[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53359-53362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19866]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600, 635, 648, 660, and 679

[Docket No. 040824244-4244-01; I.D. 052804A]
RIN 0648-AS44


Fishing Capacity Reduction; Fishing Capacity Reduction Program 
for the Crab Species Covered by the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs; Implementation of 
the Shark Finning Prohibition Act; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Fisheries Off West Coast 
States and in the Western Pacific; Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 
Zone Off Alaska

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes this final rule to reorganize, by 
redesignation, its fishing capacity reduction program (FCRP) 
regulations and FCRP fee system regulations. To accomplish this, it is 
also necessary to redesignate regulatory provisions implementing the 
Shark Finning Prohibition Act (Act). The redesignation involves 
changing subparts, renumbering regulatory provisions, and revising 
regulatory references. The substantive provisions are not changed in 
any way; only the old Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) unit numbers 
are redesignated with new CFR unit numbers. Also, one subpart title and 
one section title are modified. Several sections are reserved to ensure 
a logical organization. The intent of this rule is to improve 
understanding and ease of use of FCRP regulations, and to make 
additional sequential section numbers available for future FCRP 
regulations.

DATES: Effective September 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Gorrell, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, NMFS headquarters, at 301-713-2341.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is also accessible via the Internet 
at the Office of the Federal Register's Web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su-docs/aces/aces140.html.

Background

FCRP Framework Regulations

    NMFS published its framework regulations for fishing capacity 
reduction programs on May 18, 2000 (65 FR 31443) as a new Subpart L--
Fishing Capacity Reduction under Part 600--Magnuson-Stevens Act 
Provisions. These regulations serve as a framework that may be used in 
developing future FCRPs for specific fisheries and include provisions 
for fee payment and collection in repaying reduction loans. The section 
numbering of these framework regulations begins with Sec.  600.1000 and 
ends with Sec.  600.1017. The subpart title ``Subpart L--Fishing 
Capacity Reduction'' is being renamed ``Subpart L--Fishing Capacity 
Reduction Framework.'' Also, ``Sec.  600.1018'' is being redesignated 
as ``Sec.  600.1103'' in a new subpart M containing specific fishery 
program regulations.

[[Page 53360]]

    In summary, the new subpart L of part 600 would be organized as 
follows:

Subpart L--Fishing Capacity Reduction Framework

Sec. Sec.  600.1000-600.1017 Unchanged from current provisions.

Specific Fishery Program Regulations

    The current ``Subpart M--Shark Finning'' will be redesignated as 
``Subpart N--Shark Finning'' to make room for a new ``Subpart M--
Specific Fishery or Program Fishing Capacity Reduction Regulations.'' 
This new subpart will contain all FCRP codified regulations specific to 
a fishery or related fisheries, including any FCRP fee system 
regulations for which FCRP regulations were not codified for that 
fishery (e.g., the Pacific groundfish fishing capacity reduction 
program was published as a notice (68 FR 42613, July 18, 2003) and not 
codified, while its fee collection system will be codified under 
subpart M at Sec.  600.1102). The FCRP regulations in the new subpart M 
will be ordered chronologically by section number. The first section 
(Sec.  600.1100) will be reserved for purpose and scope, and general 
information.
    The Alaska inshore pollock fee collection regulations currently 
constituting subpart G to Part 679--Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 
Zone off Alaska of title 50 will be moved to Sec.  600.1101 of the new 
subpart M. This was the first fishery-specific FCRP with codified 
regulations (65 FR 5281, Feb. 3, 2000; 65 FR 6921, Feb. 11, 2000).
    The Pacific groundfish fee collection regulations (soon to be 
proposed in the Federal Register) will be codified under subpart M at 
Sec.  600.1102. This would establish a fee collection system for a 
voluntary fishing capacity reduction program implemented in 2003 for 
the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl fishery (except whiting catcher 
processors)(68 FR 42613, July 18, 2003).
    The Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab fishing 
capacity reduction program regulations (68 FR 69331, December 12, 2003) 
will be moved to Sec.  600.1103 of the new subpart M. This was the 
second fishery-specific FCRP with codified regulations, but will 
potentially be the third fishery to have a codified fee collection 
system. The readministered first referendum was unsuccessful. 
Consequently, NMFS sent a second invitation to bid and a second bidding 
form/reduction contract to 281 qualified bidders. Once the second round 
of bidding closes on September 24, 2004, NMFS will then hold a second 
referendum on the results of the second round of bidding. Assuming the 
second referendum passes, a proposed fee collection system could be 
published in the Federal Register later this year. The crab fee 
collection system would be codified under subpart M at Sec.  600.1104.
    In summary, the new subpart M of part 600 would be organized as 
follows:

Subpart M--Specific Fishery or Program Fishing Capacity Reduction 
Regulations

Sec.  600.1100 General. [Reserved]
Sec.  600.1101 Inshore Fee System for Repayment of the Loan to 
Harvesters of Pollock from the Directed Fishing Allowance Allocated 
to the Inshore Component Under Section 206(b)(1) of the AFA. (Note: 
Sec. Sec.  600.1101(a)-(g) were moved from subpart G of part 679)
Sec.  600.1102 Pacific Groundfish fishing capacity reduction fee 
collection system. [Reserved]
Sec.  600.1103 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab species 
program. (Note: Sec.  600.1108 was moved from subpart L of part 600)
Sec.  600.1104 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab fee 
collection system. [Reserved]

Shark Finning Regulations

    The regulatory provisions governing shark finning that are being 
redesignated were published as a final rule on February 11, 2002 (67 FR 
6200). Those regulations established a new Subpart M-Shark Finning in 
50 CFR part 600 containing Sec. Sec.  600.1019 through 600.1023. By 
beginning the section numbering sequence with Sec.  600.1019, subpart M 
left insufficient room for Subpart L--Fishing Capacity Reduction to 
expand (subpart L ended with Sec.  600.1018). That rule prohibits 
persons under U.S. jurisdiction from engaging in shark finning, 
possessing shark fins harvested on board a U.S. fishing vessel without 
corresponding shark carcasses, or landing shark fins harvested without 
corresponding carcasses. That shark finning rule also modified 
regulations pertaining to shark conservation and management for certain 
shark fisheries set forth in parts 635 (for Federal Atlantic Ocean, 
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean shark fisheries), 648 (for spiny dogfish 
fisheries), and 660 (for fisheries off West Coast states and in the 
western Pacific) of title 50 governing those fisheries. Because 
references to shark finning prohibitions in parts 635, 648, and 660 
refer to subpart M of part 600, changes to parts 635, 648, and/or 660 
are necessary as a result of redesignating this old subpart M as a new 
subpart N beginning with Sec.  600.1200.
    In summary, the new subpart N of part 600 would be organized as 
follows:

Subpart N--Shark Finning

Sec. Sec.  600.1200-600.1204 Unchanged from current provisions.

    Conforming changes will be made by the Office of the Federal 
Register to the Table of Contents for Part 600--Magnuson-Stevens Act 
Provisions and Part 679-Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off 
Alaska.
Classification
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has 
determined that this final rule is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the AA finds good cause to waive 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment otherwise required by 
the section. The AA finds that prior notice and comment are unnecessary 
as this rule has a non-substantive effect on the public. It 
reorganizes, by redesignation, FCRP regulations, FCRP fee system 
regulations, and shark finning regulations. That redesignation involves 
changing subparts, renumbering regulatory provisions, revising 
regulatory references, and reserving sections. The rule is designed to 
improve understanding and ease of use of FCRP regulations, and to make 
additional sequential section numbers available for future FCRP 
regulations. No particular public interest exists in this final rule 
for which there is the need for prior notice and comment.
    Because this final rule does not institute any substantive 
obligations for the public, the requirement for a 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) does not 
apply.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C., or any other law, the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
are not applicable.

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 600

    Fisheries, Fishing.

50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing Vessels, Foreign Relations, 
Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Statistics, Treaties.

50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

[[Page 53361]]

50 CFR Part 660

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Fisheries, 
Fishing, Guam, Hawaiian Natives, Indians, Northern Mariana Islands, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: August 25, 2004.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.


0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 600, 635, 648, 
660 and 679 are amended as follows:
0
1. The authority citation for parts 600, 635, 648, 660, and 679 
continues to read as follows:

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

PART 600--MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT PROVISIONS

Subpart L--Fishing Capacity Reduction Framework

0
2. The title of subpart L of part 600 is revised to read as set forth 
above.


Sec. Sec.  600.1019-600.1023  [Redesignated as Sec. Sec.  600.1200-
600.1204]

0
3. Subpart M (Sec. Sec.  600.1019-600.1023) of part 600 is redesignated 
as subpart N (Sec. Sec.  600.1200-600.1204), as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Part 600, subpart N, new
     Part 600, subpart M, old section                  section
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   600.1019...........................  Sec.   600.1200.
Sec.   600.1020...........................  Sec.   600.1201.
Sec.   600.1020(a)........................  Sec.   600.1201(a).
Sec.   600.1020(b)........................  Sec.   600.1201(b).
Sec.   600.1020(c)........................  Sec.   600.1201(c).
Sec.   600.1020(d)........................  Sec.   600.1201(d).
Sec.   600.1021...........................  Sec.   600.1202.
Sec.   600.1021(a)........................  Sec.   600.1202(a).
Sec.   600.1021(b)........................  Sec.   600.1202(b).
Sec.   600.1022...........................  Sec.   600.1203.
Sec.   600.1022(a)........................  Sec.   600.1203(a).
Sec.   600.1022(b)(1).....................  Sec.   600.1203(b)(1).
Sec.   600.1022(b)(2).....................  Sec.   600.1203(b)(2).
Sec.   600.1023...........................  Sec.   600.1204.
Sec.   600.1023(a)(1).....................  Sec.   600.1204(a)(1).
Sec.   600.1023(a)(2).....................  Sec.   600.1204(a)(2).
Sec.   600.1023(b)........................  Sec.   600.1204(b).
Sec.   600.1023(c)........................  Sec.   600.1204(c).
Sec.   600.1023(d)........................  Sec.   600.1204(d).
Sec.   600.1023(e)........................  Sec.   600.1204(e).
Sec.   600.1023(f)........................  Sec.   600.1204(f).
Sec.   600.1023(g)........................  Sec.   600.1204(g).
Sec.   600.1023(h)........................  Sec.   600.1204(h).
Sec.   600.1023(i)........................  Sec.   600.1204(i).
Sec.   600.1023(j)........................  Sec.   600.1204(j).
Sec.   600.1023(k)........................  Sec.   600.1204(k).
Sec.   600.1023(l)........................  Sec.   600.1204(l).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER VI--[AMENDED]

0
4. In 50 CFR Chapter VI, all references to ``Sec.  600.1022'' are 
revised to read ``Sec.  600.1203.''

0
5. In 50 CFR Chapter VI, all references to ``Sec.  600.1023'' are 
revised to read ``Sec.  600.1204.''

0
6. A new subpart M for part 600 is added to read as follows:

Subpart M--Specific Fishery or Program Fishing Capacity Reduction 
Regulations


Sec.  600.1100  General [Reserved]

0
7. Section 600.1100 General of part 600, subpart M, is added and 
reserved.

PART 679--[AMENDED]

Subpart G of Part 679, Sec. Sec.  679.70-679.76--[Redesignated as 
Sec.  600.1101]

0
8. The heading of Subpart G is redesignated as the heading of Sec.  
600.1101.

0
9. Sections 679.70 through 679.76 of subpart G are redesignated as 
follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Part 679, subpart G, old section                         Part 600, subpart M, new section
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   679.70 section heading and text...  Sec.   600.1101(a) paragraph heading and text.
Sec.   679.71 section heading............  Sec.   600.1101(b) paragraph heading.
Sec.   679.71(a).........................  Sec.   600.1101(b)(1).
Sec.   679.71(b).........................  Sec.   600.1101(b)(2).
Sec.   679.71(c).........................  Sec.   600.1101(b)(3).
Sec.   679.71(d).........................  Sec.   600.1101(b)(4).
Sec.   679.71(e).........................  Sec.   600.1101(b)(5).
Sec.   679.72 section heading............  Sec.   600.1101(c) paragraph heading.
Sec.   679.72(a).........................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1).
Sec.   679.72(a)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(i).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)(i)...................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii)(A).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)(i)(A)................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii)(A)(1).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)(i)(B)................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii)(A)(2).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)(i)(C)................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii)(A)(3).
Sec.   679.72(a)(2)(ii)..................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(1)(ii)(B).
Sec.   679.72(b).........................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(2).
Sec.   679.72(b)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(2)(i).
Sec.   679.72(b)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(2)(ii).
Sec.   679.72(c).........................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3).
Sec.   679.72(c)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(i).
Sec.   679.72(c)(1)(i)...................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(i)(A).
Sec.   679.72(c)(1)(ii)..................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(i)(B).
Sec.   679.72(c)(1)(iii).................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(i)(C).
Sec.   679.72(c)(1)(iv)..................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(i)(D).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)(i)...................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii)(A).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)(ii)..................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii)(B).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)(iii).................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii)(C).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)(iv)..................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii)(D).
Sec.   679.72(c)(2)(v)...................  Sec.   600.1101(c)(3)(ii)(E).
Sec.   679.73 section heading............  Sec.   600.1101(d) paragraph heading.
Sec.   679.73(a).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(1).
Sec.   679.73(b).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(2).
Sec.   679.73(c).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(3).
Sec.   679.73(d).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4).

[[Page 53362]]

 
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(i)...................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(A).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(ii)..................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(B).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(iii).................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(C).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(iv)..................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(D).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(v)...................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(E).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(vi)..................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(F).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(vii).................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(G).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(viii)................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(H).
Sec.   679.73(d)(1)(ix)..................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(i)(I).
Sec.   679.73(d)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(ii).
Sec.   679.73(d)(2)(i)...................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(ii)(A).
Sec.   679.73(d)(2)(ii)..................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(ii)(B).
Sec.   679.73(d)(2)(iii).................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(4)(ii)(C).
Sec.   679.73(e).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5).
Sec.   679.73(e)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(i).
Sec.   679.73(e)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(ii).
Sec.   679.73(e)(3)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(iii).
Sec.   679.73(e)(4)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(iv).
Sec.   679.73(e)(5)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(v).
Sec.   679.73(e)(6)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(vi).
Sec.   679.73(e)(7)......................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(5)(vii).
Sec.   679.73(f).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(6).
Sec.   679.73(g).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(7).
Sec.   679.73(h).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(8).
Sec.   679.73(i).........................  Sec.   600.1101(d)(9).
Sec.   679.74 section heading and text...  Sec.   600.1101(e) paragraph heading and text.
Sec.   679.75 section heading and text...  Sec.   600.1101(f) paragraph heading and text.
Sec.   679.76 section heading............  Sec.   600.1101(g) paragraph heading.
Sec.   679.76(a).........................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1).
Sec.   679.76(a)(1)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(i).
Sec.   679.76(a)(2)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(ii).
Sec.   679.76(a)(3)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(iii).
Sec.   679.76(a)(4)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(iv).
Sec.   679.76(a)(5)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(v).
Sec.   679.76(a)(6)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(vi).
Sec.   679.76(a)(7)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(vii).
Sec.   679.76(a)(8)......................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(1)(viii).
Sec.   679.76(b).........................  Sec.   600.1101(g)(2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER VI--[AMENDED]

0
10. In Chapter VI, all references to ``Sec.  679.72'' are revised to 
read ``Sec.  600.1101(c).''

PART 600--[AMENDED]


Sec.  600.1102  Pacific groundfish fee collection system [Reserved]

0
11. Section 600.1102, Pacific groundfish fee collection system, of part 
600, subpart M, is added and reserved.


Sec.  600.1018  [Redesignated as Sec.  600.1103]

0
12. Section 600.1018 is redesignated as Sec.  600.1103.


Sec.  600.1104  Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab fee 
collection system [Reserved]

0
13. Section 600.1104 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab fee 
collection system of part 600, subpart M, is added and reserved.

PART 635--[AMENDED]


Sec. Sec.  635.30 and 635.31  [Amended]

0
14. In Sec. Sec.  635.30(c)(1) through (3) and 635.31(c)(3) and 
635.31(c)(5), all references to ``part 600, subpart M,'' or to ``part 
600 (subpart M),'' are revised to read ``part 600, subpart N.''


Sec.  635.71  [Amended]

0
15. In Sec.  635.71(d)(7), references to ``Sec.  600.1023'' are revised 
to read ``Sec.  600.1204.''

PART 648--[AMENDED]


Sec.  648.14  [Amended]

0
16. In Sec.  648.14(aa)(4) the reference to ``Sec.  Sec.  600.1022 and 
600.1023'' is revised to read ``Sec.  Sec.  600.1203 and 600.1204, part 
600, subpart N.''


Sec.  648.235  [Amended]

0
17. In Sec.  648.235(c) the reference to ``part 600, subpart M,'' is 
revised to read ``part 600, subpart N.''

PART 660--[AMENDED]


Sec.  660.1  [Amended]

0
18. In Sec.  660.1(c) the reference to ``part 600, subpart M,'' is 
revised to read ``part 600, subpart N.''

[FR Doc. 04-19866 Filed 8-31-04; 8:45 am]
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