[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66926-66928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31337]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 638

[Docket No. 950929242-5302-02; I.D. 091295A]
RIN 0648-AH74


Coral and Coral Reefs Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 
3

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 3 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Coral and Coral Reefs off the Southern 
Atlantic States (FMP). Amendment 3: Establishes an aquacultured live 
rock permit system applicable to the exclusive economic zone off the 
southern Atlantic states; prohibits chipping of aquacultured live rock; 
prohibits octocoral harvest north of Cape Canaveral, FL; and prohibits 
anchoring of fishing vessels in the Oculina Bank habitat area of 
particular concern. In addition, NMFS amends the regulations to correct 
and clarify certain regulations, or conform them to current standards. 
The intended effect is to establish a management program for live rock 
aquaculture and to protect fishery habitat.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 26, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (Council) and is implemented through 
regulations at 50 CFR part 638 under the authority of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). With 
implementation of Amendment 3, the title of the FMP is changed to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom 
Habitats of the South Atlantic Region. This title change reflects the 
Council's intent to manage and protect essential live/hard bottom 
habitats as well as coral resources.
    Detailed descriptions and rationale for the measures in Amendment 3 
and for additional changes proposed by NMFS were included in the 
preamble to the proposed rule (60 FR 53730, October 17, 1995) and are 
not repeated here.

Comments and Responses

    During the public comment period ending November 27, 1995, comments 
were received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the 
Center for Marine Conservation (CMC). USFWS and CMC commended the 
Council for its record on coral reef protection and its recognition of 
the importance of live rock to the marine ecosystem. USFWS supported 
the coral conservation and habitat protection measures of Amendment 3.
    Comment: CMC fully supports Amendment 3, because it is expected to 
minimize enforcement problems, protect important live bottom 
communities, and minimize further damage to the Oculina Bank area. CMC 
also urges NMFS not to delay implementation of the aquaculture permit 
system.
    Response: Since a very similar permit system is already in place 
for live rock aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico, NMFS expects no delays 
in implementing the aquaculture permit provisions of Amendment 3, 
including the special provisions for proposed sites off the southern 
Atlantic states.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    In Sec. 638.2, the note added to the definition of ``Allowable 
octocoral'' to clarify the distinction between allowable octocoral and 
live rock is removed. Since publication of the proposed rule, a 
clarifying note was added to 50 CFR part 638 via the final rule 
implementing Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral and 
Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (60 FR 56533, November 9, 1995); 
therefore, the note is unnecessary.

Approval of Amendment 3

    On December 15, 1995, the Director, Southeast Region, NMFS 
(Regional Director), approved Amendment 3.

[[Page 66927]]


Classification

    The Regional Director determined that Amendment 3 is necessary for 
the conservation and management of the coral and coral reef resources 
and live/hard bottom habitats off the southern Atlantic states and that 
it is consistent with the Magnuson Act and other applicable law.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the 
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration when the proposed rule was published 
that it would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The reasons for this certification were 
published in the preamble to the proposed rule (60 FR 53731, October 
17, 1995) and are not repeated here. As a result, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis was not prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 638

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: December 20, 1995.
Nancy Foster,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 638 is amended 
as follows:

PART 638--CORAL AND CORAL REEFS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND OFF THE 
SOUTHERN ATLANTIC STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 638 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. The title of part 638 is revised to read as set forth above.


Sec. 638.1  [Amended]

    3. In Sec. 638.1, in paragraph (a), the phrase ``Fishery Management 
Plan for Coral and Coral Reefs off the Southern Atlantic States'' is 
removed and ``Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/
Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region'' is added in its 
place.
    4. In Sec. 638.4, the last sentence in paragraph (a)(1)(v) is 
revised to read as follows:


Sec. 638.4  Permits and fees.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (v) * * * A person who has been issued an aquacultured live rock 
permit is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit for prohibited 
coral that is attached to aquacultured live rock.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 638.7, in paragraph (k), the reference to ``(c)'' is 
removed and ``(c)(1)'' is added in its place; in paragraph (q), the 
reference to ``Sec. 635.26(c)'' is removed and ``Sec. 638.26(c)'' is 
added in its place; and paragraphs (x), (y), and (z) are added to read 
as follows:


Sec. 638.7  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (x) Harvest allowable octocoral in the EEZ off the southern 
Atlantic states, north of Cape Canaveral, FL (28 deg.35.1' N. lat.--due 
east of the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building) or possess allowable 
octocoral in or from that area, as specified in Sec. 638.21(b).
    (y) Anchor a fishing vessel, or use an anchor and chain or grapple 
and chain on board a fishing vessel, in the Oculina Bank HAPC, as 
specified in Sec. 638.23(c)(2).
    (z) Harvest aquacultured live rock by chipping in the EEZ off the 
southern Atlantic states; possess chipped aquacultured live rock in or 
from that area; remove allowable octocoral or prohibited coral from 
aquacultured live rock; or, while in possession of aquacultured live 
rock, possess prohibited coral not attached to aquacultured live rock 
or allowable octocoral, as specified in Sec. 638.27(c).
    6. Section 638.21 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 638.21  Harvest limitations.

    (a) Incidental harvest. Except as authorized by a Federal permit or 
a Florida permit as specified in Sec. 638.4, prohibited coral, 
allowable octocoral, and live rock taken as incidental catch must be 
returned immediately to the sea in the general area of fishing. In 
fisheries where the entire catch is landed unsorted, such as the 
scallop and groundfish fisheries, unsorted prohibited coral, allowable 
octocoral, and live rock are exempt from the requirement for a Federal 
permit and may be landed; however, no person may sell, trade, or barter 
or attempt to sell, trade, or barter such prohibited coral, allowable 
octocoral, or live rock.
    (b) Allowable octocoral harvest. Harvest of allowable octocoral in 
the EEZ off the southern Atlantic states, north of Cape Canaveral, FL 
(28 deg.35.1' N. lat.--due east of the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building) 
or possession of allowable octocoral in or from that area is 
prohibited. See the note included in the definition of ``Allowable 
octocoral'' for clarification of the distinction between allowable 
octocoral and live rock.
    7. In Sec. 638.23, in paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(1), the references 
to ``Sec. 634.4'' are removed and ``Sec. 638.4'' is added in both 
places; and paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 638.23  Habitat areas of particular concern.

* * * * *
    (c) Oculina Bank. The Oculina Bank is located approximately 15 
nautical miles east of Fort Pierce, FL, at its nearest point to shore, 
and is bounded on the north by 27 deg.53' N. lat., on the south by 
27 deg.30' N. lat., on the east by 79 deg.56' W. long., and on the west 
by 80 deg.00' W. long. The following restrictions apply in the HAPC:
    (1) Fishing with bottom longlines, traps, pots, dredges, or bottom 
trawls is prohibited. See Sec. 646.26(d) of this chapter for 
prohibitions on fishing for snapper-grouper in the Oculina Bank HAPC.
    (2) Anchoring of fishing vessels, or using an anchor and chain or 
grapple and chain on board a fishing vessel, is prohibited.
    8. In Sec. 638.27, in the first sentence of paragraph (a), the 
phrase ``from the Gulf of Mexico EEZ'' is removed; paragraph (b)(2) is 
revised; and two sentences are added at the end of paragraph (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 638.27  Aquacultured live rock.

* * * * *
    (b)* * *
    (2) Material deposited on the aquaculture site--
    (i) May not be placed over naturally occurring reef outcrops, 
limestone ledges, coral reefs, or vegetated areas;
    (ii) Must be free of contaminants;
    (iii) Must be nontoxic;
    (iv) Must be placed on the site by hand or lowered completely to 
the bottom under restraint, that is, not allowed to fall freely;
    (v) Must be placed from a vessel that is anchored;
    (vi) In the Gulf of Mexico EEZ, must be distinguishable, 
geologically or otherwise (for example, be indelibly marked or tagged), 
from the naturally occurring substrate; and
    (vii) In the EEZ off the southern Atlantic states must be 
geologically distinguishable from the naturally occurring substrate 
and, in addition, may be indelibly marked or tagged.
* * * * *
    (c) * * * In addition, the following activities are prohibited off 
the southern Atlantic states: Chipping of aquacultured live rock in the 
EEZ; possession of chipped aquacultured live 

[[Page 66928]]
rock in or from the EEZ; removal of allowable octocoral or prohibited 
coral from aquacultured live rock in or from the EEZ; and possession of 
prohibited coral not attached to aquacultured live rock or allowable 
octocoral, while aquacultured live rock is in possession. See the note 
included in the definition of ``Allowable octocoral'' for clarification 
of the distinction between allowable octocoral and live rock.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 95-31337 Filed 12-26-95; 8:45 am]
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