[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21955-21958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8756]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 120213124-2225-01]
RIN 0648-BB91


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper Management 
Measures

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 21956]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in a 
regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would 
increase the commercial and recreational quotas for red snapper in the 
Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2012 fishing year, and 
for the 2013 fishing year if NMFS determines the acceptable biological 
catch (ABC) is not exceeded in the 2012 fishing year. This rule would 
also eliminate the October 1 closure date of the recreational fishing 
season. This proposed rule is intended to provide more flexibility in 
managing recreational red snapper and to help achieve optimum yield 
(OY) for the Gulf red snapper resource without increasing the risk of 
red snapper experiencing overfishing.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2012-0024'' by any of the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Submit electronic comments via the 
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Cynthia Meyer, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required field if you wish to 
remain anonymous).
    To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2011-0024'' in the search field 
and click on ``search''. After you locate the proposed rule, click the 
``Submit a Comment'' link in that row. This will display the comment 
web form. You can enter your submitter information (unless you prefer 
to remain anonymous), and type your comment on the web form. You can 
also attach additional files (up to 10MB) in Microsoft Word, Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Comments received through means not specified in this rule will not 
be considered.
    For further assistance with submitting a comment, see the 
``Commenting'' section at http://www.regulations.gov/#!faqs or the Help 
section at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Electronic copies of the regulatory amendment, which includes an 
environmental assessment and a regulatory impact review, may be 
obtained from the Southeast Regional Office Web Site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/GrouperSnapperandReefFish.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Meyer, Southeast Regional 
Office, NMFS, telephone 727-824-5305; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage the Gulf reef 
fish fishery under the FMP. The Council prepared the FMP and NMFS 
implements the FMP through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Background

    The Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) update 
assessment for Gulf red snapper, conducted in August 2009 (SEDAR 9), 
determined that overfishing had ended for the red snapper stock, and 
that the ABC may be increased. The stock, however, is still overfished 
and under a rebuilding plan through 2032. The next SEDAR benchmark 
stock assessment currently scheduled for Gulf red snapper is in 2012.
    The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met 
January 10-13, 2012, and recommended new ABCs for the 2012 and 2013 
fishing years. For 2012, the SSC recommended an ABC of 8.080 million lb 
(3.665 million kg) and for 2013, the SSC recommended an ABC of 8.690 
million lb (3.942 million kg). The Council met January 30-February 2, 
2012, and voted to implement these new ABCs through the 2012 Gulf red 
snapper regulatory amendment.

Management Measures Contained in this Proposed Rule

    This rule would set the 2012 and 2013 commercial and recreational 
quotas for red snapper based on the ABCs recommended by the SSC and on 
the current commercial and recreational allocations (51-percent 
commercial and 49-percent recreational). Therefore, the 2012 commercial 
quota would be set at 4.121 million lb (1.869 million kg), round 
weight, and the 2012 recreational quota would be set at 3.959 million 
lb (1.796 million kg), round weight. The 2013 quotas would be set at 
4.432 million lb (2.010 million kg), round weight, for the commercial 
sector, and 4.258 million lb (1.931 million kg), round weight, for the 
recreational sector, if NMFS determines that the ABC is not exceeded in 
the 2012 fishing year. If NMFS determines the 2012 ABC is exceeded, 
NMFS will maintain the 2012 commercial and recreational quotas in the 
2013 fishing year. If this is the case, the Assistant Administrator 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to 
announce that commercial and recreational quotas will remain at 2012 
levels in the 2013 fishing year.
    This rule would change the end of the recreational fishing season 
from October 1 to December 31. Under 50 CFR 622.34 (m), the red snapper 
recreational fishing season opens each year on June 1 and closes when 
the recreational quota is projected to be reached, but no later than 
October 1. Prior to June 1 each year, NOAA projects the closing date 
based on the previous year's data, and notifies the public of the 
closing date for the upcoming season. If subsequent data indicate the 
quota has not been reached by that closing date, NMFS may reopen the 
season, but only until the October 1 end date.
    In 2010, following the closure of large areas of the Gulf in 
response to the Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill, NMFS determined the 
recreational quota was not caught during the open period. However, the 
October 1 end of the fishing season prevented NMFS from reopening the 
season to allow the remainder of the recreational quota to be caught. 
Instead, the Secretary had to take emergency action to reopen the 
season. Changing the end date of the fishing season to December 31 will 
allow NMFS to reopen the season through December 31, the end of the 
fishing year, thus maximizing this sector's opportunity to harvest its 
full quota and giving the Council and NMFS greater flexibility to 
manage the red snapper recreational fishing season.
    In addition to proposing the change to the end of the fishing 
season, NMFS is currently reviewing preliminary landings information 
used in projecting recreational red snapper harvest for the 2012 
fishing year. After finalized 2011 recreational landings data are 
available and before the season opens on June 1, 2012, NMFS will 
announce when the

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2012 quota is projected to be harvested. NMFS may announce when the 
2012 quota is projected to be harvested in the final rule associated 
with this action.
    The red snapper management measures contained in this proposed rule 
would achieve the goal of National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, which states that conservation and management measures shall 
prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum 
yield for the fishery.

Other Changes to Codified Text

    This rule also proposes to revise the definition for ``shrimp'' in 
the codified text, which was inadvertently not revised in a previous 
final rule. The final rule for Amendment 5 to the FMP for the Shrimp 
Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (56 FR 22827, May 17, 1991) removed 
``seabobs'' from the fishery management unit (FMU), however, the 
definition for ``shrimp'' in Sec.  622.2 was not revised to remove 
``seabobs'' at that time. Seabobs were never included in the FMU under 
the FMP for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, and both 
FMP's management units are comprised of the same species. This rule 
would revise the definition of ``shrimp'' to correct NMFS' oversight.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the 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.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The factual basis for this determination is as follows:
    The purpose of this proposed rule is to eliminate the October 1 
closure date of the recreational fishing season to provide more 
flexibility in managing recreational red snapper, set the 2012 
commercial and recreational quotas for the red snapper component of the 
Gulf reef fish fishery, and set the 2013 commercial and recreational 
quotas for red snapper if NMFS determines the ABC is not exceeded in 
the 2012 fishing year. These proposed actions would be expected to 
increase the likelihood of achieving OY. The Magnuson-Stevens Act 
provides the statutory basis for this proposed rule.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would be expected to directly 
affect all commercial vessels and for-hire vessels that harvest red 
snapper. In order to harvest red snapper in excess of the bag limit and 
sell red snapper, a commercial reef fish permit and enough allocation 
in a fisherman's IFQ account is required. An estimated 920 vessels 
possess a commercial Gulf reef fish permit. However, over the period 
2007-2010, only an average of 323 vessels per year recorded commercial 
red snapper harvests. As a result, for the purpose of this assessment, 
NMFs estimates that the number of potentially affected commercial 
vessels to range from 323-920. The average commercial vessel in the 
Gulf reef fish fishery is estimated to earn approximately $48,000 (all 
figures in 2010 dollars), while the average annual revenue for a vessel 
with red snapper landings was approximately $88,000 over the period 
2007-2010.
    A Federal Gulf reef fish for-hire vessel permit is required for 
for-hire vessels to harvest red snapper. On January 30, 2012, there 
were 1,377 valid (non-expired) or renewable reef fish for-hire vessel 
permits. An expired permit may not be actively fished, but is renewable 
for 1 year from the date of expiration. The for-hire fleet is comprised 
of charterboats, which charge a fee on a vessel basis, and headboats, 
which charge a fee on an individual angler (head) basis. Although the 
for-hire permit does not distinguish between headboats and 
charterboats, an estimated 69 headboats operate in the Gulf. The 
average charterboat is estimated to earn approximately $89,000 in 
annual revenue, while the average headboat is estimated to earn 
approximately $469,000.
    No other small entities that would be expected to be directly 
affected by this proposed rule have been identified.
    The Small Business Administration has established size criteria for 
all major industry sectors in the U.S., including fish harvesters and 
recreational services. A business involved in fish harvesting is 
classified as a small business if it is independently owned and 
operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its 
affiliates), and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $4.0 
million (NAICS code 114111, finfish fishing) for all its affiliated 
operations worldwide. The revenue threshold for a business involved in 
the for-hire fishing industry is $7.0 million (NAICS code 713990, 
recreational industries). Based on the average revenue estimates 
provided above, NMFS determined that all commercial and for-hire 
vessels expected to be directly affected by this proposed rule are for 
the purpose of this analysis small business entities.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would not be expected to 
significantly reduce profits for a substantial number of small 
entities. This proposed rule would eliminate the October 1 closure date 
of the recreational fishing season, set the commercial and recreational 
quotas for 2012, and set the commercial and recreational quotas for 
2013 if the ABC is not exceeded in the previous fishing year. At best, 
this action may result in increased operational efficiency and 
associated increased profits for for-hire entities associated with the 
recreational harvest of red snapper. The recreational red snapper 
season currently opens on June 1 and closes when the recreational 
sector quota is harvested, or is projected to be harvested, but no 
later than October 1. If the recreational quota is not harvested during 
this period, reopening the season would require additional regulatory 
action. Although the regulatory process required to reopen the season 
could, in theory, be completed in time to avoid a delay in reopening, 
i.e., the season could reopen on October 1, because of the 
administrative process, it is more likely that the season would end on 
October 1 and reopen later in the year. If this occurs, for-hire 
services associated with the recreational harvest of red snapper could 
not be continuously offered. Interruption of business could result in 
increased costs and operational inefficiencies, producing a net 
reduction in profits to for-hire entities despite a potentially 
unchanged number of total fishing trips and associated revenue. 
Eliminating the fixed October 1 closure date would be expected to 
increase the likelihood of an uninterrupted season, eliminating these 
operational inefficiencies, and potentially increasing profits. As a 
result, at best, this action may increase the likelihood of improved 
operational efficiency and increased profits to small entities.
    NMFS notes, however, that this action, if implemented, would not 
likely have any direct economic effect on any small entities in the 
near-term or foreseeable future. Currently, the recreational red 
snapper season can remain open, if quota is available, through 
September 30 and this proposed rule would change this date to December 
31. The recreational red snapper season in recent years, however, with 
the exception of 2010 when harvest was reduced as a result of the 
Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill, has not extended beyond July or 
August.

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The 2011 season lasted 48 days, but the recreational quota was 
exceeded, and thus, the 2012 season is expected to be shorter. As a 
result, absent a reduction in the bag limit or other extreme 
circumstances that changes the effort, harvest rate, or availability of 
fish, the likelihood of the season extending to October 1 is not 
precisely known, but considered unlikely. Therefore, this action is not 
likely to have any direct economic effect on any small entities in the 
foreseeable future.
    This proposed rule would also increase the combined commercial and 
recreational red snapper quotas in 2012 by 895,000 lb (405,965 kg) and 
by an additional 610,000 lb (276,691 kg) in 2013 (or a total increase 
of 1.505 million lb (0.683 million kg) over the 2011 combined 
commercial and recreational quotas), if the 2012 combined quota is not 
exceeded. These increases would be expected to result in an increase in 
revenue and profits to the affected commercial and for-hire fishing 
businesses.
    In summary, this proposed rule, if implemented, would be expected 
to increase profits to all directly affected small entities.
    Because this proposed rule, if implemented, would not be expected 
to have any direct adverse economic impact on any small entities, an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and none has 
been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Virgin Islands.

    Dated: April 6, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC

    1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec.  622.2, the definition for ``shrimp'' is revised to read 
as follows:


Sec.  622.2   Definitions and acronyms.

* * * * *
    Shrimp means one or more of the following species, or a part 
thereof:
    (1) Brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus.
    (2) White shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus.
    (3) Pink shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum.
    (4) Royal red shrimp, Hymenopenaeus robustus.
    (5) Rock shrimp, Sicyonia brevirostris.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec.  622.34, paragraph (m) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  622.34   Gulf EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.

* * * * *
    (m) Seasonal closure of the recreational sector for red snapper. 
The recreational sector for red snapper in or from the Gulf EEZ is 
closed from January 1 through May 31, each year. During the closure, 
the bag and possession limit for red snapper in or from the Gulf EEZ is 
zero.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec.  622.42, paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(2)(i) are revised 
to read as follows:


Sec.  622.42  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Red snapper. (A) For fishing year 2012--4.121 million lb (1.869 
million kg), round weight.
    (B) For fishing year 2013--4.432 million lb (2.010 million kg), 
round weight.
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Recreational quota for red snapper. (A) For fishing year 2012, 
the recreational quota for red snapper is 3.959 million lb (1.796 
million kg), round weight.
    (B) For fishing year 2013, the recreational quota for red snapper 
is 4.258 million lb (1.931 million kg), round weight.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-8756 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P