[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 68 (Friday, April 9, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18356-18375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7235]



[[Page 18355]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part III





Department of Commerce





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



-----------------------------------------------------------------------



50 CFR Part 648



Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery; Framework Adjustment 44; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 68 / Friday, April 9, 2010 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 18356]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 0910051338-0151-02]
RIN 0648-AY29


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 44

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule implements measures approved under Framework 
Adjustment 44 (FW 44) to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP), including specifications for the FMP for fishing 
years (FY) 2010-2012. FW 44 is implemented in this rule in conjunction 
with approved Amendment 16 measures, as well as with approved sector 
operations plans authorized under the FMP. Specifically, FW 44 modifies 
the Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod and pollock trip limits implemented in 
Amendment 16; provides the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator) authority to implement inseason trip limits 
and/or differential day-at-sea (DAS) counting for any groundfish stock 
in order to prevent catch from exceeding the Annual Catch Limit (ACL); 
and specifies Overfishing Levels (OFLs), Acceptable Biological Catch 
levels (ABCs), and ACLs for all 20 groundfish stocks in the FMP for FY 
2010 through 2012, as well as the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 
transboundary Georges Bank (GB) stocks. Pursuant to current Regional 
Administrator authority under the FMP, this action also allocates zero 
trips to the Closed Area II (CA II) Yellowtail Flounder Special Access 
Program (SAP); limits the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP to the use of 
Category A DAS for common pool vessels; delays the opening of the 
Eastern U.S./Canada Area for trawl vessels; and implements a GB 
yellowtail flounder trip limit of 2,500 lb (1,125 kg). Finally, this 
rule makes technical corrections to Amendment 16 regulations.

DATES: Effective May 1, 2010, except for Sec. Sec.  648.82(n)(1)(ii) 
and 648.87(b)(1)(ii)(B), which are effective May 2, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Copies of FW 44, its Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and addendum are available from Paul J. 
Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council 
(Council), 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Copies of FW 
44 EA and addendum may be found at the following Internet address: 
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/frdoc/10/10MultiFW44EA.pdf.
    NMFS prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis (FRFA), 
which is contained in the Classification section of this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9347, fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule implements measures and 
specifications in FW 44; measures to manage the NE multispecies fishery 
in FY 2010 implemented under authority under the FMP; and technical 
corrections to the regulations implementing the FMP, implemented under 
Secretarial authority. A proposed rule for this action was published on 
February 1, 2010 (75 FR 5016), with public comments accepted through 
March 1, 2010. The Council developed FW 44 in order to specify catch 
levels for FY 2010-2012, as well as to address concerns that some 
assumptions inherent in Amendment 16 may be invalid, and therefore 
Amendment 16 measures may not in themselves, be restrictive enough to 
prevent ACLs from being exceeded (particularly for GOM cod and 
pollock). The details of the development of FW 44 were contained in the 
preamble of the proposed rule and are not repeated here. Some of the 
specified catch levels in this final rule are different from those in 
the proposed rule, as explain below in the sections explaining the 
catch specifications. In addition, these catch levels may be further 
modified through a subsequent rulemaking after the start of FY 2010, as 
explained under the description of measures and specifications in this 
preamble. The relationship of this action to other final regulations 
being implemented concurrently for the FMP is as follows: Amendment 16 
is a major modification to the FMP and implements a suite of management 
measures to continue the rebuilding of groundfish stocks; an expanded 
sector management program; and a process for biennial specification of 
OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs. The Secretary of Commerce partially approved 
Amendment 16 on January 21, 2010; a proposed rule for Amendment 16 was 
published on December 31, 2009 (74 FR 69382); and publication of a 
final rule for Amendment 16 is anticipated, with an effective date of 
May 1, 2010.
    As noted in Amendment 16, in order to implement regulations 
efficiently, this final rule implements certain regulations under the 
joint authority of Amendment 16 and FW 44 because, in some cases, 
Amendment 16 and FW 44 revise the same regulatory text. For clarity, 
portions of the regulatory text in this final rule reflect proposed 
regulatory text changes in the Amendment 16 proposed rule, as further 
modified by FW 44.
    FW 44 implements the following management measures and 
specifications:

Management Measures

1. Regional Administrator Authority

    This final rule authorizes the Regional Administrator to modify 
landing limits for any NE multispecies stock and/or DAS counting rates 
at any time during the FY to reduce the likelihood that ACLs of 
allocated NE multispecies stocks would be exceeded, or to facilitate 
the harvesting of ACLs. For example, if, based on available information 
regarding catch of a particular stock, NMFS projects that an ACL will 
be exceeded prior to the end of the FY, the Regional Administrator may 
implement a more restrictive landing limit for that stock that would be 
effective for the remainder of the FY, unless further modified. 
Alternatively, for the same stock, the Regional Administrator could 
instead decide to implement a more restrictive DAS counting rate in the 
geographic area that pertains to the stock (or implement a change to 
both a possession limit and DAS counting rate). A modification to the 
DAS counting rate, under this example, would apply to one or more of 
the differential DAS counting areas implemented by Amendment 16 that 
correspond to the pertinent stock(s) (e.g., Inshore GOM Differential 
DAS Area; Offshore GOM Differential DAS Area; Inshore GB Differential 
DAS Area; Offshore GB Differential DAS Area; and Southern New England/
Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) Differential DAS Area). This inseason adjustment 
could be implemented by the Regional Administrator even on the first 
day of the FY. Thus, the Regional Administrator could adjust the 
inseason DAS counting rate in addition to the adjustment to the DAS 
counting rate that would be triggered under Amendment 16 as an 
accountability measure (AM), beginning in FY 2011, in response to 
exceeding an ACL during the previous FY.
    Although the measures in this rule do not include any implemented 
under this new Regional Administrator authority

[[Page 18357]]

for the beginning of FY 2010, NMFS is nonetheless concerned that the 
ACLs for certain stocks may be exceeded in FY 2010, which would trigger 
AMs in FY 2011. To address the concern for stocks such as GOM winter 
flounder and GB cod (stocks for which the proposed ACLs are 
substantially less than recent catch levels), NMFS will monitor catch 
rates closely and be prepared to implement effort restrictions under 
this Regional Administrator authority early in FY 2010, if necessary.

2. Possession Limits

    This final rule modifies the Amendment 16 trip limits for GOM cod 
and implements a trip limit for pollock to reduce the likelihood of 
exceeding the ACLs for these two stocks. Specifically, for limited 
access DAS vessels, FW 44 replaces the Amendment 16 GOM cod limit of 
2,000 lb (907.2 kg) up to 12,000 lb (5,443.2 kg)/trip, with the status 
quo GOM cod trip limit of 800 lb (362.9 kg)/DAS, up to 4,000 lb 
(1,818.4 kg)/trip. For vessels with a limited access Handgear A or open 
access Handgear B permit, FW 44 replaces the Amendment 16 cod limits of 
750 lb (340.2 kg) and 200 lb (90.7 kg), respectively, with the status 
quo trip limits of 300 lb (136.1 kg) and 75 lb (34 kg) per trip. In 
addition, FW 44 implements a new trip limit for pollock of 1,000 lb 
(453.6 kg)/DAS, up to 10,000 lb (4,536.0 kg)/trip (Amendment 16 does 
not contain a trip limit for pollock).

3. Requirement for Limited Access Scallop Vessels to Land Yellowtail 
Flounder

    In conjunction with the allocations of yellowtail flounder to the 
scallop fishery (described below under ``specifications''), vessels 
with a Federal limited access scallop permit are required to land all 
legal-sized yellowtail flounder to reduce discarding. This provision 
may also provide an incentive for scallop vessels to minimize the catch 
of yellowtail flounder, if landing yellowtail flounder is not cost-
effective.

Specifications

    Consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (MSA) requirements regarding catch limits, and pursuant 
to the Amendment 16 process of developing such limits, this final rule 
specifies OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs for all stocks covered by the NE 
Multispecies FMP, as well as incidental catch TACs for FY 2010-2012. In 
addition, pursuant to current FMP requirements and authority, this rule 
specifies annual U.S./Canada Management Area TACs for FY 2010. Lastly, 
under existing Regional Administrator authority to modify management 
measures for the U.S./Canada Management Area, as well as to modify 
certain SAP regulations for FY 2010, this final rule delays the opening 
of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area for trawl vessels for FY 2010; 
allocates zero trips for the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP; limits the 
Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP to the use of Category A DAS for common 
pool vessels; and implements a GB yellowtail flounder trip limit of 
2,500 lb (1,125 kg). The specifications and management measures 
implemented in this final rule are described in further detail below.
    This final rule implements the following specifications:

1. OFLs and ABCs

    Table 1 contains OFLs and ABCs for FY 2010-2012, based on 
Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting III (GARM III) stock assessments 
(2008), for all stocks with the exception of GB yellowtail flounder, 
for which the ABC is based on the Transboundary Resource Assessment 
Committee (TRAC) stock assessment of 2009. It is anticipated that the 
FY 2011 and 2012 values of the GB yellowtail flounder ABC will be 
revised during 2010 and 2011, respectively, based on new transboundary 
stock assessments. The OFLs and ABCs for FY 2012 will likely be revised 
during the next biennial adjustment process (during 2011), but are 
being specified at this time in the event that the next biennial 
adjustment process does not result in the timely implementation of 2012 
catch specifications.
    The OFL value for a stock is calculated using the estimated stock 
size for a particular year, and represents the amount of catch 
associated with Fmsy, i.e., the fishing mortality rate that, if applied 
over the long term, would result in maximum sustainable yield (MSY). 
The ABCs are those recommended by the Council's Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC), and are lower than the OFLs in order to 
take into account scientific uncertainty in setting catch limits. The 
ABC value for a stock is calculated using the estimated stock size for 
a particular year, and for all stocks, with the exception of SNE/MA 
winter flounder, represents the amount of catch associated with 75 
percent of Fmsy (or 75 percent of recent landings as a proxy for Fmsy), 
or the F rate required to rebuild the stock within the defined 
rebuilding time period (Frebuild), whichever is lower. For SNE/MA 
winter flounder, the ABC was calculated using the F expected to result 
from management measures designed to achieve an F as close to zero as 
practicable. This ABC is consistent with the SSC recommendation that, 
for stocks that cannot rebuild to Bmsy (the biomass associated with 
maximum sustainable yield) in the specified rebuilding period, even 
with no fishing, the ABC should be based on incidental bycatch, 
including a reduction in bycatch rate (i.e., the proportion of the 
stock caught as bycatch). The ABC values for GOM winter flounder were 
revised (increased slightly) after the publication of the proposed rule 
to reflect corrected data.
    According to FW 44, for all stocks, with the exception of those 
with index-based stock assessments (where no information was provided), 
the probability that the ABC catch would result in overfishing (F>Fmsy) 
is less than 20 percent. The highest probability of overfishing is 
associated with GB winter flounder (0.184, 0.191, and 0.199 for 2010, 
2011, and 2012, respectively). The ABC values for GB cod and GB haddock 
for FY 2011 and 2012 are maximum values, because no Canadian catch has 
been deducted from the overall ABC, and therefore will likely be 
specified again in conjunction with the 2011 and 2012 U.S./Canada TACs. 
The FY 2011 and 2012 U.S. ABCs for GB cod and GB haddock will, 
therefore, be lower than the values in Table 1 in order to take into 
account Canadian catch. For example, for FY 2010, the amount of 
reduction to the overall ABC for GB cod and GB haddock is 1,012 mt and 
17,612 mt, respectively, which represent the Canadian portion of the 
shared TACs (Table 7).

                                                         Table 1--OFLs and ABCs for FY 2010-2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                OFL                                          U.S. ABC
                        ** Stock                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               2010            2011            2012            2010            2011            2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..................................................           6,272           7,311           8,090           3,800         * 5,616         * 6,214
GOM cod.................................................          11,089          11,715          11,742           8,530           9,012           9,018

[[Page 18358]]

 
GB hadk.................................................          80,007          59,948          51,150          44,903        * 46,784        * 39,846
GOM hadk................................................           1,617           1,536           1,296           1,265           1,206           1,013
GB ytail................................................           5,148           6,083           7,094           1,200           1,081           1,226
SNE ytail...............................................           1,553           2,174           3,166             493             687           1,003
CC ytail................................................           1,124           1,355           1,508             863           1,041           1,159
Plaice..................................................           4,110           4,483           4,727           3,156           3,444           3,632
Witch...................................................           1,239           1,792           2,141             994           1,369           1,639
GB winter...............................................           2,660           2,886           3,297           2,052           2,224           2,543
GOM winter..............................................             441             570             685             239             239             239
SNE winter..............................................           1,568           2,117           2,830             644             897           1,198
Redfish.................................................           9,899          10,903          12,036           7,586           8,356           9,224
White hake..............................................           4,130           4,805           5,306           2,832           3,295           3,638
Pollock.................................................           5,085           5,085           5,085           3,293           3,293           3,293
N. window...............................................             225             225             225             169             169             169
S. window...............................................             317             317             317             237             237             237
Ocean pout..............................................             361             361             361             271             271             271
Halibut.................................................             119             130             143              71              78              85
Wolffish................................................              92              92              92              83              83              83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** GB = Georges Bank; GOM = Gulf of Maine; hadk = haddock; ytail = yellowtail flounder; SNE = Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic; CC = Cape Cod/GOM;
  plaice = American plaice; witch = witch flounder; winter = winter flounder; N = north; S = south; window = windowpane flounder.
* Preliminary.

2. ACLs

    Pursuant to Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements and Amendment 16, the 
Council recommended ACLs that are lower than the ABCs, in order to 
account for management uncertainty. The total ACL for a stock 
represents the catch limit for a particular year, considering both 
biological and management uncertainty, and the limit includes all 
sources of catch (landed and discards) and all fisheries (commercial 
and recreational groundfish fishery, State-waters catch, and non-
groundfish fisheries). The division of a single ABC value for each 
stock (for a particular FY) into sub-ACLs, and ACL-subcomponents, 
accomplishes three objectives: (1) The ABC is sub-divided to account 
for all components of the fishery and sources of fishing mortality; (2) 
allocations are made for certain fisheries; and (3) management 
uncertainty is taken into account.
    For FW 44, the ABC was subdivided into fishery components on a 
stock-specific manner, prior to the consideration of management 
uncertainty. The following components of the fishery are reflected in 
the total ABC: Canadian share/allowance (expected Canadian catch); U.S. 
ABC (available to the U.S. fishery after accounting for Canadian 
catch); State waters (portion of ABC expected to be caught from State 
waters outside Federal management); other sub-components (expected 
catch by other non-groundfish fisheries); scallop fishery; mid-water 
trawl fishery; commercial groundfish fishery; and recreational 
groundfish fishery. The commercial groundfish sub-ACL is further 
divided into the non-sector (common pool vessels) sub-ACL and the 
sector sub-ACL, based on the total vessel enrollment in all sectors as 
of January 22, 2010, and the cumulative Potential Sector Contributions 
(PSCs) associated with those sectors.
    As indicated in the proposed rule for sector operations for FY 2010 
(74 FR 68015, December 22, 2009), sector rosters will not be finalized 
until May 1, 2010, because vessel owners that have indicated intent to 
join sectors have until April 30, 2010, to drop out of a sector and 
fish in the common pool. Therefore, it is likely that the FY 2010 
sector sub-ACL, which is comprised of the cumulative PSCs of all 
enrolled sector members, will be reduced and the common pool sub-ACL 
will increase after the effective date of this final rule specifying 
ACLs. In such a case, NMFS will make the changes consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and other applicable law.
    Despite such changes, the groundfish sub-ACL (common pool sub-ACL, 
plus the sector sub-ACL, plus the recreational sub-ACL) is not likely 
to change. Based on the final rosters, NMFS intends to publish a rule 
in early May 2010 to modify the common pool and sector sub-ACLs and 
notify the public, if these numbers change. It is almost certain that 
all of the FY 2011 and 2012 sub-ACLs for the common pool and sectors 
will change and be re-specified prior to FY 2011 and 2012 due to annual 
changes to the sector rosters. Furthermore, due to the need to re-
specify the U.S. ABCs for GB cod and GB haddock as described above, all 
sub-components of the ABCs for GB cod and GB haddock will be re-
specified for FY 2011 and 2012, when information on the Canadian TACs 
is available.
    As noted above, the common pool sub-ACL and sector sub-ACL values 
in this final rule are based on the sector rosters submitted to NMFS as 
of January 22, 2010. In contrast, the catch levels contained in the 
proposed rule for this action and in the EA were based on rosters as of 
September 1, 2009. The sector sub-ACLs in this final rule are, on 
average, 3 percent larger than those specified in the proposed rule, 
due to the increase in the number of sector members between September 
1, 2009, and January 22, 2010 (see the FY 2010 sector final rule for 
further details on this subject).
    The concept of management uncertainty for the purpose of developing 
ACLs is described in the preamble to the proposed rule and is not 
repeated here.
    Several components of the FW 44 ACLs are notable, because they are 
atypical. For example, yellowtail flounder is allocated to the scallop 
fishery in recognition of the importance of yellowtail flounder to the 
prosecution of the scallop fishery. For FY 2010, the scallop fishery 
will be allocated 100 percent of the estimated yellowtail flounder (for 
GB and CC/GOM stocks) that is associated with the projected scallop 
catch in FY 2010, although this allocation is not a ``hard'' TAC (there 
is no triggered management action when

[[Page 18359]]

the TAC is caught). For FY 2011 and 2012, the scallop fishery is 
allocated 90 percent of the yellowtail flounder the scallop fishery is 
projected to catch (Table 2). Reducing the yellowtail flounder 
allocation to 90 percent of the yellowtail flounder that the scallop 
fishery is expected to catch is intended to provide incentive for the 
scallop fishermen to reduce bycatch of yellowtail flounder.
    The allocations of yellowtail flounder to the scallop fishery 
implemented by the final rule are greater than the amounts specified in 
the FW 44 proposed rule. The February 1, 2010, proposed rule for FW 44 
included scallop allocations based upon the initial version of 
Framework Adjustment 21 (FW 21) to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, which 
included measures that determine the amount of scallops that will be 
caught during FY 2010. At the time the FW 44 proposed rule was 
finalized, it was known that the Council would reconsider FW 21, and 
the preamble noted that the Council could alter the allocations to the 
scallop fishery. At its January 27, 2010, meeting, the Council 
reconsidered FW 21, which includes measures that determine the amount 
of scallops that can be caught during FY 2010-2012. Because the FW 44 
yellowtail flounder allocation to the scallop fishery is based on the 
amount of projected scallop harvest, the modification to FW 21 affected 
the FW 44 allocation of yellowtail flounder to both the scallop and the 
NE multispecies fisheries. The Council increased the projected scallop 
catch under FW 21 and, therefore, the amount of GB and SNE/MA 
yellowtail flounder allocated to the scallop fishery for FY 2010-2012 
through this final rule is increased. For example, for FY 2010, the 
scallop allocations for GB and SNE/MA yellowtail flounder are 
increased, by 36 mt and 24 mt, respectively. As a result, the 
groundfish sub-ACLs are reduced by 35 mt and 22 mt for GB and SNE/MA, 
respectively. The amount of reduction in the yellowtail flounder 
groundfish sub-ACLs is less than the amount of increased allocation to 
the scallop fishery because modifying the allocation of yellowtail 
flounder to the scallop fishery alters the amount of yellowtail 
flounder that is deducted to account for management uncertainty, due to 
the order of the calculations. Further, for this same reason, the total 
ACLs implemented through this final rule are slightly larger than in 
the proposed rule. Specifically, the total ACLs were increased by 1 mt 
and 2 mt, for GB and SNE/MA, respectively. It should be noted that in 
Table 3 of the FW 44 proposed rule, the groundfish sub-ACL for SNE 
yellowtail flounder was incorrectly proposed as 322 mt instead of 332 
mt, due to a typographical error.
    The Council prepared an addendum to the EA that analyzed the 
impacts of the modified scallop and groundfish allocations of GB and 
SNE/MA yellowtail flounder. These impacts are described in the 
Classification section in this preamble.
    No specific allocation of Cape Cod (CC)/Gulf of Maine (GOM) 
yellowtail flounder is made to the scallop fishery because the 
incidental catches of this stock by the scallop fishery are relatively 
low. Catches of this stock are considered part of the ``other sub-
component'' of the ACL.
    The FY 2010 yellowtail flounder allocations to the scallop fishery 
are characterized as ACL sub-components (no short-term associated AMs), 
and the FY 2011 and 2012 allocations are characterized as sub-ACLs. 
Under the current Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, if the scallop fishery 
harvests in excess of the yellowtail flounder sub-components specified 
for the fishery for FY 2010, no scallop management measures will be 
triggered. The Council intends to develop AMs for the Atlantic Sea 
Scallop FMP that would be responsive to yellowtail flounder catches in 
excess of the sub-ACL, beginning in FY 2011. The precise mechanism and 
scope of future scallop AMs is unknown. Current regulations set a cap 
on the amount of yellowtail flounder that may be harvested from the 
scallop access areas within the SNE/MA and GB yellowtail flounder stock 
areas. Specifically, current regulations cap yellowtail flounder 
harvest from scallop access areas at 10 percent of the ``total TAC'' 
for each of the stock areas. In light of the specified ACL components, 
``total TAC'' means ``total ACL'', i.e., 10 percent of 1,169 mt (117 
mt) and 468 mt (47 mt) for FY 2010 for GB and SNE/MA yellowtail 
flounder, respectively (see Table 3).
    Under this final rule, the mid-water trawl fishery is allocated 0.2 
percent of the U.S. ABC for GB and GOM haddock. The values for the 
allocations to the mid-water trawl fishery listed in Table 2 are 
slightly less than 0.2 percent, due to the 7-percent reduction of these 
allocations to account for management uncertainty for this stock. The 
calculation of the haddock allocations were described in the preamble 
of the proposed rule, and are not repeated here. All of the haddock 
allocations to the mid-water trawl fishery are characterized as sub-
ACLs (associated with AMs, as explained below). A percentage of the 
U.S. ABC for GOM haddock and GOM cod will be allocated to the 
recreational fishery, based on a split of ABC among commercial and 
recreational components of the fishery (72.5 percent and 27.5 percent 
for haddock; 66.3 percent and 33.7 percent for cod, respectively) 
(Table 2). All the recreational allocations to the groundfish fishery 
are characterized as sub-ACLs.

 Table 2--Allocations to the Scallop Fishery, Mid-Water Trawl Fishery, and Recreational Groundfish Fishery (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      FY 2010         FY 2011         FY 2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Scallop Fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowtail flounder stock
    GB..........................................................             146             201             307
    SNE/MA......................................................             135              82             127
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Mid-Water Trawl Fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haddock stock
    GB..........................................................              84              87              74
    GOM.........................................................               2               2               2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Recreational Groundfish Fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM stock

[[Page 18360]]

 
    GOM cod.....................................................           2,673           2,824           2,826
    GOM haddock.................................................             324             308             259
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For most stocks, the percentage of the ABC deducted for anticipated 
catch from State waters is between 1 and 10 percent, with the exception 
of Atlantic halibut and GOM winter flounder, for which 50 percent and 
35 percent, respectively, are deducted from the ABC.
    Amendment 16 is implementing a system in which a sub-ACL has an AM 
that will be triggered if the catch exceeds the specified amount. In 
contrast, an ACL-subcomponent does not have an automatic short-term AM 
that is triggered if the catch exceeds the specified amount, although 
there will be accountability through the evaluation of the catch of all 
sub-components during the next biennial adjustment to determine if the 
size of the ACL-subcomponents needs to be adjusted for subsequent FYs. 
However, if the total catch exceeds the total ACL, AMs will be 
triggered, as explained in detail in Amendment 16. Tables 3, 4, and 5 
contain the total ACLs, sub-ACLs, and ACL-subcomponents for FY 2010, 
2011, and 2012, respectively (with the exception of the scallop and 
mid-water trawl components in Table 2). The sector sub-ACLs for five 
stocks are zero, because no possession of these stocks is allowed for 
either common-pool or sector vessels. As explained above, the 
groundfish sub-ACLs and total ACLs for GB and SNE/MA yellowtail 
flounder have been revised from the proposed rule to reflect the 
Council's decision to reconsider scallop management measures in FW 21. 
Secondly, the sector sub-ACLs and common pool sub-ACLs for all stocks 
are likely to decrease and increase, respectively, from the values 
specified in this final rule, due to vessels dropping out of sectors 
during April, prior to the start of FY 2010. If vessels drop out of 
sectors prior to May 1, 2010, a new final rule will be published, and 
NE multispecies permit holders will be notified. Lastly, the values for 
the total ACL and groundfish sub-ACL for GOM winter flounder were 
revised (increased slightly) after the publication of the proposed rule 
to reflect corrected data.

                                         Table 3--Total ACLs, Sub-ACLs, and ACL-Subcomponents for FY 2010 (mt) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Preliminary                    State waters
                          Stock                              Total ACL    Groundfish sub-   common-pool     Preliminary        ACL-         Other ACL-
                                                                                ACL           sub-ACL     sector sub-ACL   subcomponent    subcomponents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..................................................           3,620           3,430             103           3,327              38             152
GOM cod.................................................           8,088           7,240             178           4,389             566             283
GB hadk.................................................          42,768          40,440             202          40,238             449           1,796
GOM hadk................................................           1,197           1,149              13             812               9              37
GB ytail................................................           1,170             964              21             943               0              60
SNE ytail...............................................             470             310              63             247               5              20
CC ytail................................................             822             779              31             748               9              35
Plaice..................................................           3,006           2,848              71           2,777              32             126
Witch...................................................             899             852              19             833               9              38
GB winter...............................................           1,955           1,852              26           1,826               0             103
GOM winter..............................................             231             159              20             138              60              12
SNE winter..............................................             605             520             520               0              53              32
Redfish.................................................           7,226           6,848              62           6,786              76             303
White hake..............................................           2,697           2,566              44           2,522              28             113
Pollock.................................................           3,148           2,748              47           2,701             200             200
N. window...............................................             161             110             110               0               2              49
S. window...............................................             225             154             154               0               2              69
Ocean pout..............................................             253             239             239               0               3              11
Halibut.................................................              69              30              30               0              36               4
Wolffish................................................              77              73              73               0               1               3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* See Table 2 for allocations to scallop, mid-water trawl, and recreational fisheries.


                                         Table 4--Total ACLs, Sub-ACLs, and ACL-Subcomponents for FY 2011 (mt) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Preliminary                    State waters
                          Stock                              Total ACL    Groundfish sub-   common-pool     Preliminary        ACL-         Other ACL-
                                                                                ACL           sub-ACL     sector sub-ACL   subcomponent    subcomponents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..................................................           5,349           5,068             152           4,916              56             225
GOM cod.................................................           8,545           7,649             188           4,637             597             299
GB hadk.................................................          44,560          42,134             211          41,923             468           1,871
GOM hadk................................................           1,141           1,095              13             774               9              35
GB ytail................................................           1,050             795              17             778               0              54
SNE ytail...............................................             641             524             107             417               7              27
CC ytail................................................             992             940              38             902              10              42
Plaice..................................................           3,280           3,108              78           3,030              34             138
Witch...................................................           1,304           1,236              27           1,209              14              55
GB winter...............................................           2,118           2,007              28           1,979               0             111

[[Page 18361]]

 
GOM winter..............................................             231             159              20             138              60              12
SNE winter..............................................             842             726             726               0              72              45
Redfish.................................................           7,959           7,541              68           7,473              84             334
White hake..............................................           3,138           2,566              44           2,522              33             132
Pollock.................................................           3,148           2,974              51           2,923             200             200
N. window...............................................             161             110             110               0               2              49
S. window...............................................             225             154             154               0               2              69
Ocean pout..............................................             253             239             239               0               3              11
Halibut.................................................              76              33              33               0              39               4
Wolffish................................................              77              73              73               0               1               3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* See Table 2 for allocations to scallop, mid-water trawl and recreational fisheries.


                                         Table 5--Total ACLs, Sub-ACLs, and ACL-Subcomponents for FY 2012 (mt) *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Preliminary                    State waters
                          Stock                              Total ACL    Groundfish sub-   common-pool     Preliminary        ACL-         Other ACL-
                                                                                ACL           sub-ACL     sector sub-ACL   subcomponent    subcomponents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..................................................           5,919           5,608             168           5,440              62             249
GOM cod.................................................           8,551           7,654             188           4,640             598             299
GB hadk.................................................          37,952          35,885             179          35,706             398           1,594
GOM hadk................................................             959             920              11             650               7              29
GB ytail................................................           1,191             823              18             805               0              61
SNE ytail...............................................             936             759             155             604              10              40
CC ytail................................................           1,104           1,046              42           1,004              12              46
Plaice..................................................           3,459           3,278              82           3,196              36             145
Witch...................................................           1,561           1,479              33           1,446              16              66
GB winter...............................................           2,422           2,295              32           2,263               0             127
GOM winter..............................................             231             159              20             138              60              12
SNE winter..............................................           1,125             969             969               0              96              60
Redfish.................................................           8,786           8,325              75           8,250              92             369
White hake..............................................           3,465           3,283              56           3,227              36             146
Pollock.................................................           3,148           2,748              47           2,701             200             200
N. window...............................................             161             110             110               0               2              49
S. window...............................................             225             154             154               0               2              69
Ocean pout..............................................             253             239             239               0               3              11
Halibut.................................................              83              36              36               0              43               4
Wolffish................................................              77              73              73               0               1               3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* See Table 2 for allocations to scallop, mid-water trawl, and recreational fisheries.

3. Revisions to Incidental Catch TACs and Allocations to Special 
Management Programs

    This final rule specifies incidental catch TACs applicable to the 
NE multispecies Special Management Programs for FY 2010-2012, based on 
the ACLs, the FMP, and advice from the Council. Incidental catch TACs 
are specified for certain stocks of concern for common pool vessels 
fishing in the Special Management Programs, in order to limit the 
amount of catch of stocks of concern that can be caught under such 
programs. A stock of concern is defined as a stock that is in an 
overfished condition or subject to overfishing. The incidental catch 
TACs below are consistent with the Amendment 16 changes to the 
allocation of incidental catch TACs among Special Management Programs, 
with four exceptions, as explained below. Pursuant to Amendment 16, new 
incidental catch TACs are required for GOM winter flounder and pollock, 
because they are now considered stocks of concern. Although American 
plaice is technically no longer a stock of concern, Amendment 16 
retains the incidental catch TAC for this stock because the stock is 
far from rebuilt. The incidental catch TACs apply to catch (landings 
and discards) caught under Category B DAS (either Regular or Reserve B 
DAS) on trips that end on a Category B DAS. For trips that start under 
a Category B DAS, the catch of stocks for which incidental catch TACs 
are specified and then flip to a Category A DAS does not accrue toward 
such TACs.
    The information in Tables 6, 7, and 8 regarding incidental catch 
TACs differs from the proposed rule for two reasons. For FY 2010, the 
use of Category B DAS will be prohibited by vessels fishing in the 
Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP, as explained in section 6 of this 
preamble; therefore, incidental catch TACs will not be allocated to 
this SAP for FY 2010, in order to maximize opportunity to fish in the 
Special Management Programs. Based on historic catch rates in the 
Special Management Programs, the incidental catch TAC for GB cod is 
reallocated to the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP, and the incidental catch 
TACs for GB yellowtail flounder, GB winter flounder, and pollock are 
reallocated to the Regular B DAS Program. Although the proposed rule 
included the prohibition on the use of Category B DAS in this SAP, it 
did not propose reallocation of any incidental catch TACs. Subsequent 
to the proposed rule, NMFS and Council staff discussed optimization of 
available incidental catch TAC, and the Council expressed support for 
this reallocation in its February 4, 2010, letter to the Regional 
Administrator. Secondly, the FY 2010-2012 values for the incidental 
catch TACs for GB and SNE yellowtail

[[Page 18362]]

flounder were revised because the groundfish sub-ACLs and total ACLs 
for GB and SNE/MA yellowtail flounder were revised from the proposed 
rule to reflect the Council's decision to reconsider scallop management 
measures in FW 21 (as explained above in section 2).
    Due to the future need to re-specify the U.S. ABC for GB cod to 
reflect available information on Canadian catch, the incidental catch 
TAC for GB cod will be re-specified for FY 2011 and 2012, when 
information on the Canadian TACs is available. The incidental catch 
TACs, by stock, based on common pool sub-ACLs are shown in Table 6.

                          Table 6--Incidental Catch TACs by Stock for FY 2010-2010 (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       2010            2011            2012
                      Stock                        Percentage of    incidental      incidental      incidental
                                                      sub-ACL        catch TAC       catch TAC       catch TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..........................................               2             3.5             5.1             5.7
GOM cod.........................................               1             3.4             3.6             3.6
GB yellowtail...................................               2             0.4             0.3             0.4
CC/GOM yellowtail...............................               1             0.5             0.6             0.7
SNE/MA yellowtail...............................               1             0.6             1.1             1.6
Plaice..........................................               5             9.2            10.0            10.6
Witch flounder..................................               5             2.1             3.1             3.7
SNE/MA winter flounder..........................               1             5.2             7.3             9.7
GB winter.......................................               2             1.1             1.2             1.4
White hake......................................               2             2.4             2.8             3.1
Pollock.........................................               2             2.4             2.4             2.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                 Table 7--Allocation of Incidental Catch TACs Among Special Management Programs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Closed area I   Eastern U.S./
                              Stock                                Regular B DAS     Hook Gear    Canada Haddock
                                                                      program       Haddock SAP         SAP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..........................................................             50%             50%              0%
GOM cod.........................................................             100              na              Na
GB yellowtail...................................................             100              na              0%
CC/GOM yellowtail...............................................             100              na              Na
SNE/MA yellowtail...............................................             100              na              Na
Plaice..........................................................             100              na              Na
Witch flounder..................................................             100              na              na
SNE/MA winter flounder..........................................             100              na              Na
GB winter.......................................................             100              na              0%
White hake......................................................             100              na              Na
Pollock.........................................................              84             16%              0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                              Table 8--Incidental Catch TACs for Special Management Programs by Stock for FY 2010-2012 (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Regular B DAS program       Closed area I Hook Gear Haddock  Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP
                                                      ---------------------------------               SAP               --------------------------------
                        Stock                                                          ---------------------------------
                                                          2010       2011       2012       2010       2011       2012       2010       2011       2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod...............................................       1.75        2.6        2.8       1.75        0.8        0.9          0        1.7        1.9
GOM cod..............................................        3.4        3.6        3.6  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
GB yellowtail........................................        0.4        0.5        0.5  .........  .........  .........          0        0.5        0.5
CC/GOM yellowtail....................................        0.5        0.6        0.7  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
SNE/MA yellowtail....................................        0.9        1.4        2.1  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
Plaice...............................................        9.2       10.0       10.6  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
Witch flounder.......................................        2.1        3.1        3.7  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
SNE/MA winter flounder...............................        1.1        1.2        1.4  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
GB winter............................................        1.1        1.4        1.6  .........  .........  .........          0        1.4        1.6
White hake...........................................        5.2        7.3        9.7  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
Pollock..............................................        2.0        1.2        1.2        0.4        0.4        0.4          0        0.8        0.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Annual Specifications for U.S./Canada Management Area

    TACs for GB transboundary stocks (i.e., GB stocks shared with 
Canada: Eastern GB cod, Eastern GB haddock, and GB yellowtail flounder) 
were specified in accordance with the FMP, and the U.S./Canada Resource 
Sharing Understanding (Understanding). The FMP specifies a procedure 
for setting these annual hard TAC levels that apply to the U.S./Canada 
Management Area. The proposed rule contained a detailed description of 
this procedure, as well as the harvest strategy of the Understanding. 
In September 2009, the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee 
(TMGC) approved the 2009 Guidance Document for Eastern GB cod and 
Eastern GB haddock, which included recommended U.S. TACs for these 
stocks. Although the TMGC also approved the Guidance Document for GB 
yellowtail flounder, it was not able to agree on a shared TAC for GB 
yellowtail flounder.

[[Page 18363]]

    The recommended FY 2010 TACs were based on the most recent stock 
assessments (TRAC Status Reports for 2009), and the fishing mortality 
strategy shared by NMFS, and Canada's Department of Fisheries and 
Oceans, under the Understanding.
    On September 23, 2009, the Council approved, consistent with the 
2009 Guidance Document, the following U.S. TACs recommended by the 
TMGC: 338 mt of Eastern GB cod and 11,988 mt of Eastern GB haddock. The 
Council recommended a U.S. TAC of 1,200 mt for GB yellowtail flounder, 
based upon the SSC recommendation of 1,500 mt, minus the anticipated 
Canadian catch, estimated at 300 mt. The 300 mt estimate is 
approximately the 3-yr average of Canadian catch (2008, 2007, 2006; 151 
mt, 132 mt, 590 mt, respectively), based upon TMGC information. The FY 
2010 TACs for the U.S./Canada Management Area represent substantial 
decreases for cod (36 percent) and yellowtail flounder (43 percent), 
and an increase for haddock, compared to the FY 2009 TACs for those 
species. The final GB yellowtail flounder sub-ACL proposed for the 
groundfish fishery (999 mt; Table 3) is lower than the 1,200-mt U.S. 
TAC, as discussed above, due to the allocation to the scallop fishery 
and consideration of management uncertainty.

                    Table 9--2010 U.S./Canada TACs (mt) and Percentage Shares (in parentheses)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   GB yellowtail
                                                              Eastern GB cod  Eastern GB haddock    flounder *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Shared TAC............................................           1,350              29,600           1,500
U.S. TAC....................................................       338 (25%)      11,988 (40.5%)           1,200
Canada TAC..................................................     1,012 (75%)      17,612 (59.5%)              na
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Developed unilaterally by the Council.

    If an analysis of the catch of the shared stocks by U.S. vessels 
indicates that an over-harvest occurred during FY 2009, the pertinent 
components of the FY 2010 ACL would be adjusted downward in order to be 
consistent with the FMP and Understanding (including the scallop ACL-
subcomponent for GB yellowtail flounder). If an adjustment to one of 
the FY 2010 TACs of cod, haddock, or yellowtail flounder is necessary, 
it will be done consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act and 
the fishing industry will also be notified.

5. U.S./Canada Management Area Initial Measures for FY 2010

    Under existing authority granted by the FMP (Sec.  
648.85(a)(3)(iv)(D)) to the Regional Administrator, this final rule 
implements measures to optimize the harvest of the transboundary stocks 
managed under the Understanding. Pursuant to the authority cited above, 
the Council, in November 2009, voted to request that the Regional 
Administrator postpone the opening of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area for 
both sector and non-sector vessels fishing with trawl gear in FY 2010 
from May 1, 2010, to August 1, 2010. This action implements that a 
delay, to prevent trawl fishing in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area during 
the time when cod bycatch is likely to be very high, and to prolong 
access to this area in order to maximize the catch of available cod, 
haddock, and yellowtail flounder. To further constrain fishing 
mortality on GB cod, NMFS, in a manner similar to FYs 2008 and 2009, is 
limiting common pool vessels fishing with non-trawl gear in the Eastern 
U.S./Canada Area prior to August 1, 2010, to a cod catch of 5 percent 
of the Eastern GB cod TAC, or 16.9 mt of cod. This measure was 
successful in FYs 2008 and 2009 in slowing the annual catch rate of cod 
during the early part of the year.
    Second, NMFS, under Regional Administrator authority, is 
implementing a possession limit of 2,500 lb (1,125 kg) per trip for GB 
yellowtail flounder for common pool vessels to prevent the common pool 
sub-ACL from being exceeded. NMFS is implementing this initial 
possession limit in order to moderate catch to ensure fishing limits 
are not exceeded, allow harvesting of the sub-ACL by the common pool, 
and decrease the likelihood that further restrictions during the FY 
would be needed to slow the catch. This possession limit is based on a 
recommendation of the Council's Groundfish Plan Development Team for a 
low GB yellowtail flounder trip limit, as well as a projected catch 
analysis for FY 2010, using current information on vessels that will 
fish in the common pool in FY 2010. If necessary, NMFS may modify this 
trip limit based upon new information regarding the vessel composition 
of the common pool, or revised analytical assumptions.

6. Special Management Program Status for FY 2010

    The Regional Administrator has existing authority to allocate trips 
into the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP and, for other Special 
Management Programs (Regular B DAS Program; CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP; 
and Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP), has authority to close the 
program if the program would undermine achieving the objectives of the 
FMP or the SAP.
    Therefore, this rule allocates zero trips to the CA II Yellowtail 
Flounder SAP for FY 2010, based on a determination that the available 
TAC of GB yellowtail flounder is insufficient to support a minimum 
level of fishing activity within the CA II SAP. The Regional 
Administrator has the authority to determine the allocation of the 
total number of trips into the CA II SAP based on several criteria, 
including the GB yellowtail flounder TAC and the amount of GB 
yellowtail flounder caught outside of the SAP. As implemented in 2005 
by Framework Adjustment 40B (70 FR 31323, June 1, 2005), zero trips to 
this SAP should be allocated if the available GB yellowtail flounder 
catch is insufficient to support at least 150 trips with a 15,000-lb 
(6,804-kg) trip limit (i.e., 150 trips of 15,000 lb/trip = 2,250,000 lb 
(1,021 mt) needed). This calculation takes into account the projected 
catch from the area outside of the SAP. Based on the groundfish sub-ACL 
of 2,125,256 lb (964 mt), even if the projected catch from outside the 
SAP area is zero, there is still insufficient GB yellowtail flounder 
available to allow the SAP to proceed (i.e., 2,125,256 lb (964 mt) 
available < 2,250,000 (1,021 mt) needed).
    This rule also disallows the use of Category B DAS in the Eastern 
U.S./Canada Haddock SAP for common pool vessels in FY 2010, based on 
the Regional Administrator's existing authority to close the SAP if the 
program would undermine the achievement of the objectives of the SAP or 
the FMP. All of the FY 2010 incidental catch TACs that would have been 
specified for the SAP are very small (GB cod: 2,646 lb (1.2 mt); GB 
yellowtail flounder: 44 lb (0.2 mt); pollock: 1,724 lb (0.8 mt); and GB 
winter flounder: 2,646 lb (1.2 mt)), and

[[Page 18364]]

difficult to monitor. Concurrent trips by several vessels into the SAP, 
or even a single trip, could result in the incidental TAC(s) being 
exceeded quickly. Based on historical information on the amount of GB 
cod caught (5,276 lb (2.4 mt)) on SAP trips that ended on a Category B 
DAS, the SAP would provide little opportunity to target haddock, with a 
high likelihood of the SAP closing upon reaching the incidental catch 
TAC for cod. Furthermore, past participation in this SAP was extremely 
low (e.g., eight trips in FY 2008). For these reasons, the use of 
Category B DAS in the SAP is inconsistent with the objective of the SAP 
to allow access to haddock while avoiding or minimizing impacts on 
stocks of concern. Under Amendment 16, sector vessels are not 
restricted by the incidental catch TAC, and can fish in the SAP, 
provided they have adequate Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) for Eastern 
GB haddock (and other stocks).

7. Haddock TAC for CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP

    FW 44 specifies a haddock TAC for the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP 
based on the GARM III stock assessment and a formula implemented in FW 
42. The haddock TAC in a particular year is based on the TAC that was 
specified for the SAP in 2004 (1,130 mt), and scaled according to the 
size of the exploitable biomass of western GB haddock compared to the 
biomass size in 2004 (27,313 mt). The size of the western component of 
the GB haddock stock is estimated as 35 percent of the size of the 
total GB haddock stock. Therefore, if the 2010 exploitable biomass of 
haddock is projected to be 291,682 mt, the formula and resultant TAC is 
as follows: (.35)(291,682)/27,313) x 1,130 = 4,223.7 mt. Table 10 
contains the CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP TACs and pertinent information 
for FY 2010-2012.

                             Table 10--CA I Hook Gear Haddock SAP TACs FY 2010-2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Western GB
                                                    GB haddock        haddock      Biomass (yr)/   TAC (mt, live
                      Year                          exploitable     exploitable    Biomass 2004       weight)
                                                   biomass (mt)       biomass
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................          78,037          27,313  ..............  ..............
2010............................................         291,682         102,089           3.738         4,223.7
2011............................................         218,054          76,319           2.794         3,157.5
2012............................................         177,978          62,292           2.281         2,577.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Revised Stock Areas

    Section 10 of the preamble of the proposed rule for this action 
proposed revisions to the stock areas for GB yellowtail flounder and GB 
winter flounder that were proposed in Amendment 16 for trip limits and 
sector ACEs, to reflect updated information regarding the stock areas 
used in GARM III and to monitor catch of ACLs in the NE multispecies 
fishery beginning in FY 2010. Similarly, there were additional changes 
necessary for the SNE/MA Stock Area 4, GB cod stock area (Regular B DAS 
Program), American plaice stock area (Regular B DAS Program), SNE/MA 
winter flounder stock area (Regular B DAS Program), and the SNE/MA 
yellowtail flounder stock area (Sector ACE allocations). Although the 
regulatory text of the FW 44 proposed rule included changes to these 
areas, these changes were not specifically reflected in the preamble. 
Additional information made available by the Center shortly before the 
publication of the proposed rule indicated that the stock areas for 
other stocks need to be adjusted to reflect the areas used in stock 
assessments and monitoring ACLs.
    To ensure that the areas used to attribute catch to stock areas for 
the purposes of monitoring ACLs corresponds to the stock areas used in 
assessments, this final rule modifies several areas specified in the FW 
40A final rule (November 19, 2004; 69 FR 67780) and the Amendment 16 
proposed rule. Specifically, SNE/MA Stock Area 4, GB cod stock area 
(Regular B DAS Program), and American plaice stock area (Regular B DAS 
Program) have been revised to include Statistical Area 640, while the 
SNE/MA yellowtail flounder stock area (Sector ACE allocations) has been 
revised to include Statistical Areas 533, 534, and 541. In addition, 
Statistical Areas 464, 465, and 467 have been added to the stock areas 
for CC/GOM yellowtail flounder and witch flounder for the purposes of 
implementing the Regular B DAS Program and/or trip limits and sector 
measures. Statistical Areas 533, 534, 541, and 640 were added to the 
SNE/MA winter flounder stock area for the purpose of implementing the 
Regular B DAS Program, trip limits, and sector measures. For pollock, 
redfish, and GB haddock, the stock areas were extended south until it 
reached 35[deg]00' N. lat. to reflect the full range of the stock for 
the purposes of implementing the Regular B DAS Program and/or trip 
limits and sector measures.

Comments and Responses

    Four comments were received that addressed this action.
    Comment 1: A member of the fishing industry requested that NMFS 
reconsider the ACL specified for GOM winter flounder, stating that the 
method used to calculate the ACL is different from the other stocks, 
the landings data upon which the ACL is based is incorrect due to 
missing landings information, and that the landings data do not reflect 
stock status, which the commenter believes is healthy. Further, the 
commenter stated that the impacts of past DAS cuts on historical 
landings of GOM winter flounder were not considered in the evaluation 
of stock status, and that the low ACL specified for this stock will 
have a crippling impact on the inshore fleet.
    Response: NMFS agrees that the method utilized to calculate the ACL 
for GOM winter flounder is different than that used for other stocks. 
The SSC, in its September 23, 2009, memorandum to the Council 
(memorandum), listed GOM winter flounder as one of the stocks for which 
an interim ABC (from which the ACL is derived) would be determined 
according to case-by-case recommendations, instead of determined 
through a more generic control rule. Stocks such as GOM winter 
flounder, that have an unknown status with respect to overfishing and 
overfished, are addressed on a case-by-case basis for interim ABC 
recommendations from the SSC. The unknown status in the case of GOM 
winter flounder resulted from there being no accepted stock assessment 
method.
    Specifically, the GOM winter flounder ABC was determined using 
method 4 specified in the memorandum: ``Interim ABC based upon data-
poor proxies.'' The memorandum states: ``Gulf of Maine winter flounder 
has unknown stock status, and the ABC recommendation is

[[Page 18365]]

based on 75 percent of recent catches.'' The PDT's calculation of ABC 
(and SSC recommendation) was based upon landings from 2006, 2007, and 
2008 (247, 303, 402 mt, respectively), not 2005, 2006, and 2007, as the 
commenter stated.
    NMFS understands that the landings data that the Potential Sector 
Contributions (PSCs) are based upon contains some errors; however, 
based upon the requests for corrections to landings data submitted by 
vessel owners to date, most errors are due to mis-attributing landings 
to the wrong (or unknown) vessel, which does not affect the calculation 
of the ABC, and not because of errors due to missing landings, which 
would affect the total landings value used to calculate the ABC. Based 
upon pertinent corrections at the time of preparing this final rule, 
NMFS is correcting the estimation of GOM winter flounder catch in FY 
2006 (an additional 5,580 lb; 2.53 mt), and is therefore revising the 
ABC, total ACL, and groundfish sub-ACL for GOM winter flounder upwards 
by 1 mt.
    NMFS agrees with the commenter that the level of historical 
landings reflects the regulations in place, as well as the stock 
status. Nevertheless, the SSC utilized landings data as the basis of 
its ABC recommendation. Because the stock assessment was not accepted, 
the landings data represent the best scientific information available.
    Further, NMFS disagrees that the stock status can be characterized 
as ``healthy.'' In the August 2008 report of GARM III (Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 08-15), the conclusions end 
with the following: ``While the Panel was unable to determine the 
stock's status relative to the BRP's, it agreed that the current trend 
in the population was very troubling. The Panel generally agreed that 
it is highly likely that biomass is below Bmsy, and that there is 
substantial probability that it is below \1/2\ Bmsy. The Panel noted 
that other stocks in the area of this mixed fishery were also at low 
levels.''
    NMFS agrees that the specification of the GOM winter flounder ACL 
will impact the inshore fleet in the GOM. As indicated in the EA for 
this action, and the FRFA in the preamble to this final rule, it is 
likely that groundfish revenue will decline due to the combined impact 
of Amendment 16 and the specification of catch limits. The amount of 
total revenue reduction to the fishery is estimated between 4 and 32 
percent, depending upon the proportion of available fish that are 
caught.
    Comment 2: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries 
(Massachusetts) commented on the combined impacts of Amendment 16 and 
FW 44, as well as specific aspects of the FW 44 catch specifications. 
They believe that NMFS's implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
the National Standard 1 guidelines is overly precautionary, and that 
NMFS's utilization of the National Standard Guidelines as though they 
were strict requirements rather than guidance is resulting in 
excessively low ACLs that, in conjunction with sectors, will result in 
dramatic consolidation of the industry (particularly day vessels) and 
under-harvesting of available fishery yield. They believe that future 
consolidation of the industry will be the result of low ACLs, yet are 
concerned that such consolidation will be incorrectly blamed on 
sectors. Further, Massachusetts anticipates that low ACLs for some 
stocks will constrain the fishery's ability to catch other stocks with 
larger ACLs, and result in the closure of numerous sectors in many 
stock areas for prolonged periods of time. Massachusetts reiterated its 
concerns regarding the analytical limitations of Amendment 16 and the 
lack of a cap on sector Annual Catch Entitlements (ACEs). Lastly, they 
reiterated their concern regarding the loss of yield and unrealized 
revenue that will result from the implementation of Amendment 16 and FW 
44.
    With respect to the specifics of FW 44, Massachusetts noted the 
small GOM cod ACL for sectors (4,230 mt) compared with the catch 
associated with overfishing (11,089 mt) as an example of how scientific 
and management uncertainty have been taken into account in a 
precautionary manner. They expressed concern about the ability of NMFS 
to monitor the small incidental catch TACs specified for special 
management programs, and suggested that NMFS revisit catch limits as 
necessary when additional data suggest the need. Massachusetts noted GB 
yellowtail flounder as a stock for which there is recent research 
pertaining to stock status that should be reflected in the relevant 
science.
    Response: Many of these comments were fully discussed by the 
Council and taken into account in the Council's recommendation 
concerning Amendment 16 and this framework. NMFS disagrees that the 
catch levels in FW 44 are the result of an overly precautionary 
interpretation of Magnuson-Stevens Act and the National Standard 1 
guidelines. The Council and its Committees, including the SSC, 
developed the procedures under which the ACLs were developed in 
Amendment 16, with NMFS serving an advisory role. The National Standard 
1 guidelines provide guidance on how FMPs can incorporate the new 
mandatory ACL and AM elements, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requirements to end and prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished 
stocks. In its review of Amendment 16 and FW 44, NMFS relied upon the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and the National Standard 1 guidelines to 
determine whether these actions are consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. For GOM cod, as well as for all other groundfish stocks, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements to specify ACLs and AMs are two 
of the principal factors that determined the FW 44 specified catch 
levels. The factors that determine the catch levels and amount of 
potential yield from the fishery are: (1) The status of the stocks in 
the fishery and the fishing mortality rates; (2) the multispecies 
nature of the fishery; and (3) the selectivity of the fishery. NMFS 
believes that Amendment 16 and FW 44 make substantive progress toward 
preventing overfishing and rebuilding stocks. With respect to 
Massachusetts' comments regarding changes to the FMP and 
specifications, the Council may modify elements of the FMP, if 
necessary, to more effectively prevent overfishing, address 
consolidation, optimize yield, account for scientific or management 
uncertainty, etc., based upon new scientific information and/or 
additional information to be gained in the future on the operation of 
the fishery under the amended FMP.
    NMFS agrees that low ACLs for some stocks will constrain the 
fishery's ability to catch other stocks with larger ACLs, and may 
result in the closure of some sectors in specific stock areas for 
prolonged periods of time. As more fully explained in responses to 
comments on Amendment 16 and its implementing regulations, these kinds 
of constraints in harvesting one stock because of more restrictive 
measures on other stocks in a mixed-stock fishery are inevitable and 
unavoidable due to Magnuson-Stevens Act mandates and national 
standards. The impact of these low ACLs could be mitigated through 
improvements in the selectivity of the fishery as well as through 
flexibility provided by sector management. If vessels are able to 
selectively fish for stocks with relatively large ACLs, and avoid those 
stocks with low ACLs, sector closures would be minimized or delayed, 
and yield would be improved. Sector management allows vessels to pool 
their catch to avoid, to some extent the constraints of fishing under 
different ACLs in a mixed-stock fishery. With

[[Page 18366]]

respect to the analytical or other limitations of Amendment 16, this 
final rule addresses only specific elements of Amendment 16 selected by 
the Council for modification. A full discussion of issues related to 
Amendment 16 are in the preambles of the proposed and final rules for 
Amendment 16.
    NMFS agrees with the commenter that the small incidental catch TACs 
will be difficult to monitor and, due to this concern, this final rule, 
under Regional Administrator authority, prohibits the use of Category B 
DAS in the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP. NMFS intends to closely 
monitor the remainder of the incidental catch TACs using current 
methods, which include estimation of total discards based upon 
increased observer coverage.
    Comment 3: The Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC) did not support 
the FW 44 provision to authorize the Regional Administrator to make 
inseason adjustments to certain management measures, because they 
believe such unpredictable adjustments will decrease a vessel's ability 
to plan its annual operations, and could create an incentive for derby 
fishing behavior, stating that this would be inefficient and dangerous. 
The NSC supported the trip limit reductions, which it believes will 
dampen the derby effect caused by actions that may be taken under the 
Regional Administrator's authority. It also supported the revised 
allocation of yellowtail flounder to the scallop fishery, as well as 
the requirement for limited access scallop vessels to land yellowtail 
flounder. Lastly, NSC stated that, in light of the large percentage of 
the GOM winter flounder ABC deducted for anticipated catch from State 
waters (35 percent), NMFS must ensure that the underlying data and 
methodology for this deduction are subject to serious scrutiny under 
the biennial review process of the FMP, and that the amount deducted 
should be readily modified, if necessary.
    Response: The strategy supported by the commenter as an alternative 
to inseason adjustments (i.e., to instead rely on Amendment 16 AMs 
that, if an ACL is exceeded, would be implemented at the start of the 
following FY), is not consistent with the Council's stated need for FW 
44: ``* * * to modify management measures in order to ensure that 
overfishing does not occur.'' NMFS has determined that this objective 
and the proposed measures to achieve the objective are consistent with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The benefit to be gained through the Regional 
Administrator authority to implement inseason changes to DAS accounting 
rates and trip limits is the decreased likelihood that catch levels 
will exceed ACLs. NMFS acknowledges that there may be potential 
concerns and costs associated with this management measure, such as 
uncertainty or derby fishing behavior, but has determined that the need 
to avoid exceeding ACLs, and thus triggering AMs, overrides speculative 
impacts due to the uncertainty of inseason adjustments. Further, as 
acknowledged by NSC, the trip limits implemented by FW 44 for GOM cod 
and pollock will dampen derby fishing behavior caused by inseason 
adjustments.
    NMFS agrees that the FW 44 trip limit reductions, requirement for 
limited access scallop vessels to land yellowtail flounder, and 
modified yellowtail flounder allocation to the scallop fishery are 
justified to ensure that the common pool achieves its fishing mortality 
objectives, discarding is minimized in the fishery, and the scallop 
fishery is allocated the appropriate amount of yellowtail flounder, 
respectively. NMFS also agrees that, in light of the large percentage 
of the GOM winter flounder ABC deducted for anticipated catch from 
State waters (35 percent), the underlying data and methodology for this 
deduction should be reviewed under the biennial review process of the 
FMP, and the amount deducted be modified, if necessary. Amendment 16 
implements a process for the specification of catch levels that is 
flexible in order to reflect new information and changes in the 
fishery, as well as to optimize catch. The biennial process implemented 
by Amendment 16 was designed to be responsive to pertinent information.
    Comment 4: The Council commented that the FW 44 proposed rule 
included two errors in the values proposed for sub-ACLs (white hake and 
SNE yellowtail flounder) that did not reflect the values in the FW 44 
document. The Council also expressed support for management measures 
proposed for the U.S./Canada Management Area and Special Management 
Programs under Regional Administrator authority. Although not included 
in the proposed rule, the Council supported the reallocation of 
incidental catch TACs implemented by this final rule. Lastly, Council 
staff indicated that it is critical that the areas used to monitor ACLs 
correspond to the areas used for assessments, and stated that the 
proposed changes to the GB yellowtail flounder stock area to include 
Statistical Areas 542 and 543 are not consistent with any documentation 
of stock area in the GARM III report, TRAC report, or the stock status 
pages on the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (Center) Web site. 
Council staff also questioned whether there are other instances where 
management areas do not correspond with assessments, including for 
Statistical Areas 464 and 465.
    Response: The sub-ACL values for white hake and SNE yellowtail 
flounder in the proposed rule were typographical errors, and NMFS has 
corrected these values based upon the FW 44 EA and EA Addendum. NMFS 
also acknowledges that the stock areas depicted in the GARM III report 
do not accurately reflect the stock areas that were used in individual 
assessments. Based on NMFS's consultation with stock assessment 
biologists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center to identify 
statistical areas used for each stock assessment as part of GARM III, 
changes to stock areas are included in this final rule to reflect the 
stock areas actually used in GARM III. However, because the assessments 
for some stocks included all statistical areas within a broad stock 
area, the broad stock areas relied upon by Amendment 16 to monitor 
catch of all stocks include all statistical areas within the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone. Finally, NMFS agrees that the management 
actions implemented by this final rule are allowable under Regional 
Administrator authority and are justified (as explained in sections 4 
and 5 of this preamble).

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    In Sec.  648.14, paragraphs (k)(13)(ii)(A) and (B) are revised to 
update cross- references as a result of other revisions made in this 
final rule.
    In Sec.  648.85, paragraphs (b)(6)(v)(A), (B), (D), (F), (G), (H), 
(I), and (K) are revised to update the stock areas used in the Regular 
B DAS Program, for trip limits, and in sector measures for GOM cod, GB 
cod, American plaice, SNE/MA winter flounder, witch flounder, GB 
yellowtail flounder, GB winter flounder, and pollock, to reflect 
updated definitions of the stock areas used in assessments.
    In Sec.  648.86(m)(1), the example provided is revised to reference 
GB cod, instead of GOM cod, to ensure that the example includes the 
correct possession limit modified under FW 44 and implemented by this 
final rule.
    In Sec.  648.87, paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A), (C), (D), (E), and (F) 
are revised to update the stock areas used for trip limits and sector 
measures for CC/GOM yellowtail flounder, GOM haddock, GB haddock, 
redfish, and GOM winter flounder, to reflect updated definitions of the 
stock areas used in assessments.

[[Page 18367]]

    In Sec.  648.86, paragraphs (r) and (s) are renamed paragraphs (n) 
and (o), respectively, to update cross-references.

Regulations Implemented Under Authority of Amendment 16 and FW 44

    The following paragraphs are implemented under joint authority of 
Amendment 16 and FW 44, where the Amendment 16 proposed rule regulatory 
text for some measures is modified by FW 44: Sec. Sec.  
648.14(k)(13)(ii)(A), and (B); 648.60(a)(5)(ii) introductory text and 
(a)(5)(ii)(c)(2); 648.82 (b)(6), (e)(1)(i), (o); 648.85 (b)(6)(v)(A), 
(G), (H), (I), and (K); and 648.86(a)(1) and (b)(1).

Classification

    NMFS has determined that this action is consistent with the FMP, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3), NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness of this rule, and to establish an effective date less 
than 30 days after the date of its publication. Publication of this 
rule is conditional upon approval and publication of the final rule for 
Amendment 16. A delay in the publication of the Amendment 16 final 
rule, therefore, necessitates a delay in the publication of this rule. 
FW 44 must be effective on May 1, 2010, pursuant to the FMP and 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements for implementation of ACLs. A May 1, 
2010, effective date is necessary in order to specify catch levels and 
implement management measures necessary to eliminate overfishing and 
continue stock rebuilding, as well as prevent industry confusion. If 
this rule were to become effective later than May 1, 2010, Sector 
operations would be delayed because there would be no fishery-wide 
specification of catch limits (total ACLs) in effect, important 
mortality controls such as trip limits would not be in effect, and new 
Regional Administrator's authority to help ensure that ACLs are not be 
exceeded would not be in effect. The net result is likely to be less 
restrictive fishing regulations, widespread uncertainty and confusion 
in the groundfish fishery regarding what the fishing regulations are, 
and possibly in increase in derby-style fishing behavior. Such 
conditions would cause economic disruption to the industry and 
undermine industry efforts to rebuild depressed stocks. Historical 
progress in reducing fishing mortality and stock rebuilding has been 
made through reductions in fishing effort at a cost to the fishing 
industry, and such gains should not be lost or reduced. The time 
available for FW 44 rulemaking was constrained by multiple factors and 
therefore rulemaking could not be completed further in advance of May 
1, 2010. These factors include the development of two other closely 
related management actions (Amendment 16 and sectors), data 
availability, and the scheduling of U.S. and international management 
bodies. Incorporation of the most recent scientific information results 
in timelines for the development of regulations that leave little room 
to expand such timelines, and pertinent information comes from 
disparate sources. Furthermore, the process of the development of catch 
levels involves multiple committees of the Council, as well as the 
involvement of members of the fishing industry. For example, 
information on the membership of sectors is necessary to specify the 
Sector and Common Pool sub-ACLs, and NMFS provided the maximum amount 
of time practicable for vessel owners to decide whether or not they 
wish to join sectors.
    An FRFA was prepared. The FRFA incorporates the Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, a summary of the significant issues raised by the 
public comments in response to the IRFA, NMFS's responses to those 
comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support the 
action. A detailed description of the action, why it is being 
considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained in the 
preamble to this final rule, and in the Executive Summary and Section 
3.2 of the EA prepared for this action.
    This final rule modifies the GOM cod and pollock trip limits in 
Amendment 16 by: (1) Reducing the GOM cod trip limit in Amendment 16 
(2,000 lb (907.2 kg)/DAS up to 12,000 lb (5,443.2 kg/trip) to the 
status quo level (800 lb (362.9 kg)/DAS up to 4,000 lb (1,814.4 kg)/
trip); (2) reducing the GOM cod trip limit for vessels fishing under a 
Handgear A or Handgear B permit to 300 lb (136.1 kg)/trip and 75 (34.0 
kg)lb/trip, respectively; and (3) imposing a trip limit for pollock to 
of 1,000 lb (453.6 kg)/DAS up to 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)/trip (Amendment 
16 does not include a possession limit for pollock). This final rule 
also: (1) Grants the Regional Administrator the authority to implement 
inseason trip limits and/or differential DAS counting for any 
groundfish stock in order to prevent catch from exceeding the ACL; (2) 
specifies OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs for all 20 groundfish stocks in the FMP 
for FY 2010 through 2012, as well as the TACs for transboundary GB 
stocks, and allocations of yellowtail flounder to the scallop fleet; 
(3) allocates zero trips to the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP; (4) 
limits the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP to the use of Category A DAS 
for common pool vessels; (5) delays the opening of the Eastern U.S./
Canada Area for trawl vessels; and (6) implements a GB yellowtail 
flounder trip limit of 2,500 lb (1,125 kg). These measures will affect 
regulated entities engaged in commercial fishing for groundfish and 
scallops. Sub-ACLs are also set for the recreational catches of GOM cod 
and GOM haddock and will affect regulated entities engaged in the 
party/charter industry.

Description of and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which 
the Final Rule Applies

    Under the Small Business Administration, any commercial fishing 
vessel that generates $4 million in sales, or any party/charter 
operation with $7 million in annual sales, is considered a small 
business. Although multiple vessels may be owned by a single owner, 
tracking of ownership is not readily available to reliably ascertain 
affiliated entities. Therefore, for purposes of analysis, each 
permitted vessel is treated as a single small entity. During FY 2008 
(the most recent FY for which complete data are available), 2,732 
vessels were issued a scallop and/or a NE multispecies permit. Of these 
vessels, 1,867 were issued only a NE multispecies permit, 500 were only 
issued a scallop permit, and 365 were issued both a scallop and a NE 
multispecies permit. The latter include vessels that have a limited 
access scallop and a limited access Category E (combination vessel) 
groundfish permit, as well as vessels that hold some combination of a 
party/charter permit and a limited access scallop permit or a general 
category permit. Among NE multispecies permit holders, 1,472 held 
limited access permits, and 760 held open access party/charter permits.
    Based on FY 2008 activity, 1,267 of the 2,732 vessels with either a 
commercial scallop or NE multispecies permit participated in the 
scallop or NE multispecies fishery. Median gross sales for these 
vessels were $186,000, and no one entity had sales exceeding $4 
million. Based on FY 2008 logbook data, 143 of the 760 permitted party/
charter vessels participated in the GOM recreational groundfish fishery 
where either GOM haddock or GOM cod were retained. The total number of 
passengers carried by a single of these regulated

[[Page 18368]]

party/charter operators did not exceed 11,000. At an average passenger 
fee of approximately $65 per passenger, none of the participating 
party/charter businesses would exceed $7 million in sales. Therefore, 
NMFS has determined that all 1,410 of the participating commercial and 
recreational for-hire vessels are small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexiblity Act, and hence there is no disproportionate impact between 
small and large entities.

Summary of the Issues Raised by Public Comments in Response to the IRFA 
and a Summary of the Agency Assessment of Such Issues and a Statement 
of Any Changes Made From the Proposed Rule as a Result of Such Comments

    One commenter expressed concern about the economic impacts of the 
measures and catch specifications. The commenter stated that 
excessively low ACLs, in conjunction with sectors, will result in 
dramatic consolidation of the industry (particularly day vessels) and 
under-harvesting of available fishery yield. No modifications to the 
proposed rule were made as a result of this comment. Amendment 16 to 
the FMP, implemented in conjunction with this final rule, contains 
measures to mitigate some of the negative economic impacts of the FMP.

Economic Impacts of the Final Action

    A more detailed treatment of economic impacts may be found in 
Section 7.4 of the EA and in Section 3.4 of the Addendum to the EA. As 
noted in Section 7.4, the economic impacts of the ACLs set for the 
commercial groundfish fishery are uncertain for any given vessel, 
because the economic impacts depend on whether the vessel owner chooses 
to enroll in a sector or remains in the common pool. Sectors offer 
relief from certain regulations while being limited to a quota on 
catch. Sectors provide opportunities to improve economic efficiency 
while placing a premium on managing available quota for multiple 
species to maximize the value of landings. Fishing in the context of a 
sector will likely require changes in fishing practices, including 
where, when, and how fishing operations are conducted.
    Groundfish revenues during both FY 2007 and 2008 were approximately 
$85 million. Given the specified 2010 ACLs, at 2008 prices, the 
available potential revenue would be approximately $190 million, 
assuming the available ACL for all stocks can be harvested and no 
discarding occurs. Realizing revenues of this magnitude is unlikely, 
however, because some level of discarding will occur, and available ACL 
for some species will constrain the ability to harvest the full ACL of 
others. If there are no changes in recent discarding rates or gear 
selectivity, groundfish revenues may be expected to decline to $63 
million in FY 2010. However, improvements in selectivity, particularly 
while fishing for GB haddock, which comprises nearly half of the 
aggregate groundfish ACL, could lead to substantially higher revenues. 
If, for example, selectivity could be improved by 50 percent over FY 
2007-2008 averages, groundfish revenues would be an estimated $87 
million in FY 2010.
    Even if fishing revenues do not improve, vessel owners that enroll 
in sectors may still find themselves in a more favorable financial 
position because sectors offer the opportunity for pooling of quota 
across fishing platforms. For individuals that own multiple vessels, 
operating in a sector allows them to shed redundant capital, thereby 
reducing fixed costs. Operating costs may also be reduced because 
sector participants are granted certain regulatory exemptions that 
decrease overall costs, and because fishing will likely be moved to an 
owner's most efficient vessel.
    Economic impacts on vessels that do not enroll in a sector are also 
uncertain. The common pool measures (trip limits for GOM cod and 
pollock) were designed to ensure that the catch does not exceed the 
sub-ACL allocated to the common pool as a whole. The economic impact of 
these measures was estimated by applying the common pool measures 
adopted under Amendment 16, as modified by this action, to FY 2007 
activity. As of September 1, 2009, and at the time of the proposed rule 
for FW 44, 723 permits had enrolled in a sector, and 757 had not. The 
analysis in FW 44 reflects a lower number than are currently enrolled. 
As of January 22, 2010, additional vessels had enrolled in sectors, 
bringing the total number of sector vessels to 812.
    Of those vessels in the common pool, a large number have not been 
active in the groundfish fishery. In fact, only 279 of the common pool 
vessels had any Category A DAS that would enable them to participate in 
the groundfish fishery. Of these 279, only 113 were found to have 
actually participated in the groundfish fishery. These vessels had 
aggregate gross sales of $24.8 million (an average of $219,500 per 
vessel), of which nearly 30 percent was derived from sales on trips 
where groundfish were landed. The estimated combined effect of the 
Amendment 16/FW 44 measures on the common pool is expected to reduce 
total sales by $5.1 million, an average of $45,100 per vessel, or 20.1 
percent. This represents a $3-million reduction in groundfish revenue 
from 2008 levels. These economic impacts represent an upper bound of 
the adverse impacts, because they do not reflect the ability of vessels 
to modify fishing behavior or to lease DAS to mitigate potential 
impacts. However, the ability to offset such impact by DAS leasing may 
be limited. Converting 2007 activity into 24-hr increments, as 
implemented by Amendment 16, the total DAS needed to fish at 2007 
levels (3,769 DAS) exceeds that of the total DAS that will be allocated 
to the common pool (3,600) in FY 2010. Furthermore, the ability to find 
trading partners may also be limited by the restrictions on trading 
among vessels within specified baseline length and horsepower 
characteristics.
    The allocation of yellowtail flounder to the scallop fishery in FY 
2010 would have no negative economic impact on the scallop fishery, 
because the allocation would not constrain scallop catch. The economic 
impact of this action on the NE multispecies fishery in FY 2010 would 
be a reduction in multispecies revenue of between 1 and 15 percent. The 
value of each metric ton of yellowtail flounder to the NE multispecies 
fishery ranges from $3,296 to $41,176, depending on whether the 
estimate includes only the value of yellowtail flounder, or also 
includes potential revenue losses from other groundfish stocks that may 
result from loss of access to a yellowtail stock area. GB yellowtail 
flounder is more valuable than SNE/MA yellowtail flounder because of 
the greater groundfish fishing opportunities on GB. The estimated 
losses to the GB fishery range from $481,216 to $6 million for FY 2010, 
with an expected loss of $1.8 million.
    In contrast, as of FY 2011, it is anticipated that there will be 
short-term AMs that will impact the scallop fishery if the sub-ACL is 
exceeded. The economic impact of the yellowtail flounder sub-ACL for 
the scallop fishery for FY 2011 is uncertain. This sub-ACL for the 
scallop fishery would have a potential impact on both groundfish and 
scallop vessels. However, as was the case for the setting of NE 
multispecies ACLs, the impact on any given vessel is indeterminate. The 
AM for the scallop fleet has yet to be determined, and setting an ACL 
may cause changes in fishing strategies to avoid foregone revenues that 
may be associated with exceeding the ACL. Assuming an inseason AM is 
selected, and there is no change in fishing patterns by either 
groundfish or scallop vessels, an upper-bound estimate is a total 
revenue loss of

[[Page 18369]]

$35 million and $2.6 million for scallop and groundfish, respectively, 
during 2011, and losses of $36 million and $4 million during 2012. 
These values represent about 6 percent of the likely scallop ACLs that 
will be set for 2011 and 2012, and about 5 percent or less of 
groundfish revenue, depending on factors noted above affecting realized 
groundfish revenue.
    This final rule increases the amount of yellowtail flounder 
allocation to the scallop fishery and decreases the amount of 
yellowtail flounder for the groundfish fishery compared to the proposed 
rule. Although the range of estimated impacts of the final allocations 
are similar to the proposed rule, the economic impacts to the 
groundfish fleet are increased due to the smaller allocations of GB and 
SNE/MA yellowtail flounder (35 mt and 12 mt, respectively) to the 
groundfish fishery.
    For FY 2010, the estimated revenue loss for the groundfish fishery 
resulting from the combined impacts of the common pool measures and ACL 
is between $3 million and $27 million (from the baseline FY 2008 
revenue of $85 million), depending on the proportion of available fish 
that is caught. The larger revenue reductions would result from a 
continuation of recent TAC utilization and discard rates (which are 
only a small fraction of available haddock caught), whereas the lower 
revenue reduction estimate would require a 50-percent reduction in the 
amount of under-harvesting.
    For FY 2011, the revenue loss resulting from the combined impacts 
of the common pool measures, ACL, and yellowtail flounder allocation to 
the scallop fishery is estimated at between $26.9 million and $53.8 
million. The FY 2011 revenue loss for the scallop fleet is estimated at 
$35 million. The FY 2011 impact on groundfish revenue ranges from a 
loss of $15.8 million to a gain of $11.1 million. For FY 2012, the 
estimated revenue loss resulting from the combined impacts of the 
common pool measures, ACL, and yellowtail flounder allocation to the 
scallop fishery is between $27.6 million and $54.8 million. The FY 2012 
loss to the scallop fleet is estimated at $36 million. The FY 2012 
impact on groundfish revenue ranges from a loss of $14.8 million to a 
gain of $12.4 million.
    This final rule does not modify the recreational measures 
implemented by Amendment 16. Those measures add 2 weeks to the GOM cod 
closed season and reduce the size limit on GOM haddock from 19 to 18 
inches (47.5 to 45 cm). Thus, passenger demand may be expected to 
respond to these regulatory changes, and may not be expected to be 
affected by the setting of any particular recreational sub-ACL. 
However, because exceeding a recreational sub-ACL would trigger an AM, 
the economic impacts on recreational party/charter vessels would be 
associated with the likelihood that harvest levels would trigger an AM. 
According to GARM III estimates of landings, GOM cod harvest by all 
recreation modes ranged between 1,960 mt and 953 mt from FY 2004 to 
2007. The GOM cod recreational sub-ACL would be 2,673 mt, 2,824 mt, and 
2,826 mt during FY 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Because harvest 
levels of GOM cod by the recreational sector, including party/charter 
operators, has been below the recreational sub-ACL for GOM cod, an AM 
would not be expected to be triggered by these limits. For this reason, 
the GOM cod sub-ACL would not be expected to have an adverse economic 
impact on party/charter vessels.
    By contrast, during FY 2004-2007, the recreational harvest of GOM 
haddock ranged between 430 mt and 717 mt and, under this final rule, 
the recreational sub-ACL for GOM haddock declines from 324 mt in FY 
2010, to 259 mt in 2012. This means that the recreational GOM haddock 
ACL will be about 57 percent of the FY 2004-2007 average harvest. In 
the absence of avoidance behavior by party/charter vessels, the GOM 
haddock sub-ACL may be expected to be exceeded, triggering an AM. The 
impact of triggering a GOM haddock AM on party/charter vessels is 
uncertain. Available data suggest substitutability between cod and 
haddock on party/charter trips, so if the GOM cod recreational sub-ACL 
is not constraining, some switching between haddock and cod on GOM 
party/charter trips may be anticipated. The economic impact on party/
charter operators will depend on the selected AM and the relative 
strength of angler preference between cod and haddock. If the AM is a 
seasonal closure, then the economic impact would be a loss in trips 
that could be taken during the closure. These trips may not be 
recovered, given the seasonal nature of recreational passenger demand. 
If the GOM haddock AM is a change in the bag or size limit, and cod may 
easily be substituted for haddock, then passenger demand may be 
expected to be largely unchanged and the economic impact on party/
charter vessels would likely be relatively low.
    The economic impacts to the groundfish fishery of specification of 
the U.S./Canada TACs are difficult to predict due to the many factors 
that may affect the level of catch; however, it is likely that the 
substantially reduced FY 2010 TACs for Eastern GB cod and GB yellowtail 
flounder (compared to FY 2009), will result in reduced overall revenue 
from the U.S./Canada Management Area. The amount of fish landed and 
sold will not be equal to the sum of the TACs, but will be reduced as a 
result of discards (for the common pool), and may be further reduced by 
limitations on access to stocks that may result from the associated 
fishing rules. Reductions to the value of the fish may result from 
fishing derby behavior and potential impact on markets. The revenue 
from the sale of the three transboundary stocks may be up to 22 percent 
less than such revenue in FY 2008. It is possible that total revenue 
may be reduced by up to 30 percent from FY 2009 revenues. The amount of 
haddock that has been harvested from the U.S./Canada Management Area 
has been increasing, but it is unknown whether this trend will 
continue. The delayed opening of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area for trawl 
vessels will likely result in increased revenue from the Eastern U.S./
Canada Area, because it is likely to prolong the time period during 
which the area is open and enable a higher overall catch of all 
species. Similarly, the specification of a trip limit for GB yellowtail 
flounder will prolong the opening of the Eastern U.S./Canada Area and 
result in greater overall revenue.
    The allocation of zero trips for the CA II Yellowtail Flounder SAP 
will preclude additional revenue from CA II, but will not represent a 
decrease in opportunity or revenue from recent years, because the SAP 
has not been opened since FY 2004 due to the status of the GB 
yellowtail flounder stock. The prohibition on the use of Category B DAS 
in the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP will result in only a slight 
decrease in revenue, because participation in the SAP has been 
extremely low.
    This final rule also provides the Regional Administrator authority 
to implement trip limits or differential DAS counting inseason in order 
to prevent ACLs from being exceeded, or to facilitate the harvesting of 
ACLs. Because it is unclear if this authority will result in decreased 
or increased fishing effort, the effect of this action may be short-
term increases or decreases in revenue. The Regional Administrator 
authority will contribute to long-term increases in revenue by 
optimizing catch levels to align with catch targets and facilitate 
stock rebuilding.

[[Page 18370]]

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the Economic 
Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the Stated Objectives of 
Applicable Statutes

    The measures and catch specifications of this final rule will be 
implemented at the same time as the final rules for Amendment 16 and 
approved sector operations plans (related actions). This final rule 
implements measures and specifications that, in conjunction with the 
related actions, minimize the long-term economic impacts on small 
entities. Long-term impacts of this final rule, as well as the related 
actions of the FMP, are minimized by ensuring that management measures 
and catch levels result in fishing mortality rates that are sustainable 
and contribute to rebuilding stocks, therefore maximizing yield, as 
well as providing additional flexibility for fishing operations in the 
short term.
    The specification of catch levels for components of the groundfish 
and non-groundfish fisheries, as well as additional management measures 
to ensure that such catch levels are not exceeded, increase the 
likelihood that the biological objectives of the FMP will be met, 
resulting in greater sustainable revenue over the long term. Although 
for some stocks the catch levels specified will result in decreased 
short-term landings and revenues as compared to recent catches, for 
other stocks the catch levels specified represent large increases from 
recent catches. Whether or not a particular small entity is able to 
land high availability stocks such as GB haddock will depend upon its 
ability to operate in an efficient and flexible manner, and reduce 
catch of stocks that will be constraining (due to reduced catch levels 
required). If the owner/operator of a fishing vessel is able to fish in 
an efficient manner that optimizes species selectivity, and respond to 
market conditions, it is possible that they may increase revenue for 
some stocks. The recreational allocation ensures that the recreational 
fishery will not be subject to further efforts to reduce catch if there 
is excessive catch by other components of the fishery.
    Amendment 16 implements new sectors and sector rules designed to 
increase operational efficiency and reduce waste, and may lead to 
increased revenue for participating vessels. Amendment 16 implements 
modification to special management programs that will allow additional 
flexibility to lease or transfer DAS, and maximize opportunities in 
SAPs. The changes in the DAS lease and transfer programs increase the 
likelihood that vessels in the common pool will be able to acquire 
sufficient DAS to remain economically viable, despite additional effort 
controls. It is difficult to predict the amount of mitigation that will 
occur from the combined impacts of the FW 44 measures and 
specifications, Amendment 16 measures, and the approved sector 
operations, in the context of the substantial effort reductions that 
will occur.
    In contrast, the No Action alternative would have achieved neither 
the catch levels consistent with Amendment 16 fishing mortality 
reductions, nor the Magnuson-Setvens Act mandates for ACLs. Because the 
No Action alternative would not specified catch levels to end 
overfishing or rebuilt stocks, it would not have been consistent with 
applicable laws and cannot be implemented through this action. Based 
upon the rebuilding projections in Amendment 16, although the short-
term economic benefits associated with the No Action alternative are 
greater than the action implemented, over the long-term, economic 
benefits of catch levels specified in this final rule that enable stock 
rebuilding will result in greater economic benefits.
    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency shall explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. As part of 
this rulemaking process, a letter to permit holders that also serves as 
small entity compliance guide (the guide) was prepared. Copies of this 
final rule are available from the Northeast Regional Office, and the 
guide, i.e., permit holder letter, will be sent to all holders of 
permits for the NE multispecies fishery, along with each individual 
issued a Federal dealer permit. The guide and this final rule will be 
available upon request.
    This rule contains no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: March 26, 2010.
Eric C. Schwaab,
Assistant Administrator to Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended as 
follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. In Sec.  648.10, revise the section heading and paragraph (k)(3)(iv) 
is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.10  NE multispecies broad stock areas.

* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iv) SNE/MA Stock Area 4. The SNE/MA Stock Area 4 is the area 
bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, 
bounded on the south by a line running from the east-facing coastline 
of North Carolina at 35[deg] N. lat. until its intersection with the 
EEZ, and bounded on the east by straight lines connecting the following 
points in the order stated:

                           SNE/MA Stock Area 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G12............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00'
IGB7...........................  41[deg]20'           70[deg]00'
IGB6...........................  41[deg]20'           69[deg]50'
IGB5...........................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]50'
IGB4...........................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]30'
IGB3...........................  41[deg]00'           69[deg]30'
IGB2...........................  41[deg]00'           68[deg]50'
SNE4...........................  39[deg]50'           68[deg]50'
SNE3...........................  39[deg]50'           69[deg]00'
SNE5...........................  39[deg]00'           69[deg]00'
SNE6...........................  39[deg]00'           (\2\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ South-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, MA.
\2\ The U.S.-Canada maritime boundary as it intersects with the EEZ.


0
3. In Sec.  648.14, add paragraph (i)(2)(iii)(D) and revise paragraphs 
(k)(13)(ii)(A) and (B) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (D) Discard yellowtail flounder that meet the minimum size 
restrictions specified under Sec.  648.83(a)(1) and (2).
* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (13) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Land, or possess on board a vessel, more than the possession or 
landing limits specified in Sec.  648.86(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), 
(h), (j), (k), (l), (n), and (o); or violate any of the other 
provisions of Sec.  648.86, unless otherwise specified in Sec.  648.17.
    (B) Possess or land per trip more than the possession or landing 
limits

[[Page 18371]]

specified in Sec.  648.86(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (j), (l), 
(m),(n), and (o), Sec.  648.81(n), Sec.  648.82(b)(5) and (6), Sec.  
648.85, or Sec.  648.88 if the vessel has been issued a limited access 
NE multispecies permit or open access NE multispecies permit, as 
applicable.
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  648.60, revise paragraph (a)(5)(ii) introductory text and 
paragraph (a)(5)(ii)(C) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.60  Sea scallop area access program requirements.

    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (ii) NE multispecies possession limits and yellowtail flounder 
TACs. A limited access scallop vessel that is declared into a trip and 
fishing within the Sea Scallop Access Areas described in Sec.  
648.59(b) through (d), and issued a valid NE multispecies permit as 
specified in Sec.  648.4(a)(1), may fish for, possess, and land, per 
trip, up to a maximum of 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) of all NE multispecies 
combined, excluding yellowtail flounder, subject to the minimum 
commercial fish size restrictions specified in Sec.  648.83(a)(1), and 
the additional restrictions for Atlantic cod, haddock, and yellowtail 
flounder specified in paragraphs (a)(5)(ii)(A) through (C) of this 
section. Such vessel is subject to the seasonal restriction established 
under the Sea Scallop Area Access Program and specified in Sec.  
648.59(b)(4), (c)(4), and (d)(4).
* * * * *
    (C) Yellowtail flounder. Such vessel must retain all yellowtail 
flounder that meet the minimum size restrictions specified under Sec.  
648.83(a)(1).
    (1) Scallop Access Area TAC Availability. After declaring a trip 
into and fishing within the Closed Area I, Closed Area II, or Nantucket 
Lightship Scallop Access Areas described in Sec.  648.59(b), (c), and 
(d), respectively, a scallop vessel that has a valid NE multispecies 
permit, as specified in Sec.  648.4(a)(1), may possess and land 
yellowtail flounder, provided the Regional Administrator has not issued 
a notice that the scallop fishery portion of the TACs specified in 
Sec.  648.85(c) for the respective Closed Area I, Closed Area II, or 
Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Areas have been harvested. The 
Regional Administrator shall publish notification in the Federal 
Register, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, to 
notify scallop vessel owners that the scallop fishery portions of the 
TAC for a yellowtail flounder stock has been or is projected to be 
harvested by scallop vessels in any Access Area. Upon notification in 
the Federal Register that a TAC has been or is projected to be 
harvested, scallop vessels are prohibited from fishing in, and 
declaring and initiating a trip to the Access Area(s), where the TAC 
applies, for the remainder of the fishing year, unless the yellowtail 
flounder TAC is increased, as specified in paragraph (a)(5)(ii)(C)(3) 
of this section.
    (2) U.S./Canada Area TAC availability. After declaring a trip into 
and fishing in the Closed Area I or Closed Area II Access Area 
described in Sec.  648.59(b) and (c), a scallop vessel that has a valid 
NE multispecies permit, as specified in Sec.  648.4(a)(1), may possess 
and land yellowtail flounder, provided that the Regional Administrator 
has not issued a notice that the U.S./Canada yellowtail flounder TAC 
specified in Sec.  648.85(a)(2) has been harvested. If the yellowtail 
flounder TAC established for the U.S./Canada Management Area pursuant 
to Sec.  648.85(a)(2) has been or is projected to be harvested, as 
described in Sec.  648.85(a)(3)(iv)(C)(3), scallop vessels are 
prohibited from possessing or landing yellowtail flounder in or from 
the Closed Area I and Closed Area II Access Areas.
    (3) Modification to yellowtail flounder TACs. The yellowtail 
flounder TACs allocated to scallop vessels may be increased by the 
Regional Administrator after December 1 of each year pursuant to Sec.  
648.85(c)(2).
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  648.82, revise the introductory text to paragraph (b)(6), 
and add paragraphs (e)(1)(i), (n)(1)(ii), (o) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.82  Effort-control program for NE multispecies limited access 
vessels.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (6) Handgear A category. A vessel qualified and electing to fish 
under the Handgear A category, as described in Sec.  648.4(a)(1)(i)(A), 
may retain, per trip, up to 300 lb (135 kg) of cod, one Atlantic 
halibut, and the daily possession limit for other regulated species and 
ocean pout as specified under Sec.  648.86. The cod trip limit shall be 
adjusted proportionally to the trip limit for GOM cod (rounded up to 
the nearest 50 lb (22.7 kg)), as specified in Sec.  648.86(b)). For 
example, if the GOM cod trip limit specified at Sec.  648.86(b) 
doubled, then the cod trip limit for the Handgear A category would 
double. Qualified vessels electing to fish under the Handgear A 
category are subject to the following restrictions:
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Common pool vessels. For a common pool vessel, Category A DAS 
shall accrue in 24-hr increments, unless otherwise required under 
paragraphs (n) or (o) of this section. For example, a vessel that 
fished from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. would be charged 24 hr of Category A DAS, 
not 16 hr; a vessel that fished for 25 hr would be charged 48 hr of 
Category A instead of 25 hr.
* * * * *
    (n) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) Differential DAS counting factor. For determining the 
differential DAS counting AM specified in this paragraph (n)(1), or the 
inseason differential DAS counting adjustment specified in paragraph 
(o) of this section, the following differential DAS factor shall, 
except as provided in paragraph (n)(1)(iii) of this section, be applied 
to the DAS accrual rate specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, 
and implemented in a manner consistent with the Administrative 
Procedure Act.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Proportion of ACL caught              Differential DAS factor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5.......................................  0.5
0.6.......................................  0.6
0.7.......................................  0.7
0.8.......................................  0.8
0.9.......................................  No change
1.0.......................................  No change
1.1.......................................  1.1
1.2.......................................  1.2
1.3.......................................  1.3
1.4.......................................  1.4
1.5.......................................  1.5
1.6.......................................  1.6
1.7.......................................  1.7
1.8.......................................  1.8
1.9.......................................  1.9
2.0.......................................  2.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (o) Inseason adjustment to differential DAS counting for NE 
multispecies common pool vessels. (1) In addition to the DAS accrual 
provisions specified in paragraphs (e) and (n) of this section, and 
other measures specified in this part, common pool vessels are subject 
to the following restrictions: The Regional Administrator shall project 
the catch of regulated species or ocean pout by common pool vessels and 
shall determine whether such catch will exceed any of the sub-ACLs 
specified for common pool vessels as described in Sec.  648.90(a)(4). 
This projection shall include catch by common pool vessels, as well as 
available information, regarding the catch of regulated species and 
ocean pout by vessels fishing for NE multispecies in State waters 
outside of the authority of the FMP, vessels fishing in exempted 
fisheries, and vessels

[[Page 18372]]

fishing in the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. If it is projected that 
catch will exceed or under-harvest the common pool sub-ACL, the 
Regional Administrator may, at any time during the fishing year, 
implement a differential DAS counting factor to all Category A DAS used 
within the pertinent stock area(s), as specified in paragraph (n)(1)(i) 
of this section, in a manner consistent with the Administrative 
Procedure Act. Notwithstanding the fact that the differential DAS 
accountability measures described in paragraph (n)(1) of this section 
are intended to address potential over-harvests in fishing year 2010 
and 2011, the scope of the Regional Administrator authority specified 
in this paragraph (o) is not limited to FY 2010 and 2011.
    (2) The differential DAS counting factor shall be based on the 
projected proportion of the sub-ACL of each NE multispecies stock 
caught by common pool vessels, rounded to the nearest even tenth, as 
specified in paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section, unless otherwise 
specified in Sec.  648.90(a)(5). For example, if the Regional 
Administrator projects that common pool vessels will catch 1.18 times 
the sub-ACL for GOM cod by the end of fishing year 2010, the Regional 
Administrator may implement a differential DAS counting factor of 1.2 
to all Category A DAS used by common pool vessels within the Inshore 
GOM Differential DAS Area during fishing year 2010 (i.e., Category A 
DAS will be charged at a rate of 28.8 hr for every 24 hr fished--1.2 
times 24-hr DAS counting). If it is projected that catch will 
simultaneously exceed or underharvest the sub-ACLs for several 
regulated species stocks within a particular stock area, the Regional 
Administrator may implement the most restrictive differential DAS 
counting factor derived from paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section for 
the sub-ACLs exceeded or underharvested to any Category A DAS used by 
common pool vessels within that particular stock area. For example, if 
it is projected that the common pool vessel catch will exceed the GOM 
cod sub-ACL by a factor of 1.2 and the CC/GOM yellowtail flounder sub-
ACL by a factor of 1.1, the Regional Administrator may implement a 
differential DAS counting factor of 1.2 to any Category A DAS fished by 
common pool vessels within the Inshore GOM Differential DAS Area during 
the fishing year. For any inseason differential DAS counting factor 
implemented, the differential DAS counting factor shall be applied 
against the DAS accrual provisions specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of 
this section for the time spent fishing in the applicable differential 
DAS counting area based upon the first VMS position into the applicable 
differential DAS counting area and the first VMS position outside of 
the applicable differential DAS counting area pursuant to Sec.  648.10. 
For example, if a vessel fished 12 hr inside a differential DAS 
counting area where a differential DAS counting factor of 1.2 would be 
applied, and 12 hr outside of the differential DAS counting area, the 
vessel would be charged 48 hr of DAS, because DAS would be charged in 
24-hr increments ((12 hr inside the area x 1.2 = 14.4 hr) + 12 hr 
outside the area, rounded to the next 24-hr increment to determine DAS 
charged).
    (3) For any inseason differential DAS counting factor implemented 
in fishing year 2011, the inseason differential DAS counting factor 
shall be applied in accordance with the DAS accrual provisions 
specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, and, if pursuant to 
paragraph (n)(1) of this section, in conjunction with a differential 
DAS counting factor also implemented for the same differential DAS area 
during fishing year 2011 as an AM. For example, if a differential DAS 
counting factor of 1.2 was applied to the Inshore GOM Differential DAS 
Area during fishing year 2011, as an AM due to a 20-percent overage of 
the GOM cod sub-ACL in fishing year 2010, and during fishing year 2011 
the GOM cod sub-ACL was projected to be exceeded by 30 percent, an 
additional differential DAS factor of 1.3 would be applied to the DAS 
accrual rate as an inseason action during fishing year 2011. Under this 
example, the DAS accrual rate after both the AM and the inseason 
differential DAS rate is applied to FY 2011 in the Inshore GOM 
Differential DAS Counting Area would be 37.4 hr charged for every 24 hr 
fished--1.2 x 1.3 x 24-hr DAS charge.

0
6. In Sec.  648.85, add paragraphs (b)(6)(v)(A), (B), (D), (F), (G), 
(H), (I), and (K) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.85  Special management programs.

    (b) * * *
    (6) * * *
    (v) * * *
    (A) GOM cod stock area. The GOM cod stock area, for the purposes of 
the Regular B DAS Program and determining areas applicable to sector 
allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is defined as the area 
bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on 
the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by 
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

                           GOM Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM1...........................  (\1\)                70[deg]00[min]
GOM2...........................  42[deg]20[min]       70[deg]00[min]
GOM3...........................  42[deg]20[min]       67[deg]40[min]
GOM4...........................  (\2\)                67[deg]40[min]
GOM5...........................  (\3\)                67[deg]40[min]
GOM6...........................  43[deg]50[min]       67[deg]40[min]
GOM7...........................  43[deg]50[min]       (\4\)
GOM8...........................  (\4\)                67[deg]00[min]
GOM9...........................  (\5\)                67[deg]00[min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00[min] W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with
  67[deg]40[min] W. long.).
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with
  67[deg]40[min] W. long.).
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\5\ Intersection of the south-facing ME coastline and 67[deg]00[min] W.
  long.

    (B) GB cod stock area. The GB cod stock area, for the purposes of 
the Regular B DAS Program and determining areas applicable to sector 
allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is the area defined by 
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

                            GB Cod Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB1............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00[min]
GB2............................  42[deg]20[min]       70[deg]00[min]
GB3............................  42[deg]20[min]       (\2\)
GB4............................  35[deg]00[min]       (\2\)
GB5............................  35[deg]00[min]       (\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00[min] W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ Intersection of the east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and
  35[deg]00[min] N. lat.

* * * * *
    (D) American plaice stock area. The American plaice stock area, for 
the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program and determining areas 
applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is 
the area defined by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated:

                       American Plaice Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMP1...........................  (\1\)                67[deg]00[min]
AMP2...........................  (\2\)                67[deg]00[min]
AMP3...........................  43[deg]50[min]       (\2\)
AMP4...........................  43[deg]50[min]       67[deg]40[min]
AMP5...........................  (\3\)                67[deg]40[min]
AMP6...........................  (\4\)                67[deg]40[min]
AMP7...........................  42[deg]30[min]       67[deg]40[min]
AMP8...........................  42[deg]30[min]       (\2\)
AMP9...........................  35[deg]00[min]       (\2\)

[[Page 18373]]

 
AMP10..........................  35[deg]00[min]       (\5\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing ME coastline and 67[deg]00[min] W.
  long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with
  67[deg]40[min] N. lat.).
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with
  67[deg]40[min] N. lat.)
\5\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and
  35[deg]00[min] N. lat.

* * * * *
    (F) SNE/MA winter flounder stock area. The SNE winter flounder 
stock area, for the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program and 
identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in Sec. Sec.  648.86 
and 648.89 is the area defined by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated:

                    SNE/MA Winter Flounder Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00[min]
2..............................  42[deg]20[min]       70[deg]00[min]
3..............................  42[deg]20[min]       68[deg]50[min]
4..............................  39[deg]50[min]       68[deg]50[min]
5..............................  39[deg]50[min]       69[deg]00[min]
6..............................  39[deg]00[min]       69[deg]00[min]
7..............................  39[deg]00[min]       (\2\)
8..............................  35[deg]00[min]       (\2\)
9..............................  35[deg]00[min]       (\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing Coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00[min] W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ The intersection of the east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC,
  and 35[deg]00[min] N. lat.

    (G) Witch flounder stock area. The witch flounder stock area, for 
the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program and determining areas 
applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is 
the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United 
States, bounded on the south and east by a line running east from the 
intersection of the east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, at 
35[deg]00[min] N. lat. to the boundary of the EEZ, and running 
northward to the U.S.-Canada border.
    (H) GB yellowtail flounder stock area. The GB yellowtail flounder 
stock area, for the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program, identifying 
stock areas for trip limits specified in Sec.  648.86, and determining 
areas applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  
648.87(b), is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated:

                    GB Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USCA1..........................  42[deg]20[min]       68[deg]50[min]
USCA16.........................  42[deg]20[min]       (\1\)
USCA5..........................  39[deg]00[min]       (\1\)
USCA17.........................  39[deg]00[min]       69[deg]00[min]
USCA18.........................  39[deg]50[min]       69[deg]00[min]
USCA2..........................  39[deg]50[min]       68[deg]50[min]
USCA1..........................  42[deg]20[min]       68[deg]50[min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

    (I) GB winter flounder stock area. The GB winter flounder stock 
area, for the purposes of the Regular B DAS Program, identifying stock 
areas for trip limits specified in Sec.  648.86, and determining areas 
applicable to sector allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is 
the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated:

                      GB Winter Flounder Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USCA1..........................  42[deg]20'           68[deg]50'
USCA16.........................  42[deg]20'           (\1\)
USCA5..........................  39[deg]00'           (\1\)
USCA17.........................  39[deg]00'           69[deg]00'
USCA18.........................  39[deg]50'           69[deg]00'
USCA2..........................  39[deg]50'           68[deg]50'
USCA1..........................  42[deg]20'           68[deg]50'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

* * * * *
    (K) Pollock stock area. The pollock stock area, for the purposes of 
the Regular B DAS Program and determining areas applicable to sector 
allocations of ACE pursuant to Sec.  648.87(b), is the area defined by 
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

                           Pollock Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P1.............................  (\1\)                67[deg]00'
P2.............................  (\2\)                67[deg]00'
P3.............................  43[deg]50'           (\2\)
P4.............................  43[deg]50'           67[deg]40'
P5.............................  (\3\)                67[deg]40'
P6.............................  (\4\)                67[deg]40'
P7.............................  42[deg]30'           67[deg]40'
P8.............................  42[deg]30'           (\2\)
P9.............................  35[deg]00'           (\2\)
P10............................  35[deg]00'           (\5\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing ME coastline and 67[deg]00' W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  N. lat.).
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  N. lat.).
\5\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and
  35[deg]00' N. lat.

* * * * *

0
7. In Sec.  648.86, revise paragraphs (a)(1), (b)(1), and add 
paragraphs (m)(1), (n), and (o) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.86  NE Multispecies possession restrictions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) NE multispecies common pool vessels. Haddock possession 
restrictions for such vessels may be implemented through Regional 
Administrator authority, as specified in paragraph (r) of this section.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) GOM cod landing limit. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) 
of this section, or unless otherwise restricted under Sec.  648.85, a 
vessel fishing under a NE multispecies DAS permit, including a vessel 
issued a monkfish limited access permit and fishing under the monkfish 
Category C or D permit provisions, may land up to 800 lb (362.9 kg) of 
cod for each DAS, or part of a DAS, up to 4,000 lb (1,818.2 kg) per 
trip. Cod on board a vessel subject to this landing limit must be 
separated from other species of fish and stored so as to be readily 
available for inspection.
* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    (1) Daily landing restriction. A vessel issued a limited access NE 
multispecies permit, an open access NE multispecies Handgear B permit, 
or a limited access monkfish permit and fishing under the monkfish 
Category C or D permit provisions may only land regulated species or 
ocean pout once in any 24-hr period. For example, a vessel that starts 
a trip at 6 a.m. may call out of the DAS program at 11 a.m. and land up 
to 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of GB cod, but the vessel cannot land any more 
cod on a subsequent trip until at least 6 a.m. on the following day.
    (n) Pollock. Unless otherwise restricted under this part, a vessel 
issued a NE multispecies DAS permit, a limited access Handgear A 
permit, an open access Handgear B permit, or a monkfish limited access 
permit and fishing under the monkfish Category C or D permit 
provisions, may not possess or land more than 1,000 lb (450 kg) of 
pollock for each DAS or part of a DAS fished, up to 10,000 lb (4,500 
kg) per trip.
    (o) Regional Administrator authority to implement possession 
limits--(1) Possession restrictions to prevent exceeding common pool 
sub-ACLs. If the Regional Administrator projects that the catch of any 
NE multispecies stock allocated to common pool vessels pursuant to 
Sec.  648.90(a)(4) will exceed the pertinent sub-ACL, NMFS may

[[Page 18374]]

implement or adjust, at any time prior to or during the fishing year, 
in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act, a per-DAS 
possession limit and/or a maximum trip limit in order to prevent 
exceeding the common pool sub-ACL in that fishing year.
    (2) Possession restrictions to facilitate harvest of sub-ACLs 
allocated to the common pool. If the Regional Administrator projects 
that the sub-ACL of any stock allocated to the common pool pursuant to 
Sec.  648.90(a)(4) will not be caught during the fishing year, the 
Regional Administrator may remove or adjust, in a manner consistent 
with the Administrative Procedure Act, a per-DAS possession limit and/
or a maximum trip limit in order to facilitate harvest and enable the 
total catch to approach, but not exceed, the pertinent sub-ACL 
allocated to the common pool for that fishing year.

0
8. In Sec.  648.87, add paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A), through (F) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  648.87  Sector allocation.

    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area. The CC/GOM Yellowtail 
Flounder Stock Area, for the purposes of identifying stock areas for 
trip limits specified in Sec.  648.86, and for determining areas 
applicable to sector allocations of CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ACE 
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, is defined as the area 
bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on 
the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and on the south by 
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00'
2..............................  (\2\)                70[deg]00'
3..............................  41[deg]20'           (\3\)
4..............................  41[deg]20'           69[deg]50'
5..............................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]50'
6..............................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]30'
7..............................  41[deg]00'           69[deg]30'
8..............................  41[deg]00'           68[deg]50'
9..............................  42[deg]20'           68[deg]50'
10.............................  42[deg]20'           (\4\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of south-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\2\ Intersection of north-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\3\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA, and
  41[deg]20' N. lat.
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

    (B) SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area. The SNE/MA Yellowtail 
Flounder Stock Area, for the purposes of identifying stock areas for 
trip limits specified in Sec.  648.86, and for determining areas 
applicable to sector allocations of SNE/MA yellowtail flounder ACE 
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, is the area bounded by 
straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

                  SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNE1...........................  35[deg]00'           (\1\)
SNE2...........................  35[deg]00'           (\2\)
SNE3...........................  39[deg]00'           (\2\)
SNE4...........................  39[deg]00'           69[deg]00'
SNE5...........................  39[deg]50'           69[deg]00'
SNE7...........................  39[deg]50'           68[deg]50'
SNE8...........................  41[deg]00'           68[deg]50'
SNE9...........................  41[deg]00'           69[deg]30'
SNE10..........................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]30'
SNE11..........................  41[deg]10'           69[deg]50'
SNE12..........................  41[deg]20'           69[deg]50'
SNE13..........................  41[deg]20'           (\3\)
SNE14..........................  (\4\)                70[deg]00'
SNE15..........................  (\5\)                70[deg]00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Outer Banks, NC, and
  35[deg]00' N. lat.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\3\ Intersection of east-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA, and
  41[deg]20' N. lat.
\4\ Intersection of north-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\5\ Intersection of south-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.

    (C) GOM Haddock Stock Area. The GOM Haddock Stock Area, for the 
purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in Sec.  
648.86 and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of 
GOM haddock ACE pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, is defined 
as the area bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the 
United States, on the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and 
on the south by straight lines connecting the following points in the 
order stated:

                         GOM Haddock Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM1...........................  (\1\)                70[deg]00[min]
GOM2...........................  42[deg]20[min]       70[deg]00[min]
GOM3...........................  42[deg]20[min]       67[deg]40[min]
GOM4...........................  (\2\)                67[deg]40[min]
GOM5...........................  (\3\)                67[deg]40[min]
GOM6...........................  43[deg]50[min]       67[deg]40[min]
GOM7...........................  43[deg]50[min]       (\4\)
GOM8...........................  (\4\)                67[deg]00[min]
GOM9...........................  (\5\)                67[deg]00[min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  W. long.).
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  W. long.).
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\5\ Intersection of the south-facing ME coastline and 67[deg]00' W.
  long.

    (D) GB Haddock Stock Area. The GB Haddock Stock Area, for the 
purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in Sec.  
648.86 and for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of GB 
haddock ACE pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, is defined as 
the area bounded on the west by the coastline of the United States, on 
the south by a line running from the east-facing coastline of North 
Carolina at 35[deg] N. lat. until its intersection with the EEZ, on the 
east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the north 
by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00'
2..............................  42[deg]20'           70[deg]00'
3..............................  42[deg]20'           (\2\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.

    (E) Redfish Stock Area. The Redfish Stock Area, for the purposes of 
identifying stock areas for trip limits specified in Sec.  648.86 and 
for determining areas applicable to sector allocations of redfish ACE 
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, is defined as the area 
bounded on the north and west by the coastline of the United States, on 
the east by the U.S./Canadian maritime boundary, and bounded on the 
south by a line running from the east-facing coastline of North 
Carolina at 35[deg] N. lat. until its intersection with the EEZ.
    (F) GOM Winter Flounder Stock Area. The GOM Winter Flounder Stock 
Area, for the purposes of identifying stock areas for trip limits 
specified in Sec.  648.86 and for determining areas applicable to 
sector allocations of GOM winter flounder ACE pursuant to paragraph (b) 
of this section, is the area bounded by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated:

                     GOM Winter Flounder Stock Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM1...........................  (\1\)                70[deg]00'
GOM2...........................  42[deg]20'           70[deg]00'
GOM3...........................  42[deg]20'           67[deg]40'
GOM4...........................  (\2\)                67[deg]40'
GOM5...........................  (\3\)                67[deg]40'
GOM6...........................  43[deg]50'           67[deg]40'
GOM7...........................  43[deg]50'           (\4\)
GOM8...........................  (\4\)                67[deg]00'
GOM9...........................  (\5\)                67[deg]00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Intersection of the north-facing coastline of Cape Cod, MA, and
  70[deg]00' W. long.
\2\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (southern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  N. lat.).

[[Page 18375]]

 
\3\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary (northern intersection with 67[deg]40'
  N. lat.).
\4\ U.S./Canada maritime boundary.
\5\ Intersection of the south-facing ME coastline and 67[deg]00' W.
  long.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2010-7235 Filed 3-31-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P