83 FR 27747 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery; Consideration of Expanded Harvester and Biological Sampling Requirements for American Lobster
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 115 (June 14, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 115 (June 14, 2018)
| Page Range | 27747-27748 | |
| FR Document | 2018-12777 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 27747-27748] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-12777] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 697 [Docket No. 150401332-7999-01] RIN 0648-BF01 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery; Consideration of Expanded Harvester and Biological Sampling Requirements for American Lobster AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces that NMFS intends to consider expanded harvester reporting requirements for the American lobster fishery as recommended by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is soliciting comments. The expanded requirements would be intended to improve the data available to enhance lobster stock assessments, evaluate the co-occurrence of fixed-gear fisheries with large whales, and estimate the economic impacts of offshore energy projects and other marine activities on the fishing industry. We may combine this action with an ongoing rulemaking that considers trap caps and ownership limits for the lobster fishery. The intent is to address the harvester reporting as soon as practicable, as recommended by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. DATES: We must receive written comments on or before July 16, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0169 by any of the following methods: [ssquf] Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0169, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. [ssquf] Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Lobster Harvester Reporting.'' Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. We may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). We accept attachments to electronic comments only in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Burns, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9144. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background NMFS works cooperatively with the states to conserve the American lobster resource within the framework of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (ISFMP). Through the ISFMP, the Commission adopts fishery conservation and management strategies for the lobster resource and coordinates the efforts of the states and NMFS to implement these strategies. In February 2018, the Commission approved Addendum XXVI. The intent of Addendum XXVI is to expand lobster harvester reporting requirements, enhance the spatial and effort data collections, and improve the amount and type of biological data collected in the offshore trap fishery. Given the offshore expansion of lobster trap effort in recent years, the Commission developed this addendum to address data gaps due to inconsistent reporting and data collection requirements across state agencies and imposed in Federal waters by NMFS. The addendum also serves to complement the Commission's Jonah crab management program as Addendum III to the Jonah Crab ISFMP. NMFS is currently in rulemaking to consider adopting management measures for the Jonah crab fishery, which could include the harvester reporting and other data collection elements of the addendum. Addendum XXVI recommends that we require all Federal lobster permit holders to submit trip-level catch reports. Approximately 60 percent of all Federal lobster permit holders are currently required to submit a trip-level catch report. Federal reporting requirements are limited to those Federal lobster permit holders who also hold another Federal fishery permit with a reporting requirement. The new addendum also extends the 100-percent reporting requirement to the State of Maine, which currently requires about 10 percent of state lobster licensees to report their catch. All other lobster-producing states require all of their harvesters to report their catch. The Commission requested that we implement the mandatory trip-level harvester reporting requirement as soon as practicable. Consequently, we propose to combine the harvester reporting action with the ongoing actions for Addenda XXI and XXII and consolidate them into a single rulemaking action. Focused primarily on lobster conservation management areas (LCMAs) 2 and 3, these two addenda recommended modifications to the trap transfer program and trap caps in these LCMAs. Addendum XXVI also recommends that we develop a fixed-gear catch report with expanded data elements, including a requirement for fishermen to report their fishing locations down to the 10-minute square to provide more [[Page 27748]] accurate data on where the fishery is taking place. The expanded data elements also include reporting the number of vertical lines deployed and number of traps per trawl to help get a better sense of fishing effort and to assist in evaluating the interactions between the fixed- gear fisheries and large whales. Further, the addendum recommends that we expand our offshore biological sampling program to help characterize the commercial catch and understand the biological characteristics of the stock. We will consider the expanded data elements and fixed-gear catch report, as well as the expanded offshore sampling recommendations, in a separate future action. We are requesting comments from the public on this approach. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. Dated: June 11, 2018. Donna S. Wieting, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-12777 Filed 6-13-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 115 / Thursday, June 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules 27747
It also may be accessed online via the economic impacts of offshore energy (ISFMP). Through the ISFMP, the
Commission’s Electronic Comment projects and other marine activities on Commission adopts fishery conservation
Filing System at: http://apps.fcc.gov/ the fishing industry. We may combine and management strategies for the
ecfs/. The Commission will not send a this action with an ongoing rulemaking lobster resource and coordinates the
Congressional Review Act (CRA) that considers trap caps and ownership efforts of the states and NMFS to
submission to Congress or the limits for the lobster fishery. The intent implement these strategies.
Government Accountability Office is to address the harvester reporting as In February 2018, the Commission
pursuant to the CRA, 5 U.S.C. because soon as practicable, as recommended by approved Addendum XXVI. The intent
no rules are being adopted by the the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries of Addendum XXVI is to expand lobster
Commission. Commission. harvester reporting requirements,
Subject: Connect America Fund, ETC enhance the spatial and effort data
DATES: We must receive written
Annual Reports and Certifications, collections, and improve the amount
comments on or before July 16, 2018.
Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates and type of biological data collected in
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
for Local Exchange Carriers, Developing the offshore trap fishery. Given the
on this document, identified by NOAA– offshore expansion of lobster trap effort
a Unified Intercarrier Compensation,
NMFS–2013–0169 by any of the in recent years, the Commission
Report and Order and Third Order on
following methods: developed this addendum to address
Reconsideration, FCC 18–29, published D Electronic Submission: Submit all
at 83 FR 18951, May 1, 2018, in WC data gaps due to inconsistent reporting
electronic public comments via the and data collection requirements across
Docket Nos. 10–90, 14–58, 07–135 and Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
CC Docket No. 01–92. This document is state agencies and imposed in Federal
www.regulations.gov/ waters by NMFS.
being published pursuant to 47 CFR #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-
1.429(e). See also 47 CFR 1.4(b)(1) and The addendum also serves to
0169, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complement the Commission’s Jonah
1.429(f), (g). complete the required fields, and enter
Number of Petitions Filed: 3. crab management program as
or attach your comments. Addendum III to the Jonah Crab ISFMP.
Federal Communications Commission. D Mail: Submit written comments to NMFS is currently in rulemaking to
Katura Jackson, Michael Pentony, Regional consider adopting management
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Administrator, National Marine measures for the Jonah crab fishery,
Secretary. Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic which could include the harvester
[FR Doc. 2018–12786 Filed 6–13–18; 8:45 am] Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the reporting and other data collection
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on elements of the addendum.
Lobster Harvester Reporting.’’ Addendum XXVI recommends that
Instructions: Comments must be we require all Federal lobster permit
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE submitted by one of the above methods holders to submit trip-level catch
to ensure that the comments are reports. Approximately 60 percent of all
National Oceanic and Atmospheric received, documented, and considered Federal lobster permit holders are
Administration by NMFS. We may not consider currently required to submit a trip-level
comments sent by any other method, to catch report. Federal reporting
50 CFR Part 697 any other address or individual, or requirements are limited to those
received after the end of the comment Federal lobster permit holders who also
[Docket No. 150401332–7999–01]
period. All comments received are a hold another Federal fishery permit
RIN 0648–BF01 part of the public record and will with a reporting requirement. The new
generally be posted for public viewing addendum also extends the 100-percent
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative on www.regulations.gov without change. reporting requirement to the State of
Management Act Provisions; American All personal identifying information Maine, which currently requires about
Lobster Fishery; Consideration of (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted 10 percent of state lobster licensees to
Expanded Harvester and Biological voluntarily by the sender will be report their catch. All other lobster-
Sampling Requirements for American publicly accessible. Do not submit producing states require all of their
Lobster confidential business information, or harvesters to report their catch. The
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries otherwise sensitive or protected Commission requested that we
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and information. NMFS will accept implement the mandatory trip-level
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in harvester reporting requirement as soon
Commerce. the required fields if you wish to remain as practicable. Consequently, we
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
anonymous). We accept attachments to propose to combine the harvester
rulemaking (ANPR); request for electronic comments only in Microsoft reporting action with the ongoing
comments. Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe actions for Addenda XXI and XXII and
PDF file formats. consolidate them into a single
SUMMARY: This notice announces that FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: rulemaking action. Focused primarily
NMFS intends to consider expanded Peter Burns, Fishery Policy Analyst, on lobster conservation management
harvester reporting requirements for the 978–281–9144. areas (LCMAs) 2 and 3, these two
American lobster fishery as SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: addenda recommended modifications to
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
recommended by the Atlantic States the trap transfer program and trap caps
Marine Fisheries Commission and is Background in these LCMAs.
soliciting comments. The expanded NMFS works cooperatively with the Addendum XXVI also recommends
requirements would be intended to states to conserve the American lobster that we develop a fixed-gear catch
improve the data available to enhance resource within the framework of the report with expanded data elements,
lobster stock assessments, evaluate the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries including a requirement for fishermen
co-occurrence of fixed-gear fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery to report their fishing locations down to
with large whales, and estimate the Management Plan for American Lobster the 10-minute square to provide more
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Jun 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\14JNP1.SGM 14JNP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_27862/page/1.svg)
![27748 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 115 / Thursday, June 14, 2018 / Proposed Rules
accurate data on where the fishery is offshore biological sampling program to Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
taking place. The expanded data help characterize the commercial catch 5101 et seq.
elements also include reporting the and understand the biological Dated: June 11, 2018.
number of vertical lines deployed and characteristics of the stock. We will
Donna S. Wieting,
number of traps per trawl to help get a consider the expanded data elements
better sense of fishing effort and to assist and fixed-gear catch report, as well as Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for
in evaluating the interactions between the expanded offshore sampling Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
the fixed-gear fisheries and large recommendations, in a separate future
[FR Doc. 2018–12777 Filed 6–13–18; 8:45 am]
whales. Further, the addendum action. We are requesting comments
recommends that we expand our from the public on this approach. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Jun 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\14JNP1.SGM 14JNP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_27862/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-06-14 01:38:53
Document Modified: 2018-06-14 01:38:53
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. | |
| Dates | We must receive written comments on or before July 16, 2018. | |
| Contact | Peter Burns, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9144. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 27747 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-BF01 |
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