[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13518]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 625

[Docket No. 940241-4155; I.D. 013194A]
RIN 0648-AG00

 

Summer Flounder Fishery

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 6 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery (FMP). This 
amendment modifies the minimum mesh-size requirement, the schedule for 
establishing the annual recreational fishery management measures, and 
the dimensions of the fish box or tote; provides for an experimental 
fishery; and prohibits the use of twisted mesh and interference with 
observers and sea samplers. The intended effects are to minimize the 
effects of regulatory restrictions on industry, and to use the best 
available data to assess the fishery, without compromising the FMP 
objective to rebuild the stocks of summer flounder.

DATES: Sections 625.8(a)(6) and (a)(7), the removal of paragraph (c) of 
Sec. 625.24, the redesignation of paragraphs (d) and (e) of Sec. 625.24 
as paragraphs (c) and (d), Sec. 625.24(f), and Sec. 625.25(d) are 
effective May 31, 1994. Sections 625.8(c)(9) and (e), 625.20(c), 
625.24(e), and 625.28 are effective July 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Amendment 6, the environmental assessment, the 
regulatory impact review (RIR), and initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis (IRFA) are available from David R. Keifer, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115 Federal Building, 
300 S. New Street, Dover, DE 19901-6790.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myles Raizin, Resource Policy Analyst, 
508-281-9104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Amendment 6 was prepared by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council (Council) in consultation with the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission and the New England and South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Councils. A proposed rule to implement the amendment was 
published in the Federal Register on February 23, 1994 (59 FR 8592). 
Copies of the amendment are available from the Council upon request 
(see ADDRESSES). The amendment revises management of the summer 
flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) fishery pursuant to the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (Magnuson Act).
    Background concerning the development of the management measures 
contained in Amendment 6 and the reasons they were adopted by the 
Council were provided in the preamble of the proposed rule and are not 
repeated here.
    NMFS approved Amendment 6, which allows vessel operators to: (1) 
Carry nets with different size mesh on board their vessels; and (2) 
exceed the minimum-mesh seasonal summer flounder threshold amounts, as 
long as all nets that do not meet the minimum-mesh requirement are 
appropriately stowed once the threshold amounts of summer flounder are 
retained. Once stowed, these nets cannot be used for the remainder of 
the fishing trip.
    NMFS is also implementing a regulation that allows the Director, 
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Director), to authorize an 
experimental fishery to collect management information in certain 
circumstances to give effect to section 9.4.2 of the FMP regarding 
information and data needs. The Council is particularly interested in 
having additional mesh studies conducted to augment the results of the 
mesh studies done in New York and New Jersey. However, the Council was 
firm in its intent that no experimental fishery should result in a 
quota being exceeded. This restriction maintains the integrity of the 
mortality reduction schedule for summer flounder, the main objective of 
Amendment 2.
    This rule also implements a prohibition on the use of twisted mesh. 
Nets constructed of twisted mesh, when towed, do not conform to the 
minimum-mesh requirement and violate the prohibition found at 
Sec. 625.8(a)(6). The addition of this prohibition conforms the summer 
flounder regulations with the Northeast multispecies regulations found 
at 50 CFR part 651. Such conformity is desirable since multispecies and 
summer flounder can be caught on the same fishing trip. The Council 
adopted another provision that is also implemented in this final rule 
which modifies the dimensions of the fish box or tote, referred to in 
Sec. 625.25(d), to conform to those used in the Northeast multispecies 
regulations.
    This rule revises the prohibition found at Sec. 625.8(c)(9) to 
prohibit interference with a sea sampler or observer on board a vessel 
for any purpose, and not just for the activities under Secs. 625.26 and 
625.27, as currently expressed in this prohibition. Observers placed on 
board a vessel engaged in an experimental fishery should have the same 
protection afforded to other observers and sea samplers.
    NMFS is also modifying the annual fishing measures schedule found 
at Sec. 625.20(c). The date on which recreational fishing measures are 
to be published in the Federal Register is changed to February 15 to 
allow recreational fishery data from the previous year to be included 
in the assessment and monitoring process. The total allowable removals 
from the stock, which are translated into a coastwide commercial quota 
and a recreational harvest limit, as well as additional measures for 
the commercial fishery, must be published on or before October 15 of 
each year. This is the latest date that these measures can be announced 
in the form of a proposed rule or a proposed specification and still 
allow the states an opportunity to implement them on January 1 of each 
year. Marine recreational survey data, which allow the recreational 
harvest limit to be converted into a possession limit and a 
recreational fishing season, are not available until late each calendar 
year.

Comments and Responses

    One comment in support of Amendment 6 was received during the 
public comment period. The commenter believed that the amendment is a 
vital part of the preservation of the mixed trawl fishery and will 
contribute to the overall safety of vessels participating in the 
fishery. NMFS agrees with these comments.
    No negative comments were received during the public comment 
period.

Classification

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    When this rule was proposed, the General Counsel of the Department 
of Commerce certified to the Small Business Administration that this 
rule, if adopted as proposed, would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities for the reasons set 
forth in the RIR prepared by the Council. A copy of the RIR may be 
obtained from the Council (see ADDRESSES). As a result, an IRFA was not 
prepared.
    Sections 625.8(a)(6) and (a)(7), the removal of paragraph (c) of 
Sec. 625.24, redesignation of paragaphs (d) and (e) of 625.24 as 
paragraphs (c) and (d), Sec. 625.24(f), and Sec. 625.25(d) are 
effective immediately. Sections 625.8(a)(6) and (a)(7), the removal of 
paragraph (c) of Sec. 625.24, Sec. 625.24(f), and Sec. 625.25(d) 
relieve restrictions on the fishery by allowing more than one net on 
board, if properly stowed, or allow varying amounts of summer flounder 
on board, or both, and under section 553(d)(1) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA), are not subject to a 30-day delay in effective 
date. The redesignation of paragraphs (d) and (e) to paragraphs (c) and 
(d) in Sec. 625.24 is not substantive and under section 553(d) is not 
subject to a 30-day delay in effective date.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 625

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 27, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR Part 625 is amended 
to read as follows:

PART 625--SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY

    1. The authority citation for part 625 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 625.8, paragraphs (a)(6), (a)(7), and (c)(9) are revised 
and a new paragraph (e) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 625.8  Prohibitions.

    (a) * * *
    (6) Fish with or possess nets or netting that do not meet the 
minimum mesh requirement, or that are modified, obstructed or 
constricted, if subject to the minimum mesh requirement specified in 
Sec. 625.24, unless the nets or netting are stowed in accordance with 
Sec. 625.24(f);
    (7) Fish with or possess nets or netting that do not meet the 
minimum mesh requirement, or that are modified, obstructed or 
constricted, if fishing with an exempted net described in Sec. 625.24, 
unless the nets or netting are stowed in accordance with 
Sec. 625.24(f);
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (9) Assault, resist, oppose, impede, harass, intimidate, or 
interfere with or bar by command, impediment, threat, coercion or 
refusal of reasonable assistance to an observer or sea sampler 
conducting his or her duties aboard a vessel; or
* * * * *
    (e) It is unlawful for any person to violate any terms of a letter 
authorizing experimental fishing pursuant to Sec. 625.28 or to fail to 
keep such letter aboard the vessel during the time period of the 
experimental fishing.
    3. Section 625.20, paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 625.20  Catch quotas and other restrictions.

* * * * *
    (c) Annual fishing measures. The Demersal Species Committee shall 
review the recommendations of the Summer Flounder Monitoring Committee. 
Based on these recommendations and any public comment, the Demersal 
Species Committee shall make its recommendations to the Council with 
respect to the measures necessary to assure that the applicable fishing 
mortality rate specified in paragraph (a) of this section is not 
exceeded. The Council shall review these recommendations. Based on 
these recommendations, and any public comment, the Council shall make 
recommendations to the Regional Director with respect to the measures 
necessary to assure that the fishing mortality rates specified in 
paragraph (a) of this section are not exceeded. Included in the 
recommendation will be supporting documents, as appropriate, concerning 
the environmental and economic impacts of the proposed action. The 
Regional Director will review these recommendations and any 
recommendations of the Commission. After such review, the Regional 
Director will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule by 
October 15 to implement a coastwide commercial quota and recreational 
harvest limit and additional management measures for the commercial 
fishery, and will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule by 
February 15 to implement additional management measures for the 
recreational fishery, if he determines that these measures are 
necessary to assure that the fishing mortality rates specified in 
paragraph (a) of this section are not exceeded. After considering 
public comment on a proposed rule, the Regional Director will publish a 
final rule in the Federal Register to implement the measures necessary 
to assure that the fishing mortality rates specified in paragraph (a) 
of this section are not exceeded.
* * * * *
    4. Section 625.24, is amended by removing paragraph (c), by 
redesignating paragraphs (d) and (e) as paragraphs (c) and (d), and by 
adding new paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec. 625.24  Gear restrictions.

* * * * *
    (e) Mesh obstruction or constriction. (1) A fishing vessel may not 
use any mesh configuration, mesh construction, or other means on or in 
the top of the net, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section, which 
obstructs the meshes of the net in any manner.
    (2) No person on any vessel may possess or fish with a net capable 
of catching summer flounder in which the bars entering or exiting the 
knots twist around each other.
    (f) Stowage of nets. Otter trawl vessels retaining 100 lb (45.3 kg) 
or more of summer flounder from May 1 through October 31 or 200 lb 
(90.6 kg) or more of summer flounder from November 1 through April 30 
that are subject to the minimum mesh size may not have ``available for 
immediate use'' any net, or any piece of net, not meeting the minimum 
mesh size requirement, or any net, or any piece of net, with mesh that 
is rigged in a manner that is inconsistent with the minimum mesh size. 
A net that conforms to one of the following specifications, and that 
can be shown not to have been in recent use, is considered not to be 
``available for immediate use'':
    (1) A net stowed below deck, provided:
    (i) It is located below the main working deck from which the net is 
deployed and retrieved;
    (ii) The towing wires, including the ``leg'' wires, are detached 
from the net;
    (iii) It is fan-folded (flaked) and bound around its circumference.
    (2) A net stowed and lashed down on deck, provided:
    (i) It is fan-folded (flaked) and bound around its circumference;
    (ii) It is securely fastened to the deck or rail of the vessel; and
    (iii) The towing wires, including the leg wires, are detached from 
the net.
    (3) A net that is on a reel and is covered and secured, provided:
    (i) The entire surface of the net is covered with canvas or other 
similar material that is securely bound;
    (ii) The towing wires, including the leg wires, are detached from 
the net; and
    (iii) The codend is removed from the net and stored below deck.
    (4) Nets that are secured in a manner approved by the Regional 
Director, provided that the Regional Director has reviewed the 
alternative manner of securing nets and has published that alternative 
in the Federal Register.
    5. Section 625.25, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 625.25  Possession limit.

* * * * *
    (d) Owners and operators of otter trawl vessels issued a permit 
under Sec. 625.4, that fish with, or possess nets or pieces of net on 
board, that do not meet the minimum mesh requirements and that are not 
stowed in accordance with Sec. 625.24(f), may not retain 100 lb (45.3 
kg) or more of summer flounder from May 1 through October 31, or 200 lb 
(90.6 kg) or more of summer flounder from November 1 through April 30. 
Summer flounder on board these vessels must be stored, so as to be 
readily available for inspection, in standard 100-lb (45.3 kg) totes or 
fish boxes having a liquid capacity of 18.2 gallons (70 liters), or a 
volume of not more than 4,320 cubic inches (2.5 cubic feet or 70.79 
cubic cm).
* * * * *
    6. Section 625.28 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 625.28  Experimental fishery.

    (a) The Regional Director, in consultation with the Executive 
Director of the Council, may exempt any person or vessel from the 
requirements of this part for the conduct of experimental fishing 
beneficial to the management of the summer flounder resource or 
fishery.
    (b) The Regional Director may not grant such exemption unless he/
she determines that the purpose, design, and administration of the 
exemption is consistent with the objectives of the FMP, the provisions 
of the Magnuson Act, and other applicable law, and that granting the 
exemption will not:
    (1) Have a detrimental effect on the summer flounder resource and 
fishery; or
    (2) Cause any quota to be exceeded; or
    (3) Create significant enforcement problems.
    (c) Each vessel participating in any exempted experimental fishing 
activity is subject to all provisions of this FMP except those 
necessarily relating to the purpose and nature of the exemption. The 
exemption will be specified in a letter issued by the Regional Director 
to each vessel participating in the exempted activity. This letter must 
be carried aboard the vessel seeking the benefit of such exemption.

[FR Doc. 94-13518 Filed 5-31-94; 1:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P