[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12708-12713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04265]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 121126649-3123-01]
RIN 0648-BC79


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Monkfish 
Fishery; Emergency Action

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement a temporary emergency action that 
would suspend existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued 
both a Federal limited access Northeast multispecies permit and a 
limited access monkfish Category C or D permit that are fishing under a 
Northeast multispecies day-at-sea in the monkfish Northern Fishery 
Management Area for 180 days beginning on May 1, 2013. This action is 
necessary to help mitigate expected adverse economic and social harm 
resulting from substantial reductions to the 2013 annual catch limits 
for several groundfish stocks managed under the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan. The intended effect of this action is to 
provide additional fishing opportunities to vessels affected by 
reductions to groundfish catch limits, without resulting in overfishing 
monkfish within the Northern Fishery Management Area.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 12, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0240, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2012-0240, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2276. Mark the outside of the envelope: 
``Comments on Monkfish Emergency Action.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135; Attn: Douglas Christel.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), 
which is contained in the environmental assessment (EA) prepared for 
this action and summarized in the Classification section of this 
proposed rule. Copies of the supporting biological, economic, and 
social impact analysis for this action is contained in the EA prepared 
for this rule, and may be found at the following Internet address: 
http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Christel, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (978) 281-9141, fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The monkfish fishery is jointly managed by the New England Fishery 
Management Council (NEFMC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council. The fishery extends from Maine to North Carolina out to the 
continental margin. The Councils manage the fishery as two stocks, with 
the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA) covering the Gulf of Maine 
(GOM) and northern part of Georges Bank (GB), and the Southern Fishery 
Management Area (SFMA) extending from the southern flank of GB through

[[Page 12709]]

the Mid-Atlantic Bight to North Carolina. The monkfish fishery is 
primarily managed by possession limits, in conjunction with a yearly 
allocation of monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) calculated to enable vessels 
participating in the fishery to catch, but not exceed, the target total 
allowable landings (TAL) limit and the annual catch target (ACT, the 
TAL plus an estimate of expected discards) in each management area. 
Both the ACT and the TAL are calculated to maximize yield in the 
fishery over the long term.
    Monkfish are often caught while fishing for Northeast (NE) 
multispecies (i.e., groundfish), particularly in the NFMA. Both 
monkfish and groundfish are bottom-dwelling species comingling in the 
same fishing locations and susceptible to gear types used in both 
fisheries. Because a majority of vessels operating in the NFMA are 
issued both monkfish and groundfish permits, the two fisheries are 
closely related, and influence one another in both the nature of 
fishing operations (which species to target and where to fish) and 
resulting economic and social impacts of applicable management 
measures.
    Recent groundfish stock assessments indicate that substantial 
reductions in the fishing mortality rate for several groundfish stocks 
are necessary to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks, 
consistent with rebuilding plans required under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). 
Accordingly, the NEFMC developed Framework Adjustment (FW) 48 to the NE 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to specify annual catch 
limits (ACLs) for several groundfish stocks based upon the updated 
stock assessments, among other measures. The NEFMC ultimately split FW 
48 into two separate actions, with updated ACLs adopted as part of FW 
50 at its January 2013 meeting. The proposed ACLs for several stocks, 
particularly those caught in the GOM and GB, are substantially reduced 
compared to ACLs specified for fishing year (FY) 2012 (see Table 1). A 
proposed rule to implement these proposed ACLs, along with other 
management measures, is expected to be published in the Federal 
Register shortly. If approved, such ACLs would likely become effective 
by the start of FY 2013 on May 1, 2013, and may result in substantial 
adverse economic impacts to vessels participating in the groundfish 
fishery. To help mitigate the adverse economic impacts of reduced 
fishing opportunities in the groundfish fishery during FY 2013, at its 
November 2012 meeting, the NEFMC requested that NMFS implement an 
emergency action to eliminate monkfish possession limits for groundfish 
sector vessels fishing under a groundfish DAS in the NFMA, an area that 
includes the entire GOM and northern portions of GB.

  Table 1--Proposed Reductions of 2013 Groundfish ACLs Compared to 2012
                                  ACLs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Reduction of
                                                            FY 2013 ACL
                    Groundfish stock                      compared to FY
                                                          2012 (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod..................................................              55
GOM cod.................................................              77
GOM haddock.............................................              71
GB yellowtail flounder..................................              62
Cape Cod/GOM yellowtail flounder........................              53
American plaice.........................................              57
Witch flounder..........................................              52
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the latest monkfish stock assessment conducted in 
August 2010 (50th Stock Assessment Workshop), monkfish in the NFMA are 
neither overfished, nor subject to overfishing. Based on this 
assessment and an evaluation by the NEFMC Scientific and Statistical 
Committee, the Councils adopted FY 2011-2013 monkfish ACTs and TALs for 
the NFMA as part of FW 7 to the Monkfish FMP (October 26, 2011; 76 FR 
66192). These catch limits were set below the overfishing level for 
NFMA monkfish to account for both scientific and management 
uncertainty, and to minimize the risk that overfishing will occur. In 
recent years, monkfish landings have fallen short of monkfish target 
total allowable catch amounts specified for the NFMA (see Table 2), 
with FY 2012 landings levels also projected to be below the TAL. As a 
result, monkfish landings could be increased as a means of providing 
additional fishing opportunities for groundfish vessels, with little 
risk of overfishing NFMA monkfish.

Table 2--Recent NFMA Monkfish Landings Compared to Associated Target Total Allowable Catch Amounts for Each Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Percent of
                                                                   Target total   Amount  landed   target total
                          Fishing year                               allowable         (mt)          allowable
                                                                    catch (mt)                     catch landed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008............................................................           5,000           3,528              71
2009............................................................           5,000           3,344              67
2010............................................................           5,000           2,834              57
2011............................................................           5,854           3,699              63
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Justification for Emergency Action

    Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes the Secretary 
to promulgate emergency regulations to address an emergency for any 
fishery. NMFS policy guidelines for determining whether an emergency 
rule is justified were published on August 21, 1997 (62 FR 44421). The 
guidelines state that the implementation of an emergency action should 
be limited to special circumstances where substantial harm or 
disruption of the resource, fishery, or community would be caused in 
the time it would take to follow standard rulemaking procedures. The 
emergency action guidelines define the existence of an emergency as a 
situation that: ``(1) Results from recent, unforeseen events or 
recently discovered circumstances; and (2) presents serious 
conservation or management problems in the fishery; and (3) if the 
opportunity for prior public notice and comment is being waived, can be 
addressed through emergency regulations for which the immediate 
benefits outweigh the value of advance notice, public comment, and 
deliberative consideration of the impacts on participants to the same

[[Page 12710]]

extent as would be expected under the normal rulemaking process.'' The 
justifications described in the guidelines include the prevention of 
significant direct economic loss, or to preserve a significant economic 
opportunity that otherwise might be foregone, and the prevention of 
significant community impacts. This action meets the first two 
guidelines; the third guideline is not relevant because the opportunity 
for prior public comment is not being waived.
    As discussed more thoroughly in the EA developed to support this 
action (see ADDRESSES), the combined effect of several issues facing 
the groundfish fishery for FY 2013 present recently discovered 
circumstances that would likely cause serious management problems and 
result in substantial economic and social harm for the groundfish and 
monkfish fisheries and associated communities. These issues include a 
series of recent groundfish stock assessment updates indicating the 
poor condition of some stocks and the need to reduce fishing mortality 
for these stocks starting in FY 2013, a late decision by the NEFMC to 
adopt substantially lower groundfish ACLs for certain stocks for FY 
2013 as part of FW 48B to the NE Multispecies FMP, and the lack of time 
to develop additional measures to mitigate the economic and social 
impacts of reduced FY 2013 groundfish ACLs through the conventional 
fishery management council management process. These issues can, at 
least in part, be addressed through an emergency action to suspend 
existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued both a limited 
access groundfish and monkfish permit in the NFMA.
    An emergency action would provide additional fishing opportunities 
to help mitigate expected substantial adverse economic and social harm 
resulting from reduced groundfish ACLs in FY 2013, without 
significantly increasing the risk of overfishing monkfish in the NFMA. 
These measures can be developed and implemented by NMFS more swiftly 
than a Council action that is subject to procedural and other 
requirements not applicable to NMFS. Implementing such measures under 
emergency action would help to preserve an economic opportunity that 
otherwise might be foregone if the NEFMC attempted to implement such 
measures under the normal, slower Council process. Although some of the 
groundfish stock assessments were completed earlier in 2012, final ACLs 
were not formally adopted by the NEFMC until January 2013 following the 
completion of the stock assessment update for GOM and GB cod in 
December 2012. Thus, the full scope of potential adverse economic 
impacts for FY 2013 was not realized until very recently. Therefore, 
the potential impact of the proposed reductions in groundfish ACLs for 
several groundfish stocks combined represents recently discovered 
circumstances that could result in substantial harm to the groundfish 
fishery and associated fishing communities. Further, because the NEFMC 
needed to prioritize adopting ACLs before the start of FY 2013, there 
was not enough time to fully develop measures that would help mitigate 
expected economic impacts of reduced ACLs in FY 2013 as part of FW 48B. 
Accordingly, NMFS finds that this proposed emergency action, as further 
described below, is consistent with section 305(c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and NMFS guidance regarding the use of emergency actions.

Proposed Management Measures

    Pursuant to section 305(c)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
management measures proposed in this rule would remain in effect for 
180 days, and are likely to be extended an additional 185 days, as 
allowed by this section of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, unless new 
information indicates that the NFMA monkfish TAL for FY 2013. If 
extended, these measures would be effective for the duration of FY 2013 
(through April 30, 2014).

1. Monkfish Possession Limits in the NFMA

    This emergency action would suspend existing monkfish possession 
limits for vessels issued a Federal limited access monkfish Category C 
or D permit (i.e., those also issued a Federal limited access NE 
multispecies permit) that are fishing under a groundfish DAS or both a 
groundfish and monkfish DAS in the NFMA during FY 2013. Vessels would 
still be required to declare a trip under a groundfish or monkfish DAS 
at the dock prior to starting a trip in order to be exempt from the 
monkfish possession limits; a vessel that does not declare a trip under 
a groundfish or monkfish DAS at the dock prior to starting a trip would 
not be exempt from the monkfish possession limits under this action. 
Existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued a limited access 
monkfish Category A or B permit and fishing under only a monkfish DAS, 
or vessels issued an open access monkfish Category E permit (i.e., 
vessels that catch monkfish while targeting other fisheries) would 
remain the same, as specified in Table 3. In addition, the overfishing 
level, acceptable biological catch level, ACL, ACT, and TAL would 
remain as 19,557 mt, 7,592 mt, 6,567 mt, and 5,854 mt, respectively, as 
implemented in either Amendment 5 (May 25, 2011; 76 FR 30265) or FW 7 
to the Monkfish FMP.

                        Table 3--Proposed Monkfish Possession Limits in the NFMA for 2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Monkfish permit        Possession limit (tail
    Sector participation status             DAS type                category                   weight)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-sector (Common Pool)...........  No DAS................  A, B, or E............  Up to 5% of total weight of
                                                                                      fish onboard; or 50 lb (23
                                                                                      kg) per day, up to 150 lb
                                                                                      (68 kg) per trip based on
                                                                                      gear used.
                                     Monk..................  A.....................  1,250 lb (567 kg)/DAS.
                                                             B.....................  600 lb (272 kg)/DAS.
                                     NE Mults A............  E.....................  Up to 25% of total weight
                                                                                      of fish onboard, not to
                                                                                      exceed 300 lb (136 kg).
                                     DAS only..............  C or D................  Unlimited.
                                     NE Mults A & Monk DAS.  C or D................  Unlimited.
Sector.............................  Non-DAS...............  E.....................  Up to 5% of total weight of
                                                                                      fish onboard; or 50 lb (23
                                                                                      kg) per day, up to 150 lb
                                                                                      (68 kg) per trip based on
                                                                                      gear used.
                                     NE Mults A............  E.....................  Up to 25% of total weight
                                                                                      of fish onboard, not to
                                                                                      exceed 300 lb (136 kg).
                                     DAS only..............  C or D................  Unlimited.
                                     NE Mults A & Monk DAS.  C or D................  Unlimited.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 12711]]

    These proposed measures differ from those requested by the NEFMC in 
that the suspension of existing monkfish possession limits would apply 
to both sector and non-sector vessels instead of just sector vessels. 
Suspending monkfish possession limits for both sector and non-sector 
groundfish vessels is proposed as being necessary to ensure that the 
proposed measures fairly and equitably allocate fishing privileges 
among affected entities, consistent with National Standard 4 of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. This emergency action would not apply to vessels 
issued a limited access monkfish Category A or B permit, because they 
are not issued a limited access groundfish permit and are not directly 
affected by reductions to groundfish ACLs during FY 2013, or to those 
issued a Category H permit, because they cannot fish within the NFMA.
    We expect these proposed measures to more closely achieve, but not 
exceed, the FY 2013 TAL for monkfish in the NFMA. Using recent landings 
patterns by limited access monkfish Category C and D vessels, we expect 
that the proposed measures would result in monkfish landings of 
approximately 5,430 mt during FY 2013, or 93 percent of the FY 2013 
monkfish TAL in the NFMA. This represents an increase of 608,530 lb 
(276,024 kg) of monkfish landings compared to landings expected under 
the current possession limits. If fishing patterns shift as a result of 
these proposed measures, and such a shift results in increased 
targeting of monkfish, there is a risk that monkfish landings from the 
NFMA could exceed the FY 2013 TAL.

2. Regional Administrator Authority to Reinstate Existing Monkfish 
Possession Limits

    This action proposes to authorize the Regional Administrator to 
reinstate monkfish possession limits for limited access monkfish 
Category C and D vessels fishing under a groundfish DAS or both a 
monkfish and groundfish DAS in the NFMA at any time within 180 days 
following the implementation of this action if available data indicate 
that the NFMA monkfish TAL or ACT may be exceeded during FY 2013. 
Further, NMFS may modify or not extend this action after the initial 
180 days. This is necessary to ensure that unexpected changes in 
fishing behavior in response to this emergency action do not cause 
monkfish landings or catch, when discards are included, to exceed the 
FY 2013 NFMA monkfish TAL or ACT, respectively, and result in 
overfishing for NFMA monkfish. If necessary, NMFS shall reinstate 
monkfish possession limits in the NFMA consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act.

Request for Comments

    The public is invited to comment on any of the measures proposed in 
this rule. NMFS is especially interested in receiving comments on the 
likelihood that these measures may result in changes to recent fishing 
behavior, including whether more groundfish DAS would be used in FY 
2013, and whether vessels would use groundfish DAS to specifically 
target monkfish.

Classification

    At this time, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has made a 
preliminary determination that the emergency measures that this 
proposed rule would implement are consistent with the Monkfish FMP, 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, agency guidelines on emergency 
rules, and other applicable laws. NMFS, in making a final 
determination, will take into account the data, views, and comments 
received during the comment period.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
    This proposed rule does not contain policies with Federalism or 
takings implications as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and E.O. 
12630, respectively.
    NMFS prepared an IRFA as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes 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 this 
action are contained in the preamble to this proposed rule and in the 
background, purpose, and need discussion (Section 2.0) of the EA 
prepared for this action. This proposed action does not contain any new 
recordkeeping or reporting requirements, and does not impose any 
additional costs to affected vessels.
    As described above, this action is necessary to help mitigate 
substantial economic and social impacts to the groundfish fishery and 
associated fishing communities resulting from substantially reduced 
ACLs for several groundfish stocks during FY 2013. This action would 
suspend existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued a 
Federal limited access monkfish Category C or D permit fishing under 
either a monkfish or groundfish DAS in the NFMA. The objective of this 
emergency action is to increase monkfish fishing opportunities and 
associated revenue for affected groundfish vessels. The proposed 
measures are expected to facilitate an increase in NFMA monkfish 
landings during FY 2013, while minimizing the risk of overfishing 
monkfish in the NFMA.
    NMFS fully analyzed and considered three principal alternatives, 
including the No Action Alternative, Alternative 1, and the proposed 
action. The No Action Alternative would have retained the existing 
monkfish possession limits, while Alternative 1 would have suspended 
monkfish possession limits for vessels issued a Federal limited access 
monkfish Category C or D permit when fishing under both a monkfish and 
groundfish DAS in the NFMA. NMFS also considered, but did not fully 
analyze, several additional alternatives that were rejected because 
they were beyond the scope of the purpose and need for this action. The 
proposed action, Alternative 2 in the EA developed for this action, 
would likely result in the greatest economic benefit to affected 
entities among the alternatives considered, as described further below. 
For a more complete description of the alternatives considered in this 
action, refer to the EA prepared for this action (see ADDRESSES).
    The economic value of monkfish landings depends upon the market 
category landed due to price variation among the various monkfish 
market categories. To more effectively compare the economic impacts 
among alternatives considered in this action, expected revenues 
associated with each alternative are estimated using the average price 
of monkfish landed when all landings of all market categories are 
converted to live weight equivalents using established conversion 
factors. It is important to recognize that realized revenues during FY 
2013 will change in proportion to any deviation from the average price 
reported during the first part of FY 2012 ($1.22 per lb ($2.69 per 
kg)), as well as the amount of each monkfish market category that is 
landed.
Description of and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which 
the Proposed Rule Would Apply
    The preferred alternative would affect any vessel issued a valid 
Federal limited access monkfish Category C or D permit that fishes 
under a monkfish or groundfish DAS in the NFMA. All of the vessels 
affected by this action are considered small entities under the Small 
Business Administration size standards for small fishing businesses 
($4.0 million in gross sales). Therefore, there are no disproportionate 
impacts

[[Page 12712]]

between small and large entities associated with this proposed action. 
Available data are not adequate to identify affiliated vessels, so each 
operating unit (vessel) is considered a small entity for purposes of 
the RFA. For a more detailed description of the affected entities, 
refer to the EA prepared for this action (see ADDRESSES).
    As of December 7, 2012, 2,212 vessels were issued a Federal 
monkfish permit, of which 558 were issued limited access monkfish 
Category C or D permits during FY 2012. However, only a fraction of 
these vessels will likely actually fish in the NFMA during FY 2013. 
During FY 2008, 400 Category C or D vessels fished in the NFMA out of a 
total of 690 vessels that were issued a limited access monkfish 
Category C or D permit (58 percent). During FY 2011, a total of 189 
monkfish Category C or D vessels fished exclusively in the NFMA, or in 
both the NFMA and SFMA during the same trip, out of 586 permits issued 
(32 percent). Assuming more recent fishing activity is a better 
predictor of fishing operations during FY 2013, it is expected that 
between 175-200 vessels would be affected by this action. The average 
size and horsepower of vessels affected by this action is 60 ft (18 m) 
and 540 horsepower. Because over 80 percent of NFMA monkfish landings 
in recent years were landed by trawl vessels, trawl vessels would be 
most affected by this action.
Economic Impacts of the Proposed Action
    Assuming that higher monkfish landings do not depress monkfish ex-
vessel prices during FY 2013, the proposed action is expected to 
provide opportunities for increased fishing revenue for affected 
vessels. The maximum potential revenue that could be realized from the 
proposed action would be approximately $15.7 million for monkfish 
landings alone. This assumes that the entire NFMA monkfish TAL (5,854 
mt, or 12.9 million lb) would be landed during FY 2013 at the average 
monkfish price observed during FY 2012 ($1.22 per lb ($2.69 per kg) 
when landings are converted to live weight equivalents).
    Realized revenues from the proposed action are estimated to be 
approximately $14.6 million from monkfish landings alone during FY 2013 
based on a projection of monkfish landings and using the average 
monkfish price observed to date during FY 2012 ($1.22 per lb ($2.69 per 
kg) live weight equivalent). That projection estimated that the 
proposed action would increase monkfish landings by approximately 
608,000 lb (275,737 kg) compared to the No Action Alternative. The 
proposed action would increase monkfish fishing revenue by $742,000 
compared to the No Action Alternative, while it would increase monkfish 
revenue by $568,000 compared to Alternative 1. Additional fishing 
revenue would also be expected based on landings of other species.
    Measures that restrict fishing effort in the groundfish fishery 
will likely be the primary factor affecting how much additional 
monkfish fishing revenue would be realized from the proposed action. As 
noted above, substantial reductions in the FY 2013 ACLs for several 
groundfish stocks are proposed as part of FW 48 to the NE Multispecies 
FMP. It is likely that these substantially-reduced groundfish ACLs 
could cause groundfish vessels to fully harvest their groundfish 
allocations (sector annual catch entitlements (ACE), or non-sector 
trimester total allowable catch (TAC) amounts) before the end of FY 
2013, triggering reactive accountability measures that would cease 
groundfish fishing operations temporarily, or for the duration of FY 
2013. This would prevent the monkfish and groundfish fisheries from 
fully realizing the potential economic benefits of suspending monkfish 
possession limits for vessels fishing under a monkfish or groundfish 
DAS in the NFMA. If groundfish vessels can avoid exceeding their sector 
ACE or non-sector trimester TACs, then monkfish landings will likely 
more closely approach the FY 2013 NFMA monkfish TAL and ACT, resulting 
in greater economic benefits to affected vessels.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: February 19, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and 
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is proposed 
to be 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.  648.94, suspend paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (b)(1)(ii), and 
(b)(3)(i); and add paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) through (v), (b)(3)(iv), and 
(h) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.94  Monkfish possession and landing restrictions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Category A vessels. A limited access monkfish Category A 
vessel that fishes under a monkfish DAS exclusively in the NFMA may 
land up to 1,250 lb (567 kg) tail weight or 3,638 lb (1,650 kg) whole 
weight of monkfish per DAS (or any prorated combination of tail weight 
and whole weight based on the conversion factor for tail weight to 
whole weight of 2.91). For every 1 lb (0.45 kg) of tail only weight 
landed, the vessel may land up to 1.91 lb (0.87 kg) of monkfish heads 
only, as described in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (iv) Category B vessels. A limited access monkfish Category B 
vessel that fishes under a monkfish DAS exclusively in the NFMA may 
land up to 600 lb (272 kg) tail weight or 1,746 lb (792 kg) whole 
weight of monkfish (gutted) per DAS (or any prorated combination of 
tail weight and whole weight based on the conversion factor for tail 
weight to whole weight of 2.91). For every 1 lb (0.45 kg) of tail only 
weight landed, the vessel may land up to 1.91 lb (0.87 kg) of monkfish 
heads only, as described in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (v) Category C and D vessels. Unless otherwise specified pursuant 
to paragraph (h) of this section, there is no monkfish trip limit for 
limited access monkfish Category C or D vessels that are fishing under 
a monkfish DAS exclusively in the NFMA.
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iv) NFMA--(A) Category C and D vessels. Unless otherwise specified 
pursuant to paragraph (h) of this section, there is no monkfish trip 
limit for limited access monkfish Category C or D vessels that are 
fishing under a NE multispecies DAS exclusively in the NFMA.
    (B) Category F vessels. A limited access monkfish Category F vessel 
that is fishing under a NE multispecies DAS, and not a monkfish DAS, 
exclusively in the NFMA is subject to the incidental catch limit 
specified in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section.
    (C) Vessels participating in the NE Multispecies Regular B DAS 
Program. Category C, D, F, G, and H vessels participating in the NE 
Multispecies Regular B DAS Program, as specified under Sec.  
648.85(b)(6), are subject to the incidental catch limit specified in 
paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section.
* * * * *
    (h) Regional Administrator authority to reinstate monkfish 
possession limits.

[[Page 12713]]

Based upon available information, if the Regional Administrator 
projects that monkfish landings on trips that fished in the NFMA may 
exceed the fishing year 2013 target total allowable landing limit of 
5,854 mt or, when combined with an estimate of discards, the 6,567 mt 
annual catch target, before the end of fishing year 2013 on April 30, 
2014, the Regional Administrator shall reinstate monkfish possession 
limits for Category C and D vessels in a manner consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act. If monkfish possession limits are 
reinstated pursuant to this paragraph (h), Category C vessels shall be 
subject to the possession limits specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) 
and (c)(1)(i) of this section, while Category D vessels shall be 
subject to the possession limits specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(iv) and 
(c)(1)(i) of this section.

[FR Doc. 2013-04265 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P