[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 129 (Monday, July 7, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38259-38265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15799]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140403309-4529-02]
RIN 0648-BE16


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational 
Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Fisheries; Fishing Year 2014

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is implementing management measures for the 2014 summer 
flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The 
implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish 
recreational measures for the fishing year. The intent of these 
measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and 
black sea bass resources.

DATES: Effective July 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) 
for the 2014 recreational management measures document, including the 
Supplemental Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (SEA/RIR/IRFA) and other 
supporting documents for the recreational management measures are 
available from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 North State Street, 
Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the Internet 
at http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

General Background

    The summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries are managed

[[Page 38260]]

cooperatively by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, in consultation with the 
New England and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The FMP and 
its implementing regulations, which are found at 50 CFR part 648, 
subparts A (general provisions), G (summer flounder), H (scup), and I 
(black sea bass), describe the process for specifying annual 
recreational management measures that apply in the Exclusive Economic 
Zone (EEZ). The states from North Carolina to Maine manage these 
fisheries within 3 nautical miles of their coasts, under the 
Commission's plan for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The 
Federal regulations govern fishing activity in the EEZ, as well as 
vessels possessing Federal permits for summer flounder, scup, and/or 
black sea bass, regardless of where they fish.
    A proposed rule to implement the 2014 Federal recreational measures 
for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational 
fisheries was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2014 (79 FR 
26685). Additional background and information is provided in the 
preamble to the proposed rule and is not repeated here.

2014 Recreational Management Measures

    In this rule, NMFS is implementing management measures for the 2014 
summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. All 
minimum fish sizes discussed hereafter are total length measurements of 
the fish, i.e., the straight-line distance from the tip of the snout to 
the end of the tail while the fish is lying on its side. For black sea 
bass, total length measurement does not include the caudal fin tendril. 
All possession limits discussed below are per person.

2014 Recreational Management Measures

    This rule implements the following measures that would apply in the 
Federal waters of the EEZ and to all federally permitted party/charter 
vessels with applicable summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass 
permits regardless of where they fish: For summer flounder, use of 
state-by-state conservation equivalency measures, which are the status 
quo measures; for scup, a 9-inch (22.9-cm) minimum fish size, a 30-fish 
per person possession limit, and an open season of January 1 through 
December 31; and, for black sea bass, a 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum 
fish size, and a 15-fish per person possession limit for open seasons 
of May 19 through September 21 and October 18 through December 31.
    Federal permit holders are reminded that, as a condition of their 
Federal permit, they must abide by the Federal measures, even if 
fishing in state waters. In addition, in instances where the state-
implemented measures are different than the Federal measures, federally 
permitted vessels must adhere to the more restrictive of the two 
measures. This will be applicable for both the 2014 scup and black sea 
bass recreational fisheries.

Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures

    This final rule implements the use of conservation equivalency to 
manage the 2014 summer flounder recreational fishery. NMFS implemented 
Framework Adjustment 2 to the FMP on July 29, 2001 (66 FR 36208), to 
permit the use of conservation equivalency to manage the recreational 
summer flounder fishery. Conservation equivalency allows each state to 
establish its own recreational management measures to achieve its state 
harvest limit partitioned from the coastwide recreational harvest limit 
by the Commission. The combined effect of all of the states' management 
measures achieves the same level of conservation as would Federal 
coastwide measures, hence the term conservation equivalency. Framework 
Adjustment 6 (July 26, 2006; 71 FR 42315) allowed states to form 
regions for conservation equivalency in order to minimize differences 
in regulations for individuals fishing in adjacent waters. For 2014, 
the Commission's Summer Flounder Board voted to implement regional 
conservation equivalency for the first time. The regions are as 
follows: (1) Massachusetts; (2) Rhode Island; (3) Connecticut, New 
York, and New Jersey; (4) Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; and (5) 
North Carolina. This means that minimum fish sizes, possession limits, 
and fishing seasons developed and adopted by the five regions from 
Massachusetts to North Carolina will replace the Federal waters 
measures for 2014.
    The Commission notified the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator 
by letter dated May 19, 2014, that the 2014 summer flounder 
recreational fishery management measures (i.e., minimum fish size, 
possession limit, and fishing seasons) implemented by the regions 
described above have been reviewed by the Commission's Technical 
Committee and approved by the Commission's Summer Flounder Management 
Board. The correspondence indicates that the Commission-approved 
management programs are projected to restrict 2014 recreational summer 
flounder coastwide landings consistent with the state-specific 
requirements established by the Technical Committee and Board through 
the Commission process.
    Based on the recommendation of the Commission, the NMFS Greater 
Atlantic Regional Administrator finds that the recreational summer 
flounder fishing measures proposed to be implemented by the approved 
regions for 2014 are the conservation equivalent of the season, minimum 
size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  648.104(b), 
648.105, and 648.106(a), respectively. According to Sec.  
648.107(a)(1), vessels subject to the recreational fishing measures of 
this part and landing summer flounder in a state with an approved 
conservation equivalency program shall not be subject to Federal 
measures, and shall instead be subject to the recreational fishing 
measures implemented by the state in which they land. Section 
648.107(a) has been amended to recognize state-implemented measures as 
conservation equivalent of the coastwide recreational management 
measures for 2014. The 2014 summer flounder management measures adopted 
by the individual states vary according to the state of landing, as 
specified in Table 1.

  Table 1--2014 Commission Approved State-by-State Conservation Equivalent Recreational Management Measures for
                                                 Summer Flounder
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Minimum size    Minimum size
             State                  (inches)          (cm)        Possession limit           Open season
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Massachusetts..................              16            40.6  5 fish...........  May 22-September 30.
Rhode Island...................              18            45.7  8 fish...........  May 1-December 31.
Connecticut *..................              18            45.7  5 fish...........  May 17-September 21.

[[Page 38261]]

 
New York.......................              18            45.7  4 fish...........  May 17-September 21.
New Jersey *...................              18            45.7  5 fish...........  May 23-September 27.
Delaware.......................              16            40.6  4 fish...........  All year.
Maryland.......................              16            40.6  4 fish...........  All year.
Potomac River Fisheries                      16            40.6  4 fish...........  All year.
 Commission.
Virginia.......................              16            40.6  4 fish...........  All year.
North Carolina.................              15            38.1  6 fish...........  All year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: At 42 designated shore sites in Connecticut, anglers may keep 5 fish at 16.0 inches (40.6 cm), May 15-
  September 1. At 1 designated pilot site in New Jersey, anglers may keep 2 fish at 16.0 inches (40.6 com), May
  23-September 27.

    In addition, this action implements the coastwide measures (18-inch 
(45.7-cm) minimum size, 4-fish possession limit, May 1-September 30 
open fishing season), to become effective January 1, 2015, when 
conservation equivalency expires.

Scup Recreational Management Measures

    This final rule implements the Council and Commission's recommended 
scup recreational management measures for 2014 in Federal waters. The 
2014 scup recreational harvest limit is 7.03 million lb (3,188 mt), as 
published in the 2013 and 2014 specifications final rule (December 31, 
2012; 77 FR 76942). Final 2013 scup recreational landings are 5.11 
million lb (2,319 mt), well below the 2013 recreational harvest limit; 
therefore, no reduction in landings is needed. The measures for the 
2014 scup recreational fishery are for a 9-inch (22.9-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 30-fish per person possession limit, and an open season of 
January 1 through December 31.

Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

    This final rule implements recreational management measures to 
reduce landings for black sea bass. The 2014 black sea bass 
recreational harvest limit is 2.26 million lb (1,025 mt). The 2013 
black sea bass recreational landings limit was the same, and the 
projected landings at the time that the Council and Board met to 
recommend 2014 measures were 2.46 million lb (1,115 mt). This would 
have required a 7-percent reduction in 2014 landings relative to 2013. 
Final Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) data indicate that 
the 2013 recreational black sea bass landings were approximately 2.33 
million lb (1,058 mt), or 3.2 percent over the 2013 and 2014 
recreational harvest limits.
    In 2012, recreational black sea bass catch exceeded the 2012 annual 
catch limit of 2.52 million lb (1,143 mt) by 129 percent, with total 
catch estimates approximately 5.78 million lb (2,620 mt). As a result, 
the recently implemented recreational accountability measure needs to 
be addressed for the 2014 fishing year. The Council's recreational 
accountability measure system requires, for stocks in a healthy 
condition such as black sea bass, that the Council take into account 
the overage and the performance of the management measures when setting 
a subsequent year's management measures. The Council contends that 
utilizing the process that they have always used (i.e., comparing last 
year's landings to this year's harvest limit) is in compliance with the 
accountability measure.
    However, NMFS disagrees with the Council's interpretation. The 
recreational accountability measures were revised last year in response 
to a pending pound-for-pound payback that would have otherwise been 
implemented for this year. In the Omnibus Recreational Accountability 
Measures Amendment (Final Rule, December 19, 2013; 78 FR 76759), the 
accountability measure was described as resulting in the Council doing 
something different than what had previously been done if triggered. 
That is, the accountability measure requires that the Council take the 
overage and the poor performance of the management measures ``into 
account.'' This may result in the subsequent year's management measures 
being ``less liberal, or more restrictive than otherwise would have 
been, had the overage not occurred.'' This could also mean that the 
process by which the management measures are set (updated data, more 
precise estimates of catch per angler per day, etc.) has been improved 
upon as a result of the poor performance of the management measures, or 
other decisions or improvements that allow the Council to make a more 
informed decision and implement management measures with more 
confidence in their performance. The Council has not sufficiently 
demonstrated how the ``performance review'' included the overage from 
2012 when setting the 2014 management measures. It appears that the 
Council's process was the same as it would have been had the overage 
not occurred and the accountability measure not been triggered. The 
Council submitted a comment requesting an additional 6 days be added to 
the September/October season to achieve only a 3-percent reduction in 
landings, instead of the originally recommended 7 percent reduction, 
relative to 2013. Prior to the public comment period, the Commission 
requested that NMFS take into consideration the final 2013 MRIP 
estimates when taking final action.
    Because the reduction in recreational black sea bass landings 
required from 2013 to 2014 is only 3.2 percent based on final MRIP 
estimates, and based on comments received from the Council and the 
Commission, NMFS has determined that measures expected to result in a 
reduction in landings of approximately 5-percent has a higher 
likelihood of preventing the recreational harvest limit from being 
exceeded again, without being unnecessarily punitive. As a result, this 
final rule implements measures that are different than the proposed 
measures. The Council's originally proposed measures (12.5-inch (31.8-
cm) minimum fish size, 15-fish per person bag limit, and open seasons 
of May 19 through September 18 and October 18 through December 31) 
would result in a 7-percent reduction in landings relative to 2013. 
This rule implements the same minimum size and possession limit as 
proposed, but adds 3 days in September, so that the fishing season runs 
from May 19 through

[[Page 38262]]

September 21 and October 18 through December 31, 2014. This is expected 
to result in a 5-percent reduction in landings and complies with the 
accountability measure, while responding to the Council's and the 
Commission's comments to base the final measures on the final MRIP 
landings information.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received three comments regarding the proposed recreational 
management measures. Two of the commenters both disagreed with the 
landings information, specifically for black sea bass, but additionally 
mentioned displeasure over reduced quotas on the recreational but not 
commercial fishery. In addition, the commenters were concerned about 
the stock becoming overfished, and that the commercial fishery was able 
to land more than the recreational fishery. The black sea bass stock is 
not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. In addition, the 
recreational black sea bass fishery has a greater share of the overall 
quota than the commercial fishery. Both of these commenters appeared to 
reside in the state of Georgia, and may have been confusing this black 
sea bass fishery with the one managed by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council's Snapper/Grouper FMP.
    NMFS received a comment letter from the Mid-Atlantic Council's 
Executive Director further explaining their interpretation of the 
accountability measure for black sea bass. (See above for more 
information.) The Council's comment also requested that we extend the 
black sea bass season by 6 additional days in September. This would be 
expected to result in a 3-percent reduction in landings, instead of 7 
percent. We also received a letter from the Commission, although prior 
to the formal comment period, requesting that we consider the updated 
landings estimates when determining the necessary reduction for the 
black sea bass measures. As described above, while we disagree with the 
Council's interpretation of their accountability measures, NMFS is 
implementing measures taking into account both the Council's and the 
Commission's comments. The proposed measures were initially derived 
when a 7-percent reduction in landings was believed to be needed. Final 
MRIP landings information indicates that the 2013 recreational harvest 
limit was only exceeded by 3.2 percent. If the accountability measure 
not been triggered by the overage in 2012, all that would be needed is 
the 3-percent reduction. Implementing only a 3-percent reduction in 
landings, based upon the same data and the same process, without 
additional confidence that the measures would be expected to perform 
better, would not comply with the accountability measure necessary for 
this fishing year. As a result, this final rule implements measures 
that would be expected to result in a 5-percent reduction in landings.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    As described above, in response to comments received from the 
Council and the Commission, the black sea bass management measures 
implemented by this final rule are different than those proposed. The 
final black sea bass recreational management measures are as follows: 
12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish size; 15 fish per person bag limit; 
and open seasons of May 19 through September 21 and October 18 through 
December 31.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, 
determined that this final rule implementing the 2014 summer flounder, 
scup, and black sea bass recreational management measures is necessary 
for the conservation and management of the summer flounder, scup, and 
black sea bass fisheries, and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act and other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause 
to waive the requirement for a 30-day delay in effectiveness under the 
provisions of section 553(d) of the APA because a delay in its 
effectiveness would not serve any legitimate purpose, while unfairly 
prejudicing federally permitted charter/party vessels. This action will 
decrease the minimum size for the recreational scup fishery in Federal 
waters and allow federally permitted charter/party vessels to be 
subject to the new summer flounder measures in their respective states. 
Because some states' summer flounder fisheries are already open or will 
open during the 30-day period, federally permitted charter/party 
vessels would be restricted to the existing summer flounder coastwide 
regulations (18-inch) minimum size and a 2-fish per person possession 
limit) until the Federal regulations are effective. This would 
unnecessarily disadvantage the federally permitted vessels, which would 
be subject to the more restrictive measures while state-licensed 
vessels could be engaged in fishing activities under this year's 
management measures. If this final rule were delayed for 30 days, the 
fishery would likely forego some amount of landings and revenues during 
the delay period.
    While these restrictions would be alleviated after this rule 
becomes effective, fishermen may be not able to recoup the lost 
economic opportunity of foregone trips that would result from delaying 
the effectiveness of this action. Finally, requiring a 30-day delay 
before the final rule becomes effective would not provide any benefit 
to the regulated parties. Unlike actions that require an adjustment 
period to comply with new rules, charter/party operators will not have 
to purchase new equipment or otherwise expend time or money to comply 
with these management measures. Rather, complying with this final rule 
simply means adhering to the published management measures for each 
relevant species of fish while the charter/party operators are engaged 
in fishing activities.
    In addition, this rule decreases the possession limit for black sea 
bass, which is an important factor in determining appropriate measures 
that allow the fishery to achieve, but not exceed, recreational harvest 
limit. The black sea bass fishery started on May 19, 2014, with a 20-
fish possession limit. This rule implements a 15-fish possession limit. 
Leaving the larger trip limit in place for longer than is necessary 
could result in the recreational harvest limit being exceeded, 
potentially compromising the long-term health of the resource and the 
conservation objectives of the FMP.
    For these reasons, the Assistant Administrator finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay and to implement this rule publication in the 
Federal Register.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    This final rule includes the FRFA prepared pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
604(a). The FRFA incorporates the economic impacts described in the 
IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by the public comments 
in response to the IRFA, NMFS' responses to those comments, and a 
summary of the analyses completed to support the action. Copies of the 
EA/RIR/IRFA and SEA are available from the Council and NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).

Statement of Objective and Need

    A description of the reasons why the 2014 recreational management 
measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass are being 
implemented, and the objectives of and legal basis for this final rule 
implementing both actions are

[[Page 38263]]

explained in the preambles to the proposed rule and this final rule, 
and are not repeated here.

A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public Comments in 
Response to the IRFA, a Summary of the Assessment of the Agency of Such 
Issues, and a Statement of Any Changes Made in the Proposed Rule as a 
Result of Such Comments

    Three comments were received on the proposed rule; however, none 
addressed the IRFA or economic analysis and the changes to the rule 
were not related to the economic analysis.

Description and Estimate of Number of Small Entities to Which This Rule 
Will Apply

    The recreational management measures could affect any recreational 
angler who fishes for summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass in the 
EEZ or on a party/charter vessel issued a Federal permit for summer 
flounder, scup, and/or black sea bass. However, the only regulated 
entities affected by this action are party/charter vessels issued a 
Federal permit for summer flounder, scup, and/or black sea bass, and so 
the RFA analyses are focused on the expected impacts on this segment of 
the affected public. These vessels are all considered small entities 
for the purposes of the RFA, i.e., businesses in the recreational 
fishery with gross revenues of up to $7.0 million. These small entities 
can be specifically identified in the Federal vessel permit database 
and would be impacted by the recreational measures, regardless of 
whether they fish in Federal or state waters. Although fishing 
opportunities by individual recreational anglers may be impacted by 
this action, they are not considered small entities under the RFA.
    The Council estimated that the measures could affect any of the 777 
vessels possessing a Federal charter/party permit for summer flounder, 
scup, and/or black sea bass in 2012, the most recent year for which 
complete permit data are available. However, only 346 vessels reported 
active participation in the 2012 recreational summer flounder, scup, 
and/or black sea bass fisheries. Further, it was determined, based on 
improved ownership information, that there were 326 unique fishing 
business entities. The vast majority of these fishing businesses were 
solely engaged in for-hire fishing, but some also earned revenue from 
shellfish and/or finfish fishing. The highest percentage of annual 
gross revenues though for all 326 fishing businesses was from for-hire 
fishing. In other words, the revenue from for-hire fishing was greater 
than the revenue from shellfishing and the revenue from finfish fishing 
for all 326 business entities. Therefore, all of the affected business 
entities are classified as for-hire business entities in this analysis.
    According to the SBA size standards small for-hire fishing 
businesses are defined as firms with annual receipts of up to $7 
million. Average annual gross revenue estimates calculated from the 
most recent 3 years (2010-2012) indicate that none of the 326 business 
entities earned more than $2.4 million from all of their fishing 
activities (for-hire, shellfish, and finfish). Therefore, all of the 
affected business entities are considered ``small'' by the SBA size 
standards; thus, this action will not disproportionately affect small 
versus large entities.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements

    No additional reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance 
requirements are included in this final rule.

Description of the Steps Taken To Minimize Economic Impact on Small 
Entities

    In seeking to minimize the impact of recreational management 
measures (minimum fish size, possession limit, and fishing season) on 
small entities (i.e., Federal party/charter permit holders), NMFS is 
constrained to implementing measures that meet the conservation 
objectives of the FMP and Magnuson-Stevens Act. Management measures 
must provide sufficient constraints on recreational landings, such that 
the established recreational harvest limits have a low likelihood of 
being exceeded, which might lead to overfishing the stock. This rule 
maintains the status quo recreational management measures for summer 
flounder, implements less restrictive management measures for scup, and 
slightly more restrictive measures for black sea bass in Federal 
waters.
    Summer flounder alternatives. The alternatives examined by the 
Council and forwarded for consideration by NMFS consisted of the non-
preferred alternative of coastwide measures (an 18-inch (45.7-cm) 
minimum fish size, a 4-fish per person possession limit, and open 
season from May 1 through September 30), and the preferred alternative 
of conservation equivalency (see Table 1 for measures) with a 
precautionary default backstop (status quo). These were alternatives 1 
and 2, respectively, in the Council's SEA/RIR/IRFA. These two 
alternatives were determined by the Council to provide a high 
probability of constraining recreational landings to levels at or below 
the 2014 recreational harvest limit. Therefore, either alternative 
recreational management system could be considered for implementation 
by NMFS, as the critical metric of satisfying the regulatory and 
statutory requirements would likely be met by either.
    Next, NMFS considered the recommendation of both the Council and 
Commission. Both groups recommended implementation of conservation 
equivalency, with a precautionary default backstop. For NMFS to 
disapprove the Council's recommendation for conservation equivalency 
and substitute coastwide management measures, NMFS must reasonably 
demonstrate that the recommended measures are either inconsistent with 
applicable law or that the conservation objectives of the FMP will not 
be achieved by implementing conservation equivalency. NMFS does not 
find the Council and Commission's recommendation to be inconsistent 
with the implementing regulations of the FMP at Sec.  648.100 or the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, including the 10 National Standards.
    The additional metric for consideration by NMFS, applicable to the 
FRFA, is examination of the economic impacts of the alternatives on 
small entities consistent with the stated objectives of applicable 
statutes. As previously stated, both coastwide measures (alternative 1) 
and conservation equivalency (alternative 2) are projected to achieve 
the conservation objectives for the 2014 summer flounder recreational 
fishery. However, the economic impacts of the two alternatives are not 
projected to be equal in the Council's analyses: The economic impacts 
on small entities under the coastwide measures management system would 
vary in comparison to the conservation equivalency system, dependent on 
the specific state wherein the small entities operate.
    Quantitative analyses of the economic impacts associated with 
conservation equivalency measures are not available. This is because 
the development of the individual state measures occurs concurrent to 
the NMFS rulemaking process to ensure timely implementation of final 
measures for the 2014 recreational fishery; thus, the specific measures 
implemented by states are not available for economic impact analyses. 
Instead, qualitative methods were utilized by the Council to

[[Page 38264]]

assess the relative impact of conservation equivalency (alternative 2) 
to coastwide measures (alternative 1). The Council analysis concluded, 
and NMFS agrees, that conservation equivalency is expected to minimize 
impacts on small entities because individual states or regions can 
develop specific summer flounder management measures that allow the 
fishery to operate during each state's critical fishing periods while 
still achieving conservation goals.
    NMFS is implementing the Council and Commission's recommended 
regional conservation equivalency measures because: (1) NMFS finds no 
compelling reason to disapprove the Council and Commission's 
recommended 2014 management system, as the management measures 
contained in conservation equivalency are projected to provide the 
necessary restriction on recreational landings to prevent the 
recreational harvest limit from being exceeded; and (2) the net 
economic impact to small entities on a coastwide basis are expected to 
be mitigated, to the extent practicable, for a much larger percentage 
of small entities.
    Scup alternatives. NMFS is implementing the Council's preferred 
measures as the Federal water measures for the 2014 fishing year: A 9-
inch (22.9-cm) minimum fish size; a 30-fish per person possession 
limit; and year-round open season. Similar to the summer flounder 
discussion, this suite of scup measures (alternative 2) provides the 
greatest economic opportunity for small entities from the alternatives 
available by providing the maximum fishing opportunity in Federal 
waters that also meets the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
the FMP, and achieves the conservation objectives for 2013. Alternative 
1 for a 10.0-inch (25.4-cm) minimum fish size, 30-fish per person 
possession limit, and year-round open season contained measures that 
had higher impacts on small entities fishing in Federal waters, as it 
contains more restrictive measures than would be necessary to satisfy 
the management objectives, and thus this alternative was not 
implemented.
    Black sea bass alternatives. As previously stated in the preamble, 
individual states have developed and implemented measures for use in 
state waters. This rule implement measures between the Council's 
preferred measures and the no action alternative: A 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) 
minimum fish size and a 15-fish possession limit for the May 19-
September 21 and October 18-December 31 fishing seasons. These measures 
provide the greatest associated economic opportunities to small 
entities of the measures considered for Federal waters that also meets 
the statutory and regulatory requirements for the 2014 fishery. The no 
action alternative (Alternative 1; 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish 
size, a 20-fish per person possession limit, and open season of May 19 
through October 14 and November 1 through December 31), does not 
satisfy the management objectives of the FMP, as a reduction in 
landings as compared to 2013 is necessary, and thus this alternative 
was not implemented. Further, this alternative does not comply with the 
accountability measure requirements of the FMP, and is inconsistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Alternative 2 (the Council's preferred 
alternative; A 12.5-inch (31.8-cm) minimum fish size and a 15-fish 
possession limit for the May 19-September 21 and October 18-December 31 
fishing seasons) is unnecessarily restrictive, given the final 2013 
MRIP landings estimates.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency shall explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. As part of 
this rulemaking process, a letter to permit holders that also serves as 
the small entity compliance guide was prepared and will be sent to all 
holders of Federal party/charter permits issued for the summer 
flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. In addition, copies of 
this final rule and the small entity compliance guide are available 
from NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and at the following Web site: http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: July 1, 2014.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. Section 648.107 is revised to read as follows:


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

    (a) The Regional Administrator has determined that the recreational 
fishing measures proposed to be implemented by the states of Maine 
through North Carolina for 2014 are the conservation equivalent of the 
season, minimum size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  
648.102, 648.103, and 648.105(a), respectively. This determination is 
based on a recommendation from the Summer Flounder Board of the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
    (1) Federally permitted vessels subject to the recreational fishing 
measures of this part, and other recreational fishing vessels 
harvesting summer flounder in or from the EEZ and subject to the 
recreational fishing measures of this part, landing summer flounder in 
a state whose fishery management measures are determined by the 
Regional Administrator to be conservation equivalent shall not be 
subject to the more restrictive Federal measures, pursuant to the 
provisions of Sec.  648.4(b). Those vessels shall be subject to the 
recreational fishing measures implemented by the state in which they 
land.
    (2) [Reserved]
    (b) Federally permitted vessels subject to the recreational fishing 
measures of this part, and other recreational fishing vessels 
registered in states and subject to the recreational fishing measures 
of this part, whose fishery management measures are not determined by 
the Regional Administrator to be the conservation equivalent of the 
season, minimum size and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.  
648.102, 648.103(b), and 648.105(a), respectively, due to the lack of, 
or the reversal of, a conservation equivalent recommendation from the 
Summer Flounder Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission shall be subject to the following precautionary default 
measures: Season--May 1 through September 30; minimum size--20 inches 
(50.8 cm); and possession limit--two fish.

0
3. In Sec.  648.126, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.126  Scup minimum fish sizes.

* * * * *
    (b) Party/Charter permitted vessels and recreational fishery 
participants.

[[Page 38265]]

The minimum size for scup is 9 inches (22.9 cm) TL for all vessels that 
do not have a moratorium permit, or for party and charter vessels that 
are issued a moratorium permit but are fishing with passengers for 
hire, or carrying more than three crew members if a charter boat, or 
more than five crew members if a party boat.
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  648.145, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.145  Black sea bass possession limit.

    (a) During the recreational fishing season specified at Sec.  
648.146, no person shall possess more than 15 black sea bass in, or 
harvested from, the EEZ unless that person is the owner or operator of 
a fishing vessel issued a black sea bass moratorium permit, or is 
issued a black sea bass dealer permit. Persons aboard a commercial 
vessel that is not eligible for a black sea bass moratorium permit may 
not retain more than 15 black sea bass during the recreational fishing 
season specified at Sec.  648.146. The owner, operator, and crew of a 
charter or party boat issued a black sea bass moratorium permit are 
subject to the possession limit when carrying passengers for hire or 
when carrying more than five crew members for a party boat, or more 
than three crew members for a charter boat. This possession limit may 
be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.142.
* * * * *

0
5. Section 648.146 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.146  Black sea bass recreational fishing season.

    Vessels that are not eligible for a moratorium permit under Sec.  
648.4(a)(7), and fishermen subject to the possession limit specified in 
Sec.  648.145(a), may only possess black sea bass from May 19 through 
September 21, and October 18 through December 31, unless this time 
period is adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec.  648.142.

[FR Doc. 2014-15799 Filed 7-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P