[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 90246-90254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29811]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No.: 160706587-6999-02]
RIN 0648-BG21
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 16
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule implements regulations in Amendment 16 to the
Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
Amendment 16 protects deep-sea corals from the effects of commercial
fishing gear in the Mid-Atlantic. The management measures implemented
in this rule are intended to protect deep-sea coral and deep-sea coral
habitat while promoting the sustainable utilization and conservation of
several different marine resources managed under the authority of the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
DATES: Effective January 13, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting documents used by the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, including the Environmental Assessment (EA)
and Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA), are available from: Dr. Christopher M. Moore,
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, telephone (302) 674-2331. The
EA/RIR/IRFA is also accessible online at http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christopher, Supervisory Fishery
Policy Analyst, (978) 281-9288, fax (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 16, 2013, the Council published a Notice of Intent (NOI)
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (78 FR 3401) for Amendment
16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) to consider measures to protect deep-sea corals from the
impacts of commercial fishing gear in the Mid-Atlantic. The Council
conducted scoping meetings during February 2013 to gather public
comments on these issues. Following further development of Amendment 16
through 2013 and 2014, the Council conducted public hearings in January
2015. Following public hearings, and with disagreement about the
boundaries of the various alternatives, the Council held a workshop
with various stakeholders on April 29-30, 2015, to further refine the
deep-sea coral area boundaries. The workshop was an example of
effective collaboration among fishery managers, the fishing industry,
environmental organizations, and the public to develop management
recommendations with widespread support. The Council adopted Amendment
16 on June 10, 2015, and submitted Amendment 16 on August 15, 2016, for
final review by NMFS, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce.
NMFS published a Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing its review of
Amendment 16 on September 2, 2016 (81 FR 60666), and a proposed rule
including implementing regulations on September 27, 2016 (81 FR 66245).
The public comment period for both the NOA and proposed rule ended on
November 1, 2016.
The Council developed the action, and the measures described in
this notice, under the discretionary provisions for deep-sea coral
protection in section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This provision
gives the Regional Fishery Management Councils the authority to:
(A) Designate zones where, and periods when, fishing shall be
limited, or shall not be permitted, or shall be permitted only by
specified types of fishing vessels or with specified types and
quantities of fishing gear;
(B) Designate such zones in areas where deep-sea corals are
identified under section 408 (this section describes the deep-sea coral
research and technology program), to protect deep-sea corals from
physical damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or damage to such
fishing gear from interactions with deep-sea corals, after considering
long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources in such areas; and
(C) With respect to any closure of an area under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act that prohibits all fishing, ensure that such closure:
(i) Is based on the best scientific information available;
(ii) Includes criteria to assess the conservation benefit of the
closed area;
(iii) Establishes a timetable for review of the closed area's
performance that is consistent with the purposes of the closed area;
and
(iv) Is based on an assessment of the benefits and impacts of the
closure, including its size, in relation to other management measures
(either alone or in combination with such measures), including the
benefits and impacts of limiting access to: Users of the area, overall
fishing activity, fishery science, and fishery and marine conservation.
Consistent with these provisions, the Council recommended the
measures in Amendment 16 to balance the impacts of measures implemented
under this discretionary authority with the management objectives of
the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP and the value of potentially
affected commercial fisheries.
Approved Measures
Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area
This final rule creates a deep-sea coral protection area in Mid-
Atlantic waters. It consists of a broad zone that starts at a depth
contour of approximately 450 meters (m) and extends to the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary, and to the north and south to
the boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic waters (as defined in the Magnuson-
Stevens Act). In addition, the deep-sea coral protection area includes
15 discrete zones that outline deep-sea canyons on the continental
shelf in Mid-Atlantic waters. The deep-sea coral area, including both
broad and discrete zones, is one continuous area.
[[Page 90247]]
The broad coral zone is precautionary in nature and is intended to
freeze the footprint of fishing to protect corals from future expansion
of fishing effort into deeper waters. The broad coral zone has a
landward boundary drawn between the 400 m and 500 m contours with the
intention to approximate the 450 m depth contour as closely as
possible, minimizing the number of vertices in the boundary line. In
areas where there is conflict or overlap between this broad zone and
any designated discrete zone boundaries, the discrete zone boundaries
are prioritized. From the landward boundary, the broad zone boundaries
extends along the northern and southern boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic
management region, and to the edge of the EEZ as the eastward boundary.
The discrete coral zones are specific submarine canyons and slope
areas located in Mid-Atlantic waters. The boundaries were developed
collaboratively by participants at the Council's April 29-30, 2015,
Deep-sea Corals Workshop in Linthicum, MD. Participants included the
Council's Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Advisory Panel, the
Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel, members of the Deep-sea
Corals Fishery Management Action Team, invited deep-sea coral experts,
additional fishing industry representatives, and other interested
stakeholders. The canyons and slope areas were identified as areas with
observed coral presence or highly likely coral presence indicated by
modeled suitable habitat. Therefore, prohibiting bottom-tending fishing
gear in these areas prevents interaction with and damage to deep-sea
corals that either are known through observation to live in these areas
or that are likely to live there. The discrete coral zones are: Block
Canyon; Ryan and McMaster Canyons; Emery and Uchupi Canyons; Jones and
Babylon Canyons; Hudson Canyon; Mey-Lindenkohl Slope; Spencer Canyon;
Wilmington Canyon; North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons; South
Vries Canyon; Baltimore Canyon; Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex;
Accomac and Leonard Canyons; Washington Canyon; and Norfolk Canyon.
Gear Restrictions in the Deep-Sea Coral Area
This action prohibits the use of bottom-tending commercial fishing
gear within the designated deep-sea coral area, including: Bottom-
tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges;
non-hydraulic dredges; bottom-tending seines; bottom-tending longlines;
sink or anchored gill nets; and pots and traps except those used to
fish for red crab and American lobster. The prohibition on these gears
will protect deep-sea corals from interaction with and damage from
bottom-tending fishing gear.
Vessels can transit the deep-sea coral area protection area
provided the vessels bring bottom-tending fishing gear onboard the
vessel, and reel bottom-tending trawl gear onto the net reel. The
Council proposed these slightly less restrictive transiting provisions
because the majority of transiting will be through the very narrow
canyon heads (i.e., the narrow tips of the canyons that extend landward
of the broad coral zone landward boundary). The Council determined that
the normal gear stowage requirements, and requirements that gear be
unavailable for immediate use, (at 50 CFR 648.2) would be too
burdensome for commercial vessels within the narrow areas of some of
the discrete coral zones.
Administrative Measures
Vessels issued an Illex squid moratorium permit are required to
have a vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed, and operators of these
vessels would have to declare Illex squid trips on which 10,000 lb
(4.53 mt) or more of Illex squid would be harvested. By requiring Illex
squid vessels to have VMS and declare Illex fishing trips prior to
leaving port, this measure facilitates enforcement of the deep-sea
coral area and gear restrictions. NMFS notes that all Illex vessels
currently have VMS installed and that all of these vessels are already
required to declare trips. Therefore, this provision does not create
any new operational requirement for Illex squid vessel owners or
operators.
This action expands the framework adjustment provisions in the FMP
to facilitate future modifications to the deep-sea coral protection
measures. The framework measures include:
Modifications to coral zone boundaries via framework
action;
Modifications to the boundaries of broad or discrete deep-
sea coral zones through a framework action;
Modification of management measures within deep-sea coral
protection areas. This provides the Council the option to modify
fishing restrictions, exemptions, monitoring requirements, and other
management measures within deep-sea coral zones through a framework
action. It includes measures directed at gear and species not currently
addressed in the FMP to further the FMP's goal of protecting deep-sea
corals from physical damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or
damage to such fishing gear from interactions with deep-sea corals.
This would also include the ability to add a prohibition on anchoring
in deep-sea coral protection areas;
Addition of discrete coral zones; and
Implementation of special access program for deep-sea
coral protection area. This provides the Council the option to design
and implement a special access program for commercial fishery
operations in deep-sea coral zones through a framework action.
Formal Naming of the Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area
The Council recommended that the deep-sea coral protection area
should be named in honor of the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg.
Senator Lautenberg was responsible for several important pieces of
ocean conservation legislation and authored several provisions included
in the most recent reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act (2007), including
the discretionary provision for corals. Therefore, this final rule
implements the deep-sea coral protection area as the ``Frank R.
Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.''
Comments and Responses
We received 10 comments on the proposed rule and NOA (8 in general
support of the action and 2 against the action), including letters from
five individuals, the Garden State Seafood Association, the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, and the Wildlife Conservation
Society's New York Aquarium. We also received a joint comment from
Oceana, Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, Conservation
Law Foundation, Earthjustice, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association,
Natural Resource Defense Council, Pew Charitable Trusts, Tycoon Tackle
Inc., and Wild Oceans. Supporting this joint comment was a comment the
PEW Charitable Trust submitted to the Council prior to final action on
Amendment 16. This comment was included to convey the strong and broad
public support for the protection of deep-sea corals (including 12,201
signatures). The comment specific to the Amendment 16 proposed rule was
supportive of the action. The following summarizes the issues raised in
the comments and NMFS's responses.
Comment 1: Garden State Seafood Association opposes the expansion
of framework adjustment provisions as currently allowed by the fishery
management plan.
[[Page 90248]]
Response: In general, the framework alternatives are primarily
administrative and intended to simplify and improve the efficiency of
future actions related to deep-sea coral protections. The purpose of
modifying the list of ``frameworkable items'' in the FMP is to
demonstrate that the concepts included on the list have previously been
considered in an amendment (i.e., they are not novel) and the
applicable measures are included in the fishery management plan or
regulations. Adjustment of the measures through the framework process
allows for modification of the measures already included in the fishery
management plan(s). The effects of any proposed action or future change
through the framework adjustment process will be analyzed through a
separate NEPA process and developed with public input through the
Council process.
Comment 2: The joint comment letter (from Oceana, Wildlife
Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, Conservation Law Foundation,
Earthjustice, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, Natural Resource
Defense Council, PEW Charitable Trusts, Tycoon Tackle Inc., and Wild
Oceans) requested that the exemptions for lobster and crab pots and
traps provided in the action be reexamined in a future action to ensure
that they are justified and that the final rule provide a full
explanation of how the Council and NOAA will approach reconsideration
of the exemption, including evaluation criteria and a detailed
description of the information that will be collected over the 2-year
period in order to make a better informed decision. The letter
requested that NMFS and the Council establish a process to jointly
assess the effectiveness in protecting deep-sea corals in the Coral
Area, and that the chosen metrics be reviewed periodically to make
adjustments.
Response: The Council developed this action under the discretionary
provisions for deep-sea coral protection in section 303(b) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. This provision gives the Council the authority to
establish a timetable for review of the closed area's performance that
is consistent with the purposes of the closed area. Although the
Council did not establish a formal review process for the areas, it
clearly indicated its intent to allow review and modification through
the framework provisions it included in the amendment. Because the
process is not included, and it is not required, NMFS cannot impose a
timeline or process on the Council. However, NMFS will continue to work
with the Council and remind it of the need to adjust these measures as
necessary as new information becomes available.
Comment 3: The joint comment letter recommended that the Council
and NMFS consider expanding the boundaries of the discrete zones to
better protect deep-sea corals, including stony corals (Scleractinia)
and sea pens (Pennatulacea).
Response: The Council can consider additional action to further
expand the protection of deep-sea corals through the framework measures
and process it included in this amendment.
Comment 4: The joint comment letter recommended that the transit
provision require the full gear stowage provisions as opposed to the
slightly less restrictive requirements proposed.
Response: The action allows slightly less restrictive transiting
provisions because the majority of transiting will be through the very
narrow canyon heads (i.e., the narrow tips of the canyons that extend
landward of the broad coral zone landward boundary). The normal gear
stowage requirements, and requirements that gear be unavailable for
immediate use, (at 50 CFR 648.2), would be burdensome for commercial
vessels within the narrow areas of some of the discrete coral zones.
The less restrictive gear stowage requirement still prohibits vessels
from fishing in the areas and they must have gear onboard; the more
restrictive measures would not reduce the potential for fishing.
Comment 5: The joint comment letter requested that the Council
consider future prohibitions on mid-water trawl gear.
Response: The Council has the option to consider additional gear
prohibitions in the area through a framework.
Comment 6: The joint comment letter opposed the implementation of a
special access program for commercial fishing operations in the coral
area via framework action. They feel there should be a full amendment
to create such a program.
Response: The framework alternatives are primarily administrative
and intended to simplify and improve the efficiency of future actions
related to deep-sea coral protections. The purpose of modifying the
list of frameworkable items in the FMP is to demonstrate that the
concepts included on the list have previously been considered in an
amendment. Any proposed action or future change will be analyzed
through a separate NEPA process and would be developed by the Council
through a public process, including Council, Committee, and Advisory
Panel meetings that are all open to public participation.
Comment 7: One commenter requested that a large portion of the
deep-sea coral protection area be set aside as a permanently protected
no-take reserve, to both preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable
fisheries into the future.
Response: The Council did not consider measures that would
establish ``no-take reserves.'' Rather, the measures approved as part
of this amendment, and the alternatives the Council considered, were
meant to prevent fishing in some areas and prevent expansion of
fisheries into areas where corals are known or believed to exist. The
Council balanced the desire to close these areas under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act's discretionary deep-sea coral provision with the need to
promote sustainable fisheries as the primary requirement under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. However, if the Council wants to consider
expanded protection of biodiversity through no-take reserves or similar
measures, it can take an additional action to further expand the
protection of deep-sea corals.
Comment 8: One commenter stated that during the development of this
action the Council led the fishing industry to believe that all
existing fisheries operating in the areas protected under this action
would be allowed to continue and that no new fisheries would be allowed
to use the area, (i.e., the action would freeze the footprint of
fishing). He stated that removing all bottom tending mobile gear from
these areas will have ``devastating impacts on current fisheries that
have historically taken place near/in the coral zones.''
Response: We disagree that the Council misled the fishing industry.
The Council held a workshop with various stakeholders (including
fishing industry participants) because of disagreement about how to set
the coral protection area boundaries so that it would limit fishing but
not have a high negative impact on fisheries. Environmental advocates,
and deep-sea coral experts, as well as the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish Advisory Panel and the Ecosystems and Ocean Planning
Advisory Panel attended the workshop. The workshop resulted in
stakeholders working together to compromise on a set of boundaries for
the 15 discrete deep-sea coral zones, which the Council subsequently
selected as its preferred alternative. During the workshop to refine
boundaries for coral zones, advisors assisted in developing boundaries
that would allow for continued fishing just outside the gear restricted
areas. As a result, the Council determined the economic impacts of this
action will result in overall neutral
[[Page 90249]]
to moderate negative economic impacts for fishing businesses, depending
on the fishery and assuming vessels will redistribute effort to offset
impacts of the prohibition on fishing in some areas where they
traditionally fished.
Comment 9: One commenter stated that the Council has never provided
any justification for the decision to allow fixed gear in the area when
data show that fixed gear poses a greater threat to deep-sea coral than
mobile gear.
Response: The Council recommended the exemption for the red crab
fishery because of the small size of the red crab fleet (three vessels)
and because all red crab effort takes place at depths entirely within
all of the proposed broad zone areas. Prohibiting red crab fishing in
the coral protection area would have severely limited the red crab
fishery and would have had excessively high negative economic impacts
on red crab vessels.
Comment 10: One commenter stated that there should be names on all
fishing equipment assigned to fishing boats and loss of such equipment
should require a fine of a million dollars if equipment is lost because
it is causing massive marine death.
Response: Lobster and red crab gear are already required to be
marked to identify the vessel. Further, both of these gears are
required to be compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction
Plan to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales due to incidental
entanglement in fishing gear. Details on the Atlantic Large Whale Take
Reduction Plan can be found here: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/Protected/whaletrp/.
Changes From Proposed Rule to Final Rule
There are no changes from the proposed rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
and other applicable law.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this
final rule is not significant according to Executive Order (E.O.)
12866.
This final rule does not contain policies with federalism or
``takings'' implications, as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and
E.O. 12630, respectively.
This action does not contain any collection-of-information
requirements subject the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
NMFS, pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA), has completed a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) in
support of Amendment 16 in this final rule. The FRFA incorporates the
IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by the public comments
in response to the IRFA, NMFS responses to those comments, a summary of
the analyses completed in the Amendment 16 EA, and this portion of the
preamble. A summary of the IRFA was published in the proposed rule for
this action and is not repeated here. A description of why this action
was considered, the objectives of, and the legal basis for this rule is
contained in Amendment 16 and in the preamble to the proposed and this
final rule, and is not repeated here. All of the documents that
constitute the FRFA are available from NMFS and a copy of the IRFA, the
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the EA are available upon request
(see ADDRESSES).
A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public in Response to
the IRFA, a Summary of the Agency's Assessment of Such Issues, and a
Statement of Any Changes Made in the Final Rule as a Result of Such
Comments
There were no specific comments on the IRFA. The Comments and
Responses section summarizes the comments that highlight concerns about
the economic impacts and implications of impacts on small businesses
(i.e., comment 8). No comments were received from the Office of
Advocacy for the Small Business Administration.
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which This
Rule Would Apply
On December 29, 2015, NMFS issued a final rule establishing a small
business size standard of $11 million in annual gross receipts for all
businesses primarily engaged in the commercial fishing industry (NAICS
11411) for RFA compliance purposes only (80 FR 81194; December 29,
2015). The $11 million standard became effective on July 1, 2016, and
is to be used in place of the U.S. Small Business Administration's
(SBA) current standards of $20.5 million, $5.5 million, and $7.5
million for the finfish (NAICS 114111), shellfish (NAICS 114112), and
other marine fishing (NAICS 114119) sectors of the U.S. commercial
fishing industry in all NMFS rules subject to the RFA after July 1,
2016 (Id. at 81194).
The Council prepared the IRFA under the SBA standards and submitted
the action for initial NMFS review in March 2016, prior to the July 1,
2016, effective date of NMFS' new size standard for commercial fishing
businesses, under the assumption that the proposed rule would also
publish prior to the July 1, 2016, effective date. However, NMFS has
reviewed the analyses prepared for this regulatory action in light of
the new size standard. The new size standard could result in some of
the large businesses being considered small, but, as explained below,
this does not affect the conclusions of the analysis. The following
summarizes the IRFA using the SBA definitions of small businesses.
The deep-sea coral zones measures in association with other
management measures within the coral zones could affect any business
entity that has an active Federal fishing permit and fishes in the
zone/gear restricted areas. In order to identify firms, vessel
ownership data, which have been added to the permit database, were used
to identify all the individuals who own fishing vessels. With this
information, vessels were grouped together according to common owners.
The resulting groupings were then treated as a fishing business (firm,
affiliate, or entity), for purposes of identifying small and large
firms. According to the ownership database, a total of 113 finfish
firms (all small entities) fished in the Council's preferred broad and
discrete zones during 2014. Also in 2014, there were 184 small and 16
large shellfish entities. The ownership database shows that small
finfish firms that operated in the Council's preferred broad and
discrete zones generated average revenues that ranged from $18,344 (in
2013) to $21,055 (in 2014). The ownership database shows that small
shellfish firms that operated in the Council's preferred broad and
discrete zones generated average revenues that ranged from $35,276 (in
2014) to $58,723 (in 2012). The ownership database shows that large
shellfish firms that operated in the Council's preferred broad and
discrete zones generated average revenues that ranged from $146,901 (in
2013) to $314,223 (in 2012).
Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other
Compliance Requirements
This action contains no new collection-of-information requirements
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This action requires
Illex squid vessels to install and operate VMS, and to declare Illex
squid trips. However, NMFS has determined that all Illex squid vessels
that will be affected by this action already have VMS. Because every
Illex vessel has VMS,
[[Page 90250]]
they are already required to enter a trip declaration for every trip.
Therefore, there is no additional reporting burden imposed by this
action.
Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes
During the development of Amendment 16, the Council considered
several alternatives to the deep-sea coral protection measures it
ultimately recommended. While some alternatives would have closed less
area (smaller discrete zone areas and broad zone area starting at a
deeper depth) and other alternatives would have allowed more fishing
(an exemption for tilefish gear), NMFS has does not have the authority
to implement measures that were not recommended by the Council as part
of its preferred action. Rather, NMFS can only approve or disapprove
Council recommendations in an amendment. NMFS, therefore, is
implementing the Council's preferred action, but the action includes
some measures that reduce the economic impact inherent in closing areas
to fishing. Specifically, this final rule exempts red crab pot gear
from the prohibition on fishing with bottom-tending fishing gear in the
deep-sea coral protection area. The red crab fishery exists entirely
within the boundaries of the deep-sea coral protection area in the Mid-
Atlantic. The exemption allows the fishery to continue to operate in
the Mid-Atlantic and gain revenue from its catch. In addition, vessels
are allowed to transit the deep-sea coral protection area, which is
particularly important at the heads of the discrete zone canyons (where
the boundaries come to a point). Because vessels fish with bottom-
tending gear along the edges of the canyons, they would have to transit
around them to fish on both sides of the canyon. This would cost fuel
and could ultimately impact trip duration and catch if vessel operators
would have had to spend time transiting around the canyon heads rather
than across them. Both the red crab pot gear exemption and the
transiting provision therefore reduces cost and time and minimizes the
economic impact of the measures implemented under this final rule.
Small Entity Compliance Guide
Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for
which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility
analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small
entities in complying with the rule, and shall designate such
publications as ``small entity compliance guides.'' The agency shall
explain the actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a
rule or group of rules. The preamble to the proposed rule (81 FR 66245,
September 27, 2016) and the preamble to this final rule serve as the
small entity compliance guide. This final rule does not require any
additional compliance from small entities that is not described in the
preamble to the proposed rule and this final rule. Copies of the
proposed rule and this final rule are available from NMFS at the
following Web site: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/scallop/.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Dated: December 7, 2016.
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 648 is amended
as follows:
PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec. 648.10, add paragraphs (b)(11) and (p) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.10 VMS and DAS requirements for vessel owners/operators.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(11) Vessels issued an Illex squid moratorium permit.
* * * * *
(p) Illex squid VMS notification requirement. A vessel issued an
Illex squid moratorium permit intending to declare into the Illex squid
fishery must notify NMFS by declaring an Illex squid trip prior to
leaving port at the start of each trip in order to harvest, possess, or
land 10,000 lb (4,535.9 kg) or more of Illex squid on that trip.
0
3. In Sec. 648.14, add paragraph (b)(10) and revise paragraphs
(g)(2)(v) heading and (g)(2)(v)(A) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.14 Prohibitions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(10) Fish with bottom-tending gear within the Frank R. Lautenberg
Deep-sea Coral Protection Area described at Sec. 648.27, unless
transiting pursuant to Sec. 648.27(d), fishing lobster trap gear in
accordance with Sec. 697.21 of this chapter, or fishing red crab trap
gear in accordance with Sec. 648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes but
is not limited to bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam
trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending
seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gill
nets.
* * * * *
(g) * * *
(2) * * *
(v) Reporting requirements in the limited access Atlantic mackerel,
longfin squid/butterfish, and Illex squid moratorium fisheries. (A)
Fail to declare via VMS into the mackerel, longfin squid/butterfish, or
Illex squid fisheries by entering the fishery code prior to leaving
port at the start of each trip, if the vessel will harvest, possess, or
land Atlantic mackerel, more than 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of longfin squid,
or more than 10,000 lb (4,535.9 kg) of Illex squid, and is issued a
Limited Access Atlantic mackerel permit, longfin squid/butterfish
moratorium permit, or Illex squid moratorium permit, pursuant to Sec.
648.10.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 648.25:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(1);
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4) as paragraphs
(a)(3), (a)(4), and (a)(5); and
0
c. Add new paragraph (a)(2).
The revisions and addition read as follows:
Sec. 648.25 Atlantic Mackerel, squid, and butterfish framework
adjustments to management measures.
(a) * * *
(1) Adjustment process. The MAFMC shall develop and analyze
appropriate management actions over the span of at least two MAFMC
meetings. The MAFMC must provide the public with advance notice of the
availability of the recommendation(s), appropriate justification(s) and
economic and biological analyses, and the opportunity to comment on the
proposed adjustment(s) at the first meeting and prior to and at the
second MAFMC meeting. The MAFMC's recommendations on adjustments or
additions to management measures must come from one or more of the
following categories:
(i) Adjustments within existing ABC control rule levels;
(ii) Adjustments to the existing MAFMC risk policy;
(iii) Introduction of new AMs, including sub-ACTs;
[[Page 90251]]
(iv) Minimum and maximum fish size;
(v) Gear restrictions, gear requirements or prohibitions;
(vi) Permitting restrictions;
(vii) Recreational possession limit, recreational seasons, and
recreational harvest limit;
(viii) Closed areas;
(ix) Commercial seasons, commercial trip limits, commercial quota
system, including commercial quota allocation procedure and possible
quota set-asides to mitigate bycatch;
(x) Annual specification quota setting process;
(xi) FMP Monitoring Committee composition and process;
(xii) Description and identification of EFH (and fishing gear
management measures that impact EFH);
(xiii) Description and identification of habitat areas of
particular concern;
(xiv) Overfishing definition and related thresholds and targets;
(xv) Regional gear restrictions, regional season restrictions
(including option to split seasons), regional management;
(xvi) Restrictions on vessel size (LOA and GRT) or shaft
horsepower;
(xvii) Changes to the SBRM, including the CV-based performance
standard, the means by which discard data are collected/obtained,
fishery stratification, the process for prioritizing observer sea-day
allocations, reports, and/or industry-funded observers or observer set
aside programs;
(xviii) Set aside quota for scientific research;
(xix) Process for inseason adjustment to the annual specification;
(xx) Mortality caps for river herring and shad species, time/area
management for river herring and shad species, and provisions for river
herring and shad incidental catch avoidance program, including
adjustments to the mechanism and process for tracking fleet activity,
reporting incidental catch events, compiling data, and notifying the
fleet of changes to the area(s);
(xxi) The definition/duration of `test tows,' if test tows would be
utilized to determine the extent of river herring incidental catch in a
particular area(s);
(xxii) The threshold for river herring incidental catch that would
trigger the need for vessels to be alerted and move out of the area(s),
the distance that vessels would be required to move from the area(s),
and the time that vessels would be required to remain out of the
area(s);
(xxiii) Modifications to the broad and discrete deep-sea coral zone
boundaries and the addition of discrete deep-sea coral zones;
(xxiv) Modifications to the management measures within the Frank R.
Lautenberg Deep-sea Coral Protection Area and implementation of special
access programs to the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-sea Coral Protection
Area; and
(xxv) Any other management measures currently included in the FMP.
(2) Measures contained within this list that require significant
departures from previously contemplated measures or that are otherwise
introducing new concepts may require amendment of the FMP instead of a
framework adjustment.
* * * * *
0
5. Add Sec. 648.27 to subpart B to read as follows:
Sec. 648.27 Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.
(a) No vessel may fish with bottom-tending gear within the Frank R.
Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area described in this section,
unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, fishing
lobster trap gear in accordance with Sec. 697.21 of this chapter, or
fishing red crab trap gear in accordance with Sec. 648.264. Bottom-
tending gear includes but is not limited to bottom-tending otter
trawls, bottom-tending beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic
dredges, bottom-tending seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and
sink or anchored gillnets. The Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral
Protection Area consists of the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zones
defined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
(b) Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone. The Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone is
bounded on the east by the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone, and bounded on all other sides by straight lines connecting the
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An
asterisk (*) in the Discrete Zone column means the point is shared with
a Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (c) of this
section.
Broad Zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discrete
Point Latitude Longitude zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 36[deg]33.02' 71[deg]29.33' ..........
N. W.
2........................... 36[deg]33.02' 72[deg]00' W. ..........
N.
3........................... 36[deg]33.02' 73[deg]00' W. ..........
N.
4........................... 36[deg]33.02' 74[deg]00' W. ..........
N.
5........................... 36[deg]33.02' 74[deg]42.14' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 36[deg]34.44' 74[deg]42.23' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 36[deg]35.53' 74[deg]41.59' ..........
N. W.
8........................... 36[deg]37.69' 74[deg]41.51' ..........
N. W.
9........................... 36[deg]42.09' 74[deg]39.07' ..........
N. W.
10.......................... 36[deg]45.18' 74[deg]38' W. ..........
N.
11.......................... 36[deg]45.69' 74[deg]38.55' ..........
N. W.
12.......................... 36[deg]49.17' 74[deg]38.31' ..........
N. W.
13.......................... 36[deg]49.56' 74[deg]37.77' ..........
N. W.
14.......................... 36[deg]51.21' 74[deg]37.81' ..........
N. W.
15.......................... 36[deg]51.78' 74[deg]37.43' ..........
N. W.
16.......................... 36[deg]58.51' 74[deg]36.51' *
N. W.
17.......................... 36[deg]58.62' 74[deg]36.97' *
N. W.
18.......................... 37[deg]4.43' 74[deg]41.03' *
N. W.
19.......................... 37[deg]5.83' 74[deg]45.57' *
N. W.
20.......................... 37[deg]6.97' 74[deg]40.8' *
N. W.
21.......................... 37[deg]4.52' 74[deg]37.77' *
N. W.
22.......................... 37[deg]4.02' 74[deg]33.83' *
N. W.
23.......................... 37[deg]4.52' 74[deg]33.51' *
N. W.
24.......................... 37[deg]4.4' N. 74[deg]33.11' *
W.
25.......................... 37[deg]7.38' 74[deg]31.95' ..........
N. W.
26.......................... 37[deg]8.32' 74[deg]32.4' ..........
N. W.
27.......................... 37[deg]8.51' 74[deg]31.38' ..........
N. W.
28.......................... 37[deg]9.44' 74[deg]31.5' ..........
N. W.
29.......................... 37[deg]16.83' 74[deg]28.58' ..........
N. W.
30.......................... 37[deg]17.81' 74[deg]27.67' ..........
N. W.
31.......................... 37[deg]18.72' 74[deg]28.22' ..........
N. W.
32.......................... 37[deg]22.74' 74[deg]26.24' *
N. W.
33.......................... 37[deg]22.87' 74[deg]26.16' *
N. W.
34.......................... 37[deg]24.44' 74[deg]28.57' *
N. W.
35.......................... 37[deg]24.67' 74[deg]29.71' *
N. W.
36.......................... 37[deg]25.93' 74[deg]30.13' *
N. W.
37.......................... 37[deg]27.25' 74[deg]30.2' *
N. W.
38.......................... 37[deg]28.6' 74[deg]30.6' *
N. W.
39.......................... 37[deg]29.43' 74[deg]30.29' *
N. W.
40.......................... 37[deg]29.53' 74[deg]29.95' *
N. W.
41.......................... 37[deg]27.68' 74[deg]28.82' *
N. W.
42.......................... 37[deg]27.06' 74[deg]28.76' *
N. W.
43.......................... 37[deg]26.39' 74[deg]27.76' *
N. W.
44.......................... 37[deg]26.3' 74[deg]26.87' *
N. W.
45.......................... 37[deg]25.69' 74[deg]25.63' *
N. W.
46.......................... 37[deg]25.83' 74[deg]24.22' *
N. W.
47.......................... 37[deg]25.68' 74[deg]24.03' *
N. W.
48.......................... 37[deg]28.04' 74[deg]23.17' ..........
N. W.
49.......................... 37[deg]27.72' 74[deg]22.34' ..........
N. W.
50.......................... 37[deg]30.13' 74[deg]17.77' ..........
N. W.
51.......................... 37[deg]33.83' 74[deg]17.47' ..........
N. W.
52.......................... 37[deg]35.48' 74[deg]14.84' ..........
N. W.
53.......................... 37[deg]36.99' 74[deg]14.01' ..........
N. W.
54.......................... 37[deg]37.23' 74[deg]13.02' ..........
N. W.
55.......................... 37[deg]42.85' 74[deg]9.97' ..........
N. W.
56.......................... 37[deg]43.5' 74[deg]8.79' ..........
N. W.
57.......................... 37[deg]45.22' 74[deg]9.2' W. ..........
N.
58.......................... 37[deg]45.15' 74[deg]7.24' *
N. W.
59.......................... 37[deg]45.88' 74[deg]7.44' *
N. W.
60.......................... 37[deg]46.7' 74[deg]5.98' *
N. W.
61.......................... 37[deg]49.62' 74[deg]6.03' *
N. W.
62.......................... 37[deg]51.25' 74[deg]5.48' *
N. W.
63.......................... 37[deg]51.99' 74[deg]4.51' *
N. W.
64.......................... 37[deg]51.37' 74[deg]3.3' W. *
N.
65.......................... 37[deg]50.63' 74[deg]2.69' *
N. W.
66.......................... 37[deg]49.62' 74[deg]2.28' *
N. W.
67.......................... 37[deg]50.28' 74[deg]0.67' *
N. W.
68.......................... 37[deg]53.68' 73[deg]57.41' *
N. W.
69.......................... 37[deg]55.07' 73[deg]57.27' *
N. W.
70.......................... 38[deg]3.29' 73[deg]49.1' *
N. W.
71.......................... 38[deg]6.19' 73[deg]51.59' *
N. W.
72.......................... 38[deg]7.67' 73[deg]52.19' *
N. W.
73.......................... 38[deg]9.04' 73[deg]52.39' *
N. W.
74.......................... 38[deg]10.1' 73[deg]52.32' *
N. W.
75.......................... 38[deg]11.98' 73[deg]52.65' *
N. W.
76.......................... 38[deg]13.74' 73[deg]50.73' *
N. W.
77.......................... 38[deg]13.15' 73[deg]49.77' *
N. W.
78.......................... 38[deg]10.92' 73[deg]50.37' *
N. W.
79.......................... 38[deg]10.2' 73[deg]49.63' *
N. W.
80.......................... 38[deg]9.26' 73[deg]49.68' *
N. W.
81.......................... 38[deg]8.38' 73[deg]49.51' *
N. W.
82.......................... 38[deg]7.59' 73[deg]47.91' *
N. W.
83.......................... 38[deg]6.96' 73[deg]47.25' *
N. W.
84.......................... 38[deg]6.51' 73[deg]46.99' *
N. W.
85.......................... 38[deg]5.69' 73[deg]45.56' *
N. W.
86.......................... 38[deg]6.35' 73[deg]44.8' *
N. W.
87.......................... 38[deg]7.5' N. 73[deg]45.2' *
W.
88.......................... 38[deg]9.24' 73[deg]42.61' *
N. W.
89.......................... 38[deg]9.41' 73[deg]41.63' ..........
N. W.
90.......................... 38[deg]15.13' 73[deg]37.58' ..........
N. W.
91.......................... 38[deg]15.25' 73[deg]36.2' *
N. W.
92.......................... 38[deg]16.19' 73[deg]36.91' *
N. W.
[[Page 90252]]
93.......................... 38[deg]16.89' 73[deg]36.66' *
N. W.
94.......................... 38[deg]16.91' 73[deg]36.35' *
N. W.
95.......................... 38[deg]17.63' 73[deg]35.35' *
N. W.
96.......................... 38[deg]18.55' 73[deg]34.44' *
N. W.
97.......................... 38[deg]18.38' 73[deg]33.4' *
N. W.
98.......................... 38[deg]19.04' 73[deg]33.02' *
N. W.
99.......................... 38[deg]25.08' 73[deg]34.99' *
N. W.
100......................... 38[deg]26.32' 73[deg]33.44' *
N. W.
101......................... 38[deg]29.72' 73[deg]30.65' *
N. W.
102......................... 38[deg]28.65' 73[deg]29.37' *
N. W.
103......................... 38[deg]25.53' 73[deg]30.94' *
N. W.
104......................... 38[deg]25.26' 73[deg]29.97' *
N. W.
105......................... 38[deg]23.75' 73[deg]30.16' *
N. W.
106......................... 38[deg]23.47' 73[deg]29.7' *
N. W.
107......................... 38[deg]22.76' 73[deg]29.34' *
N. W.
108......................... 38[deg]22.5' 73[deg]27.63' *
N. W.
109......................... 38[deg]21.59' 73[deg]26.87' *
N. W.
110......................... 38[deg]23.07' 73[deg]24.11' ..........
N. W.
111......................... 38[deg]25.83' 73[deg]22.39' ..........
N. W.
112......................... 38[deg]25.97' 73[deg]21.43' ..........
N. W.
113......................... 38[deg]34.14' 73[deg]11.14' *
N. W.
114......................... 38[deg]35.1' 73[deg]10.43' *
N. W.
115......................... 38[deg]35.94' 73[deg]11.25' *
N. W.
116......................... 38[deg]37.57' 73[deg]10.49' *
N. W.
117......................... 38[deg]37.21' 73[deg]9.41' *
N. W.
118......................... 38[deg]36.72' 73[deg]8.85' *
N. W.
119......................... 38[deg]43' N. 73[deg]1.24' *
W.
120......................... 38[deg]43.66' 73[deg]0.36' *
N. W.
121......................... 38[deg]45' N. 73[deg]0.27' *
W.
122......................... 38[deg]46.68' 73[deg]1.07' *
N. W.
123......................... 38[deg]47.54' 73[deg]2.24' *
N. W.
124......................... 38[deg]47.84' 73[deg]2.24' *
N. W.
125......................... 38[deg]49.03' 73[deg]1.53' *
N. W.
126......................... 38[deg]48.45' 73[deg]1' W. *
N.
127......................... 38[deg]49.15' 72[deg]58.98' *
N. W.
128......................... 38[deg]48.03' 72[deg]56.7' *
N. W.
129......................... 38[deg]49.84' 72[deg]55.54' *
N. W.
130......................... 38[deg]52.4' 72[deg]52.5' *
N. W.
131......................... 38[deg]53.87' 72[deg]53.36' *
N. W.
132......................... 38[deg]54.17' 72[deg]52.58' *
N. W.
133......................... 38[deg]54.7' 72[deg]50.26' *
N. W.
134......................... 38[deg]57.2' 72[deg]47.74' *
N. W.
135......................... 38[deg]58.64' 72[deg]48.35' *
N. W.
136......................... 38[deg]59.3' 72[deg]47.86' *
N. W.
137......................... 38[deg]59.22' 72[deg]46.69' *
N. W.
138......................... 39[deg]0.13' 72[deg]45.47' *
N. W.
139......................... 39[deg]1.69' 72[deg]45.74' *
N. W.
140......................... 39[deg]1.49' 72[deg]43.67' *
N. W.
141......................... 39[deg]3.9' N. 72[deg]40.83' *
W.
142......................... 39[deg]7.35' 72[deg]41.26' *
N. W.
143......................... 39[deg]7.16' 72[deg]37.21' *
N. W.
144......................... 39[deg]6.52' 72[deg]35.78' *
N. W.
145......................... 39[deg]11.73' 72[deg]25.4' *
N. W.
146......................... 39[deg]11.76' 72[deg]22.33' ..........
N. W.
147......................... 39[deg]19.08' 72[deg]9.56' *
N. W.
148......................... 39[deg]25.17' 72[deg]13.03' *
N. W.
149......................... 39[deg]28.8' 72[deg]17.39' *
N. W.
150......................... 39[deg]30.16' 72[deg]20.41' *
N. W.
151......................... 39[deg]31.38' 72[deg]23.86' *
N. W.
152......................... 39[deg]32.55' 72[deg]25.07' *
N. W.
153......................... 39[deg]34.57' 72[deg]25.18' *
N. W.
154......................... 39[deg]34.53' 72[deg]24.23' *
N. W.
155......................... 39[deg]33.17' 72[deg]24.1' *
N. W.
156......................... 39[deg]32.07' 72[deg]22.77' *
N. W.
157......................... 39[deg]32.17' 72[deg]22.08' *
N. W.
158......................... 39[deg]30.3' 72[deg]15.71' *
N. W.
159......................... 39[deg]29.49' 72[deg]14.3' *
N. W.
160......................... 39[deg]29.44' 72[deg]13.24' *
N. W.
161......................... 39[deg]27.63' 72[deg]5.87' *
N. W.
162......................... 39[deg]28.26' 72[deg]2.2' W. *
N.
163......................... 39[deg]29.88' 72[deg]3.51' *
N. W.
164......................... 39[deg]30.57' 72[deg]3.47' *
N. W.
165......................... 39[deg]31.28' 72[deg]2.63' *
N. W.
166......................... 39[deg]31.46' 72[deg]1.41' *
N. W.
167......................... 39[deg]37.15' 71[deg]55.85' *
N. W.
168......................... 39[deg]39.77' 71[deg]53.7' *
N. W.
169......................... 39[deg]41.5' 71[deg]51.89' ..........
N. W.
170......................... 39[deg]43.84' 71[deg]44.85' *
N. W.
171......................... 39[deg]48.01' 71[deg]45.19' *
N. W.
172......................... 39[deg]49.97' 71[deg]39.29' *
N. W.
173......................... 39[deg]55.08' 71[deg]18.62' *
N. W.
174......................... 39[deg]55.99' 71[deg]16.07' *
N. W.
175......................... 39[deg]57.04' 70[deg]50.01' ..........
N. W.
176......................... 39[deg]55.07' 70[deg]32.42' ..........
N. W.
177......................... 39[deg]50.24' 70[deg]27.78' ..........
N. W.
178......................... 39[deg]42.18' 70[deg]20.09' ..........
N. W.
179......................... 39[deg]34.11' 70[deg]12.42' ..........
N. W.
180......................... 39[deg]26.04' 70[deg]4.78' ..........
N. W.
181......................... 39[deg]17.96' 69[deg]57.18' ..........
N. W.
182......................... 39[deg]9.87' 69[deg]49.6' ..........
N. W.
183......................... 39[deg]1.77' 69[deg]42.05' ..........
N. W.
184......................... 38[deg]53.66' 69[deg]34.53' ..........
N. W.
185......................... 38[deg]45.54' 69[deg]27.03' ..........
N. W.
186......................... 38[deg]37.42' 69[deg]19.57' ..........
N. W.
187......................... 38[deg]29.29' 69[deg]12.13' ..........
N. W.
188......................... 38[deg]21.15' 69[deg]4.73' ..........
N. W.
189......................... 38[deg]13' N. 68[deg]57.35' ..........
W.
190......................... 38[deg]4.84' 68[deg]49.99' ..........
N. W.
191......................... 38[deg]2.21' 68[deg]47.62' ..........
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zones. (1) Block Canyon. Block Canyon
discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting
the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting
this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request).
An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with
the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this
section.
Block Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 39[deg]55.08' 71[deg]18.62' *
N. W.
2........................... 39[deg]55.99' 71[deg]16.07' *
N. W.
3........................... 39[deg]49.51' 71[deg]12.12' ..........
N. W.
4........................... 39[deg]38.09' 71[deg]9.5' W. ..........
N.
5........................... 39[deg]37.4' 71[deg]11.87' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 39[deg]47.26' 71[deg]17.38' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 39[deg]52.6' 71[deg]17.51' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 39[deg]55.08' 71[deg]18.62' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Ryan and McMaster Canyons. Ryan and McMaster Canyons discrete
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this
section.
Ryan and McMaster Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 39[deg]43.84' 71[deg]44.85' *
N. W.
2........................... 39[deg]48.01' 71[deg]45.19' *
N. W.
3........................... 39[deg]49.97' 71[deg]39.29' *
N. W.
4........................... 39[deg]48.29' 71[deg]37.18' ..........
N. W.
5........................... 39[deg]42.96' 71[deg]35.01' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 39[deg]33.43' 71[deg]27.91' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 39[deg]31.75' 71[deg]30.77' ..........
N. W.
8........................... 39[deg]34.46' 71[deg]35.68' ..........
N. W.
9........................... 39[deg]40.12' 71[deg]42.36' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 39[deg]43.84' 71[deg]44.85' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Emery and Uchupi Canyons. Emery and Uchupi Canyons discrete
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this
section.
Emery and Uchupi Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 39[deg]37.15' 71[deg]55.85' *
N. W.
2........................... 39[deg]39.77' 71[deg]53.7' *
N. W.
3........................... 39[deg]39.55' 71[deg]47.68' ..........
N. W.
4........................... 39[deg]30.78' 71[deg]36.24' ..........
N. W.
5........................... 39[deg]27.26' 71[deg]39.13' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 39[deg]28.99' 71[deg]45.47' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 39[deg]33.91' 71[deg]52.61' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 39[deg]37.15' 71[deg]55.85' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Jones and Babylon Canyons. Jones and Babylon Canyons discrete
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this
section.
Jones and Babylon Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 39[deg]28.26' 72[deg]2.2' W. *
N.
2........................... 39[deg]29.88' 72[deg]3.51' *
N. W.
3........................... 39[deg]30.57' 72[deg]3.47' *
N. W.
4........................... 39[deg]31.28' 72[deg]2.63' *
N. W.
5........................... 39[deg]31.46' 72[deg]1.41' *
N. W.
6........................... 39[deg]30.37' 71[deg]57.72' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 39[deg]30.63' 71[deg]55.13' ..........
N. W.
8........................... 39[deg]23.81' 71[deg]48.15' ..........
N. W.
9........................... 39[deg]23' N. 71[deg]52.48' ..........
W.
1........................... 39[deg]28.26' 72[deg]2.2' W. *
N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Hudson Canyon. Hudson Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as
defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Hudson Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 39[deg]19.08' 72[deg]9.56' *
N. W.
2........................... 39[deg]25.17' 72[deg]13.03' *
N. W.
3........................... 39[deg]28.8' 72[deg]17.39' *
N. W.
4........................... 39[deg]30.16' 72[deg]20.41' *
N. W.
5........................... 39[deg]31.38' 72[deg]23.86' *
N. W.
[[Page 90253]]
6........................... 39[deg]32.55' 72[deg]25.07' *
N. W.
7........................... 39[deg]34.57' 72[deg]25.18' *
N. W.
8........................... 39[deg]34.53' 72[deg]24.23' *
N. W.
9........................... 39[deg]33.17' 72[deg]24.1' *
N. W.
10.......................... 39[deg]32.07' 72[deg]22.77' *
N. W.
11.......................... 39[deg]32.17' 72[deg]22.08' *
N. W.
12.......................... 39[deg]30.3' 72[deg]15.71' *
N. W.
13.......................... 39[deg]29.49' 72[deg]14.3' *
N. W.
14.......................... 39[deg]29.44' 72[deg]13.24' *
N. W.
15.......................... 39[deg]27.63' 72[deg]5.87' *
N. W.
16.......................... 39[deg]13.93' 71[deg]48.44' ..........
N. W.
17.......................... 39[deg]10.39' 71[deg]52.98' ..........
N. W.
18.......................... 39[deg]14.27' 72[deg]3.09' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 39[deg]19.08' 72[deg]9.56' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Mey-Lindenkohl Slope. Mey-Lindenkohl Slope discrete deep-sea
coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points
in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are
available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk
(*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad
Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Mey-Lindenkohl Slope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]43' N. 73[deg]1.24' *
W.
2........................... 38[deg]43.66' 73[deg]0.36' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]45' N. 73[deg]0.27' *
W.
4........................... 38[deg]46.68' 73[deg]1.07' *
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]47.54' 73[deg]2.24' *
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]47.84' 73[deg]2.24' *
N. W.
7........................... 38[deg]49.03' 73[deg]1.53' *
N. W.
8........................... 38[deg]48.45' 73[deg]1' W. *
N.
9........................... 38[deg]49.15' 72[deg]58.98' *
N. W.
10.......................... 38[deg]48.03' 72[deg]56.7' *
N. W.
11.......................... 38[deg]49.84' 72[deg]55.54' *
N. W.
12.......................... 38[deg]52.4' 72[deg]52.5' *
N. W.
13.......................... 38[deg]53.87' 72[deg]53.36' *
N. W.
14.......................... 38[deg]54.17' 72[deg]52.58' *
N. W.
15.......................... 38[deg]54.7' 72[deg]50.26' *
N. W.
16.......................... 38[deg]57.2' 72[deg]47.74' *
N. W.
17.......................... 38[deg]58.64' 72[deg]48.35' *
N. W.
18.......................... 38[deg]59.3' 72[deg]47.86' *
N. W.
19.......................... 38[deg]59.22' 72[deg]46.69' *
N. W.
20.......................... 39[deg]0.13' 72[deg]45.47' *
N. W.
21.......................... 39[deg]1.69' 72[deg]45.74' *
N. W.
22.......................... 39[deg]1.49' 72[deg]43.67' *
N. W.
23.......................... 39[deg]3.9' N. 72[deg]40.83' *
W.
24.......................... 39[deg]7.35' 72[deg]41.26' *
N. W.
25.......................... 39[deg]7.16' 72[deg]37.21' *
N. W.
26.......................... 39[deg]6.52' 72[deg]35.78' *
N. W.
27.......................... 39[deg]11.73' 72[deg]25.4' *
N. W.
28.......................... 38[deg]58.85' 72[deg]11.78' ..........
N. W.
29.......................... 38[deg]32.39' 72[deg]47.69' ..........
N. W.
30.......................... 38[deg]34.88' 72[deg]53.78' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]43' N. 73[deg]1.24' *
W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Spencer Canyon. Spencer Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as
defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Spencer Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]34.14' 73[deg]11.14' *
N. W.
2........................... 38[deg]35.1' 73[deg]10.43' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]35.94' 73[deg]11.25' *
N. W.
4........................... 38[deg]37.57' 73[deg]10.49' *
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]37.21' 73[deg]9.41' *
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]36.72' 73[deg]8.85' *
N. W.
7........................... 38[deg]36.59' 73[deg]8.25' ..........
N. W.
8........................... 38[deg]28.94' 72[deg]58.96' ..........
N. W.
9........................... 38[deg]26.45' 73[deg]3.24' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]34.14' 73[deg]11.14' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(8) Wilmington Canyon. Wilmington Canyon discrete deep-sea coral
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-sea
Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Wilmington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]19.04' 73[deg]33.02' *
N. W.
2........................... 38[deg]25.08' 73[deg]34.99' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]26.32' 73[deg]33.44' *
N. W.
4........................... 38[deg]29.72' 73[deg]30.65' *
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]28.65' 73[deg]29.37' *
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]25.53' 73[deg]30.94' *
N. W.
7........................... 38[deg]25.26' 73[deg]29.97' *
N. W.
8........................... 38[deg]23.75' 73[deg]30.16' *
N. W.
9........................... 38[deg]23.47' 73[deg]29.7' *
N. W.
10.......................... 38[deg]22.76' 73[deg]29.34' *
N. W.
11.......................... 38[deg]22.5' 73[deg]27.63' *
N. W.
12.......................... 38[deg]21.59' 73[deg]26.87' *
N. W.
13.......................... 38[deg]18.52' 73[deg]22.95' ..........
N. W.
14.......................... 38[deg]14.41' 73[deg]16.64' ..........
N. W.
15.......................... 38[deg]13.23' 73[deg]17.32' ..........
N. W.
16.......................... 38[deg]15.79' 73[deg]26.38' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]19.04' 73[deg]33.02' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons. North Heyes and South
Wilmington Canyons discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight
lines connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a
chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator
upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point
is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph
(b) of this section.
North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]15.25' 73[deg]36.2' *
N. W.
2........................... 38[deg]16.19' 73[deg]36.91' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]16.89' 73[deg]36.66' *
N. W.
4........................... 38[deg]16.91' 73[deg]36.35' *
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]17.63' 73[deg]35.35' *
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]18.55' 73[deg]34.44' *
N. W.
7........................... 38[deg]18.38' 73[deg]33.4' *
N. W.
8........................... 38[deg]19.04' 73[deg]33.02' *
N. W.
9........................... 38[deg]15.79' 73[deg]26.38' ..........
N. W.
10.......................... 38[deg]14.98' 73[deg]24.73' ..........
N. W.
11.......................... 38[deg]12.32' 73[deg]21.22' ..........
N. W.
12.......................... 38[deg]11.06' 73[deg]22.21' ..........
N. W.
13.......................... 38[deg]11.13' 73[deg]28.72' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]15.25' 73[deg]36.2' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) South Vries Canyon. South Vries Canyon discrete deep-sea coral
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea
Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
South Vries Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]6.35' 73[deg]44.8' *
N. W.
2........................... 38[deg]7.5' N. 73[deg]45.2' *
W.
3........................... 38[deg]9.24' 73[deg]42.61' *
N. W.
4........................... 38[deg]3.22' 73[deg]29.22' ..........
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]2.38' 73[deg]29.78' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]2.54' 73[deg]36.73' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]6.35' 73[deg]44.8' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Baltimore Canyon. Baltimore Canyon discrete deep-sea coral
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea
Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Baltimore Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 38[deg]3.29' 73[deg]49.1' *
N. W.
2........................... 38[deg]6.19' 73[deg]51.59' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]7.67' 73[deg]52.19' *
N. W.
4........................... 38[deg]9.04' 73[deg]52.39' *
N. W.
5........................... 38[deg]10.1' 73[deg]52.32' *
N. W.
6........................... 38[deg]11.98' 73[deg]52.65' *
N. W.
7........................... 38[deg]13.74' 73[deg]50.73' *
N. W.
8........................... 38[deg]13.15' 73[deg]49.77' *
N. W.
9........................... 38[deg]10.92' 73[deg]50.37' *
N. W.
10.......................... 38[deg]10.2' 73[deg]49.63' *
N. W.
11.......................... 38[deg]9.26' 73[deg]49.68' *
N. W.
12.......................... 38[deg]8.38' 73[deg]49.51' *
N. W.
13.......................... 38[deg]7.59' 73[deg]47.91' *
N. W.
14.......................... 38[deg]6.96' 73[deg]47.25' *
N. W.
15.......................... 38[deg]6.51' 73[deg]46.99' *
N. W.
16.......................... 38[deg]5.69' 73[deg]45.56' *
N. W.
17.......................... 38[deg]6.35' 73[deg]44.8' *
N. W.
18.......................... 38[deg]2.54' 73[deg]36.73' ..........
N. W.
19.......................... 37[deg]59.19' 73[deg]40.67' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 38[deg]3.29' 73[deg]49.1' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex. Warr and Phoenix Canyon
[[Page 90254]]
Complex discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines
connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart
depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon
request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is
shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b)
of this section.
Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 37[deg]53.68' 73[deg]57.41' *
N. W.
2........................... 37[deg]55.07' 73[deg]57.27' *
N. W.
3........................... 38[deg]3.29' 73[deg]49.1' *
N. W.
4........................... 37[deg]59.19' 73[deg]40.67' ..........
N. W.
5........................... 37[deg]52.5' 73[deg]35.28' ..........
N. W.
6........................... 37[deg]50.92' 73[deg]36.59' ..........
N. W.
7........................... 37[deg]49.84' 73[deg]47.11' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 37[deg]53.68' 73[deg]57.41' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13) Accomac and Leonard Canyons. Accomac and Leonard Canyons
discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting
the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting
this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request).
An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with
the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this
section.
Accomac and Leonard Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 37[deg]45.15' 74[deg]7.24' *
N. W.
2........................... 37[deg]45.88' 74[deg]7.44' *
N. W.
3........................... 37[deg]46.7' 74[deg]5.98' *
N. W.
4........................... 37[deg]49.62' 74[deg]6.03' *
N. W.
5........................... 37[deg]51.25' 74[deg]5.48' *
N. W.
6........................... 37[deg]51.99' 74[deg]4.51' *
N. W.
7........................... 37[deg]51.37' 74[deg]3.3' W. *
N.
8........................... 37[deg]50.63' 74[deg]2.69' *
N. W.
9........................... 37[deg]49.62' 74[deg]2.28' *
N. W.
10.......................... 37[deg]50.28' 74[deg]0.67' *
N. W.
11.......................... 37[deg]50.2' 74[deg]0.17' ..........
N. W.
12.......................... 37[deg]50.52' 73[deg]58.59' ..........
N. W.
13.......................... 37[deg]50.99' 73[deg]57.17' ..........
N. W.
14.......................... 37[deg]50.4' 73[deg]52.35' ..........
N. W.
15.......................... 37[deg]42.76' 73[deg]44.86' ..........
N. W.
16.......................... 37[deg]39.96' 73[deg]48.32' ..........
N. W.
17.......................... 37[deg]40.04' 73[deg]58.25' ..........
N. W.
18.......................... 37[deg]44.14' 74[deg]6.96' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 37[deg]45.15' 74[deg]7.24' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Washington Canyon. Washington Canyon discrete deep-sea coral
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea
Coral Zone, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Washington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 37[deg]22.74' 74[deg]26.24' *
N. W.
2........................... 37[deg]22.87' 74[deg]26.16' *
N. W.
3........................... 37[deg]24.44' 74[deg]28.57' *
N. W.
4........................... 37[deg]24.67' 74[deg]29.71' *
N. W.
5........................... 37[deg]25.93' 74[deg]30.13' *
N. W.
6........................... 37[deg]27.25' 74[deg]30.2' *
N. W.
7........................... 37[deg]28.6' 74[deg]30.6' *
N. W.
8........................... 37[deg]29.43' 74[deg]30.29' *
N. W.
9........................... 37[deg]29.53' 74[deg]29.95' *
N. W.
10.......................... 37[deg]27.68' 74[deg]28.82' *
N. W.
11.......................... 37[deg]27.06' 74[deg]28.76' *
N. W.
12.......................... 37[deg]26.39' 74[deg]27.76' *
N. W.
13.......................... 37[deg]26.3' 74[deg]26.87' *
N. W.
14.......................... 37[deg]25.69' 74[deg]25.63' *
N. W.
15.......................... 37[deg]25.83' 74[deg]24.22' *
N. W.
16.......................... 37[deg]25.68' 74[deg]24.03' *
N. W.
17.......................... 37[deg]25.08' 74[deg]23.29' ..........
N. W.
18.......................... 37[deg]16.81' 73[deg]52.13' ..........
N. W.
19.......................... 37[deg]11.27' 73[deg]54.05' ..........
N. W.
20.......................... 37[deg]15.73' 74[deg]12.2' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 37[deg]22.74' 74[deg]26.24' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(15) Norfolk Canyon. Norfolk Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as
defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
Norfolk Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Latitude Longitude Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................... 36[deg]58.51' 74[deg]36.51' *
N. W.
2........................... 36[deg]58.62' 74[deg]36.97' *
N. W.
3........................... 37[deg]4.43' 74[deg]41.03' *
N. W.
4........................... 37[deg]5.83' 74[deg]45.57' *
N. W.
5........................... 37[deg]6.97' 74[deg]40.8' *
N. W.
6........................... 37[deg]4.52' 74[deg]37.77' *
N. W.
7........................... 37[deg]4.02' 74[deg]33.83' *
N. W.
8........................... 37[deg]4.52' 74[deg]33.51' *
N. W.
9........................... 37[deg]4.40' 74[deg]33.11' *
N. W.
10.......................... 37[deg]4.16' 74[deg]32.37' ..........
N. W.
11.......................... 37[deg]4.40' 74[deg]30.58' ..........
N. W.
12.......................... 37[deg]3.65' 74[deg]3.66' ..........
N. W.
13.......................... 36[deg]57.75' 74[deg]3.61' ..........
N. W.
14.......................... 36[deg]59.77' 74[deg]30' W. ..........
N.
15.......................... 36[deg]58.23' 74[deg]32.95' ..........
N. W.
16.......................... 36[deg]57.99' 74[deg]34.18' ..........
N. W.
1........................... 36[deg]58.51' 74[deg]36.51' *
N. W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d) Transiting. Vessels may transit the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea
Coral Zones defined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provided
bottom-tending trawl nets are out of the water and stowed on the reel
and any other fishing gear that is prohibited in these areas is
onboard, out of the water, and not deployed. Fishing gear is not
required to meet the definition of ``not available for immediate use''
in Sec. 648.2, when a vessel transits the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea
Coral Zones.
[FR Doc. 2016-29811 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P