vessel.
                                             closure, if there is insufficient quota                 1, 2; 15, 16; 29, 30; October 13, 14; 27                 (iv) When the all-depth halibut
                                             remaining in the Columbia River                         and 28, and will continue until the                   fishery is closed and halibut fishing is
                                             subarea for another fishing day, then                   combined spring season and summer                     permitted only shoreward of a boundary
                                             any remaining quota may be transferred                  season quotas in the area between Cape                line approximating the 40-fm (73-m)
                                             inseason to another Washington and/or                   Falcon and Humbug Mountain, OR, are                   depth contour, halibut possession and
                                             Oregon subarea by NMFS via an update                    estimated to have been taken and the                  retention by vessels operating seaward
                                             to the recreational halibut hotline. Any                area is closed by the Commission, or                  of a boundary line approximating the
                                             remaining quota would be transferred to                 October 31, whichever is earlier. The                 40-fm (73-m) depth contour is
                                             each state in proportion to its                         allocation to the summer season all-                  prohibited.
                                             contribution.                                           depth fishery is 60,203 lb (27.31 mt).                   (v) Recreational fishing for groundfish
                                                (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut              NMFS will announce on the NMFS                        and halibut is prohibited within the
                                             of any size per day per person.                         hotline in July whether the fishery will              Stonewall Bank YRCA. It is unlawful for
                                                (iii) Pacific Coast groundfish may not               re-open for the summer season in                      recreational fishing vessels to take and
                                             be taken and retained, possessed or                     August. No halibut fishing will be                    retain, possess, or land halibut taken
                                             landed when halibut are on board the                    allowed in the summer season fishery                  with recreational gear within the
                                             vessel, except sablefish, Pacific cod,                  unless the dates are announced on the                 Stonewall Bank YRCA. A vessel fishing
                                             flatfish species, and lingcod caught                    NMFS hotline. Additional fishing days                 in the Stonewall Bank YRCA may not
                                             north of the Washington-Oregon border                   may be opened if sufficient quota                     possess any halibut. Recreational
                                             during the month of May, when allowed                   remains after the last day of the first               vessels may transit through the
                                             by Pacific Coast groundfish regulations,                scheduled open period. If, after this                 Stonewall Bank YRCA with or without
                                             during days open to the all-depth                       date, an amount greater than or equal to              halibut on board. The Stonewall Bank
                                             fishery only.                                           60,000 lb (27.2 mt) remains in the                    YRCA is an area off central Oregon, near
                                                (iv) Taking, retaining, possessing, or               combined all-depth and inside 40-fm                   Stonewall Bank, intended to protect
                                             landing halibut on groundfish trips is                  (73-m) quota, the fishery may re-open                 yelloweye rockfish. The Stonewall Bank
                                             only allowed in the nearshore area on                   every Friday and Saturday, beginning                  YRCA is defined at 50 CFR 660.70(f).
                                             days not open to all-depth Pacific                      August 18 and ending October 31 or                       (f) The quota for landings into ports
                                             halibut fisheries.                                      when there is insufficient quota                      in the area south of Humbug Mountain,
                                                (e) The quota for landings into ports                remaining, whichever is earlier. If, after            OR (42°40.50′ N. lat.) to the Oregon/
                                             in the area off Oregon between Cape                     September 4, an amount greater than or                California Border (42°00.00′ N. lat.)
                                             Falcon (45°46.00′ N. lat.) and Humbug                   equal to 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) remains in               (Southern Oregon subarea) is 10,039 lb
                                             Mountain (42°40.50′ N. lat.) (Oregon                    the combined all-depth and inside 40-                 (4.55 mt).
                                             Central Coast subarea), is 240,812 lb                   fm (73-m) quota, and the fishery is not                  (i) The fishing season commences on
                                             (109.23 mt).                                            already open every Friday and Saturday,               May 1, and continues 7 days per week
                                                (i) The fishing seasons are:                         the fishery may re-open every Friday                  until the subquota is taken, or October
                                                (A) The first season (the ‘‘inside 40-               and Saturday, beginning September 8                   31, whichever is earlier.
                                             fm’’ fishery) commences June 1, and                     and 9, and ending October 31 or upon                     (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut
                                             continues 7 days a week, in the area                    quota attainment, whichever is earlier.               per person with no size limit.
                                             shoreward of a boundary line                            After September 4, the bag limit may be                  (iii) No Pacific Coast groundfish may
                                             approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth                    increased to two fish of any size per                 be taken and retained, possessed or
                                             contour, until the sub-quota for the                    person, per day. NMFS will announce                   landed, except sablefish, Pacific cod,
                                             central Oregon ‘‘inside 40-fm’’ fishery of              on the NMFS hotline whether the                       and flatfish species, in areas closed to
                                             28,897 lb (13.11 mt) or any in-season                   summer all-depth fishery will be open                 groundfish, if halibut are on board the
                                             revised subquota, is estimated to have                  on such additional fishing days, what                 vessel.
                                             been taken and the season is closed by                  days the fishery will be open and what                   (g) The quota for landings into ports
                                             the Commission, or October 31,                          the bag limit is.                                     south of the Oregon/California Border
                                             whichever is earlier. The boundary line                    (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut            (42°00.00′ N. lat.) and along the
                                             approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth                    of any size per day per person, unless                California coast is 34,580 lb (15.69 mt).
                                             contour between 45°46.00′ N. lat. and                   otherwise specified. NMFS will                           (i) The fishing season will be open
                                             42°40.50′ N. lat. is defined at 50 CFR                  announce on the NMFS hotline any bag                  May 1 through June 15, July 1 through
                                             660.71(k).                                              limit changes.                                        July 15, August 1 through August 15,
                                                (B) The second season (spring season),                  (iii) During days open to all-depth                and September 1 through October 31, or
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                                             which is for the ‘‘all-depth’’ fishery, is              halibut fishing when the groundfish                   until the subarea quota is estimated to
                                             open May 11, 12, 13; 18, 19, 20; June 1,                fishery is restricted by depth, no                    have been taken and the season is
                                             2, 3; 8, 9, 10; and 15, 16, 17. The                     groundfish may be taken and retained,                 closed by the Commission, or October
                                             allocation to the spring season all-depth               possessed or landed, except sablefish,                31, whichever is earlier. NMFS will
                                             fishery is 151,172 lb (68.57 mt). If                    Pacific cod and flatfish species when                 announce any closure by the
                                             sufficient unharvested quota remains for                allowed by groundfish regulations, if                 Commission on the NMFS hotline (206)
                                             additional fishing days, the season will                halibut are on board the vessel. During               526–6667 or (800) 662–9825.


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         18585

                                               (ii) The daily bag limit is one halibut               projected reporting, recordkeeping and                range from 31 to 49 feet in length and
                                             of any size per day per person.                         other compliance requirements of the                  typically carry 19 to 20 passengers.
                                                                                                     rule, including an estimate of the classes            (Neither state has large vessels of greater
                                             Classification
                                                                                                     of small entities which will be subject               than 49 feet in their fleet.) Average
                                                Regulations governing the U.S.                       to the requirement and the type of                    annual revenues from all types of
                                             fisheries for Pacific halibut are                       professional skills necessary for                     recreational fishing, whale watching
                                             developed by the IPHC, the Council, the                 preparation of the report or record; and              and other activities ranged from $7,000
                                             North Pacific Fishery Management                        (6) A description of the steps the agency             for small Oregon vessels to $131,000 for
                                             Council, and the Secretary. Section 5 of                has taken to minimize the significant                 medium Washington vessels. These data
                                             the Halibut Act (16 U.S.C. 773c)                        economic impact on small entities                     confirm that charterboat vessels qualify
                                             provides the Secretary with the general                 consistent with the stated objectives of              as small entities under the RFA.
                                             responsibility to carry out the Halibut                 applicable statutes, including a                         Commercial harvest vessels in West
                                             Convention between Canada and the                       statement of the factual, policy, and                 Coast fisheries are generally considered
                                             United States for the management of                     legal reasons for selecting the alternative           ‘‘small vessels’’ unless they are
                                             Pacific halibut, including the authority                adopted in the final rule and why each                associated with a catcher-processor
                                             to adopt regulations as may be necessary                one of the other significant alternatives             company or affiliated with a large
                                             to carry out the purposes and objectives                to the rule considered by the agency                  shorebased processing company.
                                             of the Halibut Convention and Halibut                   which affect the impact on small                      Catcher-processors cannot target halibut
                                             Act. This action is consistent with the                 entities was rejected. The description of             or keep halibut as bycatch. NOAA is
                                             Secretary’s authority under the Halibut                 this action, its purpose, and its legal               unaware that any ‘‘large’’ seafood
                                             Act.                                                    basis are described in the preamble to                processing companies are affiliated with
                                                This action has been determined to be                the proposed rule and are not repeated                any of the IPHC permit holders.
                                             not significant for purposes of Executive               here.
                                             Order 12866.                                                                                                     Charterboats and the non-treaty
                                                                                                       NMFS published the proposed rule on                 directed commercial fishing vessels are
                                                When an agency proposes regulations,                 March 7, 2017 (82 FR 11419). An IRFA
                                             the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)                                                                          considered small businesses. In 2016,
                                                                                                     was prepared and summarized in the
                                             requires the agency to prepare and make                                                                       607 vessels were issued IPHC licenses to
                                                                                                     Classification section of the preamble to
                                             available for public comment an Initial                                                                       retain halibut. IPHC issues licenses for:
                                                                                                     the proposed rule. The comment period
                                             Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)                                                                        The directed commercial fishery (159
                                                                                                     for the proposed rule closed on March
                                             document that describes the impact on                                                                         licenses in 2016) and the incidental
                                                                                                     15, 2017, and no comments were
                                             small businesses, non-profit enterprises,                                                                     fishery in the sablefish primary fishery
                                                                                                     received on the IRFA or the economic
                                             local governments, and other small                                                                            in Area 2A (8 licenses in 2016);
                                                                                                     impacts of this action. The Chief
                                             entities. The IRFA is to aid the agency                                                                       incidental halibut caught in the salmon
                                                                                                     Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA did
                                             in considering all reasonable regulatory                                                                      troll fishery (310 licenses in 2016); and
                                                                                                     not file any comments on the proposed
                                             alternatives that would minimize the                                                                          the charterboat fleet (120 licenses in
                                                                                                     rule.
                                             economic impact on affected small                                                                             2016). No vessel may participate in
                                             entities. After the public comment                      A Description and an Estimate of the                  more than one of these three fisheries
                                             period, the agency prepares a FRFA that                 Number of Small Entities To Which the                 per year. These license estimates
                                             takes into consideration any new                        Final Rule Will Apply                                 indicate the maximum number of
                                             information and public comments. This                      This final rule directly affects                   vessels that participate in the fishery,
                                             FRFA incorporates the IRFA and a                        charterboat operations, and participants              and may be an overestimate because
                                             summary of the analyses completed to                    in the non-treaty directed commercial                 some vessels that obtain a license do not
                                             support the action. The FRFA describes                  fishery off the coast of Washington,                  always participate in the halibut fishery.
                                             the impacts on small entities, which are                Oregon, and California. Specific data on              IPHC estimates that 60 vessels
                                             defined in the IRFA for this action and                 the economics of halibut charter                      participated in the directed commercial
                                             are not repeated here. Below is a                       operations is unavailable. However, in                fishery, 100 vessels in the incidental
                                             summary of the full analysis contained                  January 2004, the Pacific States Marine               commercial (salmon) fishery, and 13
                                             in the FRFA.                                            Fisheries Commission (PSMFC)                          vessels in the incidental commercial
                                                The FRFA must contain: (1) A                         completed a report on the overall West                (sablefish) fishery. Recent information
                                             statement of the need for, and objectives               Coast charterboat fleet. In surveying                 on charterboat activity is not available;
                                             of, the rule; (2) A statement of the                    charterboat vessels concerning their                  prior analysis indicated that 60 percent
                                             significant issues raised by the public                 operations in 2000, the PSMFC                         of the IPHC charterboat license holders
                                             comments in response to the IRFA, a                     estimated that there were about 315                   may be affected by these regulations.
                                             summary of the assessment of the                        charterboat vessels in operation off                     The major effect of halibut
                                             agency of such issues, and a statement                  Washington and Oregon. In 2000, IPHC                  management on small entities will be
                                             of any changes made in the proposed                     licensed 130 vessels to fish in the                   from the internationally set TAC
                                             rule as a result of such comments; (3)                  halibut sport charter fishery. Comparing              decisions made by the IPHC. Based on
                                             The response of the agency to any                       the total charterboat fleet to the 130 and            the recommendations of the states and
                                             comments filed by the Chief Counsel for                 142 IPHC licenses in 2000 and 2007,                   the Council, NMFS is implementing
                                             Advocacy of the Small Business                          respectively, approximately 41 to 45                  minor changes to the Plan to provide
                                             Administration (SBA) in response to the                 percent of the charterboat fleet could                increased recreational and commercial
                                             proposed rule, and a detailed statement                 participate in the halibut fishery. The               opportunities under the allocations that
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                                             of any change made to the proposed rule                 PSMFC has developed preliminary                       result from the TAC. There are no large
                                             in the final rule as a result of the                    estimates of the annual revenues earned               entities involved in the halibut fisheries;
                                             comments; (4) A description and an                      by this fleet and they vary by size class             therefore, none of these changes will
                                             estimate of the number of small entities                of the vessels and home state. Small                  have a disproportionate negative effect
                                             to which the rule will apply, or an                     charterboat vessels range from 15 to 30               on small entities versus large entities.
                                             explanation of why no such estimate is                  feet and typically carry 5 to 6                       These minor changes to the Plan are not
                                             available; (5) A description of the                     passengers. Medium charterboat vessels                expected to have a significant economic


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                                             18586              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             impact on a substantial number of small                 because other management measures                     the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                             entities.                                               were developed to reduce yelloweye                    Conservation and Management Act
                                                                                                     rockfish bycatch that did not require                 establishes a seat on the Pacific Council
                                             A Description of the Steps the Agency
                                                                                                     changes to the season structures.                     for a representative of an Indian tribe
                                             Has Taken To Minimize the Significant                      The changes to the Plan are expected               with Federally recognized fishing rights
                                             Economic Impact on Small Entities                       to slightly increase fishing opportunities            from California, Oregon, Washington, or
                                             Consistent With the Stated Objectives of                in some areas at some times and to                    Idaho.
                                             Applicable Statutes, Including a                        slightly decrease fishing opportunities                  The U.S. Government formally
                                             Statement of the Factual, Policy, and                   in other areas at other times. None of                recognizes that the 13 Washington
                                             Legal Reasons for Selecting the                         these changes are controversial and                   Tribes have treaty rights to fish for
                                             Alternative Adopted in the Final Rule                   none are expected to result in                        Pacific halibut. In general terms, the
                                             and the Reason That Each One of the                     substantial environmental or economic                 quantification of those rights is 50
                                             Other Significant Alternatives to the                   impacts. These actions are intended to                percent of the harvestable surplus of
                                             Rule Considered by the Agency Was                       enhance the conservation of Pacific                   Pacific halibut available in the tribes’
                                             Rejected                                                halibut, to provide angler opportunity                usual and accustomed fishing areas
                                                There were no significant alternatives               where available, and to protect                       (described at 50 CFR 300.64). Each of
                                             to the final rule that would minimize                   overfished groundfish species from                    the treaty tribes has the discretion to
                                             any significant impact on small entities.               incidental catch in the halibut fisheries.            administer their fisheries and to
                                             The Council recommended minor                           NMFS does not consider the changes to                 establish their own policies to achieve
                                             changes including updates to sport                      the plan that were considered by the                  program objectives. Accordingly, tribal
                                             fishery season dates, a new state-wide                  Council to constitute significant                     allocations and regulations, including
                                             season date structure for Washington                    alternatives; therefore, NMFS did not                 the proposed changes to the Plan, have
                                             sport fisheries, catch monitoring                       analyze alternatives to the above                     been developed in consultation with the
                                             improvements in Puget Sound, and                        changes to the Plan other than the                    affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible,
                                             refining management measures to better                  proposed changes and the status quo for               with tribal consensus.
                                             control fishing effort on Pacific halibut               purposes of the FRFA. Effects of the                     NMFS prepared an environmental
                                             and bycatch of co-occurring species                     status quo and the final changes are                  assessment (EA) for the continued
                                             such as lingcod and yelloweye rockfish.                 similar because the changes to the Plan               implementation of the Plan in 2014 and
                                             The purpose of these changes is to allow                for 2017 are not substantially different              the Plan changes for 2017 are not
                                             increased access to quota of halibut and                from the 2016 Plan. The changes to the                expected to have any effects on the
                                             co-occurring species, reduce bycatch of                 Plan are not expected to have a                       environment beyond those discussed in
                                             overfished species, and improve                         significant economic impact.                          the EA and in the finding of no
                                             management precision. In developing                        The changes to the Plan and codified               significant impact (FONSI). A copy of
                                             the minor changes to the Plan that it                   regulations are authorized under the                  the EA is available from NMFS (see
                                             recommended to NMFS, the Council                        Halibut Act, implementing regulations                 ADDRESSES).
                                             considered and accepted public                          at 50 CFR 300.60–65, and the Council                     NMFS conducted a formal Section 7
                                             comment on alternatives. In large part,                 process of annually evaluating the                    consultation under the Endangered
                                             these included ‘‘status quo’’ and                       utility and effectiveness of Area 2A                  Species Act (ESA) for the Area 2A Catch
                                             ‘‘action’’ alternatives, where ‘‘status                 halibut management under the Plan.                    Sharing Plan for 2017 (March 17, 2017)
                                             quo’’ represented the 2016 Plan. For                    The sport and commercial management                   addressing the effects of implementing
                                             example, with respect to a change from                  measures implement the Plan by                        the Plan on ESA-listed yelloweye
                                             fixed seasons to inseason monitoring                    managing the fisheries to meet the                    rockfish, canary rockfish, and bocaccio
                                             and management in Puget Sound, the                      differing fishery needs of the various                in Puget Sound, the Southern Distinct
                                             Council considered retaining current                    areas along the coast according to the                Population Segment of green sturgeon,
                                             management or changing to inseason                      Plan’s objectives. The changes to the                 salmon, marine mammals, and sea
                                             monitoring and management.                              Plan and domestic management                          turtles. In the biological opinion the
                                                For the change to lingcod retention in               measures do not include any new                       Regional Administrator determined that
                                             the portion of the Columbia River                       reporting or recordkeeping                            the implementation of the Plan for 2017
                                             subarea north of the Oregon/Washington                  requirements. These changes will also                 is not likely to jeopardize the continued
                                             border, the Council considered an                       not duplicate, overlap or conflict with               existence of Puget Sound yelloweye
                                             alternative that would cap the number                   other laws or regulations. Consequently,              rockfish, Puget Sound canary rockfish,
                                             of lingcod that could be retained on                    these changes are not expected to have                Puget Sound bocaccio, Puget Sound
                                             halibut trips, in addition to an                        a ‘‘significant’’ economic impact on a                Chinook, Lower Columbia River
                                             alternative that would allow unlimited                  ‘‘substantial number’’ of small entities.             Chinook, and southern green sturgeon.
                                             lingcod retention. Also, the Council                    Nonetheless, NMFS has prepared a                      It is not expected to result in the
                                             considered a few minor changes that                     FRFA, for which the full analysis is                  destruction or adverse modification of
                                             were not adopted. These changes                         available from the Council or NMFS (see               critical habitat for green sturgeon or
                                             included non-tribal allocation changes                  ADDRESSES).                                           result in the destruction or adverse
                                             among commercial and recreational                          There are no projected reporting or                modification of proposed critical habitat
                                             Pacific halibut fisheries, as well as                   recordkeeping requirements associated                 for Puget Sound yelloweye rockfish,
                                             shifting quota among Oregon state’s                     with this action.                                     canary rockfish, or bocaccio. In
                                             recreational fisheries. Changing                           There are no relevant Federal rules                addition, the opinion concluded that the
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                                             allocation schemes between the non-                     that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict              implementation of the Plan is not likely
                                             tribal commercial and recreational                      with this action.                                     to adversely affect marine mammals, the
                                             fisheries proved to be difficult, and the                  Pursuant to Executive Order 13175,                 remaining listed salmon species and sea
                                             Council ultimately decided that the                     the Secretary recognizes the sovereign                turtles, and is not likely to adversely
                                             potential benefits were too few. The                    status and co-manager role of Indian                  affect critical habitat for Southern
                                             Council chose to maintain the current                   tribes over shared Federal and tribal                 resident killer whales, leatherback sea
                                             Oregon recreational season structures,                  fishery resources. Section 302(b)(5) of               turtles, any listed salmonids, and


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 75 / Thursday, April 20, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              18587

                                             humpback whales. Further, the Regional                  available scientific information. As a                estimated yelloweye rockfish bycatch
                                             Administrator determined, in a letter                   result of the potential harm to fishing               mortality from recreational halibut trips
                                             dated March 12, 2014, that                              communities that could be caused by                   in all Oregon subareas is projected to
                                             implementation of the Plan will have no                 delaying the effectiveness of this final              exceed 22 percent of the annual Oregon
                                             effect on the southern DPS of eulachon.                 rule, NMFS finds good cause to waive                  recreational yelloweye rockfish harvest
                                                NMFS has initiated consultation with                 the 30-day delay in effectiveness and                 guideline, NMFS may take inseason
                                             the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on                   make this rule effective upon                         action to reduce yelloweye rockfish
                                             the effects of the halibut fishery on                   publication in the Federal Register.                  bycatch mortality in the halibut fishery
                                             seabirds, bull trout, and sea otters. This                                                                    while allowing allocation objectives to
                                             consultation is not complete at this                    List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300
                                                                                                                                                           be met to the extent possible.
                                             time. NMFS has prepared a 7(a)(2)/7(d)                    Administrative practice and                            (2) * * *
                                             determination memo under the ESA                        procedure, Antarctica, Canada, Exports,                  (iv) Modification of sport fishing days
                                             concluding that any effects of the 2017                 Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, Imports,                    per calendar week;
                                             fishery on listed seabirds are not likely               Indians, Labeling, Marine resources,                     (v) Modification of subarea quotas;
                                             to jeopardize the continued existence of                Reporting and recordkeeping                           and
                                             any listed species; nor will it make an                 requirements, Russian Federation,                        (vi) Modification of the Stonewall
                                             irreversible or irretrievable commitment                Transportation, Treaties, Wildlife.                   Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation
                                             of resources by the agency.                               Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16 U.S.C.         Area (YRCA) restrictions off Oregon
                                                NMFS finds good cause to waive the                   1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 16 U.S.C.       using YRCA expansions as defined in
                                             30-day delay in effectiveness and make                  2431 et seq., 31 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.                  groundfish regulations at 50 CFR
                                             this rule effective upon publication in                                                                       660.70(g) or (h).
                                             the Federal Register, pursuant to 5                       Dated: April 17, 2017.
                                             U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule               Alan D. Risenhoover,                                  *      *    *     *     *
                                             may become effective on April 1, 2017,                  Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for                (e) * * *
                                             when incidental halibut retention in the                Regulatory Programs, National Marine                     (2) Non-treaty commercial vessels
                                             sablefish primary fishery begins, or as                 Fisheries Service.                                    operating in the incidental catch fishery
                                             soon as possible thereafter. This rule                     For the reasons set out in the                     during the sablefish primary fishery
                                             includes NMFS’ approval of the                          preamble, 50 CFR part 300, subpart E,                 north of Pt. Chehalis, Washington, in
                                             Council’s recommended changes to the                    is amended as follows:                                Area 2A are required to fish outside of
                                             Plan for 2017. The Catch Sharing Plan                                                                         a closed area. Under Pacific Coast
                                             includes the allocation to the sablefish                PART 300—INTERNATIONAL                                groundfish regulations at 50 CFR
                                             primary fishery. Additionally, the                      FISHERIES REGULATIONS                                 660.230, fishing with limited entry fixed
                                             Council’s 2017 Plan approved in this                                                                          gear is prohibited within the North
                                             rule includes changes that respond to                   Subpart E—Pacific Halibut Fisheries                   Coast Commercial YRCA. It is unlawful
                                             the needs of the fisheries in each state,                                                                     to take and retain, possess, or land
                                             including fisheries that begin in early                 ■ 1. The authority citation for part 300,             halibut taken with limited entry fixed
                                             May. Therefore, allowing the 2016                       subpart E, continues to read as follows:              gear within the North Coast Commercial
                                             subarea allocations and Plan to remain                      Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773–773k.                    YRCA. The North Coast Commercial
                                             in place would not respond to the needs                                                                       YRCA is an area off the northern
                                                                                                     ■ 2. In § 300.63, add paragraph (c)(1)(v),
                                             of the fishery and would be in conflict                                                                       Washington coast, overlapping the
                                                                                                     revise paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) and (v), add
                                             with the Council’s final                                                                                      northern part of the North Coast
                                                                                                     paragraph (c)(2)(vi), and revise
                                             recommendation for 2017. For these                                                                            Recreational YRCA, and is defined by
                                                                                                     paragraph (e)(2) to read as follows:
                                             reasons, a delay in effectiveness could                                                                       straight lines connecting latitude and
                                             cause economic harm to the fishing                      § 300.63 Catch sharing plan and domestic              longitude coordinates. Coordinates for
                                             industry and associated fishing                         management measures in area 2A.                       the North Coast Commercial YRCA are
                                             communities by reducing fishing                         *      *      *     *    *                            specified in groundfish regulations at 50
                                             opportunity at the start of the fishing                    (c) * * *                                          CFR 660.70(b).
                                             year to keep catch within the lower                        (1) * * *                                          *      *    *     *     *
                                             2016 allocations or result in harvest                      (v) Notwithstanding regulations at                 [FR Doc. 2017–08022 Filed 4–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                             levels inconsistent with the best                       (c)(1)(i) of this section, if the total               BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2017-04-20 01:42:33
Document Modified: 2017-04-20 01:42:33
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis rule is effective April 20, 2017. The 2017 management measures are effective until superseded.
ContactGretchen Hanshew, phone: 206-526-6147, fax: 206-526-6736, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 18581 
RIN Number0648-BG61
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Antarctica; Canada; Exports; Fish; Fisheries; Fishing; Imports; Indians; Labeling; Marine Resources; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Russian Federation; Transportation; Treaties and Wildlife

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