82_FR_35804 82 FR 35658 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 5

82 FR 35658 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 5

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 146 (August 1, 2017)

Page Range35658-35660
FR Document2017-16134

NMFS issues this final rule to implement management measures described in Framework Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared and submitted jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Councils). This final rule removes the restriction on fishing for, or retaining the recreational bag and possession limits of, king and Spanish mackerel on a vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel when commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in a zone or region is closed. With implementation of this rule, persons aboard commercial vessels may fish for and retain the recreational bag and possession limits of king or Spanish mackerel during the open recreational season, even if commercial fishing for those species is closed. The purpose of this final rule is to remove Federal permit restrictions unique to commercially permitted king and Spanish mackerel vessels and to standardize vessel permit restrictions applicable after a commercial quota closure of king or Spanish mackerel in accordance with restrictions in other fisheries.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 146 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35658-35660]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16134]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 161222999-7618-02]
RIN 0648-BG56


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

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 35659]]

a vessel with a Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel 
when commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in a zone or region 
is closed. With implementation of this rule, persons aboard commercial 
vessels may fish for and retain the recreational bag and possession 
limits of king or Spanish mackerel during the open recreational season, 
even if commercial fishing for those species is closed. The purpose of 
this final rule is to remove Federal permit restrictions unique to 
commercially permitted king and Spanish mackerel vessels and to 
standardize vessel permit restrictions applicable after a commercial 
quota closure of king or Spanish mackerel in accordance with 
restrictions in other fisheries.

DATES: This final rule is effective August 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Framework Amendment 5 may be obtained 
from the Southeast Regional Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/2017/framework_am5/index.html. Framework Amendment 5 includes an 
environmental assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, 
and a regulatory impact review.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The coastal migratory pelagic fishery of the 
Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic regions is managed under the FMP and 
includes the management of the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of 
king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. The FMP was prepared 
jointly by the Councils and is implemented by NMFS through regulations 
at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.). Framework Amendment 5 and this final rule apply to the 
harvest of king and Spanish mackerel in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) of the Gulf and Atlantic regions.
    On March 1, 2017, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement 
Framework Amendment 5 and requested public comment (82 FR 12187). The 
proposed rule and Framework Amendment 5 outline the rationale for the 
actions contained in this final rule. A summary of the management 
measures described in Framework Amendment 5 and implemented by this 
final rule is provided below.

Management Measure Contained in This Final Rule

    As a result of this final rule, persons aboard vessels with a 
Federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel may fish for and 
retain the recreational bag and possession limits of these species 
during the open recreational season when the commercial season for 
those species is closed. This final rule removes Federal permit 
restrictions unique to commercially permitted king and Spanish mackerel 
vessels and standardizes vessel permit restrictions applicable after a 
commercial quota closure of king or Spanish mackerel in accordance with 
the restrictions in other fisheries. In addition, to improve clarity, 
this final rule makes non-substantive changes to the language in Sec.  
622.384(e)(3), renumbered as Sec.  622.384(e)(2), and to Sec.  622.386. 
Finally, the language aligns with changes to the regulations set forth 
in the final rule for Amendment 26 to the FMP (82 FR 17387, April 11, 
2017), which included revisions to terminology and to the management 
boundaries for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic migratory groups of king 
mackerel.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received a total of eighteen comments on the proposed rule for 
Framework Amendment 5 from commercial and recreational fishers. Nine of 
the comments were in favor of the amendment and the proposed rule, 
while six were opposed. Three additional comments were submitted that 
were not related to the proposed action; because those comments were 
outside of the scope of the actions considered for Framework Amendment 
5 and the proposed rule, NMFS is not providing specific responses to 
those comments in this final rule. The six comments opposed to the 
amendment expressed concern about relative fishing opportunities for 
the commercial versus the recreational sectors and about how the final 
rule might affect future recreational harvest.
    Additionally, several commenters (both in support of and not in 
support of the proposed action) expressed views that reflect a 
misunderstanding of both current king and Spanish mackerel Federal 
management and the effect of the rule. In particular, the comments 
reflected a misunderstanding of whether and when those aboard 
commercially permitted vessels that also hold a charter or headboat 
permit will be allowed to retain the recreational bag and possession 
limits of king or Spanish mackerel. In fact, the final rule does not 
alter the current ability of persons aboard dual-permitted vessels to 
fish for and retain the recreational bag and possession limits of the 
species when the commercial season is closed. Instead, this final rule 
changes the regulations to allow those aboard commercially permitted 
vessels for king and Spanish mackerel to fish for and retain the 
recreational bag and possession limits of the species when the 
commercial season for those species is closed, regardless of the 
capacity in which the vessel is operating (i.e., the vessels no longer 
need to be dual-permitted and operating in a for-hire capacity). With 
implementation of this rule, persons aboard commercial vessels fishing 
for king and Spanish mackerel and persons aboard dual-permitted vessels 
on for-hire trips for king and Spanish mackerel may retain the 
recreational bag and possession limits of king and Spanish mackerel, as 
long as the recreational season for those species is open, even if 
commercial fishing for those species is closed. In addition, nothing in 
this rule prevents persons aboard commercial vessels that hold multiple 
commercial permits from fishing for and retaining the recreational bag 
and possession limits of king and Spanish mackerel during the closed 
commercial season for king and Spanish mackerel while on a commercial 
trip for other species, such as snapper-grouper, as long as such 
fishing is consistent with the Federal commercial permit for each of 
those other species.
    Specific comments related to the action and proposed rule, as well 
as NMFS' respective responses, are summarized below.
    Comment 1: Allowing persons aboard commercial vessels to fish for 
king and Spanish mackerel recreationally could result in more fish 
being caught, which could result in additional regulation of the 
recreational sector.
    Response: As described in Framework Amendment 5, the recreational 
and/or stock ACLs for these species have rarely been exceeded in recent 
years, and thus the accountability measures have not been triggered 
frequently. We do not expect a significant increase in recreational 
landings in light of the additional means of access to recreational 
harvest allowed in this rule. Any effect from this final rule on 
recreational landings would likely be minimal, and therefore unlikely 
to require new recreational management measures.
    Comment 2: This final rule will allow recreationally caught fish to 
be sold by commercially permitted vessels when the commercial season is 
closed.

[[Page 35660]]

    Response: The final rule allows commercial fishers with a Federal 
commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel to use their permitted 
vessels to fish for these species and retain the recreational bag and 
possession limits outside of the commercial seasons for those species. 
However, under the regulations already in place, the sale or purchase 
of king or Spanish mackerel taken under the recreational bag and 
possession limits is prohibited when the commercial season is closed. 
Thus any fish taken in the circumstances allowed under the rule cannot 
be sold or purchased.
    Comment 3: Additional king mackerel population information is 
needed to avoid ecological or economic problems in the Gulf and 
Atlantic before approving these changes to management.
    Response: As part of the development of Framework Amendment 5, NMFS 
and the Councils carried out an analysis of the expected physical, 
biological, economic, social, and administrative effects of this 
action. This analysis incorporated data from the September 2014 
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) 38 stock assessment, 
which determined that both the Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of 
king mackerel are not overfished and are not undergoing overfishing. As 
explained in Framework Amendment 5, the additional amount of king 
mackerel that would be harvested as a result of this final rule is not 
quantifiable because the number of persons aboard commercially 
permitted vessels who would fish for and retain the recreational bag 
and possession limits of king and Spanish mackerel once the harvest 
restriction is removed and the number of days during which they could 
fish under the recreational bag and possession limits are not known. 
However, NMFS' analysis demonstrates, and the Councils agree, that 
minimal impacts to the ecology or economy would be expected as a result 
of this final rule. The next SEDAR assessment will be completed in the 
summer of 2018.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS has determined 
that this final rule is consistent with Framework Amendment 5, the FMP, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
final rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules 
have been identified. In addition, no new reporting, record-keeping, or 
other compliance requirements are introduced by this final rule.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this final rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The factual basis for this determination was published 
in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No public comments were 
received on the proposed rule regarding the certification, and NMFS has 
not received any new information that would affect its determination. 
As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis was not required 
and none has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

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

    Dated: July 26, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

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

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

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

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

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


Sec.  622.379  Incidental catch allowances.

    (a) * * * Incidentally caught king or Spanish mackerel are counted 
toward the quotas provided for under Sec.  622.384 and are subject to 
the prohibition of sale under Sec.  622.384(e)(2).
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  622.384, revise paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.384   Quotas.

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

0
4. In Sec.  622.386, revise the introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  622.386  Restrictions on sale/purchase.

    The restrictions in this section are in addition to the 
restrictions on the sale or purchase related to commercial quota 
closures as specified in Sec.  622.384(e)(2).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-16134 Filed 7-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                35658             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                   information that includes the types of                delivers the notices, so that it is readily
                                                COMMISSION                                               products and services offered, the prices             identifiable as an opt-out option. For the
                                                                                                         for each service, and installation and                reasons stated above, it is ordered,
                                                47 CFR Part 76                                           service maintenance policies. The                     pursuant to section 632 of the
                                                [MB Docket No. 16–126; FCC 17–73]                        National Cable & Telecommunications                   Communications Act of 1934, as
                                                                                                         Association and the American Cable                    amended, 47 U.S.C. 552, and sections
                                                Declaratory Ruling That Cable                            Association filed a Petition for                      1.2 and 76.1602 of the Commission’s
                                                Operators May Provide Notice by Email                    Declaratory Ruling with the                           rules, 47 CFR 1.2, 76.1602, that the
                                                                                                         Commission requesting that the                        Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by
                                                AGENCY:  Federal Communications                          Commission clarify that the notices may               the National Cable &
                                                Commission.                                              be delivered to customers via email. The              Telecommunications Association and
                                                ACTION: Final rule; declaratory ruling.                  Media Bureau published a Public Notice                the American Cable Association is
                                                                                                         seeking comment on the Petition in the                granted to the extent indicated herein
                                                SUMMARY:   In this Declaratory Ruling, the               Federal Register, 81 FR 24050–01 (April               and is otherwise denied. It is further
                                                Commission clarifies that cable                          25, 2016). Permitting cable operators to              ordered that this Declaratory Ruling
                                                operators may provide required written                   comply with section 76.1602(b) by                     shall be effective upon the date
                                                information to subscribers by email to a                 delivering the required information via               specified in a notice published in the
                                                verified email address and must include                  email falls squarely within the language              Federal Register announcing Office of
                                                a telephone number for subscribers to                    of the rule. It is reasonable to interpret            Management and Budget approval of the
                                                opt out of email notification at any time                the term ‘‘written information’’ in                   information collection requirements
                                                and choose to continue to receive paper                  section 76.1602(b) to include                         pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
                                                copies of the notices.                                   information delivered by email. The                   Act. The Office of Management and
                                                DATES: Applicable August 1, 2017.                        benefits of permitting email delivery                 Budget approved this non-substantive
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         include the positive environmental                    change to the information collection for
                                                Katie Costello of the Policy Division,                   aspects of saving substantial amounts of              47 CFR 76.1602(b) on July 20, 2017.
                                                Media Bureau at (202) 418–2233 or                        paper annually, increased efficiency and
                                                                                                                                                               Federal Communications Commission.
                                                Katie.Costello@fcc.gov.                                  enabling customers to more readily
                                                                                                         access accurate information regarding                 Marlene H. Dortch,
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
                                                                                                         their service options. This clarification             Secretary.
                                                summary of the Declaratory Ruling,
                                                                                                         is consistent with other Commission                   [FR Doc. 2017–16075 Filed 7–31–17; 8:45 am]
                                                dated June 16, 2017, released June 21,
                                                2017, FCC 17–73, MB Docket No. 16–                       actions permitting electronic records in              BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

                                                126. The full text of the Declaratory                    lieu of paper records.
                                                ruling is available for public inspection                   Electronic delivery of notices will
                                                and copying during regular business                      ease the regulatory burden for all cable              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                hours in the FCC Reference Center,                       operators, including small cable
                                                Federal Communications Commission,                       operators. In this Declaratory Ruling, a              National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                445 12th Street SW., Room CY–A257,                       verified email address is defined as (1)              Administration
                                                Washington, DC 20554. This document                      an email address that the customer has
                                                will also be available via ECFS at http://               provided to the cable operator (and not               50 CFR Part 622
                                                apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be                    vice versa) for purposes of receiving                 [Docket No. 161222999–7618–02]
                                                available electronically in ASCII,                       communication, (2) an email address
                                                                                                         that the customer regularly uses to                   RIN 0648–BG56
                                                Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
                                                The complete text may be purchased                       communicate with the cable operator, or
                                                                                                                                                               Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
                                                from the Commission’s copy contractor,                   (3) an email address that has been
                                                                                                                                                               Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal
                                                445 12th Street SW., Room CY–B402,                       confirmed by the customer as an
                                                                                                                                                               Migratory Pelagic Resources in the
                                                Washington, DC 20554. Alternative                        appropriate vehicle for the delivery of
                                                                                                                                                               Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region;
                                                formats are available for people with                    notices. Use of a verified email address
                                                                                                                                                               Framework Amendment 5
                                                disabilities (Braille, large print,                      will ensure that the notices have a high
                                                electronic files, audio format), by                      probability of being successfully                     AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                                sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or                    delivered electronically to an email                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                calling the Commission’s Consumer and                    address that the customer uses, so that               Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)                     the written information is actually                   Commerce.
                                                418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432                         provided to the customer. If no verified              ACTION: Final rule.
                                                (TTY).                                                   email contact information is available
                                                                                                         for a customer, cable operators must                  SUMMARY:    NMFS issues this final rule to
                                                Synopsis                                                 continue to deliver the notices by paper              implement management measures
                                                   The Commission issued a Declaratory                   copies. Customers must ‘‘be informed                  described in Framework Amendment 5
                                                Ruling, FCC 17–73, on June 21, 2017                      that they may request and receive a                   to the Fishery Management Plan for the
                                                that clarifies that cable operators may                  paper version of their section 76.1602(b)             Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of
                                                provide the written notices required by                  notices’’ instead of email delivery. This             the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region
                                                47 CFR 76.1602(b) via email to a                         option will afford customers the                      (FMP), as prepared and submitted
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                verified email address and must include                  opportunity to opt out of email                       jointly by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
                                                a telephone number for customers to opt                  notification at any time and choose to                Management Council and South
                                                out of email notification at any time and                continue to receive paper copies of the               Atlantic Fishery Management Council
                                                choose to receive paper copies of the                    notices. Cable operators must include an              (Councils). This final rule removes the
                                                notices. The Commission’s rule, 47 CFR                   opt-out telephone number that is clearly              restriction on fishing for, or retaining
                                                76.1602(b), requires cable operators to                  and prominently presented to customers                the recreational bag and possession
                                                provide their subscribers with written                   in the body of the originating email that             limits of, king and Spanish mackerel on


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                          35659

                                                a vessel with a Federal commercial                       Management Measure Contained in                       mackerel. In fact, the final rule does not
                                                permit for king or Spanish mackerel                      This Final Rule                                       alter the current ability of persons
                                                when commercial harvest of king or                          As a result of this final rule, persons            aboard dual-permitted vessels to fish for
                                                Spanish mackerel in a zone or region is                  aboard vessels with a Federal                         and retain the recreational bag and
                                                closed. With implementation of this                      commercial permit for king or Spanish                 possession limits of the species when
                                                rule, persons aboard commercial vessels                  mackerel may fish for and retain the                  the commercial season is closed.
                                                may fish for and retain the recreational                 recreational bag and possession limits of             Instead, this final rule changes the
                                                bag and possession limits of king or                     these species during the open                         regulations to allow those aboard
                                                Spanish mackerel during the open                         recreational season when the                          commercially permitted vessels for king
                                                recreational season, even if commercial                                                                        and Spanish mackerel to fish for and
                                                                                                         commercial season for those species is
                                                fishing for those species is closed. The                                                                       retain the recreational bag and
                                                                                                         closed. This final rule removes Federal
                                                purpose of this final rule is to remove                                                                        possession limits of the species when
                                                                                                         permit restrictions unique to
                                                Federal permit restrictions unique to                                                                          the commercial season for those species
                                                                                                         commercially permitted king and
                                                commercially permitted king and                                                                                is closed, regardless of the capacity in
                                                                                                         Spanish mackerel vessels and
                                                Spanish mackerel vessels and to                                                                                which the vessel is operating (i.e., the
                                                                                                         standardizes vessel permit restrictions
                                                standardize vessel permit restrictions                                                                         vessels no longer need to be dual-
                                                                                                         applicable after a commercial quota
                                                applicable after a commercial quota                                                                            permitted and operating in a for-hire
                                                                                                         closure of king or Spanish mackerel in
                                                closure of king or Spanish mackerel in                                                                         capacity). With implementation of this
                                                                                                         accordance with the restrictions in other
                                                accordance with restrictions in other                                                                          rule, persons aboard commercial vessels
                                                                                                         fisheries. In addition, to improve clarity,           fishing for king and Spanish mackerel
                                                fisheries.
                                                                                                         this final rule makes non-substantive                 and persons aboard dual-permitted
                                                DATES: This final rule is effective August               changes to the language in
                                                31, 2017.                                                                                                      vessels on for-hire trips for king and
                                                                                                         § 622.384(e)(3), renumbered as                        Spanish mackerel may retain the
                                                ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of                          § 622.384(e)(2), and to § 622.386.                    recreational bag and possession limits of
                                                Framework Amendment 5 may be                             Finally, the language aligns with                     king and Spanish mackerel, as long as
                                                obtained from the Southeast Regional                     changes to the regulations set forth in               the recreational season for those species
                                                Office Web site at http://                               the final rule for Amendment 26 to the                is open, even if commercial fishing for
                                                sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_                          FMP (82 FR 17387, April 11, 2017),                    those species is closed. In addition,
                                                fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/2017/framework_                    which included revisions to                           nothing in this rule prevents persons
                                                am5/index.html. Framework                                terminology and to the management                     aboard commercial vessels that hold
                                                Amendment 5 includes an                                  boundaries for the Gulf of Mexico and                 multiple commercial permits from
                                                environmental assessment, a Regulatory                   Atlantic migratory groups of king                     fishing for and retaining the recreational
                                                Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, and a                    mackerel.                                             bag and possession limits of king and
                                                regulatory impact review.
                                                                                                         Comments and Responses                                Spanish mackerel during the closed
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich
                                                                                                                                                               commercial season for king and Spanish
                                                Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office,                      NMFS received a total of eighteen                  mackerel while on a commercial trip for
                                                NMFS, telephone: 727–824–5305, or                        comments on the proposed rule for                     other species, such as snapper-grouper,
                                                email: rich.malinowski@noaa.gov.                         Framework Amendment 5 from                            as long as such fishing is consistent
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                           commercial and recreational fishers.                  with the Federal commercial permit for
                                                coastal migratory pelagic fishery of the                 Nine of the comments were in favor of                 each of those other species.
                                                Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic                       the amendment and the proposed rule,                     Specific comments related to the
                                                regions is managed under the FMP and                     while six were opposed. Three                         action and proposed rule, as well as
                                                includes the management of the Gulf                      additional comments were submitted                    NMFS’ respective responses, are
                                                and Atlantic migratory groups of king                    that were not related to the proposed                 summarized below.
                                                mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia.                   action; because those comments were                      Comment 1: Allowing persons aboard
                                                The FMP was prepared jointly by the                      outside of the scope of the actions                   commercial vessels to fish for king and
                                                Councils and is implemented by NMFS                      considered for Framework Amendment                    Spanish mackerel recreationally could
                                                through regulations at 50 CFR part 622                   5 and the proposed rule, NMFS is not                  result in more fish being caught, which
                                                under the authority of the Magnuson-                     providing specific responses to those                 could result in additional regulation of
                                                Stevens Fishery Conservation and                         comments in this final rule. The six                  the recreational sector.
                                                Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens                         comments opposed to the amendment                        Response: As described in Framework
                                                Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Framework                 expressed concern about relative fishing              Amendment 5, the recreational and/or
                                                Amendment 5 and this final rule apply                    opportunities for the commercial versus               stock ACLs for these species have rarely
                                                to the harvest of king and Spanish                       the recreational sectors and about how                been exceeded in recent years, and thus
                                                mackerel in the exclusive economic                       the final rule might affect future                    the accountability measures have not
                                                zone (EEZ) of the Gulf and Atlantic                      recreational harvest.                                 been triggered frequently. We do not
                                                regions.                                                    Additionally, several commenters                   expect a significant increase in
                                                   On March 1, 2017, NMFS published                      (both in support of and not in support                recreational landings in light of the
                                                a proposed rule to implement                             of the proposed action) expressed views               additional means of access to
                                                Framework Amendment 5 and                                that reflect a misunderstanding of both               recreational harvest allowed in this rule.
                                                requested public comment (82 FR                          current king and Spanish mackerel                     Any effect from this final rule on
                                                12187). The proposed rule and                            Federal management and the effect of                  recreational landings would likely be
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                Framework Amendment 5 outline the                        the rule. In particular, the comments                 minimal, and therefore unlikely to
                                                rationale for the actions contained in                   reflected a misunderstanding of whether               require new recreational management
                                                this final rule. A summary of the                        and when those aboard commercially                    measures.
                                                management measures described in                         permitted vessels that also hold a                       Comment 2: This final rule will allow
                                                Framework Amendment 5 and                                charter or headboat permit will be                    recreationally caught fish to be sold by
                                                implemented by this final rule is                        allowed to retain the recreational bag                commercially permitted vessels when
                                                provided below.                                          and possession limits of king or Spanish              the commercial season is closed.


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                                                35660             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   Response: The final rule allows                       addition, no new reporting, record-                    the EEZ. If the recreational sector for the
                                                commercial fishers with a Federal                        keeping, or other compliance                           applicable species, migratory group,
                                                commercial permit for king or Spanish                    requirements are introduced by this                    zone, or gear is closed, all applicable
                                                mackerel to use their permitted vessels                  final rule.                                            harvest or possession in or from the EEZ
                                                to fish for these species and retain the                    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of                 is prohibited.
                                                recreational bag and possession limits                   the Department of Commerce certified                      (2) The sale or purchase of king
                                                outside of the commercial seasons for                    to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the               mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or cobia of
                                                those species. However, under the                        Small Business Administration during                   the closed species, migratory group,
                                                regulations already in place, the sale or                the proposed rule stage that this final                zone, or gear type is prohibited,
                                                purchase of king or Spanish mackerel                     rule would not have a significant                      including any king or Spanish mackerel
                                                taken under the recreational bag and                     economic impact on a substantial                       taken under the bag and possession
                                                possession limits is prohibited when the                 number of small entities. The factual                  limits specified in § 622.382(a), or cobia
                                                commercial season is closed. Thus any                    basis for this determination was                       taken under the limited-harvest species
                                                fish taken in the circumstances allowed                  published in the proposed rule and is                  possession limit specified in
                                                under the rule cannot be sold or                         not repeated here. No public comments                  § 622.383(b). The prohibition on the sale
                                                purchased.                                               were received on the proposed rule                     or purchase during a closure for coastal
                                                   Comment 3: Additional king mackerel                   regarding the certification, and NMFS                  migratory pelagic fish does not apply to
                                                population information is needed to                      has not received any new information                   coastal migratory pelagic fish that were
                                                avoid ecological or economic problems                    that would affect its determination. As                harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior
                                                in the Gulf and Atlantic before                          a result, a final regulatory flexibility               to the effective date of the closure and
                                                approving these changes to                               analysis was not required and none has                 were held in cold storage by a dealer or
                                                management.                                              been prepared.                                         processor.
                                                   Response: As part of the development
                                                                                                         List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622                    ■ 4. In § 622.386, revise the introductory
                                                of Framework Amendment 5, NMFS
                                                and the Councils carried out an analysis                                                                        text to read as follows:
                                                                                                           Commercial, Recreational, Fisheries,
                                                of the expected physical, biological,                    Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic,               § 622.386   Restrictions on sale/purchase.
                                                economic, social, and administrative                     King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel.                         The restrictions in this section are in
                                                effects of this action. This analysis                                                                           addition to the restrictions on the sale
                                                                                                           Dated: July 26, 2017.
                                                incorporated data from the September                                                                            or purchase related to commercial quota
                                                2014 Southeast Data, Assessment, and                     Samuel D. Rauch III,
                                                                                                         Deputy Assistant Administrator for                     closures as specified in § 622.384(e)(2).
                                                Review (SEDAR) 38 stock assessment,
                                                which determined that both the Gulf                      Regulatory Programs, National Marine                   *    *     *     *      *
                                                                                                         Fisheries Service.                                     [FR Doc. 2017–16134 Filed 7–31–17; 8:45 am]
                                                and Atlantic migratory groups of king
                                                mackerel are not overfished and are not                    For the reasons set out in the                       BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

                                                undergoing overfishing. As explained in                  preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended
                                                Framework Amendment 5, the                               as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                additional amount of king mackerel that
                                                would be harvested as a result of this                   PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE
                                                                                                         CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND                         National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                final rule is not quantifiable because the                                                                      Administration
                                                number of persons aboard commercially                    SOUTH ATLANTIC
                                                permitted vessels who would fish for                     ■ 1. The authority citation for part 622               50 CFR Part 648
                                                and retain the recreational bag and                      continues to read as follows:
                                                possession limits of king and Spanish                                                                           [Docket No. 170104014–7683–02]
                                                mackerel once the harvest restriction is                      Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
                                                                                                                                                                RIN 0648–BG53
                                                removed and the number of days during                    ■ 2. In § 622.379, revise the last
                                                which they could fish under the                          sentence in paragraph (a) to read as                   Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                                recreational bag and possession limits                   follows:                                               Conservation and Management Act
                                                are not known. However, NMFS’                            § 622.379     Incidental catch allowances.             Provisions; Fisheries of the
                                                analysis demonstrates, and the Councils                                                                         Northeastern United States; Northeast
                                                                                                           (a) * * * Incidentally caught king or
                                                agree, that minimal impacts to the                                                                              Groundfish Fishery; Framework
                                                                                                         Spanish mackerel are counted toward
                                                ecology or economy would be expected                                                                            Adjustment 56
                                                                                                         the quotas provided for under § 622.384
                                                as a result of this final rule. The next
                                                                                                         and are subject to the prohibition of sale             AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                                SEDAR assessment will be completed in
                                                                                                         under § 622.384(e)(2).                                 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                the summer of 2018.
                                                                                                         *     *     *     *     *                              Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                Classification                                           ■ 3. In § 622.384, revise paragraph (e) to             Commerce.
                                                   The Regional Administrator,                           read as follows:                                       ACTION: Final rule.
                                                Southeast Region, NMFS has
                                                determined that this final rule is                       § 622.384     Quotas.                                  SUMMARY:    This action partially approves
                                                consistent with Framework Amendment                      *     *     *    *      *                              and implements Framework Adjustment
                                                5, the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act,                      (e) Restrictions applicable after a                  56 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
                                                and other applicable law.                                quota closure. (1) If the recreational                 Management Plan. This rule sets catch
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES




                                                   This final rule has been determined to                sector for the applicable species,                     limits for 4 of the 20 groundfish stocks,
                                                be not significant for purposes of                       migratory group, zone, or gear is open,                adjusts several allocations and
                                                Executive Order 12866.                                   the bag and possession limits for king                 accountability measures for groundfish
                                                   The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides                     and Spanish mackerel specified in                      catch in groundfish and non-groundfish
                                                the statutory basis for this final rule. No              § 622.382(a) apply to all harvest or                   fisheries, and makes other
                                                duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting                 possession for the closed species,                     administrative changes to groundfish
                                                Federal rules have been identified. In                   migratory group, zone, or gear in or from              management measures. This action is


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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:43:03
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:43:03
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 final rule is effective August 31, 2017.
ContactRich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: rich.mal[email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 35658 
RIN Number0648-BG56
CFR AssociatedCommercial; Recreational; Fisheries; Fishing; Gulf of Mexico; South Atlantic; King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel

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