82 FR 42266 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2018 and Projected 2019-2020 Specifications
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 172 (September 7, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 172 (September 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 42266-42268 | |
| FR Document | 2017-18958 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 172 (Thursday, September 7, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 42266-42268] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-18958] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 170717675-7675-01] RIN 0648-XF571 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2018 and Projected 2019-2020 Specifications AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS proposes specifications for the 2018 commercial golden tilefish fishery and projected specifications for 2019 and 2020. The proposed action is intended to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. It is also intended to inform the public of these proposed specifications for the 2018 fishing year and projected specifications for 2019-2020. DATES: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on September 22, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0091, by either of the following methods: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. 1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0091, 2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields. 3. Enter or attach your comments. - OR - MAIL: Submit written comments to John Bullard, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: ``Comments on the Proposed Rule for Golden Tilefish Specifications.'' INSTRUCTIONS: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared for this action that describes the proposed measures and other considered alternatives, as well as provides an analysis of the impacts of the proposed measures and alternatives. Copies of the specifications document, including the EA and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are available on request from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 North State Street, Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9180. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The golden tilefish fishery is managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council under the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which outlines the Council's process for establishing annual specifications. The FMP requires the Council to recommend acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), annual catch target (ACT), total allowable landings (TAL), and other management measures, for up to three years at a time. The directed fishery is managed under an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, with small amounts of non- IFQ catch allowed under an incidental permit. The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) provides an ABC recommendation to the Council to derive these catch limits. The Council makes recommendations to NMFS that cannot exceed the recommendation of its SSC. The Council's recommendations must include supporting documentation concerning the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the recommendations. We are responsible for reviewing these recommendations to ensure that they achieve the FMP objectives and are consistent with all applicable laws, and may modify them if they do not. Following review, NMFS publishes the final specifications in the Federal Register. [[Page 42267]] In January 2014, the 58th Northeast Stock Assessment Workshop (SAW) declared the golden tilefish stock rebuilt and concluded that overfishing is not occurring. A stock assessment update with data through 2016 is currently in development, but the 58th SAW is still the most up to date and best available science for the Council to use in its decision-making on these golden tilefish specifications. Based on this report, and the ABC recommendations made by the Council's SSC, the Council took final action April 2017 on 2018-2020 quota specifications for the golden tilefish fishery, and submitted its recommended specifications to us on July 5, 2017. A summary of the Council's recommended specifications is shown below in Table 1. Proposed Specifications The Council's recommendations are consistent with the SSC's recommended ABCs, and represent a reduction in ABC and overall commercial quota from 2017 to ensure overfishing does not occur. The proposed IFQ quota of 1,554,038 lb (705 mt) is a 13-percent reduction from 2017, and the incidental quota of 72,397 lb (33 mt) is a 23- percent reduction. The proposed incidental sector typically lands less than half of its allocated quota each year, so this larger reduction is unlikely to have a significant impact. As golden tilefish are not overfished or experiencing overfishing, the reduction in the quotas is a result of the SSC applying the Council's risk policy to the most recent assessment outputs to derive its ABC recommendation. Table 1--Summary of Recommended Golden Tilefish Specifications -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2018 2019 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- million lb mt million lb mt million lb mt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overfishing Limit....................................... 2.332 1,058 2.421 1,098 2.291 1,039 ABC..................................................... 1.636 742 1.636 742 1.636 742 ACL..................................................... 1.636 742 1.636 742 1.636 742 IFQ ACT................................................. 1.554 705 1.554 705 1.554 705 Incidental ACT.......................................... 0.082 37 0.082 37 0.082 37 IFQ TAL................................................. 1.554 705 1.554 705 1.554 705 Incidental TAL.......................................... 0.072 33 0.072 33 0.072 33 IFQ Quota............................................... 1.554 705 1.554 705 1.554 705 Incidental Quota........................................ 0.072 33 0.072 33 0.072 33 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As in recent years, the Council recommended ABC=ACL=ACT. The TAL is derived by deducting anticipated discards of tilefish from the ACT. Under the FMP, 95 percent of the TAL is allocated for the IFQ fishery, and the remaining 5 percent is allocated for the incidental fishery. Prior to 2018, ACTs and TALs were specified at the overall commercial level, with the IFQ fishery and incidental fishery combined. Framework Adjustment 2 to the Tilefish FMP is being developed concurrently with these specifications, and modifies this system to allow discards to be deducted from the specific component of the commercial sector (IFQ fishery or incidental fishery) where they were generated. The Council made recommendations based on the new process being developed under Framework 2, so that IFQ and incidental specific category discards are used, allowing for more specific adjustments to the commercial sector. This also divides the ACT and TAL between IFQ and incidental categories within the specifications. Framework 2 is still in development, and a proposed rule outlining the new measures is expected soon. Because Framework 2 will be implemented before this action is finalized, we are proposing to use the Framework 2 measures for the 2018-2020 specifications. The golden tilefish industry strongly supports consistency in annual harvest quotas, and has operated under a constant landings strategy since 2001. Continuing this strategy, the Council opted to recommend the same quota for the 2018-2020 period, with the understanding that the specifications will be reviewed on an annual basis. We are proposing the 2018 specifications along with the projected specifications for 2019 and 2020 so that the public is aware of the likely values for those years. We will publish a notice in the Federal Register prior to each fishing year to confirm or announce any necessary changes to the specifications for 2019 and 2020. The Council did not recommend changes to other regulations for this fishery. We propose, based on this recommendation, that all other management measures in the golden tilefish fishery will remain unchanged for the 2018-2020 fishing years. The incidental trip limit will stay 500 lb (226.8 kg) (live weight), and the recreational catch limit will remain eight fish per angler per trip. Annual IFQ allocations will be issued to individual quota shareholders in mid-October, ahead of the November 1 start of the fishing year. Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is consistent with the Tilefish FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson- Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment. This proposed rule is exempt from the procedures of E.O. 12866 because this action contains no implementing regulations. The Council prepared a draft EA for this action that analyzes the impacts of this proposed rule. The EA includes an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), which is supplemented by information contained in the preamble of this proposed rule. The IRFA was prepared to further evaluate the economic impacts of the various alternatives presented in this document on small business entities. A description of the specifications, why they are being considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained at the beginning of this section and in the preamble to this proposed rule. A copy of the detailed RFA analysis is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the 2018- 2020 golden tilefish specifications RFA analysis follows. Description of the Reasons Why Action Is Being Considered This action proposes management measures, including annual catch limits and commercial quotas, for the 2018-2020 golden tilefish fishery. The measures are consistent with the best scientific information available and the [[Page 42268]] most recent catch limit recommendations of the Council's SSC to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yield in the fishery. The golden tilefish fishery successfully functions under an IFQ management program, which provides substantial benefits to fishery participants, and requires the annual specification of quotas. Another critical function of this action is to prevent overfishing and obtain the optimal yield, as mentioned earlier. Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule This action is taken under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and regulations at 50 CFR part 648. A complete description of the action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained in the specifications document, and elsewhere in the preamble to this proposed rule, and are not repeated here. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which This Proposed Rule Would Apply This proposed rule affects small entities engaged in commercial fishing operations with Federal tilefish permits. For the purposes of the RFA analysis, the ownership entities (or firms), not the individual vessels, are considered to be the regulated entities. Ownership entities are defined as those entities or firms with common ownership personnel as listed on the permit application. Because of this, some vessels with golden tilefish permits may be considered to be part of the same firm because they may have the same owners. To identify these small and large firms, vessel ownership data from the permit database were grouped according to common owners and sorted by size. In terms of RFA, a business primarily engaged in commercial fishing is classified as a small business if it has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million, for all its affiliated operations worldwide. The current ownership data set used for this analysis is based on calendar year 2016 (the most recent complete year available) and contains average gross sales associated with those permits for calendar years 2014 through 2016. According to the commercial ownership database, 148 affiliate firms landed golden tilefish during the 2014-2016 period, with 145 of those business affiliates categorized as small business and three categorized as large business. Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance Requirements of This Proposed Rule There are no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements contained in any of the alternatives considered for this action. Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This Proposed Rule NMFS is not aware of any relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this proposed rule. Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and Which Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities This action proposes to set a commercial golden tilefish quota of 1.626 million lb (738 mt)--1.554 million lb (705 mt) of IFQ, 72,397 lb (33 mt) of incidental--for 2018-2020. Under this preferred alternative (Alternative 1), it is expected that the overall revenue reduction would be less than one percent for the approximately 145 small entities impacted by the decrease in golden tilefish quota when compared to average revenues generated during the 2014-2016 period. There is the possibility of an increase in the price for golden tilefish given the potential decrease in landings, which could mitigate some of the revenue loss associated with lower quotas, but is not guaranteed. Industry members have indicated that having consistent quota levels from year to year is favorable, and translates into price and supply stability in the fishery. There were two alternatives (Alternative 2 and Alternative 3) to the proposed action (Alternative 1) considered by the Council. Alternative 2 is the status quo alternative, and maintains the previous year's commercial quotas of 1.793 million lb (813 mt) for the IFQ fishery and 94,357 lb (43 mt) for the incidental fishery (total commercial quota of 1.887 million lb or 856 mt). Under this alternative, commercial landings and revenues for golden tilefish would be expected to be the same relative to 2017. Alternative 3 would set 2018-2020 commercial golden tilefish quotas at 1.505 million lb (683 mt), 1.717 million lb (779 mt), and 1.657 million lb (752 mt), respectively. While they represent similar overall quota reductions over the three-year period, Alternative 3 is non- preferred to Alternative 1 because of its inconsistency in the annual quotas, which could lead to instability in pricing and supply in the fishery. The Council recommended these proposed specifications (Alternative 1) over Alternatives 2 and 3 to satisfy the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements to ensure fish stocks are not subject to overfishing, while allowing quota stability, which the tilefish industry considers important in order to promote stability in price and supply in the marketplace. Alternative 2 was not recommended by the Council because it would exceed the catch level recommendations of the Council's SSC, and would be inconsistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Alternative 3 was not selected because it would not support the consistency of quota/landings from year to year that the tilefish industry considers important to maintaining price and supply stability in this fishery. NMFS agrees with the Council's IRFA analysis and rationale for recommending these catch limits. As such, NMFS is proposing to implement the Council's preferred ABCs, ACLs, ACTs, and commercial quotas, as presented in Table 1 of this proposed rule's preamble. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 31, 2017. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-18958 Filed 9-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![42266 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 172 / Thursday, September 7, 2017 / Proposed Rules
Notice 2 and a Final Regulatory DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and will generally be posted for public
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) in viewing on www.regulations.gov
connection with the 700 MHz Second National Oceanic and Atmospheric without change. All personal identifying
Report and Order.3 While no Administration information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
commenter directly responded to the confidential business information, or
IRFA, the FRFA addressed concerns 50 CFR Part 648 otherwise sensitive information
about the impact on small business of [Docket No. 170717675–7675–01] submitted voluntarily by the sender will
the KWYS rules. The IRFA and FRFA be publicly accessible. NMFS will
set forth the need for and objectives of RIN 0648–XF571 accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
the Commission’s rules for the KWYS A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
rules; the legal basis for those rules, a Fisheries of the Northeastern United remain anonymous).
description and estimate of the number States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2018 A draft environmental assessment
of small entities to which the rules and Projected 2019–2020 (EA) has been prepared for this action
apply; a description of projected Specifications that describes the proposed measures
reporting, recordkeeping, and other AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries and other considered alternatives, as
compliance requirements for small Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and well as provides an analysis of the
entities; steps taken to minimize the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), impacts of the proposed measures and
significant economic impact on small Commerce. alternatives. Copies of the specifications
entities and significant alternatives document, including the EA and the
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
considered; and a statement that there Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
comments.
are no federal rules that may duplicate, (IRFA), are available on request from Dr.
overlap, or conflict with the rules. The SUMMARY: NMFS proposes specifications Christopher M. Moore, Executive
proposals in this document do not for the 2018 commercial golden tilefish Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery
change any of those descriptions. fishery and projected specifications for Management Council, Suite 201, 800
This document does, however, detail 2019 and 2020. The proposed action is North State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
proposed procedures for implementing intended to establish allowable harvest These documents are also accessible via
those rules. Therefore, this document levels and other management measures the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org.
seeks comment on how the proposals in to prevent overfishing while allowing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
this document could affect either the optimum yield, consistent with the Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
IRFA or the FRFA. Such comments Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Specialist, (978) 281–9180.
must be filed in accordance with the Conservation and Management Act and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
same filing deadlines for responses to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.
this document and have a separate and It is also intended to inform the public Background
distinct heading designating them as of these proposed specifications for the The golden tilefish fishery is managed
responses to the IRFA and FRFA. 2018 fishing year and projected by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
specifications for 2019–2020. Management Council under the Tilefish
Initial Paperwork Reduction Act
DATES: Comments must be received by Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which
Analysis
5 p.m. local time, on September 22, outlines the Council’s process for
The document contains proposed new 2017. establishing annual specifications. The
information collection requirements. FMP requires the Council to recommend
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
The Commission, as part of its acceptable biological catch (ABC),
on this document, identified by NOAA– annual catch limit (ACL), annual catch
continuing effort to reduce paperwork NMFS–2017–0091, by either of the
burdens, invites the general public and target (ACT), total allowable landings
following methods: (TAL), and other management measures,
OMB to comment on the information ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION: Submit
collection requirements contained in for up to three years at a time. The
all electronic public comments via the directed fishery is managed under an
this document, as required by PRA. In Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
addition, pursuant to the Small individual fishing quota (IFQ) program,
1. Go to www.regulations.gov/ with small amounts of non-IFQ catch
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. allowed under an incidental permit. The
0091, Council’s Scientific and Statistical
3506(c)(4), the Commission seeks 2. Click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
specific comment on how it might Committee (SSC) provides an ABC
complete the required fields. recommendation to the Council to
‘‘further reduce the information 3. Enter or attach your comments.
collection burden for small business derive these catch limits. The Council
concerns with fewer than 25 - OR - makes recommendations to NMFS that
employees.’’ MAIL: Submit written comments to cannot exceed the recommendation of
John Bullard, Regional Administrator, its SSC. The Council’s
Federal Communications Commission.
National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 recommendations must include
Nese Guendelsberger, Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA supporting documentation concerning
Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireless 01930. Mark the outside of the the environmental, economic, and social
Telecommunications Bureau. envelope: ‘‘Comments on the Proposed impacts of the recommendations. We
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS
[FR Doc. 2017–18987 Filed 9–6–17; 8:45 am] Rule for Golden Tilefish are responsible for reviewing these
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Specifications.’’ recommendations to ensure that they
INSTRUCTIONS: Comments sent by achieve the FMP objectives and are
2 Service Rules for 698–746, 747–762, and 777–
any other method, to any other address consistent with all applicable laws, and
792 MHz Bands et al., Report and Order and or individual, or received after the end may modify them if they do not.
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 22 FCC
Rcd 8064, 8212 (2007) (700 MHz Further Notice). of the comment period, may not be Following review, NMFS publishes the
3 700 MHz Second Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd considered by NMFS. All comments final specifications in the Federal
at 15542. received are part of the public record Register.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:40 Sep 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM 07SEP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_42438/page/1.svg)
![42268 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 172 / Thursday, September 7, 2017 / Proposed Rules
most recent catch limit 2014 through 2016. According to the maintains the previous year’s
recommendations of the Council’s SSC commercial ownership database, 148 commercial quotas of 1.793 million lb
to prevent overfishing and achieve affiliate firms landed golden tilefish (813 mt) for the IFQ fishery and 94,357
optimum yield in the fishery. The during the 2014–2016 period, with 145 lb (43 mt) for the incidental fishery
golden tilefish fishery successfully of those business affiliates categorized (total commercial quota of 1.887 million
functions under an IFQ management as small business and three categorized lb or 856 mt). Under this alternative,
program, which provides substantial as large business. commercial landings and revenues for
benefits to fishery participants, and golden tilefish would be expected to be
Description of the Projected Reporting,
requires the annual specification of the same relative to 2017.
Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance
quotas. Another critical function of this Alternative 3 would set 2018–2020
Requirements of This Proposed Rule
action is to prevent overfishing and commercial golden tilefish quotas at
obtain the optimal yield, as mentioned There are no new reporting or 1.505 million lb (683 mt), 1.717 million
earlier. recordkeeping requirements contained lb (779 mt), and 1.657 million lb (752
in any of the alternatives considered for mt), respectively. While they represent
Statement of the Objectives of, and this action. similar overall quota reductions over the
Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule
Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, three-year period, Alternative 3 is non-
This action is taken under the preferred to Alternative 1 because of its
Overlap, or Conflict With This Proposed
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act inconsistency in the annual quotas,
Rule
and regulations at 50 CFR part 648. A which could lead to instability in
complete description of the action, why NMFS is not aware of any relevant pricing and supply in the fishery.
it is being considered, and the legal Federal rules that may duplicate, The Council recommended these
basis for this action are contained in the overlap, or conflict with this proposed proposed specifications (Alternative 1)
specifications document, and elsewhere rule. over Alternatives 2 and 3 to satisfy the
in the preamble to this proposed rule, Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements to
Description of Significant Alternatives
and are not repeated here. ensure fish stocks are not subject to
to the Proposed Action Which
Description and Estimate of the Number Accomplish the Stated Objectives of overfishing, while allowing quota
of Small Entities to Which This Applicable Statutes and Which stability, which the tilefish industry
Proposed Rule Would Apply Minimize Any Significant Economic considers important in order to promote
Impact on Small Entities stability in price and supply in the
This proposed rule affects small marketplace. Alternative 2 was not
entities engaged in commercial fishing This action proposes to set a recommended by the Council because it
operations with Federal tilefish permits. commercial golden tilefish quota of would exceed the catch level
For the purposes of the RFA analysis, 1.626 million lb (738 mt)—1.554 million recommendations of the Council’s SSC,
the ownership entities (or firms), not the lb (705 mt) of IFQ, 72,397 lb (33 mt) of and would be inconsistent with the
individual vessels, are considered to be incidental—for 2018–2020. Under this requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens
the regulated entities. Ownership preferred alternative (Alternative 1), it is Act. Alternative 3 was not selected
entities are defined as those entities or expected that the overall revenue because it would not support the
firms with common ownership reduction would be less than one consistency of quota/landings from year
personnel as listed on the permit percent for the approximately 145 small to year that the tilefish industry
application. Because of this, some entities impacted by the decrease in considers important to maintaining
vessels with golden tilefish permits may golden tilefish quota when compared to price and supply stability in this
be considered to be part of the same average revenues generated during the fishery. NMFS agrees with the Council’s
firm because they may have the same 2014–2016 period. There is the IRFA analysis and rationale for
owners. To identify these small and possibility of an increase in the price for recommending these catch limits. As
large firms, vessel ownership data from golden tilefish given the potential such, NMFS is proposing to implement
the permit database were grouped decrease in landings, which could the Council’s preferred ABCs, ACLs,
according to common owners and sorted mitigate some of the revenue loss ACTs, and commercial quotas, as
by size. In terms of RFA, a business associated with lower quotas, but is not presented in Table 1 of this proposed
primarily engaged in commercial fishing guaranteed. Industry members have rule’s preamble.
is classified as a small business if it has indicated that having consistent quota
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
combined annual receipts not in excess levels from year to year is favorable, and
of $11 million, for all its affiliated translates into price and supply stability Dated: August 31, 2017.
operations worldwide. The current in the fishery. Samuel D. Rauch III,
ownership data set used for this analysis There were two alternatives Deputy Assistant Administrator for
is based on calendar year 2016 (the most (Alternative 2 and Alternative 3) to the Regulatory Programs, National Marine
recent complete year available) and proposed action (Alternative 1) Fisheries Service.
contains average gross sales associated considered by the Council. Alternative 2 [FR Doc. 2017–18958 Filed 9–6–17; 8:45 am]
with those permits for calendar years is the status quo alternative, and BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:40 Sep 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM 07SEP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_42438/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2017-09-07 02:01:26
Document Modified: 2017-09-07 02:01:26
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Proposed rule; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on September 22, 2017. | |
| Contact | Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9180. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 42266 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF57 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR