[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 103 (Monday, June 1, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26174-26183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12652]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 090508897-9896-01]
RIN 0648-AX85


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and 
Swordfish Management Measures and HMS Permit Requirements

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

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) 
to request public comment on potential adjustments to the regulations 
governing the U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT), north Atlantic 
swordfish (SWO), and shark fisheries to enable more thorough 
utilization of the available U.S. quotas for BFT and SWO and to improve 
highly migratory species (HMS) permit structure. Potential action(s) 
taken may to increase opportunities for U.S. fisheries to fully harvest 
the U.S. quotas recommended by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) while balancing continuing 
efforts to end BFT overfishing by 2010 and rebuild the stock by 2019; 
to continue efforts to revitalize the SWO fishery while minimizing 
bycatch to the extent practicable; and to clarify and simplify the 
current HMS permit structure. NMFS is also requesting public comment 
regarding the potential implementation of catch shares, limited access 
privilege programs (LAPPs), and individual bycatch caps (IBCs) in 
highly migratory species fisheries. This ANPR provides background 
information to inform the public on several actions that NMFS is 
considering to accomplish these objectives.

DATES: Written comments regarding the potential BFT management measures 
discussed in Section II of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this ANPR must be received no later than June 30, 2009.
    Written comments regarding pelagic longline (PLL) incidental catch 
requirements, HMS permits, LAPPs, and IBCs as discussed in Sections III 
and IV of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this ANPR must be 
received no later than August 31, 2009.
    Public meetings to obtain additional comments on the items 
discussed in this ANPR will be held in June and July 2009. Please see 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this ANPR for specific dates, 
times, and locations.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``0648-AX85'', by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: 301-713-1917, Attn: Margo Schulze-Haugen.
     Mail: NMFS SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Instructions: All comments received are part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to portal 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. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted 
in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Related documents, including the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery 
Management Plan (Consolidated HMS FMP) and the 2008 Stock Assessment 
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report are available upon request at the 
mailing address noted above or on the HMS Management Division's webpage 
at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/. In addition, the primary 
resource legislation that guides NMFS can be found at 
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/legislation.htm.
    Public meetings to obtain additional comments on the items 
discussed in this ANPR will be held in North Carolina, New Jersey, 
Massachusetts, Florida, and Louisiana. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this ANPR for specific dates, times, and 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin at 978-281-9260 or 
Randy Blankinship at 727-824-5399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Atlantic tunas, SWO, and billfish 
fisheries are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the 
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and implemented through the 
Consolidated HMS FMP. Atlantic sharks are managed under the authority 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to promulgate regulations, as may be necessary and 
appropriate, to implement recommendations by ICCAT. The authority to 
issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA has been 
delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. The implementing regulations for Atlantic HMS are at 
50 CFR part 635. Atlantic HMS fisheries are also subject to the 
requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
Administrative Procedures Act (APA), Coastal Zone Management Act 
(CZMA), and other domestic regulations.

I. Background

A. Need for Action

    In recent years, a combination of factors has contributed to a 
decline in domestic landings of north Atlantic SWO and western Atlantic 
BFT, to the point where U.S. landings are now below their respective 
ICCAT-recommended quotas. NMFS has implemented several management 
measures in the U.S. PLL fishery to meet legal mandates to reduce the 
bycatch and bycatch mortality of sea turtles, marine mammals, 
undersized and spawning fish, Atlantic billfish, and some shark 
species. These include time and area closures, a requirement to use 
only large circle hooks with specific baits, a prohibition on the use 
of live bait in the Gulf of Mexico, incidental catch limits, and a 
reduction in large coastal shark quotas and retention limits. Some of 
these measures have also contributed to lower catches of north Atlantic 
SWO and western Atlantic BFT in the PLL fishery. In addition to 
regulatory factors, increased fuel prices, low ex-vessel prices, and 
less expensive imports of SWO may have contributed to reduced landings 
in the SWO fishery. Factors that may have played a role in the 
underharvest of the

[[Page 26175]]

domestic BFT fishery since 2004 include reduced availability of BFT for 
harvest, possibly due to recent changes in BFT regional availability 
and/or a reduced BFT population level.
    The reduction of bycatch and bycatch mortality, and the continuing 
need to rebuild overfished stocks in Atlantic HMS fisheries, remain 
important management priorities for NMFS as mandated under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. However, because domestic landings of north 
Atlantic SWO and western Atlantic BFT have been below ICCAT-recommended 
U.S. quotas, there is an ongoing concern among many HMS constituents 
that a portion of the U.S. quota for these species could be reallocated 
to other countries during future ICCAT negotiations.
    In 2007, NMFS addressed persistent underharvests of the domestic 
SWO quota by increasing SWO retention limits for incidental SWO permit 
holders, modifying recreational SWO retention limits for HMS Charter/
Headboat and Angling category permit holders, and modifying HMS limited 
access vessel upgrading restrictions for PLL vessels (72 FR 31688; June 
7, 2007). Since then, NMFS has continued to receive comments suggesting 
changes that could increase domestic BFT and SWO landings, as well as 
public input regarding HMS permitting issues. These suggestions were 
received by NMFS during HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meetings in 2008 and 
2009, during the 2009 BFT quota specifications public hearings, and in 
recent constituent and congressional correspondence.
    NMFS prepared this ANPR in response to suggestions that have been 
received from the public regarding the underharvest of domestic SWO and 
BFT quotas. Additionally, this ANPR outlines some management strategies 
that NMFS is considering to improve HMS management, particularly 
regarding permitting issues, and enforcement of HMS regulations. In 
light of the recent underharvest of domestic BFT and SWO fisheries, the 
current status of HMS stocks, continuing bycatch and bycatch mortality 
concerns, market factors that may affect fishery performance and Agency 
efforts to address HMS permitting issues, NMFS formally requests 
comments on the potential regulatory changes described in this ANPR. 
All comments received in response to this ANPR will be considered in 
any potential future rulemakings.

B. Stock Status

1. Western Atlantic BFT
    The most recent stock assessment conducted by ICCAT's Standing 
Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) for western Atlantic BFT 
(2008) indicated that the 2007 spawning stock biomass was between 14 
percent and 57 percent of the biomass required to support maximum 
sustainable yield (MSY) and that fishing mortality was between 1.27 and 
2.18 of that that would produce MSY, depending upon the recruitment 
scenario assumed within the assessment. The western Atlantic BFT stock 
is considered to be overfished with overfishing occurring.
2. North Atlantic SWO
    The SCRS stock assessment in 2006 indicated that the north Atlantic 
SWO biomass had improved (B2006 = 0.99 Bmsy, 
F2006 = 0.86 Fmsy). It is currently considered to 
be rebuilding with no overfishing occurring. The SCRS will be 
conducting a new stock assessment from September 7-11, 2009, and 
considering the 2006 results, NMFS expects the 2009 stock assessment to 
indicate that north Atlantic SWO is fully rebuilt.
3. Atlantic Sharks
    The stock status of Atlantic sharks varies by species. Several 
species of sharks are considered to be overfished with overfishing 
occurring, including sandbar sharks, dusky sharks, and blacknose 
sharks. Conversely, some shark species are not overfished and 
overfishing is not occurring, including Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks, 
Atlantic sharpnose sharks, and bonnethead sharks. The current status of 
the blacktip shark population in the South Atlantic region as well as 
several other shark species is unknown.

II. Underharvest of Atlantic BFT Quota

    As noted in ``DATES'' section, the comment period on issues in this 
section is open through June 30, 2009.

A. General Category

    To provide background information, this section describes some of 
the current HMS regulatory requirements for the General category.
    The current default General category daily retention limit is one 
large medium or giant BFT (measuring 73 inches (185 cm) or greater). To 
provide for maximum utilization of the quota for BFT, NMFS may increase 
or decrease the daily retention limit of large medium and giant BFT 
over a range from zero to a maximum of three per vessel, based on the 
consideration of several criteria. Regardless of the length of a trip, 
no more than a single day's retention limit of large medium or giant 
BFT may be possessed or retained aboard a vessel that has a General 
category Atlantic Tunas permit. When the General category is open, no 
person aboard such vessel may continue to fish, and the vessel must 
immediately proceed to port once the applicable limit for large medium 
or giant BFT has been attained. For the last several fishing seasons, 
NMFS has maintained a three-fish General category daily retention 
limit, with the exception of the January 2009 fishery, for which NMFS 
set a two-fish limit given the available January subquota.
    The BFT General category season currently is open from January 1 
through January 31, and from June 1 through December 31. The current 
time period quota allocations are as follows: 5.3% for January; 50% for 
June-August; 26.5% for September; 13% for October-November; and 5.2% 
for December. Through in-season authority, NMFS takes action to close 
the coastwide General category fishery when it determines that the 
subquota for a given time period is reached, or is projected to be 
reached. NMFS may also adjust each time period's quota based on 
overharvest or underharvest in the prior time period. NMFS may reopen 
the fishery at a later date if it determines that reasonable fishing 
opportunities are available, e.g., BFT have migrated into the area or 
weather is conducive for fishing.
    From 2000 through 2007, the BFT fishery was managed on a June 
through May fishing year basis versus a calendar year basis (January 
through December), and in 2003, NMFS extended the General category 
season to include the month of January (68 FR 74504, December 24, 
2003). However, since January 2004, NMFS has not needed to close the 
January fishery (i.e., the available General category quota has not 
been fully exhausted). In 2008, the BFT fishery returned to a calendar 
year fishery, such that the January sub-period is now the first period 
of the January through December fishing year.
    Under current regulations, NMFS considers several criteria when 
applying underharvest of BFT from one fishing year to the next. These 
criteria include the usefulness of information obtained from catches in 
the particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of the 
status of the stock, the effects of the adjustment on BFT rebuilding 
and overfishing, and the effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the 
objectives of the fishery management plan.

[[Page 26176]]

1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Daily Retention Limit. NMFS has received comments requesting that 
the maximum daily retention limit for the BFT General category be 
increased or eliminated. A related suggestion is for NMFS to allow the 
daily retention limit to apply for each day of a multi-day trip so that 
it is more economical for vessels to make trips to offshore BFT fishing 
grounds (e.g., the northern edge of Georges Bank) since they would not 
be limited to the maximum daily limit.
    A change to, or the elimination of, the daily retention limit could 
potentially be implemented via a regulatory amendment. If NMFS were to 
change or eliminate the maximum daily retention limit, it would still 
maintain the authority to establish the daily retention limit using an 
in-season action by filing an adjustment with the Office of the Federal 
Register.
    The potential advantages of eliminating the maximum limit (three 
BFT/vessel/day) include: (1) positive socio-economic impacts for 
General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels due to the 
ability to retain and sell more commercial-sized BFT per day/trip; (2) 
related positive impacts for dealers; (3) greater incentive for vessels 
to take offshore, multi-day trips, which could increase fishing 
opportunities and revenues on for-hire trips by Charter/Headboats; (4) 
decreased discard mortality of commercial sized BFT (that previously 
would have been in excess of daily retention limit); and, (5) fuller 
use of the U.S. BFT quota through increased General (quota) category 
landings.
    The potential disadvantages of eliminating the maximum limit 
include: (1) increased discard mortality of undersized BFT (by General 
category vessels) due to potential increased fishing effort; and, (2) 
increased bycatch of non-target species, including protected species, 
and/or other biological and ecological impacts.
    Fishing Season. NMFS has received comments suggesting that the 
General category fishing season should be extended to increase fishing 
opportunities, particularly during the winter fishery that has 
developed off North and South Carolina in the last several years. Two 
different options have been suggested: extend the General category 
season year-round, from January 1-December 31; and, extend the General 
category season until the adjusted January subquota is filled. Either 
of these options could potentially be implemented through a regulatory 
amendment.
    The potential advantages of extending the General category season 
include: (1) increased use of the U.S. BFT quota through increased 
General (quota) category landings; (2) positive socio-economic impacts 
for General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels and 
dealers able to participate in the winter/spring fishery due to 
extended opportunities to make trips and land commercial-sized BFT; and 
, (3) positive socio-economic impacts for coastal communities in which 
winter/spring fishing opportunities exist.
    The potential disadvantages of extending the General category 
season could include: (1) negative socio-economic impacts on General 
category vessels that traditionally have fished during June through 
December (e.g., in more northern waters) if allocations or fishing 
opportunities for those periods are reduced; (2) increased discard 
mortality of undersized BFT (by General category vessels) and BFT in 
excess of daily retention limit (by General category and HMS Charter/
Headboat category vessels) during open seasons and during periods when 
the fishery has traditionally been closed; and, (3) increased bycatch 
of non-target species, including protected species.
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments on the potential adjustment of regulations 
governing the BFT General category daily retention limits and fishing 
season. The preceding section provided background information regarding 
these topics. The public is encouraged to submit comments related to 
any aspect of these topics. NMFS is also specifically seeking comments 
to the following questions.
    Daily Retention Limit. What, if any, maximum daily retention limit 
should be established? What bycatch concerns or other biological and 
ecological impacts might there be (i.e., due to a potential increase in 
fishing effort)? If Harpoon category participants switch into the 
General category due to the lack of maximum daily retention limit, 
would there be negative impacts on General category participants?
    Fishing Season. Should the BFT General category fishery be extended 
until available quota for January is reached, to some other date beyond 
January 31, or year-round? If the fishery is extended beyond January 
31, should the existing time period quota allocations change?
    How should NMFS distribute General category underharvest to the 
time periods for the following year (e.g., by FMP allocation--50 
percent for June-August; by applying all of any underharvest available 
for the General category to the first time period and rolling the 
unused portion forward throughout the calendar year; or by another 
method)?
    Given that the underharvest carried forward from one year to the 
next cannot exceed 50 percent of the initial U.S. quota (10 percent 
beginning in 2011 per ICCAT recommendations), NMFS may not be able to 
apply the exact amount of General category underharvest to the 
following year's General category quota. Additionally, in the last few 
years, NMFS has applied underharvest to the subsequent year to meet 
several management needs (particularly ensuring that the Longline 
category has sufficient quota to operate during the fishing year while 
also accounting for BFT discards) rather than distributing the 
allowable amount of underharvest according to the FMP percentages. 
Should NMFS revise over/underharvest adjustment criteria for the 
General category or all categories in the future?
    The closed season (February through May) has, in effect, served as 
a time/area closure both for BFT and potential bycatch species. What 
bycatch concerns or other biological/ecological impacts might there be?

B. Harpoon Category--Daily Retention Limit

    Under current HMS regulations, persons aboard a Harpoon category 
permitted vessel may retain, possess, or land an unlimited number of 
giant BFT (81 inches (206 cm) or greater), but may retain, possess, or 
land only two large medium BFT (73 to less than 81 inches) per vessel 
per day (i.e., there is an incidental limit of two large medium BFT 
while targeting giant BFT).
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Daily Retention Limit. NMFS has received comments requesting to 
eliminate the incidental retention limit on large medium BFT, so that 
Harpoon category permitted vessels may keep an unlimited number of 
large medium and giant BFT. This regulation could potentially be 
changed through a regulatory amendment.
    The potential advantages of eliminating the large medium incidental 
daily retention limit for the Harpoon category include: (1) positive 
socio-economic impacts for Harpoon category vessels due to the ability 
to retain and sell more commercial-sized BFT per day/trip; (2) related 
positive impacts for dealers; (3) decreased discard mortality of large 
medium BFT that previously would have been in excess of the

[[Page 26177]]

incidental daily retention limit; and, (4) increased use of the U.S. 
BFT quota through increased Harpoon category landings.
    The potential disadvantages of eliminating the large medium 
incidental daily retention limit for the Harpoon category include 
increased potential discard mortality of BFT under 73 inches due to 
increased fishing effort on smaller commercial-sized BFT and the low 
likelihood of survival after a harpoon strike.
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments on the potential adjustment of the daily 
retention limit for BFT Harpoon category permitted vessels. The public 
may submit comments related to any aspect of this topic. NMFS is also 
specifically seeking comments addressing the following questions.
    Daily Retention Limit. Would the Harpoon category still be needed 
if the General category maximum daily retention limit is eliminated 
(i.e., would Harpoon category participants choose to obtain a General 
category permit instead of a Harpoon category permit if retention of 
BFT measuring 73 inches or greater is unlimited)? What other potential 
advantages and/or disadvantages could result from eliminating the 
incidental restriction on large medium BFT for the Harpoon category? 
Should NMFS consider this or other potential actions for the Harpoon 
category?

C. General and Harpoon Category--Commercial Minimum Size

    Current HMS regulations specify that both General category and 
Harpoon category vessels may retain, possess, or land only large medium 
and giant BFT (73 inches or greater), under the retention limits 
described above. The current regulations do not specify a general 
``commercial minimum size'' in inches but instead manage allowable 
commercial retention by specifying allowed size classes for retention 
by the various commercial permit categories. These allowed size classes 
are based on the best available information regarding the size 
associated with the age at first maturity for western Atlantic BFT (73 
inches or greater), and on the type of authorized gear. For example, 
harpoon gear is more selective than rod and reel and can be used to 
target larger BFT. BFT stock assessments, conducted by ICCAT's SCRS, 
assume 8 years as the age at 50 percent maturity (i.e., age at which 50 
percent of all individuals are sexually mature).
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Commercial Minimum Fish Size. NMFS has received comments requesting 
a decrease in the ``commercial minimum size'' for BFT. Most of the 
comments have suggested a 65-inch (165-cm) minimum size, although 
others have suggested a size between 65 and 73 inches (e.g., 66 inches 
(168 cm) or 68 inches (173 cm)). Commenters have also suggested that 
only one BFT smaller than 73-inches should be allowed per day, in 
addition to some amount of BFT greater than 73 inches (for example, one 
fish 65 to less than 73 inches plus unlimited (or maximum allowed under 
inseason daily retention limit) BFT greater than 73 inches per day). In 
combination with a requested decrease in commercial minimum fish size, 
some commenters suggested that NMFS should also reallocate quota within 
the applicable category in a ``conservation neutral'' way so as not to 
impact stock rebuilding. This would involve the conversion of a portion 
of the existing General and Harpoon category subquotas to an amount of 
quota that would be specifically for the retention of BFT that measure 
between the new ``minimum size'' and less than 73 inches. According to 
the current regulations, these BFT would fall within the current small 
medium BFT size class (i.e., 59 inches (149 cm) to less than 73 
inches).
    NMFS believes that reducing the BFT size that commercial vessels 
may retain would likely change future patterns of fishing mortality 
(e.g., fish caught at each age). This could potentially impact the 
projected stock recovery trajectory due to changes in assumptions used 
in stock status projections (i.e., regarding the reproductive potential 
of the stock). Increased landings of smaller BFT could reduce projected 
spawning stock biomass and slow the rate of stock rebuilding.
    A reduction in the ``commercial minimum size'' would result in both 
recreational and commercial handgear vessels pursuing the same size 
class of fish (small medium BFT). As described below, NMFS has noted 
some recent changes in the pattern of BFT catches and landings that 
merit further consideration when making management decisions regarding 
this issue. Prior to 2007, recreational BFT fishing activity largely 
revolved around fishing opportunities for school BFT (27 to less than 
47 inches (69 to less than 119 cm)) and resulted in substantial school 
BFT landings. Large Pelagic Survey size frequency data reveal a trend 
in the last several years toward larger recreational-size fish, 
particularly within the large school (47 to less than 59 inches) and 
small medium size classes (59 to less than 73 inches). Availability and 
landings of the recreational size classes have been high, and the 2007 
and 2008 Angling category quotas were estimated to have been exceeded. 
In reviewing the available data, NMFS notes that the availability of 
recreational size fish is now limited to a narrow size range (or 
cohort), approximately age 4 in 2007 and age 5 in 2008. Thus, last 
year, the majority of recreationally caught BFT last year were in the 
large school size range. However, in 2009, NMFS anticipates that these 
BFT will be approximately age 6 and will enter the small medium size 
class. NMFS manages the recreational BFT quota by size class, so as 
this cohort of fish grows in weight but remains under 73 inches, NMFS 
expects the large school/small medium subquota to be attained with 
fewer, but larger, fish landed. Potentially allowing increased 
commercial effort by General and Harpoon fishermen to harvest small 
medium BFT would put additional pressure on these age 6 fish. For these 
reasons, NMFS believes that modification of the size of BFT allowed for 
commercial retention likely would need to be made via an FMP amendment 
that would include a thorough environmental impact assessment.
    The potential advantages of reducing the ``commercial minimum 
size'' for retention by General and Harpoon category vessels (and HMS 
Charter/Headboat category vessels when fishing commercially) include: 
(1) increased use of the U.S. BFT quota through increased General and 
Harpoon (quota) category landings; (2) positive socio-economic impacts 
for General category, Harpoon category, and HMS Charter/Headboat 
category vessels due to the ability to retain and sell more commercial-
sized BFT per day/trip; (3) related positive impacts for dealers; and , 
(4) decreased discard mortality of small medium BFT above a new 
``commercial minimum size'' (that previously would have been caught 
incidentally to directed fishing for BFT 73 inches or greater).
    The potential disadvantages of reducing the ``commercial minimum 
size'' for retention by General and Harpoon category vessels (and HMS 
Charter/Headboat category vessels when fishing commercially) include: 
(1) negative socio-economic impacts for recreational BFT fishermen due 
to increased competition and gear conflicts with the commercial 
handgear categories; (2) negative biological and

[[Page 26178]]

ecological impacts on BFT due to increased fishing effort and landings 
of small medium BFT (with potential impacts on the spawning stock and 
stock rebuilding); (3) increased discard mortality of BFT under the new 
``commercial minimum size'' due to increased effort on smaller 
commercial-sized BFT and the low likelihood of survival after a harpoon 
strike if harpoon gear is used; and, (4) implications for data 
collection regarding BFT caught and landed by both commercial and 
recreational vessels (e.g., BFT measuring 65 to 73 inches, landings of 
which previously would have been recreational only).
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments related to any aspect of this topic, and is 
specifically seeking comments that address the following questions.
    Commercial Minimum Fish Size. Would user conflicts result from the 
recreational and commercial handgear fisheries pursuing the same size 
BFT? For the sustainability of the fishery, what should NMFS do to 
protect certain BFT year classes? Should NMFS implement slot limits 
(i.e., establish both a minimum and a maximum size limit)? Should NMFS 
make a change to the commercial minimum size, but revert to the 73 inch 
minimum size when a certain percentage of the General and Harpoon 
category is reached (e.g., 75 percent) by in-season action? How should 
NMFS manage the Angling, General, and Harpoon categories as the 
availability and distribution of size classes changes and particularly 
as the current cohort reaches maturity? How would a potential change in 
commercial minimum size alter market demand for imported BFT?

D. Charter/Headboat Category

    Under current regulations, persons aboard a vessel issued an HMS 
Charter/Headboat category permit may retain and land BFT under the 
daily limits and quotas applicable to the Angling category or the 
General category, except when fishing in the Gulf of Mexico (in which 
case only the annual limit of one (recreational ``trophy'') large 
medium or giant BFT may be retained, possessed, and landed). 
Specifically regarding retention limits, the size category of the first 
BFT retained determines the fishing category applicable to the vessel 
that day. For instance, if the first BFT retained is a large school 
BFT, the vessel may fish only under the Angling category daily 
retention limit that day and may not retain a commercial-sized BFT on 
that same day. Gear currently authorized for use on Charter/Headboat 
category vessels includes rod and reel, bandit gear, handline, and 
green-stick gear, as well speargun when recreationally fishing for non-
bluefin Atlantic tunas. The current FMP quota allocations are as 
follows: 19.7 percent for the Angling category; 47.1 percent for the 
General category; 3.9 percent for the Harpoon category; 18.6 percent 
for the Purse Seine category; 8.1 percent for the Longline category; 
0.1 percent for the Trap category; and 2.5 percent for the Reserve.
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Counting of Landings and Quota Allocations. NMFS received two 
suggestions regarding landings and quota allocation in the HMS Charter/
Headboat category. These include: (1) allow persons aboard HMS Charter/
Headboat category vessels to fill both the commercial and recreational 
daily retention limit on the same day (i.e., fish commercially and 
recreationally on the same day); and, (2) reallocate BFT subquotas to 
create a separate BFT Charter/Headboat category quota.
    The suggested change to the daily retention limit could be 
implemented via a regulatory amendment, but changes to FMP quota 
allocations of BFT would require an FMP amendment.
    The potential advantages of allowing commercial and recreational 
BFT fishing on the same day include: (1) increased use of the U.S. BFT 
quota through increased landings, particularly of commercial BFT 
counted against the underharvested General category quota; (2) positive 
socio-economic impacts for HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels due to 
the ability to retain and sell commercial-sized BFT on the same day as 
making a trip with paying passengers for recreational-sized BFT; (3) 
related positive impacts for dealers; and, (4) decreased discard 
mortality of BFT if fish were retained that previously would have 
exceeded the daily retention limit.
    The potential disadvantages of allowing commercial and recreational 
BFT fishing on the same day include: (1) the removal of clear 
distinction between commercially and recreationally caught BFT; (2) 
increased difficulty of monitoring recreational BFT catch and landings 
through the Large Pelagics Survey; (3) increased difficulty enforcing 
the daily retention limits and reporting requirements; and (4) 
increased discard mortality of undersized BFT (in excess of 
recreational daily retention limit) due to potential increased effort 
on commercial-sized fish, particularly if implemented in conjunction 
with raising or eliminating the commercial retention limit.
    The potential advantages of creating a separate Charter/Headboat 
quota would include positive socio-economic impacts for HMS Charter/
Headboat vessels associated with a dedicated quota for that permit 
category. Conversely, potential disadvantages would include negative 
socio-economic impacts for vessels in other existing quota categories, 
due to reallocation.
    Authorized Gears. NMFS received a suggestion to allow the use of 
harpoon gear on HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels. This potential 
change to the allowable gear regulations could be implemented using a 
regulatory amendment.
    NMFS proposed to authorize harpoon gear for the harvest of Atlantic 
tunas, including BFT, in the HMS Charter/Headboat category on May 6, 
2008 (73 FR 24922), but did not finalize the change in the final rule 
(73 FR 54721, September 23, 2008). At that time, NMFS decided to 
maintain the status quo regarding authorized harpoon use, (i.e., by the 
General and Harpoon categories only), after noting a relative lack of 
support for this issue, and because of concerns about bycatch, 
enforcement, safety at sea, and BFT stock status.
    The potential advantages of authorizing harpoon gear use on 
Charter/Headboat category vessels would include increased opportunities 
to retain and land commercial sized BFT, thus making increased use of 
the U.S. BFT quota through increased General category landings.
    The potential disadvantages of authorizing harpoon gear include: 
(1) increased discard mortality from inadvertent harpoon strikes on 
undersized BFT; and, (2) difficulty with enforcement if harpoons are 
authorized on non-for-hire trips only.
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments related to any aspect of this topic, and is 
specifically seeking comments that address the following questions.
    Counting of Landings and Quota Allocations. Should HMS Charter/
Headboat category vessels be allowed to fish commercially and 
recreationally on the same day? How should NMFS monitor HMS Charter/
Headboat effort, landings, and bycatch? Should these vessels be 
required to maintain and submit logbooks?
    Authorized Gears. Should harpoon gear be authorized for use on HMS 
Charter/Headboat category vessels? If so, should harpoon gear be 
authorized on

[[Page 26179]]

both for-hire and non-for-hire trips or only on non-for-hire trips?

E. All Categories--Landing Form

    Under current HMS regulations, persons that own or operate a 
fishing vessel that possesses or lands an Atlantic tuna (bigeye, 
albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas) must maintain such tuna 
through offloading either in round form or eviscerated with the head 
and fins removed, provided one pectoral fin and the tail remain 
attached. For a whole or round tuna (head on), the sole criterion for 
determining the size and/or size class of a whole or round (head on) 
Atlantic tunas is a curved fork length measurement (CFL). The CFL 
measurement is determined by the length of a fish measured from the tip 
of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail along the contour of the body 
in a line that runs along the top of the pectoral fin and the top of 
the caudal keel. When the head of an Atlantic tuna is removed, a 
pectoral fin curved fork length (PFCFL) is the legal means of measuring 
the fish. The PFCFL is determined by the length of a fish with the head 
removed from the dorsal insertion of the pectoral fin to the fork of 
the tail measured along the contour of the body in a line that runs 
along the top of the pectoral fin and the top of the caudal keel. Both 
of these measurements require the tail to be naturally attached to 
attain a proper measurement.
    The PFCFL is converted to CFL using a conversion factor of 1.35. 
The resulting CFL is the sole criterion for determining the size class 
of a BFT with the head removed. Applying the conversion factor from 
PFCFL to CFL for a BFT with the head removed currently means that no 
person shall retain or possess a BFT, with the head removed, measuring 
less than 20 inches (51 cm) PFCFL. For yellowfin and bigeye tuna, both 
of which have a minimum size of 27 inches CFL, the regulations state 
that no person shall remove the head of the fish if the remaining 
portion would be less than 27 inches from the fork of the tail to the 
forward edge of the cut.
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Atlantic Tunas Landing Form. NMFS has been requested to allow the 
tail of Atlantic tunas to be removed at sea, provided that the 
remaining carcass length exceeds the minimum CFL measurement that is 
applicable to the species and permit category of the vessel. Although 
this request stems primarily from a desire to make storage of Atlantic 
tunas more efficient on PLL vessels, the issue is applicable to all 
vessels fishing for and retaining Atlantic tunas. The regulations 
regarding Atlantic tunas landing form could be changed via a regulatory 
amendment.
    The potential advantages of allowing the removal of Atlantic tuna 
tails include: (1) allowing for more efficient storage of harvested 
Atlantic tunas; (2) increased options for preserving the quality of 
harvested Atlantic tunas; and, (3) harmonization of Atlantic tunas 
minimum size limits, carcass condition regulations, and preferred 
fishery practices.
    The potential disadvantages of allowing the removal of Atlantic 
tuna tails include: (1) may indirectly change the allowable minimum 
size of an Atlantic tuna; (2) may complicate analyses and require the 
generation of a conversion factor for comparison to historical fish 
length data; (3) may necessitate changes to reporting forms and 
reporting requirements; and (4) would likely necessitate changes to 
current terms and definitions in the regulations.
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments related to any aspect of this topic, and is 
specifically seeking comments that address the following questions.
    Atlantic Tunas Landing Form. Should this potential change in 
landing form be considered for all regulated Atlantic tuna species? 
Should this potential change be considered for all permit categories? 
Should NMFS standardize where the tail is cut for analytical purposes? 
How would this potential change affect current fishing practices? Are 
there other means of allowing more efficient storage of Atlantic tunas 
without removing the tail?

III. North Atlantic SWO, Atlantic Shark, and Atlantic BFT Fishery 
Issues

    As noted in the ``DATES'' section, the comment period on issues in 
this section is open through August 31, 2009.
    This section of the ANPR addresses issues which may overlap several 
HMS fishery sectors.

A. Modification of PLL BFT Incidental Catch Requirements

    Under current HMS regulations, persons aboard a vessel permitted in 
the Atlantic Tunas Longline category may retain, possess, land, and 
sell large medium and giant BFT taken incidentally when fishing for 
other species, as follows: One large medium or giant BFT per vessel per 
trip may be landed, provided that at least 2,000 lb (907 kg) of species 
other than BFT are legally caught, retained, and offloaded from the 
same trip and are recorded on the dealer weighout slip as sold; two 
large medium or giant BFT may be landed incidentally to at least 6,000 
lb (2,727 kg) of species other than BFT; and three large medium or 
giant BFT may be landed incidentally to at least 30,000 lb (13,620 kg) 
of species other than BFT.
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Commenters have suggested that NMFS should increase the incidental 
BFT retention limits for the PLL fishery in order to reduce regulatory 
discards of commercial-sized BFT and thus, increase profitability of 
PLL trips, which may result in increased SWO fishing effort and 
potentially increase landings of SWO.. Specifically, NMFS has received 
the suggestion to allow two large medium or giant BFT for 3,000 lb 
(1,361 kg) of target catch; 3 BFT for 6,000 lb (2,722 kg); 4 BFT for 
9,000 lb (4,082 kg); and 5 BFT for 12,000 lb (5,443 kg).
    Modifications to BFT incidental catch limits would need to be 
thoroughly analyzed and could potentially be made via a regulatory 
amendment assuming Longline landings remain consistent with the 
baseline allocation. If modifications were to result in Longline 
landings inconsistent with the baseline allocation, an FMP amendment 
may be required.
    The potential advantages of increasing the PLL incidental retention 
limit include: (1) decreased regulatory discards of BFT caught 
incidentally while targeting other species; and, (2) increased 
profitability of PLL trips, which may result in increased SWO fishing 
effort, contributing to the revitalization of the SWO fishery and the 
increased utilization of the U.S. SWO quota.
    Potential disadvantages associated with increasing the PLL 
incidental retention limit include: 1) Pursuant to the 2006 ICCAT BFT 
Recommendation, the United States must count BFT dead discards along 
with landings against the U.S. BFT quota. As a result, the Longline 
category BFT quota has been fully utilized. It is possible that 
increasing the incidental retention limits could result in increased 
PLL effort, which may necessitate NMFS closing the PLL fishery prior to 
the end of the fishing year. Such a closure would be disruptive to PLL 
fishing activities for target species and have negative economic 
impacts. 2) Second, there is a possibility of increased bycatch of 
undersized BFT and non-target species, including protected species, due 
to increased PLL fishing

[[Page 26180]]

effort, particularly on trips targeting other HMS which have high 
bycatch rates. 3) Changes in fishing behavior (fishing location and 
effort) could occur, including the potential targeting of BFT which is 
in contravention to the Longline category's incidental nature and of 
ICCAT prohibitions on directed fishing for BFT on their spawning 
grounds.
2. Request for Comments
    NMFS requests comments related to any aspect of this topic, and is 
specifically seeking comments that address the following questions. 
What factors should NMFS consider in any potential PLL incidental 
retention limit analyses to prevent potential targeting of BFT? Should 
NMFS consider adjustments in the PLL incidental retention limits in the 
Atlantic Ocean only and not include the Gulf of Mexico because it is 
the spawning ground or should NMFS consider adjustments in all areas 
where BFT are bycatch in the PLL fishery? Should NMFS consider 
revisions to the Longline category's incidental nature and/or baseline 
allocation?

B. Establishment of a HMS General Commercial Handgear Permit

    NMFS, with input from the HMS AP, evaluated the HMS permit 
structure over the past couple of years to determine if changes could 
be made that would add flexibility for fishermen and fishery managers, 
address existing HMS management needs, and simplify the permit 
structure for the public and for NMFS. Current HMS limited access 
permits include: SWO Directed, Incidental, and Handgear permits; Shark 
Directed and Incidental permits; and, the Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit. In general, the current HMS permit structure is 
complicated and sometimes burdensome on the public, especially with 
regard to obtaining and transferring limited access permits. For 
example, in order to retain tunas and SWO caught with PLL gear, a 
vessel must be issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit, a 
shark limited access permit, and a SWO limited access permit (except 
Handgear).
    Limited access permits were implemented in 1999 to rationalize 
harvesting capacity with available quotas, and to reduce latent effort 
in SWO and shark fisheries. A consequence of having limited access and 
not issuing new permits is that some of these permits are now valued at 
tens of thousands of dollars. Limitations on vessel size and horsepower 
upgrades have further affected their value and use.
    The primary commercial gear currently used to catch SWO and tunas 
is PLL. Bottom longline (BLL) gear is primarily used to catch sharks. 
These gears generally catch larger numbers of target and non-target 
species than does handgear. The potential to issue new or lapsed/
expired limited access permits to use PLL gear to harvest SWO has been 
restricted by bycatch concerns (including protected resources), gear 
conflict issues, and the poor condition of several Atlantic shark 
stocks, several of which are also caught on PLL gear. Given these 
restrictions on increasing effort of fishermen using longline gears, a 
potential option is the expansion of the Atlantic Tunas General 
category permit to allow for the retention of SWO and possibly the 
retention of sharks.
    Currently, the Atlantic Tunas General category permit is an open 
access permit which authorizes the commercial harvest of Atlantic tunas 
with handgear. Potentially expanding the permit to allow for the 
retention of SWO and sharks would add flexibility for fishery managers 
and fishermen by allowing for the harvest of these species according to 
size and retention limits that are commensurate with the health of fish 
stocks. Potentially allowing for the commercial harvest of north 
Atlantic SWO with handgear by Atlantic Tunas General category permit 
holders could benefit fishermen, and address HMS management needs by 
providing additional opportunities to harvest SWO and achieve the 
domestic north Atlantic SWO quota by using a gear with generally low 
bycatch. The following sections describe some of the options and issues 
associated with potentially expanding the species allowed to be 
retained by Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders to include 
Atlantic SWO and sharks, thus converting the permit to an Atlantic HMS 
General commercial handgear permit, and establish size and retention 
limits for those species under the permit commensurate with the health 
of fish stocks.
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Expand the Species Allowed to be Retained by Atlantic Tunas General 
Category Permit Holders and Convert the Permit to an Atlantic HMS 
General Commercial Handgear Permit. This potential modification would 
expand the species allowed to be retained by Atlantic Tunas General 
category permit holders to include Atlantic SWO and sharks, thus 
converting the permit to an Atlantic HMS General commercial handgear 
permit, and establish size and retention limits for those species under 
the permit commensurate with the health of fish stocks. As of May 2008, 
there were 4,031 Atlantic Tunas General category permit holders. Since 
these permits were purchased to commercially harvest Atlantic tunas, it 
is unknown how many would be used to commercially harvest SWO or 
sharks; however, NMFS does not anticipate that all Atlantic Tunas 
General category permits would be used in this manner. The options 
described below discuss various other aspects that would need to be 
considered in potentially expanding the species allowed and changing 
the permit name.
    Open Access or Limited Access. The existing Atlantic Tunas General 
category permit is an open access permit. A potentially expanded 
Atlantic HMS General Commercial Handgear permit could either remain 
under the existing open access regulations (as per the Atlantic Tunas 
General category permit) or become a limited access permit. North 
Atlantic SWO are almost fully rebuilt, overfishing is not occurring, 
and the U.S. SWO quota is underharvested; therefore, an open access HMS 
General Commercial Handgear permit may be a possibility. The limited 
access permit system for SWO was established in 1999 (when SWO were 
overfished with overfishing occurring) and, if proposed and adopted, an 
HMS General Commercial Handgear permit--potentially with low retention 
limits (see below)--would be the first time open access is allowed 
commercially in the domestic SWO fishery since the stock has improved. 
Implementing either an open access or a limited access HMS General 
Commercial Handgear permit would have important implications on permit 
availability, fishing effort, commercial landings, ex-vessel prices, 
and the value of existing permits, among others.
    The implications of a potential open access HMS General Commercial 
Handgear permit for sharks is not the same as for SWO. Several shark 
populations are overfished with overfishing occurring, thus if shark 
harvest with the HMS General Commercial Handgear permit were allowed, 
retention limits and other harvest restrictions may be necessary to 
facilitate continued rebuilding of overfished shark populations.
    Authorized Species. Many shark species are overfished, subject to 
overfishing, or have an unknown stock status. Recent and proposed 
actions by NMFS have addressed or may address overfishing in shark 
fisheries. Sharks are caught incidentally by hook and line

[[Page 26181]]

gear used by Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels, but 
sharks are currently not authorized to be retained by these permit 
holders unless they also hold a directed or incidental shark limited 
access permit. The authorization of shark harvest under this potential 
modification could allow for retention of some sharks to account for 
incidental catch; however, allowing shark harvest could also result in 
targeting of sharks.
    Retention Limits. If the harvest of sharks were authorized, a 
possible option to prevent targeted fishing would be to establish a 
retention limit equivalent to or less than recreational retention 
limits. Depending on the status of specific shark species and the 
ability of permit holders to correctly identify species and release 
species with minimal injury, retention limits could be modified over 
time to allow retention of incidental catches of sharks commensurate 
with stock status. This option may provide desired flexibility for 
fishery managers while continuing to allow rebuilding of shark stocks 
and increasing the knowledge of shark incidental catches in this 
fishery. If the harvest of SWO were authorized for a potential HMS 
General Commercial Handgear permit, it could potentially impact current 
limited access permit holders by increasing the volume of SWO on the 
market and decreasing the demand (and therefore price) of the current 
permits. This potential modification to the Atlantic Tunas General 
Category permit could also impact recreational anglers by increasing 
the overall amount of commercial fishing effort in some areas. However, 
a relatively low SWO retention limit could mitigate these impacts by 
tempering the amount of swordfish that enters the market and the 
commercial benefit of the permit. Also a relatively low SWO retention 
limit could mitigate concerns about impacts to the values of SWO 
limited access permits.
    Tournament Participation. Currently, Atlantic Tunas General 
category permit holders may participate in Atlantic HMS registered 
tournaments and, when fishing in an HMS tournament, may land Atlantic 
billfish. Under a potential Atlantic HMS General Commercial Handgear 
permit, participation in HMS tournaments and landing of billfish in 
those tournaments could be modified. The provision that allows Atlantic 
Tunas General category permit holders to participate in a registered 
HMS tournament and land billfish could be maintained or that provision 
could be eliminated. If it were eliminated, existing Atlantic Tunas 
General category permit holders would potentially lose the ability to 
participate in registered HMS tournaments. It is possible that some 
current HMS Angling category permit holders may want to change permit 
types and purchase the expanded HMS General Commercial Handgear permit. 
If permit holders of the expanded HMS General Commercial Handgear 
permit could not participate in tournaments, historical HMS Angling 
category permit holders that obtain the expanded HMS General Commercial 
Handgear permit could potentially lose the ability to participate in 
tournaments and land billfish if this provision were eliminated.
    Bycatch and Bycatch Mortality. FMPs and regulations promulgated 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act must be consistent with National 
Standard 9 which states that conservation and management measures 
shall, to the extent practicable, minimize bycatch and to the extent 
bycatch cannot be avoided, minimize the mortality of such bycatch. NMFS 
has implemented numerous management measures to reduce the bycatch of 
undersized SWO, non-target species, and protected species in the PLL 
fishery, and prohibited some sharks, non-target species, and protected 
species in the BLL fishery. For instance, in accordance with National 
Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, time/area closures were 
implemented in the PLL fishery in 1999, 2001, and 2002. Management 
measures to reduce interactions of HMS fishing gears with protected 
resources are prescribed by the Biological Opinions (BiOps) for HMS 
fisheries, PLL fishery, and shark fisheries in 2001, 2004, and 2008 
respectively, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. The 
2001 BiOp on HMS fisheries concluded that continued operation of 
handgear fisheries in the Atlantic may adversely affect, but are not 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of protected species. 
Under the authority of the MMPA, the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction 
Team (PLTRT) was formed and the final rule implementing the Pelagic 
Longline Take Reduction Plan (PLTRP) published on May 19, 2009 (74 FR 
23349). Any potential expansion of fishing effort in HMS fisheries, 
including handgear fisheries, must consider the continuing need to 
minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality.
    HMS Reporting Requirements. Commercially landed HMS may only be 
sold to HMS permitted dealers, and HMS permitted dealers are required 
to report their purchases to NMFS. Reporting mechanisms are also in 
place via state trip ticket programs in the South Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico, dealer reporting to the NMFS Northeast Regional Office, and 
through cooperation with the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands. NMFS has the authority to require logbook reporting of 
Atlantic tunas, shark, or SWO permitted vessels and the authority to 
require Atlantic HMS, tunas, shark, or SWO permitted vessels to carry 
observers; however, these mechanisms are currently not exercised in all 
categories. This is due, in part, to the difficulty in handling large 
numbers of logbook reports and the cost of observer programs. NMFS is 
interested in improving data collection capabilities in the HMS General 
category fishery, especially if additional species are authorized under 
an Atlantic HMS General Commercial Handgear Permit.
2. Request for Comments Regarding a HMS General Commercial Handgear 
Permit
    NMFS requests comments on the potential adjustment of regulations 
governing Atlantic HMS fishing permits that would amend the species 
allowed to be retained by the Atlantic Tunas General category permit to 
include SWO and sharks, and establish size and retention limits for the 
permit. The preceding section provided information on some options and 
issues regarding the potential expansion of the HMS General Commercial 
Handgear permit. The public is encouraged to submit comments related to 
any aspect of this topic. NMFS is also specifically seeking comments to 
the following questions.
    What are the benefits of an open versus limited access HMS General 
Commercial Handgear permit? If SWO are authorized to be harvested with 
a HMS General Commercial Handgear permit, what retention limit should 
apply? If sharks are authorized to be harvested with a HMS General 
Commercial Handgear permit, what retention limit should apply? Under a 
potential Atlantic HMS General Commercial Handgear permit, should 
participation in HMS tournaments and landing of billfish in those 
tournaments be allowed? How can impacts to the value of existing SWO or 
shark limited access permits be minimized? Would low retention limits 
for SWO and shark aid in minimizing potential impacts to limited access 
permit values? Are there additional bycatch concerns regarding 
commercial handgear fishing for HMS? What methods might be utilized to 
collect data in commercial HMS handgear fisheries? If fish are caught 
by a HMS General Commercial Handgear

[[Page 26182]]

permitted vessel, but not sold, what mechanism might be most 
appropriate for reporting the landing?

C. Squid Trawl Vessel Exemption from Multi-Permit Requirement to Retain 
SWO

    Current HMS regulations specify that three limited access permits 
(SWO Directed or Incidental, Shark Directed or Incidental, and Atlantic 
Tunas Longline) are required to commercially harvest and sell SWO, 
unless the vessel has been issued a limited access SWO Handgear permit. 
This regulation was originally intended to address PLL vessels, which 
are likely to have a bycatch of any of these species when targeting SWO 
or tunas. However, the regulation applies to any vessel which 
commercially captures and sells SWO. Therefore, squid trawl vessels 
must be issued all three permits, including an Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit, to sell their incidentally caught SWO. NMFS has 
received comments requesting reconsideration of the three permit 
requirement for squid trawl vessels. Commenters have indicated that 
this requirement is burdensome, confusing, and unnecessary since squid 
trawl vessels do not fish with PLL gear.
1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Eligibility. To consider an exemption from the three permit 
requirement for squid trawl vessels to retain SWO, NMFS would need to 
determine which vessels are eligible for the exemption. This could 
potentially be accomplished by exempting any vessel which is issued an 
Illex squid and/or Loligo squid moratorium permit, by exempting only 
squid trawl vessels which are currently issued the three required HMS 
permits, or by creating a new HMS incidental catch permit for some or 
all squid trawl moratorium vessels. Expanding the exemption to include 
all squid trawl moratorium vessels and/or creating new incidental catch 
permit for some or all squid trawl vessel would likely require more 
extensive analysis and, possibly, an FMP amendment.
    Authorized Gear. SWO is oftentimes an unavoidable bycatch species 
in the midwater trawl (squid trawl) fishery and NMFS has established 
retention limits for the incidental catch of SWO by squid trawl 
vessels. The existing regulations at 50 CFR 635.24(b)(2) state that a 
vessel is considered to be in the squid trawl fishery when it has no 
commercial fishing gear other than trawls on board and when squid 
constitutes not less than 75 percent by weight of the total fish on 
board or offloaded from the vessel. Gears with which HMS are allowed to 
be harvested have been authorized in the regulations for that purpose. 
Midwater trawl is currently not an authorized gear for any HMS, however 
it may be advantageous to authorize midwater trawl in order to maintain 
consistency in the regulations. Authorizing midwater trawl gear for SWO 
may create the perception that targeting SWO with midwater trawl gear 
is allowable. NMFS is requesting information from the public regarding 
whether midwater trawl gear should be authorized in SWO and other HMS 
fisheries.
    Species Retention. NMFS has established retention limits for the 
incidental catch of SWO by squid trawl vessels. However, some squid 
trawl vessels have also reported landing tunas or other HMS. NMFS is 
requesting information from the public regarding the degree to which 
tunas or other HMS are an unavoidable bycatch in the squid trawl 
fishery.
2. Request for Comments Regarding a Squid Trawl Exemption from Multi-
Permit Requirement to Retain SWO
    NMFS requests comments on a potential exemption for squid trawl 
vessels from the multi-permit requirement to retain SWO. The preceding 
section provided information on options and issues. The public is 
encouraged to submit comments related to any aspect of this topic. NMFS 
is also specifically seeking comments to the following questions.
    Should a potential exemption apply only to squid trawl vessels 
currently issued the three required HMS permits to retain SWO? Should a 
potential exemption apply to all squid trawl vessels currently issued 
Illex and/or Loligo moratorium permits? Should midwater trawl gear be 
authorized for SWO or other HMS fisheries? Should a potential exemption 
apply to other HMS species, or only to SWO? How should a potential 
exemption be implemented (no permit(s) required, a trawl permit only, 
retention limits)?

IV. Catch Share Programs

    As noted in the ``DATES'' section, the comment period on issues in 
this section is open through August 31, 2009.
    Catch share programs generally refer to a variety of fishery 
management regimes which may allocate fishing privileges to permit 
holders, groups of permit holders, fishing communities, or other 
entities. In this ANPR, NMFS is considering the feasibility and 
applicability of two types of catch share programs in HMS fisheries, 
namely Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) and Individual Bycatch 
Caps (IBCs), both of which are briefly described below.

A. LAPPs

1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Applicability. LAPPs are authorized by Magnuson-Stevens Act and are 
a type of catch share program. In a LAPP, privileges to harvest part of 
a total allowable catch (TAC) or quota are distributed to fishery 
participants through permits. By ensuring each LAPP participant an 
opportunity to harvest a specific amount of TAC or quota, LAPPs have 
the potential to: eliminate the incentive to over-invest in fishing 
capacity; provide increased operational flexibility; increase harvest 
timing flexibility; increase fishing efficiency; and increase the 
overall profitability of fishing fleets. Even in a fishery that is not 
achieving its quota, such as BFT and SWO, LAPPs provide an opportunity 
for fishery participants to ``lock-in'' a share of the quota which may 
prove valuable if the fishery becomes quota-limited in the future. 
LAPPs represent a significant change from the way that most HMS 
fisheries are managed because fishing quotas would be assigned to 
individual participants or groups of participants. The biological, 
social, or economic impacts associated with such a change in the 
management of quotas and quota shares could vary greatly, depending on 
the specifics of the LAPP provisions implemented. All such impacts 
would be analyzed in a separate rulemaking with appropriate supporting 
documentation should such programs be further considered.
2. Request for Comments Regarding LAPPs
    The preceding section provided information on the options and 
issues regarding LAPPs in HMS fisheries. The public is encouraged to 
submit comments related to any aspect of this topic. NMFS is also 
specifically seeking comments to the following questions.
    For HMS fisheries, what aspects of LAPPs have the most potential to 
increase operational flexibility, harvest timing flexibility, and 
fishing efficiency? Would LAPPs in HMS fisheries result in increased 
profitability for fishermen? What social or biological, social, or 
economic impacts might be associated with implementation of LAPPs in 
HMS fisheries? What criteria should NMFS consider when evaluating LAPPs 
for HMS fisheries?

[[Page 26183]]

B. IBCs

1. Potential Management Options and Issues
    Applicability. IBCs refer to a part of a total allowable amount of 
interaction with bycatch species (which may include both non-target and 
protected species) that may be encountered during fishing activity. The 
total allowable amount of interaction with bycatch species may be 
established through mechanisms such as stock assessments that establish 
a TAC for overfished species, incidental take statements issued under 
the ESA, or other mechanisms. Examples of bycatch species may be an 
overfished species for which overfishing is occurring or a listed 
species. By distributing the allowable amount of interaction with 
bycatch species to vessels, either individually or grouped, or on a 
regional basis, the ability to individually or regionally manage 
interactions may be achieved. The advantages of this management 
approach may include: increased individual responsibility for 
interactions in a fishery; increased ability for individuals that avoid 
interactions to continue to fish; and more regionally applicable 
consequences of interactions if bycatch caps are applied on a regional 
basis. IBCs represent a significant change from the way that bycatch 
issues in most HMS fisheries are managed because allowable limits of 
bycatch would be assigned to individual participants, groups of 
participants, or regions. The biological, social or economic impacts 
associated with such a change in the management of bycatch in HMS 
fisheries could vary greatly, depending on the specifics of the 
provisions implemented. All such impacts would be analyzed in a 
separate rulemaking with appropriate supporting documentation should 
such provisions be further considered.
2. Request for Comments Regarding IBCs
    The preceding section provided information on the options and 
issues regarding IBCs in HMS fisheries. The public is encouraged to 
submit comments related to any aspect of this topic. NMFS is also 
specifically seeking comments to the following questions.
    How might an IBC system in HMS fisheries affect the status of 
bycatch species? What aspects of an IBC system in HMS fisheries might 
be advantageous to fishery participants? What aspects of an IBC system 
would not be advantageous to fishery participants? What efficient and 
effective ways of monitoring IBCs are there? What social, biological, 
or economic impacts might be associated with implementation of IBCs in 
HMS fisheries? What should NMFS consider when evaluating IBCs for HMS 
fisheries?

V. Submission of Public Comments

    NMFS reminds the public that there are two deadlines for the 
submission of written comments. The comment period for items discussed 
in Section II of this ANPR closes on June 30, 2009. The comment period 
for items discussed in Sections III and IV of this ANPR closes on 
August 31, 2009. Please see the ADDRESSES section of this ANPR for 
additional information regarding the submission of written comments.
    All written comments received by the due dates will be considered 
in drafting proposed changes to the HMS regulations. In developing any 
proposed regulations, NMFS must consider and analyze ecological, 
social, and economic impacts. Therefore, NMFS encourages comments that 
would contribute to the required analyses, and respond to the questions 
presented in this ANPR.

Public Meetings

    NMFS will hold five public meetings to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding this 
ANPR. These meetings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Request for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Sarah McLaughlin at 978-281-9260 
or Randy Blankinship at 727-824-5399, at least 7 days prior to the 
meeting. For individuals unable to attend a meeting, NMFS also solicits 
written comments on the ANPR (see DATES and ADDRESSES).
    The meeting dates, times, and locations follow. All meetings will 
be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. All meetings will begin with an 
opportunity for individuals to view information on the issues raised in 
this ANPR and ask questions at 5:00 p.m. followed by a presentation and 
opportunity for public comment beginning at 6:00 p.m.
    1. June 23, 2009, Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 
08050
    2. June 25, 2009, Roanoke Island Festival Park, 1 Festival Park, 
Manteo, NC 27954
    3. June 29, Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water Street, 
Plymouth MA 02360
    4. July 21, Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse, LA 
70037
    5. July 28, Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort 
Lauderdale, FL 33301

Classification

    This action is not significant pursuant to Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 26, 2009.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12652 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S