[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8404-8406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4590]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 970211028-7028-01; I.D. 012397A]
RIN 0648-AJ34


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Framework 21 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

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 measures contained in 
Framework Adjustment 21 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). These regulations allow vessels with general 
category scallop permits or limited access permits, if not fishing 
under a days-at-sea (DAS) limitation, to fish for scallops with small 
dredges (combined width not to exceed (10.5 ft (3.2 m)) within the Gulf 
of Maine Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area. The intent 
of this action is to allow small scallop dredge vessels to harvest 
scallops in a manner that is consistent with the bycatch reduction 
objectives of the FMP.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Amendment 7 to the FMP (Amendment 7), its 
regulatory impact review and the initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis, its final supplemental environmental impact statement 
(FSEIS), and the supporting

[[Page 8405]]

documents for Framework Adjustment 21 are available from Christopher B. 
Kellogg, Acting Executive Director, New England Fishery Management 
Council, 5 Broadway, (Route 1), Saugus, MA 01906-1097.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul H. Jones, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
508-281-9273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Regulations implementing Amendment 7 became effective on July 1, 
1996 (61 FR 27710, May 31, 1996). The amendment prohibited all fishing 
in the Gulf of Maine small mesh exemption area unless the vessel was 
fishing under a multispecies or scallop DAS allocation, or with 
exempted gear, or under the handgear permit restrictions, or in an 
exempted fishery (a fishery in which it has been determined to have 
less than 5 percent bycatch of regulated species). Amendment 7, in 
effect, eliminated fisheries that were determined to be inconsistent 
with the bycatch reduction goal of the FMP. One of the fisheries 
eliminated was the General Permit Category, small dredge scallop 
fishery in the Gulf of Maine (GOM).
    Framework Adjustment 21 provides an exemption from the multispecies 
regulations to allow the conduct of a small dredge (combined width not 
to exceed 10.5 ft (3.2 m)) sea scallop fishery for General Category 
scallop permit holders and for limited access scallop vessels when not 
fishing under a DAS. This exemption is implemented year-round in the 
Gulf of Maine Small Mesh Exemption Area, except in the Mid-Coast 
Closure Area, because of high aggregations of cod in that area. Vessels 
fishing in this exemption program are further prohibited from landing 
or possessing any species other than Atlantic sea scallops.
    This framework adjustment is consistent with the bycatch reduction 
goal of the FMP, based on the following information. Reports from at-
sea observation by state biologists from Maine and Massachusetts 
indicate minimal or no bycatch from the small dredge scallop fishery. 
NMFS weighout records of interviewed trips from the GOM during 1988-93 
indicate the average bycatch of regulated species was 1.5 percent over 
the 6-year period. NMFS vessel trip reports from 1994 and 1995 also 
show minimal amounts of bycatch from this fishery. Based on available 
information, the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
concluded, and NMFS agrees, that the bycatch of regulated species by 
small scallop dredges in the GOM Small Mesh Exemption Area is less than 
5 percent by weight of total catch and does not jeopardize fishing 
mortality objectives or other goals and objectives of the FMP. The 
States of Maine and Massachusetts have offered observer coverage during 
the initial implementation of this framework adjustment to assure that 
the bycatch of regulated species is within the 5 percent level.
    The Council recommended publication of this management measure as a 
final rule after considering the required factors stipulated under the 
framework measures in the FMP, 50 CFR 648.90, and has provided 
supporting analyses for each factor considered. The Administrator, 
Northeast Region, NMFS, concurs with the Council's recommendation and 
has determined that Framework Adjustment 21 should be published as a 
final rule.
    NMFS is amending the multispecies regulations following the 
procedure for framework adjustments established by Amendment 7 and 
codified in 50 CFR part 648. The Council developed and analyzed the 
actions at two Council meetings held on October 2-3 (61 FR 50796, 
September 27, 1996) and November 6-7, 1996 (61 FR 56213, October 31, 
1996).

Comments and Responses

    The October 2-3, 1996, Council meeting was the first of two 
meetings that provided an opportunity for public comment on Framework 
Adjustment 21. A draft document containing the proposed management 
measures and their rationale was available to the public during the 
last week in September 1996, and notices of the initial and final 
Council meetings were mailed to approximately 1,900 people and 
published in the Federal Register. The final public hearing was held on 
November 6-7, 1996. Testimony provided by industry members at the 
public meetings favored the framework adjustment. No other comments 
were received.

Classification

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    NMFS reinitiated consultation on the Northeast Multispecies, 
Atlantic Sea Scallop and American Lobster FMPs, and this action was 
considered as part of this comprehensive consultation. The consultation 
considered new information concerning the status of the northern right 
whale. As a result of the consultation, NMFS has determined that: (1) 
The fishing activities carried out under the Multispecies and Lobster 
FMPs are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the northern 
right whale; (2) the prosecution of the multispecies, lobster, and 
scallop fisheries will not adversely modify right whale critical 
habitat; (3) that the current fishing practices allowed under the 
Lobster FMP and the Multispecies FMP may affect but are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of the harbor porpoise and the 
distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon stocks found in certain 
Maine rivers that are both currently proposed to be listed as 
threatened; and (4) no new information has become available that 
changes the basis for previous determinations that the scallop FMP and 
prosecution of the scallop fishery, which is provided additional 
fishing opportunity as a result of this action, is not likely to 
adversely affect endangered, threatened, and proposed species or 
adversely modify critical habitat. The new information provided above 
does not change the basis for the conclusions of the 1996 Biological 
Opinion that the fishing activities carried out under the Lobster and 
Multispecies FMPs may affect, but are not likely to jeopardize, the 
continued existence of the other endangered and threatened whale and 
sea turtle species under NMFS jurisdiction.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), finds that there is good cause to waive the 
requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
as such procedures are unnecessary. Public meetings held by the Council 
to discuss the management measure implemented by this rule provided 
adequate prior notice and opportunity for public comment to be heard 
and considered. Further, NMFS is responding in this rule to the 
comments it received during these meetings. This rule removes a 
prohibition on fishing applied to certain gear types in certain areas, 
thereby relieving a restriction. As such, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), 
this rule is not subject to the 30-day delay in effectiveness.
    Because a general notice of proposed rulemaking is not required to 
be published for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553 or by any other law, this 
rule is exempt from the requirement to prepare an initial or final 
regulatory flexibility analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 
As such, none has been prepared. The primary intent for this action is 
to allow small scallop dredges to harvest scallops in amounts that are 
consistent with the bycatch reduction objectives of the FMP.

[[Page 8406]]

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
to read as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 648.80, paragraph (a)(2)(iii) is revised and paragraph 
(a)(10) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 648.80  Regulated mesh areas and restrictions on gear and methods 
of fishing

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Other gear and mesh exemptions. The minimum mesh size for any 
trawl net, sink gillnet, Scottish seine, midwater trawl, or purse seine 
on a vessel or used by a vessel when fishing in the GOM/GB Regulated 
Mesh Area while not under the NE multispecies DAS program, but when 
under one of the exemptions specified in paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(4), 
(a)(6), (a)(8), (a)(9), (d), (e), (h), and (i) of this section, is set 
forth in the respective paragraph specifying the exemption. Vessels 
that are not fishing under one of these exemptions, or under the small 
dredge exemption specified in Sec. 648.54 and (a)(10) of this section, 
under the scallop state waters exemption specified in Sec. 648.54, or 
under a NE multispecies DAS, are prohibited from fishing in the GOM/GB 
regulated mesh area.
* * * * *
    (10) Scallop Dredge Fishery Exemption within the Gulf of Maine 
(GOM) Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area. Vessels with a 
limited access scallop permit that have declared out of the DAS program 
as specified in Sec. 648.10, or have used up their DAS allocations, and 
vessels issued a general scallop permit may fish in the GOM Small Mesh 
Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area when not under a NE multispecies 
DAS providing the vessel complies with the requirements specified in 
paragraph (a)(10)(i) of this section. The GOM Scallop Dredge Fishery 
Exemption Area is equivalent to the area defined in paragraph (a)(3) of 
this section and designated as the Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery 
Exemption Area.
    (i) Requirements. (A) A vessel fishing in the GOM Scallop Dredge 
Fishery Exemption Area specified in paragraph (a)(10) of this section, 
may not fish for, possess on board, or land any species of fish other 
than Atlantic sea scallops.
    (B) The combined dredge width in use by or in possession on board 
vessels fishing in the GOM Scallop Dredge Fishery Exemption Area shall 
not exceed 10.5 ft (3.2 m) measured at the widest point in the bail of 
the dredge. (C) The exemption does not apply to areas closed to meet 
the Mid-coast closure fishery mortality reduction targets as specified 
in Sec. 648.81(g).
    (ii) [Reserved]
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-4590 Filed 2-20-97; 2:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F