[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17866-17871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9882]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 659

[Docket No. 960409106-6106-01; I.D. 031196A]
RIN 0648-AG26


Shrimp Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 1

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 1 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). Amendment 1 would: add rock shrimp to the FMP's 
management unit; prohibit trawling for rock shrimp in an area off the 
Florida east coast; require permits for dealers, vessels, and vessel 
operators involved in the rock shrimp fishery; require dealers to 
report information needed to monitor the fishery; and require that the 
initial sale, trade, barter, or transfer of rock shrimp harvested from 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) occur only between permitted dealers 
and permitted vessels. Based on a preliminary evaluation of Amendment 
1, NMFS disapproved the measure requiring a vessel operator permit. The 
proposed rule would implement the remaining measures in Amendment 1. 
The intended effect is to protect critical habitat and conserve and 
manage the rock shrimp fishery.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 7, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule must be sent to the Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, 
FL 33702.
    Requests for copies of Amendment 1, which includes a regulatory 
impact review, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a 
social impact analysis, and an environmental assessment, should be sent 
to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, (South Atlantic 
Council) One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699, 
telephone: 803-571-4366, FAX: 803-769-4520.
    Comments regarding the collection-of-information requirements 
contained in this proposed rule should be sent to Edward E. Burgess, 
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702, and to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503 
(Attention: NOAA Desk Officer).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Eldridge, 813-570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic 
Council and is implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 659 under 
the authority of the Magnuson Act. Add Rock Shrimp to the Management 
Unit
    In the FMP, rock shrimp are included as part of the fishery, but 
they are not included in the management unit, because there are no 
management measures specific to rock shrimp. Amendment 1 contains 
management measures applicable to rock shrimp, including closing one 
area to trawling, and permitting and reporting requirements; therefore, 
rock shrimp would be included in the management unit.

Area Closed to Rock Shrimp Trawling

    Amendment 1 proposes to prohibit trawling for rock shrimp between 
27 deg.30' N. lat. and 28 deg.30' N. lat. in the area extending 
shoreward of the 100-fathom (183-m) depth contour (as shown on the 
latest edition of NOAA chart 11460) to 80 deg.00' W. long. The Council 
is proposing this measure to minimize the impacts of rock shrimp 
trawling on important live-bottom habitat, including the slow-growing, 
fragile Oculina coral species in and adjacent to the Oculina Bank 
Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC).
    Oculina coral is fragile and particularly vulnerable to damage due 
to bottom trawling. The largest known concentrations of Oculina occur 
in a narrow band extending from Cape Canaveral, FL south through the 
HAPC. The Oculina formations provide

[[Page 17867]]

important habitat for rock shrimp, fishes in the snapper-grouper 
fishery, and numerous other species.
    Testimony at public hearings indicated that some rock shrimp trawl 
activity has shifted south of Cape Canaveral since 1991, exposing the 
Oculina to trawl damage. Prohibition of rock shrimp trawling in the 
designated area would extend protection of the valuable Oculina habitat 
to the north and east of the existing HAPC, thereby preventing trawl 
damage to habitat that is currently unprotected and also enhancing the 
integrity of the existing HAPC.

Dealer Permit Requirement

    Amendment 1 would require a dealer involved in the rock shrimp 
fishery to obtain an annual dealer permit. A dealer would be defined as 
the person who first receives rock shrimp harvested from the EEZ. To be 
eligible for a dealer permit, an applicant would be required to have a 
valid state wholesaler's license in the state where he or she operates 
if a license is required by that state, and have a physical facility 
for the receipt of rock shrimp at a fixed location in that state. A fee 
would be charged to cover the administrative cost of issuing the 
permit. A dealer permit would not be transferable and would expire upon 
change of ownership of the business.
    Dealer permits are proposed to identify the universe of dealers 
involved in the rock shrimp fishery and to facilitate collection of 
data necessary to manage the fishery. The Council believes that this 
permit requirement would help ensure accurate dealer reporting, improve 
enforcement of the regulations by increasing dealer accountability, 
provide a means to improve communications among participants in the 
fishery management process, and improve understanding of the economic 
characteristics of the fishery.

Vessel Permit Requirement

    For a person aboard a vessel to fish for or possess rock shrimp 
from the EEZ, an annual vessel permit would be required. A fee would be 
charged to cover the administrative costs associated with issuing the 
permit. The vessel permit requirement would identify the universe of 
participants in the harvesting sector of the fishery. The Council 
believes that the permit requirement would also help provide 
information necessary to assess impacts of fishing on the resource and 
associated habitats.

Vessel Operator Permit Requirement--Disapproved Measure

    One measure in Amendment 1 would have required a vessel operator 
fishing for rock shrimp in the EEZ to obtain a vessel operator permit. 
An operator would have been defined as the master or other individual 
aboard who is in charge of the vessel. No performance or competency 
testing would be required to obtain a permit. A fee would have been 
charged to cover the administrative costs associated with issuing the 
permit.
    The vessel operator permit requirement was proposed initially by 
the Council's Ad Hoc Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel and was subsequently 
adopted by the Council for inclusion in Amendment 1. The permit 
requirement was intended to instill vessel operators with greater 
responsibility and accountability regarding compliance with fishery 
regulations. The Council believes that revocation of an operator's 
permit would be more effective than existing penalties in deterring 
fishery violations.
    NMFS has determined that the requirement for a vessel operator 
permit would not minimize costs and is inconsistent with the Magnuson 
Act's national standard 7 that requires conservation and management 
measures to minimize costs and avoid unnecessary duplication where 
practicable. NMFS believes that adequate regulatory compliance can be 
achieved via the existing penalty schedule without incurring the 
additional costs and public paperwork burden that would be associated 
with implementing a new class of permits. Accordingly, the Director, 
Southeast Region, NMFS (Regional Director) has disapproved this 
provision of Amendment 1, and it is not included in this proposed rule. 
The Regional Director has determined that this provision is not a 
matter of sufficient scope and substance warranting review under 
section 304(a)(1)(A) of the Magnuson Act.

Dealer Reporting

    Permitted dealers would be required to maintain and submit basic 
information essential for proper management of the fishery. Additional 
data may be collected by authorized statistical reporting agents or 
authorized officers as necessary to address specific issues.
    A permitted dealer who is selected by the Science and Research 
Director, Southeast Fisheries Center, NMFS (Science and Research 
Director) would be required to provide information on receipts and 
prices paid for rock shrimp to the Science and Research Director in 
accordance with instructions provided on the reporting form. Such 
information would be submitted at monthly intervals, or more frequently 
if requested, postmarked not later than 5 days after the end of each 
month. The Council intends that, to the extent possible, the required 
information be provided through existing state/Federal cooperative 
agreements for data collection. To minimize duplication, the Science 
and Research Director would select a dealer to report only if the 
essential information were not otherwise available through the state/
Federal cooperative data collection system.

Restrictions on Sale

    Restrictions on sale of rock shrimp are proposed to ensure that the 
fishery is conducted only by properly permitted individuals and to 
assure that all landings are documented through the proposed data 
collection system. The proposed rule would require that rock shrimp 
harvested in the EEZ by a permitted vessel be sold, traded, bartered, 
or transferred only to a permitted dealer. Similarly, a permitted 
dealer would be allowed to purchase, barter, trade, or transfer rock 
shrimp harvested from the EEZ only from a permitted vessel.

Availability of Amendment 1

    Additional background and rationale for the measures discussed 
above are contained in Amendment 1, the availability of which was 
announced in the Federal Register on March 19, 1996 (61 FR 11181).

Classification

    Section 304(a)(1)(D) of the Magnuson Act requires publication of 
regulations proposed by a regional fishery management council within 15 
days of receipt of an amendment and regulations. At this time, NMFS has 
not determined that Amendment 1 is consistent with the national 
standards, other provisions of the Magnuson Act, and other applicable 
laws, except for the provision of Amendment 1 specifically disapproved, 
as discussed above. NMFS, in making that determination with respect to 
the remaining parts of Amendment 1, will take into account the data, 
views, and comments received during the comment period.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    The Council prepared an IRFA which describes the impacts this 
proposed rule would have on small entities, if adopted. The Council 
concluded that

[[Page 17868]]

the proposed measures in Amendment 1 would have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. These impacts, as 
assessed in the IRFA, may be summarized as follows. All of the 
commercial rock shrimp vessel owners and dealers are small entities 
that would be affected by one or more actions in the proposed rule. The 
south Atlantic rock shrimp fishery may have as many as 108 active 
vessels according to Florida's landings data, although industry 
representatives indicate that the number of vessels participating 
throughout the season may be closer to 65. The Council estimates that 
currently there are about 12 dealers actively buying rock shrimp from 
fishing vessels. It is noted that over 95 percent of rock shrimp 
harvested in the south Atlantic region occur in the EEZ off the east 
coast of Florida.
    The IRFA identified the following impacts on small entities in 
terms of costs and revenues: (1) The addition of rock shrimp to the FMP 
management unit should not result in any changes in operating revenues 
or costs for individual vessels in the commercial fishery; (2) the 
prohibition of trawling for rock shrimp in the closed area off the 
Florida east coast may cause a reduction in annual gross revenues of 
current rock shrimp fishery participants by more than 5 percent. 
Although total annual rock shrimp catches by area are not available 
from NMFS or State sources, 34 participants in the fishery reported 
their 1994 landings by area fished during the public hearings process. 
These participants reported a catch of 1,128,624 pounds of rock shrimp 
from the area to be closed. This represents 25 percent of their total 
1994 catch of rock shrimp from the South Atlantic and is 17 percent of 
the total 1994 catch of rock shrimp of all harvesters as reported in 
NMFS data. Using an average ex-vessel price of $1.25 per pound, the 
value of the harvest by the 34 participants reporting catch by area is 
expected to decline $1.41 million in the first year. These data do not 
indicate the total estimated catch or revenue effect from closing the 
area since, as indicated above, reliable data on catch locations for 
all fishery participants are not available. The IRFA indicates that 
many of the freezer-trawler vessels participating in the fishery in 
1994 may show a reduction in harvest income somewhat in excess of 
$40,000 per vessel during the first year of the area closure. Rock 
shrimp are known to move throughout the area off the east coast of 
Florida. Thus, it is likely that some of the shrimp initially located 
within the closed area may move to other areas where they may be 
harvested. The impacted rock shrimp vessels are expected to shift 
fishing effort away from the closed area to open areas. The extent to 
which they can successfully shift effort will determine how well they 
can minimize adverse impacts. If vessels have to travel extra distances 
to the open fishing areas, they would incur additional operating costs. 
This may not result in a reduction in net revenue for vessels that can 
catch larger size shrimp yielding higher exvessel prices. Also, many 
vessels participate in other fisheries when they are not fishing for 
rock shrimp; it is likely that they may switch effort to these other 
fisheries during the time they would have been trawling for shrimp in 
the closed area. For these reasons, the above estimates of adverse 
economic impacts on small entities from the closed area should be 
considered maximum levels. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume 
that the 5 percent criterion for significant effects will be met for 
the small entities participating in the rock shrimp fishery in the U.S. 
South Atlantic. Finally, no small entities are expected to be forced to 
cease operations; (3) permit requirements for vessel owners, vessel 
operators, and dealers would increase costs for those sectors; (4) 
dealer reporting requirements would increase dealer costs marginally; 
and (5) restrictions on the sale of rock shrimp (i.e., permitted 
vessels may sell rock shrimp only to permitted dealers) would decrease 
revenues and increase costs marginally.
    In deciding on its preferred management measures for this rule, the 
Council attempted to balance the competing objectives of providing 
protection for important habitat areas known to support important 
populations of juvenile rock shrimp and other valuable species, such as 
snappers, with the possible adverse economic effects on current fishery 
participants. The Council believes that Amendment 1 will reduce fishery 
related habitat damage and ensure successful recruitment of rock shrimp 
to the fishery over the long run as well as protecting the biological 
productivity of the snapper-grouper complex. The Council believes that 
without these conservation measures, the potential long-term, adverse 
economic effects on small entities would outweigh the short-term 
effects. A copy of the IRFA is available from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    This rule contains new collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the PRA--namely, vessel permit applications, dealer permit 
applications, dealer reports regarding rock shrimp receipts, and vessel 
identification requirements. These requirements have been submitted to 
OMB for approval. The public reporting burdens for these collections of 
information are estimated to average 20, 5, 10, and 45 minutes per 
response, respectively, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. 
Send comments regarding these reporting burden estimates or any other 
aspect of the collections of information, including suggestions for 
reducing the burdens, to NMFS and OMB (see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 659

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 16, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 659 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 659--SHRIMP FISHERY OFF THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 659 continues to read as 
follows:

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


Sec. 659.1  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 659.1, paragraph (b) is amended by adding the phrase 
``rock shrimp,'' after ``pink shrimp,''.
    3. In Sec. 659.2, definitions for ``Authorized statistical 
reporting agent'', ``Dealer'', ``Regional Director'', ``Rock shrimp'', 
and ``Science and Research Director'' are added, in alphabetical order, 
to read as follows:


Sec. 659.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Authorized statistical reporting agent means:
    (1) Any person so designated by the Science and Research Director; 
or
    (2) Any person so designated by the head of any Federal or state 
agency that has entered into an agreement with the Assistant 
Administrator to collect fishery data.
* * * * *

[[Page 17869]]

    Dealer, for the purposes of this part 659, means the person who 
first receives rock shrimp harvested from the EEZ upon transfer ashore.
* * * * *
    Regional Director means the Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, or a 
designee.
    Rock shrimp means the species Sicyonia brevirostris.
    Science and Research Director means the Science and Research 
Director, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, or a designee.
* * * * *
    4. Section 659.3 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 659.3  Relation to other laws.

    (a) The relation of this part to other laws is set forth in 
Sec. 620.3 of this chapter and paragraph (b) of this section.
    (b) Regulations governing the taking of endangered and threatened 
marine mammals and sea turtles appear at 50 CFR parts 222 and 227.


Secs. 659.4, 659.5, 659.6  [Redesignated as Secs. 659.7, 659.8, 659.9]

    5. In subpart A, Secs. 659.4, 659.5, and 659.6 are redesignated as 
Secs. 659.7, 659.8, and 659.9, respectively; new Secs. 659.4, 659.5, 
and 659.6 are added; and newly redesignated Sec. 659.7 is revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 659.4  Permits and fees.

    (a) Applicability--(1) Annual vessel permit for rock shrimp. For a 
person aboard a fishing vessel to fish for rock shrimp in the EEZ or 
possess rock shrimp in or from the EEZ, a vessel permit for rock shrimp 
must be issued for the vessel and be on board.
    (2) Annual dealer permit for rock shrimp. A dealer who receives 
rock shrimp harvested from the EEZ must obtain an annual dealer permit 
for rock shrimp. To be eligible for such permit, an applicant must have 
a valid state wholesaler's license, if required in the state where the 
applicant operates, and must have a physical facility for receipt of 
rock shrimp at a fixed location in that state.
    (b) Application for an annual vessel permit for rock shrimp. (1) 
Applications are available from the Regional Director. An application 
must be signed and submitted by the owner (in the case of a 
corporation, an officer or shareholder; in the case of a partnership, a 
general partner) or operator of the vessel. The application should be 
submitted to the Regional Director at least 30 days prior to the date 
the applicant desires the permit to be effective.
    (2) A permit applicant must provide the following information:
    (i) A copy of the vessel's valid U.S. Coast Guard certificate of 
documentation or, if not documented, a copy of its valid state 
registration certificate.
    (ii) Vessel name and official number.
    (iii) Name, address, telephone number, and other identifying 
information of the vessel owner and of the applicant, if other than the 
owner.
    (iv) Any other information concerning the vessel, gear 
characteristics, principal fisheries engaged in, or fishing areas 
requested by the Regional Director.
    (v) Any other information that may be necessary for the issuance or 
administration of the permit, as requested by the Regional Director and 
included on the application form.
    (c) Application for an annual dealer permit for rock shrimp. (1) 
Applications are available from the Regional Director. An application 
for a dealer permit must be submitted and signed by the dealer or an 
officer of a corporation acting as a dealer. The application should be 
submitted to the Regional Director at least 30 days prior to the date 
the applicant desires the permit to be effective.
    (2) A permit applicant must provide the following information:
    (i) A copy of each state seafood wholesaler's license held by the 
dealer.
    (ii) Business name; mailing address, including zip code, of the 
principal office of the business; telephone number; employer 
identification number, if one has been assigned by the Internal Revenue 
Service; and date the business was formed.
    (iii) The address of each physical facility at a fixed location 
where the business receives rock shrimp.
    (iv) Applicant's name; official capacity in the business; address; 
including zip code; telephone number; and identifying information 
specified on the application form.
    (v) Any other information that may be necessary for the issuance or 
administration of the permit, as requested by the Regional Director and 
included on the application form.
    (d) Fees. A fee is charged for each permit application submitted 
pursuant to this section. The amount of the fee is calculated in 
accordance with the procedures of the NOAA Finance Handbook for 
determining the administrative costs of each special product or 
service. The fee may not exceed such costs and is specified with each 
application form. The appropriate fee must accompany each application.
    (e) Initial issuance. (1) The Regional Director will issue an 
initial permit at any time to an applicant if the application is 
complete and the specific requirements for the requested permit have 
been met. An application is complete when all required forms, 
information, documentation, and fees have been received.
    (2) Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Regional 
Director will notify the applicant of the deficiency. If the applicant 
fails to correct the deficiency within 30 days of the date of the 
Regional Director's letter of notification, the application will be 
considered abandoned.
    (f) Duration. A permit remains valid for the period for which it is 
issued unless revoked, suspended, or modified pursuant to subpart D of 
15 CFR part 904.
    (g) Renewal. (1) A permit required by this section will be 
effective for 1 year. Application for permit renewal is required only 
every 2 years. In the interim year, a permit will be renewed 
automatically (without application) if a vessel owner or a dealer has 
met the renewal requirements under paragraph (g)(2) of this section. 
The owner of a permitted vessel or a permitted dealer who does not meet 
the renewal requirements will be notified by the Regional Director 
approximately 2 months prior to the expiration of the current permit. 
The notification will specify the reasons the permit is not eligible 
for renewal and will provide an opportunity for correction of any 
deficiencies. For a year in which permit renewal application is 
required, the Regional Director will mail an application form to each 
owner of a permitted vessel or permitted dealer approximately 2 months 
prior to expiration of the current permit. A vessel owner or dealer who 
does not receive a renewal application in that time frame must contact 
the Regional Director to obtain a renewal application.
    (2) The permit renewal requirements are:
    (i) All reports required of an owner of a vessel or a dealer under 
the Magnuson Act have been submitted.
    (ii) The permit has not been revoked, suspended, or denied under 
paragraph (j) of this section.
    (h) Transfer. A vessel or dealer permit issued pursuant to this 
section is not transferable or assignable. A person obtaining a 
permitted vessel or dealership who desires to conduct activities for 
which a permit is required must apply for a permit in accordance with 
the provisions of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, as appropriate.
    (i) Display. A vessel permit issued pursuant to this section must 
be carried on board the vessel and such vessel must be identified as 
provided for in Sec. 659.6. A dealer permit issued pursuant

[[Page 17870]]

to this section must be available on the dealer's premises. The 
operator of a vessel or a dealer must present the permit for inspection 
upon request of an authorized officer.
    (j) Sanctions and denials. A permit issued pursuant to this section 
may be revoked, suspended, or modified, and a permit application may be 
denied, in accordance with the procedures governing enforcement-related 
permit sanctions and denials found at subpart D of 15 CFR part 904.
    (k) Alteration. A permit that is altered, erased, or mutilated is 
invalid.
    (l) Replacement. The Regional Director may issue a replacement 
permit. An application for a replacement permit will not be considered 
a new application. A fee, the amount of which is stated with the 
application form, must accompany each request for a replacement permit.
    (m) Change in application information. The owner or operator of a 
vessel with a permit for rock shrimp or a dealer with a permit for rock 
shrimp must notify the Regional Director within 15 days after any 
change in the application information required by paragraph (b) or (c) 
of this section, respectively. The permit is void if any change in the 
information is not reported within 15 days.


Sec. 659.5  Recordkeeping and reporting.

    (a) Dealers. A dealer who has been issued a permit required by 
Sec. 659.4(a)(2) and who is selected by the Science and Research 
Director must provide information on receipts of rock shrimp and prices 
paid, to the Science and Research Director in accordance with 
instructions on the reporting form. The required information must be 
submitted at monthly intervals, or more frequently if requested, 
postmarked not later than 5 days after the end of each month.
    (b) Additional data and inspection. (1) Additional data will be 
collected by authorized statistical reporting agents or by authorized 
officers. A dealer is required, upon request, to make rock shrimp, or 
parts thereof, available for inspection by the Science and Research 
Director or an authorized officer.
    (2) On demand, a dealer must make available to an authorized 
officer all records of off-loadings, purchases, barters, or sales of 
rock shrimp.


Sec. 659.6  Vessel identification.

    (a) Official number. The owner and operator of a vessel with a 
valid permit, as required under Sec. 659.4(a)(1) must ensure that the 
vessel's official number is displayed--
    (1) On the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull and on 
a weather deck so as to be clearly visible from an enforcement vessel 
or aircraft;
    (2) In block arabic numerals in contrasting color to the 
background;
    (3) At least 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height for fishing vessels over 
65 feet (19.8 m) in length and at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height 
for all other vessels; and
    (4) Permanently affixed to or painted on the vessel.
    (b) Duties of operator. The operator of each fishing vessel 
specified in paragraph (a) of this section must--
    (1) Keep the official number clearly legible and in good repair; 
and
    (2) Ensure that no part of the fishing vessel, its rigging, fishing 
gear, or any other material on board obstructs the view of the official 
number from an enforcement vessel or aircraft.


Sec. 659.7  Prohibitions.

    In addition to the general prohibitions specified in Sec. 620.7 of 
this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:
    (a) Fish for rock shrimp in the EEZ or possess rock shrimp in or 
from the EEZ, on board a vessel that does not have a vessel permit for 
rock shrimp, as specified in Sec. 659.4(a)(1).
    (b) As a dealer, receive rock shrimp harvested from the EEZ without 
a dealer permit, as specified in Sec. 659.4(a)(2).
    (c) Falsify information specified in Sec. 659.4(b)(2), or (c)(2) on 
an application for a permit.
    (d) Fail to display a permit, as specified in Sec. 659.4(h).
    (e) Falsify or fail to maintain, submit, or provide information 
required to be maintained, submitted, or provided, as specified in 
Sec. 659.5(a) or (b), or as may be required as a condition of an 
authorized activity under Sec. 659.22.
    (f) Fail to make rock shrimp, or parts thereof, available for 
inspection, as specified in Sec. 659.5(b)(1).
    (g) Falsify or fail to display and maintain vessel identification, 
as specified in Sec. 659.6(a) and (b).
    (h) Trawl for white shrimp, pink shrimp, or brown shrimp in a 
closed area or possess such shrimp in or from a closed area, as 
specified in Sec. 659.20(a)(2)(i)(A), except possession authorized 
under Sec. 659.20(a)(2)(ii).
    (i) Use or have on board a vessel trawling in that part of a closed 
area specified under Sec. 659.20(a)(1) that is within 25 nautical miles 
(46.30 km) of the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured, 
a trawl net with a mesh size less than 4 inches (10.2 cm), as specified 
in Sec. 659.20(a)(2)(i)(B).
    (j) Trawl for rock shrimp in the closed area specified in 
Sec. 659.20(b) or possess on board a fishing vessel rock shrimp in or 
from that closed area.
    (k) Transfer, receive, sell, purchase, barter, or trade, or attempt 
to transfer, receive, sell, purchase, barter, or trade a rock shrimp 
harvested from the EEZ from a vessel that does not have a valid permit, 
as specified in Sec. 659.21(a).
    (l) Transfer, sell, trade, or barter or attempt to transfer, sell, 
trade, or barter from a vessel rock shrimp harvested from the EEZ to a 
dealer who does not have a permit, as specified in Sec. 659.21(b).
    (m) As a permitted dealer, receive, purchase, barter, or trade or 
attempt to receive, purchase, barter, or trade rock shrimp harvested 
from the EEZ from a vessel that does not have a valid permit, as 
specified in Sec. 659.21(c).
    (n) Interfere with, obstruct, delay, or prevent by any means an 
investigation, search, seizure, or disposition of seized property in 
connection with enforcement of the Magnuson Act.
    (o) Make any false statement, oral or written, to an authorized 
officer concerning the taking, catching, harvesting, landing, purchase, 
sale, possession, or transfer of brown shrimp, pink shrimp, rock 
shrimp, or white shrimp.
    6. In Sec. 659.20, paragraphs (a), (b), (b)(1), (b)(1)(i), 
(b)(1)(ii), and (b)(2) are redesignated as paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), 
(a)(2)(i), (a)(2)(i)(A), (a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(ii), respectively; in 
newly redesignated paragraph (a)(2)(i), introductory text, the 
reference ``paragraph (a)'' is removed and ``paragraph (a)(1)'' is 
added in its place; in newly redesignated paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(A) and 
(a)(2)(ii), the reference ``paragraph (b)(2)'' is removed and the 
reference ``paragraph (a)(2)(ii)'' is added in its place; and a new 
paragraph (a) heading and new paragraph (b) are added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 659.20  Closures.

    (a) Seasonal closures for brown, pink, and white shrimp.
* * * * *
    (b) Area closure for rock shrimp. No person may trawl for rock 
shrimp in the closed area east of 80 deg.00' W. long. between 
27 deg.30' N. lat. and 28 deg.30' N. lat. shoreward of the 100-fathom 
(183-m) contour, as shown on the latest edition of NOAA chart 11460; 
and no person may possess rock shrimp in or from this closed area on 
board a fishing vessel.
    7. Section 659.21 is redesignated as Sec. 659.22 and a new 
Sec. 659.21 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 659.21  Restrictions on sale/purchase of rock shrimp.

    (a) No person may transfer, receive, purchase, barter, trade, or 
sell, or attempt to transfer, receive, purchase,

[[Page 17871]]

barter, trade, or sell, rock shrimp harvested in the EEZ by a vessel 
for which a valid permit has not been issued under Sec. 659.4(a)(1).
    (b) No person may transfer, sell, trade, or barter or attempt to 
transfer, sell, trade, or barter, rock shrimp harvested in the EEZ by a 
vessel permitted under Sec. 659.4(a)(1) to a dealer who does not have a 
valid permit issued under Sec. 659.4(a)(2).
    (c) No dealer who has a valid permit issued under Sec. 659.4(a)(2) 
may receive, purchase, trade, or barter or attempt to receive, 
purchase, trade, or barter rock shrimp harvested in the EEZ from a 
vessel for which a valid permit has not been issued under 
Sec. 659.4(a)(1).

[FR Doc. 96-9882 Filed 4-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P