[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52032-52078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19991]



  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 21, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 120328229-3656-01]
RIN 0648-BC09


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7

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 regulations to implement management measures in 
Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) to ensure 
sustainable management of bluefin tuna consistent with the 2006 HMS FMP 
addressing ongoing management challenges in the Atlantic bluefin tuna 
fisheries. Amendment 7 also proposes minor regulatory changes related 
to the management of Atlantic HMS. Amendment 7 was developed by NMFS 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention 
Act (ATCA). The proposed measures would reallocate the U.S. bluefin 
tuna quota among domestic fishing categories. The rule would also 
implement several actions applicable to the pelagic longline fishery, 
including: Individual Bluefin Quotas (IBQs); two new Gear Restricted 
Areas, access to current closed areas based on performance criteria; 
closure of the pelagic longline fishery when annual bluefin tuna quota 
is reached; elimination of target catch requirements associated with 
retention of incidental bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery; 
mandatory retention of legal-sized bluefin tuna caught as bycatch; 
expanded monitoring requirements, including electronic monitoring via 
cameras and bluefin tuna catch reporting via Vessel Monitoring System 
(VMS); and transiting provisions for pelagic and bottom longline 
vessels. The proposed rule would also require VMS use and reporting by 
the Purse Seine category; change the start date of the Purse Seine 
category to June 1; expand Automated Catch Reporting System use to the 
General and Harpoon categories; provide additional flexibilities for 
inseason adjustment of the General category quota and Harpoon category 
retention limits; and allocate a portion of the Angling category Trophy 
South subquota to the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, it would adopt several 
measures not directly related to bluefin tuna management, including 
implementing a U.S. North Atlantic albacore tuna quota; modifying rules 
regarding permit category changes; and implementing minor changes in 
the Highly Migratory Species regulations for administrative or 
clarification purposes.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 23, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this proposed rule, identified by 
``NMFS-NOAA-2013-0101'', by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0101, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Do not 
submit electronic comments to individual NMFS staff.
     Mail: Submit written comments to: Thomas Warren, Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope 
``Comments on Amendment 7 to the HMS FMP.''
     Fax: 978-281-9347, Attn: Thomas Warren
     Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the 
above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. 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. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and generally will be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. 
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe 
PDF file formats only. NMFS will hold public hearings on this proposed 
rule and will notify the public through a notice in the Federal 
Register.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Management Division of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, and be 
emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 202 395-7285.
    Copies of Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and other 
relevant documents are available from the HMS Management Division Web 
site at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren or Brad McHale at 978-
281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Atlantic tuna fisheries are managed 
under the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and regulations at 50 CFR part 635, 
pursuant to the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and ATCA. Under 
ATCA, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as may be 
necessary and appropriate to carry out International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations. The authority 
to issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA has been 
delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA (AA). On October 2, 2006, NMFS published in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 58058) final regulations, effective November 1, 2006, 
implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which details the 
management measures for Atlantic HMS fisheries, including the 
incidental and directed Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries.
Background
    A brief summary of the background of this proposed action is 
provided below. A complete discussion of the proposed Atlantic HMS 
management measures and the alternatives can be found in Draft 
Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP Environmental Impact 
Statement (Amendment 7 DEIS, July, 2013). Draft Amendment 7, as well as 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP can be found online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.
    The bluefin tuna fishery is managed principally through a quota. 
Currently, NMFS implements and codifies the ICCAT-recommended U.S. 
quota through rulemaking, annually or bi-annually depending on the 
length of the relevant ICCAT recommendation. Also through rulemaking 
(the ``quota specifications process'') NMFS annually

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adjusts the U.S. baseline bluefin quota to account for any underharvest 
or overharvest of the adjusted U.S. quota from the prior year; 
specifies subquotas that result from application of the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP allocations; and adjusts subquotas as appropriate 
following consideration of domestic management needs. NMFS must account 
not only for landings but for bluefin tuna discarded dead. NMFS 
estimates and accounts for dead discards in the pelagic longline 
fishery, which cannot target bluefin tuna but catches them while 
targeting swordfish and other tunas.
    National Standard 1 requires that ``conservation and management 
measures shall prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing 
basis, the optimum yield from each fishery for the United States 
fishing industry.'' The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines ``optimum yield'' 
as the amount of fish that, among other things, provides for rebuilding 
to a level consistent with producing the maximum sustainable yield from 
the fishery. In ATCA, Congress also directed NMFS to manage the bluefin 
fishery to ensure that NMFS provides U.S. fishing vessels ``with a 
reasonable opportunity to harvest such allocation, quota, or at such 
fishing mortality level. . . .'' This rule builds upon an extensive 
regulatory framework for management of the domestic bluefin fishery 
pursuant to the 20-year rebuilding program adopted in the 1999 FMP and 
continued under the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. As described below, the 
proposed measures were designed to allow fishery participants to fully 
harvest, but not exceed, the U.S. bluefin quota by refining the 
existing management tools. NMFS is proposing a detailed, multi-level 
approach to resolving challenges in administering and carrying out the 
current quota system, which, if left unaddressed, could result in 
overharvests of the U.S. quota in the future. These measures would 
directly support the goals of reducing overfishing, rebuilding the 
western bluefin stock, and achieving optimum yield by ensuring that the 
fishery continues to be managed within the ICCAT-approved TAC, and 
consistent with National Standard 1's requirements.
    Recent trends in the bluefin tuna fisheries and public comment and 
suggestions indicate that substantive changes to the 2006 Consolidated 
HMS FMP are warranted with regard to bluefin tuna management. Specific 
relevant events are described below.
    On June 1, 2009, NMFS published an Advanced Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (ANPR; 74 FR 26174) requesting specific comments on 
regulatory changes that would potentially increase opportunities for 
U.S. bluefin tuna and swordfish fisheries to fully harvest the U.S. 
quotas recommended by ICCAT while balancing continuing efforts to end 
BFT overfishing by 2010 and rebuild the stock by 2019 as set out in the 
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. The ANPR was in response to various public 
suggestions about bluefin tuna management during the previous two 
years, precipitated by declines in the total volume of bluefin tuna 
landings, which were well below the available U.S. quota, and a 
reduction in the overall allowable western Atlantic bluefin TAC 
recommended by ICCAT. In the ANPR, NMFS also requested public comment 
regarding the potential implementation of catch shares, limited access 
privilege programs (LAPPs), and individual bycatch caps (IBCs) in 
highly migratory species fisheries. In response, NMFS received a wide 
range of suggestions for changes to the management of the U.S. bluefin 
tuna fisheries.
    In developing the 2011 bluefin tuna quota rule and specifications 
(2011 Quota Rule) (76 FR 39019; July 5, 2011), three factors made 
accounting for anticipated discards more challenging than in previous 
years: (1) Changes in the ICCAT western Atlantic bluefin tuna 
management recommendations, including reductions in total allowable 
catch (TAC), the amount of underharvest that can be carried forward 
from one year to the next, and the previous elimination of a dead 
discard allowance separate from the landings quota); (2) increases in 
domestic pelagic longline dead discard estimates due to changes in 
estimation methodology and possibly due to an increase in bluefin tuna 
interactions; and (3) increases in domestic bluefin tuna landings, 
including directed and incidental landings. It became apparent that the 
adjusted quota for 2011 would be insufficient to account for 
anticipated 2011 dead discards while also providing full baseline 
allocations for the directed fishing categories per the percentages 
outlined in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. In other words, the combined 
effect of the domestic quota allocation system and ICCAT requirements 
have resulted in an annual allocation/accounting challenge: Using the 
limited amount of available quota, how do we optimize fishing 
opportunity for all categories and account for anticipated dead 
discards in a way that meets our fishery management obligations?
    After extensive public comment on the proposed 2011 Quota Rule, 
NMFS accounted for half of the estimated dead discards ``up front,'' by 
deducting half of the expected dead discards directly from the Longline 
category quota to provide some incentive for fishermen to reduce 
bluefin tuna interactions that could result in dead discards. Secondly, 
NMFS applied half of the underharvest that was allowed to be carried 
forward to the Longline category and maintained the other half in the 
Reserve category to provide maximum management flexibility in 
accounting for 2011 landings and dead discards. The underlying premise 
was that full and final accounting for dead discards would occur at the 
end of the fishing year and that full accounting would be possible 
within the available quota due to the likelihood of unharvested overall 
quota at the end of the fishing year. The range of comments received on 
the proposed 2011 Quota Rule (March 14, 2011; 76 FR 13583), and 
discussions at HMS Advisory Panel meetings demonstrated the need for a 
comprehensive review of bluefin tuna management. Many comments raised 
issues that were outside of the scope of that particular rulemaking and 
would require additional analyses because of the potential impacts on 
the fisheries and fishery participants. Some of the issues raised 
include: holding each quota category accountable for their own dead 
discards and revisiting the methodology used for estimating dead 
discards, the accounting for bluefin tuna landings relative to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP percentage allocations, changing domestic 
allocations among fishing categories, reducing bluefin tuna bycatch, 
modifying the permit structure for the fisheries, improving monitoring 
of catch in all bluefin tuna fisheries, providing strong incentives to 
the Longline category to reduce interactions with bluefin tuna, and 
reducing dead discards in the pelagic longline fishery.
    In May 2011, in response to a petition to list bluefin tuna as 
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NOAA 
determined that listing bluefin tuna as threatened or endangered under 
the ESA was not warranted; however, bluefin tuna was designated as a 
species of concern. This placed the species on a watch list for 
concerns about its status and threats to the species. NOAA has 
committed to revisit this decision in 2013, or when more information is 
expected to be available about the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil 
spill. The western Atlantic bluefin tuna stock was last assessed in 
2012 by ICCAT's Standing Committee on Research and

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Statistics (SCRS). The results of that assessment and recommendations 
stemming from the 2012 ICCAT annual meeting did not substantially 
change from previous assessments and recommendations. The stock 
assessment included the use of two alternative recruitment scenarios, 
one assuming low potential recruitment and one assuming high potential 
recruitment. Therefore, the stock assessment produced two sets of 
results, and the status of the stock depends upon which recruitment 
scenario is considered. Under the low recruitment scenario, the stock 
is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, while under the 
high recruitment scenario, the stock is overfished and overfishing is 
occurring. The SCRS, as stated in the stock assessment, has no strong 
evidence to favor either scenario over the other and notes that both 
are reasonable (but not extreme) lower and upper bounds on rebuilding 
potential.
    In the final 2011 Quota Rule, NMFS stated ``however, in light of 
the issues involving U.S. quotas and domestic allocations, pelagic 
longline discards, the need to account for dead discards that result 
from fishing with other gears, and bycatch reduction objectives, as 
well as public comment, NMFS intends to undertake a comprehensive 
review of bluefin tuna management in the near future to determine 
whether existing management measures need to be adjusted to meet the 
multiple goals for the bluefin tuna fisheries'' (76 FR 39019; July 5, 
2011).
    NMFS began to address some of the quota accounting issues described 
above at the September 2011 meeting of the HMS Advisory Panel, by 
presenting a summary of some of the recent issues as well as a white 
paper on bluefin tuna bycatch in the fisheries. The HMS Advisory Panel 
discussed issues related to the Longline category, as well as issues in 
the bluefin tuna fisheries as a whole, and offered an array of 
suggested measures for NMFS's consideration as potential solutions. In 
preparation for the formal process of evaluating potential changes to 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, a preliminary version of a Scoping 
Document (``Preliminary White Paper'') was presented by NMFS to the HMS 
Advisory Panel meeting at its March 2012 meeting for its consideration 
as a scoping document to begin the process of reviewing the current 
management of bluefin tuna (NMFS, March 2012). The HMS Advisory Panel 
expressed qualified support for further exploring and analyzing the 
range of measures in the Preliminary White Paper, and suggested several 
additional measures. Those additional measures were incorporated into a 
final Scoping Document (NMFS, April 2012). NMFS made the scoping 
document available to the public, concurrent with the publication of a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR 24161; April 23, 
2012), which announced NMFS' intent to hold public scoping meetings to 
determine the scope of issues to be analyzed in a DEIS, and a potential 
amendment to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. The NOI stated that NMFS is 
examining the regulations that affect all bluefin tuna fisheries, both 
commercial and recreational, to determine if existing measures are the 
best means of achieving current management objectives, including 
continued sustainability of the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock consistent 
with the measures designed to end overfishing and rebuild the stock, 
and providing additional flexibility to adapt to management needs in 
the future. The NOI also announced the availability of the scoping 
document and notified the public of scoping meetings and consultations 
with Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional fishery 
management councils. During May and June of 2012, NMFS conducted public 
meetings to present the scoping document and receive public comments in 
Toms River, NJ; Gloucester, MA; Belle Chasse, LA; Manteo, NC; and 
Portland, ME. During June 2012, NMFS consulted with the Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, the New England Fishery Management Council, 
and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, while the scoping 
document was shared with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 
and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. NMFS accepted public 
comment on the scoping document through July 15, 2012. Details 
regarding the specifics of the scoping hearings and consultations and 
the public comments are in the Appendix of the Amendment 7 DEIS.
    On September 20, 2012, NMFS presented a Predraft document to the 
HMS Advisory Panel (NMFS, September 2012). A Predraft, which is a 
precursor to a DEIS, allows NMFS to obtain additional information and 
input from the HMS Advisory Panel and the public on potential 
alternatives prior to development of the formal DEIS and proposed rule. 
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS to ``consult with and consider 
the comments and views of affected Councils, commissioners and advisory 
groups appointed under Acts implementing relevant international fishery 
agreements pertaining to HMS (ACTA) and the HMS Advisory Panel in 
preparing and implementing any FMP or amendment.'' As such, NMFS 
requested comments from the HMS Advisory Panel, and made the document 
available to the public through the HMS Web site.
    NMFS identified the following objectives with regard to this 
proposed action: (1) Prevent overfishing and rebuild bluefin tuna, 
achieve on a continuing basis optimum yield, and minimize bluefin 
bycatch to the extent practicable by ensuring that domestic bluefin 
tuna fisheries continue to operate within the overall TAC set by ICCAT 
consistent with the existing rebuilding plan; (2) optimize the ability 
for all permit categories to harvest their full bluefin quota 
allocations, account for mortality associated with discarded bluefin in 
all categories, maintain flexibility of the regulations to account for 
the highly variable nature of the bluefin fisheries, and maintain 
fairness among permit/quota categories; (3) reduce dead discards of 
bluefin tuna and minimize reductions in target catch in both directed 
and incidental bluefin fisheries, to the extent practicable; (4) 
improve the scope and quality of catch data through enhanced reporting 
and monitoring to ensure that landings and dead discards do not exceed 
the quota and to improve accounting for all sources of fishing 
mortality; and (5) adjust other aspects of the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP as necessary and appropriate. These objectives support the goal of 
continued sustainability of the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock consistent 
with the measures designed to end overfishing and rebuild the stock.

Northern Albacore Tuna

    Amendment 7 also includes proposals for management of north 
Atlantic albacore (or ``northern albacore'') tuna. Since 1998, ICCAT 
has adopted recommendations regarding the northern albacore tuna 
fishery. A multi-year management measure for northern albacore tuna was 
first adopted in 2003, setting the TAC at 34,500 mt. ICCAT's Standing 
Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) assessed the northern 
albacore tuna stock in 2009 and concluded that the stock continues to 
be overfished with overfishing occurring, recommending a level of catch 
of no more than 28,000 mt to meet ICCAT management objectives by 2020. 
In response, in 2009 ICCAT established a North Atlantic albacore tuna 
rebuilding program via Recommendation 09-05, setting a 28,000-mt TAC 
and including several provisions to limit catches by individual ICCAT 
parties (for major and minor harvesters) and reduce the

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amount of unharvested quota that could be carried forward from one year 
to the next, from 50 percent to 25 percent of a party's initial catch 
quota. The 2009 recommendation expired in 2011.
    In 2011, ICCAT Recommendation 11-04 again set a TAC of 28,000 mt 
for 2012 and for 2013 and contained specific recommendations regarding 
the North Atlantic albacore tuna rebuilding program, including an 
annual TAC for 2012 and 2013 allocated among the European Union, 
Chinese Taipei, the United States, and Venezuela. The U.S. quota for 
2012 and 2013 is 527 mt. The recommendation limits Japanese northern 
albacore tuna catches to 4 percent in weight of its total Atlantic 
bigeye tuna longline catch, and limits the catches of other ICCAT 
parties to 200 mt. The recommendation also specifies that quota 
adjustments for a given year's underharvest or overharvest may be made 
for either 2 or 3 years from the subject year (i.e., adjustments based 
on 2013 catches would be made in either 2015 or 2016). Pursuant to ATCA 
and the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS would implement the ICCAT-
recommended U.S. quota and establish provisions to adjust the base 
quota for over or underharvests via annual quota specifications.

Proposed Measures

    The proposed measures reflect the Draft Amendment 7 objectives, the 
goal of continued sustainability of the Atlantic bluefin tuna stock 
consistent with the measures designed to end overfishing and rebuild 
the stock, public input from the prescoping and scoping phases, the 
predraft document and related comments, and subsequent analysis in the 
DEIS.
    Draft Amendment 7 proposes a variety of management measures 
designed to balance achievement of its diverse objectives. The 
Amendment 7 DEIS contains a complete description and analysis of the 
range of alternatives analyzed. A description of the significant 
alternatives to the proposed measures is provided later in this 
preamble in the summary of the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(IRFA). A description of the proposed management measures follows:
1. Quota Reallocation
Codified Quota Reallocation
    This measure would increase the amount of quota allocated to the 
Longline category to fully and more predictably account for Longline 
category incidental bluefin tuna catch, including both dead discards 
and landings. Paired with other proposed measures to reduce and control 
Longline category interactions with bluefin tuna, NMFS proposes a 
limited, 62.5 mt quota increase that reflects the historic dead discard 
allowance the United States had in addition to its landings quota under 
past ICCAT Recommendation 98-07. Under that recommendation (no longer 
in effect), ICCAT set aside 79 mt of bluefin tuna quota for dead 
discards in addition to landings. The United States' share of that set-
aside was 85.72 percent or 68 mt. The proposed codified reallocation 
would address the fact that when the current category allocation 
percentages were first established in 1999, dead discards were not 
considered in the allocation percentages but were accounted for by the 
separate 68 mt dead discard allowance then in effect. These percentages 
were carried over to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP without adjustment 
for the fact that the 1999 percentage allocations were originally 
intended to cover landings only. NMFS therefore proposes to annually 
redistribute a specific amount of quota in weight.
    To implement the change, NMFS would calculate the bluefin quota for 
each of the quota categories through the following process: First, 68 
mt would be subtracted from the baseline annual U.S. BFT quota for 
reallocation to the Longline category quota. Second, the remaining 
quota would be divided among the categories according to the allocation 
percentages codified at 50 CFR 635.27, and for the Longline category, 
the 68 mt (derived from all categories) would then be added to its 
quota.
    Therefore, if the baseline annual U.S. quota was 923.7 mt, 32.0 mt 
would be deducted from the General category (i.e., 47.1 percent of 68 
mt), 2.7 mt from the Harpoon category (3.9 percent), 12.6 mt from the 
Purse Seine category (18.6 percent), 5.5 mt from the Longline category 
(8.1 percent), 13.4 mt from the Angling category (19.7 percent), and 
1.7 mt from the Reserve category (2.5 percent). This 68 mt would be 
allocated to the Longline category, resulting in a net increase to the 
Longline category of 62.5 mt (68 mt minus the Longline category's 
contribution of 5.5 mt).
    This methodology would not modify the category quota allocation 
percentages themselves, because the amount of quota redistributed would 
not be equivalent to 68 mt if the total U.S. quota changed. The 
Longline category's percentage of the baseline U.S. bluefin tuna quota 
would remain at 8.1 percent, but each year the Longline category quota 
would be increased by 62.5 mt (based on deductions from the other quota 
categories).
Annual Quota Reallocation
    NMFS would annually adjust the purse seine quota, based on the 
total catch (landings and dead discards) by purse seine vessels in the 
previous year. Any quota not allocated to the Purse Seine category 
would be allocated to the Reserve category for possible redistribution 
to other quota categories, or to support other objectives of the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended.
    Three thresholds would be defined to create four possible 
allocation scenarios for the Purse Seine category. The Purse Seine 
category would be allocated either 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% of its 
allocated quota, according the following allocation criteria: If the 
purse seine catch is between 0 and 20% of the Purse Seine quota in year 
one, the Purse Seine category would be allocated 25% of the quota in 
year two, and 75% of the Purse Seine quota would be reallocated to the 
Reserve Category for that year. If the purse seine catch is greater 
than 20% and up to 45% of the Purse Seine quota in year one, the Purse 
Seine category would be allocated 50% of the quota in year two, and 50% 
of the Purse Seine quota would be reallocated to the Reserve Category 
for that year. If the purse seine catch is greater than 45% and up to 
74% of the Purse Seine quota in year one, the Purse Seine category 
would be allocated 75% of the quota in year two, and 25% of the Purse 
Seine quota would be transferred to the Reserve Category for that year. 
If the purse seine catch is greater than 75% of the Purse Seine quota 
in year one, the Purse Seine category would be allocated 100% of the 
baseline quota in year two, and no quota would be transferred to the 
Reserve Category for that year. These thresholds would apply following 
the same pattern in years beyond year two, with each year's quota 
reflecting the previous year's catch. In summary, if Purse Seine 
vessels catch a large portion of their allocated quota in one year, 
they receive a large portion of their quota in the next year. If Purse 
Seine vessels' catch is low in one year, a larger portion of the Purse 
Seine quota becomes available for other management purposes. The Purse 
Seine quota would not be `locked-in' at a low level because the 
criteria are structured to enable increases in quota. For example, if 
the Purse Seine catch in year one is between 0 and 20% of the year one 
baseline Purse Seine quota, the Purse Seine category would be allocated 
25% of their baseline quota in year two. If in year two the Purse Seine 
catch in year

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is greater than 20% of its baseline quota, but still within their 
annual allocation (i.e., catch is between 20% and 25%), the Purse Seine 
category would be allocated 50% of their baseline quota in year three. 
The Purse Seine category catch levels and allocation levels have been 
staggered to allow for an increase in allocation in the following year, 
without causing the category to exceed the current year's allocation to 
do so.
    This measure would balance the need to provide the Purse Seine 
category a reasonable amount of fishing opportunity in a predictable 
manner, while making use of quota that may otherwise be unused. Overall 
quota accounting in recent years has been facilitated by underharvests 
in the Purse Seine category. This measure would enhance certainty in 
the purse seine fishery, yet also provide a flexible means for 
strategic use of quota to address multiple objectives, including 
accounting for dead discards and optimizing fishing opportunity in 
other fisheries.
    As described under ``Modifications to the Reserve Category,'' quota 
that is reallocated to the Reserve Category may be utilized in a 
variety of ways to meet multiple objectives. For example, using 2011 
quota amounts: If, in year one the Purse Seine category catches 46% of 
its baseline quota (39.5 mt of 85.9 mt), then, in year two, the Purse 
Seine category would be allocated 50% of its baseline quota (43.0 mt). 
If, in year two, the Purse Seine category catches 19% of its baseline 
quota (16.3 mt of 85.9 mt), then, in year three, the Purse Seine 
category would be allocated 25% of its baseline quota (21.5 mt). NMFS 
would annually estimate the Purse Seine category catch for that year 
and publish a notice in the Federal Register regarding the amount of 
quota that would be allocated to the Purse Seine category, as well as 
the corresponding amount allocated to the Reserve category and any 
disposition of the quota from the Reserve category for the subsequent 
year made at that time. After the initial adjustment, NMFS may make 
additional modifications to the Purse Seine quota inseason in 
accordance with the criteria for inseason adjustments specified at 
Sec.  635.27(a), or make subsequent use of quota from the Reserve 
category.
Modifications to the Reserve Category
    This proposed measure would give NMFS management flexibility to 
augment the amount of quota in the Reserve category and add to the 
determination criteria NMFS considers in redistributing quota to or 
from the Reserve category. The potential sources of quota for the 
Reserve category on top of its baseline allocation of 2.5 percent would 
be the following: (1) Available underharvest of the U.S. quota that is 
allowed to be carried forward and (2) unused Purse Seine category 
quota, under the proposed codified reallocation measure described 
below. For example, under the proposed Annual Quota Reallocation, NMFS 
would estimate the amount of Purse Seine quota that had been caught 
during that year and adjust the Purse Seine allocation in the 
subsequent year (as a result). The remaining amount of Purse Seine 
quota would then be reallocated to the Reserve category for that 
subsequent year. NMFS could utilize quota from the Reserve category 
inseason after considering defined criteria and objectives. NMFS 
proposes to add five criteria to the existing nine criteria considered 
when making inseason or annual quota adjustments (See Sec.  
635.27(a)(8)). The current criteria NMFS considers are: (1) The 
usefulness of information obtained from catches in the particular 
category for biological sampling and monitoring of the status of the 
stock; (2) the catches of the particular category to date and the 
likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no adjustment 
is made; (3) the projected ability of the vessels fishing under the 
particular category quota to harvest the additional amount of BFT 
before the end of the fishing year; (4) the estimated amounts by which 
quotas for other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded; (5) 
effects of the adjustment on BFT rebuilding and overfishing; (6) 
effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives of the FMP; 
(7) variations in seasonal distribution, abundance, or migration 
patterns of BFT; (8) effects of catch rates in one area precluding 
vessels in another area from having a reasonable opportunity to harvest 
a portion of the category's quota; and (9) review of dealer reports, 
daily landing trends, and the availability of the BFT on the fishing 
grounds. The additional five criteria would be: (10) optimize fishing 
opportunity; (11) account for dead discards; (12) facilitate quota 
accounting; (13) support other fishing monitoring programs through 
quota allocations and/or generation of revenue; and (14) support 
research through quota allocations and/or generation of revenue.
    For example, Reserve quota could be transferred to the General 
category if pelagic longline vessels choose to fish under General 
category rules (see Allow Pelagic Longline Vessels to fish under 
General Category Rules), or bluefin tuna quota from the Reserve 
category could be used to augment other quota categories (optimize 
fishing opportunity and facilitate quota accounting).
    These proposed modifications to the Reserve category would increase 
management flexibility in administering the quota system in a way that 
takes into account fluctuations in the characteristics of the fishery. 
Increased flexibility in use of the Reserve category quota would also 
complement other proposed measures in Draft Amendment 7 that constitute 
substantial modifications to the current quota system (e.g., the 
proposed Individual Bluefin Quota system, and Annual Reallocation). A 
more flexible quota system would be responsive to the current 
conditions in the fisheries, which are different from those that 
existed when the quota system was created, and facilitate adaptation to 
future changes in the fisheries.
2. Gear Restricted Areas
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, With Conditional Access
    This proposed management measure would define an area off Cape 
Hatteras, NC and would limit access to this area for vessels fishing 
with pelagic longline gear during the 5-month period from December 
through April. NMFS would make an annual determination whether vessels 
would be granted access to the area, based on a formula consisting of 
the following metrics: ratio of bluefin tuna interactions to designated 
species catch, compliance with the Pelagic Observer Program 
requirements, and compliance with HMS logbook reporting requirements. 
Vessels not qualifying to fish in the area with pelagic longline gear 
would be those vessels that have not demonstrated their ability to 
avoid bluefin tuna and/or comply with reporting and monitoring 
(observer) requirements. Non-qualifying vessels would be allowed to use 
other gear types authorized for use by pelagic longline vessels, such 
as buoy gear, green-stick gear, or rod and reel, in the area during the 
months of the restriction, but they could not fish with pelagic 
longline gear. Vessel performance would be evaluated annually in order 
to provide future fishing opportunities and to accommodate changes in 
fishing or reporting practices.
    The principal objective of conditional access would be to balance 
the objective of reducing dead discards with the objective of providing 
reasonable fishing opportunity. The second objective would be to 
provide strong incentives to modify fishing behavior to avoid bluefin

[[Page 52037]]

tuna and reduce dead discards, as well as improve compliance with the 
logbook reporting and observer requirements. This regulatory approach 
is based on the fact that historically relatively few vessels have 
consistently been responsible for the majority of the bluefin tuna dead 
discards within the Longline category. Conditioning access on 
compliance with reporting and monitoring requirements reflects the 
critical importance of fishery data to the successful management of the 
fisheries.
    The initial evaluation of performance metrics would be based upon 
data from 2006 through 2011, and subsequent scores would be based upon 
the most recent three-consecutive-year period. The three-consecutive-
year period may not align precisely with calendar years if data through 
the end of a calendar year are not available at the time NMFS is making 
the determination. For example, data through the end of a year may not 
be available at the time NMFS is compiling such data. Vessels owners 
would be notified annually of the status of the relevant vessel, and 
only aggregate information regarding the vessel status would be made 
public. NMFS would have the authority to revise the conditions for 
access (via proposed and final rulemaking) in order to ensure that the 
performance metrics continue to support the objectives of the gear 
restricted area.
    Vessels would be able to appeal their performance scores to NMFS by 
submitting a written request to appeal, indicating the reason for the 
appeal and providing supporting documentation for the appeal (e.g., 
copies of landings records and/or permit ownership, Pelagic Observer 
Program information, logbook data, etc.). The appeal would be evaluated 
based upon the following criteria: (1) The accuracy of NMFS records 
regarding the relevant information; and (2) correct assignment of 
historical data to the vessel owner/permit holder. The current owner of 
a permitted vessel may also appeal on the basis of changes in vessel 
ownership or permit transfers. Appeals based on hardship factors will 
not be considered.
    NMFS would have the authority to terminate access for all pelagic 
longline vessels or individual pelagic longline vessels to the area via 
inseason action in order to address issues including: (1) Failure to 
achieve or effectively balance the objective of reducing dead discards 
with the objective of providing fishing opportunity; (2) bycatch of 
bluefin tuna or other HMS species that may be inconsistent with the 
objectives or regulations or the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, or ICCAT 
recommendations; or (3) bycatch of marine mammals or protected species 
that is inconsistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 
Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (PLTRP), or the 2004 Biological 
Opinion (BiOP).
    The performance metric formula would enable the majority of vessels 
to continue to fish in the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, yet 
would substantially reduce bluefin tuna dead discards by precluding 
fishing in the Area by those with a history of high bluefin tuna 
interaction in relation to other designated species catch. 
Specifically, NMFS would define three performance metrics to reflect 
three relevant aspects of vessel performance: (1) The ratio of bluefin 
tuna interactions to designated species catch; (2) compliance with 
observer requirements; and (3) compliance with logbook requirements. In 
order to characterize vessel performance in a manner that is fair, 
consistent, and feasible to administer, the proposed performance metric 
formula is based on relatively simple, objective, and quantifiable 
information. For each of the three performance metrics, a vessel would 
be scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 reflecting better performance. 
Vessels with a ratio of bluefin tuna interactions to designated species 
catch of 1 would not be allowed to fish in the proposed Cape Hatteras 
Gear Restricted Area using pelagic longline gear. If a vessel's Pelagic 
Observer Program Compliance score is 2 or less, that vessel would not 
be allowed to access the area and fish with pelagic longline gear, 
unless the vessel's logbook compliance score is 4 or 5.
    The performance metric formula would reflect bluefin tuna 
interactions as measured by the ratio of the number of bluefin tuna 
interactions (landings, dead discards, and live discards, in number of 
fish) to the weight of designated species landings (in pounds). These 
designated species would consist of the more common marketable catch 
harvested by pelagic longline vessels: swordfish; yellowfin, bigeye, 
albacore, and skipjack tunas; dolphin; wahoo; and porbeagle, shortfin 
mako, and thresher sharks. The use of a ratio incorporating both 
designated species landings and bluefin tuna interactions provides a 
metric that is intended to eliminate bias resulting from the 
differences among vessels in size or fishing effort.
    The Pelagic Observer Program metric would reflect compliance with 
requirements regarding communications, and timing of communications 
with the Pelagic Observer Program once selected for observer coverage; 
requirements regarding observer safety and accommodation (e.g., USCG 
safety decal, life raft capacity and bunk space); and requirements 
regarding observer deployment. The scoring system is designed to be 
neutral with respect to valid reasons that a vessel was selected by the 
observer program but did not take an observer (e.g., no observer was 
available, or the vessel did not fish using pelagic longline gear (for 
a variety of reasons)). The scoring system is also designed to weigh 
trips that were not observed due to noncompliance with the 
communication requirements more heavily than those that were not 
observed due to noncompliance with the safety and accommodation 
requirements. The system is also designed to consider evidence of 
fishing activity that may have occurred without required communication 
or observer coverage.
    The logbook reporting metric would reflect compliance with the 
requirement that the vessel owner/operator must submit the logbook 
forms postmarked within 7 days of offloading the catch, and, if no 
fishing occurred during a month, must submit a no-fishing form 
postmarked no later than 7 days after the end of that month.
Small Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area
    This proposed measure would define an irregularly-shaped area in 
the Gulf of Mexico and would prohibit the use of pelagic longline gear 
during the 2-month period from April through May. Other gear types 
authorized for use by pelagic longline vessels such as buoy gear (see 
``Increased Flexibility to use Buoy Gear''), green-stick gear, or rod 
and reel would be allowed, provided the vessel abides by any rules/
regulations that apply to those gear types. Based on past patterns of 
interaction between pelagic longline gear and bluefin tuna, the 
proposed Small Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area represents a 
temporal and spatial combination likely to reduce dead discards but 
also maintain fishing opportunities for pelagic longline vessels. 
Because bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico are comprised of large fish 
that may be sexually mature or spawning, reducing dead discards in the 
Gulf of Mexico may also enhance spawning potential and thus may enhance 
stock growth.

Pelagic Longline Vessels Fishing Under General Category Rules

    This proposed measure would allow vessels with an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline category permit that are not granted access to fish in the 
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area using pelagic longline gear to fish 
under the rules/regulations

[[Page 52038]]

applicable to the General category as they pertain to targeting bluefin 
tuna with handgear (i.e., rod and reel, handline, harpoon, etc.). This 
capability would only be allowed in the area defined as the Cape 
Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, during the time of the restriction 
(December through April) when the General category is open. In other 
words, if a vessel is not allowed access to the Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area due to the performance metric formula, and the General 
category fishery is open, the vessel may use handgear to fish under the 
General category rules. The bluefin tuna landed with authorized 
handgear would be counted against the General category quota. The 
objective of this measure is to provide additional fishing opportunity 
for pelagic longline vessels and mitigate the potential negative 
economic impacts of the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, 
particularly for pelagic longline vessels that may not be able to fish 
in other areas during the time of the restriction. Before each trip, 
prior to leaving port, vessels would be required to declare through VMS 
their intent to fish under the General category rules, and report their 
catch daily through VMS. Specifically, vessels would be required to 
report through VMS the length of bluefin tuna retained and discarded. 
Vessels must submit a VMS catch report for each set with bluefin 
interactions within 12 hours of completion of the haul-back.

Transiting Closed Areas

    This proposed measure would allow vessels with an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit, Swordfish Incidental or Directed Limited Access 
permit, and/or a Shark Limited Access permit fishing with bottom or 
pelagic longline gear to transit areas that are closed or restricted to 
such gear, if they remove and stow the gangions, hooks, and buoys from 
the mainline and drum. No baited hooks would be allowed. The specific 
areas to which this transiting provision would apply would include 
those proposed in this rule (Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area and 
Cape Hatteras Gear restricted area); the current pelagic longline 
closed areas (DeSoto Canyon, Florida East Coast, Charleston Bump, 
Northeastern U.S.); the current bottom longline closed areas (the Mid-
Atlantic Shark Area; and the Caribbean closed areas). Current 
regulations do not allow fishermen to stow their longline gear and 
transit these areas. Instead, fishermen must go around the areas to 
remain in compliance with the regulations. This proposed measure would 
reduce the costs associated with indirect routes of travel (more time 
at sea, increased fuel consumption, etc.), and address the comments 
expressed by some fishermen that requiring vessels to steam around 
restricted areas has caused safety-at-sea concerns. Small closed areas 
such as the Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps are not included 
because they are small enough to steam around with little associated 
costs/concerns.

Conditional Access to Pelagic Longline Closed Areas

    This proposed measure would allow limited and conditional access to 
the following closed areas during the times they are in effect: 
Charleston Bump closed area (February through April), a portion of the 
East Florida Coast closed area (year-round), the DeSoto Canyon closed 
area (year-round), and the Northeastern U.S. closed area (June). The 
portion of the East Florida Coast closed area open to fishing would be 
north of 28[deg]17'10'' N. lat., east of the 100 fathoms curve, 
approximately near Melbourne, FL. The area south of 28[deg]17'10'' N. 
lat, and west of the 100 fathoms curve would remain closed to fishing 
due to south Florida's unique importance as a swordfish and tuna 
migratory corridor, and as juvenile swordfish habitat that is easily 
accessible to a large population center with many fishermen.
    There would be two conditions for access to these areas. The first 
condition would be based upon the performance metrics and scoring 
system described above in the ``Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area with 
Access.'' As explained previously, NMFS would define three performance 
metrics to reflect three relevant aspects of vessel performance: (1) 
The ratio of bluefin tuna interactions to designated species catch; (2) 
compliance with observer requirements; and (3) compliance with logbook 
requirements. NMFS would make an annual determination whether vessels 
would have access to the pelagic longline closed areas, based on a 
relatively low rate of interactions with bluefin tuna in the recent 
past, and past compliance with specific reporting and monitoring 
requirements. Vessels not allowed to fish in the closed areas would be 
those vessels that have not demonstrated their ability to avoid bluefin 
tuna and/or comply with reporting and monitoring requirements.
    The second condition would be a requirement that any trip into a 
closed area be observed. To implement the condition of having an 
observer onboard, current vessel selection procedures would be used to 
select vessels using the current strata (i.e., the procedures that 
select vessels to obtain observer coverage each calendar quarter, and 
in each of various geographic (statistical) areas). If selected, a 
vessel would be informed of the statistical area for which the vessel 
was selected, and the vessel would be allowed to fish within the 
relevant closed area provided it is within that particular statistical 
area. For example, if the vessel were selected to take an observer for 
the Mid-Atlantic Bight statistical area, the vessel would be able to 
fish in the Northeastern U.S. closed area in June as long as an 
observer is onboard. If the vessel were selected to take an observer 
for the Gulf of Mexico, the vessel would be able to fish in the DeSoto 
Canyon closed area during the quarter selected for observer coverage as 
long as an observer is on board.
    Eligible vessels would be required to declare into the area via 
their VMS unit prior to leaving the dock, and report their catch daily 
through VMS. Specifically, vessels would be required to report through 
VMS the length of bluefin tuna retained and discarded. Vessels must 
submit a VMS catch report for each set with bluefin interactions within 
12 hours of completion of the haul-back.
    NMFS would have the authority to terminate access to each area 
inseason in order to address issues, including:
    (1) Failure to achieve or effectively balance the objective of 
reducing discards with the objective of providing fishing opportunity; 
(2) bycatch of bluefin tuna or other HMS species that may be 
inconsistent with the objectives or regulations or the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP, or ICCAT recommendations; or (3) bycatch of 
marine mammals or protected species that is inconsistent with the MMPA, 
PLTRP, or the 2004 BiOP.
    When considering whether or not to terminate access to a closed 
area, NMFS would evaluate the following criteria and other relevant 
factors relating to the three issues listed above: (1) The usefulness 
of information on catch obtained from observers, logbooks, VMS 
reporting, and dealer reports; (2) the type of species caught, numbers 
caught, rate of catch, animal length, weight, condition, and location; 
(3) variations in the seasonal distribution, abundance, or migration 
patterns of a bycatch species or target species; (4) condition or 
status of the stock or species of concern and impacts of continued 
access to the closed area on all species; (5) catch data on comparable 
species from outside the closed area (both target species and bycatch); 
(6) implications on quota management of relevant stocks; (7) relevant 
data regarding the effectiveness of other closed areas and their 
individual or cumulative impacts in

[[Page 52039]]

relation to the objectives of the closed areas and the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP; and (8) the bluefin tuna determination criteria 
listed under Sec.  635.(27)(a)(8)(as revised by this rule). NMFS would 
consider relevant data and publish a notice in the Federal Register 
notifying the public that access to the area with pelagic longline gear 
would be prohibited for the duration of the relevant time period 
(depending upon the closed area). For year-round closures, the area 
would be closed for the remainder of the fishing year.
    In addition to the ability to terminate access to a closed area 
inseason, NMFS would be able to make an annual determination whether or 
not to allow access to these areas, based on the above criteria. NMFS 
would consider relevant data and publish a notice in the Federal 
Register notifying the public whether or not there would be access to 
the areas in the subsequent year. NMFS may choose to allow access to 
certain closed areas and not others. In order to adjust or implement 
new restrictions for access to closed areas, NMFS would conduct 
proposed and final rulemaking.
    The objective of this proposed measure is to provide additional 
fishing opportunities for pelagic longline vessels, mitigate the 
potential negative economic impacts of other draft Amendment 7 
alternatives that are proposed, and provide fishery dependent data from 
within the closure areas. Fishery dependent data from within the closed 
areas may be utilized in the future as part of the information used to 
evaluate the effectiveness and/or impacts of closed areas as well as 
for stock assessments or other management measures. The total number of 
trips into closed areas would be limited by the level of observer 
coverage.
3. Quota Controls
NMFS Closure of the Pelagic Longline Fishery
    This proposed measure would close the pelagic longline fishery 
(i.e., prohibit the use of pelagic longline gear) when the total 
Longline category quota is reached, projected to be reached or 
exceeded, or, when there is high uncertainty regarding the estimated or 
documented levels of bluefin tuna catch. These steps would be taken in 
order to prevent overharvest of the Longline category quota and prevent 
further discards of bluefin tuna. When NMFS projects that the quota 
will be reached, it will file a closure action with the Office of the 
Federal Register for publication. Vessels would be required to offload 
all bluefin tuna prior to the closure date/time. Criteria for NMFS 
consideration would include those listed under Sec.  635.27(a)(8) as 
well as: total estimated bluefin tuna catch (landings and dead 
discards) in relation to the quota; estimated amount by which the 
bluefin tuna quota might be exceeded; usefulness of data relevant to 
monitoring the quota; uncertainty in the documented or estimated dead 
discards or landings of bluefin tuna; amount of bluefin tuna landings 
or dead discards within a short time; effects of continued fishing on 
bluefin tuna rebuilding and overfishing; provision of reasonable 
opportunity for pelagic longline vessels to pursue the target species; 
variations in seasonal distribution, abundance or migration patterns of 
bluefin tuna; and other relevant factors.
    Alternatively, NMFS could utilize a historical estimate for pelagic 
longline dead discards as a proxy for anticipated dead discards, and 
subtract an estimate of dead discards ``off the top'' of the quota. 
This would result in a substantially lower quota, which would be a 
landings quota and result in the closure of the fishery when the 
landings quota is attained.
Individual Bluefin Quotas (IBQs)
    The proposed IBQ management system is summarized and then described 
in detail below.
Summary
    NMFS is proposing IBQs pursuant to section 303A of the MSA, which 
authorizes development of limited access privilege (LAPP) programs. A 
LAPP is a permit issued for a period of not more than 10 years, to 
harvest a quantity of fish expressed by a unit(s) representing a 
portion of the total allowable catch that may be received or held for 
exclusive use by a person. Section 303A(c) identifies the requirements 
for such a program (note that the referendum requirements of section 
303A(c)(6)(D) are inapplicable to this program for the Atlantic HMS 
fisheries). This alternative would implement IBQs for vessels permitted 
in the Atlantic tunas Longline category (provided they also hold 
necessary limited access swordfish and shark permits) that would result 
in prohibiting the use of pelagic longline gear if/when the vessel's 
annual pelagic longline IBQ has been caught. The specific objectives of 
the IBQ program are to: (1) Limit the amount of bluefin tuna landings 
and dead discards in the pelagic longline fishery; (2) provide strong 
incentives for the vessel owner and operator to avoid bluefin tuna 
interactions, and thus reduce bluefin tuna dead discards; (3) provide 
flexibility in the quota system to enable pelagic longline vessels to 
obtain bluefin tuna quota from other vessels with available IBQ in 
order to enable full accounting for bluefin tuna landings and dead 
discards, and minimize constraints on fishing for target species; (4) 
balance the objective of limiting bluefin tuna landings and dead 
discards with the objective of optimizing fishing opportunities and 
maintaining profitability; and (5) balance the above objectives with 
potential impacts on the directed permit categories that target bluefin 
tuna, and the broader objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    In order to achieve these objectives, NMFS is proposing a suite of 
management measures intended to work together, which would comprise the 
IBQ management system. These measures include the definition of 
important terms: a quota share is the percentage of the Longline 
category quota that is associated with a permitted vessel, based upon 
the quota share formula and the relevant vessel history, and a quota 
allocation is the amount (mt) of bluefin tuna quota that is associated 
with a permitted vessel, based upon the relevant quota share(s), and 
the annual Longline category quota. Active vessels would be eligible to 
receive a 1.0%, 0.54%, or 0.34% share of the Longline baseline quota, 
which would be used by the individual vessels to account for all their 
bluefin tuna landings and dead discards. Quota shares would be 
designated as either Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic, and vessels would be 
prohibited from using Atlantic shares to account for bluefin tuna catch 
in the Gulf of Mexico, thereby limiting potential shifts in effort. 
Quota allocation could be leased annually among Longline or Purse Seine 
category vessels, and a minimum amount of bluefin tuna quota would be 
required for a vessel to depart on a trip in the Atlantic (0.125 mt) 
using pelagic longline gear. A higher minimum amount of quota would be 
required for vessels fishing in the Gulf of Mexico (0.25 mt). If a 
vessel catches bluefin tuna in excess of its quota allocation, it would 
be required to lease additional quota allocation in order to account 
for the excess catch, and would not be allowed to fish with pelagic 
longline gear until the balance was accounted for. A vessel's quota 
allocation would not carry-over from one year to the next, but if a 
vessel is unable to satisfy its quota `debt' in a particular fishing 
year, quota would be deducted from the vessel's allocation during the 
subsequent year. Although temporary leasing of bluefin tuna quota 
allocation

[[Page 52040]]

could occur, no sale of bluefin tuna quota shares at the onset of the 
program is being proposed at this time. Measures to allow sale of 
bluefin tuna quota shares would be implemented in the future through a 
separate rulemaking. A phased-in approach would reduce risks for vessel 
owners during the initial stages of the IBQ program, when the market 
for bluefin tuna quota shares would be new and uncertain. During the 
first years of the IBQ program, price volatility may be reduced, as 
well as undesirable outcomes of selling or buying quota shares at the 
``wrong'' time or price. NMFS intends to develop a program to allow the 
sale of quota share in the future because it would provide a means for 
vessel owners to plan their business and manage their quota according 
to a longer time scale than a single year, in a manner that would be 
informed by several years of the temporary leasing market. NMFS may 
wait until a formal evaluation of the IBQ program before developing 
this alternative.
    NMFS would implement an internet-based system to track leases of 
quota allocation; VMS would be used to report bluefin tuna catches to 
increase the timeliness of dead discard data; and electronic monitoring 
(cameras) would be required on pelagic longline vessels as one element 
of the monitoring program. The measurement and accounting of bluefin 
weight and length in the IBQ management program would be in 
standardized units designated by NMFS (e.g., the minimum increment of 
weight for example, such as hundredths of a metric ton). The vessel 
owner would provide length information on all bluefin discarded dead or 
retained, and NMFS would derive weight information on the bluefin that 
are discarded dead through the use of length to weight conversions; or 
vessel operators would be required to submit weight information based 
upon a standardized length to weight conversion formula supplied by 
NMFS. The IBQ program would be evaluated after 3 years, and NMFS would 
develop a cost recovery program.

What vessels would be eligible to receive initial bluefin tuna quota 
shares?

    Vessels that made at least one set using pelagic longline gear 
between 2006 and 2011 (based on pelagic longline logbook data) would be 
defined as ``active'' and eligible to receive bluefin tuna quota 
shares. This range of 6 years provides a reasonable representation of 
historical fishing activity, including recent years. Six years is long 
enough to prevent short-term circumstances from disproportionately 
impacting a vessel, but not so long so that it does not reflect current 
fishery participation. One hundred and sixty one vessels would qualify 
as active under this definition. Vessels with valid Longline permits 
that do not meet the initial eligibility criteria (i.e., vessels that 
are not defined as ``active'') would be able to obtain bluefin tuna 
quota allocation through a lease of quota allocation. Permits that are 
not associated with a vessel, such as a permit characterized as ``No 
Vessel ID,'' would not be eligible for an initial quota share but would 
be eligible to receive quota allocation (through a lease) if and when 
the permit was reassociated with a vessel. Such a vessel would need to 
lease quota allocation before fishing with pelagic longline gear. New 
entrants to the fishery would need to either obtain an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit with associated quota share, or if the valid permit did 
not have quota share, obtain bluefin tuna quota through lease/sale in 
order to fish.
How much bluefin tuna quota would each eligible vessel get?
    A vessel's share of bluefin tuna quota would be based upon two 
elements: the amount of bluefin tuna catch between 2006 and 2011, and 
the amount of designated species landings (i.e., swordfish; yellowfin, 
bigeye, albacore, and skipjack tunas; dolphin; wahoo; and porbeagle, 
shortfin mako, and thresher sharks). The use of two factors in the 
quota share allocation formula is intended to reward past bluefin tuna 
avoidance, ensure a fair initial allocation, and take into 
consideration the diversity in vessel fishing patterns and harvest 
characteristics. Past fishing that resulted in minimal bluefin tuna 
interactions would result in larger future allocations of bluefin tuna. 
Landings of designated species are an indicator of both the level of 
fishing effort and activity as well as vessel success at targeting 
those species. This method of allocation incorporates the rate of 
historical bluefin tuna interactions but also includes the amount of 
designated species landings, recognizing that greater levels of fishing 
activity are likely to be correlated with a greater number of bluefin 
tuna interactions. NMFS developed the proposed quota shares as follows: 
the designated species landings were from NMFS's dealer data (weigh-out 
slips) and logbook information. Historical bluefin tuna catch (from 
vessel logbook data) was expressed as the ratio of the number of 
bluefin tuna interactions to `designated species' landings (ratio). 
Because the bluefin tuna interactions to designated species landings 
ratio is very small, landings were multiplied by 10,000 in order to 
derive a ratio that is more practical (i.e., 0.95 instead of 0.000095). 
In order to combine the two metrics, scores were assigned to each 
metric (the bluefin tuna catch to designated species landings ratio and 
historical designated species landings) as described below. Active 
vessels were sorted into three categories, using total designated 
species landings from 2006 through 2011, based on percentiles of 
landings from lowest to highest (low, medium, and high, 0 to < 33 
percent; 33 to < 66 percent and 66 to 100 percent, respectively). 
Similarly, the active vessels were sorted according to the ratio of 
bluefin interactions to HMS landings, from lowest to highest. For 
example, a vessel with a 2006-2011 weight of designated species 
landings of greater than or equal to 367,609 lb (the 66 to 100th 
percentile of landings) would be placed in the ``High'' category and 
assigned a score of 3. In contrast, a vessel with a total designated 
species landing of only 95,000 pounds for 2006 through 2011 would 
receive a designated species landings score of 1. A vessel with a 
bluefin to designated species landings ratio of less than 0.2884 (66 to 
100th percentile of bluefin to designated species landings ratios), 
would place in the top category and receive a bluefin to designated 
species landings ratio score of 3. A low ratio indicates relatively few 
bluefin interactions and therefore receives a high score.
    Finally, the two scores were combined to form the basis of the 
allocation. For each vessel, the score for designated species landings 
was added to the score for bluefin to designated species ratio. For 
example, if a vessel scored in the ``High'' category for both 
designated species landings and bluefin to designated species landings 
its combined score would be 6 (3 + 3). If a vessel scored High for 
bluefin ratio, but Low for designated landings, it would be scored a 4 
(1 + 3) and it would be placed in the Medium rating score category. 
Vessels assigned to a particular category would be allocated the same 
percentage share.
    Vessels would be allocated shares of 1.0%, 0.54%, or 0.34% of the 
Longline category quota. Based on a revised baseline Longline category 
bluefin tuna quota of 137 mt (baseline plus 62.5 mt), vessels would be 
allocated 1.37 mt, 0.74 mt, or 0.47 mt of bluefin tuna, respectively. 
All pelagic longline quota shares and allocations would be designated 
as either ``Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Atlantic'' based upon the geographic 
location of sets (associated with the

[[Page 52041]]

vessel's fishing history used to determine the vessel's quota share). 
Gulf of Mexico quota allocation could be used in either the Gulf of 
Mexico or the Atlantic, but Atlantic quota allocation could only be 
used in the Atlantic (and not the Gulf of Mexico) to prevent a shift of 
effort to the Gulf of Mexico. All bluefin tuna quota allocated to 
Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine vessels would also be designated as 
``Atlantic,'' subject to the restriction that it may only be used in 
the Atlantic (by either a Purse Seine vessel or via a lease to a 
pelagic longline vessel). For a vessel to fish in the Gulf of Mexico, 
the vessel would be required to have the minimum amount of bluefin tuna 
quota allocation (0.25 mt) to depart on a trip to fish with pelagic 
longline gear, but the quota would have to be Gulf of Mexico quota. In 
contrast, for a vessel to fish in the Atlantic, it would be required to 
have a lower minimum amount of quota allocation (0.125 mt), which could 
be either Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic quota.
    If a vessel had fishing history in both the Gulf of Mexico and 
Atlantic, it may receive quota shares of both the Gulf of Mexico and 
Atlantic, depending upon the amount of quota share and the proportion 
of fishing history in the two areas. A relatively small percentage of 
sets in one area would not be reflected in the quota share. If a vessel 
would be allocated less than a minimum share amount for a particular 
area (i.e., less than 0.125 mt for the Atlantic or less than 0.25 mt 
for the Gulf of Mexico), the allocation would instead be designated as 
the other of the two designations. Owners of vessels with an active 
Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit will be sent registered letters 
informing them of their proposed bluefin quota share, in conjunction 
with this proposed rule.

Appeals of Initial Allocation of Quota Shares

    NMFS is proposing procedural regulations at 15 CFR part 906 that 
would designate the NMFS National Appeals Office (NAO) as adjudicator 
of appeals arising under MSA section 303A (see 77 FR 33980; June 8, 
2012). This action proposes that appeals of initial IBQ share 
determinations would be handled pursuant to that process when 
finalized. NMFS is currently developing the final NAO appeals 
regulations. Specifically, the items subject to appeal would be: (1) 
Initial eligibility for quota shares based on ownership of an active 
vessel with a valid Atlantic Tunas Longline permit combined with the 
required shark and swordfish limited access permits; (2) the accuracy 
of NMFS records regarding that vessel's amount of designated species 
landings and/or bluefin tuna interactions; and (3) correct assignment 
of designated species landings and bluefin tuna interactions to the 
vessel owner/permit holder. NMFS permit records would be the sole basis 
for determining permit transfers. As discussed above, quota share 
formula is based upon historical data associated with a permitted 
vessel. Because vessels may have changed ownership or transferred 
permits during the 2006 through 2011 period, the current owner of a 
permitted vessel may also appeal on the basis of changes in vessel 
ownership or permit transfers. Appeals based on landings data would be 
based on NMFS logbook data, weighout slips, and other relevant 
information. Appeals based on bluefin tuna interactions may be based on 
logbook, observer, or other NMFS data. Appeals based on hardship 
factors would not be considered. In order to appeal, the vessel owner 
would be required to submit a petition of appeal, including information 
and documentation required by the final NAO regulations.
Quota Leasing
    This measure would allow Longline and Purse Seine category vessels 
to lease quota allocation to or from other vessels in these categories, 
so that allocations will become better aligned with catch (i.e., 
vessels that catch bluefin tuna may be able to obtain quota from those 
that do not interact with bluefin tuna, or have not used their full 
allocation of bluefin tuna). Leasing of quota allocations would be 
allowed among all Longline category vessels with valid limited access 
permits, regardless of whether they have been allocated their own quota 
share. If a vessel catches bluefin tuna using quota allocation that it 
has leased from another vessel, the fishing history associated with the 
catch of bluefin tuna would be associated with the vessel that catches 
the bluefin tuna (the lessee, not the lessor vessel). In other words, 
the lessee (vessel catching the fish) gets the `credit' for the 
landings and dead discards, and not the lessor (the vessel that leased 
the quota allocation to the catching vessel). The future catch of 
bluefin tuna would not affect the quota shares, but would affect the 
calculation of the performance metric of each vessel. Sub-leasing of 
quota would be allowed (i.e., quota leased from vessel A to vessel B, 
then to vessel C). For a particular calendar year, an individual lease 
transaction would be valid from the time of the lease until December 
31.
    There would be no limit on the amount of quota allocation an 
individual vessel (Longline or Purse Seine) could lease annually, 
except for the sum of the Longline and Purse Seine categories' 
collective allocations. This would provide flexibility for vessels to 
purchase quota in a manner that could accommodate various levels of 
unintended catch of bluefin tuna, and enable the development of an 
unrestricted quota market. There would likely be a cost for vessels 
affected by a restriction on leasing, yet the benefits of such a 
restriction are unknown, given that the leasing program does not 
currently exist. The risk associated with no limitation on the quota 
market is minimal due to the temporary nature of IBQ leases, and the 
fact that leases are voluntary agreements between the lessor and 
lessee. It is possible that a limit on quota leasing may be deemed 
necessary in the future to address fishery management objectives. Such 
a restriction would be developed through future proposed and final 
rulemaking. Because the duration of a temporary lease would be limited 
to a single year, the impacts on an unrestricted market for bluefin 
tuna quota would be limited in duration. Quota shares in the subsequent 
year would not be affected, and quota allocations would only be 
affected in the second year if a vessel had caught bluefin in excess of 
its allocation and was unable to lease additional quota to account for 
the bluefin (in which case the `quota debt' must be satisfied in the 
subsequent year). Information on this unrestricted market could be used 
to develop future restrictions if necessary.
    This proposed rule does not include a measure that would allow the 
sale of quota shares thus no provisions are needed at this time to 
address excessive shares. NMFS would consider the development of 
measures to allow the sale of quota shares, as well as measures to 
prevent excessive consolidation in the future, after NMFS and fishery 
participants have multiple years of experience with the IBQ program. 
This approach would reduce risks for vessel owners during the initial 
stages of the IBQ program, when the market for bluefin tuna quota 
shares would be new and uncertain. During the first years of the IBQ 
program, price volatility may be reduced, as could undesirable outcomes 
of selling or buying quota shares at the ``wrong'' time or price. NMFS 
intends to consider a program to allow the sale of quota share in the 
future because it would provide a means for vessel owners to plan their 
business and manage their quota according to a longer time scale than a 
single year, in a manner that would be informed by

[[Page 52042]]

several years of the temporary leasing market. NMFS may wait until a 
formal evaluation of the IBQ program is completed before developing 
this alternative.
    Quota allocation leases would be executed by the eligible vessel 
owners, or their representatives, through the internet and a NMFS 
database. For example, the two vessel owners involved in a quota 
allocation lease could log in to a password protected web-based 
computer system (i.e., a NMFS database) and execute the lease. Owner-
performed leases would provide the quickest execution of leases because 
any eligibility criteria would be verified automatically based on 
information loaded into that system, and would not involve the 
submission or review of a paper application, or any lag time associated 
with NMFS staff being directly involved in the lease approval process. 
NMFS would develop the administrative system to implement the leasing 
of bluefin quota allocation.

Elimination of Target Catch Requirement

    This proposed measure would, if the IBQ system is adopted, 
eliminate the current target catch requirements for pelagic longline 
vessels, which restricts the number of incidentally caught bluefin tuna 
a pelagic longline vessel may retain in relation to the amount of 
target species retained and sold. In the context of an IBQ system, the 
current target catch requirement would no longer be necessary. This 
proposed measure would reduce bluefin tuna dead discards and optimize 
fishing opportunity for target species.
    Specifically, this measure would eliminate the regulation that one 
large medium or giant bluefin tuna (73'' or greater) per vessel per 
trip may be landed, provided that at least 2,000 lb of species other 
than bluefin tuna are legally caught, retained, and offloaded from the 
same trip and are recorded on the dealer weighout slip as sold; two 
large medium or giant bluefin tuna may be landed incidentally to at 
least 6,000 lb of species other than bluefin tuna; and three large 
medium or giant bluefin tuna may be landed incidentally to at least 
30,000 lb of species other than bluefin tuna.

Mandatory Retention of Legal-Sized Bluefin Tuna

    This proposed measure would, if the IBQ system is adopted, require 
pelagic longline vessels to retain all legal-sized commercial bluefin 
tuna that are dead at haul-back, and is intended to function in 
conjunction with the IBQ system and elimination of the target catch 
requirements. The IBQ ensures that vessels will not target bluefin due 
to the scarcity of IBQ and costs associated with leasing additional IBQ 
or the inability to use PLL once IBQ is attained. Requiring the 
retention of all legal-sized commercial (i.e., 73'' or greater) dead 
bluefin tuna is intended to reduce dead discards and make it illegal to 
discard a legal-sized commercial bluefin tuna, if dead at haul-back. 
Because these fish would be required to be retained, regulatory 
discards and the waste of fish would be decreased, and it would be more 
likely that such fish are accurately accounted for and have a positive 
use (e.g., marketed, used for scientific information, etc.).

Formal IBQ Program Evaluation

    NMFS proposes to formally evaluate the success and performance of 
the IBQ program in achieving its objectives, after three years of 
operation and provide the HMS Advisory Panel with a publicly-available 
written document with its findings. NMFS would utilize its standardized 
economic performance indicators, developed by its Office of Science and 
Technology, as part of its review. For example, the standardized 
economic performance indicators would include catch and landings, 
effort, revenues, quota accumulation, and cost recovery. Other 
indicators would include the number of and distribution of bluefin tuna 
interactions.

Cost Recovery

    Section 303A(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides NMFS with the 
authority for cost recovery for the costs of management, data 
collection and analysis, and enforcement activities for a LAPP. Such 
fees may not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested 
under the LAPP. As explained above, NMFS proposes not to implement cost 
recovery until after the IBQ program evaluation (after 3 years). NMFS 
anticipates that the incremental costs of administering the IBQ program 
are likely to be low. However, the cost of administering a cost 
recovery program may be high relative to the amount of money recovered, 
because some active vessels have very high fishing activity whereas 
others have relatively low activity. A cost recovery program based on a 
bycatch species may have inherent limitations or challenges, given the 
underlying objective of reducing the catch of the bycatch species. 
Immediate implementation of a cost recovery program, without obtaining 
further information about the operation of the fishery with IBQs, would 
be very difficult and would increase costs and uncertainty for fishing 
vessels during a time period when the fishery would be bearing other 
new costs and sources of uncertainty. For the above reasons, NMFS 
proposes not implementing cost recovery until after it conducts the 
program evaluation.
5. Reporting Measures
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements
    This alternative would require vessels with an Atlantic Tunas Purse 
Seine category permit to have an Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Unit (E-
MTU) VMS unit installed by a qualified marine electrician in order to 
remain eligible for the Purse Seine category permit. This alternative 
would require vessels that intend to fish for Atlantic tunas with purse 
seine gear or pelagic longline gear to declare through E-MTU VMS their 
intent to fish with such gear, prior to departing on trip (``hail 
out''). This alternative would require vessels fishing with pelagic 
longline gear to report the number of hooks and sets within 12 hours of 
completion of all pelagic longline haul-backs; and for pelagic longline 
sets with bluefin tuna interactions to report the length of all bluefin 
tuna retained or discarded within 12 hours of completion of the pelagic 
longline haul-back (i.e., reporting of zero bluefin on a set is not 
required). This alternative would require vessels fishing for Atlantic 
tunas with Purse Seine gear to report, for each day on which Purse 
Seine gear is set, the number of sets within 12 hours of the last set; 
and for Purse Seine sets with bluefin tuna interactions to report the 
length of all bluefin discarded dead or retained within 12 hours of 
completion of the set (i.e., reporting of zero bluefin on a set is not 
required). This measure would support the inseason monitoring of the 
purse seine and pelagic longline fisheries. Current information on the 
catch of the purse seine fishery is limited to dealer data on sold 
fish, and does not include information on discarded bluefin tuna or 
other species caught and/or discarded, although periodic observer 
coverage supports the conclusion that catches and discards of bluefin 
tuna or other species is low. The IBQ program requires the ability to 
track quota shares and quota allocations, reconcile landings and dead 
discards against individual quota allocations, and then balance the 
amounts against the total allowable quota. Although the current pelagic 
longline reporting requirements and the observer program provide data 
on pelagic longline landings and discards, and enables inseason 
monitoring and management based

[[Page 52043]]

upon landings, the reporting requirements and monitoring requirements 
were not designed to support inseason monitoring of dead discards. More 
timely information on dead discards would be necessary in order to 
monitor and enforce the proposed IBQ system. Trip declaration 
requirements would enhance enforcement and quota monitoring.
Electronic Monitoring
    This measure would require all vessels issued an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit fishing with pelagic longline gear, to install and 
maintain video cameras and associated data recording and monitoring 
equipment in order to record all longline catch and relevant data 
regarding pelagic longline gear retrieval and deployment. The objective 
of this alternative is for NMFS to use the recorded data to verify the 
accuracy of counts and identification of bluefin tuna reported by the 
vessel owner/operator, as well as observers. Secondly, electronic 
monitoring would enable the collection of video image and fishing 
effort data that may be used in conjunction with other sources of 
information to estimate bluefin tuna dead discards. Lastly, electronic 
monitoring would augment the ability of an observer to fulfill their 
duties by providing a record of catch during the time periods the 
observer may be unable to observe the catch directly.
    Specifically, this alternative would require the installation of 
equipment that may include one to four video cameras, a recording 
device, video monitor, hydraulic pressure transducer, winch rotation 
sensor, system control box, or other equipment needed to achieve the 
objectives. Vessel owner/operators would be required to install and 
maintain the required equipment, and allow inspection of the equipment 
by NMFS. There would be a requirement to install the camera(s) to 
provide a view of the area where the longline gear is retrieved and 
catch is removed from the hook (prior to placing in the hold or 
discarding boatside) and a requirement that such a system be connected 
to the mechanical hauling device so that recording is initiated by gear 
retrieval. The vessel owner/operator would be required to submit the 
data to NMFS or a third party, and to store and make the data available 
to NMFS for at least 120 days from the conclusion of the fishing trip 
on which the data was recorded. The vessel operator would be 
responsible for ensuring that all bluefin tuna are handled in a manner 
that enables the electronic monitoring system to record such fish, and 
must identify a crew person or employee responsible for ensuring that 
all handling, retention, and sorting of bluefin tuna occurs in 
accordance with the regulations.
    The requirements associated with this alternative would be phased 
in over a year due to the complexity, costs, and logistical constraints 
associated with the implementation of an electronic monitoring program. 
NMFS would communicate instructional information in writing, via permit 
holder letters, to the vessel owners during all phases of the program 
to provide direction and assistance to vessel owners, and facilitate 
the provision of technical assistance.
NMFS Extrapolation of Observer Data
    NMFS solicits public comment on its approach to use of extrapolated 
observer data for management purposes. Specifically, in order to 
conduct inseason quota monitoring and to estimate total bluefin tuna 
dead discards and landings, NMFS may extrapolate observer-generated 
data (in-season) regarding bluefin tuna discards (rate, number, 
location, etc.) by pelagic longline vessels, based on reasonable 
statistical methods and available observer data. NMFS could then use 
this observer information in conjunction with or in place of vessel-
generated estimates of bluefin tuna discards, or electronic monitoring 
data, in order to develop inseason estimates of total bluefin tuna 
landings and dead discards. This approach would address the potential 
for uncertain dead discard data from the pelagic longline fleet that 
may result from challenges in the implementation of new regulations, 
technical problems relating to the reporting and monitoring system, or 
time lags in the availability of data.
Automated Catch Reporting
    This proposed measure would require Atlantic Tunas General, 
Harpoon, and HMS Charter/Headboat categories to report the length of 
all bluefin tuna retained or dead discards through an automated catch 
reporting system (for example, via either a web-based, or an 
interactive voice response telephone system) within 24 hours of the 
landings or end of each trip. Specifically, vessels would be required 
to report the number of bluefin tuna retained, and the number of 
bluefin tuna discarded dead, according to instructions that would be 
provided by NMFS. NMFS currently operates a similar automated landings 
reporting system (ALRS) for recreational bluefin tuna catch in the HMS 
Angling and Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally). 
Although information on commercial bluefin tuna landings as currently 
reported by dealers is sufficient for NMFS to monitor the landings 
(which count toward the relevant sub-quotas), NMFS does not obtain 
information on bluefin tuna that may be discarded as a result of the 
capture of fish that are released (either because the fish is less than 
the required minimum size or for another reason) from all categories. 
Such discard information would enhance NMFS's ability to more fully and 
accurately account for all sources of fishing mortality, consistent 
with ICCAT recommendations. Automated catch information from the 
diverse participants in the bluefin tuna and HMS fisheries would 
enhance management of all HMS fisheries. Automated catch reporting 
would enable NMFS to obtain information about the magnitude of 
discards. NMFS would be able to share such information, in aggregate, 
with the bluefin tuna fisheries participants with the objective of 
reducing regulatory discards. Information on discarding would enable 
NMFS to consider a wider range of information when making decisions 
regarding quota management and bluefin tuna management in general. 
Verification of data through observer coverage of these fisheries would 
augment the value of this data.
General Category Flexibility for Quota Adjustment
    This proposed measure would allow NMFS to proactively transfer 
General category quota from one or more of the time-periods that follow 
the January time-period to the January or other preceding sub-quota 
time periods, either during annual specifications or through inseason 
action. In other words, under this alternative, NMFS could transfer 
subquota from one time period to another time period, earlier in the 
same calendar year. For example, subquota could be transferred from the 
June 1 through August 31 time period to the January time period, or 
from the October 1 through November 30 time period to the September 
time period.
    The objective of this alternative is to optimize opportunities for 
fishery participants, while retaining the current historical structure 
of the General category quota system. NMFS would add a new objective 
called ``quota adjustment'' to the current list of criteria and 
relevant factors NMFS considers when making inseason or annual quota 
adjustments.
Harpoon Category NMFS Authority to Adjust Retention Limits
    This proposed measure would authorize NMFS to increase or decrease

[[Page 52044]]

the daily retention limit of large medium bluefin tuna (greater than 
73'' CFL and less than 81'' CFL) within a range from two to four fish. 
This range is based on the former (i.e., two fish) and current (i.e., 
four fish) daily retention limit of large medium bluefin tuna for the 
Harpoon category. Any adjustment would be based upon the current 
regulatory determination criteria under Sec.  635.27(a)(8) (with any 
adjustments made through Amendment 7) that apply to inseason bluefin 
tuna adjustments including: the usefulness of information obtained from 
catches in the particular category for biological sampling and 
monitoring of the status of the stock; effects of the adjustment on 
bluefin tuna rebuilding and overfishing; effects of the adjustment on 
accomplishing the objectives of the fishery management plan; variations 
in seasonal distribution, abundance, or migration patterns of bluefin 
tuna; effects of catch rates in one area precluding vessels in another 
area from having a reasonable opportunity to harvest a portion of the 
category's quota; and review of dealer reports, daily landing trends, 
and the availability of the bluefin tuna on the fishing grounds, as 
well as any other relevant factors.
    The default Harpoon category daily retention limit of large medium 
bluefin tuna would be two fish per vessel (the large medium bluefin 
tuna daily retention limit that applied prior to the 2011 regulatory 
change). The retention limit of giant bluefin tuna would remain 
unlimited. The objective of this proposed measure is to optimize 
fishing opportunity for the Harpoon category participants within the 
available quota. NMFS currently cannot adjust this retention limit via 
inseason action. In contrast, for the General category, NMFS can 
increase or decrease the daily retention limit for large medium or 
giant bluefin tuna within a specified range, via inseason action, 
following consideration of the regulatory determination criteria. This 
alternative would enhance NMFS's ability to more precisely manage the 
landing rate of large medium bluefin tuna by the Harpoon category, 
thereby optimizing opportunities while preventing landings from 
exceeding the subquota. It would be appropriate that the determination 
criteria for inseason adjustments would be the same as for the General 
category because they are both commercial categories, with similar 
regulatory and fishery conditions.
Angling Category Trophy Subquota Distribution
    This proposed measure would allocate a portion of the trophy south 
subquota specifically for the Gulf of Mexico. The trophy subquota would 
be divided as follows: 33% to each of the northern area, the southern 
area outside the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico. At the current 
average trophy fish weight, this would allow up to 8 trophy bluefin 
tuna to be landed annually in each of the three areas. To distinguish 
bluefin tuna caught in the Gulf of Mexico from those caught in the 
Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico region includes all waters of the U.S. EEZ 
west and north of the boundary stipulated at Sec.  600.105(c), which is 
essentially west of 83[deg]00' West longitude but also includes the 
waters off southwestern Florida and north of the Florida Keys.
    The objective of this measure is to provide a reasonable fishing 
opportunity for recreational vessels in the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico, reduce discards, and account for incidentally caught bluefin 
tuna. A separate subquota allocation for the Gulf of Mexico would 
increase the likelihood that there will be trophy quota available to 
account for incidental catch of bluefin tuna in that area (while still 
providing incentives not to target bluefin tuna).
Purse Seine Category Fishing Year Start Date
    This proposed measure would change the start date of the Purse 
Seine category fishery from July 15 to June 1, and provide NMFS the 
ability to delay the season start date from June 1 to no later than 
August 15, by publishing a notice in the Federal Register. The 
objective of this measure is to optimize fishing opportunity for Purse 
Seine category vessels. The opportunity for Purse Seine category 
vessels to harvest their quota, which consists principally of giant 
bluefin tuna, may be constrained due to the restriction on the amount 
of large medium bluefin tuna they may retain. A Purse Seine vessel 
operator may choose not to fish if bluefin tuna schools are composed of 
a high proportion of large medium fish in addition to giants in order 
to avoid sets in which a large portion of the catch would have to be 
discarded due to fish size. In addition to optimizing fishing 
opportunity, other considerations with respect to the timing of the 
start date of the fishery are potential gear conflicts and market 
considerations.
Rules Regarding Permit Category Changes
    This proposed measure would allow a vessel owner to modify the 
category of an Atlantic Tunas or HMS permit issued for up to 45 days 
from date of issuance, provided the vessel has not landed bluefin tuna 
as verified via landings data. The current restriction (10 calendar 
days) was intended to preclude vessels from fishing in more than one 
category during a year and to discourage speculative use of fishing 
permits. However, based on feedback NMFS has received over a number of 
years from vessel owners affected by the 10 day restriction, NMFS has 
concluded that limiting the time period during which a vessel may 
change permit categories to 10 calendar days is overly restrictive, and 
does not allow the flexibility to resolve the problems of a permit 
issued by mistake. This proposed measure would achieve a better balance 
of allowing flexibility for vessel owners, while still preventing 
fishing in more than one permit category during a fishing year.
Northern Albacore Tuna Quota
    This proposed measure would implement the U.S. annual quota of 
northern albacore tuna recommended by ICCAT and would establish 
provisions for the accounting of overharvest and underharvest of the 
quota via annual specifications. Specifically, the codified U.S. 
northern albacore tuna quota would be adjusted as appropriate for prior 
year catch (up or down), including delayed adjustment (that would skip 
a year) or adjustments over several years. Consistent with the ICCAT 
recommendation, carry-forward of unused quota from one year to the next 
would be limited to 25 percent of the initial quota. NMFS would adjust 
and implement the following via regulatory framework adjustments: 
Actions to implement ICCAT recommendations, as appropriate; allocating 
and refining domestic allocation of the U.S. quota; establishing 
retention limits; implementing effort restrictions, etc. Although an 
FMP amendment is not needed, framework adjustments still go through 
extensive public and analytical review and must be consistent with the 
MSA and other applicable law.
Minor Regulatory Changes
    Amendment 7 proposes minor regulatory changes (such as minor 
corrections and clarifications; the removal or modification of obsolete 
cross-references; and minor changes to definitions and prohibitions) 
that would improve the administration and enforcement of HMS 
regulations. Several of these items have been identified by 
constituents over the past few years or were raised during scoping 
hearings. The corrections, clarifications, changes in definitions, and 
modifications to remove obsolete cross-references are consistent with 
the intent

[[Page 52045]]

of previously analyzed and approved management measures. Under Sec.  
635.5(c)(1), the relevant internet address would be updated. Under 
Sec.  635.20(a), the method of determining length of Atlantic tunas 
currently states that it applies only to swordfish permitted vessels, 
but it should apply regardless of permit type. Regulations at Sec.  
635.21(c)(5)(iii)(B), currently refer to an NED ``closed'' area instead 
of a ``gear restricted area,'' which needs to be corrected because the 
reference is not accurate. Under Sec.  635.27(a)(7)(i), the reference 
to research in this paragraph is too specific. ``Fishery-independent 
research'' would be changed to ``research'' as Reserve category quota 
is intended to be made available, as needed, for a broad range of 
research activities. Under Sec.  635.27(a)(1)(iii), the descriptor 
``coastwide'' when referring to the General category fishery, is no 
longer necessary and would be deleted. Under Sec.  635.71(b)(13), the 
current prohibition would be corrected to clarify that the relevant 
amount of bluefin tuna is the ``applicable limit'' instead of ``a'' 
bluefin tuna. These proposed changes were not analyzed because they 
would not make substantive changes to the regulations.

Request for Comments

    Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted via http://www.regulations.gov, mail, or fax. NMFS solicits comments on this 
proposed rule by October 23, 2013.

Classification

    The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the proposed 
rule is consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, ATCA, and other applicable law, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    NMFS prepared a draft environmental impact statement that analyzes 
the impact on the environment of a range of alternatives that would 
achieve the objectives of Amendment 7, which are described in the 
background section of the preamble for this action. As further 
explained in the Background, in this action, NMFS is proposing measures 
and minimize bycatch to the extent practicable; optimize fishing 
opportunity and account for dead discards; reduce bluefin tuna dead 
discards; enhance reporting; and adjust other aspects of the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP as necessary and appropriate.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, 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 at 
the beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY 
section of the preamble. A summary of the analysis follows. A copy of 
the entire analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

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

    This proposed rule is expected to directly affect commercial and 
for-hire fishing vessels that possess an Atlantic Tunas permit or 
Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit. In general, the HMS Charter/
Headboat category permit holders can be regarded as small businesses, 
while HMS Angling category permit holders are typically obtained by 
individuals who are not considered small entities for purposes of the 
RFA. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established size 
criteria for all major industry sectors in the United States, including 
fish harvesters. Previously, a business involved in fish harvesting was 
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. In addition, SBA has defined a small charter/
party boat entity (NAICS code 713990, recreational industries) as one 
with average annual receipts of less than $7.0 million. On June 20, 
2013, SBA issued a final rule revising the small business size 
standards for several industries effective July 22, 2013 (78 Fed.Reg. 
37398; June 20, 2013). The rule increased the size standard for Finfish 
Fishing from $4.0 to 19.0 million, Shellfish Fishing from $4.0 to 5.0 
million, and Other Marine Fishing from $4.0 to 7.0 million. Id. at 
37400 (Table 1).
    NMFS has reviewed the analyses prepared for this action in light of 
the new size standards. Under the former, lower size standards, all 
entities subject to this action were considered small entities, thus 
they all would continue to be considered small under the new standards. 
NMFS does not believe that the new size standards affect analyses 
prepared for this action and solicits public comment on the analyses in 
light of the new size standards. The average annual revenue per active 
pelagic longline vessel is estimated to be $181,000 based on the 161 
active vessels between 2006 and 2011 that produced an estimated $29.2 
million in revenue annually. The maximum annual revenue for any pelagic 
longline vessel during that time period was less than $1.4 million, 
well below the former SBA size threshold of $4.0 million. Therefore, 
NMFS considers all Tuna Longline category permit holders to be small 
entities. NMFS is unaware of any other Atlantic Tunas category permit 
holders that potentially earn more than $4.0 million in revenue 
annually. Therefore, NMFS considers all Atlantic Tunas permit holders 
subject to this rulemaking to be considered small entities. NMFS is 
also unaware of any charter/headboat businesses that could exceed the 
SBA thresholds for small entities.
    The proposed rule would apply to the 4,361 Atlantic Tunas permit 
holders based on an analysis of permit holders in October 2012 (NMFS 
2012). Of these permit holders, 253 have Longline category permits, 13 
have Harpoon category permits, 8 have Trap category permits, 3 have 
Purse Seine category permits, and 4,084 have General category permits.
    The recreational and reporting measures would also impact HMS 
Angling category and HMS Charter/Headboat category permit holders. In 
2012, 4,129 vessel owners obtained HMS Charter/Headboat category 
permits. It is unknown what portion of these permit holders actively 
participate in Atlantic HMS fishing or market fishing services for 
recreational anglers. NMFS has determined that the proposed rule would 
not likely directly affect any small government jurisdictions.

Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule, Including an Estimate of 
the Classes of Small Entities Which Would Be Subject to the 
Requirements of the Report or Record

    Several of the proposed measures would modify existing reporting 
and record-keeping requirements, and add compliance requirements. NMFS 
estimates that the number small entities that would be subject to these 
requirements would include the Longline category (253), Charter/
Headboat category (4,129), General category (4,084), Harpoon category 
(13) and Purse Seine category (3), based on the number of permit 
holders in commercial bluefin tuna fishing categories in 2012.
    The proposed Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area with Access, and 
Access

[[Page 52046]]

to Closed Areas with Pelagic Longline Gear measures would require that 
pelagic longline vessels authorized to fish in the areas also submit 
daily reports to NMFS via E-MTU VMS summarizing their fishing effort, 
and bluefin tuna catch and harvest. The additional reporting burden is 
expected to take 5 minutes per report/day at a cost of $0.12 per 
report. Pelagic longline vessels granted conditional access to certain 
currently closed areas would also be required to have an observer 
onboard for any trips into the closed areas. Such observer coverage 
would be consistent with the current selection criteria and policies, 
and would not be an additional compliance burden.
    Pelagic longline vessels that are not granted conditional access to 
the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area could choose to fish in the area 
with other authorized gear under General category rules, and would be 
required to declare their intent to fish in this way, hail in and out 
of port, and report their daily catch of bluefin tuna via E-MTU VMS. 
This reporting burden is expected to be approximately 5 minutes per 
report at a cost of $0.12 per report.
    Potential appeal requests regarding the performance metrics or 
quota shares are expected to take approximately 2 hours to compile.
    Under the proposed IBQ system, leasing of quota allocation would 
require vessel owners to execute transfers via an online electronic 
system supported by NMFS. Participants would be required to have access 
to computers and the Internet. If a participant does not have current 
access to computers and the Internet, there would be a one-time cost of 
approximately $1,500 for computer equipment and a $300 annual cost for 
Internet access. The record-keeping and reporting burden for vessel 
owners is expected to be approximately 15 minutes per lease. The 
electronic system would also require interaction with Federal bluefin 
tuna dealer permit holders that purchase IBQ bluefin tuna; however, 
electronic dealer reporting for bluefin tuna purchases was previously 
analyzed and approved by NMFS in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP 
rulemaking (71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006).
    Electronic monitoring (i.e., video cameras, etc.) would require 
both fixed and variable costs over the service life of each camera 
installed onboard. The cost of an electronic system bought in 2010, 
over its five year projected lifespan, is about $3,565 a year. This 
includes 4% of the purchase price for maintenance costs and a 7% 
interest rate on the loan to buy a system (National Observer Program, 
2013). The variable costs for vessel owners include data retrieval 
($45/hour; 2 hr per trip; technician travel ($0.5/mile; 100 miles for 
each trip); fishing activity interpretation ($47/hour; 0.25 hr/trip); 
and catch data interpretation ($47/hour; 1.5 hr/trip). The estimated 
total variable costs would be approximately $225 per trip and the 
annual fixed costs would be $3,835 for the purchase and installation of 
the equipment, and six services per year; $45/hour; 1 hr six times per 
year). The proposed reporting requirements associated with the IBQ 
program would require pelagic longline vessels to use their E-MTU VMS 
to submit reports of bluefin tuna catch and harvest and fishing effort. 
Purse seine vessels would be required to purchase and install E-MTU VMS 
units, and submit daily reports of catch, and effort as well. This 
alternative would provide more timely data as required by the IBQ 
system than the current pelagic longline logbook program and dealer 
reporting requirements. As noted above, the additional reporting burden 
for the VMS reports is 5 minutes per report/day and $0.12 per report. 
The cost of installing E-MTU VMS is $3,300 per vessel and daily 
position reports cost approximately $1.44 per day.
    The proposed mandatory retention of legal-sized bluefin tuna caught 
by pelagic longline gear, as well as NMFS's closure of the pelagic 
longline fishery when the quota is reached, would not have any 
additional reporting associated with them. The proposed elimination of 
the target catch requirement would represent a decrease in regulatory 
compliance requirements.
    The proposed Formal IBQ Program Evaluation would require NMFS to 
prepare a report summarizing and evaluating the experiences of the 
program 3 years after IBQ program implementation.
    Several of the proposed measures would enhance reporting of bluefin 
tuna. Three of these include the VMS requirements and electronic 
monitoring of the Longline category that were discussed above. The last 
is the proposed measure to require automated catch reporting for 
General, Harpoon, and Charter/Headboat permit categories. This would 
require individuals with those vessel permits to report their dead 
discards after each trip using an automated system such as a Web site 
or phone recording system. NMFS estimates that each report will take 
approximately 5 minutes. Based on previous years' landings, NMFS 
estimates that the total annual reporting burden will be approximately 
607 hours and could affect approximately 8,226 permit holders.
    The other proposed measures described above in this preamble would 
change quota allocations, timeframes for General category subquota 
allocations, permit category changes, and Purse seine start date, 
authorized gear types, and other management measures, but would not 
increase reporting or compliance requirements.

Identification of All Relevant Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, 
Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rule

    Fishermen, dealers, and managers in these fisheries must comply 
with a number of international agreements, domestic laws, and other 
FMPs. These include, but are not limited to, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
ATCA, the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental 
Policy Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Coastal Zone 
Management Act. The proposed rule would not conflict with any relevant 
regulations, Federal or otherwise.

Description of Any Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Rule That 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of the Applicable Statutes and That 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact of the Proposed Rule on Small 
Entities

    One of the requirements of an IRFA is to describe any alternatives 
to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated objectives and which 
minimize any significant economic impacts. These impacts are discussed 
below. Additionally, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
603(c)(1)-(4)) lists four general categories of ``significant'' 
alternatives that would assist an agency in the development of 
significant alternatives. These categories of alternatives are: 
``Establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or 
timetables that take into account the resources available to small 
entities''; ``Clarification, consolidation, or simplification of 
compliance and reporting requirements under the rule for such small 
entities''; ``Use of performance rather than design standards''; and, 
``Exemptions from coverage of the rule for small entities.''
    In order to meet the objectives of this proposed rule, consistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Endangered Species Act, NMFS 
cannot exempt small entities or change the reporting requirements only 
for small entities because all the entities affected are considered 
small entities. Thus, there are no alternatives discussed that fall 
under the first and fourth categories described above. Under the third

[[Page 52047]]

category, ``use of performance rather than design standards,'' NMFS 
considers the proposed ``Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area with Access 
based on Performance,'' the IBQ bluefin tuna quota share formula, and 
the ``Limited Conditional Access to Closed Areas using Pelagic Longline 
Gear Based on Performance Criteria'' to all be alternatives that use 
performance standards. As described below, NMFS analyzed several 
different alternatives in the DEIS for this proposed rulemaking and 
provides the rationale for identifying the preferred alternatives 
(proposed measures) to achieve the desired objective.
    In this rulemaking, NMFS considered five different categories of 
issues to address bluefin tuna management measures where each issue had 
its own range of alternatives that would meet the objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. The first 
category, allocation alternatives, covers four main alternatives that 
address various quota reallocation strategies. The second category of 
alternatives, area based alternatives, explores various gear restricted 
areas, gear measures, and access to closed areas using pelagic longline 
gear. The third category of alternatives, bluefin tuna quota controls, 
covers four main alternatives, which include IBQs, regional and group 
quotas, and closure of the pelagic longline fishery. The fourth 
category of alternatives, enhanced reporting measures, covers six main 
alternatives, which include VMS requirements, electronic monitoring of 
the Longline category, automated catch reporting, deployment of 
observers, logbook requirements, and expanding the scope of the Large 
Pelagics Survey. The fifth category of alternatives, other measures, 
covers seven main alternatives that address other Tunas permit 
categories besides Longline and other tuna quotas. The expected 
economic impacts of the different alternatives considered and analyzed 
are discussed below.
    The potential impacts that these alternatives may have on small 
entities have been analyzed and are discussed in the following 
sections. The economic impacts that would occur under these preferred 
alternatives were compared with the other alternatives to determine if 
economic impacts to small entities could be minimized while still 
accomplishing the stated objectives of this rule.
    The allocation alternatives would modify the current base 
allocations for bluefin tuna quota categories (i.e., percentages of the 
U.S. quota), either by codifying them or adjusting them on an annual 
basis. The No Action alternative would make no changes to the current 
percentages that each quota category is allocated (General: 47.1 
percent; Harpoon: 3.9 percent; Purse Seine: 18.6 percent; Longline: 8.1 
percent; Trap: 0.1 percent; Angling: 19.7 percent; Reserve: 2.5 
percent). Dead discards would continue to be accounted for separately 
from the quota allocations through the annual specification process.
    In the short-term, minor to moderate direct adverse economic 
impacts are likely to be limited to the Longline category due to quota 
shortages. In 2012, NMFS projected that the Longline category was 
likely to fully harvest their allocated quota before the end of the 
fishing year, and closed the southern area on May 29, 2012 (77 FR 
31546) and the northern area on June 30, 2012 (77 FR 38011, June 26, 
2012). In 2013, the Longline category northern and southern areas were 
closed on June 25, 2013 (78 FR 36685; June 19, 2013) because the 
adjusted quota had been reached. In the long-term, there could be 
additional minor to moderate direct adverse economic impacts if other 
quota categories are closed early in the fishing year.
    The codified reallocation alternatives would reallocate quota among 
categories and result in increased bluefin tuna quota for the Longline 
category, and would therefore alleviate some of the current challenges 
associated with the domestic quota system.
    The proposed reallocation of 62.5 mt is based on the historical 
dead discard allowance and would result in 83.56% increase in the 
Longline category quota and a decrease of a bit over 7% for the 
following categories: General, Harpoon, Purse Seine, Angling, and 
Reserve. This measure would increase the potential revenue from bluefin 
tuna for the Longline category by approximately $11,263 per permit 
holder per year, if all of the quota were landed (and not used to 
account for dead discards). The General category would face a potential 
reduction in the maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of approximately 
$896 per permit holder per year. The Harpoon category would face a 
potential reduction in the maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of 
approximately $2,355 per permit holder per year. The Purse Seine 
category could face a potential reduction in the maximum revenue from 
bluefin tuna of approximately $105,275 per permit holder per year. 
Although on its fact, the magnitude of revenue loss appears to be high 
for the Purse Seine category, this alternative would likely have minor 
adverse economic impacts on Purse Seine fishermen because landings in 
this category been very low for a number of recent years.
    Reallocating the quota allocations for all categories based on 
recent catch data would result in an 83.56% increase in the Longline 
category quota and an increase in Angling category of 47.1%. However, 
this reallocation alternative would result in a decrease in the quotas 
of the General, Harpoon, Purse Seine, Trap, and Reserve categories of 
10.85%, 15.56%, 49.01%, 55.56%, and 48.05%, respectively. This 
alternative would increase the potential revenue from bluefin tuna for 
the Longline category by approximately $11,299 per permit holder per 
year. The General category could face a potential reduction in the 
maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of approximately $1,321 per permit 
holder per year. The Harpoon category could face a potential reduction 
in the maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of approximately $4,886 per 
permit holder per year. The Purse Seine category could face a potential 
reduction in the maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of approximately 
$697,965 per permit holder per year.
    The alternative that would reallocate two-fifths of the Purse Seine 
category to the Longline category and would result in a 91.84% increase 
in the Longline category quota and a 39.99% decrease in the Purse Seine 
quota. The reallocation of two-fifths of the Purse Seine category to 
the Longline category would increase the potential revenue from bluefin 
tuna for the Longline category by approximately $12,380 per permit 
holder per year. The Purse Seine category could face a potential 
reduction in the maximum revenue from bluefin tuna of an equivalent 
$569,480 per permit holder per year. The other bluefin tuna quota 
categories would not be impacted by this alternative.
    This rule would reallocate the Purse Seine category bluefin tuna 
quota that is projected to be unused (based on the previous year's 
landings and dead discards), from the Purse Seine category to other 
quota categories, including the Reserve category, on an annual basis. 
In recent years, little of the Purse Seine category quota has been 
landed. If that continues into the future, under this proposed measure, 
the Purse Seine quota could be reduced by up to a maximum of 75 
percent. The 128.8 mt associated with that reduction would reduce the 
maximum revenue from bluefin tuna that the purse seine vessel could 
land by $700,000 annually. However, given the recent bluefin tuna 
landings history of the purse seine fleet, it is unlikely that future 
bluefin tuna landings would be constrained

[[Page 52048]]

substantially by this reduction and allocations would be re-evaluated 
on an annual basis. Therefore, the proposed annual reallocation measure 
would likely only result in minor direct adverse short-term economic 
impacts to the Purse Seine category. Other categories would benefit 
from the potential of increased revenue, and this alternative may 
provide a better business planning environment for NMFS and fishermen 
by alleviating the large reservoir of unused Purse Seine quota and 
distributing it prior to the start of the fishing and management 
season.
    The economic impacts of the alternative, which would allocate 
annual quota to the Purse Seine category commensurate with the number 
of permitted Purse Seine vessels would be similar to those under 
proposed annual reallocation alternative. It also would likely only 
result in minor direct adverse short-term economic impacts resulting 
from the loss of potential revenue if current bluefin tuna fishing 
levels remain the same.
    Under the No Action alternative, there would be no changes to the 
allocation to the Reserve category or the determination criteria that 
are considered prior to making any adjustments to/from this category. 
This alternative would not impact small entities. The proposed measure 
would increase the amount of quota that may be put into the Reserve 
category and increase the potential uses of Reserve category quota. 
Specifically, it would potentially increase the Reserve category quota 
beyond the current baseline allocation of 2.5 percent and broaden the 
determination criteria considered in making adjustments to/from the 
Reserve category. This proposed measure would result in moderate 
beneficial economic impacts if unused quota from a previous year could 
be reallocated to the Reserve category to potentially offset any 
overharvests in another category, consistent with ICCAT recommendations 
on carry-forward of unharvested quota.
    NMFS considered a range of gear restricted area alternatives from 
maintaining existing pelagic longline closures (the no action 
alternative) to a year-round gear restricted area of the entire Gulf of 
Mexico EEZ (west of 82[ordm] longitude) in order to reduce interactions 
with bluefin tuna. The No Action Alternative would result in the status 
quo regarding gear restricted areas. Although the current pelagic 
longline closed areas would remain effective, the data indicate that 
large numbers of interactions of pelagic longline gear with bluefin 
tuna occur in consistent areas during predictable time periods, which 
are outside of the current closed areas. The No Action alternative 
would not reduce dead discards. The magnitude of the discards in the 
pelagic longline fishery is more likely to stay the same or increase 
under the No Action alternative, without implementation of a new gear 
restricted area. This could result in moderate long-term adverse 
economic impacts when the Longline category exceeds its quota earlier 
in the fishing year because of dead discards and is required to close.
    The Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area alternative would define a 
modified rectangular area in the Atlantic and would prohibit the use of 
pelagic longline gear during a 5-month period from December through 
April. The specific time and area of this gear restricted area 
alternative would have moderate short and long-term direct adverse 
economic impacts on 43 vessels that have historically fished in the 
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area during the months of December 
through April. The average annual revenue per vessel made in the gear 
restricted area is approximately $27,400 during the restricted months 
assuming that fishing effort does not move to other areas. However, it 
is likely that some of the vessels that would be impacted by this gear 
restricted area would be able to redistribute their effort to other 
fishing areas. NMFS estimated that if a vessel historically made less 
than 40% of their sets in the gear restricted area, it would likely 
redistribute all of its effort. If a vessel made more than 40%, but 
less than 75% of its sets in the gear restricted area, it would likely 
redistribute 50% of its effort impacted by the gear restricted area to 
other areas. Finally, if a vessel made more than 75% of its sets solely 
within the gear restricted area, NMFS assumed it would not likely shift 
its effort to other areas. Based on these redistribution assumptions, 
the net impact of the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area on fishing 
revenues after redistribution of effort is estimated to be $18,000 per 
year.
    In contrast, the proposed measure (Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted 
Area with Access) would restrict fishing in the same area off Cape 
Hatteras, NC as just described, but would also define criteria for 
access by HMS permitted vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear 
during the 5-month period from December through April. Vessels that are 
determined by NMFS to have relatively low rate of interactions with 
bluefin tuna based on past performance, and that are compliant with 
reporting and monitoring requirements, would be allowed to fish in the 
area using pelagic longline gear. Vessels that have demonstrated an 
inability to avoid bluefin tuna would not be allowed to fish with 
pelagic longline gear in this area; or if a vessel can avoid bluefin 
tuna, but has poor compliance with logbook reporting and Pelagic 
Observer Program observer requirements, it would not be allowed to fish 
with pelagic longline gear in this area, from December through April. 
Individual vessel data would be evaluated annually for the purpose of 
determining access, in order to provide future opportunities and 
accommodate changes in fishing behavior, both positively and 
negatively, based on performance. Based on the proposed performance 
criteria, NMFS determined that, of 161 active vessels in the entire 
pelagic longline fleet, 43 vessels fished in the Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area or buffer region. Of these 43 active vessels, 18 
vessels that fished in the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area or buffer 
region did not meet the criteria for access based on their inability to 
avoid bluefin tuna, and/or compliance with POP observer and logbook 
reporting requirements. The average annual revenue made in the gear 
restricted area by these 18 vessels is approximately $23,000 per vessel 
during the restricted months. However, it is likely that some of the 
vessels that would be impacted by this gear restricted area would be 
able to redistribute their effort to other fishing areas. The net 
impact of this proposed measure on fishing revenues after 
redistribution of effort is estimated to be $16,000 per vessel per year 
for those 18 vessels.
    The proposed measure to allow vessels with an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit to fish under the rules/regulations applicable to the 
General would result in short-term, direct, minor, beneficial economic 
impacts for Longline category fishermen that otherwise would not be 
able to fish for bluefin tuna in the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted 
Area. It would result in short-term, direct, minor, adverse economic 
impacts for General category participants to the extent that any 
Longline category vessel landings of bluefin tuna under General 
category rules results in the available subquota being met earlier than 
it would otherwise. A loss or gain of one fish is approximately $3,500. 
If a Longline category vessel chooses to fish with General category 
gear in the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area versus outside the area 
with pelagic longline gear, the ability to land and sell bigeye, 
albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas

[[Page 52049]]

from that area would result in short-term, direct, minor, beneficial 
economic impacts, although substantially less so than continuing to use 
longline gear, which accounts for a much larger proportion of catch of 
bigeye, albacore, and yellowfin tuna than does handgear. Other proposed 
measures, such as Annual reallocation from the Purse Seine category or 
the measure that would provide additional flexibility for General 
category quota adjustment, may reduce adverse economic impacts for 
General category participants.
    The Gulf of Mexico EEZ Pelagic Longline Gear Restricted Area 
alternative would prohibit the use of pelagic longline gears in the 
Gulf of Mexico (GOM) for 3 months each year. This alternative would 
have moderate short and long-term direct adverse economic impacts on 66 
vessels that have historically fished in the Gulf of Mexico EEZ during 
the months of March through May. The average annual revenue from 
fishing sets made in the gear restricted area is approximately $22,000 
per vessel during the closure months. Based on historical fishing 
patterns of vessels that fish in the Gulf of Mexico, it is unlikely 
that effort would be redistributed into areas outside of this region.
    The proposed Small Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area would define 
a rectangular area in the Gulf of Mexico and prohibit the use of 
pelagic longline gear during the 2-month period from April through May. 
NMFS designed the Small Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area to maximize 
the reductions in bluefin tuna interactions while minimizing the area 
where pelagic longline gear use is restricted. This alternative is 
expected to have moderate short and long-term direct adverse economic 
impacts on 34 vessels that have historically fished in the Small Gulf 
of Mexico Gear Restricted Area during the months of April and May. The 
average annual revenue from fishing sets made in the gear restricted 
area is approximately $7,000 per vessel during the restricted months. 
However, it is likely that some of the vessels that would be impacted 
by this gear restricted area would be able to redistribute their effort 
to other fishing areas within the Gulf of Mexico. The net impact of the 
Small Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area on fishing revenues after 
redistribution of effort is estimated to be $2,700 per vessel per year.
    The alternative, which would prohibit the use of pelagic longlines 
anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico, year-round, would have moderate short 
and long-term direct adverse economic impacts on 69 vessels that have 
historically fished in the Gulf of Mexico EEZ. The average annual 
revenue from fishing in the gear restricted area is approximately 
$98,000 per vessel.
    The No Action alternative that would maintain the current 
regulatory situation in which HMS permitted vessels that possess 
longline gear, inclusive of both pelagic longline and bottom longline, 
are not allowed to enter the existing longline closed areas, even for 
purposes of transiting the area, would also apply to the proposed Gear 
Restricted Area areas. As there are a number of time/area closures for 
vessels possessing pelagic and bottom longline gear and the current 
regulations do not provide longline vessels the ability to stow their 
gear and transit the areas, this alternative would result in direct 
minor adverse economic impacts by potentially requiring vessels to use 
more fuel and time in taking indirect routes to and from the fishing 
grounds. This restriction has also raised safety-at-sea concerns due to 
the increased and indirect transit times.
    The proposed measure would allow HMS vessels that possess bottom or 
pelagic longline gear on board to transit the closed areas and the 
proposed Gear Restricted Areas, if they remove and stow the gangions, 
hooks, and buoys from the mainline and drum. The hooks could not be 
baited. Allowing pelagic and bottom longline vessels to transit closed 
and gear restricted areas after removing and stowing gear would result 
in direct short- and long-term beneficial economic impacts by 
potentially reducing fuel costs and time at sea for vessels that need 
to transit the closed or restricted areas. Allowing transit through 
these areas could also potentially improve safety at sea by allowing 
more direct transit routes and reducing transit time, particularly 
during inclement weather.
    This rule would make no change to current authorized gear 
requirements (with respect to the use of buoy gear and associated 
restrictions on possession of bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack 
tunas (BAYS) and bluefin tuna) applicable to those vessels with an 
Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit and either a Swordfish Directed 
or Swordfish Incidental permit. Currently, vessels with an Atlantic 
Tunas Longline category permit must also have both a Swordfish Directed 
or Incidental permit, and a Shark Directed or Incidental permit. There 
are no economic impacts associated with this ``no action'' alternative.
    In contrast, a gear alternative analyzed, but not being proposed, 
would authorize vessels with a Swordfish Incidental permit to fish with 
buoy gear, except vessels fishing in the East Florida Coast Pelagic 
Longline Closed Area. Under this alternative, vessels would still be 
limited to 35 buoys. The rationale for this alternative is to provide 
increased flexibility and encouragement for pelagic longline vessels to 
utilize gears other than pelagic longline to maintain and enhance 
fishing opportunities. This would result in short- and long-term direct 
beneficial economic impacts by providing greater flexibility in the 
gear type that can be used and also by reducing the need to acquire a 
different permit to use buoy gear.
    Another gear alternative analyzed, but not being proposed, would 
allow vessels with an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit and the 
Swordfish Directed or Incidental permit to retain BAYS and bluefin tuna 
when fishing with buoy gear. The rationale for this alternative is the 
same as for the above: to provide increased flexibility and 
encouragement for pelagic longline vessels to utilize gears other than 
pelagic longline to maintain and enhance fishing opportunities in the 
context of new restrictions that may be implemented by Amendment 7. 
This would result in short- and long-term direct beneficial economic 
impacts by increasing the potential revenue opportunities by allowing 
additional species to be landed when using buoy gear, reducing costs 
associated with discarding, and reducing the costs associated with the 
potential need to acquire different permits while fishing with buoy 
gear. This alternative would have no effect on vessels with a Swordfish 
Incidental permit, unless the alternative that would allow vessels with 
a Swordfish Incidental permit to fish with buoy gear were adopted. 
Without the alternative for Swordfish Incidental permit holders, this 
alternative would provide additional flexibility for vessels with a 
Swordfish Directed permit and an Atlantic Tunas Longline permit.
    The proposed alternative that would allow restricted and 
conditional access into certain closed areas would result in potential 
for increased revenue. The scope of the alternative and its effects 
would depend upon the level of observer coverage. Currently, eight 
percent of fishing effort is covered and funded wholly by NMFS. Due to 
the limits on the level of observers, observer coverage would serve as 
the principal constraint to the amount of access. There would be minor 
short- and long-term direct beneficial economic and social impacts 
associated with the added option for vessels to potentially fish in 
these areas, which could

[[Page 52050]]

potentially increase landings revenues and decrease fishing costs by 
providing access to closer and/or more productive fishing areas.
    The performance criteria associated with the proposed measure may 
lead to beneficial economic incentives for fishery participants to 
better comply with reporting and monitoring requirements and reduce 
bluefin tuna interaction rates. The maximum number of potential 
observed trips into the closed areas was estimated based on historical 
rates of observer coverage (per quarter) in various statistical areas, 
and the fact that observer coverage would be a condition of a trip into 
a closed area. NMFS estimated the maximum number of trips into the 
pelagic longline closed areas would be 20 trips into the East Florida 
Coast closed area at an average revenue of $17,575 per trip, 80 trips 
into the DeSoto Canyons at an average revenue of $17,692 per trip, two 
trips into the Northeast closure at an average revenue of $40,726 per 
trip, and five trips into the Charleston Bump at an average revenue of 
$17,575 per trip. It is import to note that these revenue estimates are 
an overestimate, with a large amount of uncertainty. The estimates are 
high because it is very unlikely that all observed trips in a 
particular statistical area would fish in a closed area. The estimates 
are uncertain because the average revenue per trip data is from 
locations outside the closed areas, and may not represent the potential 
revenue from inside the closed areas.
    The No Action alternative would maintain the current regulations 
that do not allow vessels to enter a closed area with pelagic longline 
gear during the time of the closure, unless issued an Exempted Fishing 
Permit. It would not result in any further costs to small entities.
    The proposed measure that would implement IBQs for vessels 
permitted in the Atlantic tunas Longline category (provided they also 
hold necessary limited access swordfish and shark permits) would result 
in prohibiting the use of pelagic longline gear when the vessel's 
annual pelagic longline IBQ has been caught.
    NMFS considered two alternatives for vessel eligibility to receive 
bluefin tuna quota shares. The first alternative considered any 
permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline category vessel as eligible to 
receive an initial allocation of IBQ shares. Based on the most recent 
number of Atlantic Tuna longline limited access permit holders, NMFS 
estimates that 253 vessels would be eligible to receive IBQs under this 
alternative. While this alternative might be more inclusive of all 
members of the fishery, it would reduce the amount of IBQs allocated to 
each vessel. There would also likely be negative short-term and 
potentially long-term direct adverse economic impacts associated with 
reduced initial allocation of IBQs to the most active participants in 
the fishery. Their initial allocations would likely be insufficient to 
be able to maintain their current levels of fishing activity and they 
may not be able to find IBQs to lease or have sufficient capital to 
lease a sufficient amount of IBQs.
    The proposed measure would consider only active permitted Atlantic 
Tunas longline vessels as eligible to receive an initial share of 
bluefin tuna quota. Based on HMS Logbook records from 2006-2011, there 
were 161 active pelagic longline vessels during that period, with 
active defined as having reported in the HMS Logbook successfully 
setting pelagic longline gear at least once between 2006 and 2011. 
Allocation of quota shares to a smaller number of vessels may reduce 
the likelihood that a permitted vessel without quota shares would fish 
and increase the likelihood that available quota would be sufficient 
for active vessels. The drawback to this alternative is that some 
inactive vessels may have been planning to be active in the future, 
invested in preparing to become active in the fishery, but either 
became active after the period of eligibility or had not yet completed 
preparations for entering the fishery.
    In addition to determining vessels eligible to receive IBQs, NMFS 
considered four alternatives for how IBQs should be initially allocated 
to eligible vessel owners. One alternative analyzed the initial 
allocation of IBQs based on an equal share of the quota to eligible 
vessels. To estimate the potential landings each vessel could make 
given its initial IBQ under this alternative, NMFS analyzed the ratio 
of bluefin tuna landings and dead discards to designated species 
weight. These estimated potential landings were then compared to 
average annual historical landings to estimate the reduction in 
designated species landings. Under the 74.8 mt Longline category quota 
scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction of 4.3 million 
pounds of designated species landings per year if an IBQ allocation 
based on designated species landings is used and no trading of IBQs 
occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of approximately 
51 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues of 
approximately $110,000 per vessel. Under the 137 mt Longline category 
quota scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction of 2.4 
million pounds of designated species landing per year if an IBQ 
allocation based on designated species landings is used and no trading 
of IBQs occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of 
approximately 24 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues 
of approximately $51,000 per vessel. Under the 216.7 mt Longline 
category quota scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction 
of 1.2 million pounds of designated species landing per year if an IBQ 
allocation based on designated species landings is used and no trading 
of IBQs occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of 
approximately 14 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues 
of approximately $30,000 per vessel.
    Under a second alternative analyzed, NMFS based the initial 
allocation of IBQs on the historical landings of designated species 
from 2006 through 2011. The designated species include swordfish; 
yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, and skipjack tunas; dolphin; wahoo; and 
blue shark, porbeagle, shortfin mako, and thresher shark. These are the 
main marketable pelagic species landed by pelagic longline vessels in 
addition to bluefin tuna. Under the 74.8 mt Longline category quota 
scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction of 3.5 million 
pounds of designated species landing per year if an IBQ allocation 
based on designated species landings is used and no trading of IBQs 
occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of approximately 
42 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues of 
approximately $91,000 per vessel. Under the 137 mt Longline category 
quota scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction of 2.4 
million pounds of designated species landing per year if an IBQ 
allocation based on designated species landings is used and no trading 
of IBQs occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of 
approximately 28 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues 
of approximately $61,000 per vessel. Under the 216.7 mt Longline 
category quota scenario, NMFS estimates that there could be a reduction 
of 1.6 million pounds of designated species landing per year if an IBQ 
allocation based on designated species landings is used and no trading 
of IBQs occurs. This would be a reduction of annual landings of 
approximately 18 percent and result in a reduction in annual revenues 
of approximately $40,000 per vessel.
    Under the proposed bluefin tuna quota share formula, NMFS would 
base the initial allocation of IBQs based on the historical landings of 
designated

[[Page 52051]]

species from 2006 through 2011 and the ratio of bluefin tuna catch to 
designated species landings. Using the ratio of bluefin tuna landings 
and dead discards to designated species weight, NMFS estimated the 
potential landings each vessel could make given its initial IBQ. These 
estimated potential landings were then compared to average annual 
historical landings to estimate the reduction in designated species. 
Under the 74.8 mt Longline category quota scenario, NMFS estimates that 
there could be a reduction of 3.1 million pounds of designated species 
landing per year if an IBQ allocation based on designated species 
landings is used and no trading of IBQs occurs. This would be a 
reduction of annual landings of approximately 36 percent and result in 
a reduction in annual revenues or approximately $79,000 per vessel. 
Under the 137 mt Longline category quota scenario, NMFS estimates that 
there could be a reduction of 2.2 million pounds of designated species 
landing per year if an IBQ allocation based on designated species 
landings is used and no trading of IBQs occurs. This would be a 
reduction of annual landings of approximately 26 percent and result in 
a reduction in annual revenues or approximately $56,000 per vessel. 
Under the 216.7 mt Longline category quota scenario, NMFS estimates 
that there could be a reduction of 1.5 million pounds of designated 
species landing per year if an IBQ allocation based on designated 
species landings is used and no trading of IBQs occurs. This would be a 
reduction of annual landings of approximately 17 percent and result in 
a reduction in annual revenues or approximately $37,000 per vessel.
    Amendment 7 would also designate all pelagic longline quota shares 
and allocations as either ``Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Atlantic'' based upon 
the geographic location of sets associated with the vessel's fishing 
history used to determine the vessel's quota share. Gulf of Mexico 
quota allocation could be used in either the Gulf of Mexico or the 
Atlantic, but Atlantic quota allocation could only be used in the 
Atlantic and not in the Gulf of Mexico. For a vessel to fish in the 
Gulf of Mexico, the vessel would be required to have the minimum amount 
of bluefin tuna quota to depart on a trip to fish with pelagic longline 
gear, but the quota would have to be Gulf of Mexico quota. The minimum 
IBQ amount required to fish in the Gulf of Mexico would be 0.25 mt 
based on the larger average size of bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico. 
The minimum IBQ amount required to fish in the Atlantic would be 0.125 
mt based on the smaller average size of bluefin tuna encountered in the 
Atlantic. The economic impact of creating these two regional 
designations would primarily be associated with the larger minimum 
quota required to fish in the Gulf of Mexico and the restriction from 
transferring or using Atlantic quota in the Gulf of Mexico. This would 
reduce the number of potential trading partners for IBQs in the Gulf of 
Mexico region, thus potentially leading to less available IBQs that 
could be leased, making it more difficult to find potential trading 
partners and therefore increasing transaction costs for conducting a 
lease.
    In defining the scope of IBQ transfer, NMFS considered two 
alternatives because only two Tuna permit categories are under limited 
access systems. One alternative would allow transfer of bluefin tuna 
quota shares or quota allocation among permitted Atlantic Tunas 
Longline category vessels only, and would not include transferring with 
other limited access quota categories such as the Atlantic Tunas Purse 
Seine category. This alternative would constrain the amount of bluefin 
tuna quota available to the Longline category vessels to the Longline 
category quota, and not make additional quota available. Quota 
transfers would be allowed among all Longline category vessels with a 
valid limited access permit, regardless of whether they have been 
allocated quota shares. While this alternative would have short-term 
direct minor beneficial economic impacts, those beneficial impacts 
would be lower than those under the proposed measure.
    The proposed measure would allow transfer of bluefin tuna quota 
shares or quota allocation between those permitted in the limited 
access Atlantic Tunas Longline and Purse Seine categories. This measure 
would provide flexibility for pelagic longline vessels to obtain, 
lease, or sell quota as necessary, so that allocations may be aligned 
with catch (i.e., vessels that catch bluefin tuna may be able to obtain 
quota from those that do not interact with bluefin tuna, or have not 
used their full allocation of bluefin tuna). This measure would not 
constrain the amount of bluefin tuna quota available to pelagic 
longline vessels (i.e., through the Longline category quota), but would 
make additional quota available if purse seine vessels are willing to 
lease quota. This measure would also modify the Purse Seine category 
regulations which currently restrict the transfer of Purse Seine quota 
to vessels with Purse Seine category permits. Purse Seine quota would 
be transferable to vessels with an Atlantic tunas longline permit. 
Similarly, Purse Seine vessels would be able to lease quota allocation 
from pelagic longline vessels. Quota transfer would be allowed among 
all Longline category vessels with a valid limited access permit, 
regardless of whether they have been allocated quota share. This 
alternative would have short-term direct moderate beneficial economic 
impacts.
    NMFS considered both annual leasing and sale of IBQs. This proposed 
rule would allow temporary leasing of bluefin tuna quota among eligible 
vessels on an annual basis. Temporary quota transfer would give vessels 
flexibility to lease quota, but as a separate and distinct type of 
transaction from the sale of quota share. Vessel owners would be able 
to obtain quota on an annual basis to facilitate their harvest of 
target species. Sub-leasing of quota would be allowed (i.e., quota 
leased from vessel A to vessel B, then to vessel C). The proposed quota 
leasing measures would have short-term direct moderate beneficial 
economic impacts to participants in the fishery. However, in the long-
term, the annual transaction costs associated with matching lessors and 
lessees, the costs associated with drafting agreements, and the 
uncertainty vessel owners would face regarding quota availability would 
reduce some of the economic benefits associated with leasing.
    The alternative to allow sale of quota share among eligible vessels 
would have long-term direct moderate beneficial economic impacts to 
participants in the fishery by allowing the ownership of IBQs to shift 
to where they provide the best economic benefit in the long-term. 
However, in the short-term, there could be issues associated with the 
IBQ market. For example the process of the buyers and sellers arriving 
at a price for IBQ shares may be difficult or highly variable due to 
uncertainties such as how to value IBQ shares, information 
availability, and associated risks. Through this sub-alternative, 
vessel owners would be able to purchase (or sell) quota share and 
increase (or decrease) their quota share percentage. Sale of quota 
share provides a means for vessel owners to plan their business and 
manage their quota based on a time scale longer than a single year. 
Vessel owners may be able to save money through a single quota share 
transaction instead of reoccurring annual quota allocation 
transactions. Transferable quota shares would be limited to the amount 
of quota an individual entity could transfer in order to prevent the 
accumulation of an excessive share of quota. Experiences in other catch 
share programs have shown that fishermen

[[Page 52052]]

may not know how to effectively value the IBQs initially and 
uncertainty in this new market may cause IBQs to be undervalued in the 
first few years. This could result in both adverse social and economic 
impacts in the fishing community if participants sell out of the IBQ 
market in the early years for less than the long-term value of the 
IBQs.
    Amendment 7 would delay consideration of sale of quota shares among 
eligible vessel owners until after NMFS and fishery participants have 
multiple years of experience with the IBQ program. Until NMFS develops 
and implements an IBQ sale program, vessel owners would only be able to 
conduct temporary (annual) leasing of quota allocation and therefore 
vessel owners would not be able to purchase (or sell) quota share in 
order to increase (or decrease) their quota share percentage. This 
approach would reduce risks for vessel owners during the initial stages 
of the IBQ program, when the market for bluefin tuna quota shares would 
be new and uncertain. During the first years of the IBQ program, price 
volatility may be reduced, as may undesirable outcomes of selling or 
buying quota shares at the ``wrong'' time or price. NMFS intends to 
consider a program to allow the sale of quota share in the future 
because it would provide a means for vessel owners to plan their 
business and manage their quota according to a longer time scale than a 
single year, in a manner that would be informed by several years of the 
temporary leasing market. NMFS may wait until a formal evaluation of 
the IBQ program is completed before developing this alternative. While 
this alternative may result in long-term moderate beneficial economic 
impacts, the uncertainty regarding the timeline may make business 
planning for vessel owners and IBQ holders more difficult and result in 
some minor adverse economic impacts.
    Under the proposed measures, quota allocation and/or quota share 
transfers would be executed by the eligible vessel owners or their 
representatives. For example, the two vessel owners involved in a lease 
of quota or sale of quota share could log into a password-protected 
web-based computer system (i.e., a NMFS database), and execute the 
quota allocation or quota share transfer. Owner-executed transfers 
would provide the quickest execution of a transfer because any 
eligibility criteria would be verified automatically via the user log-
in and password, and not involve the submission or review of a paper 
application for a transfer to/by NMFS. This would result in short- and 
long-term minor beneficial economic impacts resulting from reduced 
transactions costs.
    Under an alternative analyzed but not proposed, quota and quota 
share transfers would be executed by NMFS. For example, a paper 
application for a sale of quota share could be submitted by the two 
vessel owners involved in the quota share transaction, and NMFS would 
review and approve the transaction based on eligibility criteria (and 
enter data into a computer database that would track the transfers of 
quota). This method would not include the use of a web-based system, 
but would rely upon mail or facsimile submission of applications by the 
vessel owners to NMFS. In comparison to the proposed measure this 
alternative may result in some minor adverse economic impacts if delays 
in NMFS's review of applications results in increased transactions 
costs and fewer trades.
    The proposed measures would not limit the amount of quota 
allocation an individual vessel (Longline or Purse Seine) could lease 
annually. This alternative would provide flexibility for vessels to 
purchase quota in a manner that could accommodate various levels of 
unintended catch of bluefin tuna, and enable the development of an 
unrestricted market. Because the duration of a temporary lease would be 
limited to a single year, the impacts of an unrestricted market for 
bluefin tuna quota would be limited in duration. Information on this 
unrestricted market could be used to develop future restrictions, if 
necessary. This alternative would result in short- and long-term minor 
beneficial economic impacts by accommodating the various needs of 
vessel owners for IBQ trades.
    Similarly, the proposed measures would set no limit on the total 
amount of quota that either the Longline or Purse Seine category (in 
its entirety) could lease annually. This alternative would provide 
flexibility for vessels to purchase quota in a manner that could 
accommodate various levels of unintended catch of bluefin tuna, and 
enable the development of an unrestricted market. Because the duration 
of a temporary lease would be limited to a single year, the impacts on 
an unrestricted market for bluefin tuna quota would be limited in 
duration. There would likely be a cost for vessels affected by a 
restriction on leasing, yet the benefits of such a restriction are 
unknown, given the leasing program does not currently exist. The risk 
associated with no limitation on the quota market is minimal due to the 
temporary nature of IBQ leases, and the fact that leases are voluntary 
agreements between the lessor and lessee. Information on this 
unrestricted market could be used to develop future restrictions 
(through proposed and final rulemaking) if necessary. This alternative 
would result in short- and long-term minor beneficial economic impacts 
by accommodating the various needs of vessel owners for IBQ trades.
    As described above, because Amendment 7 would delay consideration 
of sale of quota shares among eligible vessel owners until the future, 
after NMFS and fishery participants have multiple years of experience 
with the IBQ program, and therefore the proposed measures do not 
include limits on the amount of quota allocation an individual vessel 
(Longline or Purse Seine), or the Longline or Purse Seine category (in 
its entirety), could purchase. The proposed measures related to the 
monitoring and enforcement of the IBQ program are based on the premise 
that the success of an IBQ program rests upon the ability to track 
ownership of quota shares and quota allocation holders; allocate the 
appropriate amount of annual harvest privileges (quota allocation); 
reconcile landings and dead discards against those privileges; and then 
balance the amounts against the total allowable quota. The current 
pelagic longline reporting requirements and the monitoring program that 
provide data on pelagic longline bluefin tuna landings and dead 
discards were not designed to support inseason accounting of dead 
discards. More timely information on catch would be necessary in order 
to monitor a pelagic longline IBQ, inclusive of dead discards.
    The proposed VMS reporting and electronic monitoring requirements 
are intended to support the implementation of a pelagic longline IBQ. 
The economic impacts are detailed in the section below.
    The approach that NMFS may extrapolate observer-generated data 
inseason, would potentially have short-term minor or neutral indirect 
beneficial economic impacts by addressing the potential for fishery 
disruptions if there are issues in the transition to an IBQ monitoring 
system.
    The proposed measure to formally evaluate the IBQ program after 3 
years of operation and provide the HMS Advisory Panel with a publicly-
available written document with its findings, would result in neutral 
economic impacts because it is administrative in nature. Similarly, the 
alternative to formally evaluate the IBQ program after 5 years of 
operation would result in neutral economic and social impacts because 
it is administrative in nature.

[[Page 52053]]

    The proposed measure for NMFS to develop and implement a cost 
recovery program of up to 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish 
harvested under the program, for costs associated with the costs of 
management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement activities, 
could result in direct long-term moderate adverse economic impacts to 
the industry. NMFS estimates that a 3 percent cost recovery fee on ex-
vessel value of bluefin tuna landings would be an estimated $27,437 
annually for the entire Longline category and $3,432 for the Purse 
Seine category. On a per vessel basis, NMFS estimates that the annual 
cost recovery fee would be on average $170 per Longline category vessel 
and $1,144 per Purse Seine category vessel. However, this per vessel 
estimate would vary greatly from vessel to vessel and from year to year 
based on the amount of bluefin tuna landings for each vessel. The use 
of historic bluefin revenues for estimating the amount of cost recovery 
may overestimate the amount of the cost recovery fee if future bluefin 
tuna interactions and landings are reduced in response to the IBQ 
program and other regulatory provisions considered under Amendment 7.
    The proposed appeals process for administrative review of NMFS's 
decisions regarding initial allocation of quota shares for the IBQ 
program would result in neutral economic impacts because it would 
utilize the National Appeals Office procedures and ensure a 
standardized and centralized appeals process that would provide 
procedural certainty to the participants.
    A control date in association with the proposed IBQ program would 
implement a control date in conjunction with the implementation 
(effective date) of the IBQ program. The control date would serve as a 
reference date that could be utilized with future management measures. 
The implementation of a control date by itself would have no effect, 
but would provide NMFS with a potential management tool that may be 
utilized if necessary as part of a future management measure. A control 
date would likely have neutral economic impacts and would only result 
in beneficial short-term economic impacts if it actually discouraged 
speculative fishing behavior that may have occurred without the control 
date.
    The proposed elimination of the target catch requirements would 
likely have direct short- and long-term minor beneficial economic 
impacts. Under the IBQ program, elimination of the target catch 
requirement could reduce dead discards, and enable vessels to fish for 
target species in a more flexible manner.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the current target catch 
requirements would remain in effect, and would have neutral economic 
impacts since it would not change what is currently in place.
    Under the proposed measure to require retention of all legal-sized 
commercial bluefin tuna that are dead at haul-back, legal discards and 
the waste of fish would be decreased, and it would be more likely that 
such fish are accurately accounted for, and have a positive use (e.g., 
marketed, used for scientific information, etc.). However, given that 
current behavior may be to discard some fish in order to optimize 
landings value of bluefin tuna, there could be minor adverse economic 
impacts associated with this alternative since vessel operators would 
no longer have the option to discard legal-sized bluefin tuna.
    Sub-alternative C 2l.2a would maintain the status quo regarding 
retention of bluefin tuna by pelagic longline vessels. There would be 
no requirement to retain commercial legal-sized bluefin tuna that are 
dead at haul back. Vessels would continue to be able to discard bluefin 
tuna even if they are of commercial legal-size (i.e., 73'' or greater) 
and dead. If the IBQ program is implemented, all dead discards would be 
accounted for under that program. This alternative would have neutral 
economic impacts since it does not change what is currently occurring.
    The Regional Quota alternative would implement annual bluefin tuna 
quotas by region for vessels possessing the Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit (combined with the required shark and swordfish limited 
access permits) and would result in prohibiting the use of pelagic 
longline gear when a particular region's annual bluefin tuna quota has 
been caught. Annual bluefin tuna quotas would be associated with 
defined geographic regions. While regional quotas may be simpler than 
an IBQ system and have advantages over a single quota allocated for the 
entire Longline category, some regions may face chronic shortages of 
bluefin tuna quota if that region experiences increased fishing effort 
or bluefin tuna interaction rates. It is difficult to predict the total 
amount of fishing effort that would occur under regional quotas, and 
the amount of bluefin tuna quota that would be caught. There is likely 
to be less fishing effort under the Regional Quota control alternative 
(compared with the No Action alternative) because a few vessels could 
catch a large number of bluefin tuna, and because the closure of the 
entire area to the use of pelagic longline gear. The historical data 
indicate that the majority of bluefin tuna have been caught by 
relatively few vessels. The amount of target species catch such as 
swordfish and yellowfin tuna would depend primarily upon the amount of 
fishing effort and whether the regional quotas or IBQs become 
constraining. If the regional quotas reduce pelagic longline fishing 
effort, there may be some minor adverse economic and social impacts on 
regional fishing communities where effort is reduced.
    The Group Quota alternative would implement a quota system for 
vessels possessing the Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit 
(combined with the required shark and swordfish limited access permits) 
that would define three bluefin tuna quota groups and assign vessels 
with a valid permit to one of the three groups. Each active vessel 
would be assigned to a quota group based upon the associated permit's 
historical bluefin tuna interactions to ``designated species'' landings 
ratio. Active vessels with relatively high numbers of bluefin tuna 
interactions would be assigned to one quota group, active vessels with 
a moderate level of bluefin tuna interactions would be assigned to a 
second group, and the active vessels with a low level of bluefin tuna 
interactions would be assigned to a third quota group. Using the 
current quota allocation (8.1%) and the 2012 Longline category quota 
(74.8 mt) to illustrate, the low avoider quota group would be allocated 
24.1 mt and the medium and high avoider quota groups would be allocated 
25.1 mt. Although the three quota groups have almost the identical 
number of vessels assigned to them (53, 54, 54, respectively), as well 
as similar quota, the average amount of bluefin tuna that they caught 
historically varies from group to group. The number of bluefin tuna 
interactions from 2006 through 2011 for the low, medium, and high 
avoiders was 8,050, 1,348, and 95, respectively. Converted to averages, 
the average number of bluefin tuna interactions would be 1,342, 225, 
and 16. Utilizing a rough conversion factor of a .125 mt per fish, 225 
fish is equivalent to 28 mt. The high and medium avoider groups are 
likely to have adequate quota, whereas the low avoider group would have 
inadequate quota if the future interaction rate of the vessels is 
similar. The average number of interactions associated with the low 
avoider group equates to approximately 168 mt. It is likely that the 
group quota associated with vessels with the highest historical rate of 
bluefin tuna

[[Page 52054]]

interactions would be attained first. This indicates that there would 
be potentially significant direct short- and long-term adverse economic 
impacts to the low avoider group. However, there could be moderate to 
minor positive economic impacts to the high and medium avoider groups.
    Under the No Action Quota Control alternative, the current 
regulatory situation would continue, in which NMFS does not have the 
authority to prohibit the use of pelagic longline gear when the bluefin 
tuna quota is attained. When the quota is projected to be reached, 
pelagic longline vessels may no longer retain bluefin tuna, but may 
continue to fish for their target species, and must discard any bluefin 
tuna caught. The economic impacts of this alternative would lead to 
short- and long-term direct minor economic and social impacts due the 
loss of revenue from bluefin tuna. In the long-term, if dead discards 
are not curtailed, the pelagic longline fishery could face reduced 
allocations and earnings.
    The proposed alternative ``NMFS Closure of the Pelagic Longline 
Fishery'' would close the pelagic longline fishery (i.e., prohibit the 
use of pelagic longline gear) when the total Longline category bluefin 
tuna quota is reached, projected to be reached, or exceeded, or when 
there is high uncertainty regarding the estimated or documented levels 
of bluefin tuna catch. The economic impacts of this alternative would 
depend upon when the closure occurred, ranging from January through 
December. The time the pelagic longline fishery would be closed would 
depend upon many factors, including the size of the Longline category 
quota, the type of quota control alternative and other alternatives 
implemented by Amendment 7, and non-regulatory factors. The range of 
quotas that would be available to the Longline category would depend 
upon the combination of alternatives implemented.
    Based on the Longline category being closed in late spring and 
early summer over the past few years and the 2013 closure occurring in 
June, NMFS estimates that a June closure is a plausible example to 
examine. A June closure of the pelagic longline fishery would result in 
a potential loss of revenue of approximately $19.8 million, or $123,000 
per vessel per year. This would result in a major short-term adverse 
direct economic impact to the pelagic longline fishery and this 
economic impact would continue into the long-term if landings and dead 
discard rates continue along the current trend.
    The proposed enhanced reporting measures include a requirement that 
vessels with an Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category permit have an E-
MTU VMS unit installed by a qualified marine electrician in order to 
remain eligible for the Purse Seine permit. Purse seine vessel owners 
would be required to provide a hail-out declaration using their E-MTU 
VMS units, indicating target species and gear possessed onboard the 
vessel before leaving port on every trip. Purse seine vessel owners 
would also be required to provide a hail-in declaration, using their E-
MTU VMS units, providing information on the timing and location of 
landing before returning to port. The units would be required to send 
position information to NMFS every hour.
    All three vessels that are currently authorized to deploy purse 
seine gear for Atlantic tunas have already installed E-MTU VMS units in 
compliance with regulations for other Council-managed fisheries, 
including Northeast Multispecies and/or Atlantic scallop. If vessels 
have not already had a type-approved E-MTU VMS unit installed, or if 
permits were transferred to vessels that have not yet installed E-MTU 
VMS, they may be eligible for reimbursement (up to $3,100) to offset 
the costs of procuring a type-approved unit, subject to the 
availability of funds. This reimbursement would only cover the cost of 
the E-MTU VMS and could not be applied to offset installation costs by 
a qualified marine electrician ($400) or monthly communication costs 
($44). Initial costs, per vessel, for compliance with E-MTU VMS 
requirements included in this alternative would be $3,500 if no 
reimbursement were received and $400 if a reimbursement were received.
    On a monthly basis, vessels would be required to establish a 
communication service plan corresponding to the type-approved E-MTU VMS 
selected. Costs vary based on the E-MTU VMS unit and communication 
service provider selected; however, these costs are $44/month for 
hourly transmission reporting and a limited amount of hail in and hail 
out declarations. Charges vary by communication service provider for 
additional messaging or transmission of data in excess of what is 
required by the Agency. Furthermore, costs will also vary depending on 
how many trips a vessel makes on a monthly basis as the number of 
declarations (hail in/hail out) increase proportionately. If a vessel 
has already installed a type-approved E-MTU VMS unit, this alternative 
would have neutral direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts in the 
short and long-term, as the only expense would be monthly communication 
service fees, which they are already paying for participation in a 
Council-managed fishery. If vessels do not have an E-MTU VMS unit 
installed, or an Atlantic tunas purse seine permit is transferred to 
another vessel lacking VMS, direct, adverse, short-term socioeconomic 
impacts are expected as a result of having to pay for the E-MTU VMS 
unit and a qualified marine electrician to install the unit. In the 
long-term, direct economic impacts would become minor, because monthly 
communication service provider costs ($44) would be the only expense. 
No economic impacts to shore-based businesses, including fish dealers, 
bait and gear suppliers, and other fishing related industries are 
expected to result from this requirement.
    Pelagic longline vessels are already required to use an E-MTU VMS 
that has been installed by a qualified marine electrician to provide 
hourly position reports and hail in/out declarations to provide 
information on target species, gear possessed, and expected time/
location of landing. Therefore, this proposed VMS requirement would 
result in neutral economic impacts in the short and long-term. Economic 
impacts to shore-based businesses, including fish dealers, bait and 
gear suppliers, and other fishing related industries are not expected.
    Under the No Action alternative, there would be no requirement 
under HMS regulations for an Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category vessel 
to obtain a VMS unit, and there would be no change to the reporting 
requirements applicable to purse seine vessels. There would also be no 
additional VMS requirements under HMS regulations for a vessel using 
pelagic longline gear.
    The proposed enhanced reporting measures would also require vessels 
fishing for Atlantic tunas with pelagic longline gear to report the 
number of hooks and sets, and for sets with bluefin interactions, the 
length of all bluefin discarded dead or retained. Vessels fishing with 
purse seine gear would be required to report the number of sets, and 
for sets with bluefin interactions, the length of all bluefin discarded 
dead or retained. This alternative is intended to support the inseason 
monitoring of the purse seine and pelagic longline fisheries. Current 
information on the catch of the purse seine fishery is limited to 
dealer data on sold fish, and does not include information of discarded 
bluefin tuna or other species caught and/or discarded. Inseason 
information on catch, including dead discards, would enhance NMFS' 
ability

[[Page 52055]]

to monitor and manage all quota categories.
    The proposed measure would result in neutral economic impacts in 
the short and long-term because of the fact that the vessel owners 
would already be paying, on average, $44 per month to cover the costs 
of a communication service provider. The number of additional 
transmissions necessary to report bluefin tuna retained and discarded 
dead are not expected to exceed the typical monthly allowance for data 
sent using the E-MTU VMS. Economic impacts to shore-based businesses, 
including fish dealers, bait and gear suppliers, and other fishing 
related industries are not expected.
    HMS logbook data (2006-2011) indicate that, on average, pelagic 
longline vessels have 1.15 (9,493 interactions/8,250 trips = 1.15 
interactions/trip) with a bluefin tuna per vessel per trip. This 
alternative would require all pelagic longline vessel operators to 
report catch (kept, discarded dead,) and estimate fish size (> or < 
than 73'' CFL) using their E-MTU VMS within 12 hours. Furthermore, 
additional information on fishing effort, including the number of hooks 
deployed on the set that had a bluefin tuna, would also be reported.
    The proposed measure is expected to have neutral to minor adverse 
economic impacts on pelagic longline vessel operators and owners in the 
short and long-term. Economic impacts to shore-based businesses, 
including fish dealers, bait and gear suppliers, and other fishing 
related industries are not expected. Existing regulations require all 
pelagic longline vessel operators to provide hail out/in declarations 
and provide location reports on an hourly basis at all times while they 
are away from port. In order to comply with these regulations, vessel 
owners must subscribe to a communication service plan that includes an 
allowance for sending similar declarations (hail out/in) describing 
target species, fishing gear possessed, and estimated time/location of 
landing using their E-MTU VMS. This alternative would require, on 
average, 1.15 additional reports per trip that describe bluefin tuna 
interactions and fishing effort. Because of the minimal time 
(approximately 5 minutes) required to submit these reports and the fact 
that owners would already be enrolled in a communication service plan 
that would accommodate these additional transmissions, adverse economic 
impacts are not expected.
    The proposed measure to require the use of electronic monitoring, 
including video cameras, by all vessels issued an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit that intend to fish for highly migratory species, would 
require both fixed and variable costs over the service life of each 
camera installed onboard. Specifically, vessels would be required to 
install and maintain video cameras and associated data recording and 
monitoring equipment in order to record all longline catch and relevant 
data regarding pelagic longline gear retrieval and deployment. Only a 
portion of the recorded information would be utilized to identify 
bluefin tuna catch. The requirements associated with this alternative 
would be phased in over a period of time due to the complexity, costs, 
and logistical constraints associated with the implementation of an 
electronic monitoring program. NMFS would communicate in writing with 
the vessel owners during all phases of the program to provide 
information to assistant vessel owners, and facilitate the provision of 
technical assistance.
    This alternative would require both fixed and variable costs over 
the service life of each camera installed onboard. The cost of an 
electronic system bought in 2010, over its 5 year projected lifespan, 
is about $3,565 a year. This includes 4% of the purchase price for 
maintenance costs and a 7% interest rate on the loan to buy a system 
(National Observer Program, 2013). The variable costs for vessel owners 
include data retrieval ($45/hour; 2 hr per trip; technician travel 
($0.5/mile; 100 miles for each trip); fishing activity interpretation 
($47/hour; 0.25 hr/trip); and catch data interpretation ($47/hour; 1.5 
hr/trip). The estimated total variable costs would be approximately 
$225 per trip and the annual fixed costs would be $ 3,835 for the 
purchase and installation of the equipment, and six services per year; 
($45/hour; 1 hr six times per year). This alternative would result in 
direct and indirect adverse economic impacts to pelagic longline vessel 
owners in the short and long-term.
    Under the No Action alternative, NMFS would maintain the status quo 
and would not implement a requirement for permitted pelagic longline 
vessels to install electronic devices such as cameras in order to 
support the monitoring or verification of bluefin tuna catch under an 
IBQ quota system. This alternative would not result in economic impacts 
because it would maintain existing requirements.
    The proposed enhanced reporting measures would require Atlantic 
Tunas General, Harpoon and HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders to 
report their bluefin tuna catch (i.e., landings and discards) using an 
expanded version of the bluefin tuna recreational automated landings 
reporting system (ALRS). The automated system includes two reporting 
options, one that is web-based and an interactive voice response 
telephone system. The primary impacts of the preferred alternative are 
the amount of time the new reporting requirement would take, and the 
reporting costs, respectively. NMFS estimated the potential annual 
catch for each permit category based on previous years data and 
multiplied it by the 5 minutes it takes to complete a report (NMFS 
2013) for each fish to estimate a total reporting burden of 607 hours 
affecting a total of potentially 8,226 permit holders as a result of 
this alternative. Since the data are collected online or via telephone, 
there are no monetary costs to fishermen or direct economic impacts to 
fishermen from this alternative.
    Adjustments to both the online and IVR systems of the ALRS to 
implement catch reporting for General, Harpoon, and HMS Charter/
Headboat category permit holders are estimated to cost NMFS between 
$15,000 and $35,000. Annual maintenance would likely cost approximately 
$8,700 per year, which is the current cost for maintaining the ALRS and 
the call-in system for reports of other recreational HMS landings (NMFS 
2013).
    The No Action alternative would not require Atlantic Tunas General, 
Harpoon and HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders to report their bluefin 
tuna catch (i.e., landings and discards) using an expanded version of 
the bluefin tuna recreational automated landings reporting system 
(ALRS), and would have no social or economic impacts.
    Under the No Action alternative regarding observer coverage, there 
would be no changes to the current observer coverage in the Atlantic 
Tunas Longline, General, Purse Seine, Harpoon, or HMS Charter/Headboat 
categories. Therefore, there would be no additional cost to small 
businesses.
    The alternative which would increase the level of NMFS-funded 
observers on a portion of trips by vessels fishing under the Atlantic 
Tunas Longline, General, Purse Seine, Harpoon, or HMS Charter/Headboat 
categories could result in some minor costs to vessel operators if 
there is an increased chance that they will be selected for observer 
coverage and will have to accommodate an observer.
    One of the alternatives for enhanced reporting (not proposed) would 
require the reporting of catch by Atlantic Tunas General, Harpoon, and 
HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels targeting bluefin tuna through 
submission of an HMS logbook to NMFS. The direct

[[Page 52056]]

social and economic impacts of this non-preferred alternative include 
the amount of time to complete logbook forms and the cost of submission 
(i.e., mailing) for all fishermen permitted in the affected permit 
categories. These impacts would be minor, adverse, and long-term. A 
high-end proxy for the impacts of this alternative is the current 
reporting burden and cost for the entire HMS logbook program, which 
have been estimated for all commercial HMS fisheries (28,614 permits, 
NMFS 2011a). The annual reporting burden for the entire program is 
estimated at 36,189 hours and costs are $94,779 for postage. A more 
refined estimate is 6,735, which is the number of fishermen likely to 
conduct directed fishing trips for bluefin tuna based on the total 
number of General, Charter/Headboat, and Harpoon category permit 
holders in the states from Maine through South Carolina. This is likely 
also an over-estimate, since many General and Charter/Headboat permit 
holders in these states fish for yellowfin, or other tunas rather than 
bluefin tuna, or, for Charter/Headboat permit holders, other HMS. NMFS 
estimates a total annual reporting burden of 16,526 hours and a cost of 
$8,263.
    This rule proposes no action with respect to the current logbook 
requirements and would make no changes to the current logbook 
requirements applicable to any of the permit categories. It would have 
no economic impact on fishing vessel owners.
    This rule would make no changes to the scope of the Large Pelagic 
Survey, and would therefore have no social or economic impacts 
associated with this alternative.
    In contrast, the alternative that would expand the Large Pelagics 
Survey to include May, November, and December, and add surveys to the 
states south of VA, including the Gulf of Mexico, would result in 
minor, adverse, and long-term impacts. The direct economic impact of 
this alternative is the amount of time that fishermen would expend 
participating in the survey. There are no financial costs to fishermen 
since the survey is conducted in person and over the phone, and there 
would be no direct economic impacts to fishermen for this alternative. 
NMFS estimates that the dockside survey takes 5 minutes on average, the 
phone survey takes 8 minutes, and collection of supplemental biological 
information takes about 1 minute. Previously, NMFS estimated that 
annual implementation of the Large Pelagics Survey throughout Atlantic 
and Gulf coastal states using the current target sample-size of 7,870 
for the dockside survey, 10,780 for the phone survey and 1,500 for the 
biological survey would result in a reporting burden of 656 hours, 924 
hours, and 25 hours respectively, for a total reporting burden of 1,730 
hours (NMFS 2011b). This estimate could be used as a high-end proxy for 
the reporting burden associated with this alternative. Another method 
for estimating the reporting burden associated with this alternative is 
to use a ratio comparing the sample frame (i.e., number of permits) 
used in the coastwide estimate with the sample frame for the 
alternative (i.e., number of permits in states south of VA). Using this 
method, the reporting burden estimate is 559 hours. Because of the 
sampling design, adding the months of May, November, and December is 
not expected to add any reporting burden or cost (Ron Salz, pers. 
comm.).
    The alternative to establish 12 equal monthly sub-quotas, was 
considered in the 2011 Environmental Assessment for a Rule to Adjust 
the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General and Harpoon Category Regulations. It 
would allow the General category to remain open year-round and would 
revise subquotas so that they are evenly distributed throughout the 
year (i.e., the base quota of 435.1 mt would be divided into monthly 
subquotas of 8.3 percent of the General category base quota, or 36.1 
mt). NMFS would continue to carry forward unharvested General category 
quota from one time period to the next time period. This alternative 
would result in increased harvest in the earlier portions of the 
General category bluefin tuna season and decreased harvest in the later 
portions of the season. For early season (January-March) General 
category participants, an additional 85.2 mt would be available (i.e., 
108.3-23.1 mt). At $9.13/lb, this represents potential increased 
revenue of approximately $1.7 million overall during this time period, 
nearly five times the current amount. NMFS does not have General 
category price/lb information for April or May since there is currently 
no General category fishing during those months, but using $9.13/lb as 
an estimate, potential revenues for each of those months would be 
$726,621. Potential revenues for the current June-August and September 
periods would decrease by approximately $2.2 million (50%) and $1.7 
million (69%), given recent average price ($9.13 and $9.61, 
respectively). For October-November and for December, potential 
revenues would increase by approximately $317,000 (28%) and $287,000 
(60%) at $9.21/lb and $9.65/lb, respectively. Relative to the No Action 
alternative, under Alternative E 1b, there would generally be 
substantially increased revenues for January through May and October 
through December and substantially decreased revenues for June through 
September, and total annual revenues would decrease by approximately 
$100,000 (1%).
    Under the alternative that would take no action to modify the 
General category sub-period allocations, economic impacts would be 
neutral and largely would vary by geographic area, with continued 
higher potential revenues during the summer months in the northeast and 
lower amounts to winter fishery participants off the mid- and south 
Atlantic states. General category participants that fish in the January 
bluefin tuna fishery may continue to perceive a disadvantage as the 
available quota for that period is relatively small (5.3% of the 
General category quota) and that they do not benefit from the rollover 
of unused quota either inseason, from one time period to the next, nor 
do they benefit from prior-year underharvest because of the timing of 
the annual final quota specifications (published in the middle of the 
year).
    The proposed measure would provide NMFS flexibility to transfer 
General category quota within the year and could result in a shift in 
the distribution of quota and thus fishing opportunities to the earlier 
portion of the year. For example, in 2011 and 2012, June through August 
General category landings totaled 140.3 mt and 192.2 mt, out of an 
available (base) quota of 217.6 mt. In 2010, June through August 
General category landings totaled 125.4 mt of an available (adjusted) 
quota of 269.4 mt. If quota that is anticipated to be unused in the 
first part of the summer season is made available to January period 
General category participants and bluefin tuna are landed against the 
January period subquota, it would potentially result in improved and 
more complete use of the General category quota. Also, because bluefin 
tuna's price per lb is often higher in the January period than during 
the summer, shifting quota to this earlier period would result in 
beneficial impacts to early season General category participants off 
the mid- and south Atlantic states. It is possible, however, that an 
increase of bluefin tuna on the market in the January period could 
reduce the average price for that time of year. Participants in the 
summer fishery may perceive such quota transfer to be a shift away from 
historical participants in the traditional General category bluefin 
tuna fishing areas off New England and thus adverse. However, because 
unused quota rolls forward

[[Page 52057]]

within a calendar year from one period to the next, any unused quota 
from the adjusted January period would return to the June through 
August period and onward if not used completely during that period. 
Overall, short-term, direct impacts depend on the amount and timing of 
quota transferred inseason and would be expected to be neutral to 
minor, beneficial impacts for January fishery participants and neutral 
to minor, adverse impacts for participants in the June through December 
General category fishery.
    Under the No Action alternative to ``Adjust Harpoon Category 
Retention Limits Inseason,'' Harpoon category participants would 
continue to have the ability to retain and land up to four large medium 
fish per vessel per day, as well as unlimited giants. The economic 
impact of the No Action alternative is expected to be direct and 
neutral to slightly beneficial and short-term as participants would 
continue to be able to retain and land a 3rd and 4th large medium 
bluefin tuna, if available, and would not have to discard these fish if 
caught while targeting giant bluefin tuna. In 2012, the first year 
following implementation of the four-fish limit on large mediums, there 
were only two trips on which three large mediums were landed and two 
trips on which four large mediums were landed, or 6% total of 
successful trips. Harpoon quota revenues in 2012 were 24 percent lower 
than 2011 and 71 percent higher than in 2010.
    In contrast, the proposed measure would implement the daily 
retention limit of large medium bluefin tuna over a range of two to 
four bluefin tuna, and the default large medium limit would be set at 
two fish. On a per-trip basis, there would be minor short-term direct 
adverse social and economic impacts that would depend on availability 
of large mediums to Harpoon category vessels on a per trip basis and 
the actual retention limit that NMFS sets inseason (or that is in place 
by default). Looking at successful 2012 trips, NMFS can estimate 
potential impacts of this change by determining the number of trips on 
which three or four large mediums were landed in 2012 and assuming that 
those fish may not be able to be landed under this alternative. Using 
2012 successful trip data, if the limit was set at two large mediums, 
the revenue from up to six large mediums would be foregone for the 
season, and with a three fish limit, the revenue of up to two large 
mediums would be foregone. At an average 2012 weight of 296 lbs. and an 
average price of $9.13/lb for the Harpoon category, a loss of one to 
six fish would be approximately $2,702 to $16,215 for the Harpoon 
category as a whole for the year.
    Potentially beneficial economic impacts are possible if a lower 
limit at the beginning of the season results in the Harpoon category 
quota lasting longer into the season, as the average price/lb is 
generally higher in July and August than it is in June. NMFS has not 
needed to close the Harpoon category in recent years (i.e., as a result 
of the quota being met) but, depending on the size of the amount of 
quota available and the number of Harpoon category participants, this 
may be a consideration.
    Under the No Action alternative regarding the Angling category 
subquota distribution, Angling category participants fishing south of 
39[deg]18' N. lat. (approximately, Great Egg Inlet, NJ) would continue 
to have their landings of trophy bluefin tuna count toward a shared 
66.7% of the Angling category large medium and giant bluefin tuna 
subquota. The social impact of the No Action alternative is expected to 
vary by geographic area and to be dependent on availability of trophy-
sized bluefin tuna on the fishing grounds. If the pattern of high 
activity off Virginia and North Carolina continues, fishermen in the 
mid-Atlantic may have greater opportunities to land a bluefin tuna and 
participants in the Gulf of Mexico may have no opportunity to land a 
bluefin tuna when the fish are in their area as the southern trophy 
fishery may already be closed for the year. Based on the last 2 years, 
NMFS would expect direct, beneficial, short-term social impacts for 
Angling and Charter/Headboat trophy fishery participants in the mid-
Atlantic and direct, adverse, short-term impacts for participants south 
of that area, including the Gulf of Mexico. The issue of economic costs 
for Angling category participants is not relevant, as there is no sale 
of tunas by Angling category participants. For charter vessels, which 
sell fishing trips to recreational fishermen, economic impacts are 
expected to be neutral to beneficial for those in the mid-Atlantic and 
neutral to adverse for those south of that area, including the Gulf of 
Mexico, as the perceived opportunity to land a trophy bluefin tuna may 
be diminished. This should be tempered in the Gulf of Mexico, where 
there is no directed fishing for bluefin tuna allowed. Given that the 
current southern trophy bluefin tuna subquota of 2.8 mt represents 
approximately 17-30 individual fish, impacts are expected to be minor.
    Under the proposed measure, a portion of the trophy south subquota 
would be allocated specifically for the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, 
the trophy subquota would be divided as 33% each to the northern area, 
the southern area outside the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico. 
At the current average trophy fish weight, this would allow annually up 
to 8 trophy bluefin tuna to be landed in each of the three areas. There 
would be minor, short-term, direct, beneficial social impacts to a 
small number of vessels in the Gulf of Mexico given the small amount of 
fish that would be allowed to be landed (as well as indirect beneficial 
economic impacts for charter vessels), but the perception of greater 
fairness among southern area participants may result in indirect, 
longer-term, beneficial, social impacts. There would be minor, short-
term, direct and indirect adverse social impacts (and economic impacts 
for charter vessels) for those outside the Gulf of Mexico as the 
perceived opportunity to land a trophy bluefin tuna may be diminished.
    Under the No Action alternative to ``Change Start Date of Purse 
Seine Category to June 1,'' there would be no change to the start date 
of the Purse Seine category fishery, which is currently set at July 15. 
Economic impacts would be expected to be direct and neutral to adverse 
depending on availability of schools of bluefin tuna for purse seine 
operators to decide to make a set on. That is, currently, if conditions 
would warrant making a set (e.g., based on information from spotter 
pilots) before July 15, purse seine operators would not be able to fish 
and would miss the economic opportunity to land and sell bluefin tuna 
while the other commercial bluefin tuna fisheries are open. Social 
impacts would be minor and neutral to adverse for purse seine fishery 
participants and would be minor and neutral to beneficial for fishermen 
in other categories due to reduced actual or perceived gear conflict 
from June 1 through July 14.
    Under the proposed measure, the start date of the Purse Seine 
category fishery would be set at June 1 (unless modified by NMFS) to 
allow more flexibility for purse seine operators to choose when to 
fish, based on availability of schools of appropriate-sized bluefin 
tuna and market price. Economic impacts would be expected to be direct 
and neutral to moderate and beneficial depending on availability of 
schools of bluefin tuna for purse seine operators to decide to make a 
set on and market conditions. Social impacts would be minor and neutral 
to beneficial for purse seine fishery participants and would be minor 
and neutral to adverse for fishermen in other categories due to 
increased actual or perceived gear conflict from June 1 through July 
14. In 2012, the average

[[Page 52058]]

price per pound was $12.46, although the price likely reflects the 
relatively small amount of purse seine-caught bluefin tuna on the 
market that year. In 2009, the last year in which there were Atlantic 
purse seine bluefin tuna landings, the average price per pound was 
$5.96.
    Under the No Action alternative, regarding the rules pertaining to 
permit category changes, there would be no changes made to current 
regulations regarding the ability of an applicant to make a correction 
to their open-access HMS permit category. The current regulations 
prohibit a vessel issued an open-access Atlantic Tunas or an HMS permit 
from changing the category of the permit after 10 calendar days from 
the date of issuance. This No Action alternative is administrative in 
nature, and therefore the social and economic impacts associated with 
it would be neutral for most applicants. However, for those applicants 
who discover their permit category may not allow the vessel to fish in 
a manner as intended, they may experience moderate adverse social and 
economic impacts at an individual level. For example, if a commercial 
fishermen obtained an Angling category permit (recreational) versus a 
General category permit (commercial) and did not discover the error 
until after the 10 calendar day window, their vessel would not be 
allowed to fish commercially for Atlantic tunas for the remainder of 
that year. Likewise, if recreational fishermen obtained a General 
category permit (commercial) versus an Angling category permit 
(commercial) and did not discover the error until after the 10 calendar 
day window, their vessel would not be allowed to fish under the 
recreational rules and regulations for the remainder of the year. These 
two examples demonstrate the potential in lost fishing opportunities as 
a result of the No Action alternative.
    Under the proposed measures, NMFS would allow category changes to 
an open-access HMS permit issued for a time period greater than 10 
calendar days (e.g., 30, 45, or 60 days), provided the vessel has not 
fished as verified via landings data. This alternative would result in 
neutral social and economic impacts for most applicants, as there are 
approximately 20 requests annually that would fall outside the 10 
calendar day window. However, for those applicants who discover their 
permit category may not allow the vessel to fish in a manner as 
intended (~20 per year), they would experience moderate beneficial 
social and economic impacts provided they discover the error in the 
liberalize window (e.g., 30, 45, or 60 days). Using the two examples 
illustrated above, and assuming no bluefin tuna were caught in either 
case, each applicant would be allowed to correct their open-access HMS 
permit category to match their intended fishing practices for the 
remainder of that year, thereby mitigating the potential of lost 
fishing opportunities, as well as potential income.
    The No Action ``Northern Albacore Tuna Quota'' alternative would 
maintain the current northern albacore tuna quota. In the last 10 
years, U.S. catches reached or exceeded the current U.S. initial quota 
(527 mt for 2013) in 2004 with 646 mt and in 2007 with 532 mt. However, 
catches have been less than the adjusted U.S. quotas (currently about 
659 mt) for the last several years. Under the No Action alternative, 
there is no domestic mechanism to limit annual catches of northern 
albacore tuna beyond the current requirements for Atlantic tunas or HMS 
vessel permits, authorized gear, observers/logbooks, and time/area 
closures. Therefore, expected short-term, direct economic impacts and 
social impacts under the No Action alternative would be neutral. If 
future overharvests result in the United States being out of compliance 
with the ICCAT recommendation, the United States would need to put 
control measures in place and neutral to adverse longer-term direct 
economic and social impacts could occur if the resulting annual quota 
needs to be reduced by the amount of the overharvest.
    If, under the proposed measure, NMFS implements a domestic quota 
for northern albacore tuna and recent catch levels continue, and the 
U.S. quota (including the adjusted quota) recommended by ICCAT is 
maintained at the current amount, economic and social impacts would not 
be expected. However, if either the U.S. quota is reduced as part of a 
new TAC recommendation or catches increase above the current adjusted 
U.S. quota, there could be adverse impacts resulting from reduced 
future fishing opportunities and ex-vessel revenues. At an average 
price of $1.29/lb for commercially-landed albacore tuna in 2011, a 
reduction of one mt would represent approximately $2,800 under a full 
quota use situation. Actual impacts would largely depend on the 
availability of northern albacore tuna and the ability of fishery 
participants to harvest the quota. In addition, any adverse social and 
economic impacts of exceeding the TAC, which was adopted as part of the 
overall ICCAT northern albacore tuna rebuilding program, would be 
reduced and, in the long term, may be beneficial for fishermen as the 
stock grows. There may be slight differences in the level of economic 
and social impacts experienced by the specific individuals of the 
northern albacore tuna fishery, as well as by participants within a 
particular fishery sector.
    This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). These requirements have 
been submitted to OMB for approval. Public reporting burden for these 
collections of information are estimated to average, as follows:
    1. Purse Seine VMS hail out & in, OMB 0648-0372, (5 min/
response);
    2. Pelagic Longline VMS declaration in Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area, or Closed Areas, OMB 0648-0372, (5 min/
response);
    3. Pelagic Longline VMS declaration into General Category Rules in 
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, OMB 0648-0372, (5 min/
response);
    4. Pelagic Longline and Purse Seine catch reports, OMB 
0648-0372, (5 min/response);
    5. Electronic Monitoring of Pelagic Longline Vessels, Installation 
of Camera,
    6. Electronic Monitoring of Pelagic Longline Vessels, Maintenance
    7. Electronic Monitoring of Pelagic Longline Vessels, Data 
Retrieval
    8. General, Harpoon, and Charter/Headboat reporting via automated 
systems, OMB 0648-0328, (5 min/response)
    9. Pelagic Longline appeal of Performance Metrics, OMB 
XXX-XXX, (2 hr/response)
    10. Pelagic Longline appeal of Quota Shares, OMB XXX-XXX, 
(2 hr/response)
    11. Pelagic Longline IBQ Trade Execution and Tracking, Transfer of 
Allocation, OMB XXX-XXX, (5 min/response)
    12. Pelagic Longline IBQ Trade Execution and Tracking, Online 
Account Initial Application, OMB XXX-XXX, (10 min/response)
    13. Pelagic Longline IBQ Trade Execution and Tracking, Online 
Account Renewal Application, OMB XXX-XXX, (10 min/response)
    Public comment is sought on whether these proposed collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of NMFS, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the of information, including through 
the use

[[Page 52059]]

of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Send comments on these or any other aspects of the 
collection of information to the Highly Migratory Species Division of 
the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, at the ADDRESSES above, and by 
email to [email protected]">[email protected] or fax to (202) 395-7285. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required 
to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Imports, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: August 13, 2013.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, performing the 
functions and duties of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  635.2:
0
a. Revise the definitions of ``Bottom longline,'' ``Green-stick gear,'' 
and ``Pelagic longline,'' and
0
b. Add the definitions of ``Cape Hatteras gear restricted area,'' ``In 
transit,'' ``Lessee,'' ``Lessor,'' ``Small Gulf of Mexico gear 
restricted area,'' and ``Transiting'' in alphabetical order.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  635.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Bottom longline means a longline that is deployed with enough 
weights and/or anchors to maintain contact with the ocean bottom. For 
the purposes of this part, a vessel is considered to have bottom 
longline gear on board when a power-operated longline hauler, a 
mainline, weights and/or anchors capable of maintaining contact between 
the mainline and the ocean bottom, and leaders (gangions) with hooks 
are on board. Removal of any of these elements constitutes removal of 
bottom longline gear. Bottom longline vessels may have a limited number 
of floats and/or high flyers onboard for the purposes of marking the 
location of the gear but removal of these floats does not constitute 
removal of bottom longline gear.
* * * * *
    Cape Hatteras gear restricted area means the area within the 
Atlantic Ocean bounded by straight lines connecting the following 
coordinates in the order stated: 34[deg]50' N. lat., 75[deg]10' W. 
long.; 35[deg]40' N. lat., 75[deg]10' W. long.; 35[deg]40' N. lat., 
75[deg]00' W. long.; 37[deg]10' N. lat., 75[deg]00' W. long.; 
37[deg]10' N. lat., 74[deg]20' W. long.; 34[deg]50' N. lat., 74[deg]20' 
W. long.; 34[deg]50' N. lat., 75[deg]10' W. long.
* * * * *
    Green-stick gear means an actively trolled mainline attached to a 
vessel and elevated or suspended above the surface of the water with no 
more than 10 hooks or gangions attached to the mainline. The suspended 
line, attached gangions and/or hooks, and catch may be retrieved 
collectively by hand or mechanical means. Green-stick does not 
constitute a pelagic longline or a bottom longline as defined in this 
section.
* * * * *
    In transit means non-stop progression through an area.
* * * * *
    Lessee means a vessel owner who receives a temporary lease of 
individual bluefin tuna quota allocation from another vessel through 
the Bluefin Quota Allocation Leasing Program specified at Sec.  
635.15(c).
    Lessor means a vessel owner who temporarily leases individual 
bluefin tuna quota allocation associated with the vessel owner's vessel 
to another vessel through the Bluefin Quota Allocation Leasing Program 
specified at Sec.  635.15(c).
* * * * *
    Pelagic longline means a longline that is suspended by floats in 
the water column and that is not fixed to or in contact with the ocean 
bottom. For the purposes of this part, a vessel is considered to have 
pelagic longline gear on board when a power-operated longline hauler, a 
mainline, floats capable of supporting the mainline, and leaders 
(gangions) with hooks are on board. Removal of any of these elements 
constitutes removal of pelagic longline gear.
* * * * *
    Small Gulf of Mexico gear restricted area means the area within the 
Gulf of Mexico bounded by straight lines connecting the following 
coordinates in the order stated: 26[deg]30' N. lat., 94[deg]49' W. 
long.; 27[deg]40' N. lat, 94[deg]49' W. long.; 27[deg]40' N. lat., 
90[deg]40' W. long.; 26[deg]30' N. lat., 90[deg]40' W. long.; 
26[deg]30'N. lat., 94[deg]49' W. long.
* * * * *
    Transiting means progressing through an area without stopping.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  635.4:
0
a. As revised in a final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, paragraph (j)(3) is further revised; and
0
b. Paragraph (o)(4) is revised.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  635.4  Permits and fees.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (3) A vessel owner issued an Atlantic tunas permit in the General, 
Harpoon, or Trap category or an Atlantic HMS permit in the Angling or 
Charter/Headboat category under paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this 
section may change the category of the vessel permit once within 45 
calendar days of the date of issuance of the permit, provided the 
vessel has not landed bluefin tuna during those 45 calendar days as 
verified by NMFS via landings data. After 45 calendar days from the 
date of issuance of the permit, the vessel owner may not change the 
permit category until the following fishing season.
* * * * *
    (o) * * *
    (4) The owner of a vessel issued an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small 
Boat permit may fish for, take, retain, or possess only BAYS tunas, 
Atlantic swordfish, and Atlantic sharks, subject to the trip limits 
specified at Sec.  635.24 and may possess unauthorized gears onboard as 
stated at Sec.  635.19(a).
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  635.5:
0
a. Paragraph (a)(3) is revised;
0
b. Paragraph (a)(4) is redesignated as paragraph (a)(5);
0
c. New paragraph (a)(4) is added; and
0
d. Paragraph (c)(1) is revised.
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  635.5  Recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (3) Bluefin tuna landed by a commercial vessel and not sold. If a 
person who catches and lands a large medium or giant bluefin tuna from 
a vessel issued a permit in any of the commercial categories for 
Atlantic tunas does not sell or otherwise transfer the bluefin tuna to 
a dealer who has a dealer permit for Atlantic tunas, the person must 
contact a NMFS enforcement agent, at a number designated by NMFS,

[[Page 52060]]

immediately upon landing such bluefin tuna, provide the information 
needed for the reports required under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this 
section, and, if requested, make the tuna available so that a NMFS 
enforcement agent or authorized officer may inspect the fish and attach 
a tag to it. Alternatively, such reporting requirement may be fulfilled 
if a dealer who has a dealer permit for Atlantic tunas affixes a dealer 
tag as required under paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section and reports 
the bluefin tuna as being landed but not sold on the reports required 
under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section. If a vessel is placed on a 
trailer, the person must contact a NMFS enforcement agent, or the 
bluefin tuna must have a dealer tag affixed to it by a permitted 
Atlantic tunas dealer, immediately upon the vessel being removed from 
the water. All bluefin tuna landed but not sold will be applied to the 
quota category according to the permit category of the vessel from 
which it was landed.
    (4) Bluefin tuna discarded dead, or landed by a commercial vessel 
and sold. The owner of a vessel that has been permitted or that should 
have been permitted in the Atlantic Tunas General or Harpoon 
categories, or permitted or should have been permitted under the HMS 
Charter/Headboat category and fishing under the General category quotas 
and daily limits as specified at Sec.  635.23(c) of this part, must 
report all discards and/or landings of bluefin tuna through the NMFS 
automated catch reporting system within 24 hours of the landings or end 
of trip. Such reports may be made by calling a phone number designated 
by NMFS or submitting the required information electronically in the 
method designated by NMFS. The owner of a vessel that has been 
permitted in a different bluefin tuna category must report as specified 
elsewhere in this section.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Bluefin tuna. The owner of a vessel permitted, or required to 
be permitted, in the Atlantic HMS Angling or Atlantic HMS Charter/
Headboat category must report the catch of all bluefin tuna discarded 
dead and/or retained under the Angling category quota designated at 
Sec.  635.27(a) through the NMFS automated catch reporting system 
within 24 hours of the landing. Such reports may be made by calling a 
phone number designated by NMFS or submitting the required information 
electronically in the method designated by NMFS.
* * * * *
0
5. Add Sec.  635.9 to subpart A to read as follows:


Sec.  635.9  Electronic monitoring.

    (a) Applicability. An owner or operator of a commercial vessel 
permitted, or required to be permitted, to fish for Atlantic HMS under 
Sec.  635.4 and that has pelagic longline gear on board must, as 
specified in this section, install, operate and maintain a video system 
on the vessel.
    (b) Video System. The video system, which is comprised of video 
camera(s), recording equipment, and other related equipment (e.g., 
video monitor, hydraulic pressure transducer, winch rotation sensor, or 
system control box), must meet the following requirements:
    (1) Video camera(s) must be mounted and placed so as to provide 
clear, unobstructed views of the area(s) where the pelagic longline 
gear is retrieved and of catch being removed from hooks prior to being 
placed in the hold or discarded.
    (2) Video camera(s) must be in sufficient numbers, with sufficient 
resolution for NMFS, the USCG, and their authorized officers and 
designees, or any individual authorized by NMFS to determine the number 
and species of fish harvested.
    (3) Video recording must be initiated by gear retrieval.
    (4) The video system must record all periods of time when the gear 
is being retrieved and catch is removed from the hooks prior to being 
placed in the hold or discarded.
    (c) Data maintenance, storage, and viewing. The video system must 
have the capacity to allow NMFS, the USCG, and their authorized 
officers and designees, or any individual authorized by NMFS on board 
the vessel to monitor the video in real time. The video data must be 
maintained and made available to the afore-mentioned entities and 
individuals, upon request. These data must be retained onboard the 
vessel for no fewer than 120 days after the conclusion of a trip, 
unless NMFS has notified the vessel operator that the video data may be 
retained for less than this 120-day period.
    (d) Operation. The vessel operator must ensure that all bluefin 
tuna, even those that are released, are handled in a manner than 
enables the video system to record such fish, and must ensure that all 
handling and retention of bluefin tuna occurs in accordance with the 
regulations.
    (e) Failure to adequately monitor the gear and catch. The video 
system must be maintained in working condition. If NMFS determines that 
a video system fails to meet the requirements of paragraphs (b) through 
(d) of this section, then the vessel owner or operator must ensure that 
the vessel is in compliance with those requirements before the vessel 
leaves port. The vessel owner or operator must document changes made to 
address deficiencies and submit that information to NMFS. The vessel 
cannot leave port until all changes are approved in writing by NMFS.
    (f) Repair and replacement. If the vessel owner or operator becomes 
aware that the video system on the vessel has stopped working at sea, 
the vessel owner or operator must contact NMFS and follow the 
instructions given. Such instructions may include but are not limited 
to returning to port until the video system is repaired. Once in port, 
the video system must be repaired or reinstalled before the vessel can 
leave port.

Subpart B--Individual Vessel Measures

0
6. Revise the subpart B heading to read as set forth above.
0
7. Add Sec.  635.14 to subpart B to read as follows:


Sec.  635.14  Performance metrics.

    (a) General. For purposes of Sec.  635.21(c)(3), NMFS will 
determine ``qualified'' vessels based on the performance metrics in 
paragraph (b) of this section. Specifically, NMFS will use fishery 
dependent and fishery independent data to evaluate vessel performance 
based on avoidance of bluefin tuna interactions while fishing with a 
pelagic longline gear and history of compliance with the observer and 
logbook requirements of Sec. Sec.  635.7 and 635.5, respectively.
    (b) Calculation of performance metrics. In year one of 
implementation, NMFS will analyze the relevant data from the period 
2006 to 2011 to determine a vessel's score and qualification status. 
Subsequently, NMFS will analyze available data from the most recent 
three consecutive year period to determine a vessel's score and 
qualification status. NMFS will communicate the results of the annual 
determination to individual permit holders in writing. NMFS may revise, 
through a framework action, the scoring system to reflect changes in 
the fishery or ensure that it provides the desired incentives and meets 
the goals of this program. The process used to calculate the 
performance metrics is described fully in Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP. The main metrics are summarized below.
    (1) Bluefin tuna interactions performance metric. The basis for the

[[Page 52061]]

bluefin tuna interactions performance metric is the ratio of the number 
of bluefin tuna interactions (i.e., the number of fish landed, 
discarded dead, and discarded alive) to the total weight of designated 
target species landings (in pounds). For the purposes of this section, 
the designated target species are: swordfish; yellowfin, bigeye, 
albacore, and skipjack tunas; dolphin; wahoo; and porbeagle, shortfin 
mako, and thresher sharks. A relatively low bluefin tuna interaction to 
designated species ratio (`bluefin tuna ratio') indicates that the 
vessel has successfully avoided catching bluefin tuna while fishing 
with pelagic longline gear in the performance metric period.
    (2) Observer compliance performance metric. NMFS will score vessels 
based on both the vessel owner's and the operator's compliance with the 
observer requirements outlined in Sec.  635.7 of this part and Sec.  
600.746 of this chapter. In addition, the scoring system will consider 
the number of trips for which an individual vessel was selected to 
carry an observer, the number of trips actually observed, the reason 
why a particular trip was not observed, and other relevant observer 
information. The scoring system is neutral with respect to valid 
reasons that a vessel may have been selected by the observer program, 
but did not take an observer (e.g., no observer was available or the 
vessel was not fishing with pelagic longline gear). The scoring system 
is designed to weigh trips that were not observed due to noncompliance 
with the communication requirements more heavily than those not 
observed due to noncompliance with the safety and accommodation 
requirements. The scoring system is also designed to consider evidence 
of fishing activity that may have occurred without required 
communication or observer coverage.
    (3) Logbook compliance performance metric. NMFS will score vessels 
based on both the vessel owner's and vessel operator's compliance with 
the logbook reporting requirements outlined in Sec.  635.5 of this 
part. This metric will reflect the timeliness of the submission of the 
logbooks (for example, the amount of time elapsed between the 
offloading of the catch and the logbook submission).
    (4) Combining performance metrics. The performance metrics 
described under paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) will be combined through 
the use of a decision formula described in Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP. The decision formula will result in a designation 
for each vessel of ``qualified'' or ``not qualified.''
    (c) Annual notification. NMFS will notify vessel owners annually of 
the score of their vessel (i.e., ``qualified'' or ``not qualified'') by 
certified mail. The score applies for only one year. NMFS will make 
aggregate data regarding access to closed and gear restricted areas 
available to the general public.
    (d) Appeals. Vessel owners can appeal performance score 
determinations through the National Appeals Office pursuant to 
procedures in 15 CFR part 906. During the appeal, the vessel will be 
deemed ``not qualified.'' Hardship factors (e.g., illness of vessel 
owner, divorce of vessel owner, etc.) will not be considered as a basis 
for an appeal. Appeals will be evaluated based upon the following 
criteria:
    (1) The accuracy of NMFS records regarding the relevant 
information;
    (2) Correct assignment of historical data to the vessel owner/
permit holder; and,
    (3) The current owner of a permitted vessel may also appeal on the 
basis of a potential inequity based upon historical changes in vessel 
ownership or permit transfers (e.g., the current vessel owner is 
disadvantaged due the history generated by a previous owner of the 
vessel).
0
8. Add Sec.  635.15 to subpart B to read as follows:


Sec.  635.15  Individual bluefin tuna quotas.

    (a) General. This section establishes an individual bluefin tuna 
quota (IBQ) program for vessels issued a permit under this part that 
use pelagic longline gear.
    (1) Overview. Under the IBQ program, NMFS will assign eligible 
vessels initial quota shares equivalent to a percentage of the annual 
Longline category quota.
    (2) Objectives. The IBQ system is intended to achieve the following 
objectives:
    (i) Limit the amount of bluefin tuna landings and dead discards in 
the pelagic longline fishery;
    (ii) Provide strong incentives for the vessel owner and operator of 
each individual vessel to avoid bluefin tuna interactions, and thus 
reduce bluefin tuna dead discards;
    (iii) Provide flexibility for pelagic longline vessel owners and 
operators to obtain bluefin tuna quota from other vessels, if needed, 
and thus enable a full accounting of bluefin tuna landings and dead 
discards while also minimizing constraints on fishing for target 
species;
    (iv) Balance the objective of limiting bluefin tuna landings and 
dead discards with the objective of optimizing fishing opportunities 
and maintaining profitability; and
    (v) Balance the above objectives with potential impacts on the 
Atlantic Tunas permit categories that target bluefin tuna, and the 
broader objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and MSA.
    (b) Quota allocation. A quota allocation is the amount, in metric 
tons (mt), of quota that is associated with a permitted vessel, based 
upon the relevant quota share(s) and the annual quota available. Unless 
otherwise required under paragraph (b)(5) of this section, a vessel's 
quota allocation for a particular year is derived by multiplying a 
shareholder's quota share (percentage) by the Longline category quota 
for that year.
    (1) Annual calculation and notification of individual bluefin quota 
allocations. Annually, NMFS will notify IBQ participants of their quota 
allocation for the next calendar year.
    (2) Regional designations. All quota shares and allocations are 
designated as either ``Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Atlantic'' based upon the 
geographic location of sets as reported to NMFS under the requirements 
of Sec.  635.5 of this part. Gulf of Mexico quota shares and 
allocations can be used to fish with pelagic longline gear in either 
the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic regions. Atlantic quota shares and 
allocations can only be used to fish with pelagic longline gear in the 
Atlantic region. For the purposes of this section, the Gulf of Mexico 
region includes all waters of the U.S. EEZ west and north of the 
boundary stipulated at 50 CFR 600.105(c) and the Atlantic region 
includes all other waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
    (3) Minimum bluefin tuna quota allocation. A vessel with an 
Atlantic Tunas Longline Category permit that fishes with pelagic 
longline gear, has pelagic longline gear onboard, or intends to fish 
for, possess, or retain bluefin tuna must have the minimum bluefin tuna 
quota allocation for either the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic, depending 
upon fishing location. The minimum bluefin tuna quota allocation for a 
vessel fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, or departing for a fishing trip 
in the Gulf of Mexico, is 0.25 mt ww (551.1 lb ww). The minimum bluefin 
tuna quota allocation for a vessel fishing in the Atlantic or departing 
for a fishing trip in the Atlantic is 0.125 mt ww (275.6 lb ww). A 
vessel owner or operator may not declare into or depart on a fishing 
trip with a pelagic longline onboard unless it has the relevant 
required minimum bluefin tuna quota allocation for the region in which 
the fishing activity will occur.
    (4) Accounting for the bluefin tuna caught. All bluefin tuna dead 
discards and landings must be accounted within the quota allocation 
associated with that vessel. If the amount of bluefin tuna

[[Page 52062]]

discarded dead and/or retained on a particular trip exceeds the amount 
of the vessel's bluefin tuna quota allocation, the vessel may land the 
bluefin tuna, but must resolve its quota debt, as described in 
paragraph (b)(5) of this section, prior to declaring into or departing 
on a fishing trip with pelagic longline gear on board by acquiring 
additional allocation through leasing, as described in paragraph (c) of 
this section.
    (5) Exceeding an IBQ. If a the combined amount of bluefin tuna dead 
discards and landings for a particular trip (as defined at 600.10) 
exceeds the amount of bluefin tuna quota allocation associated with the 
vessel, the vessel is considered to have a quota debt equal to the 
difference between the catch and the bluefin quota allocation. For 
example, if a vessel has a quota allocation of 0.40 mt, and catches 
0.50 mt bluefin tuna on a trip, that vessel would have a quota debt of 
0.10 mt. Vessels with a quota debt cannot fish in any region with 
pelagic longline gear until the quota debt is settled by leasing quota 
allocation for the appropriate region (per paragraph (c) of this 
section) and the vessel has at least the minimum quota allocation 
required to fish and as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. 
If, by December 1, the vessel owner is unable to obtain the requisite 
amount of quota allocation to settle the quota debt, the vessel's quota 
allocation would be reduced accordingly in the subsequent year, or 
years, until the quota debt is fully settled.
    (6) Duration. Bluefin tuna quota allocation issued under this 
section is valid for the relevant fishing year unless it is revoked, 
suspended, or modified or unless the bluefin tuna Longline category 
quota is closed per Sec.  635.28(a) of this part.
    (7) Unused IBQ allocation. Any quota allocation that is unused at 
the end of the fishing year may not be carried forward to the following 
year.
    (c) Bluefin Quota Allocation Leasing Program. Vessel owners of 
eligible vessels, as specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, may 
lease bluefin tuna quota allocation to and from other vessel owners of 
eligible vessels, in accordance with the restrictions and conditions of 
this section.
    (1) Eligible permit holders. The vessel owner of a vessel issued a 
valid Atlantic Tunas Longline permit or a valid Atlantic Tunas Purse 
Seine permit is eligible to lease bluefin tuna quota allocation to or 
from another such vessel owner. A person who holds an Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permit that is not associated with a vessel may not lease 
bluefin quota allocation.
    (2) Application to lease--(i) Application information requirements. 
The lessor and lessee of bluefin tuna quota allocation must complete a 
lease application, including all information required by NMFS, and 
submit the application following instructions provided by NMFS. 
Information obtained from the lease application will be treated as 
confidential as provided under applicable Federal law.
    (ii) Approval of lease application. Unless an application to lease 
bluefin tuna quota allocation is denied according to paragraph 
(c)(2)(iii) of this section, NMFS shall confirm application approval to 
both lessor and lessee.
    (iii) Denial of lease application. NMFS may deny an application to 
lease bluefin quota allocation for any of the following reasons, 
including, but not limited to: the application is incomplete; the 
lessor or lessee has not been issued a valid Longline or Purse Seine 
permit or is otherwise not eligible; the lessor's or lessee's Longline 
or Purse Seine permit is sanctioned pursuant to an enforcement 
proceeding; NMFS determines that the lessor or lessee vessel is not in 
compliance with the conditions, restrictions, and requirements of this 
part; or the lessor has an insufficient bluefin tuna quota allocation 
available to lease (i.e., the requested amount of lease may not exceed 
the amount of quota allocation associated with the lessor). Upon denial 
of an application to lease bluefin tuna quota allocation, NMFS shall 
notify the applicants describing the reason(s) for application 
rejection. The decision by NMFS is the final agency decision.
    (3) Conditions and restrictions of leased bluefin tuna quota 
allocation--(i) Subleasing. In a fishing year, a lessor or lessee may 
sub-lease bluefin tuna quota allocation that has already been leased 
from another vessel by following the process specified in paragraph 
(c)(2) of this section.
    (ii) Carry-forward of leased bluefin quota allocation. Leased 
bluefin tuna quota allocation that remains unused at the end of the 
fishing year may not be carried forward to the subsequent fishing year.
    (iii) History of leased bluefin quota use. The history of leased 
bluefin tuna quota allocation used shall be associated with the lessee 
vessel, for the purpose of calculation of the performance metrics 
described under Sec.  635.14(b), or other relevant restrictions based 
upon bluefin discards or landings.
    (iv) Duration of lease. A lessee may only use the leased bluefin 
tuna quota allocation during the fishing year in which the quota 
allocation is applicable.
    (v) Prohibition of leasing allocation during December of each year. 
No bluefin tuna quota allocation may be leased during December of each 
year. This period is necessary to provide NMFS sufficient time to 
reconcile IBQ accounts, and update quota shares and allocations for the 
upcoming fishing year.
    (vi) Owners of multiple vessels. Owners of multiple eligible 
vessels, as specified in paragraph (k)(1) of this section, may lease 
quota allocation from one of their vessels to another vessel 
irrespective of the regional designation of the quota allocation being 
leased by following the process described in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section, but such quota allocation is still subject to the restrictions 
on the use described under paragraph (b) of this section.
    (d) Sale of IBQ quota shares. Sale of quota shares between vessel 
owners is not permitted. NMFS may develop a program to allow and manage 
the sale of quota shares through a future action.
    (e) Changes in vessel and permit ownership. In accordance with the 
regulations specified under Sec.  635.4(l), a vessel owner that has a 
bluefin tuna quota share may transfer the Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit to another vessel that he or she owns or transfer the 
permit to another person. The quota share as described under this 
section, as well as the bluefin tuna fishing history associated with 
that permit, would transfer with the permit to the new vessel, and 
remain associated with that permit permanently. As described under 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (k)(1) of this section, a person that holds an 
Atlantic Tunas Longline permit that is not associated with a vessel may 
not receive or lease bluefin tuna quota shares or allocation.
    (f) Annual notification of shares and allocations. By the start of 
each fishing year, NMFS will notify vessel owners of eligible vessels, 
as specified in paragraph (k)(1) of this section, of the quota share 
associated with the vessel and the resulting quota allocation, based on 
the available bluefin tuna Longline category quota and any quota debt 
existing for the vessel. NMFS will provide this information in writing 
and will also update the electronic monitoring system. Unless specified 
otherwise, those quota share and allocations will be available for use 
starting at the start of each fishing year.
    (g) Evaluation. NMFS will continually monitor the program in light 
of the objectives listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and make 
any changes through future rulemakings as deemed necessary to meet 
those objectives. Three years after implementation,

[[Page 52063]]

NMFS will publish a written report describing any findings.
    (h) Property rights. Quota shares and allocations issued pursuant 
to this part represent may be revoked, limited, modified or suspended 
at any time subject to the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, or other applicable law. Such quota 
shares and allocations do not confer any right to compensation and do 
not create any right, title, or interest in any bluefin tuna until it 
is landed or discarded dead.
    (i) Enforcement and monitoring. NMFS will enforce and monitor the 
IBQ program through the use of the reporting and record keeping 
requirements described under Sec.  635.5, the monitoring requirements 
under Sec. Sec.  635.9 and 635.69, and its authority to close the 
pelagic longline fishery specified under Sec.  635.28 of this part.
    (j) Cost recovery. In a future action, NMFS will develop and 
implement cost recovery for the IBQ program that will cover costs of 
management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement activities. 
Fees shall be collected from quota share and/or allocation holders for 
the IBQ program pursuant to MSA sections 303A(e) and 304(d)(2). Such 
fees shall not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish 
harvested under the program.
    (k) Initial quota shares. During year one of implementation of the 
IBQ program described in this section, NMFS will issue quota shares to 
vessel owners of eligible vessels, as specified in paragraph (k)(1) of 
this section. New vessel owners that have not participated in the 
pelagic longline fishery or who have recently obtained the limited 
access permits needed to fish with pelagic longline gear would need to 
obtain an Atlantic Tunas Longline permit, as described under Sec.  
635.4(l) of this part, and lease quota allocations per paragraph (c) of 
this section.
    (1) Eligible vessels. Only vessel owners of vessels with a valid 
Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit as of the date of the proposed 
rule regarding this action and that are ``active'' would be eligible to 
receive an initial quota share. ``Active'' vessels are those vessels 
that have used pelagic longline gear on at least one set between 2006 
and 2011 as reported to NMFS on logbooks, per the requirements of Sec.  
635.5 of this part. For the purposes of this section, the vessel owner 
at the time of reporting is not relevant. If the logbook reports 
indicate that a particular vessel used pelagic longline gear for at 
least one set between 2006 and 2011, and the vessel is currently issued 
a valid Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit, the current vessel 
owner is qualified to receive an initial quota share even if the 
current vessel owner did not own the vessel between 2006 and 2011. 
Similarly, if the logbook reports indicate that a particular vessel did 
not use pelagic longline gear for at least one set between 2006 and 
2011, and the vessel is currently issued a valid Atlantic Tunas 
Longline category permit, the current vessel owner is not qualified to 
receive an initial quota share even if the current vessel owner fished 
with pelagic longline gear on a different vessel between 2006 and 2011. 
Persons that hold an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit that is 
not associated with a vessel would not be eligible for an initial quota 
share or a bluefin tuna quota allocation. Once a valid Atlantic Tunas 
Longline category permit becomes associated with such a vessel, that 
vessel owner would need to lease quota allocation per paragraph (c) of 
this section before the vessel could fish with pelagic longline gear 
onboard.
    (2) Quota share determination Vessel owners as described under 
paragraph (k)(1) of this section will be allocated a quota share based 
on dealer and logbook information reported to NMFS, associated with 
trips on which the eligible vessel used pelagic longline gear from 2006 
through 2011. NMFS will review each vessel's reported bluefin tuna 
interactions (all discards and landings) and landings of designated 
species (swordfish, yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, and skipjack tunas; 
dolphin; wahoo; and porbeagle, shortfin mako and thresher sharks) and 
place each vessel into one of three categories: low, medium and high 
ratio of bluefin tuna interactions. The quota share will be allocated 
based on the three categories, as set forth in Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP.
    (3) Regional designations All initial quota shares and allocations 
are designated as either ``Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Atlantic'' based upon 
the geographic location of sets as reported to NMFS under the 
requirements of Sec.  635.5 of this part. Vessel owners may use Gulf of 
Mexico quota shares and allocations to fish in either the Gulf of 
Mexico or the Atlantic regions. Vessel owners may use Atlantic quota 
shares and allocations only to fish in the Atlantic region.
    (4) Notification of initial quota share and allocation. NMFS will 
notify vessel owners of eligible vessels of the vessel quota share 
(percentage) and the resulting quota allocation (mt) for the relevant 
fishing year, based on the bluefin Longline category quota.
    (5) Appeal of initial quota share and allocation. Vessel owners can 
appeal initial quota share and allocation determinations through the 
National Appeals Office pursuant to procedures in 15 CFR part 906. 
Hardship factors (e.g., illness of vessel owner, divorce of vessel 
owner, etc.) will not be considered as a basis for an appeal. Appeals 
will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:
    (i) Initial eligibility for quota shares based on ownership of an 
active vessel with a valid Atlantic Tunas Longline permit combined with 
the required shark and swordfish limited access permits;
    (ii) The accuracy of NMFS's records regarding that vessel's amount 
of designated species landings and/or bluefin interactions; and
    (iii) The correct assignment of designated species landings and 
bluefin tuna interactions to the vessel owner/permit holder.
0
9. Add Sec.  635.19 to subpart C to read as follows:


Sec.  635.19  Authorized gears.

    (a) General. No person may fish for, catch, possess, or retain any 
Atlantic HMS with gears other than the primary gears specifically 
authorized in this part. Consistent with Sec.  635.21(a) of this part, 
secondary gears may be used at boat side to aid and assist in subduing, 
or bringing on board a vessel, Atlantic HMS that have first been caught 
or captured using primary gears. For purposes of this part, secondary 
gears include, but are not limited to, dart harpoons, gaffs, flying 
gaffs, tail ropes, etc. Secondary gears may not be used to capture, or 
attempt to capture, free-swimming or undersized HMS. Except for vessels 
permitted under Sec.  635.4(o) or as specified in this section, a 
vessel using or having onboard in the Atlantic Ocean any unauthorized 
gear may not possess an Atlantic HMS on board.
    (b) Atlantic tunas. A person that fishes for, retains, or possesses 
an Atlantic bluefin tuna may not have on board a vessel or use on board 
a vessel any primary gear other than those authorized for the category 
for which the Atlantic tunas or HMS permit has been issued for such 
vessel. Primary gears are the gears specifically authorized in this 
section. When fishing for Atlantic tunas other than bluefin tuna, 
primary gear authorized for any Atlantic Tunas permit category may be 
used, except that purse seine gear may be used only on board vessels 
permitted in the Purse Seine category and pelagic longline gear may be 
used only on board vessels issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline category 
tuna permit, a LAP other than handgear for swordfish, and a LAP for 
sharks. A person issued an

[[Page 52064]]

HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit who fishes for, retains, or 
possesses BAYS tunas in the U.S. Caribbean, as defined at Sec.  622.2, 
may have on board and use handline, harpoon, rod and reel, bandit gear, 
green-stick gear, and buoy gear.
    (1) Angling. Speargun (for BAYS tunas only), and rod and reel 
(including downriggers) and handline (for all tunas).
    (2) Charter/headboat. Rod and reel (including downriggers), bandit 
gear, handline, and green-stick gear are authorized for all 
recreational and commercial Atlantic tuna fisheries. Speargun is 
authorized for recreational Atlantic BAYS tuna fisheries only.
    (3) General. Rod and reel (including downriggers), handline, 
harpoon, bandit gear, and green-stick.
    (4) Harpoon. Harpoon.
    (5) Longline. Longline and green-stick.
    (6) Purse seine. Purse seine.
    (7) Trap. Pound net and fish weir.
    (c) Billfish. (1) Only persons who have been issued a valid HMS 
Angling or valid Charter/headboat permit, or who have been issued a 
valid Atlantic Tunas General category or Swordfish General Commercial 
permit and are participating in a tournament as provided in Sec.  
635.4(c) of this part, may possess a blue marlin, white marlin, or 
roundscale spearfish in, or take a blue marlin, white marlin, or 
roundscale spearfish from, its management unit. Blue marlin, white 
marlin, or roundscale spearfish may only be harvested by rod and reel.
    (2) Only persons who have been issued a valid HMS Angling or valid 
Charter/Headboat permit, or who have been issued a valid Atlantic Tunas 
General category or Swordfish General Commercial permit and are 
participating in a tournament as provided in Sec.  635.4(c) of this 
part, may possess or take a sailfish shoreward of the outer boundary of 
the Atlantic EEZ. Sailfish may only be harvested by rod and reel.
    (d) Sharks. No person may possess a shark in the EEZ taken from its 
management unit without a permit issued under Sec.  635.4. No person 
issued a Federal Atlantic commercial shark permit under Sec.  635.4 may 
possess a shark taken by any gear other than rod and reel, handline, 
bandit gear, longline, or gillnet. No person issued an HMS Commercial 
Caribbean Small Boat permit may possess a shark taken from the U.S. 
Caribbean, as defined at Sec.  622.2, by any gear other than with rod 
and reel, handline or bandit gear. No person issued an HMS Angling 
permit or an HMS Charter/headboat permit under Sec.  635.4 may possess 
a shark if the shark was taken from its management unit by any gear 
other than rod and reel or handline, except that persons on a vessel 
issued both an HMS Charter/headboat permit and a Federal Atlantic 
commercial shark permit may possess sharks taken with rod and reel, 
handline, bandit gear, longline, or gillnet if the vessel is not 
engaged in a for-hire fishing trip.
    (e) Swordfish. (1) No person may possess north Atlantic swordfish 
taken from its management unit by any gear other than handgear, green-
stick, or longline, except that such swordfish taken incidentally while 
fishing with a squid trawl may be retained by a vessel issued a valid 
Incidental HMS squid trawl permit, subject to restrictions specified in 
Sec.  635.24(b)(2). No person may possess south Atlantic swordfish 
taken from its management unit by any gear other than longline.
    (2) An Atlantic swordfish may not be retained or possessed on board 
a vessel with a gillnet. A swordfish will be deemed to have been 
harvested by gillnet when it is onboard, or offloaded from, a vessel 
fishing with or having on board a gillnet.
    (3) A person aboard a vessel issued or required to be issued a 
valid directed handgear LAP for Atlantic swordfish or an HMS Commercial 
Caribbean Small Boat permit may not fish for swordfish with any gear 
other than handgear. A swordfish will be deemed to have been harvested 
by longline when the fish is on board or offloaded from a vessel 
fishing with or having on board longline gear. Only vessels that have 
been issued a valid directed or handgear swordfish LAP or an HMS 
Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit under this part may utilize or 
possess buoy gear.
    (4) Except for persons aboard a vessel that has been issued a 
directed, incidental, or handgear limited access swordfish permit, a 
Swordfish General Commercial permit, an Incidental HMS squid trawl 
permit, or an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit under Sec.  
635.4, no person may fish for North Atlantic swordfish with, or possess 
a North Atlantic swordfish taken by, any gear other than handline or 
rod and reel.
    (5) A person aboard a vessel issued or required to be issued a 
valid Swordfish General Commercial permit may only possess North 
Atlantic swordfish taken from its management unit by rod and reel, 
handline, bandit gear, green-stick, or harpoon gear.
0
10. Section 635.21is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  635.21  Gear operation, restricted areas, and deployment 
restrictions.

    (a) All Atlantic HMS fishing gears. (1) An Atlantic HMS harvested 
from its management unit that is not retained must be released in a 
manner that will ensure maximum probability of survival, but without 
removing the fish from the water.
    (2) If a billfish is caught by a hook and not retained, the fish 
must be released by cutting the line near the hook or by using a 
dehooking device, in either case without removing the fish from the 
water.
    (3) Restricted gear and closed areas for all Atlantic HMS fishing 
gears. (i) No person may fish for, catch, possess, or retain any 
Atlantic highly migratory species or anchor a fishing vessel that has 
been issued a permit or is required to be permitted under this part, in 
the areas and seasons designated at Sec.  622.34(a)(3) of this chapter.
    (ii) From November through April of each year, no vessel issued, or 
required to be issued, a permit under this part may fish or deploy any 
type of fishing gear in the Madison-Swanson closed area or the 
Steamboat Lumps closed area, as defined in Sec.  635.2.
    (iii) From May through October of each year, no vessel issued, or 
required to be issued, a permit under this part may fish or deploy any 
type of fishing gear in the Madison-Swanson or the Steamboat Lumps 
closed areas except for surface trolling. For the purposes of this 
section, surface trolling is defined as fishing with lines trailing 
behind a vessel which is in constant motion at speeds in excess of four 
knots with a visible wake. Such trolling may not involve the use of 
down riggers, wire lines, planers, or similar devices.
    (iv) From January through April of each year, no vessel issued, or 
required to be issued, a permit under this part may fish or deploy any 
type of fishing gear in the Edges 40 Fathom Contour closed area, as 
defined in Sec.  635.2.
    (b) Longline--general restrictions. (1) All vessels that have 
pelagic or bottom longline gear onboard and that have been issued, or 
are required to have, a limited access swordfish, shark, or tuna 
longline category permit for use in the Atlantic Ocean including the 
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico must possess inside the wheelhouse 
the document provided by NMFS entitled ``Careful Release Protocols for 
Sea Turtle Release with Minimal Injury,'' and must also post inside the 
wheelhouse the sea turtle handling and release guidelines provided by 
NMFS.
    (2) Transiting and gear stowage: If a vessel issued a permit under 
this part is in a closed or gear restricted area

[[Page 52065]]

described in this section with pelagic or bottom longline gear on 
board, it is a rebuttable presumption that any fish on board such a 
vessel were taken with pelagic or bottom longline in the closed or gear 
restricted area except where such possession is aboard a vessel 
transiting a closed area with all fishing gear stowed appropriately. 
Longline gear is stowed appropriately if all gangions and hooks are 
disconnected from the mainline and are stowed on or below deck, hooks 
are not baited, and all buoys and weights are disconnected from the 
mainline and drum (buoys may remain on deck).
    (3) When a marine mammal or sea turtle is hooked or entangled by 
pelagic or bottom longline gear, the operator of the vessel must 
immediately release the animal, retrieve the pelagic or bottom longline 
gear, and move at least 1 nm (2 km) from the location of the incident 
before resuming fishing. Similarly, when a smalltooth sawfish is hooked 
or entangled by bottom longline gear, the operator of the vessel must 
immediately release the animal, retrieve the bottom longline gear, and 
move at least 1 nm (2 km) from the location of the incident before 
resuming fishing. Reports of marine mammal entanglements must be 
submitted to NMFS consistent with regulations in Sec.  229.6 of this 
title.
    (4) Vessels that have pelagic or bottom longline gear on board and 
that have been issued, or are required to have been issued, a permit 
under this part must have only corrodible hooks on board.
    (c) Pelagic longlines. (1) If a vessel issued or required to be 
issued a permit under this part:
    (i) Is in a closed area designated under paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section and has bottom longline gear onboard, the vessel may not, at 
any time, possess or land any pelagic species listed in table 2 of 
appendix A to this part in excess of 5 percent, by weight, of the total 
weight of pelagic and demersal species possessed or landed, that are 
listed in tables 2 and 3 of appendix A to this part.
    (ii) Has pelagic longline gear on board, persons aboard that vessel 
may not possess, retain, transship, land, sell, or store silky sharks, 
oceanic whitetip sharks, or scalloped, smooth, or great hammerhead 
sharks.
    (2) Except as noted in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, if pelagic 
longline gear is on board a vessel issued or required to be issued a 
permit under this part, persons aboard that vessel may not fish or 
deploy any type of fishing gear:
    (i) In the Northeastern United States closed area from June 1 
through June 30 each calendar year;
    (ii) In the Charleston Bump closed area from February 1 through 
April 30 each calendar year;
    (iii) In the East Florida Coast closed area at any time;
    (iv) In the Desoto Canyon closed area at any time;
    (v) In the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area from December 1 
through April 30 each year;
    (vi) In the Small Gulf of Mexico gear restricted area from April 1 
through May 30 each year;
    (vii) In the Northeast Distant gear restricted area at any time, 
unless persons onboard the vessel comply with the following:
    (A) The vessel is limited to possessing onboard and/or using only 
18/0 or larger circle hooks with an offset not to exceed 10 degrees. 
The outer diameter of the circle hook at its widest point must be no 
smaller than 2.16 inches (55 mm) when measured with the eye on the hook 
on the vertical axis (y-axis) and perpendicular to the horizontal axis 
(x-axis), and the distance between the circle hook point and the shank 
(i.e., the gap) must be no larger than 1.13 inches (28.8 mm). The 
allowable offset is measured from the barbed end of the hook and is 
relative to the parallel plane of the eyed-end, or shank, of the hook 
when laid on its side. The only allowable offset circle hooks are those 
that are offset by the hook manufacturer. If green-stick gear, as 
defined at Sec.  635.2, is onboard, a vessel may possess up to 20 J-
hooks. J-hooks may be used only with green-stick gear, and no more than 
10 hooks may be used at one time with each green-stick gear. J-hooks 
used with green-stick gear may be no smaller than 1.5 inch (38.1 mm) 
when measured in a straight line over the longest distance from the eye 
to any other part of the hook; and,
    (B) The vessel is limited, at all times, to possessing onboard and/
or using only whole Atlantic mackerel and/or squid bait, except that 
artificial bait may be possessed and used only with green-stick gear, 
as defined at Sec.  635.2, if green-stick gear is onboard; and,
    (C) Vessels must possess, inside the wheelhouse, a document 
provided by NMFS entitled, ``Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle 
Release with Minimal Injury,'' and must post, inside the wheelhouse, 
sea turtle handling and release guidelines provided by NMFS; and,
    (D) Required sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear, which NMFS has 
approved under paragraph (c)(5)(iv) of this section, on the initial 
list of ``NMFS-Approved Models For Equipment Needed For The Careful 
Release of Sea Turtles Caught In Hook And Line Fisheries,'' must be 
carried onboard, and must be used in accordance with the handling 
requirements specified in paragraphs (c)(2)(vii)(E) through(G) of this 
section; and,
    (E) Sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear, specified in paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section, must be used to disengage any hooked or 
entangled sea turtles that cannot be brought on board, and to 
facilitate access, safe handling, disentanglement, and hook removal or 
hook cutting from sea turtles that can be brought on board, where 
feasible. Sea turtles must be handled, and bycatch mitigation gear must 
be used, in accordance with the careful release protocols and handling/
release guidelines specified in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(C) of this 
section, and in accordance with the onboard handling and resuscitation 
requirements specified in Sec.  223.206(d)(1).
    (F) Boated turtles: When practicable, active and comatose sea 
turtles must be brought on board, with a minimum of injury, using a 
dipnet approved on the initial list specified in paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section. All turtles less than 3 ft. (.91 m) 
carapace length should be boated, if sea conditions permit. A boated 
turtle should be placed on a standard automobile tire, or cushioned 
surface, in an upright orientation to immobilize it and facilitate gear 
removal. Then, it should be determined if the hook can be removed 
without causing further injury. All externally embedded hooks should be 
removed, unless hook removal would result in further injury to the 
turtle. No attempt to remove a hook should be made if the hook has been 
swallowed and the insertion point is not visible, or if it is 
determined that removal would result in further injury. If a hook 
cannot be removed, as much line as possible should be removed from the 
turtle using approved monofilament line cutters from the initial list 
specified in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section, and the hook 
should be cut as close as possible to the insertion point, using bolt 
cutters from that list, before releasing the turtle. If a hook can be 
removed, an effective technique may be to cut off either the barb, or 
the eye, of the hook using bolt cutters, and then to slide the hook 
out. When the hook is visible in the front of the mouth, an approved 
mouth-opener from the initial list specified in paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section may facilitate opening the turtle's 
mouth, and an approved gag from that list may facilitate keeping the 
mouth open. Short-handled dehookers for ingested hooks, long-nose 
pliers, or needle-nose pliers from the initial list

[[Page 52066]]

specified in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section should be used to 
remove visible hooks that have not been swallowed from the mouth of 
boated turtles, as appropriate. As much gear as possible must be 
removed from the turtle without causing further injury prior to its 
release. Refer to the careful release protocols and handling/release 
guidelines required in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(C) of this section, and 
the handling and resuscitation requirements specified in Sec.  
223.206(d)(1) of this title, for additional information.
    (G) Non-boated turtles: If a sea turtle is too large, or hooked in 
a manner that precludes safe boating without causing further damage or 
injury to the turtle, sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear, specified in 
paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section, must be used to disentangle 
sea turtles from fishing gear and disengage any hooks, or to clip the 
line and remove as much line as possible from a hook that cannot be 
removed, prior to releasing the turtle, in accordance with the 
protocols specified in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(C) of this section. Non-
boated turtles should be brought close to the boat and provided with 
time to calm down. Then, it must be determined whether or not the hook 
can be removed without causing further injury. A front flipper or 
flippers of the turtle must be secured, if possible, with an approved 
turtle control device from the list specified in paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section. All externally embedded hooks must be 
removed, unless hook removal would result in further injury to the 
turtle. No attempt should be made to remove a hook if it has been 
swallowed, or if it is determined that removal would result in further 
injury. If the hook cannot be removed and/or if the animal is 
entangled, as much line as possible must be removed prior to release, 
using an approved line cutter from the list specified in paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section. If the hook can be removed, it must be 
removed using a long-handled dehooker from the initial list specified 
in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(D) of this section. Without causing further 
injury, as much gear as possible must be removed from the turtle prior 
to its release. Refer to the careful release protocols and handling/
release guidelines required in paragraph (c)(2)(vii)(C) of this 
section, and the handling and resuscitation requirements specified in 
Sec.  223.206(d)(1) of this title, for additional information.
    (3) Restricted access to closed and gear restricted areas. Vessels 
that have been issued, or are required to have been issued, a limited 
access permit issued under this part may fish with pelagic longline 
gear in the closed areas or gear restricted areas described in 
paragraph (c)(2)(i) through (iv) of this section, under the conditions 
described in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (v) of this section. Vessels 
that have been issued, or are required to have been issued, a limited 
access permit issued under this part may fish in the Cape Hatteras gear 
restricted area under the conditions described in paragraph (c)(3)(vi) 
of this section.
    (i) Eligible vessels. Vessels must be determined by NMFS to be 
``qualified,'' using the performance metrics described in Sec.  635.14 
of this part.
    (ii) Observer requirement. Vessels must be selected as part of the 
observer program described in Sec.  635.7 of this part to carry an 
observer in the statistical area of a closed or gear restricted area, 
and must have a NMFS approved observer on board.
    (iii) VMS requirement. Vessels must ``declare in'' to the closed or 
gear restricted area via VMS prior to leaving the dock and report 
species caught and fishing effort daily via VMS per the requirements of 
Sec.  635.69 of this part.
    (iv) East Florida Coast closed area restriction. Within the East 
Florida Coast closed area, vessels would have access only to the waters 
north of 28[deg]17'10'' N. lat. and east of the 100 fathoms curve.
    (v) NMFS authority to terminate access. On an annual basis or 
during the fishing season, NMFS may terminate access to each or all of 
the closed and restricted gear areas for all vessels fishing with 
pelagic longline gear. NMFS will file any termination action with the 
Office of the Federal Register for publication and base its action on 
the following criteria and other relevant factors as needed:
    (A) The usefulness of information on catch obtained from observers, 
logbooks, VMS reporting, and dealer reports;
    (B) The species caught; number of animals caught; rate of catch and 
animal length, weight, condition, and location;
    (C) Variations in the seasonal distribution, abundance, or 
migration patterns of a bycatch or target species;
    (D) Condition or status of the stock or species of concern and 
impacts of continued access to the closed area on all species;
    (E) Catch data on comparable species from outside the closed area 
(both target species and bycatch);
    (F) Implications on quota management of relevant stocks;
    (G) Relevant data regarding the effectiveness of other closed areas 
and their individual or cumulative impacts in relation to the 
objectives of the closed areas, and the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP; and
    (H) The criteria listed under Sec.  635.27(a)(8).
    (vi) Access to the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area. (A) Vessels 
that are determined by NMFS to be ``qualified,'' using the performance 
metrics described in Sec.  635.14 of this part, may fish with pelagic 
longline gear in the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area during the year 
for which they are qualified, subject to the restrictions in this 
paragraph (c)(3).
    (B) When the General category is open per Sec.  635.28(a), and 
provided no pelagic longline gear is on board, vessels determined to be 
``not qualified'' using the performance metrics described in Sec.  
635.14 may target bluefin tuna with gear authorized under the General 
category per Sec.  635.19(b)(3) within the Cape Hatteras gear 
restricted area. Vessels fishing pursuant to this provision are subject 
to the bluefin tuna retention limits in effect for the General category 
under Sec.  635.23(a). Bluefin tuna landed with authorized handgear 
would be counted against the General category quota. Such vessels would 
be required to ``declare in'' to the area via VMS and report species 
caught and effort daily via VMS per the requirements of Sec.  635.69 of 
this part.
    (4) In the Gulf of Mexico, pelagic longline gear may not be fished 
or deployed from a vessel issued or required to have a permit under 
this part with live bait affixed to the hooks; and, a person aboard a 
vessel issued or required to have a permit under this part that has 
pelagic longline gear on board may not possess live baitfish, maintain 
live baitfish in any tank or well on board the vessel, or set up or 
attach an aeration or water circulation device in or to any such tank 
or well. For the purposes of this section, the Gulf of Mexico includes 
all waters of the U.S. EEZ west and north of the boundary stipulated at 
50 CFR 600.105(c).
    (5) The operator of a vessel permitted or required to be permitted 
under this part and that has pelagic longline gear on board must 
undertake the following sea turtle bycatch mitigation measures:
    (i) Possession and use of required mitigation gear. Required sea 
turtle bycatch mitigation gear, which NMFS has approved under paragraph 
(c)(5)(iv) of this section as meeting the minimum design standards 
specified in paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(A) through (M) of this section, must 
be carried onboard, and must be used to disengage any hooked or 
entangled sea turtles in accordance with the handling

[[Page 52067]]

requirements specified in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section.
    (A) Long-handled line clipper or cutter. Line cutters are intended 
to cut high test monofilament line as close as possible to the hook, 
and assist in removing line from entangled sea turtles to minimize any 
remaining gear upon release. NMFS has established minimum design 
standards for the line cutters, which may be purchased or fabricated 
from readily available and low-cost materials. The LaForce line cutter 
and the Arceneaux line clipper are models that meet these minimum 
design standards. One long-handled line clipper or cutter meeting the 
minimum design standards, and a set of replacement blades, are required 
to be onboard. The minimum design standards for line cutters are as 
follows:
    (1) A protected and secured cutting blade. The cutting blade(s) 
must be capable of cutting 2.0-2.1 mm (0.078 in.-0.083 in.) 
monofilament line (400-lb test) or polypropylene multistrand material, 
known as braided or tarred mainline, and must be maintained in working 
order. The cutting blade must be curved, recessed, contained in a 
holder, or otherwise designed to facilitate its safe use so that direct 
contact between the cutting surface and the sea turtle or the user is 
prevented. The cutting instrument must be securely attached to an 
extended reach handle and be easily replaceable. One extra set of 
replacement blades meeting these standards must also be carried on 
board to replace all cutting surfaces on the line cutter or clipper.
    (2) An extended reach handle. The line cutter blade(s) must be 
securely fastened to an extended reach handle or pole with a minimum 
length equal to, or greater than, 150 percent of the height of the 
vessel's freeboard, or 6 feet (1.83 m), whichever is greater. It is 
recommended, but not required, that the handle break down into 
sections. There is no restriction on the type of material used to 
construct this handle as long as it is sturdy and facilitates the 
secure attachment of the cutting blade.
    (B) Long-handled dehooker for ingested hooks. A long-handled 
dehooking device is intended to remove ingested hooks from sea turtles 
that cannot be boated. It should also be used to engage a loose hook 
when a turtle is entangled but not hooked, and line is being removed. 
The design must shield the barb of the hook and prevent it from re-
engaging during the removal process. One long-handled device, meeting 
the minimum design standards, is required onboard to remove ingested 
hooks. The minimum design standards are as follows:
    (1) Hook removal device. The hook removal device must be 
constructed of \5/16\-inch (7.94 mm) 316 L stainless steel and have a 
dehooking end no larger than 1-\7/8\-inches (4.76 cm) outside diameter. 
The device must securely engage and control the leader while shielding 
the barb to prevent the hook from re-engaging during removal. It may 
not have any unprotected terminal points (including blunt ones), as 
these could cause injury to the esophagus during hook removal. The 
device must be of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes 
and styles used in the pelagic longline fishery targeting swordfish and 
tuna.
    (2) Extended reach handle. The dehooking end must be securely 
fastened to an extended reach handle or pole with a minimum length 
equal to or greater than 150 percent of the height of the vessel's 
freeboard, or 6 ft. (1.83 m), whichever is greater. It is recommended, 
but not required, that the handle break down into sections. The handle 
must be sturdy and strong enough to facilitate the secure attachment of 
the hook removal device.
    (C) Long-handled dehooker for external hooks. A long-handled 
dehooker, meeting the minimum design standards, is required onboard for 
use on externally-hooked sea turtles that cannot be boated. The long-
handled dehooker for ingested hooks described in paragraph (c)(5)(i)(B) 
of this section would meet this requirement. The minimum design 
standards are as follows:
    (1) Construction. A long-handled dehooker must be constructed of 
\5/16\-inch (7.94 mm) 316 L stainless steel rod. A 5-inch (12.7-cm) 
tube T-handle of 1-inch (2.54 cm) outside diameter is recommended, but 
not required. The design should be such that a fish hook can be rotated 
out, without pulling it out at an angle. The dehooking end must be 
blunt with all edges rounded. The device must be of a size appropriate 
to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the pelagic 
longline fishery targeting swordfish and tuna.
    (2) Extended reach handle. The handle must be a minimum length 
equal to the height of the vessel's freeboard or 6 ft. (1.83 m), 
whichever is greater.
    (D) Long-handled device to pull an ``inverted V.'' This tool is 
used to pull a ``V'' in the fishing line when implementing the 
``inverted V'' dehooking technique, as described in the document 
entitled ``Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release With 
Minimal Injury,'' required under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, for 
disentangling and dehooking entangled sea turtles. One long-handled 
device to pull an ``inverted V'', meeting the minimum design standards, 
is required onboard. If a 6-ft (1.83 m) J-style dehooker is used to 
comply with paragraph (c)(5)(i)(C) of this section, it will also 
satisfy this requirement. Minimum design standards are as follows:
    (1) Hook end. This device, such as a standard boat hook or gaff, 
must be constructed of stainless steel or aluminum. A sharp point, such 
as on a gaff hook, is to be used only for holding the monofilament 
fishing line and should never contact the sea turtle.
    (2) Extended reach handle. The handle must have a minimum length 
equal to the height of the vessel's freeboard, or 6 ft. (1.83 m), 
whichever is greater. The handle must be sturdy and strong enough to 
facilitate the secure attachment of the gaff hook.
    (E) Dipnet. One dipnet, meeting the minimum design standards, is 
required onboard. Dipnets are to be used to facilitate safe handling of 
sea turtles by allowing them to be brought onboard for fishing gear 
removal, without causing further injury to the animal. Turtles must not 
be brought onboard without the use of a dipnet. The minimum design 
standards for dipnets are as follows:
    (1) Size of dipnet. The dipnet must have a sturdy net hoop of at 
least 31 inches (78.74 cm) inside diameter and a bag depth of at least 
38 inches (96.52 cm) to accommodate turtles below 3 ft. (0.914 m) 
carapace length. The bag mesh openings may not exceed 3 inches (7.62 
cm). There must be no sharp edges or burrs on the hoop, or where the 
hoop is attached to the handle.
    (2) Extended reach handle. The dipnet hoop must be securely 
fastened to an extended reach handle or pole with a minimum length 
equal to, or greater than, 150 percent of the height of the vessel's 
freeboard, or at least 6 ft (1.83 m), whichever is greater. The handle 
must made of a rigid material strong enough to facilitate the sturdy 
attachment of the net hoop and able to support a minimum of 100 lbs 
(34.1 kg) without breaking or significant bending or distortion. It is 
recommended, but not required, that the extended reach handle break 
down into sections.
    (F) Tire. A minimum of one tire is required onboard for supporting 
a turtle in an upright orientation while it is onboard, although an 
assortment of sizes is recommended to accommodate a range of turtle 
sizes. The required tire must be a standard passenger vehicle tire, and 
must be free of exposed steel belts.
    (G) Short-handled dehooker for ingested hooks. One short-handled

[[Page 52068]]

device, meeting the minimum design standards, is required onboard for 
removing ingested hooks. This dehooker is designed to remove ingested 
hooks from boated sea turtles. It can also be used on external hooks or 
hooks in the front of the mouth. Minimum design standards are as 
follows:
    (1) Hook removal device. The hook removal device must be 
constructed of \1/4\-inch (6.35 mm) 316 L stainless steel, and must 
allow the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without re-engaging 
during the removal process. It must be no larger than 15-16 inch (3.33 
cm) outside diameter. It may not have any unprotected terminal points 
(including blunt ones), as this could cause injury to the esophagus 
during hook removal. A sliding PVC bite block must be used to protect 
the beak and facilitate hook removal if the turtle bites down on the 
dehooking device. The bite block should be constructed of a 3-4-inch 
(1.91 cm) inside diameter high impact plastic cylinder (e.g., Schedule 
80 PVC) that is 10 inches (25.4 cm) long to allow for 5 inches (12.7 
cm) of slide along the shaft. The device must be of a size appropriate 
to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the pelagic 
longline fishery targeting swordfish and tuna.
    (2) Handle length. The handle should be approximately 16-24 inches 
(40.64 cm-60.69 cm) in length, with approximately a 5-inch (12.7 cm) 
long tube T-handle of approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter.
    (H) Short-handled dehooker for external hooks. One short-handled 
dehooker for external hooks, meeting the minimum design standards, is 
required onboard. The short-handled dehooker for ingested hooks 
required to comply with paragraph (c)(5)(i)(G) of this section will 
also satisfy this requirement. Minimum design standards are as follows:
    (1) Hook removal device. The dehooker must be constructed of \5/
16\-inch (7.94 cm) 316 L stainless steel, and the design must be such 
that a hook can be rotated out without pulling it out at an angle. The 
dehooking end must be blunt, and all edges rounded. The device must be 
of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used 
in the pelagic longline fishery targeting swordfish and tuna.
    (2) Handle length. The handle should be approximately 16-24 inches 
(40.64 cm-60.69 cm) long with approximately a 5-inch (12.7 cm) long 
tube T-handle of approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter.
    (I) Long-nose or needle-nose pliers. One pair of long-nose or 
needle-nose pliers, meeting the minimum design standards, is required 
on board. Required long-nose or needle-nose pliers can be used to 
remove deeply embedded hooks from the turtle's flesh that must be 
twisted during removal. They can also hold PVC splice couplings, when 
used as mouth openers, in place. To meet the minimum design standards 
such pliers must generally be approximately 12 inches (30.48 cm) in 
length, and should be constructed of stainless steel material.
    (J) Bolt cutters. One pair of bolt cutters, meeting the minimum 
design standards, is required on board. Required bolt cutters may be 
used to cut hooks to facilitate their removal. They should be used to 
cut off the eye or barb of a hook, so that it can safely be pushed 
through a sea turtle without causing further injury. They should also 
be used to cut off as much of the hook as possible, when the remainder 
of the hook cannot be removed. To meet the minimum design standards 
such bolt cutters must generally be approximately 17 inches (43.18 cm) 
in total length, with 4-inch (10.16 cm) long blades that are 2\1/4\ 
inches (5.72 cm) wide, when closed, and with 13-inch (33.02 cm) long 
handles. Required bolt cutters must be able to cut hard metals, such as 
stainless or carbon steel hooks, up to \1/4\-inch (6.35 mm) diameter.
    (K) Monofilament line cutters. One pair of monofilament line 
cutters is required on board. Required monofilament line cutters must 
be used to remove fishing line as close to the eye of the hook as 
possible, if the hook is swallowed or cannot be removed. To meet the 
minimum design standards such monofilament line cutters must generally 
be approximately 7\1/2\ inches (19.05 cm) in length. The blades must be 
1 in (4.45 cm) in length and \5/8\ in (1.59 cm) wide, when closed, and 
are recommended to be coated with Teflon (a trademark owned by E.I. 
DuPont de Nemours and Company Corp.).
    (L) Mouth openers/mouth gags. Required mouth openers and mouth gags 
are used to open sea turtle mouths, and to keep them open when removing 
ingested hooks from boated turtles. They must allow access to the hook 
or line without causing further injury to the turtle. Design standards 
are included in the item descriptions. At least two of the seven 
different types of mouth openers/gags described below are required:
    (1) A block of hard wood. Placed in the corner of the jaw, a block 
of hard wood may be used to gag open a turtle's mouth. A smooth block 
of hard wood of a type that does not splinter (e.g. maple) with rounded 
edges should be sanded smooth, if necessary, and soaked in water to 
soften the wood. The dimensions should be approximately 11 inches 
(27.94 cm) 1 inch (2.54 cm) 1 inch (2.54 cm). A long-handled, wire shoe 
brush with a wooden handle, and with the wires removed, is an 
inexpensive, effective and practical mouth-opening device that meets 
these requirements.
    (2) A set of three canine mouth gags. Canine mouth gags are highly 
recommended to hold a turtle's mouth open, because the gag locks into 
an open position to allow for hands-free operation after it is in 
place. A set of canine mouth gags must include one of each of the 
following sizes: small (5 inches) (12.7 cm), medium (6 inches) (15.24 
cm), and large (7 inches) (17.78 cm). They must be constructed of 
stainless steel. A 1-inch (4.45 cm) piece of vinyl tubing (\3/4\-inch 
(1.91 cm) outside diameter and \5/8\-inch (1.59 cm) inside diameter) 
must be placed over the ends to protect the turtle's beak.
    (3) A set of two sturdy dog chew bones. Placed in the corner of a 
turtle's jaw, canine chew bones are used to gag open a sea turtle's 
mouth. Required canine chews must be constructed of durable nylon, 
zylene resin, or thermoplastic polymer, and strong enough to withstand 
biting without splintering. To accommodate a variety of turtle beak 
sizes, a set must include one large (5\1/2\-8 inches (13.97 cm-20.32 
cm) in length), and one small (3\1/2\-4\1/2\ inches (8.89 cm-11.43 cm) 
in length) canine chew bones.
    (4) A set of two rope loops covered with hose. A set of two rope 
loops covered with a piece of hose can be used as a mouth opener, and 
to keep a turtle's mouth open during hook and/or line removal. A 
required set consists of two 3-foot (0.91 m) lengths of poly braid rope 
(\3/8\-inch (9.52 mm) diameter suggested), each covered with an 8-inch 
(20.32 cm) section of \1/2\ inch (1.27 cm) or \3/4\ inch (1.91 cm) 
light-duty garden hose, and each tied into a loop. The upper loop of 
rope covered with hose is secured on the upper beak to give control 
with one hand, and the second piece of rope covered with hose is 
secured on the lower beak to give control with the user's foot.
    (5) A hank of rope. Placed in the corner of a turtle's jaw, a hank 
of rope can be used to gag open a sea turtle's mouth. A 6-foot (1.83 m) 
lanyard of approximately \3/16\-inch (4.76 mm) braided nylon rope may 
be folded to create a hank, or looped bundle, of rope. Any size soft-
braided nylon rope is allowed, however it must create a hank of 
approximately 2-4 inches (5.08 cm-10.16 cm) in thickness.

[[Page 52069]]

    (6) A set of four PVC splice couplings. PVC splice couplings can be 
positioned inside a turtle's mouth to allow access to the back of the 
mouth for hook and line removal. They are to be held in place with the 
needle-nose pliers. To ensure proper fit and access, a required set 
must consist of the following Schedule 40 PVC splice coupling sizes: 1 
inch (2.54 cm), 1\1/4\ inch (3.18 cm), 1\1/2\ inch (3.81 cm), and 2 
inches (5.08 cm).
    (7) A large avian oral speculum. A large avian oral speculum 
provides the ability to hold a turtle's mouth open and to control the 
head with one hand, while removing a hook with the other hand. The 
avian oral speculum must be 9-inches (22.86 cm) long, and constructed 
of \3/16\-inch (4.76 mm) wire diameter surgical stainless steel (Type 
304). It must be covered with 8 inches (20.32 cm) of clear vinyl tubing 
(\5/16\-inch (7.9 mm) outside diameter, \3/16\-inch (4.76 mm) inside 
diameter).
    (M) Turtle control devices. One turtle control device, as described 
in paragraph (c)(5)(i)(M)(1) or (2) of this section, and meeting the 
minimum design standards, is required onboard and must be used to 
secure a front flipper of the sea turtle so that the animal can be 
controlled at the side of the vessel. It is strongly recommended that a 
pair of turtle control devices be used to secure both front flippers 
when crew size and conditions allow. Minimum design standards consist 
of:
    (1) Turtle tether and extended reach handle. Approximately 15-20 
feet of \1/2\-inch hard lay negative buoyance line is used to make an 
approximately 30-inch loop to slip over the flipper. The line is fed 
through a \3/4\-inch fair lead, eyelet, or eyebolt at the working end 
of a pole and through a \3/4\-inch eyelet or eyebolt in the midsection. 
A \1/2\-inch quick release cleat holds the line in place near the end 
of the pole. A final \3/4\-inch eyelet or eyebolt should be positioned 
approximately 7-inches behind the cleat to secure the line, while 
allowing a safe working distance to avoid injury when releasing the 
line from the cleat. The line must be securely fastened to an extended 
reach handle or pole with a minimum length equal to, or greater than, 
150 percent of the height of the vessel's freeboard, or a minimum of 6 
feet (1.83 m), whichever is greater. There is no restriction on the 
type of material used to construct this handle, as long as it is 
sturdy. The handle must include a tag line to attach the tether to the 
vessel to prevent the turtle from breaking away with the tether still 
attached.
    (2) T&G ninja sticks and extended reach handles. Approximately 30-
35 feet of \1/2\-inch to \5/8\-inch soft lay polypropylene or nylon 
line or similar is fed through 2 PVC conduit, fiberglass, or similar 
sturdy poles and knotted using an overhand (recommended) knot at the 
end of both poles or otherwise secured. There should be approximately 
18-24 inches of exposed rope between the poles to be used as a working 
surface to capture and secure the flipper. Knot the line at the ends of 
both poles to prevent line slippage if they are not otherwise secured. 
The remaining line is used to tether the apparatus to the boat unless 
an additional tag line is used. Two lengths of sunlight resistant \3/
4\-inch schedule 40 PVC electrical conduit, fiberglass, aluminum, or 
similar material should be used to construct the apparatus with a 
minimum length equal to, or greater than, 150 percent of the height of 
the vessel's freeboard, or 6 feet (1.83 m), whichever is greater.
    (ii) Handling and release requirements. (A) Sea turtle bycatch 
mitigation gear, as required by paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(A) through (D) of 
this section, must be used to disengage any hooked or entangled sea 
turtles that cannot be brought onboard. Sea turtle bycatch mitigation 
gear, as required by paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(E) through (M) of this 
section, must be used to facilitate access, safe handling, 
disentanglement, and hook removal or hook cutting of sea turtles that 
can be brought onboard, where feasible. Sea turtles must be handled, 
and bycatch mitigation gear must be used, in accordance with the 
careful release protocols and handling/release guidelines specified in 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section, and in accordance with the onboard 
handling and resuscitation requirements specified in Sec.  
223.206(d)(1) of this title.
    (B) Boated turtles. When practicable, active and comatose sea 
turtles must be brought on board, with a minimum of injury, using a 
dipnet as required by paragraph (c)(5)(i)(E) of this section. All 
turtles less than 3 ft. (.91 m) carapace length should be boated, if 
sea conditions permit.
    (1) A boated turtle should be placed on a standard automobile tire, 
or cushioned surface, in an upright orientation to immobilize it and 
facilitate gear removal. Then, it should be determined if the hook can 
be removed without causing further injury.
    (2) All externally embedded hooks should be removed, unless hook 
removal would result in further injury to the turtle. No attempt to 
remove a hook should be made if it has been swallowed and the insertion 
point is not visible, or if it is determined that removal would result 
in further injury.
    (3) If a hook cannot be removed, as much line as possible should be 
removed from the turtle using monofilament cutters as required by 
paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section, and the hook should be cut as 
close as possible to the insertion point before releasing the turtle, 
using boltcutters as required by paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section.
    (4) If a hook can be removed, an effective technique may be to cut 
off either the barb, or the eye, of the hook using bolt cutters, and 
then to slide the hook out. When the hook is visible in the front of 
the mouth, a mouth-opener, as required by paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this 
section, may facilitate opening the turtle's mouth and a gag may 
facilitate keeping the mouth open. Short-handled dehookers for ingested 
hooks, long-nose pliers, or needle-nose pliers, as required by 
paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section, should be used to remove visible 
hooks from the mouth that have not been swallowed on boated turtles, as 
appropriate.
    (5) As much gear as possible must be removed from the turtle 
without causing further injury prior to its release. Refer to the 
careful release protocols and handling/release guidelines required in 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section, and the handling and resuscitation 
requirements specified in Sec.  223.206(d)(1) of this title, for 
additional information.
    (C) Non-boated turtles. If a sea turtle is too large, or hooked in 
a manner that precludes safe boating without causing further damage or 
injury to the turtle, sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear required by 
paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(A) through (D) of this section must be used to 
disentangle sea turtles from fishing gear and disengage any hooks, or 
to clip the line and remove as much line as possible from a hook that 
cannot be removed, prior to releasing the turtle, in accordance with 
the protocols specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
    (1) Non-boated turtles should be brought close to the boat and 
provided with time to calm down. Then, it must be determined whether or 
not the hook can be removed without causing further injury. A front 
flipper or flippers of the turtle must be secured with an approved 
turtle control device from the list specified in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(D) 
of this section.
    (2) All externally embedded hooks must be removed, unless hook 
removal would result in further injury to the turtle. No attempt should 
be made to remove a hook if it has been swallowed, or if it is 
determined that removal would result in further injury. If the hook 
cannot be removed and/or if the animal is entangled, as much line as

[[Page 52070]]

possible must be removed prior to release, using a line cutter as 
required by paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section. If the hook can be 
removed, it must be removed using a long-handled dehooker as required 
by paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section.
    (3) Without causing further injury, as much gear as possible must 
be removed from the turtle prior to its release. Refer to the careful 
release protocols and handling/release guidelines required in paragraph 
(a)(3) of this section, and the handling and resuscitation requirements 
specified in Sec.  223.206(d)(1) for additional information.
    (iii) Gear modifications. The following measures are required of 
vessel operators to reduce the incidental capture and mortality of sea 
turtles:
    (A) Gangion length. The length of any gangion on vessels that have 
pelagic longline gear on board and that have been issued, or are 
required to have, a limited access swordfish, shark, or tuna longline 
category permit for use in the Atlantic Ocean including the Caribbean 
Sea and the Gulf of Mexico must be at least 10 percent longer than any 
floatline length if the total length of any gangion plus the total 
length of any floatline is less than 100 meters.
    (B) Hook size, type, and bait. Vessels fishing outside of the NED 
gear restricted area, as defined at Sec.  635.2, that have pelagic 
longline gear on board, and that have been issued, or are required to 
have, a limited access swordfish, shark, or tuna longline category 
permit for use in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and 
the Gulf of Mexico, are limited, at all times, to possessing on board 
and/or using only whole finfish and/or squid bait, and the following 
types and sizes of fishing hooks:
    (1) 18/0 or larger circle hooks with an offset not to exceed 
10[deg]; and/or,
    (2) 16/0 or larger non-offset circle hooks.
    (i) For purposes of paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(C)(1) and (2) of this 
section, the outer diameter of an 18/0 circle hook at its widest point 
must be no smaller than 2.16 inches (55 mm), and the outer diameter of 
a 16/0 circle hook at its widest point must be no smaller than 1.74 
inches (44.3 mm), when measured with the eye of the hook on the 
vertical axis (y-axis) and perpendicular to the horizontal axis (x-
axis). The distance between the hook point and the shank (i.e., the 
gap) on an 18/0 circle hook must be no larger than 1.13 inches (28.8 
mm), and the gap on a 16/0 circle hook must be no larger than 1.01 
inches (25.8 mm). The allowable offset is measured from the barbed end 
of the hook, and is relative to the parallel plane of the eyed-end, or 
shank, of the hook when laid on its side. The only allowable offset 
circle hooks are those that are offset by the hook manufacturer. In the 
Gulf of Mexico, as described at Sec.  600.105(c), circle hooks also 
must be constructed of corrodible round wire stock that is no larger 
than 3.65 mm in diameter.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) If green-stick gear, as defined at Sec.  635.2, is onboard, a 
vessel may possess up to 20 J-hooks. J-hooks may be used only with 
green-stick gear, and no more than 10 hooks may be used at one time 
with each green-stick gear. J-hooks used with green-stick gear may be 
no smaller than 1.5 inch (38.1 mm) when measured in a straight line 
over the longest distance from the eye to any other part of the hook. 
If green-stick gear is onboard, artificial bait may be possessed, but 
may be used only with green-stick gear.
    (iv) Approval of sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear. NMFS will file 
with the Office of the Federal Register for publication an initial list 
of required sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear that NMFS has approved 
as meeting the minimum design standards specified under paragraph 
(c)(5)(i) of this section. Other devices proposed for use as line 
clippers or cutters or dehookers, as specified under paragraphs 
(c)(5)(i)(A), (B), (C), (G), (H), and (K) of this section, must be 
approved as meeting the minimum design standards before being used. 
NMFS will examine new devices, as they become available, to determine 
if they meet the minimum design standards, and will file with the 
Office of the Federal Register for publication notification of any new 
devices that are approved as meeting the standards.
    (d) Bottom longlines. (1) If bottom longline gear is onboard a 
vessel issued a permit under this part, persons aboard that vessel may 
not fish or deploy any type of fishing gear in the following areas:
    (i) The mid-Atlantic shark closed area from January 1 through July 
31 each calendar year;
    (ii) The areas designated at Sec.  622.33(a)(1) through (3) of this 
chapter, year-round; and
    (iii) The areas described in paragraphs (d)(1)(iii)(A) through (H) 
of this section, year-round.
    (A) Snowy Grouper Wreck. Bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in 
order, the following points: 33[deg]25' N. lat., 77[deg]04.75' W. 
long.; 33[deg]34.75' N. lat., 76[deg]51.3' W. long.; 33[deg]25.5' N. 
lat., 76[deg]46.5' W. long.; 33[deg]15.75' N. lat., 77[deg]00.0' W. 
long.; 33[deg]25' N. lat., 77[deg]04.75' W. long.
    (B) Northern South Carolina. Bounded on the north by 32[deg]53.5' 
N. lat.; on the south by 32[deg]48.5' N. lat.; on the east by 
78[deg]04.75' W. long.; and on the west by 78[deg]16.75' W. long.
    (C) Edisto. Bounded on the north by 32[deg]24' N. lat.; on the 
south by 32[deg]18.5' N. lat.; on the east by 78[deg]54.0' W. long.; 
and on the west by 79[deg]06.0' W. long.
    (D) Charleston Deep Artificial Reef. Bounded by rhumb lines 
connecting, in order, the following points: 32[deg]04' N. lat., 
79[deg]12' W. long.; 32[deg]08.5' N. lat., 79[deg]07.5' W. long.; 
32[deg]06' N. lat., 79[deg]05' W. long.; 32[deg]01.5' N. lat., 
79[deg]09.3' W. long.; 32[deg]04' N. lat., 79[deg]12' W. long.
    (E) Georgia. Bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the 
following points: 31[deg]43' N. lat., 79[deg]31' W. long.; 31[deg]43' 
N. lat., 79[deg]21' W. long.; 31[deg]34' N. lat., 79[deg]29' W. long.; 
31[deg]34' N. lat., 79[deg]39' W. long; 31[deg]43' N. lat., 79[deg]31' 
W. long.
    (F) North Florida. Bounded on the north by 30[deg]29' N. lat.; on 
the south by 30[deg]19' N. lat.; on the east by 80[deg]02' W. long.; 
and on the west by 80[deg]14' W. long.
    (G) St. Lucie Hump. Bounded on the north by 27[deg]08' N. lat.; on 
the south by 27[deg]04' N. lat.; on the east by 79[deg]58' W. long.; 
and on the west by 80[deg]00' W. long.
    (H) East Hump. Bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the 
following points: 24[deg]36.5' N. lat., 80[deg]45.5' W. long.; 
24[deg]32' N. lat., 80[deg]36' W. long; 24[deg]27.5' N. lat., 
80[deg]38.5' W. long; 24[deg]32.5' N. lat., 80[deg]48' W. long.; 
24[deg]36.5' N. lat., 80[deg]45.5' W. long.
    (2) The operator of a vessel required to be permitted under this 
part and that has bottom longline gear on board must undertake the 
following bycatch mitigation measures to release sea turtles, 
prohibited sharks, or smalltooth sawfish, as appropriate.
    (i) Possession and use of required mitigation gear. The equipment 
listed in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section must be carried on board 
and must be used to handle, release, and disentangle hooked or 
entangled sea turtles, prohibited sharks, or smalltooth sawfish in 
accordance with requirements specified in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this 
section.
    (ii) Handling and release requirements. Sea turtle bycatch 
mitigation gear, as required by paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, 
must be used to disengage any hooked or entangled sea turtle as stated 
in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section. This mitigation gear should 
also be employed to disengage any hooked or entangled species of 
prohibited sharks as listed under heading D of Table 1 of appendix A of 
this part, any hooked or entangled

[[Page 52071]]

species of sharks that exceed the retention limits as specified in 
Sec.  635.24(a), and any hooked or entangled smalltooth sawfish. In 
addition, if a smalltooth sawfish is caught, the fish should be kept in 
the water while maintaining water flow over the gills and the fish 
should be examined for research tags. All smalltooth sawfish must be 
released in a manner that will ensure maximum probability of survival, 
but without removing the fish from the water or any research tags from 
the fish.
    (3) If a vessel issued or required to be issued a permit under this 
part is in a closed area designated under paragraph (d)(1) of this 
section and has pelagic longline gear onboard, the vessel may not, at 
any time, possess or land any demersal species listed in Table 3 of 
Appendix A to this part in excess of 5 percent, by weight, of the total 
weight of pelagic and demersal species possessed or landed, that are 
listed in Tables 2 and 3 of Appendix A to this part.
    (e) Purse seine--(1) Mesh size. A purse seine used in directed 
fishing for bluefin tuna must have a mesh size equal to or smaller than 
4.5 inches (11.4 cm) in the main body (stretched when wet) and must 
have at least 24-count thread throughout the net.
    (2) Inspection of purse seine vessels. Persons that own or operate 
an Atlantic Tunas purse seine vessel must have their fishing gear 
inspected for mesh size by an enforcement agent of NMFS prior to 
commencing fishing for the season in any fishery that may result in the 
harvest of Atlantic tunas. Such persons must request such inspection at 
least 24 hours before commencement of the first fishing trip of the 
season. If NMFS does not inspect the vessel within 24 hours of such 
notification, the inspection requirement is waived. In addition, at 
least 24 hours before commencement of offloading any bluefin tuna after 
a fishing trip, such persons must request an inspection of the vessel 
and catch by notifying NMFS. If, after notification by the vessel, NMFS 
does not arrange to inspect the vessel and catch at offloading, the 
inspection requirement is waived.
    (f) Rod and reel. Persons who have been issued or are required to 
be issued a permit under this part and who are participating in a 
``tournament'', as defined in Sec.  635.2, that bestows points, prizes, 
or awards for Atlantic billfish must deploy only non-offset circle 
hooks when using natural bait or natural bait/artificial lure 
combinations, and may not deploy a J-hook or an offset circle hook in 
combination with natural bait or a natural bait/artificial lure 
combination.
    (g) Gillnet. (1) Persons fishing with gillnet gear must comply with 
the provisions implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan, the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan, the Harbor Porpoise 
Take Reduction Plan, and any other relevant Take Reduction Plan set 
forth in Sec. Sec.  229.32 through 229.35 of this title. If a listed 
whale is taken, the vessel operator must cease fishing operations 
immediately and contact NOAA Fisheries as required under part 229 of 
this title.
    (2) While fishing with a gillnet for or in possession of any of the 
large coastal, small coastal, and pelagic sharks listed in section A, 
B, and/or C of table 1 of appendix A of this part, the gillnet must 
remain attached to at least one vessel at one end, except during net 
checks.
    (3) Vessel operators fishing with gillnet for, or in possession of, 
any of the large coastal, small coastal, and pelagic sharks listed in 
sections A, B, and/or C of table 1 of appendix A of this part are 
required to conduct net checks every 0.5 to 2 hours to look for and 
remove any sea turtles, marine mammals, or smalltooth sawfish. 
Smalltooth sawfish should not be removed from the water while being 
removed from the net.
    (h) Buoy gear. Vessels utilizing buoy gear may not possess or 
deploy more than 35 floatation devices, and may not deploy more than 35 
individual buoy gears per vessel. Buoy gear must be constructed and 
deployed so that the hooks and/or gangions are attached to the vertical 
portion of the mainline. Floatation devices may be attached to one but 
not both ends of the mainline, and no hooks or gangions may be attached 
to any floatation device or horizontal portion of the mainline. If more 
than one floatation device is attached to a buoy gear, no hook or 
gangion may be attached to the mainline between them. Individual buoy 
gears may not be linked, clipped, or connected together in any way. 
Buoy gears must be released and retrieved by hand. All deployed buoy 
gear must have some type of monitoring equipment affixed to it 
including, but not limited to, radar reflectors, beeper devices, 
lights, or reflective tape. If only reflective tape is affixed, the 
vessel deploying the buoy gear must possess on board an operable 
spotlight capable of illuminating deployed floatation devices. If a 
gear monitoring device is positively buoyant, and rigged to be attached 
to a fishing gear, it is included in the 35 floatation device vessel 
limit and must be marked appropriately.
    (i) Speargun fishing gear. Speargun fishing gear may only be 
utilized when recreational fishing for Atlantic BAYS tunas and only 
from vessels issued either a valid HMS Angling or valid HMS Charter/
Headboat permit. Persons fishing for Atlantic BAYS tunas using speargun 
gear, as specified in Sec.  635.19 of this part, must be physically in 
the water when the speargun is fired or discharged, and may freedive, 
use SCUBA, or other underwater breathing devices. Only free-swimming 
BAYS tunas, not those restricted by fishing lines or other means, may 
be taken by speargun fishing gear. ``Powerheads'', as defined at Sec.  
600.10 of this chapter, or any other explosive devices, may not be used 
to harvest or fish for BAYS tunas with speargun fishing gear.
    (j) Green-stick gear. Green-stick gear may only be utilized when 
fishing from vessels issued a valid Atlantic Tunas General, Swordfish 
General Commercial, HMS Charter/Headboat, or Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit. The gear must be attached to the vessel, actively 
trolled with the mainline at or above the water's surface, and may not 
be deployed with more than 10 hooks or gangions attached.
0
11. In Sec.  635.23, the section heading and paragraphs (d) and (f) are 
revised to read as follows:


Sec.  635.23  Retention limits for bluefin tuna.

* * * * *
    (d) Harpoon category. Persons aboard a vessel permitted in the 
Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category may retain, possess, or land an 
unlimited number of giant bluefin tuna per day. An incidental catch of 
two large medium bluefin tuna per vessel per day may be retained, 
possessed, or landed, unless the retention limits is increased by NMFS 
through an inseason adjustment to three, or a maximum of four, large 
medium bluefin tuna per vessel per day, based upon the criteria under 
Sec.  635.27(a)(8). NMFS will implement an adjustment via publication 
in the Federal Register. If adjusted upwards to three or four large 
medium bluefin tuna per vessel per day, NMFS may subsequently decrease 
the retention limit down to the default level of two, based on the 
criteria under Sec.  635.27(a)(8).
* * * * *
    (f) Longline category. Persons aboard a vessel permitted in the 
Atlantic Tunas Longline category are subject to the bluefin tuna 
retention restrictions in this paragraph.
    (1) Fishing with pelagic longline gear. (i) A vessel fishing with 
pelagic longline gear may retain, possess, land and sell large medium 
and giant bluefin tuna

[[Page 52072]]

taken incidentally when fishing for other species if in compliance with 
all the IBQ requirements of section Sec.  635.15 of this part, 
including the requirement that a vessel may not declare into or depart 
on a fishing trip with pelagic longline onboard unless it has the 
required minimum bluefin tuna quota allocation required for the region 
where fishing activity will occur.
    (ii) A vessel with pelagic longline gear onboard must retain all 
dead bluefin tuna that are 73 inches or greater CFL.
    (2) Fishing with gear other than pelagic longline. A vessel issued 
an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit that does not have pelagic 
longline gear onboard may not retain, land or sell bluefin tuna, unless 
fishing under the provisions of Sec.  635.21(c)(3)(vi)(B).
* * * * *
0
12. In Sec.  635.27:
0
a. Paragraphs (a) introductory text, (a)(1) through (3), (a)(4)(i) and 
(iii), (a)(5) and (6), (a)(7) heading, and (a)(7)(i) are revised; and
0
b. Paragraphs (a)(4)(v), (a)(8)(x) through (xiv), and (e) are added.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  635.27  Quotas.

    (a) Bluefin tuna. Consistent with ICCAT recommendations, and with 
paragraph (a)(10)(iv) of this section, NMFS may subtract the most 
recent, complete, and available estimate of dead discards from the 
annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota, and make the remainder available to be 
retained, possessed, or landed by persons and vessels subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction. The remaining baseline annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota 
will be allocated among the General, Angling, Harpoon, Purse Seine, 
Longline, Trap, and Reserve categories, as described in this section. 
The baseline annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota is 923.7 mt ww, not 
including an additional annual 25 mt ww allocation provided in 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section. The bluefin quota for the quota 
categories is calculated through the following process. First, 68 mt ww 
is subtracted from the baseline annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota and 
allocated to the Longline category quota. Second, the remaining quota 
is divided among the categories according to the following percentages: 
General--47.1 percent (403 mt ww); Angling--19.7 percent (168.6 mt ww), 
which includes the school bluefin tuna held in reserve as described 
under paragraph (a)(7)(ii) of this section; Harpoon--3.9 percent (33.4 
mt ww); Purse Seine--18.6 percent (159.1 mt ww); Longline--8.1 percent 
(69.3 mt ww) plus the 68 mt ww allocation (137.3 mt ww total not 
including 25 mt ww allocation from paragraph (a)(3)); Trap--0.1 percent 
(0.9 mt ww); and Reserve--2.5 percent (21.4 mt ww). NMFS may make 
inseason and annual adjustments to quotas as specified in paragraphs 
(a)(9) and (10) of this section, including quota adjustments as a 
result of the Annual reallocation of Purse Seine quota described under 
paragraph (a)(4)(v). Bluefin tuna quotas are specified in whole weight.
    (1) General category quota. (i) Catches from vessels for which 
General category Atlantic Tunas permits have been issued, catches from 
vessels issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline permit fishing under the 
provisions of Sec.  635.21(c)(3)(vi)(B) and certain catches from 
vessels for which an HMS Charter/headboat permit has been issued are 
counted against the General category quota in accordance with Sec.  
635.23(c)(3). The amount of large medium and giant bluefin tuna that 
may be caught, retained, possessed, landed, or sold under the General 
category quota is 403 mt ww, and is apportioned as follows, unless 
modified as described under paragraph (a)(1)(ii):
    (A) January 1 through the effective date of a closure notice filed 
by NMFS announcing that the January subquota is reached, or projected 
to be reached under Sec.  635.28(a)(1), or until March 31, whichever 
comes first--5.3 percent (21.4 mt ww);
    (B) June 1 through August 31--50 percent (201.5 mt ww);
    (C) September 1 through September 30--26.5 percent (106.8 mt ww);
    (D) October 1 through November 30--13 percent (52.4 mt ww); and
    (E) December 1 through December 31--5.2 percent (21 mt ww).
    (ii) NMFS may adjust each period's apportionment based on 
overharvest or underharvest in the prior period, and may transfer 
subquota from one time period to another time period, earlier in the 
year, through inseason action or annual specifications. For example, 
subquota could be transferred from the June 1 through August 31 time 
period to the January time period; or from the October 1 through 
November 30 time period to the September time period.
    (iii) When the General category fishery has been closed in any 
quota period specified under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, NMFS 
will publish a closure action as specified in Sec.  635.28. The 
subsequent time-period subquota will automatically open in accordance 
with the dates specified under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section.
    (2) Angling category quota. In accordance with the framework 
procedures of the Consolidated HMS FMP, prior to each fishing year, or 
as early as feasible, NMFS will establish the Angling category daily 
retention limits. The total amount of bluefin tuna that may be caught, 
retained, possessed, and landed by anglers aboard vessels for which an 
HMS Angling permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit has been issued is 
168.6 mt ww. No more than 2.3 percent (3.9 mt ww) of the annual Angling 
category quota may be large medium or giant bluefin tuna. In addition, 
over each 2-consecutive-year period (starting in 2011, inclusive), no 
more than 10 percent of the annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota, inclusive 
of the allocation specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, may be 
school bluefin tuna (i.e., 94.9 mt ww). The Angling category quota 
includes the amount of school bluefin tuna held in reserve under 
paragraph (a)(7)(ii) of this section. The size class subquotas for 
bluefin tuna are further subdivided as follows:
    (i) After adjustment for the school bluefin tuna quota held in 
reserve (under paragraph (a)(7)(ii) of this section), 52.8 percent 
(40.8 mt ww) of the school bluefin tuna Angling category quota may be 
caught, retained, possessed, or landed south of 39[deg]18' N. lat. The 
remaining school bluefin tuna Angling category quota (36.5 mt ww) may 
be caught, retained, possessed or landed north of 39[deg]18' N. lat.
    (ii) An amount equal to 52.8 percent (36.9 mt ww) of the large 
school/small medium bluefin tuna Angling category quota may be caught, 
retained, possessed, or landed south of 39[deg]18' N. lat. The 
remaining large school/small medium bluefin tuna Angling category quota 
(32.9 mt ww) may be caught, retained, possessed or landed north of 
39[deg]18' N. lat.
    (iii) One third (1.3 mt ww) of the large medium and giant bluefin 
tuna angling category quota may be caught retained, possessed, or 
landed, in each of the three following geographic areas: (1) North of 
39[deg] 18' N. lat.; (2) south of 39[deg] 18' N. lat., and outside of 
the Gulf of Mexico; and (3) in the Gulf of Mexico. For the purposes of 
this section, the Gulf of Mexico region includes all waters of the U.S. 
EEZ west and north of the boundary stipulated at 50 CFR Sec.  
600.105(c).
    (3) Longline category quota. The total amount of large medium and 
giant bluefin tuna that may be caught discarded dead, or retained, 
possessed, or landed by vessels that possess Longline category Atlantic 
Tunas permits is 137.3 mt ww. In addition, 25 mt ww shall be allocated 
for incidental catch by pelagic longline vessels fishing in the 
Northeast Distant gear restricted area.
    (4) * * *

[[Page 52073]]

    (i) The total amount of large medium and giant bluefin tuna that 
may be caught, retained, possessed, or landed by vessels that possess 
Purse Seine category Atlantic Tunas permits is 159.1 mt ww, unless 
changed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4)(v). The directed 
purse seine fishery for bluefin tuna commences on June 1 of each year, 
unless NMFS takes action to delay the season start date. Based on 
cumulative and projected landings in other commercial fishing 
categories, and the potential for gear conflicts on the fishing grounds 
or market impacts due to oversupply, NMFS may delay the bluefin tuna 
purse seine season start date from June 1 to no later than August 15, 
by filing an adjustment action with the Office of the Federal Register 
for publication. The Purse Seine category fishery closes on December 31 
of each year.
* * * * *
    (iii) Annually, NMFS will make equal allocations of the available 
size classes of bluefin tuna among purse seine vessel owners so 
requesting, adjusted as necessary to account for underharvest or 
overharvest by each participating vessel or the vessel it replaces from 
the previous fishing year, consistent with paragraphs (a) introductory 
text, (a)(4)(v), and (a)(10)(i) of this section. Such allocations are 
freely transferable, in whole or in part, among vessels that have Purse 
Seine category Atlantic Tunas permits. Any purse seine vessel owner 
intending to land bluefin tuna under a bluefin tuna quota allocation 
transferred from another purse seine vessel owner must lease that 
allocation through the Individual Bluefin Quota Allocation Leasing 
Program procedures at Sec.  635.15(c)(3). Trip or seasonal catch limits 
otherwise applicable under Sec.  635.23(e) are not affected by 
transfers of bluefin tuna allocation. Purse seine vessel owners who, 
through landing and/or transfer, have no remaining bluefin tuna quota 
allocation may not use their permitted vessels in any fishery in which 
Atlantic bluefin tuna might be caught, regardless of whether bluefin 
tuna are retained, unless such vessel owners lease additional 
allocation through the Individual Bluefin Quota Allocation Leasing 
Program.
* * * * *
    (v) Annual reallocation of Purse Seine quota. Annually, by the end 
of the year, NMFS will determine the amount of quota available to be 
allocated to the Purse Seine category for the upcoming fishing year. 
NMFS will allocate the Purse Seine category either 100%, 75%, 50%, or 
25% of its annual baseline quota, described in paragraph (a)(4)(i) of 
this section, according the allocation criteria in this paragraph. Any 
quota not allocated to the Purse Seine category would be allocated to 
the Reserve category. If the purse seine catch (landings and dead 
discards) in year one is between 0 and 20% of the year one baseline 
Purse Seine quota, the Purse Seine category would be allocated 25% of 
their baseline quota in year two, and 75% of the Purse Seine quota 
would be reallocated to the Reserve Category for that year. If the 
purse seine catch in year one is greater than 20% and up to 45% of the 
year one baseline Purse Seine quota, the Purse Seine category would be 
allocated 50% of their baseline quota in year two, and 50% of the Purse 
Seine quota would be reallocated to the Reserve Category for that year. 
If the purse seine catch in year one is greater than 45% and up to 74% 
of the year one baseline Purse Seine quota, the Purse Seine category 
would be allocated 75% of their baseline quota in year two, and 25% of 
the Purse Seine quota would be transferred to the Reserve Category for 
that year. If the purse seine catch in year one is greater than 75% of 
the year one baseline Purse Seine quota, the Purse Seine category would 
be allocated 100% of their baseline quota in year two, and no quota 
would be transferred to the Reserve Category for that year. These 
criteria would apply following the same pattern in years beyond year 
two. NMFS will inform the owners of vessels with Purse Seine permits of 
its determination regarding the amount of quota that will be available 
to be allocated to the Purse Seine category for the subsequent year, 
based upon the information available at the time. Thereafter, NMFS may 
modify the quota allocated to Purse Seine category based on revisions 
to the total bluefin tuna quota, or other new information.
    (5) Harpoon category quota. The total amount of large medium and 
giant bluefin tuna that may be caught, retained, possessed, landed, or 
sold by vessels that possess Harpoon category Atlantic Tunas permits is 
33.4 mt ww. The Harpoon category fishery commences on June 1 of each 
year, and closes on November 15 of each year.
    (6) Trap category quota. The total amount of large medium and giant 
bluefin tuna that may be caught, retained, possessed, or landed by 
vessels that possess Trap category Atlantic Tunas permits is 0.9 mt ww.
    (7) Reserve category quota. (i) The total amount of bluefin tuna 
that is held in reserve for inseason or annual adjustments and research 
using quota or subquotas is 21.4 mt ww, and may be augmented by 
underharvest from the previous year, or annual reallocation of Purse 
Seine quota as described under paragraph (4)(v) of this section. 
Consistent with paragraphs (a)(8), (a)(9), and (a)(10) of this section, 
NMFS may allocate any portion of this quota for inseason or annual 
adjustments to any category quota in the fishery.
* * * * *
    (8) * * *
    (x) Optimize fishing opportunity.
    (xi) Account for dead discards.
    (xii) Facilitate quota accounting.
    (xiii) Support other fishing monitoring programs through quota 
allocations and/or generation of revenue.
    (xiv) Support research through quota allocations and/or generation 
of revenue.
* * * * *
    (e) Northern albacore tuna--(1) Annual quota. Consistent with ICCAT 
recommendations and domestic management objectives, the total baseline 
annual fishery quota is 527 mt ww. The total quota, after any 
adjustments made per paragraph (e)(2) of this section, is the fishing 
year's total amount of northern albacore tuna that may be landed by 
persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
    (2) Annual adjustments. Consistent with ICCAT recommendations and 
domestic management objectives, and based on landings statistics and 
other information as appropriate, if for a particular year, the total 
landings are above or below the annual quota for that year, the 
difference between the annual quota and the landings will be subtracted 
from, or added to, the following year's quota, respectively, or 
subtracted or added through a delayed, or multi-year adjustment. 
Carryover adjustments shall be limited to 25 percent of the baseline 
quota allocation for that year. NMFS will file with the Office of the 
Federal Register for publication any adjustment or apportionment made 
under this paragraph (e)(2).
0
13. In Sec.  635.28, paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) and (b)(1) are revised, 
and (a)(4), (c)(3), and (d) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  635.28  Fishery closures.

    (a) Bluefin tuna. (1) When a bluefin tuna quota, other than the 
Purse Seine category or Longline category quota specified in Sec.  
635.27(a), is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS will file a 
closure action with the Office of the Federal Register for publication. 
On and after the effective date and time of such action, for the 
remainder of the fishing year or for a specified period as

[[Page 52074]]

indicated in the notice, fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing 
bluefin tuna under that quota is prohibited until the opening of the 
subsequent quota period or until such date as specified in the notice.
    (2) From the commencement date of the directed purse seine fishery, 
as provided under Sec.  635.27(a)(4)(i), through December 31, the owner 
or operator of a vessel that has been allocated a portion of the Purse 
Seine category quota under Sec.  635.27(a)(4), or leased bluefin tuna 
quota allocation under Sec.  635.15(c), may fish for bluefin tuna. Such 
vessel may be used to fish for yellowfin, bigeye, albacore, or skipjack 
tuna at any time, however, landings of bluefin tuna taken incidental to 
fisheries targeting other Atlantic tunas or in any fishery in which 
bluefin tuna might be caught will be deducted from the individual 
vessel's quota for the following bluefin tuna fishing season. Upon 
reaching its individual vessel allocation of bluefin tuna, the vessel 
may not participate in a directed purse seine fishery for Atlantic 
tunas or in any fishery in which bluefin tuna might be caught for the 
remainder of the fishing year.
* * * * *
    (4) When the bluefin tuna Longline category quota is reached, 
projected to be reached, or exceeded, or when there is high uncertainty 
regarding the estimated or documented levels of bluefin tuna catch, 
NMFS will file a closure action with the Office of the Federal Register 
for publication. On and after the effective date and time of such 
action, for the remainder of the fishing year or for a specified period 
as indicated in the closure action, vessels that have been issued or 
are required to have a limited access permit under Sec.  635.4 of this 
part and that have pelagic longline gear onboard are prohibited from 
leaving port, regardless of the amount of bluefin tuna quota allocation 
remaining to each vessel or the amount of fishery quota remaining for 
other species. In addition to providing notice in the Federal Register, 
NMFS will also notify vessels of any closures and their timing via VMS 
and may use other electronic methods, such as email. Vessels would be 
required to return to port prior to the closure date/time. When 
considering whether to close or reopen the Longline category quota, 
NMFS may consider the following factors:
    (i) Total estimated bluefin tuna catch (landings and dead discards) 
in relation to the quota;
    (ii) The estimated amount by which the bluefin tuna quota might be 
exceeded;
    (iii) The usefulness of data relevant to monitoring the quota;
    (iv) The uncertainty in the documented or estimated dead discards 
or landings of bluefin tuna;
    (v) The amount of bluefin tuna landings or dead discards within a 
short time;
    (vi) The effects of continued fishing on bluefin tuna rebuilding 
and overfishing;
    (vii) The provision of reasonable opportunity for pelagic longline 
vessels to pursue the target species;
    (viii) The variations in seasonal distribution, abundance or 
migration patterns of bluefin tuna; and
    (viii) Other relevant factors.
    (b) Sharks. (1) If quota is available as specified by a publication 
in the Federal Register, the commercial fishery for the shark species 
or complexes specified in Sec.  635.27(b)(1) will remain open. If the 
bluefin tuna Longline category quota is closed as specified in 
paragraph (a)(4) of this section, vessels that have pelagic longline 
gear on board cannot possess or land sharks.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) Bluefin tuna longline category closure. If the bluefin tuna 
Longline category quota is closed as specified in paragraph (a)(4) of 
this section, vessels that have pelagic longline gear on board cannot 
possess or land any North Atlantic swordfish.
    (d) Northern albacore tuna--When the annual fishery quota specified 
in Sec.  635.27(e) is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS will 
file a closure action with the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication. When the fishery for northern albacore tuna is closed, 
northern albacore tuna may not be retained. If the bluefin tuna 
Longline category quota is closed as specified in paragraph (a)(4) of 
this section, vessels that have pelagic longline gear on board cannot 
possess or land any northern albacore tuna.
0
14. In Sec.  635.31, paragraphs (a)(1) and (2), (c)(1) and (4), and 
(d)(1) and (2) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  635.31  Restrictions on sale and purchase.

    (a) * * *
    (1) A person that owns or operates a vessel from which an Atlantic 
tuna is landed or offloaded may sell such Atlantic tuna only if that 
vessel has a valid HMS Charter/Headboat permit; a valid General, 
Harpoon, Longline, Purse Seine, or Trap category permit for Atlantic 
tunas; or a valid HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit issued 
under this part and the appropriate category has not been closed, as 
specified at Sec.  635.28(a). However, no person may sell a bluefin 
tuna smaller than the large medium size class. Also, no large medium or 
giant bluefin tuna taken by a person aboard a vessel with an Atlantic 
HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing in the Gulf of Mexico at any time, 
or fishing outside the Gulf of Mexico when the fishery under the 
General category has been closed, may be sold (see Sec.  635.23(c)). A 
person may sell Atlantic bluefin tuna only to a dealer that has a valid 
permit for purchasing Atlantic bluefin tuna issued under this part. A 
person may not sell or purchase Atlantic tunas harvested with speargun 
fishing gear.
    (2) Dealers may purchase Atlantic tunas only from a vessel that has 
a valid commercial permit for Atlantic tunas issued under this part in 
the appropriate category and the appropriate category has not been 
closed, as specified at Sec.  635.28(a).
    (i) Dealers may purchase Atlantic bluefin tuna only from a vessel 
that has a valid Federal commercial permit for Atlantic tunas issued 
under this part in the appropriate category. Vessel owners and 
operators of vessels that have been issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit can sell bluefin tuna and dealers can purchase bluefin 
tuna from such vessels only if the Longline category is open, per Sec.  
635.28(a)(4) and if:
    (A) The vessel has met the minimum quota allocation and accounting 
requirements at Sec.  635.15 for vessels departing on a trip with 
pelagic longline gear onboard; or
    (B) The vessel has removed pelagic longline gear from the vessel 
and fished in the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area under General 
Category rules, as specified at Sec. Sec.  635.15 and 635.69.
    (ii) Dealers may first receive BAYS tunas only if they have 
submitted reports to NMFS according to reporting requirements at Sec.  
635.5(b)(1)(ii) and only from a vessel that has a valid Federal 
commercial permit for Atlantic tunas issued under this part in the 
appropriate category. Vessel owners and operators of vessels that have 
been issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit can sell BAYS 
tunas and dealers can purchase BAYS tunas from such vessels only if the 
Longline category is open per Sec.  635.28(a)(4). Individuals issued a 
valid HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, and operating in the 
U.S. Caribbean as defined at Sec.  622.2, may sell their trip limits of 
BAYS tunas, codified at Sec.  635.24(c), to dealers and non-

[[Page 52075]]

dealers. Persons may only sell albacore tuna and dealers may only first 
receive albacore tuna if the northern albacore tuna fishery has not 
been closed as specified at Sec.  635.28 (d).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Persons that own or operate a vessel that possesses a shark 
from the management unit may sell such shark only if the vessel has a 
valid commercial shark permit issued under this part. Persons may 
possess and sell a shark only to a federally-permitted dealer and only 
when the fishery for that species group and/or region has not been 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(b). Persons that own or operate a 
vessel that has pelagic longline gear onboard can only possess and sell 
a shark if the bluefin tuna Longline category has not been closed, as 
specified in Sec.  635.28(a)(4).
* * * * *
    (4) Only dealers that have a valid a Federal Atlantic shark dealer 
permit and who have submitted reports to NMFS according to reporting 
requirements at Sec.  635.5(b)(1)(ii) may first receive a shark from an 
owner or operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a valid 
federal Atlantic commercial shark permit issued under this part. 
Atlantic shark dealers may purchase, trade for, barter for, or receive 
a shark from an owner or operator of a vessel that does not have a 
federal Atlantic commercial shark permit if that vessel fishes 
exclusively in state waters. Atlantic shark dealers may first receive a 
sandbar shark only from an owner or operator of a vessel who has a 
valid shark research permit and who had a NMFS-approved observer on 
board the vessel for the trip in which the sandbar shark was collected. 
Atlantic shark dealers may first receive a shark from an owner or 
operator of a fishing vessel that has a permit issued under this part 
only when the fishery for that species group and/or region has not been 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(b). Atlantic shark dealers may 
first receive a shark from a vessel that has pelagic longline gear 
onboard only if the bluefin tuna Longline category has not been closed, 
as specified in Sec.  635.28(a)(4).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) Persons that own or operate a vessel on which a swordfish in or 
from the Atlantic Ocean is possessed may sell such swordfish only if 
the vessel has a valid commercial permit for swordfish issued under 
this part. Persons may offload such swordfish only to a dealer who has 
a valid permit for swordfish issued under this part; except that 
individuals issued a valid HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, 
and operating in the U.S. Caribbean as defined at Sec.  622.2, may sell 
swordfish, as specified at Sec.  635.24(b)(3), to non-dealers. Persons 
that own or operate a vessel that has pelagic longline gear onboard, 
can only possess and sell a swordfish if the bluefin tuna Longline 
category has not been closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(a)(4).
    (2) Atlantic swordfish dealers may first receive a swordfish 
harvested from the Atlantic Ocean only from an owner or operator of a 
fishing vessel that has a valid commercial permit for swordfish issued 
under this part and only if the dealer has submitted reports to NMFS 
according to reporting requirements of Sec.  635.5(b)(1)(ii). Atlantic 
swordfish dealers may first receive a swordfish from a vessel that has 
pelagic longline gear onboard only if the bluefin tuna Longline 
category has not been closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(a)(4).
* * * * *
0
15. In Sec.  635.34:
0
a. As revised by a final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, paragraph (a) is further revised;, and
0
b. Paragraphs (b) and (d) are revised.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  635.34  Adjustment of management measures.

    (a) NMFS may adjust the quota shares or allocations for bluefin 
tuna, as specified in Sec.  635.15; catch limits for bluefin tuna, as 
specified in Sec.  635.23; the quotas for bluefin tuna, shark, 
swordfish, and northern albacore tuna as specified in Sec.  635.27; the 
regional retention limits for Swordfish General Commercial permit 
holders, as specified at Sec.  635.24; the marlin landing limit, as 
specified in Sec.  635.27(d); and the minimum sizes for Atlantic blue 
marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish as specified in Sec.  
635.20.
    (b) In accordance with the framework procedures in the Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, NMFS may establish or modify 
for species or species groups of Atlantic HMS the following management 
measures: maximum sustainable yield or optimum yield based on the 
latest stock assessment or updates in the SAFE report; domestic quotas; 
recreational and commercial retention limits, including target catch 
requirements; size limits; fishing years or fishing seasons; shark 
fishing regions or regional quotas; species in the management unit and 
the specification of the species groups to which they belong; species 
in the prohibited shark species group; classification system within 
shark species groups; permitting and reporting requirements; workshop 
requirements; Atlantic tunas Purse Seine category cap on bluefin tuna 
quota; the quota shares or allocations for bluefin tuna; administration 
of the IBQ program (e.g. requirements pertaining to leasing of quota 
allocations, regional or minimum quota share requirements, etc.); time/
area restrictions; allocations among user groups; gear prohibitions, 
modifications, or use restriction; effort restrictions; observer 
coverage requirements; essential fish habitat; and actions to implement 
ICCAT recommendations, as appropriate.
* * * * *
    (d) When considering a framework adjustment to add, change, or 
modify time/area closures, gear restricted areas, or access to a closed 
area, NMFS will consider, consistent with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, and other applicable law, but is not limited to, the following 
criteria: any Endangered Species Act related issues, concerns, or 
requirements, including applicable BiOps; bycatch rates of protected 
species, prohibited HMS, or non-target species both within the 
specified or potential closure area(s) and throughout the fishery; 
bycatch rates and post-release mortality rates of bycatch species 
associated with different gear types; new or updated landings, bycatch, 
and fishing effort data; evidence or research indicating that changes 
to fishing gear and/or fishing practices can significantly reduce 
bycatch; social and economic impacts; and the practicability of 
implementing new or modified closures compared to other bycatch 
reduction options. If the species is an ICCAT managed species, NMFS 
will also consider the overall effect of the U.S.'s catch on that 
species before implementing time/area closures, gear restricted areas, 
or access to closed areas.
0
16. In Sec.  635.69, paragraph (a) introductory text and (a)(1) and (4) 
are revised and paragraph (e)(4) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  635.69  Vessel monitoring systems.

    (a) Applicability. To facilitate enforcement of time/area and 
fishery closures, enhance reporting and support the Individual Bluefin 
Quota program (Sec.  635.15), an owner or operator of a commercial 
vessel permitted, or required to be permitted, to fish for Atlantic HMS 
under Sec.  635.4 and that fishes with pelagic or bottom longline, 
gillnet, or purse seine gear, is required to install a NMFS-approved 
enhanced mobile transmitting unit (E-MTU) vessel monitoring system 
(VMS) on board the vessel comply with the

[[Page 52076]]

requirements listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this 
section. For purposes of this section, a NMFS-approved E-MTU VMS is one 
that has been approved by NMFS as satisfying its type approval listing 
for E-MTU VMS units. Those requirements are published in the Federal 
Register and may be updated periodically.
    (1) Whenever the vessel is away from port with pelagic longline or 
purse seine gear on board;
* * * * *
    (4) A vessel is considered to have pelagic or bottom longline gear 
on board, for the purposes of this section, when the gear components as 
specified at Sec.  635.2 are on board. A vessel is considered to have 
gillnet gear on board, for the purposes of this section, when gillnet, 
as defined in Sec.  600.10, is on board a vessel that has been issued a 
shark LAP. A vessel is considered to have purse seine gear on board, 
for the purposes of this section, when the gear as defined at Sec.  
600.10 is onboard a vessel that has been issued an Atlantic tunas Purse 
Seine Category permit.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (4) Reporting Requirements for vessels issued either an Atlantic 
Tunas Longline or Purse seine category permit--(i) Bluefin tuna and 
fishing effort reporting. Unless otherwise required under paragraphs 
(e)(4)(ii) or (iii) of this section, the vessel owner or operator of a 
vessel that has pelagic longline gear on board must report to NMFS 
using the attached VMS terminal, or using an alternative method 
specified by NMFS as follows: The number of hooks and sets must be 
reported within 12 hours of the completion of all pelagic longline 
haul-backs; and for pelagic longline sets with bluefin interactions, 
the length of all bluefin discarded dead must be reported within 12 
hours of the completion of the haul-back. Reporting of zero bluefin 
possessed or discarded dead is not required. Unless otherwise required 
under paragraphs (e)(4)(ii) or (iii) of this section, the vessel owner 
or operator of a vessel that has Purse Seine gear on board must report 
to NMFS using the attached VMS terminal, or using an alternative method 
specified by NMFS as follows: For each day on which Purse Seine gear is 
set, the number of sets must be reported within 12 hours of the last 
set. For Purse Seine sets with bluefin interactions, the length of all 
bluefin discarded dead or retained within 12 hours of completion of the 
set, must be reported. Reporting of zero bluefin possessed or discarded 
dead is not required.
    (ii) Atlantic Tunas Longline category fishing under General 
category rules. Before leaving port, a vessel operator of a vessel that 
has been issued or is required to be issued an Atlantic Tunas Longline 
category permit and that no longer has pelagic longline gear on board, 
and who intends to fish within the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area, 
under the General Category rules must, as specified at Sec.  
635.21(c)(3)(vi)(B) of this part, declare to NMFS using the attached 
VMS terminal or alternative method specified by NMFS that the vessel is 
fishing under General Category rules. Once the declaration is made, at 
least once every 24 hours while away from port or before returning to 
port for a one day trip, the vessel operator must report using the 
attached VMS terminal or alternative method specified by NMFS the total 
amount of bluefin tuna retained, the total amount of bluefin tuna 
discarded, and total fishing effort (e.g., number of hooks).
    (iii) Vessels fishing in a closed area. A vessel operator of a 
vessel with pelagic longline gear and a NMFS-approved observer on board 
that fishing within a closed area, as specified at Sec.  635.21(c)(3) 
of this part, must declare to NMFS using the attached VMS terminal or 
alternative method specified by NMFS that the vessel operator intends 
to fish with pelagic longline gear within a closed or restricted gear 
area. Once the declaration is made, at least once every 24 hours while 
away from port, the vessel operator must report using the attached VMS 
terminal or alternative method specified by NMFS the species caught and 
total fishing effort.
* * * * *
0
17. In Sec.  635.71:
0
a. Paragraphs (a)(14), (a)(19), (a)(23), (a)(31), (a)(33), (a)(34), and 
(a)(40) are revised;
0
b. Paragraphs (a)(57) through (60) are added;
0
c. Paragraphs (b)(5), (b)(7), (b)(8), (b)(13), (b)(23), (b)(36), and 
(b)(38) are revised;
0
d. Paragraphs (b)(41) through (54) are added;
0
e. Paragraphs (c)(1) and (7) and (d)(12) and (13) are revised;
0
f. As revised by a final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, paragraph (e)(8) is further revised;
0
g. Paragraphs (e)(11) and (16) are revised; and
0
h. As added by a final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register, paragraph (e)(18) is revised.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  635.71  Prohibitions

    (a) * * *
    (14) Fail to install, activate, repair, or replace a NMFS-approved 
E-MTU vessel monitoring system prior to leaving port with pelagic 
longline gear, bottom longline gear, gillnet gear, or purse seine gear 
on board the vessel as specified in Sec.  635.69.
* * * * *
    (19) Utilize secondary gears as specified in Sec.  635.19(a) to 
capture, or attempt to capture, any undersized or free swimming 
Atlantic HMS, or fail to release a captured Atlantic HMS in the manner 
specified in Sec.  635.21(a).
* * * * *
    (23) Fail to comply with the restrictions on use of pelagic 
longline, bottom longline, gillnet, buoy gear, speargun gear, or green-
stick gear as specified in Sec.  635.21.
* * * * *
    (31) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel with a 
pelagic longline on board in any closed or gear restricted areas during 
the time period specified at Sec.  635.21(c) except under the 
conditions listed at Sec.  635.21 (c)(3).
* * * * *
    (33) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel with 
pelagic or bottom longline gear on board without carrying the required 
sea turtle bycatch mitigation gear, as specified at Sec.  
635.21(c)(5)(i) for pelagic longline gear and Sec.  635.21(d)(2) for 
bottom longline gear. This equipment must be utilized in accordance 
with Sec.  635.21(c)(5)(ii) and (d)(2) for pelagic and bottom longline 
gear, respectively.
    (34) Fail to disengage any hooked or entangled sea turtle with the 
least harm possible to the sea turtle as specified at Sec.  635.21 
(c)(5) or (d)(2).
* * * * *
    (40) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear, from a vessel with 
bottom longline gear on board, without carrying a dipnet, line clipper, 
and dehooking device as specified at Sec.  635.21(d)(2).
* * * * *
    (57) Fail to appropriately stow longline gear when transiting a 
closed or gear restricted area, as specified in Sec.  635.21(b)(2).
    (58) Depart on a fishing trip or deploy or fish with any fishing 
gear from a vessel with a pelagic longline on board in a closed or gear 
restricted area per the exemptions at Sec.  635.21(c)(3) without an 
observer on board, as specified at Sec.  635.21(c)(3)(ii), or without 
following the VMS requirements, as specified at Sec. Sec.  
635.21(c)(3)(iii) and 635.69(e).
    (59) Fish for, retain, possess, or land any HMS from a vessel with 
a pelagic

[[Page 52077]]

longline on board when the Atlantic Tunas Longline category fishery is 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(a)(4), (b)(1), (c)(3), and (d).
    (60) Buy, trade, or barter for any HMS from a vessel with a pelagic 
longline on board when the Atlantic Tunas Longline category fishery is 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.31(a)(2), (c), and (d).
    (b) * * *
    (5) Fail to report a large medium or giant bluefin tuna that is not 
sold, as specified in Sec.  635.5(a)(3), or fail to report a bluefin 
tuna that is sold, as specified in Sec.  635.5(a)(4).
* * * * *
    (7) Fish for, catch, retain, or possess a bluefin tuna with gear 
not authorized for the category permit issued to the vessel or to have 
such gear on board when in possession of a bluefin tuna, as specified 
in Sec.  635.19(b).
    (8) Fail to request an inspection of a purse seine vessel, as 
specified in Sec.  635.21(e)(2).
* * * * *
    (13) As a vessel with a General category Atlantic tuna permit, fail 
to immediately cease fishing and immediately return to port after 
catching the applicable limit of large medium or giant bluefin tuna on 
a commercial fishing day, as specified in Sec.  635.23(a)(3).
* * * * *
    (23) Fish for, catch, possess, or retain a bluefin tuna except as 
specified under Sec.  635.23(f), or if taken incidental to recreational 
fishing for other species and retained in accordance with Sec.  
635.23(b) and (c).
* * * * *
    (36) Possess J-hooks onboard a vessel that has pelagic longline 
gear onboard, and that has been issued, or is required to have, a 
limited access swordfish, shark, or tuna longline category permit for 
use in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of 
Mexico, except when green-stick gear is onboard, as specified at Sec.  
635.21(c)(2)(vii)(A) and (c)(5)(iii)(C)(3).
* * * * *
    (38) Possess more than 20 J-hooks onboard a vessel that has been 
issued, or is required to have, a limited access swordfish, shark, or 
tuna longline category permit for use in the Atlantic Ocean, including 
the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, when possessing onboard both 
pelagic longline gear and green-stick gear as defined at Sec.  635.2.
* * * * *
    (41) Fish within the Cape Hatteras gear restricted area under 
General category rules with a pelagic longline on board, as specified 
in Sec.  635.21(c)(3)(vi)(B), or fail to abide by all applicable 
General category rules including those specified under Sec.  635.23(a).
    (42) As the owner or operator of a vessel issued a limited access 
permit that has removed pelagic longline gear from the vessel, depart 
on a fishing trip or fish within Cape Hatteras gear restricted area 
under General Category rules without following the VMS requirements, as 
specified in Sec.  635.69(e)(5).
    (43) Fish for, retain, possess, or land albacore tuna when the 
fishery is closed, as specified in Sec.  635.28(d).
    (44) Buy, purchase, trade, or barter for albacore tuna when the 
fishery is closed, as specified in Sec.  635.31(a)(2)(ii).
    (45) Fail to report bluefin tuna retained, bluefin tuna discarded, 
and total fishing effort via a vessel monitoring system while away from 
port when pelagic longline gear is on board or when a vessel issued an 
Atlantic tunas Longline category permit is in the Cape Hatteras gear 
restricted area fishing under the General category rules without 
pelagic longline gear on board, as specified in Sec.  635.69(e).
    (46) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel with a 
pelagic longline on board that does not have an approved and working 
electronic monitoring system as specified in Sec.  635.9; tamper with, 
or fail to install, operate or maintain one or more components of the 
electronic monitoring system; obstruct the view of the camera(s); or 
fail to handle bluefin tuna in a manner that allows the camera to 
record the fish; as specified in Sec.  635.9.
    (47) Depart on a fishing trip or deploy or fish with any fishing 
gear from a vessel with a pelagic longline on board without a minimum 
amount of bluefin tuna quota allocation available for that vessel, as 
specified in Sec.  635.15(b)(3).
    (48) Depart on a fishing trip or deploy or fish with any fishing 
gear from a vessel with a pelagic longline on board without accounting 
for bluefin caught on a previous trip as specified in Sec.  
635.15(b)(4), or accounting for bluefin caught during a previous 
fishing year, as specified in as specified in Sec.  635.15(b)(5), as 
applicable.
    (49) Lease bluefin quota allocation to or from the owner of a 
vessel not issued a valid Atlantic Tunas Longline permit or a valid 
Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine permit as specified under Sec.  
635.15(c)(1).
    (50) Fish in the Gulf of Mexico with pelagic longline gear on board 
if the vessel has only IBQ designated as Atlantic quota allocation, as 
specified under Sec.  635.15(b)(2).
    (51) Depart on a fishing trip or deploy or fish with any fishing 
gear from a vessel with a pelagic longline on board in the Gulf of 
Mexico, without a minimum amount of GOM designated bluefin tuna quota 
allocation available for that vessel, as specified in Sec.  
635.15(b)(3).
    (52) If leasing bluefin quota allocation, fail to provide all 
required information on the application, as specified under Sec.  
635.15(c)(2).
    (53) Lease bluefin quota allocation in an amount that exceeds the 
amount of bluefin allocation associated with the lessor, as specified 
under Sec.  635.15(c)(2).
    (54) Sell quota share, as specified under Sec.  635.15(d).
    (c) * * *
    (1) As specified in Sec.  635.19(c), retain a billfish harvested by 
gear other than rod and reel, or retain a billfish on board a vessel 
unless that vessel has been issued an Atlantic HMS Angling or Charter/
Headboat permit or has been issued an Atlantic Tunas General category 
permit and is participating in a tournament in compliance with Sec.  
635.4(c).
* * * * *
    (7) Deploy a J-hook or an offset circle hook in combination with 
natural bait or a natural bait/artificial lure combination when 
participating in a tournament for, or including, Atlantic billfish, as 
specified in Sec.  635.21(f).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (12) Fish for Atlantic sharks with unauthorized gear or possess 
Atlantic sharks on board a vessel with unauthorized gear on board as 
specified in Sec.  635.19(d).
    (13) Fish for Atlantic sharks with a gillnet or possess Atlantic 
sharks on board a vessel with a gillnet on board, except as specified 
in Sec.  635.21(g).
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (8) Fish for North Atlantic swordfish from, possess North Atlantic 
swordfish on board, or land North Atlantic swordfish from a vessel 
using or having on board gear other than pelagic longline, green-stick 
gear, or handgear, except as specified at Sec.  635.19(e).
* * * * *
    (11) As the owner of a vessel permitted, or required to be 
permitted, in the swordfish directed, swordfish handgear limited access 
permit category, or issued a valid HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat 
permit and utilizing buoy gear, to possess or deploy more than 35 
individual floatation devices, to deploy more than 35 individual buoy 
gears per vessel, or to deploy buoy gear without

[[Page 52078]]

affixed monitoring equipment, as specified at Sec.  635.21(h).
* * * * *
    (16) Possess any HMS, other than Atlantic swordfish, harvested with 
buoy gear as specified at Sec.  635.19 unless issued a valid HMS 
Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit and operating within the U.S. 
Caribbean as defined at Sec.  622.2.
* * * * *
    (18) As the owner of a vessel permitted, or required to be 
permitted, in the Swordfish General Commercial permit category, possess 
North Atlantic swordfish taken from its management unit by any gear 
other than rod and reel, handline, bandit gear, green-stick, or harpoon 
gear, as specified in Sec.  635.19 (e).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2013-19991 Filed 8-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P