[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25052-25057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10033]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 130403319-3319-01]
RIN 0648-BD13


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational 
Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Fisheries; Fishing Year 2013

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 management measures for the 2013 summer 
flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. This rule 
also proposes to implement an increase in the 2013 and 2014 black sea 
bass specifications, consistent with a new acceptable biological catch 
recommendation. The implementing regulations for these fisheries 
require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and 
to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of these 
measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and 
black sea bass resources.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. local time, on May 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified NOAA-
NMFS-2013-0060, 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-2013-0060, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Comments on 2013 Proposed 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures, NOAA-
NMFS-2013-0060.
     Mail and Hand Delivery: John K. Bullard, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: 
``Comments on 2013 FSB Recreational Measures.''
    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.
    Copies of the Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (SEA/IRFA) and other supporting 
documents for the recreational harvest measures are available from Dr. 
Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, Suite 201, 800 N. State Street, Dover, DE 19901. 
The recreational harvest measures document is also accessible via the 
Internet at: http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9218.

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 Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (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

[[Page 25053]]

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.

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 (www.mafmc.org) or are 
available from the Council by request. Extensive background on the 2013 
recreational management measures recommendation process is therefore 
not repeated in this preamble.
    The FMP established monitoring 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 monitoring 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 monitoring 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.

Proposed Specifications and 2013 and 2014 Recreational Management 
Measures

    In this rule, NMFS proposes management measures for the 2013 summer 
flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. This rule 
also proposes to implement an increase in the 2013 and 2014 black sea 
bass specifications, consistent with a new acceptable biological catch 
recommendation. 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.

Black Sea Bass Specifications

    The process for establishing specifications is summarized here and 
is described in detail in the specifications final rule (December 31, 
2012; 77 FR 76842). The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC) met on July 25 and 26, 2012, to recommend acceptable biological 
catches (ABC) for the 2013-2015 summer flounder, scup, and black sea 
bass fisheries. The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Monitoring Committees met on July 27, 2012, to discuss specification-
related recommendations for the three fisheries. Following the SSC and 
Monitoring Committee meetings, the Council and the Board met to 
consider the recommendations of the SSC, the three monitoring 
committees, and public comments, and made their specification 
recommendations at a joint meeting held on August 15, 2012. At that 
time, the SSC recommendation for the 2013 black sea bass fishery was an 
ABC of 4.5 million lb (2,041 mt). Black sea bass remains a data-poor 
stock, with relatively high uncertainty for the purposes of calculating 
ABC. The SSC rejected the overfishing limit (OFL) estimate provided 
from the stock assessment, stating that it was highly uncertain and not 
sufficiently reliable to use as the basis of management advice. The SSC 
recommended a 3-year specification period, with a constant harvest 
strategy that would implement the same ABC for 2013-2015. However, the 
Council only endorsed the ABC for 2013, and recommended the annual 
catch limit (ACL), annual catch target (ACT), and quotas for 2013 only. 
The Council decided to recommend specifications for just 2013 in the 
hope that additional information would be available for the SSC in the 
coming year.
    At its December 2012 meeting, the Council requested that the SSC 
revisit the 2013 black sea bass specifications and make a 
recommendation for the 2014 fishing year. On January 23, 2013, the SSC 
met to reconsider these specifications and recommended an increase in 
the specifications for both the 2013 and 2014 fishing years. The SSC 
revised its recommendation for the 2013 and 2014 black sea bass ABC to 
5.5 million lb (2,495 mt). The Council voted at its February 2013 
meeting to recommend that the new ABC be implemented in conjunction 
with the recreational management measures. In this rule, NMFS is 
proposing the Council's recommended specifications for black sea bass. 
The following table provides the current specifications for black sea 
bass for 2013 and the proposed specifications for 2013 and 2014.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Established specifications for    Proposed specifications for
                                                               2013                        2013 and 2014
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    million lb          mt          million lb          mt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC.............................................            4.50           2,041            5.50           2,495
Commercial ACL & ACT............................            2.13             966            2.60           1,179
Commercial Quota................................            1.78             805            2.17             984
Recreational ACL & ACT..........................            2.37           1,075            2.90           1,315

[[Page 25054]]

 
Recreational Harvest Limit......................            1.85             838            2.26           1,025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed 2013 Recreational Management Measures

    NMFS is proposing the following measures that would 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 2013 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-inch (25.4-cm) minimum fish size, a 
30-fish per person possession limit, and an open season of January 1 
through December 31; and, for black sea bass, a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) 
minimum fish size, a 20-fish per person possession limit for open 
seasons of May 19 through October 14 and November 1 through December 
31. NMFS may implement more restrictive black sea bass measures, as 
recommended by the Council (i.e., a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 10-fish per person possession limit and an open season of June 
1-September 5), for Federal waters if the Commission is unable to 
develop and implement state-waters measures that, when paired with the 
Council's recommended measures, provide the necessary conservation to 
ensure the 2013 recreational harvest limit will not be exceeded. More 
detail on these proposed measures is provided in the following 
sections.

Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures

    NMFS proposes to implement the use of conservation equivalency to 
manage the 2013 summer flounder recreational fishery. The 2013 
recreational harvest limit for summer flounder is 7.63 million lb 
(3,459 mt), as published in the final rule implementing the 2013 
specifications (December 31, 2012; 77 FR 76942). Projected landings for 
2012 are approximately 6.92 million lb (3,139 mt), well below the 2013 
recreational harvest limit, therefore, no reduction in landings is 
needed. As a result, the Council and Commission have recommended the 
use of conservation equivalency to manage the 2013 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 by the Commission from the 
coastwide recreational harvest limit, as long as the combined effect of 
all of the states' management measures achieves the same level of 
conservation as would Federal coastwide measures.
    The Council and Board annually recommend that either state- or 
region-specific recreational measures be developed (conservation 
equivalency) or coastwide management measures be implemented 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 process to develop specific state measure 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.
    This year, the Commission has proposed an addendum to its Summer 
Flounder FMP to implement 2013 recreational fishing rules for summer 
flounder similar to those from 2012, partly to minimize the reductions 
facing two states (New York and New Jersey) and partly to allow for a 
different distribution of fishing opportunities in the 2013 season. The 
proposed approach is intended to allow states to capitalize on harvest 
opportunities that would be foregone by states that choose not to fully 
utilize their 2013 harvest target. Specifically, the addendum proposes 
a mechanism to allow states access to the summer flounder recreational 
harvest limit that is projected to not be harvested in 2013. The 
addendum responds to an unintended consequence of using conservation 
equivalency to stay within the annually established coastwide 
recreational harvest limit for summer flounder, and to respond to the 
changes in the fishery since the 1998 state landings targets were 
established. More information on this proposed addendum is available 
from the Commission (www.asmfc.org).
    Once states select their final 2013 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

[[Page 25055]]

the development of state or Commission management measures, but is an 
equal participant along with all the member states in the review 
process. NMFS retains the final authority either to approve or to 
disapprove the use of conservation equivalency in place of the 
coastwide measures in Federal waters, and will publish its 
determination as a final rule in the Federal Register to establish the 
2013 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 2013 precautionary default measures recommended by the Council 
and Board are for a 20.0-inch (50.8-cm) minimum fish size, a possession 
limit of two fish, and an open season of May 1 through September 30, 
2013.
    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

    NMFS is proposing to implement the Council and Commission's 
recommended scup recreational management measures for 2013 in Federal 
waters. The 2013 scup recreational harvest limit is 7.55 million lb 
(3,425 mt), as published in final rule (December 31, 2012; 77 FR 
76942). Estimated 2012 scup recreational landings are 4.06 million lb 
(1,842 mt), well below the 2013 recreational harvest limit, therefore, 
no reduction in landings is needed. The Council and Commission's 
recommended measures for the 2013 scup recreational fishery are for a 
10-in (25.4-cm) minimum fish size, a 30-fish per person possession 
limit, and an open season of January 1 through December 31. These 
measures are intended to promote an increase in recreational scup 
fishing in order to achieve the recreational harvest limit.

Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

    NMFS is proposing to implement the Council's recommended 
recreational management measures to reduce landings for black sea bass. 
The proposed 2013 black sea bass recreational harvest limit is 2.26 
million lb (1,025 mt). The 2012 recreational harvest limit was 1.32 
million lb (599 mt), and the projected 2012 recreational landings were 
2.99 million lb (1,356 mt). The projected 2012 landings are above the 
2012 recreational harvest limit and both the previously established and 
the proposed recreational harvest limit for 2013. The Council and the 
Commission, therefore, will need to establish management measures to 
reduce landings in 2013 to a level below the 2013 recreational harvest 
limit. The majority of the recreational black sea bass fishery occurs 
in state waters. As such, the Commission agreed to make more 
significant changes to the state-waters measures to ensure the 2013 
recreational harvest limit is not exceeded.
    In light of the Commission's effort to make changes to the state-
water measures, the Council recommended a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum 
fish size and 20-fish possession limit for an open season of May 19-
October 14 and November 1-December 31, and NMFS proposes to implement 
these recommended measures. However, if the Commission is unable to 
implement measures that would constrain landings in state waters 
sufficiently, NMFS may implement the Council's recommended measures 
designed to achieve the full necessary reduction in landings in Federal 
waters: A 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish size; a 10-fish possession 
limit; and an open season of June 1-September 5. In comparison, the 
2012 recreational harvest measures for black sea bass were a 12.5-inch 
(31.8-cm) minimum size, a 15-fish possession limit for an open season 
of January 1-February 29, and a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish size 
and 25-fish possession limit for open seasons of May 19-October 14 and 
November 1-December 31.
    The decision to implement the Council's recommended 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 reflected in the final rule published in the Federal Register.

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.
    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), which is included in the Supplemental 
EA and supplemented by information contained in the preamble to this 
proposed rule. 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 at the beginning of this section of the preamble and in 
the SUMMARY of this proposed rule. A summary of the IRFA follows. A 
copy of this analysis is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    This action does not introduce any new reporting, recordkeeping, or 
other compliance requirements. This proposed rule does not duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with other Federal rules.

Description and Estimate of Number of Small Entities to Which the Rule 
Would Apply

    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 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.

[[Page 25056]]

    The Council estimated that the proposed measures could affect any 
of the 852 vessels possessing a Federal charter/party permit for summer 
flounder, scup, and/or black sea bass in 2012, the most recent year for 
which complete permit data are available. However, only 355 vessels 
reported active participation in the 2012 recreational summer flounder, 
scup, and/or black sea bass fisheries.

Economic Impacts of the Proposed Action Compared to Significant Non-
Selected Alternatives

    The IRFA identified three alternatives in this action: The no-
action alternatiave, the status quo alternative and the preferred 
alternative. The no-action alternative (i.e., maintenance of the 
regulations as codified) is: (1) For summer flounder, coastwide 
measures of a 18-inch (45.7-cm) minimum fish size, a 4-fish possession 
limit, and an open season from May 1 through September 30; (2) for 
scup, a 10.5-inch (26.7-cm) minimum fish size, a 20-fish possession 
limit, and an open season of January 1 through December 31; and (3) for 
black sea bass, a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum size, a 15-fish 
possession limit for January 1-February 28, and a 25-fish possession 
limit and open seasons of May 19 through October 14 and November 1 
through December 31. The status quo alternative is: (1) For summer 
flounder, conservation equivalency, with precautionary default measures 
of a 20-inch (50.8-cm) minimum fish size, a 2-fish possession limit, 
and an open season of May 1 through September 30; (2) for scup and 
black sea bass, the same as the no action alternative. The proposed 
alternative is: (1) For summer flounder, the same as the status quo 
alternative; (2) for scup, a 10-inch (25.4-cm) minimum fish size, a 30-
fish possession limit, and an open season of January 1 through December 
31; and (3) for black sea bass, a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish 
size, and a 20-fish possession limit for open seasons of May 19 through 
October 14 and November 1 through December 31.
    The impacts of the alternatives 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.
    Because the proposed action is as or less restrictive than the 
other alternatives considered and provides the same or more opportunity 
for recreational fishing, the affected regulated entities are expected 
to be able to maximize fishery-related revenue under the preferred 
alternative relative to the non-preferred alternatives. The preferred 
alternative for scup would decrease the minimum size and increase the 
possession limit, and the preferred alternative for black sea bass is 
only slightly more restrictive than the status quo. In contrast, the 
non-preferred alternatives for scup would result in a larger minimum 
size and a lower possession limit, and the non-preferred alternatives 
for black sea bass that would not constrain recreational landings to 
appropriate level.
    For summer flounder, the preferred alternative for conservation 
equivalency is expected to increase fishing opportunities because, 
under the Commission's plan, almost all states are authorized to 
increase landings in 2013. The Commission has also proposed an addendum 
to implement 2013 recreational fishing rules for summer flounder 
similar to those from 2012, partly to minimize the reductions facing 
two states (New York and New Jersey) and partly to allow for the more 
equitable distribution of fishing opportunities in the 2013 season. The 
proposed approach is intended to allow states to capitalize on harvest 
opportunities that are foregone by states that choose not to fully 
utilize their 2013 harvest target. Specifically, the addendum proposes 
a mechanism to allow states access to the summer flounder recreational 
harvest limit that is projected to not be harvested in 2013. The 
Addendum responds to an unintended consequence of using conservation 
equivalency to stay within the annually established coastwide 
recreational harvest limit for summer flounder, and to respond to the 
changes in the fishery since the 1998 state landings targets were 
established.
    NMFS did not consider any alternatives that would provide 
additional fishing opportunities beyond what was recommended by the 
Council because any such alternative would increase the risk of the 
fishery exceeding the recreational harvest limit, which could result in 
overfishing the stock and/or exceeding the annual catch limit. This 
would be contrary to the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act.
    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 24, 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 set out 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.  648.104, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.104  Summer flounder minimum fish sizes.

* * * * *
    (b) Party/charter permitted vessels and recreational fishery 
participants. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Sec.  648.107, the 
minimum size for summer flounder is 18 inches (45.7 cm) TL for all 
vessels that do not qualify for a moratorium permit under Sec.  
648.4(a)(3), 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.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  648.106, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.106  Summer flounder possession restrictions.

    (a) Party/charter and recreational possession limits. Unless 
otherwise specified pursuant to Sec.  648.107, no person shall possess 
more than four

[[Page 25057]]

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. 
Persons aboard a commercial vessel that is not eligible for a summer 
flounder moratorium permit are subject to this possession limit. The 
owner, operator, and crew of a charter or party boat issued a summer 
flounder moratorium permit are subject to the possession limit when 
carrying passengers for hire or when carrying more than five crew 
members for a party boat, or more than three crew members for a charter 
boat. This possession limit may be adjusted pursuant to the procedures 
in Sec.  648.102.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 648.107 is 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 2013 are the conservation equivalent of the season, 
minimum fish size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  
648.104(b), 648.105, and 648.106(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.  648.104(b), 
648.105, and 648.106(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.
0
5. In Sec.  648.126, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.126  Scup minimum fish sizes.

* * * * *
    (b) Party/Charter permitted vessels and recreational fishery 
participants. The minimum size for scup is 10 inches (25.4 cm) TL for 
all vessels that do not have a moratorium permit, or for party and 
charter vessels that are issued a moratorium permit but are fishing 
with passengers for hire, or carrying more than three crew members if a 
charter boat, or more than five crew members if a party boat.
* * * * *
0
6. Section 648.127 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.127  Scup recreational fishing season.

    Fishermen and vessels that are not eligible for a moratorium permit 
under Sec.  648.4(a)(6), may possess scup year-round, subject to the 
possession limit specified in Sec.  648.128(a). The recreational 
fishing season may be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  
648.122.
0
7. In Sec.  648.128, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.128  Scup possession restrictions.

    (a) Party/Charter and recreational possession limits. No person 
shall possess more than 30 scup in, or harvested from, the EEZ unless 
that person is the owner or operator of a fishing vessel issued a scup 
moratorium permit, or is issued a scup dealer permit. Persons aboard a 
commercial vessel that is not eligible for a scup moratorium permit are 
subject to this possession limit. The owner, operator, and crew of a 
charter or party boat issued a scup moratorium permit are subject to 
the possession limit when carrying passengers for hire or when carrying 
more than five crew members for a party boat, or more than three crew 
members for a charter boat. This possession limit may be adjusted 
pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.122.
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  648.145, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.145  Black sea bass possession limit.

    (a) During the recreational fishing season specified at Sec.  
648.146, no person shall possess more than 20 black sea bass in, or 
harvested from, the EEZ unless that person is the owner or operator of 
a fishing vessel issued a black sea bass moratorium permit, or is 
issued a black sea bass dealer permit. Persons aboard a commercial 
vessel that is not eligible for a black sea bass moratorium permit may 
not retain more than 20 black sea bass during the recreational fishing 
season specified at Sec.  648.146. The owner, operator, and crew of a 
charter or party boat issued a black sea bass moratorium permit are 
subject to the possession limit when carrying passengers for hire or 
when carrying more than five crew members for a party boat, or more 
than three crew members for a charter boat. This possession limit may 
be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.142.
* * * * *
0
9. Section 648.146 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.146  Black sea bass recreational fishing season.

    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 only possess black sea bass from May 19 through 
October 14, and November 1 through December 31, unless this time period 
is adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.142.

[FR Doc. 2013-10033 Filed 4-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P