[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22350-22358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9627]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 110222150-1152-02]
RIN 0648-BA92


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational 
Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Fisheries; 2011 Scup Specifications; Fishing Year 2011

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes two actions in this rulemaking: An increase to 
the previously implemented scup commercial and recreational landing 
allowances for 2011 (specifications) and management measures for the 
2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. 
Inclusion of the proposed scup specification increase in this 
rulemaking is necessary to provide an opportunity for the public to 
comment on the revised recommendation from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (Council) to increase the commercial and 
recreational scup landing allowances for 2011. The recreational 
management measures are necessary to comply with the implementing 
regulations for these fisheries which require NMFS to publish 
recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an 
opportunity for public comment. The intent of the scup increase is to 
permit greater commercial and recreational harvest opportunity while 
preventing overfishing on the scup stock. Recreational management 
measures are

[[Page 22351]]

similarly intended to ensure that overfishing the summer flounder, 
scup, and black sea bass resources in 2011 is unlikely to occur.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on May 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-BA92, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Comments on 2011 Scup 
Specifications Increase and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Recreational Management Measures, 0648-BA92.
     Mail and hand delivery: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: 
``Comments on 2011 Scup Specifications Increase and Summer Flounder, 
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures, 0648-BA92.''
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.
    Copies of the proposed scup increase Supplement Environmental 
Assessment (SEA) to the 2011 specifications and the recreational 
management measures document, including the Environmental Assessment, 
Regulatory Impact Review, and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(EA/RIR/IRFA) and other supporting documents for both the scup 
specifications increase and the recreational management measures are 
available from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 North State Street, 
Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the Internet 
at http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ruccio, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (978) 281-9104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

General Background

    The summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries are managed 
cooperatively under the provisions of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and 
Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) developed by the Council 
and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission), in 
consultation with the New England and South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils. The management units specified in the FMP include summer 
flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean 
from the southern border of North Carolina (NC) northward to the U.S./
Canada border, and scup (Stenotomus chrysops) and black sea bass 
(Centropristis striata) in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean from 35 E. 
13.3' N. lat. (the latitude of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, NC) 
northward to the U.S./Canada border.
    The Council prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations implementing the FMP appear at 50 
CFR part 648, subparts A (general provisions), G (summer flounder), H 
(scup), and I (black sea bass). General regulations governing fisheries 
of the Northeastern U.S. also appear at 50 CFR part 648. States manage 
these three species within 3 nautical miles (4.83 km) of their coasts, 
under the Commission's plan for summer flounder, scup, and black sea 
bass. The applicable species-specific Federal regulations govern 
vessels and individual fishermen fishing in Federal waters of the 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as well as vessels possessing a summer 
flounder, scup, or black sea bass Federal charter/party vessel permit, 
regardless of where they fish.

2011 Scup Specifications Increase

    Specifications for the 2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea 
bass fisheries published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2010, 
and became effective on January 1, 2011 (75 FR 81498). This rule 
established 2011 scup specifications, as follows: A Total Allowable 
Catch (TAC) of 24.1 million lb (10,932 mt); a 20.0-million-lb (9,072-
mt) Total Allowable Landings (TAL), including research set-aside (RSA) 
of 396,500 lb (180 mt); a commercial quota of 15,290,730 lb (6,936 mt); 
and a recreational harvest limit of 4,312,770 lb (1,956 mt). During the 
December 2010 Council meeting, the Council recommended to NMFS an 
increase in the 2011 scup specifications. The Council's action to 
potentially increase the 2011 scup specifications was taken to prevent 
potential negative impacts on recreational fishermen and provide for 
recreational fishing opportunities that might not be available under 
the previously implemented lower, more restrictive landing limit. 
Adoption of the Council's recommendation for increased scup 
specifications, which includes an increase to the scup recreational 
harvest limit, would permit the use of status quo recreational 
management measures for the 2011 fishery. See the scup recreational 
management measures section later in this preamble for additional 
information on how the potential increase recreational harvest limit 
impacts to the recreational fishery.
    The Council formally submitted the increased scup specification 
recommendation to NMFS for review and rulemaking on January 26, 2011. 
The Council's revised scup specifications recommendation would increase 
the 2011 TAC to 31.92 million lb (14,479 mt) from the current TAC of 
24.1 million lb (10,932 mt). After removal of estimated 2011 discards, 
the resulting increased TAL would be 26.50 million lb (12,020 mt). 
Because the 2011 RSA has already been awarded for scup, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS agrees, that no change to the RSA level should 
occur as a result of the increased scup specifications. Thus, after 
deducting the 2011 awarded RSA of 396,500 lb (180 mt) and applying the 
allocation criteria within the FMP, the increased commercial quota 
would be 20.36 million lb (9,235 mt) and the adjusted recreational 
harvest limit would be 5.74 million lb (2,604 mt).
    In considering the scup TAC increase recommended by the Council, 
NMFS considered the range of possible TACs analyzed by the Council. 
NMFS is proposing the Council's preferred alternative without 
modification as it meets the objectives of the FMP, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable law. Quota levels above the preferred 
alternative fail to satisfy the applicable requirements and were 
adjudged by the Council to be inconsistent with the scientific advice 
provided by the SSC. Lower TAC alternatives are more restrictive than 
necessary to meet the objectives of the FMP and would have higher 
socio-economic impacts on fishery participants.
    Table 1 contains the scup commercial quota period information that 
would result from the proposed increase. All additional commercial scup 
measures, including possession limits and the amount of unused Winter I 
(January-May) commercial quota that may be

[[Page 22352]]

rolled over to the Winter II (November-December) fishing period, remain 
unchanged from those published in the Federal Register on December 28, 
2010 (75 FR 81498).

                                  Table 1--Proposed Revised Commercial SCUP Quota Allocations for 2011 by Quota Period
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Total allowable     Estimated discards       Initial quota      Initial quota less    Adjusted quota less
-------------------------------------------         catch        -------------------------------------------- overages (through 10/   overages and RSA
                                           ----------------------                                                   31/2009)       ---------------------
          Quota period             Percent                            lb         mt         lb         mt    ----------------------
                                    share       lb         mt                                                     lb         mt         lb         mt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winter I........................     45.11  11,231,307     5,094   1,907,070       865   9,324,237     4,229         N/A       N/A   9,184,725     4,166
Summer..........................     38.95   9,697,615     4,399   1,646,650       747   8,050,965     3,652         N/A       N/A   7,930,504     3,597
Winter II.......................     15.94   3,968,677     1,800     673,879       306   3,294,798     1,494         N/A       N/A   3,245,500     1,472
                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................     100.0  24,897,600    11,293   4,227,600     1,918  20,670,000     9,376         N/A       N/A  20,360,730     9,235
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS is proposing to implement the Council's recommendation for a 
33-percent increase to the 2011 scup specifications. The increase would 
remain well below the 2011 scup Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) of 
51.70 million lb (23,451 mt). Furthermore, the increase would be below 
the scup maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level of 35.60 million lb 
(16,148 mt) and is consistent with the recommendation provided in a 
2008 scup stock assessment and reiterated by the Council's Scientific 
and Statistical Committee for the 2011 fishery advising against rapid 
increases in specification levels to meet MSY.

Recreational Management Measures Background

    The Council process for devising recreational management measures 
to recommend to NMFS for rulemaking is generically described in the 
following section. All meetings are open to the public and the 
materials utilized during such meetings, as well as any documents 
created to summarize the meeting results, are public information and 
typically posted on the Council's Web site (http://www.mafmc.org) or 
are available from the Council by request. Extensive background on the 
2011 recreational management measures recommendation process is 
therefore not repeated in this preamble.
    The FMP established Monitoring Committees (Committees) for the 
three fisheries, consisting of representatives from the Commission, the 
Council, state marine fishery agency representatives from MA to NC, and 
NMFS. The FMP's implementing regulations require the Committees to 
review scientific and other relevant information annually and to 
recommend management measures necessary to constrain landings within 
the recreational harvest limits established for the summer flounder, 
scup, and black sea bass fisheries for the upcoming fishing year. The 
FMP limits the choices for the types of measures to minimum fish size, 
possession limit, and fishing season.
    The Council's Demersal Species Committee, and the Commission's 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board (Board) then 
consider the Committees' recommendations and any public comment in 
making their recommendations to the Council and the Commission, 
respectively. The Council reviews the recommendations of the Demersal 
Species Committee, makes its own recommendations, and forwards them to 
NMFS for review. The Commission similarly adopts recommendations for 
the states. NMFS is required to review the Council's recommendations to 
ensure that they are consistent with the targets specified for each 
species in the FMP and all applicable laws and Executive Orders before 
ultimately implementing measures for Federal waters.
    All minimum fish sizes discussed hereafter are total length 
measurements of the fish, i.e., the straight-line distance from the tip 
of the snout to the end of the tail while the fish is lying on its 
side. For black sea bass, total length measurement does not include the 
caudal fin tendril. All possession limits discussed below are per 
person.

Proposed 2011 Recreational Management Measures

    NMFS is proposing through this rule the following measures to apply 
in the Federal waters of the EEZ and to all federally permitted party/
charter vessels with applicable summer flounder, scup, or black sea 
bass permits regardless of where they fish for the 2011 recreational 
summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries: For summer 
flounder, use of state-by-state conservation equivalency measures, 
which are the status quo measures; for scup, a 10.5-inch (26.67-cm) 
minimum fish size, a 10-fish per person possession limit, and an open 
season of June 6 through September 26, which are the status quo 
measures; and, for black sea bass, a 13.0-inch (33.02-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 25-fish per person possession limit, and open season of July 1 
through October 1 and November 1 through December 31. NMFS will 
consider retaining or reinstating status quo black sea bass measures, 
as needed, for Federal waters (i.e., a 12.5-in (31.75-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 25-fish per person possession limit and fishing seasons from 
May 22-October 11 and November 1-December 31) if the Commission 
develops and implements a state-waters conservation equivalency system 
that, when paired with the Federal status quo measures, provides the 
necessary conservation to ensure the 2011 recreational harvest limit 
will not be exceeded. More detail on these proposed measures is 
provided in the following sections.

Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures

    The 2011 recreational harvest limit for summer flounder is 
11,583,424 lb (5,254 mt), a 35-percent increase from the 2010 limit of 
8.59 million lb (3,896 mt). Final landings for 2010 are 4.98 million lb 
(2,259 mt), well below the recreational harvest limit. The Council and 
Commission have recommended the use of conservation equivalency to 
manage the 2011 summer flounder recreational fishery.
    NMFS implemented Framework Adjustment 2 to the FMP on July 29, 2001 
(66 FR 36208), to permit the use of conservation equivalency to manage 
the recreational summer flounder fishery. Conservation equivalency 
allows each state to establish its own recreational management measures 
(possession limits, minimum fish size, and fishing seasons) to achieve 
its state harvest limit partitioned from the coastwide recreational 
harvest limit by the Commission, as long as the combined effect of all 
of the states' management measures achieves the same level of 
conservation as would Federal coastwide measures.

[[Page 22353]]

    The Council and Board annually recommend that either state- or 
region-specific recreational measures be developed (conservation 
equivalency) or coastwide management measures be implemented by all 
states to ensure that the recreational harvest limit will not be 
exceeded. Even when the Council and Board recommend conservation 
equivalency, the Council must specify a set of coastwide measures that 
would apply if conservation equivalency is not approved for use in 
Federal waters.
    When conservation equivalency is recommended, and following 
confirmation that the proposed state measures developed through the 
Commission's technical and policy review processes achieve conservation 
equivalency, NMFS may waive the permit condition found at Sec.  
648.4(b), which requires Federal permit holders to comply with the more 
restrictive management measures when state and Federal measures differ. 
In such a situation, federally permitted summer flounder charter/party 
permit holders and individuals fishing for summer flounder in the EEZ 
would then be subject to the recreational fishing measures implemented 
by the state in which they land summer flounder, rather than the 
coastwide measures.
    In addition, the Council and the Board must recommend precautionary 
default measures when recommending conservation equivalency. The 
Commission would require adoption of the precautionary default measures 
by any state that either does not submit a summer flounder management 
proposal to the Commission's Summer Flounder Technical Committee, or 
that submits measures that would exceed the Commission-specified 
harvest limit for that state.
    Much of the conservation equivalency measures development process 
happens at both the Commission and individual state level. The 
selection of appropriate data and analytic techniques for technical 
review of potential state conservation equivalent measures and the 
process by which the Commission evaluates and recommends proposed 
conservation equivalent measures is wholly a function of the Commission 
and its individual member states. Individuals seeking information 
regarding the specific state measure development process or the 
Commission process for technical evaluation of proposed measures should 
contact the marine fisheries agency in the state of interest, the 
Commission, or both.
    Once states select their final 2011 summer flounder management 
measures through their respective development, analytical, and review 
processes and submit them to the Commission, the Commission will 
conduct further review and evaluation of the state-submitted proposals, 
ultimately notifying NMFS as to which individual state proposals have 
been approved or disapproved. NMFS has no overarching authority in the 
state or Commission management measure development, but is an equal 
participant along with all the member states in the measures review 
process. NMFS retains the final authority either to approve or to 
disapprove the use of conservation equivalency in place of the 
coastwide measures, and will publish its determination as a final rule 
in the Federal Register to establish the 2011 recreational measures for 
these fisheries.
    States that do not submit conservation equivalency proposals, or 
whose proposals are disapproved by the Commission, will be required by 
the Commission to adopt the precautionary default measures. In the case 
of states that are initially assigned precautionary default measures, 
but subsequently receive Commission approval of revised state measures, 
NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing a waiver 
of the permit condition at Sec.  648.4(b).
    The 2011 precautionary default measures recommended by the Council 
and Board are for a 20.0-inch (50.80-cm) minimum fish size, a 
possession limit of two fish, and an open season of May 1 through 
September 30, 2011.
    As described above, for each fishing year, NMFS implements either 
coastwide measures or conservation equivalent measures at the final 
rule stage. The 2011 coastwide measures recommended by the Council and 
Board for 2011 are an 18.5-inch (46.99-cm) minimum fish size, a 
possession limit of two fish, and an open season from May 1 to 
September 30, 2011.
    In this action, NMFS proposes to implement conservation equivalency 
with a precautionary default backstop, as previously outlined, for 
states that either fail to submit conservation equivalent measures or 
whose measures are not approved by the Commission. NMFS proposes the 
alternative of coastwide measures, as previously described, for use if 
conservation equivalency is not approved in the final rule. The 
coastwide measures would be waived if conservation equivalency is 
approved in the final rule.

Scup Recreational Management Measures

    The 2011 scup recreational harvest limit is currently 4,312,770 lb 
(1,956 mt), as implemented by the December 28, 2010, specifications 
final rule (75 FR 81498); however, through this rule NMFS is proposing 
to increase the 2011 scup recreational harvest limit to 5.74 million lb 
(2,604 mt). Estimated 2010 scup recreational landings are 5.74 million 
lb (2,604 mt). The Council and Commission have recommended measures 
that reflect the status quo for the 2011 scup recreational fishery. The 
status quo measures for Federal waters are for a 10.5-in (26.67-cm) 
minimum fish size, a 10-fish per person possession limit, and an open 
season of June 6 through September 26 (i.e., closed season from January 
1-June 5 and again from September 27-December 31). NMFS proposes to 
retain scup recreational management measures that reflect the status 
quo for 2011 in Federal waters for use in conjunction with the 
increased recreational harvest limit proposed concurrently by this 
rule.
    NMFS acknowledges that the Commission has indicated its intent to 
continue managing the recreational scup fishery through a Commission-
based conservation equivalency program that has no comparable measures 
in the Federal FMP. Thus, recreational management measures will differ 
between state and Federal waters in 2011. Historically, very little of 
the scup recreational harvest comes from the Federal waters of the EEZ. 
The scup recreational harvest from Federal waters for 2009 was 
approximately 2 percent of the total coastwide landings.

Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

    The 2011 black sea bass recreational harvest limit is 1.84 million 
lb (835 mt), as published in final rule (75 FR 81498; December 28, 
2010). The 2010 black sea bass recreational landings were 3.11 million 
lb (1,411 mt); thus, a 41-percent coastwide reduction in landings from 
2010 levels would be required to constrain landings to the 2011 black 
sea bass recreational harvest limit.
    The Council has recommended measures designed to achieve a 41-
percent reduction in black sea bass recreational landings. These 
measures for Federal waters are a 13.0-inch (33.02-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 25-fish per person possession limit, and open season of July 1 
through October 1 and November 1 through December 31 (i.e., closed 
seasons from January 1-June 30 and October 2-31).
    Concurrent with the development of this proposed rule, the 
Commission has initiated development of Addendum XXI to the 
Commission's Black Sea Bass FMP. This addendum contemplates application 
of state-by-state conservation equivalency approaches for black sea 
bass recreational management measures in state waters.

[[Page 22354]]

Interested parties are urged to contact the Commission directly (http://www.asmfc.org or (703) 842-0740) as NMFS has only a participatory role 
in the Commission's process as a Commission voting member. The Council 
has initiated development of an amendment to the Federal FMP to examine 
these types of approaches for application in Federal waters; however, 
the amendment process at the Federal level takes more time to complete 
than the Commission's addendum process and cannot be completed in time 
to implement for the 2011 fishing year.
    In anticipation that the Commission may develop a conservation 
equivalency system for state waters, the Council recommended to NMFS 
that Federal waters black sea bass measures stay or revert to the 
status quo, as needed, dependent on the completion of the Commission's 
Addendum XXI. The Council indicated that the as of yet completed 
Commission measures for state waters, when paired with the status quo 
measures for Federal waters, are anticipated to achieve the required 
reduction necessary for the 2011 black sea bass recreational fishery. 
NMFS is proposing to implement the aforementioned Council-recommended 
measures (13.0-inch (33.02-cm) minimum fish size, 25-fish possession 
limit, and July 1-October 1 and November 1-December 31 season) for 
Federal waters while the Commission's process for state waters 
conservation equivalency proceeds. This approach is consistent with the 
joint Council and Commission discussion and motions jointly adopted 
during the December 15, 2010, meeting at which recreational management 
measures options were contemplated and approved by both groups.
    If the Commission completes a state waters conservation equivalency 
system for 2011, it is expected that formal analyses and correspondence 
from the Commission will be provided to both the Council and NMFS 
conveying the state waters conservation equivalency measures for 2011. 
In addition, it is expected that the correspondence will demonstrate 
that the Commission-based conservation equivalency program paired with 
the status quo Federal measures (i.e., a 12.5-in (31.75-cm) minimum 
fish size, 25-fish per person possession limits and May 22-October 11 
and November 1-December 31 seasons) are sufficient to constrain 
recreational landings to the 1.84 million lb (835 mt) recreational 
harvest limit for 2011. If the timing of this Commission process is 
complete, including the necessary correspondence to NMFS and the 
Council, before a final rule has been issued by NMFS for the 2011 
recreational management measures, NMFS may leave the status quo 
measures in place for Federal waters. The decision to retain the status 
quo measures for Federal waters will be contingent on the as of yet to 
be completed analyses and recommendation from the Commission, and any 
such decision would be relayed in the final rule published in the 
Federal Register. If the Commission conservation equivalency 
development process extends beyond the issuance of a recreational 
management measures final rule, NMFS may issue a second rule to 
reinstate 2010 measures for Federal waters (i.e., revert to status 
quo), pending the completion of the Commission process and concurrence 
by NMFS that the combination of state waters conservation equivalency 
and status quo Federal measures will achieve the desired 2011 fishery 
performance. Should the Commission ultimately disapprove or elect not 
to approve conservation equivalency measures for use in state waters 
for the 2011 fishery, then Federal measures would remain as proposed in 
this rule for the duration of the 2011 fishing year: A 13.0-inch 
(33.02-cm) minimum fish size, 25-fish possession limit, and July 1-
October 1 and November 1-December 31.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP, 
other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, 
subject to further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    IRFAs were prepared for both the scup specifications and the 
recreational management measures, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFAs describe the economic 
impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A 
description of the action, why it is being considered, and the legal 
basis for the two actions is contained in the preamble and in the 
SUMMARY of this proposed rule. A summary of the analyses follows. 
Copies of the complete IRFAs are available from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).
    This proposed rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with 
other Federal rules.

Proposed Scup TAC/TAL Increase

    The potential impacts of the 2011 scup specifications was provided 
in the IRFA for the 2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass 
specifications proposed rule published in the Federal Register on 
November 17, 2010, (75 FR 70192). At 31.92 million lb (14,479 mt), the 
scup TAC increase proposed by this rule is within the 24.10 million lb 
(10,932 mt) to 35.63 million lb (16,157 mt) TAC range previously 
described and analyzed in the 2011 specifications IRFA. The following 
is provided for the proposed scup increase; however, more extensive 
information is available in the November 17, 2010, IRFA summary issued 
for the initially proposed 2011 scup specifications.
    The proposed scup TAC/TAL increase could affect any of the 398 
federally-permitted commercial fishery vessels that landed scup in 
2009, the most recent year for which complete permit data are 
available. Under the Council's preferred alternative to increase the 
scup TAC and TAL for 2011, labeled Alternative 1B in the supplemental 
EA, commercial fishing vessel revenues could increase by $21,432 per 
vessel. For comparison, this is 90 percent higher than revenues 
associated with the 2010 fishery levels and $12,940 higher than the 
estimated profits associated with the currently implemented commercial 
quota level.
    In considering the scup TAC increase recommended by the Council, 
NMFS considered the range of possible TACs analyzed by the Council. 
NMFS is proposing the Council's preferred alternative without 
modification as it meets the objectives of the FMP, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable law while also providing the lowest 
impact on regulated entities. Quota levels above the preferred 
alternative fail to satisfy the applicable requirements and were 
adjudged by the Council to be inconsistent with the scientific advice 
provided by the SSC. Lower TAC alternatives are more restrictive than 
necessary as they have higher impacts on regulated entities than would 
the preferred alternative.

Recreational Management Measures

    The proposed recreational management measures could affect any 
recreational angler who fishes for summer flounder, scup, or black sea 
bass in the EEZ or on a party/charter vessel issued a Federal permit 
for summer flounder, scup, and/or black sea bass. However, the only 
regulated entities affected by this action are party/charter vessels 
issued a Federal permit for summer flounder, scup, and/or black

[[Page 22355]]

sea bass, and so the IRFA focuses upon the expected impacts on this 
segment of the affected public. These vessels are all considered small 
entities for the purposes of the RFA, i.e., businesses in the 
recreational fishery with gross revenues of up to $7.0 million. These 
small entities can be specifically identified in the Federal vessel 
permit database and would be impacted by the recreational measures, 
regardless of whether they fish in Federal or state waters. Although 
fishing opportunities by individual recreational anglers may be 
impacted by this action, they are not considered small entities under 
the RFA.
    The Council estimated that the proposed measures could affect any 
of the 980 vessels possessing a Federal charter/party permit for summer 
flounder, scup, and/or black sea bass in 2009, the most recent year for 
which complete permit data are available. However, only 348 vessels 
reported active participation in the 2009 recreational summer flounder, 
scup, and/or black sea bass fisheries.
    In the IRFA, the no-action alternative (i.e., maintenance of the 
regulations as codified) is: (1) For summer flounder, coastwide 
measures of a 19.5-inch (49.53-cm) minimum fish size, a 2-fish 
possession limit, and an open season from May 1 to September 30; (2) 
for scup, a 10.5-inch (26.67-cm) minimum fish size, a 10-fish 
possession limit, and an open season of June 6 through September 26; 
and (3) for black sea bass, a 12.5-inch (31.75-cm) minimum size, a 25-
fish possession limit, and open seasons of May 22-October 11 and 
November 1-December 31.
    The impacts of the proposed action on small entities (i.e., 
federally permitted party/charter vessels in each state in the 
Northeast region) were analyzed, assessing potential changes in gross 
revenues for all 18 combinations of alternatives proposed. Although 
NMFS's RFA guidance recommends assessing changes in profitability as a 
result of proposed measures, the quantitative impacts were instead 
evaluated using expected changes in party/charter vessel revenues as a 
proxy for profitability. This is because reliable cost and revenue 
information is not available for charter/party vessels at this time. 
Without reliable cost and revenue data, profits cannot be discriminated 
from gross revenues. As reliable cost data become available, impacts to 
profitability can be more accurately forecast. Similarly, changes to 
long-term solvency were not assessed, due both to the absence of cost 
data and because the recreational management measures change annually 
according to the specification-setting process. Effects of the various 
management measures were analyzed by employing quantitative approaches, 
to the extent possible. Where quantitative data were not available, 
qualitative analyses were utilized.
    Management measures proposed under the summer flounder conservation 
equivalency alternative (Summer Flounder Alternative (1) have yet to be 
adopted; therefore, potential losses under this alternative could not 
be analyzed in conjunction with various alternatives proposed for scup 
and black sea bass. Since conservation equivalency allows each state to 
tailor specific recreational fishing measures to the needs of that 
state, while still achieving conservation goals, it is expected that 
the measures developed under this alternative, when considered in 
combination with the measures proposed for scup and black sea bass, 
would have fewer overall adverse effects than any of the other 
combinations that were analyzed.
    Impacts for other combinations of alternatives were examined by 
first estimating the number of angler trips aboard party/charter 
vessels in each state in 2010 that would have been affected by the 
proposed 2011 management measures. All 2010 party/charter fishing trips 
that would have been constrained by the proposed 2011 measures in each 
state were considered to be affected trips. Marine Recreational Fishery 
Statistics Survey (MRFSS) data indicate that anglers took 30.66 million 
fishing trips in 2010 in the Northeastern U.S., and that party/charter 
anglers accounted for 1.43 million of the angler fishing trips, 
private/rental boat trips accounted for 16.05 million angler fishing 
trips, and shore trips accounted for 13.17 million recreational angler 
fishing trips.
    There is very little empirical evidence available to estimate how 
the party/charter vessel anglers might be affected by the proposed 
fishing regulations. If the proposed measures discourage trip-taking 
behavior among some of the affected anglers, economic losses may accrue 
to the party/charter vessel industry in the form of reduced access 
fees. On the other hand, if the proposed measures do not have a 
negative impact on the value or satisfaction the affected anglers 
derive from their fishing trips, party/charter revenues would remain 
unaffected by this action. In an attempt to estimate the potential 
changes in gross revenues to the party/charter vessel industry in each 
state, two hypothetical scenarios were considered: A 10-percent 
reduction and a 25-percent reduction in the number of fishing trips 
that are predicted to be affected by implementation of the management 
measures in the Northeast (ME through NC) in 2011.
    Total economic losses to party/charter vessels were then estimated 
by multiplying the number of potentially affected trips in each state 
in 2011, under the two hypothetical scenarios, by the estimated average 
access fee of $107.13 paid by party/charter anglers in the Northeast in 
2010. Finally, total economic losses were divided by the number of 
federally permitted party/charter vessels that participated in the 
summer flounder fisheries in 2010 in each state (according to homeport 
state in the Northeast Region Permit Database) to obtain an estimate of 
the average projected gross revenue loss per party/charter vessel in 
2011. The analysis assumed that angler effort and catch rates in 2011 
will be similar to 2010.
    The Council noted that this method is likely to overestimate the 
potential revenue losses that would result from implementation of the 
proposed measures in these three fisheries for several reasons. First, 
the analysis likely overestimates the potential revenue impacts of 
these measures because some anglers would continue to take party/
charter vessel trips, even if the restrictions limit their landings. 
Also, some anglers may engage in catch and release fishing and/or 
target other species. It was not possible to estimate the sensitivity 
of anglers to specific management measures. Second, the universe of 
party/charter vessels that participate in the fisheries is likely to be 
even larger than presented in these analyses, as party/charter vessels 
that do not possess a Federal summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass 
permit because they fish only in state waters are not represented in 
the analyses. Considering the large proportion of landings from state 
waters (e.g., more than 88 percent of summer flounder and 98 percent of 
scup landings in 2009, respectively), it is probable that some party/
charter vessels fish only in state waters and, thus, do not hold 
Federal permits for these fisheries. Third, economic losses are 
estimated under two hypothetical scenarios: (1) A 10-percent; and (2) a 
25-percent reduction in the number of fishing trips that are predicted 
to be affected by implementation of the management measures in the 
Northeast in 2011. Reductions in fishing effort of this magnitude in 
2011 are not likely to occur, given the fact that the proposed measures 
do not prohibit anglers from keeping at least some of the fish they 
catch, or the fact that there are alternative species to harvest. 
Again, it

[[Page 22356]]

is likely that at least some of the potentially affected anglers would 
not reduce their effort when faced with the proposed landings 
restrictions, thereby contributing to the potential overestimation of 
potential impacts for 2011.

Impacts of Summer Flounder Alternatives

    The proposed action for the summer flounder recreational fishery 
would limit coastwide catch to 11.58 million lb (5,254 mt) by imposing 
coastwide Federal measures throughout the EEZ. As described earlier, 
upon confirmation that the proposed state measures would achieve 
conservation equivalency, NMFS may waive the permit condition found at 
Sec.  648.4(b), which requires federally permitted vessels to comply 
with the more restrictive management measures when state and Federal 
measures differ. Federally permitted charter/party permit holders and 
recreational vessels fishing for summer flounder in the EEZ then would 
be subject to the recreational fishing measures implemented by the 
state in which they land summer flounder, rather than the coastwide 
measures.
    Because states have yet to develop specific 2011 management 
measures, it is not yet possible to analyze the potential impacts of 
Summer Flounder Alternative 1, which would implement conservation 
equivalency. However, conservation equivalent recreational management 
measures allow each state to develop specific summer flounder 
recreational measures, which would allow the fishery to operate in each 
state during critical fishing periods while still achieving the 
conservation objectives. This should help mitigate potential adverse 
economic impacts. Therefore, the Council concluded in its analysis that 
Summer Flounder Alternative 1 would likely have the lowest potential 
adverse impact of the alternatives considered for the 2011 summer 
flounder recreational fishery.
    Because states have a choice of developing specific measures in the 
Commission's conservation equivalency process, it is expected that the 
states would adopt conservation equivalent measures that result in 
fewer adverse economic impacts than the more restrictive proposed 
precautionary default measures (i.e., 20.0-inch (50.80-cm) minimum fish 
size, a possession limit of two fish, and an open season of May 1 
through September 30, 2011). The precautionary default is a sub-
alternative that may be implemented under specific conditions, as 
outlined in the preamble of this rule. As such, the Council conducted 
analysis of the potential impact of implementing precautionary default 
measures in 2011. Under the precautionary default measures, impacted 
trips are defined as trips taken in 2010 that landed at least one 
summer flounder smaller than 20.0 inches (50.80 cm), landed more than 
two summer flounder, or landed summer flounder during closed seasons. 
The analysis concluded that implementation of precautionary default 
measures could affect 0.86 percent of the party/charter vessel trips in 
the Northeast, including those trips where no summer flounder were 
caught.
    The impacts of Summer Flounder Alternative 2 for coastwide 
measures, which would be implemented by NMFS if conservation 
equivalency is disapproved in the final rule, i.e., a 18.5-inch (46.99-
cm), minimum fish size, a two-fish possession limit, and a fishing 
season from May 1 through September 30, were evaluated in the Council's 
analysis. Impacted trips were defined as individual angler trips taken 
aboard party/charter vessels in 2010 that landed at least one summer 
flounder smaller than 18.5 inch (46.99 cm) that landed more than two 
summer flounder, or landed summer flounder during closed seasons. The 
analysis concluded that the measures would affect 0.79 percent of the 
party/charter vessel trips in the Northeast.
    Continuation of the summer flounder coastwide management measures 
(i.e., a 20.0-inch (50.80-cm) minimum fish size, two-fish possession 
limit, and a May 1 through September 1 fishing season) is expected to 
constrain 2011 landings to the recreational harvest limit; however, 
continuation of those measures would be more restrictive than necessary 
under the summer flounder rebuilding plan requirement established 2011 
recreational harvest limit.

Impacts of Scup Alternatives

    The proposed action for the scup recreational fishery would 
implement Federal coastwide management measures throughout the EEZ. As 
described earlier in the preamble, a conservation equivalent program is 
utilized by the Commission to manage state waters and NMFS is 
concurrently proposing an increase to the scup TAC/TAL and recreational 
harvest limit and establish scup recreational management measures 
designed to achieve the increased recreational harvest limit. Federally 
permitted charter/party permit holders and recreational vessels fishing 
for scup in the EEZ would be subject to the recreational fishing 
measures implemented by NMFS; charter/party vessels participating 
solely in state waters without a Federal permit would be subject to the 
provisions adopted by the Commission; federally permitted scup party/
charter vessels participating in both state and Federal waters would be 
subject to the more restrictive of the two measures implemented to 
manage the 2011 scup recreational fishery.
    Scup Alternative 1 (a 10.5-inch (26.67-cm) minimum fish size, a 10-
fish per person possession limit, and open season of June 6 through 
September 26) is the status quo. As explained elsewhere in the 
preamble, state and Federal measures are expected to differ; however, 
very little of the scup recreational harvest occurs in Federal waters 
of the EEZ. Affected trips under Scup Alternative 1 were defined as 
trips taken in 2010 that landed at least one scup smaller than 10.5-
inch (26.67-cm), landed more than 10 scup, or landed scup during the 
closed seasons (January 1-June 5 and September 27-December 31). 
Analysis concluded that 1.85 percent of federally permitted party/
charter vessel trips could be affected by this alternative. While these 
measures are the status quo, state and federal measures differed in 
2010. This alternative is projected to constrain landings to the 
Council and NMFS proposed increased scup recreational harvest limit of 
5.74 million lb (2,604 mt).
    The non-preferred scup coastwide alternative (Scup Alternative 2; 
10.5-inch (26.67-cm) minimum fish size, 10-fish per person possession 
limit, and fishing seasons January 1-February 28 and October 1-31) is 
projected to constrain landings to levels below the current 2011 scup 
recreational harvest limit. Affected trips under Scup Alternative 2 
were defined as trips taken in 2010 that landed at least one scup 
smaller than 10.5 inches (26.67 cm), landed more than 10 scup, or 
landed scup in the closed seasons. The analysis concluded that this 
alternative could impact 5.71 percent of federally permitted party/
charter vessel trips in 2011, if implemented.
    Scup Alternative 3 measures (an 11.0-inch (27.94-cm) minimum fish 
size, 10-fish per person possession limit, and fishing seasons May 24-
September 26) are expected to effectively constrain landings to the 
current 2011 recreational harvest limit if comparable measures are 
utilized in state waters. Affected trips under Scup Alternative 3 were 
defined as trips taken in 2010 that landed at least one scup smaller 
than 11.0-inch (27.94-cm), landed more than 10 scup, or landed scup in 
the closed seasons. The analysis concluded that this alternative could 
impact 1.83 percent of

[[Page 22357]]

federally permitted party/charter vessel trips in 2011, if implemented.
    Because NMFS is proposing to increase the 2011 scup recreational 
harvest limit, the measures contained in Scup Alternatives 2 and 3 are 
more restrictive than necessary for managing the 2011 fishery. The 
projected impacts of Scup Alternative 3 are slightly less than the 
measures proposed by NMFS; however, the overall estimated reduction in 
landings associated with Alternative 3 are expected to be up to 25 
percent from 2010 levels and, as such, are more restrictive than 
necessary for 2011.

Impacts of Black Sea Bass Alternatives

    The proposed action for the black sea bass recreational fishery 
would limit coastwide catch to 1.84 million lb (835 mt) by imposing 
coastwide Federal measures throughout the EEZ. The impact of Black Sea 
Bass Alternative 1 (a 13.0-inch (33.02-cm) minimum fish size, a 25-fish 
per person possession limit, and an open season of July 1-October 1 and 
November 1-December 31), is projected to reduce black sea bass landings 
by 41 percent in 2011 from 2010 levels. These measures would likely 
ensure that landings remain below the 2011 recreational harvest limit. 
Impacted trips were defined as trips taken in 2010 that landed at least 
one black sea bass smaller than 13.0-inch (33.02-cm), landed more than 
25 black sea bass, or landed black sea bass during the proposed closed 
seasons (January 1-June 30 and October 2-31). Analysis concluded that 
3.45 percent of federally permitted party/charter vessel trips could be 
affected by this alternative.
    The non-preferred black sea bass coastwide alternative for status 
quo (Black Sea Bass Alternative 2; 12.5-inch (31.75-cm) minimum fish 
size, 25-fish per person possession limit, and fishing seasons of May 
22-October 11 and November 1-December 31) is not expected to constrain 
2011 landings to the recreational harvest limit if implemented in both 
state and Federal waters. Individual states may, though the 
Commission's Addendum XXI, adopt sufficiently restrictive measures that 
when paired with the Black Sea Bass Alternative 2 measures in Federal 
waters, achieve the required reduction in landings to constrain harvest 
to the 2011 recreational harvest limit. The Black Sea Bass Alternative 
2 measures could affect 0.76 percent of the effort onboard party/
charter vessels if implemented in 2011.
    Black Sea Bass Alternative 3 (a 12.5-inch (31.75-cm) minimum fish 
size, 25-fish per person possession limit, and no closed season) is not 
expected to effectively constrain landings to the 2011 recreational 
harvest limit and, as such, is not consistent with the objectives of 
the FMP or Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Potential 2011 Regional Economic Impact Analysis Summary

    Regionally, projected federally permitted party/charter revenue 
losses in 2011 range from $2.1 million to $7.8 million in sales, $686 
thousand to $2.6 million in income, and between 40 and 156 jobs, if a 
10-percent reduction in the number of affected trips occurs. The 
estimated losses are approximately two and a half times as high if a 
25-percent reduction in affected trips is assumed to occur.
    Potential revenue losses in 2011 could differ for federally 
permitted party/charter vessels that land more than one of the 
regulated species. The cumulative maximum gross revenue loss per vessel 
varies by the combination of permits held and by state. All 18 
potential combinations of management alternatives for summer flounder, 
scup, and black sea bass are predicted to affect party/charter vessel 
revenues to some extent in all of the Northeast coastal states. 
Although potential losses were estimated for party/charter vessels 
operating out of ME and NH, these results are suppressed for 
confidentiality purposes. Average party/charter losses for federally 
permitted vessels operating in the remaining states are estimated to 
vary across the 18 combinations of alternatives. For example, in NY, 
average losses are predicted to range from a high of $3,477 to a low of 
$593 per vessel, assuming a 10-percent reduction in effort, as 
described above. Average gross revenue losses per vessel under each of 
the 18 combinations of alternatives were generally highest in NC 
followed by MA, NJ, NY, RI, CT, MD, VA, then DE. Across states, average 
gross projected revenue losses range from a low of $19 per vessel in DE 
to $19,003 in NC.

Summary

    The proposed recreational management measures for summer flounder 
in the Commission's conservation equivalency are likely to be similar 
or more liberal for 2011 (i.e., either smaller minimum fish size, 
higher possession limits, and/or longer fishing seasons) under the 
proposed conservation equivalency system (Summer Flounder Alternative 
1) than those in place in 2010. If the Commission approves state-
developed measures as conservational equivalent to the coastwide 
measures, measures for Federal waters adopted by waiving Sec.  648.4(b) 
may also be similar or more liberal for 2011 if NMFS approves 
conservation equivalency in the final rule.
    NMFS is proposing to keep the status quo with respect to scup 
recreational management measures for 2011, but is proposing an increase 
to the recreational harvest limit resulting from increases to the scup 
TAC and TAL. The rationale for this proposed increase is outlined in 
the preamble to this rule and not repeated here.
    The proposed measures for black sea bass are more restrictive than 
the measures in place for 2010; however, NMFS may retain the status quo 
measures for Federal waters, but it is dependent on efforts underway by 
the Commission to devise and implement a state waters management system 
that, when paired with the 2010 status quo measures for Federal waters, 
will result in the necessary reduction in 2011 landings from 2010 
levels.
    The proposed management measures, or management system in the case 
of conservation equivalency, were chosen because they allow for the 
maximum level of recreational landings, while allowing the NMFS to 
achieve the objectives of the FMP. Summer flounder conservation 
equivalency allows states to implement management measures tailored, to 
some degree, to meet the needs of their individual respective 
recreational fishery participants, provided the level of reduction is 
equal to the overall reduction needed coastwide, consistent with 
Framework Adjustment 2 to the FMP.
    The proposed measures for scup, when used in concert with the 
proposed increase to the 2011 recreational harvest limit, are expected 
to achieve the required reduction in 2011 landings from 2010 levels, 
provided that comparable state measures are implemented through the 
Commission. Because it appears likely that the 2011 Commission measures 
may differ from Federal measures, NMFS will consider public comment and 
more closely examine the Commission measures to determine the 
likelihood that overfishing could occur as a result of the combined 
proposed Federal and Commission measures before publishing a final 
rule. The majority of scup recreational harvest occurs within state 
waters.
    The proposed black sea bass management measures were selected 
because they are the only set of measures proposed by the Council that 
are projected to constrain landings to the recreational harvest limit. 
As discussed in the preamble, there is a

[[Page 22358]]

possibility that status quo measures may be retained depending on the 
outcome of the Commission's Addendum XXI process. However, NMFS must at 
this time propose measures that achieve the objectives of the FMP and 
Magnuson-Stevens Act by constraining 2011 harvest of black sea bass to 
the recreational harvest limit.
    There are no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements contained 
in any of the alternatives considered for this action.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 15, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

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

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

    2. Section 648.102 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.102  Time restrictions.

    Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Sec.  648.107, vessels that 
are not eligible for a moratorium permit under Sec.  648.4(a)(3) and 
fishermen subject to the possession limit may fish for summer flounder 
from May 1 through September 30. This time period may be adjusted 
pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.100.
    3. In Sec.  648.103, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.103  Minimum fish sizes.

* * * * *
    (b) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Sec.  648.107, the 
minimum size for summer flounder is 18.5 inch (46.99 cm) TL for all 
vessels that do not qualify for a moratorium permit, and charter boats 
holding a moratorium permit if fishing with more than three crew 
members, or party boats holding a moratorium permit if fishing with 
passengers for hire or carrying more than five crew members.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec.  648.105, the first sentence of paragraph (a) is revised 
to read as follows:


Sec.  648.105  Possession restrictions.

    (a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Sec.  648.107, no person 
shall possess more than two summer flounder in, or harvested from, the 
EEZ, unless that person is the owner or operator of a fishing vessel 
issued a summer flounder moratorium permit, or is issued a summer 
flounder dealer permit. * * *
* * * * *
    5. In Sec.  648.107, paragraph (a) introductory text and paragraph 
(b) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.107  Conservation equivalent measures for the summer flounder 
fishery.

    (a) The Regional Administrator has determined that the recreational 
fishing measures proposed to be implemented by Massachusetts through 
North Carolina for 2011 are the conservation equivalent of the season, 
minimum fish size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  
648.102, 648.103, and 648.105(a), respectively. This determination is 
based on a recommendation from the Summer Flounder Board of the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
* * * * *
    (b) Federally permitted vessels subject to the recreational fishing 
measures of this part, and other recreational fishing vessels subject 
to the recreational fishing measures of this part and registered in 
states whose fishery management measures are not determined by the 
Regional Administrator to be the conservation equivalent of the season, 
minimum size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  648.102, 
648.103(b) and 648.105(a), respectively, due to the lack of, or the 
reversal of, a conservation equivalent recommendation from the Summer 
Flounder Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 
shall be subject to the following precautionary default measures: 
Season--May 1 through September 30; minimum size--20.0 inches (50.80 
cm); and possession limit--two fish.
    6. Section 648.142 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.142  Time restrictions.

    Vessels that are not eligible for a moratorium permit under Sec.  
648.4(a)(7), and fishermen subject to the possession limit specified in 
Sec.  648.145(a), may possess black sea bass from July 1 through 
October 1 and November 1 through December 31, unless this time period 
is adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.140.
    7. In Sec.  648.143, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.143  Minimum sizes.

* * * * *
    (b) The minimum fish size for black sea bass is 13.0 inches (33.02 
cm) TL for all vessels that do not qualify for a moratorium permit, and 
for party boats holding a moratorium permit, if fishing with passengers 
for hire or carrying more than five crew members, and for charter boats 
holding a moratorium permit, if fishing with more than three crew 
members.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2011-9627 Filed 4-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P