[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 103 (Monday, June 1, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26170-26171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12640]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

RIN 0648-AW19


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 7

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp 
Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) for review, approval, and 
implementation by NMFS. Amendment 7 proposes actions to rename the 
commercial vessel permit and the limited access endorsement; remove the 
requirement for a minimum level of landings for the renewal of a 
limited access endorsement; allow the reissue of a limited access 
endorsement that had been terminated because of failure to meet that 
minimum level; allow the reissue of an endorsement that had been 
terminated because of failure to renew it in a timely manner; and 
require the submission of economic data by participants in the fishery. 
The measures contained in the subject amendment are intended to 
maintain a viable rock shrimp fishery in the South Atlantic region.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
July 31, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``0648-AW19'', by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: 727-824-5308, Attn: Kate Michie.
     Mail: Kate Michie, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2008-0319'' in the keyword 
search, then check the box labeled ``Select to find documents accepting 
comments or submissions'', then select ``Send a Comment or 
Submission.'' NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the 
required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to 
electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of Amendment 7 may be obtained from the South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; phone: 843-571-4366 or 866-SAFMC-10 (toll free); 
fax: 843-769-4520; e-mail: [email protected]. Amendment 7 includes an 
Environmental Assessment, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, a 
Regulatory Impact Review, and a Social Impact Assessment/Fishery Impact 
Statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Michie, telephone: 727-824-5305; 
fax: 727-824-5308; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Atlantic shrimp fishery is managed 
under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and implemented by 
NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 
622.

Background

    Amendment 5 to the FMP established a limited access program for the 
rock shrimp fishery in federal waters south of the South Carolina/
Georgia state line. In 2003, endorsements were issued to vessels with 
at least 15,000 pounds of rock shrimp landings in any one year during 
1997-2000. A vessel must land at least 15,000 pounds of rock shrimp in 
at least one year during any four consecutive years or the endorsement 
cannot be renewed. The Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) suggested these 
landings requirements because they were concerned about the high number 
of latent permit holders and vessels that fished infrequently. The 
limited access program criteria were set so the core group of 
participants would remain in the fishery while overall effort was 
reduced. Of the 155 vessels issued limited access endorsements, 105 are 
currently active, 20 are renewable, and 30 are non-renewable. 
Therefore, a maximum of 125 endorsements are or may become active in 
the rock shrimp fishery under the current permit requirements.
    The need for action through Amendment 7 to the FMP is based on the 
desire to maintain a viable rock shrimp fishery in the South Atlantic 
region. The AP suggested the fishery could support no more than 150 
vessels. However, fewer vessels may not fully utilize the resource. The 
Council has determined that actions implemented through Amendment 5 
have resulted in the desired reduction in capacity and may no longer be 
necessary in light of changes in the rock shrimp fishery over the past 
six years.
    The Council is primarily concerned about the 15,000-pound landing 
requirement because 43 vessels have not met the requirement after the 
first four years of the program. The AP suggested the Council consider 
whether this provision should be retained, revoked, revised, or 
possibly extended (i.e. allow vessels a longer time period to meet the 
requirement). In addition, the AP suggested reinstatement of 
endorsements lost as a result of not meeting the landings requirement.
    Another issue involves the requirement for vessel owners to renew 
their vessel's endorsement within one year after the endorsement's 
expiration date to retain their eligibility. The Council is concerned 
about confusion over the rock shrimp limited access endorsement as 
implemented in the final rule for Amendment 5 versus the

[[Page 26171]]

limited access permit as specified in Amendment 5. In this case, some 
fishermen did not realize they needed both the open access permit and 
the limited access endorsement.
    In total, 73 vessels will or have been eliminated from the rock 
shrimp fishery under current regulations due to not meeting the 15,000-
pound requirement, the renewal period, or both. Thus 47 percent of the 
155 endorsements originally issued may be eliminated if no changes are 
made to the current requirements and even more could be eliminated in 
the future for the same reasons.
    In the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery, participants are selected 
each year to provide economic data to NMFS. Similar data for the South 
Atlantic shrimp fishery would allow NMFS to conduct analyses required 
by the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. These data would 
also allow the Council to fully understand how proposed management 
measures would impact shrimp fishermen and dealers.
    Amendment 7 proposes to rename the commercial vessel permit and the 
limited access endorsement; remove the requirement for a minimum level 
of landings for the renewal of a limited access endorsement; allow the 
reissue of a limited access endorsement that had been terminated 
because of failure to meet that minimum level; allow the reissue of an 
endorsement that had been terminated because of failure to renew it in 
a timely manner; and require the submission of economic data by 
participants in the fishery if selected.
    The Council has submitted Amendment 7 for Secretarial review, 
approval, and implementation. NMFS' decision to approve, partially 
approve, or disapprove Amendment 7 will be based, in part, on 
consideration of comments, recommendations, and information received 
during the comment period on this notice of availability. After 
consideration of these factors, and consistency with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws, NMFS will publish a notice of 
agency action in the Federal Register announcing the Agency's decision 
to approve, partially approve, or disapprove Amendment 7, and the 
associated rationale.

Consideration of Public Comments

    Public comments received by 5 p.m. eastern time, on July 31, 2009, 
will be considered by NMFS in the approval/disapproval decision 
regarding Amendment 7.

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

    Dated: May 26, 2009
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12640 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S