[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52005-52014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21146]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 150304214-5660-01]
RIN 0648-BE94


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring 
Fishery; Framework Adjustment 4

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes management measures recommended by the New 
England Fishery Management Council in Framework Adjustment 4 to the 
Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan to further enhance catch 
monitoring and address discarding in the herring fishery. NMFS proposes 
measures that would clarify the slippage definition (i.e., discarding 
catch before it has been sampled by an observer), require limited 
access herring vessels to report slippage via the daily vessel 
monitoring system catch report, and require slippage consequence 
measures. NMFS also proposes management measures recommended by the 
Council in Framework 4 that would require volumetric estimates of total 
catch and fish holds to be empty of fish before vessels depart on a 
herring trip and seeks public comment on specific issues with these 
measures identified by NMFS. Lastly, NMFS proposes minor corrections to 
existing regulations.

DATES: Public comments must be received by September 28, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The New England Fishery Management Council developed an 
environmental assessment (EA) for this action that describes the 
proposed action and other considered alternatives and provides a 
thorough analysis of the impacts of the proposed measures and 
alternatives. Copies of the framework, the EA, and the Regulatory 
Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are 
available upon request from Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New 
England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 
01950. The EA/RIR/IRFA is accessible via the Internet at 
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.
    You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2015-0067, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0067, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on the Herring 
Framework Adjustment 4 Proposed Rule.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Carrie Nordeen.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed

[[Page 52006]]

rule may be submitted to NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office, and by email to [email protected] or fax to (202) 
395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Nordeen, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, phone 978-281-9272, fax 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Council adopted Framework Adjustment 4 to the Atlantic Herring 
Fishery Management Plan at its April 22, 2014, meeting. The Council 
submitted Framework 4 to NMFS for review on July 18, 2014, and 
resubmitted to NMFS on February 27, 2015, and April 30, 2015.
    This proposed rule includes management measures recommended by the 
Council in Framework 4 intended to further enhance catch monitoring and 
address discarding in the herring fishery. If implemented, Framework 4 
would clarify the slippage definition, require limited access herring 
vessels to report slippage events on the daily vessel monitoring system 
(VMS) catch report, and establish slippage consequences. Slippage 
consequence measures would require vessels with All Areas (Category A) 
or Areas 2/3 (Category B) Limited Access Herring Permits to move 15 
nautical miles (27.78 km) following an allowable slippage event, 
slippage due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny 
dogfish, and to terminate a fishing trip and return to port following a 
non-allowable slippage event, slippage for any other reason.
    This proposed rule includes two additional management measures also 
recommended by the Council in Framework 4. These measures include 
requiring volumetric catch estimates to be collected aboard vessels 
with limited access herring permits and requiring vessels with Category 
A or B herring permits to have fish holds empty of fish when departing 
on a herring trip. NMFS specifically seeks public comment on the 
consistency of these measures with the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other applicable law.
    Additionally, this proposed rule contains minor corrections to 
existing regulations. NMFS proposes these adjustments under the 
authority of section 305(d) to the MSA, which provides that the 
Secretary of Commerce may promulgate regulations necessary to ensure 
that adjustments to a fishery management plan (FMP) are carried out in 
accordance with the FMP and the MSA. These adjustments, which are 
identified and described below, are necessary to clarify current 
regulations or the intent of the Herring FMP, and would not change the 
intent of any regulations.

Proposed Measures

    The proposed regulations are based on the measures in Framework 4. 
The Council developed Framework 4 to build on catch monitoring 
improvements implemented in Amendment 5 to the Herring FMP (79 FR 8786, 
February 13, 2014) and to address dealer reporting requirements and 
slippage caps that NMFS disapproved as part of Amendment 5.
    NMFS supports improvements to fishery dependent data collections 
and shares the Council's concern for reducing unnecessary discarding. 
During the development of Framework 4, NMFS expressed concern with the 
lack of rationale supporting two of the measures in Framework 4, 
specifically the measures requiring volumetric estimates of total catch 
and empty fish holds at the beginning of a trip. The Council did not 
provide evidence of specific problems with catch monitoring or 
discarding that these measures would address, nor did it demonstrate 
how these measures would rectify any such problems. Therefore, NMFS 
urged the Council to ensure Framework 4 provided adequate justification 
to support these measures. At this time, NMFS does not consider 
Framework 4 to contain sufficient justification for these measures and 
NMFS remains concerned that the utility of these measures does not 
outweigh the compliance, administration, and enforcement costs.
    This proposed rule describes concerns about these measures' 
consistency with the MSA and other applicable law. Following public 
comment, NMFS will determine if these two measures can be approved or 
if they must be disapproved. NMFS seeks public comment on all proposed 
measures in Framework 4, and, in particular, NMFS seeks public comment 
on the proposed requirements for volumetric estimates of total catch 
and empty fish holds at the beginning of a trip and whether these 
measures should be approved or disapproved.

Volumetric Catch Estimates

    Framework 4 would require vessels with limited access herring 
permits to have their fish holds certified and Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center (NEFOP) observers to collect volumetric estimates of 
total catch by measuring the volume of fish in the hold prior to 
offloading. Observers would convert the volumetric estimate to a weight 
and submit the estimated weight to the Greater Atlantic Regional 
Fisheries Office (GARFO) for a cross-check of vessel trip reports 
(VTRs) and dealer reports.
    Vessels with limited access herring permits that store herring 
catch in fish holds would be required to certify the capacity of their 
fish holds and mark their holds at regular intervals to facilitate 
collection of volumetric catch estimates. The fish hold capacity 
measurement would need to be certified by one of the following 
entities: (1) A Certified Marine Surveyor with a fishing specialty by 
the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS); (2) an Accredited 
Marine Surveyor with a fishing specialty by the Society of Accredited 
Marine Surveyors (SAMS); (3) employees or agents of a classification 
society approved by the U.S. Coast Guard pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 3316(c); 
(4) the Maine State Sealer of Weights and Measures; (5) a 
professionally-licensed and/or registered Marine Engineer; or (6) a 
Naval Architect with a professional engineer license. This proposed 
list of entities is consistent with the list of entities approved to 
certify fish hold capacities in the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 
Butterfish FMP. As part of the limited access herring permit renewal 
process in 2016, vessel owners would be required to submit a certified 
fish hold capacity measurement to NMFS with a signed certification by 
the individual or entity that completed the measurement specifying how 
they met the definition of a qualified individual or entity.
    Regulations in the State of Maine already require that herring 
vessels have their fish holds measured and ``sealed'' by the State 
Sealer of Weights and Measures. Additionally, regulations at 50 CFR 
648.4(a)(5)(iii)(H)(1) specifying vessel upgrade restrictions require 
that Tier 1 and Tier 2 limited access Atlantic mackerel vessels certify 
the capacity of their fish holds and submit this information to NMFS. 
Therefore, many vessels that participate in the herring fishery may 
already have the information necessary to determine the capacity of 
their fish holds.
    Vessels with limited access herring permits would be required to 
obtain and retain on board a NMFS-approved measuring stick that would 
be available to the observer to measure the amount of fish in the fish 
hold. At the completion of a fishing trip, but prior to offloading, the 
observer would lower the NMFS-approved measuring stick into the fish 
hold(s) to measure the amount of fish and then estimate the total

[[Page 52007]]

volume of fish on board. Once the observer estimates the total volume 
of fish in the fish hold, the observer would calculate the total weight 
of fish on board based on NMFS-approved volume to weight conversions. 
Framework 4 proposes the following conversions: (1) 1 cubic foot (0.28 
cubic m) = 56.2 pounds (25.49 kg); (2) 1.244 cubic feet (0.035 cubic m) 
= 1 bushel herring (0.035 cubic m) = 70 pounds (31.75 kg); (3) 1 
hogshead (0.62 cubic m) = 17.5 bushels (0.62 cubic m) = 1,225 pounds 
(555.65 kg). Additionally, Framework 4 proposes that 5 percent of the 
total weight would be deducted to account for water in the fish hold. 
Once the final estimate of total weight of fish is determined by the 
observer, that estimate would be recorded along with other sampling 
data collected on that fishing trip. After the observer's data are 
checked and finalized by NEFOP, the observer's estimate of total catch 
would be made available to GARFO for the purpose of cross-checking VTRs 
and dealer data.
    Currently, observers do not estimate total catch in the herring 
fishery. Estimating the volume of fish in fish holds is an accepted 
practice elsewhere in the world, particularly Europe, to estimate the 
weight of total catch. However, requiring observers in the herring 
fishery to collect volumetric estimates of total catch would 
necessitate significant development of this measure prior to 
implementation, including developing a sampling protocol, approving 
volume to weight conversions and deductions to account for water in the 
fish hold, training observers, and evaluating how to use the data. 
Additionally, observers in the herring fishery are not currently 
required to stay with the vessel after landing and contracts for 
observers do not include sampling responsibilities when the vessel is 
in port. Requiring observers to sample vessels in port would require 
modifications to the description of observer duties and contracts with 
observer service providers.
    The requirement for observers to estimate the amount of catch in 
the fish hold is intended to enhance catch monitoring in the herring 
fishery by providing an independent estimate of total catch. This 
measure was developed to address stakeholder concerns with NMFS's 
reliance on industry-reported catch data to monitor the herring 
fishery. Specifically, some stakeholders, including environmental 
organizations, the groundfish industry, and recreational fishing 
groups, believe that herring catch is not accurately reported by the 
industry and that large discrepancies exist between vessel and dealer 
reports. The herring industry, in general, does not believe that 
herring catch is being misreported but, in an effort to address 
stakeholder concerns, supports the requirement for observers to collect 
an estimate of total catch.
    Vessels and dealers report catch by species. VTRs, in combination 
with observer data, are used by NMFS in herring stock assessments and 
to track catch against catch caps in the herring fishery, while dealer 
data are used to track catch against herring annual catch limits. The 
proposed measure would provide an estimate of total catch, but not 
catch by species. Therefore, the volumetric estimate could not be used 
to replace either VTRs or dealer data and it could not be used for 
catch monitoring or stock assessments. While the data generated under 
this proposed measure would not replace industry-reported data used for 
quota monitoring and stock assessments, it is intended to help measure 
the utility of industry-reported catch data, identify, catch reporting 
issues, and alleviate concerns that vessel operators and dealers 
collude to misreport catch.
    Framework 4 does not provide evidence of misreporting by the 
herring industry, but it does highlight past differences between the 
amount of herring reported by vessels and dealers. Prior to 2008, 
discrepancies between VTRs and dealer data ranged from 4 percent to 54 
percent. The vessel hail estimate (reported on the VTR) is different 
than amount of fish purchased (reported by dealers) so differences 
between these data sets are expected. However, discrepancies between 
VTR and dealer data greater than 10 percent are considered substantial.
    In recent years, discrepancies between VTRs and dealer data have 
been minimal. VTRs were higher than dealer reports in 2009 (2 percent), 
2010 (1.3 percent), 2011 (1.2 percent), and 2013 (0.1 percent) and less 
than dealer reports in 2012 (0.1 percent). As described in NMFS's April 
17, 2014, letter to the Council, GARFO has improved the process for 
cross-checking and resolving differences between VTR and dealer data. 
Staff use advanced programming to match VTR and dealer data for each 
trip and identify records that do not match. They then investigate each 
unmatched record to determine the cause of the discrepancy and make the 
correction to the appropriate data set. This investigation process 
includes interviews with dealers, vessel operators, and owners to 
obtain supporting documentation for the correction and to ensure 
industry concurs with the data corrections. Given that discrepancies 
between VTR and dealer data are investigated and resolved, NMFS does 
not consider as necessary the proposed measure for observers to collect 
a volumetric estimate of total catch to help identify or resolve 
discrepancies between VTR and dealer data.
    Framework 4 discusses the concern that catch is not being 
accurately reported, but cautions whether the proposed measure would be 
more accurate than methods currently used by vessel operators or 
dealers to estimate catch. The volumetric conversions proposed in 
Framework 4 are based on herring harvested in other parts of the world. 
Using a volumetric conversion assumes consistency in the size, weight, 
and density of the catch, but there can be substantial variability in 
the catch composition of the herring fishery, depending on the area and 
season. The proposed 5 percent deduction from total weight to account 
for water in the tanks is based on best known practices among the 
industry, but the Council did not rigorously evaluate the amount of the 
deduction. For these reasons, Framework 4 explains that converting a 
volume of total fish to pounds based on a herring-based conversion 
could produce less accurate catch estimates than current vessel or 
dealer estimates. Because of the potential variability and 
uncertainties associated with volumetric estimates and volumetric 
conversions, catch estimates derived under this proposed measure would 
not be used to replace any current estimates of herring catch. 
Therefore, the impact of this proposed measure on the herring resource 
is likely to be negligible.
    Framework 4 suggests that portside samplers, in addition to 
observers, could provide independent catch verification in the herring 
fishery. Currently, the portside sampling program that samples the 
herring fishery is a voluntary program administered by the states of 
Massachusetts and Maine. It is not possible to implement a mandatory 
Federal data collection through a voluntary state sampling program. It 
may be possible to collect catch data in a future Federal portside 
sampling program, such as the portside sampling alternative for the 
midwater trawl fleet being considered in the Council's Industry-Funded 
Monitoring Omnibus Amendment, provided that the data collected would 
improve monitoring in the herring fishery.
    During the development of Framework 4, NMFS expressed concern 
regarding the utility of the proposed measure and the reliability of a 
volumetric estimate of total catch. When

[[Page 52008]]

the Council adopted Framework 4 at its April 2014 meeting, NMFS 
commented that it was unclear how GARFO would use the volumetric 
estimate of total catch and whether a volumetric estimate collected by 
an observer would be any more accurate than either the vessel or dealer 
reported data. Framework 4 describes that the proposed measure is 
intended to enhance catch monitoring, but it does not describe the 
specifics of how the volumetric catch estimate will be used to cross-
check vessel and dealer data. In recent years, discrepancies between 
VTR and dealer reports have averaged approximately 1 percent; 
therefore, using the volumetric estimate to resolve those discrepancies 
does not seem necessary. Additionally, because of assumptions inherent 
in the calculation to convert volume to weight, Framework 4 cautions 
that the proposed measure could result in the catch estimate less 
accurate than either the vessel or dealer data.
    In summary, NMFS seeks public comment on whether and how the 
proposed measure has practical utility that outweighs its additional 
compliance and administrative costs. Specifically, NMFS seeks comment 
on whether and how the benefit of the information provided from this 
measure compares to the additional burden on vessel owner/operators to 
certify their fish holds and make available a measuring stick for 
observers, consistent with the requirements of MSA National Standards 5 
and 7 and the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). NMFS seeks comment on the 
quality of the information produced and whether and how it is relevant 
to and sufficient for the purposes of monitoring the fishery, 
facilitating inseason management, or judging the performance of the 
management regime, consistent with the requirements of MSA National 
Standard 2. NMFS also seeks comment on whether and how this measure 
allows the fishery to operate at the lowest possible administrative and 
enforcement costs relative to any additional monitoring benefit 
provided by this measure, consistent with the requirements of MSA 
National Standard 5. Lastly, NMFS seeks comment on the accuracy of the 
burden estimate, ways to enhance the quality or utility of the 
information collected, and ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collection. After evaluating public comment, NMFS will 
determine if the proposed volumetric catch estimate requirement can be 
approved or if it must be disapproved.

Empty Fish Holds

    Framework 4 would require fish holds of vessels with Category A or 
B limited access herring permits to be empty of fish before leaving the 
dock on any trip declared into the herring fishery. A waiver may be 
issued by an authorized law enforcement officer when fish have been 
reported as caught and cannot be sold due to the condition of fish.
    The Council proposed this measure to enhance catch monitoring and 
discourage wasteful fishing practices in the herring fishery. The 
practice of discarding unmarketable fish on a subsequent trip is not 
known to be prevalent in the herring fishery, but some stakeholders are 
concerned that fish not purchased by a dealer, and discarded on a 
subsequent trip, may not be reported on the VTR. The Council intended 
this measure to discourage the discarding of unreported fish, provide a 
mechanism to document when harvested fish become unmarketable, and 
prevent vessel operators from mixing fish from multiple trips in the 
hold, potentially biasing catch data.
    Initially, this measure consisted of only the requirement that 
vessel fish holds be empty of fish at the beginning of a herring trip. 
But recognizing that there may be unforeseen events that make it 
difficult to sell fish (e.g., refrigeration failure, poor condition, 
lack of market), the Council proposed the waiver provision to mitigate 
the potential costs associated with disposing of unmarketable catch on 
land. The Council intended the waiver to provide a mechanism to verify 
that fish had been reported and document the nature and extent to which 
vessels are departing on trips with fish in their holds. Additionally, 
some vessels in the herring fishery land their catch in multiple ports, 
and the Council intended that the waiver provision would allow that 
practice to continue.
    NMFS is concerned with the lack of justification for this measure 
and how the compliance and enforcement costs associated with this 
measure seem to outweigh the benefits. NMFS would still need to 
significantly develop this measure prior to implementation, including 
developing a protocol for checking if fish holds are empty of fish, 
developing guidance for when/how waivers would be issued, specifying 
what a vessel must do if it cannot obtain a waiver, and developing a 
process to use/track waivers. At the April 2014 Council meeting, NMFS 
commented that it was unclear how this requirement would improve catch 
data and urged the Council to ensure that Framework 4 provided clear 
rationale for this measure.
    While prohibiting the disposal of unmarketable catch at sea, unless 
a waiver is issued, may discourage wasteful fishing practices, there is 
insufficient support in the record to determine whether this practice 
is frequently occurring in the herring fishery. The costs associated 
with a herring trip, such as fuel, crew wages, and insurance, are 
substantial, so it is unlikely that vessel owners/operators are 
harvesting fish with the intention to discard rather than sell the 
fish. Additionally, Framework 4 acknowledges that disposing of 
unmarketable catch at sea on a subsequent fishing trip is not known to 
occur regularly in the herring fishery.
    Framework 4 explains that it is unclear whether unmarketable catch 
discarded at sea on a subsequent trip is reported. Part of the 
justification for the waiver provision is to provide a way to verify 
that fish have been reported and document the extent to which vessels 
are departing on trips with fish in their holds. However, the Council's 
proposed waiver provides no way of verifying the amount of fish 
reported relative to the amount of fish left in the hold. Therefore, 
NMFS does not consider this measure to contain a viable mechanism to 
verify whether harvested fish that are left in the hold were reported 
by the vessel.
    Because the proposed measure lacks a mechanism to verify or correct 
the amount of fish reported on the VTR, the proposed measure is 
unlikely to improve catch monitoring in the herring fishery. In 
contrast, the compliance and enforcement costs associated with the 
proposed measure may be high. For example, vessel operators needing to 
dispose of fish at sea may lose time and money waiting for an 
authorized law enforcement officer to travel to their vessel, inspect 
it, and issue a waiver. Additionally, it would likely be time consuming 
for authorized officers to issue waivers and would divert resources 
from other law enforcement duties.
    This proposed measure is also intended to enhance catch monitoring 
in the herring fishery by preventing vessel operators from mixing fish 
from multiple trips in the hold and biasing catch data. NEFOP observers 
sample the catch while it is on the deck, before it is placed in the 
fish hold, so there is no chance that observers would be sampling fish 
from multiple trips that were mixed in the hold. The herring fishery is 
also sampled portside by the Massachusetts' Department of Marine 
Fisheries (MA DMF) and Maine's

[[Page 52009]]

Department of Marine Resources. Mixing of catch from multiple fishing 
trips, although unlikely, may have the potential to bias landings data 
used to inform herring stock assessments, state management spawning 
closures, and the river herring avoidance program operated by the 
University of Massachusetts' School of Marine Fisheries and MA DMF.
    The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is also considering 
a requirement that vessel fish holds be empty of fish before vessels 
depart on a herring fishing trip in Amendment 3 to its Interstate FMP 
for Atlantic Herring. Establishing a similar provision in this action 
may promote coordination between Federal and state management of the 
herring fishery, but for the reasons described above, it is unlikely to 
improve catch monitoring in the herring fishery.
    In summary, NMFS seeks public comment on whether and how the 
proposed measure has practical utility that outweighs its additional 
compliance and enforcement costs. Specifically, NMFS seeks comment on 
whether and how requiring empty fish holds improves catch monitoring 
and how any benefit of catch monitoring provided by requiring empty 
fish holds compares to the additional burden on vessel owner/operators 
to obtain a waiver from an authorized officer, consistent with the 
requirements of MSA National Standard 7 and the PRA. NMFS also seeks 
comment on whether and how the measure minimizes costs, avoids 
unnecessary duplication, and provides fishermen with the greatest 
possible freedom of action in conducting business or imposes an 
unnecessary enforcement burden relative to the requirements of MSA 
National Standard 7. Further, NMFS seeks comment on the proposed 
measure's efficient use of fishery resources, specifically whether and 
how this measure allows the fishery to operate at the lowest possible 
enforcement costs relative to the requirements of MSA National Standard 
5. Lastly, NMFS seeks comment on the accuracy of the burden estimate, 
ways to enhance the quality or utility of the information collected, 
and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection. After 
evaluating public comment, NMFS will determine if the proposed empty 
fish hold requirement can be approved or if it must be disapproved.

Clarification of Existing Slippage Measures

    Framework 4 proposes clarifications to slippage measures 
implemented in Amendment 5 (79 FR 8786, February 13, 2014). Currently, 
slippage requirements exist for vessels with limited access herring 
permits and midwater trawl vessels fishing in Groundfish Closed Areas.
    Slippage is currently defined at 50 CFR 648.2 as catch that is 
discarded prior to it being brought aboard a vessel issued a herring 
permit and/or prior to making it available for sampling and inspection 
by a NMFS-approved observer. Slippage includes releasing catch from a 
codend or seine prior to the completion of pumping the catch aboard and 
the release of catch from a codend or seine while the codend or seine 
is in the water. Fish that cannot be pumped and remain in the codend or 
seine at the end of pumping operations are characterized as operational 
discards, not slippage. Discards that occur after the catch is brought 
on board and sorted are also not considered slippage.
    Measures at Sec.  648.11(m)(4) prohibit slippage aboard any vessel 
issued a limited access herring permit and carrying a NMFS-approved 
observer, except when safety or mechanical failure necessitate slipping 
catch or when excess catch of spiny dogfish prevents fish from being 
pumped aboard the vessel. Vessel may also make test tows without 
pumping catch on board for sampling, provided the gear is re-set 
without releasing its contents and all catch from test tows would be 
available to the observer to sample when the next tow is brought on 
board. If catch is slipped for any the reasons described previously, 
the vessel operator must complete and sign a Released Catch Affidavit 
detailing where, when, and why catch was slipped and the estimated 
weight of each species either retained or slipped on that tow. A 
completed affidavit must be submitted to NMFS within 48 hr of the end 
of the trip.
    When midwater trawl vessels are fishing in the Groundfish Closed 
Areas, measures at Sec.  648.202(b) require those vessels to carry an 
observer and prohibit slippage, except when slippage is due to safety, 
mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny dogfish, and operational 
discards. Operational discards are the relatively small amounts of fish 
that remain in the codend or seine after catch is pumped aboard the 
vessel. The Groundfish Closed Areas include Closed Area I, Closed Area 
II, Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, Cashes Ledge Closure Area, and the 
Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area. Midwater trawl vessels fishing in 
the Groundfish Closed Areas may make test tows, but if catch is slipped 
or operationally discarded, the vessel must immediately exit the 
Groundfish Closed Areas for the remainder of that trip and complete a 
Released Catch Affidavit within 48 hr of the end of the trip.
    When sampling catch at-sea, observers document all catch not 
brought on board and categorize the catch based on disposition code. 
Those codes are later evaluated to determine if they were discard, 
slippage, or operational discard events. Consistent with the 
recommendations of the Herring Plan Development Team, the Council 
believes that clarifying the treatment of catch not brought on board 
should enhance the effectiveness and enforceability of existing and 
proposed management measures to address slippage.
    Framework 4 proposes to maintain the existing requirements that 
prohibit operational discards aboard midwater trawl vessels fishing in 
the Groundfish Closed Areas but allow operational discards to occur on 
board herring vessels fishing outside the Groundfish Closed Areas. 
Current observer protocols include documenting operational discards and 
existing regulations require vessel operators to assist the observer 
with this process. Because it can be time and labor intensive to bring 
these small amounts of fish on board the vessel, the compliance costs 
associated with prohibiting operational discards outside the Groundfish 
Closed Areas would likely outweigh any benefits to the catch monitoring 
program and the herring resource. Especially considering that hauls 
containing operational discards are considered to be ``observed'' hauls 
as the amount and composition of operational discards can be estimated 
by observers. For these reasons, the Council decided to maintain the 
existing requirements that prohibit operational discards aboard 
midwater trawl vessels fishing in the Groundfish Closed Areas but allow 
operational discards to occur on herring vessels fishing outside the 
Groundfish Closed Areas.
    Framework 4 proposes clarifying slippage, such that a slippage 
event due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny 
dogfish would be categorized as an ``allowable'' slippage event and 
slippage for any other reason would be categorized as a ``non-
allowable'' slippage event. These proposed categorizations are intended 
to help clarify the type of slippage event and would then be used to 
determine whether a vessel would be subject to any slippage 
consequences proposed in Framework 4.
    Framework 4 proposes that catch not brought on board due to gear 
damage

[[Page 52010]]

would be categorized as mechanical failure and, therefore, as an 
allowable slippage event. Although a gear failure that results in the 
release of catch from a codend is often beyond the control of the 
captain and crew, instances of catch released due to gear damage are 
similar to instances of catch released due to mechanical failure. 
Therefore, the Council believes that catch released due to gear damage 
should be categorized as mechanical failure and an allowable slippage 
event. As an allowable slippage event, catch not brought on board due 
to gear damage would be subject to existing slippage requirements and a 
slippage consequence proposed in Framework 4.
    Framework 4 proposes that catch that falls out of or off of gear 
and is not brought on board would not be categorized as a slippage 
event. In general, only small amounts of catch fall out or off of gear 
during fishing and/or when catch is being brought aboard the vessel, 
unlike the potential for catch loss due to mechanical failure. 
Therefore, the Council believes that fish that fall out of the gear 
should be categorized as discarded catch, but not slippage. For these 
reasons, instances of catch falling out or off of gear during fishing 
and/or when catch is being brought aboard the vessel would not be 
subject to existing slippage requirements or any proposed slippage 
consequences in Framework 4.

Slippage Consequences

    Building on the slippage restrictions established in Amendment 5, 
Framework 4 proposes requiring vessels to move away from the slippage 
location following an allowable slippage event before resuming fishing. 
Specifically, vessels with Category A or B herring permits slipping 
catch, due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny 
dogfish, would be required to move at least 15 nautical miles (27.78 
km) away from the slippage event location. The vessel would be allowed 
to move 15 nautical miles (27.78 km) away in any direction, but it 
would be prohibited from resuming fishing until it was at least 15 
nautical miles (27.78 km) from the location of the allowable slippage 
event. Additionally, the vessel would be required to remain at least 15 
nautical miles (27.78 km) from the slippage event location for the 
duration of that fishing trip.
    Framework 4 also proposes a trip termination consequence for non-
allowable slippage events. Specifically, vessels with Category A or B 
herring permits slipping catch, for any reason other than safety, 
mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny dogfish, would be required 
to immediately stop fishing and return to port. After having returned 
to port and terminated the fishing trip, vessels would be allowed to 
initiate another fishing trip, consistent with the existing pre-trip 
notification requirements (e.g., contact NEFOP to request an observer, 
VMS trip/gear declaration) for limited access vessels participating in 
the herring fishery.
    Vessels with Category A or B limited access herring permits fishing 
with midwater trawl gear in the Groundfish Closed Areas would also be 
subject to these proposed slippage consequences. Midwater trawl vessels 
are currently required to exit the Groundfish Closed Areas following an 
allowable slippage event and remain outside the Groundfish Closed Areas 
for the duration of that trip. Under these proposed slippage 
consequences, vessels with Category A or B limited access herring 
permits fishing with midwater trawl gear in the Groundfish Closed Area 
would also be required to move at least 15 nautical miles (27.78 km) 
away from the slippage location following an allowable slippage event. 
Therefore, following an allowable slippage event, a midwater trawl 
vessel would need to exit the Groundfish Closed Areas and remain 
outside of the Groundfish Closed Areas for the remainder of the fishing 
trip. If the vessel has been issued a Category A or B limited access 
herring permit, the vessel would also be required to move at least 15 
nautical miles (27.78 km) away from the slippage event and remain at 
least 15 nautical miles (27.78 km) away from the slippage event for the 
remainder of the fishing trip. Additionally, vessels with Category A or 
B limited access herring permits fishing with midwater trawl gear in 
the Groundfish Closed Areas would be required to terminate the fishing 
trip and return to port following a non-allowable slippage event.
    The Council believes that additional consequences for both 
allowable and non-allowable slippage events will enhance the catch 
monitoring program established through Amendment 5 by further 
discouraging slippage in the herring fishery. The herring fishery is a 
relatively high-volume fishery capable of catching large quantities of 
fish in a single tow. Therefore, even a few slippage events have the 
potential to substantially affect species composition data, especially 
extrapolations of incidental catch. The Council recommended the 
requirement that vessels move at least 15 nautical miles (27.78 km) 
following an allowable slippage event for two reasons. First, the 15-
nautical mile (27.78-km) move requirement would apply uniformly to all 
vessels that slipped catch, unlike other considered alternatives (e.g., 
leaving a management area, leaving a statistical area) where the 
magnitude of the move would have depended upon the location of the 
allowable slippage event. Second, the Council believes the 15-nautical 
mile (27.78-km) move requirement would likely provide sufficient 
incentive (i.e., costing time and fuel) for herring vessels to minimize 
slippage while still maximizing opportunities for participating in the 
herring fishery and fully utilizing the available yield. Additionally, 
the Council recommended the requirement that vessels terminate their 
fishing trip following a non-allowable slippage event to reiterate the 
importance of minimizing slippage. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council recommended these same slippage consequences for allowable and 
non-allowable slippage events in the mackerel fishery as part of 
Framework 9 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP. Many 
vessels participate in both the herring and mackerel fisheries, and 
implementing consistent slippage consequences across these fisheries is 
expected to improve compliance and enforcement of these measures.
    Slippage is a significant concern for many stakeholders because 
they believe it undermines the ability to collect unbiased estimates of 
herring catch, as well as other species, in the herring fishery. 
Stakeholders expressed support for proposed measures to address 
slippage in Framework 4, suggesting that implementing these measures 
would further ensure that there is accountability for all catch in the 
herring fishery. Framework 4 explains that when the benefits of 
slipping catch outweigh the costs of slipping catch, vessel operators 
are likely to slip catch. Additionally, Framework 4 describes the 
impact of the slippage consequence measures as low positive for the 
herring resource and low negative for the herring industry. Minimizing 
slippage events and better documentation of slipped catch may improve 
estimates of bycatch in the fishery. To the extent that the amount and 
species composition of slipped catch can be sampled and/or estimated, 
catch monitoring will be enhanced. To the extent that slippage events 
can continue to be reduced, bycatch can be further minimized.

Reporting Slippage Events

    Framework 4 proposes requiring vessels with limited access herring 
permits to report slippage events, including the reason for the 
slippage

[[Page 52011]]

event, via the herring daily VMS catch report. This report, in 
combination with observer data, would help enhance the enforceability 
of existing slippage requirements, such as completing a released catch 
affidavit, as well as the slippage consequences proposed in Framework 
4.

Clarifications and Corrections

    This proposed rule also contains minor clarifications and 
corrections to existing regulations. NMFS proposes these adjustments 
under the authority of section 305(d) to the MSA, which provides that 
the Secretary of Commerce may promulgate regulations necessary to 
ensure that framework adjustments to FMPs are carried out in accordance 
with the FMP and the MSA. These adjustments, which are identified and 
described below, are necessary to clarify current regulations and would 
not change the intent of any regulations.
    NMFS proposes to add a transiting provision for herring management 
areas with seasonal sub-ACLs. This provision would allow vessels to 
transit herring management areas during periods when zero percent of 
the sub-ACL for those areas was available for harvest with herring 
harvested from other herring management areas aboard, provided gear was 
stowed and not available for use. This provision was overlooked during 
rulemaking for Framework Adjustment 2 to the Herring FMP and is 
consistent with the intent of that action. NMFS proposes to remove 
regulations at Sec.  648.80(d)(7) describing requirements for midwater 
trawl vessels fishing in Groundfish Closed Area I because they are 
redundant with regulations at Sec.  648.202(b) describing requirements 
for midwater trawl vessels fishing in any of the Groundfish Closed 
Areas. NMFS proposes adding the definition of operational discards at 
Sec.  648.2 and clarifying that operational discards are not permitted 
aboard midwater trawl vessels fishing in Groundfish Closed Areas, 
unless those fish have first been made available to an observer for 
sampling. NMFS proposes revising references to individual years in 
regulations for carryover at Sec.  648.201 to more correctly describe 
the timing of carryover. Lastly, NMFS proposes to correct coordinates 
for Herring Management Area 2 at Sec.  648.200(f)(2) to more accurately 
define the area.

Classification

    Except for the proposed measures requiring volumetric estimates of 
catch and empty fish holds at the beginning of a trip and pursuant to 
section 304(b)(1)(A) of the MSA, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has 
preliminarily determined that this proposed rule is consistent with the 
Atlantic Herring FMP; other provisions of the MSA; and other applicable 
law, subject to further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic 
impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A 
summary of the analysis follows. A copy of this analysis is available 
from the Council or NMFS (see ADDRESSES) or via the Internet at 
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.

Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered

    This action proposes measures intended to further enhance catch 
monitoring and address discarding in the herring fishery. The preamble 
to this rule includes a complete description of the reasons why this 
action is being considered; therefore, those reasons are not repeated 
here.

Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule

    This action proposes measures intended to further enhance catch 
monitoring and address discarding in the herring fishery. The preamble 
to this proposed rule includes a complete description of the objectives 
of and legal basis for this action; therefore, that description is not 
repeated here.

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

    This action proposes measures to regulate the activity of vessels 
with limited access herring permits and vessels with Category A or B 
limited access herring permits. Therefore, the regulated entity is the 
business that owns at least one limited access herring permit.
    In 2013, the most recent full year of fishery permit data, 93 
fishing vessels were issued a limited access herring permit. Vessels 
and/or permits may be owned by entities affiliated by stock ownership, 
common management, identity of interest, contractual relationships, or 
economic dependency. For the purposes of this analysis, ownership 
entities are defined by those entities with common ownership personnel 
as listed on permit application documentation. Only permits with 
identical ownership personnel are categorized as an affiliated entity. 
For example, if five permits have the same seven personnel listed as 
co-owners on their application paperwork, those seven personnel form 
one ownership entity, covering those five permits. If one or several of 
the seven owners also own additional vessels, with sub-sets of the 
original seven personnel or with new co-owners, those ownership 
arrangements are deemed to be separate entities for the purpose of this 
analysis.
    Based on this ownership criterion, NMFS dealer data for recent 
years (2010-2013), and the size standards for finfish and shellfish 
firms, there are 68 regulated fishing firms with a limited access 
herring permit. Of those 68 firms, there are 61 small entities and 7 
large entities. Not all of these permitted firms are active: Only 32 
small entities and 5 large entities were actively fishing for herring 
during the last 3 years. Additionally, there are 32 regulated fishing 
firms that hold Category A or B herring permits. Of those 32 firms, 
there are 27 small entities and 5 large entities. Not all of these 
permitted firms are active: Only 19 small entities and 5 large entities 
were actively fishing for herring during the last 3 years.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements of This Proposed Rule

    This action proposes collection-of-information requirements subject 
to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the PRA. This requirement will be submitted to OMB for approval 
under Control Numbers 0648-0202 and 0648-0674.
    This action proposes that limited access vessels report slippage 
events via the daily VMS herring catch report. All limited access 
herring vessels are currently required to submit daily VMS catch 
reports, therefore, reporting slippage via VMS is not expected to cause 
any additional time or cost burden above that which was previously 
approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0202.
    This action proposes that vessels with limited access herring 
permits that store herring catch in fish holds would be required to 
certify the capacity of their fish holds and mark their holds at 
regular intervals to facilitate collection of volumetric catch 
estimates. The fish hold capacity measurement would need to be 
certified by one of the following entities: (1) A Certified Marine 
Surveyor with a fishing specialty by the National Association of Marine 
Surveyors (NAMS); (2) an Accredited Marine Surveyor with a fishing 
specialty by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors

[[Page 52012]]

(SAMS); (3) employees or agents of a classification society approved by 
the U.S. Coast Guard pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 3316(c); (4) the Maine State 
Sealer of Weights and Measures; (5) a professionally-licensed and/or 
registered Marine Engineer; or (6) a Naval Architect with a 
professional engineer license. Additionally, vessels would be required 
to obtain and carry on board a NMFS-approved measuring stick that would 
be available to observers to place into the fish hold(s) to measure the 
amount of fish. Each hold volume measurement done by a certified marine 
surveyor is estimated to cost $300-$400. The cost of the NMFS-approved 
measuring stick is unknown at this time, but expected to be minimal. 
Ninety-three vessels were issued a limited access herring permit in 
2013. Therefore, an estimated 93 vessels would be required to submit a 
fish hold volume measurement at the time of permit issuance in 2016 and 
obtain and carry on board a NMFS-approved measuring stick.
    This action also proposes that vessels with Category A or B limited 
access herring permits would be required to have empty holds prior to 
departing on a herring trip. A waiver may be issued by an authorized 
law enforcement officer when fish have been reported as caught and 
cannot be sold due to the condition of fish. Forty-three vessels were 
issued a Category A or B limited access herring permit in 2013. 
Therefore, an estimated 43 vessels would be required to obtain a waiver 
from an authorized officer prior to leaving the dock on a herring trip 
with fish in the hold. The burden to the vessel operator/owner 
associated with obtaining a waiver would be any loss of time and/or 
money waiting for an authorized officer to travel to their vessel, 
inspect it, and issue a waiver.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, 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 collection of 
information, including through the use 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 
Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES), and email to 
[email protected], or fax to (202) 395-5806.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is 
required to, nor shall any person be subject to a 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. All currently approved NOAA collections of 
information may be viewed at: http://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This 
Proposed Rule

    This action does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other 
Federal law.

Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of the Applicable Statues and Which 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

    This action considered alternatives to the proposed action, but, 
according to the analysis in Framework 4, the non-selected alternatives 
would not have met the stated goal of the action, minimized any 
significant economic impact on small entities compared to the proposed 
action, or been consistent with applicable law.
    To help minimize slippage, Framework 4 considered slippage 
consequence measures that would have required vessels to leave either a 
herring management or statistical area following an allowed slippage 
event and remain out of that area for the remainder of the trip. The 
economic cost of complying with these requirements and their 
effectiveness at deterring slippage would have arbitrarily depended 
upon the location of the slippage event and the magnitude of the 
required move. Therefore, the impact of the non-selected alternatives 
would not have applied uniformly to all vessels that slipped catch, 
unlike the impact of complying with the proposed action requiring 
vessels to move 15 nautical miles (27.78 km), and the non-selected 
alternatives may not minimize bycatch to the extent practicable. 
Framework 4 also considered only requiring trip termination following 
non-allowable slippage events, rather than the proposed action of 
requiring both a 15-nautical mile (27.78-km) move following allowable 
slippage events and trip termination following non-allowable slippage 
events. The proposed action was selected rather than just a trip 
termination requirement because the proposed action likely provides a 
greater incentive to not slip catch, thereby helping to minimize 
bycatch to the extent practicable.
    To help identify errors with catch information in the herring 
fishery, Framework 4 considered requiring dealers to have vessel 
representatives corroborate dealer landings data and requiring VTRs and 
dealers reports to be submitted daily rather than weekly. The analysis 
in Framework 4 indicated that both these non-selected alternatives 
would have only had a negligible impact on improving the quality of 
catch information in the herring fishery. Additionally, the reporting 
burden associated with these non-selected alternatives would have 
likely been greater than the reporting burden associated with the 
proposed action requiring vessel fish holds to be empty of fish at the 
beginning of a herring trip.
    Lastly, to improve the quality of herring catch information, 
Framework 4 considered requiring dealers to estimate herring landings 
based on standardized weight conversions for specific volumes of 
herring (e.g., box, storage tote, or truck). The economic cost of 
complying with these non-selected alternatives would have likely been 
similar to the costs associated with the proposed action requiring 
volumetric catch estimates to be collected aboard limited access 
herring vessels. However, the Framework 4 analysis suggests that the 
benefit of these non-selected alternatives would likely have been 
variable, depending on the accuracy of the weight conversions, and may 
have been more uncertain than any benefit resulting from the proposed 
action.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

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

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

0
2. In Sec.  648.2, the definition for ``Slippage in the Atlantic 
herring fishery'' is removed and the definitions for ``Operational 
discards in the Atlantic herring fishery'' and ``Slip, slips, or 
slipping catch in the Atlantic herring fishery'' are added in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  648.2  Definitions.

* * * * *

[[Page 52013]]

    Operational discards in the Atlantic herring fishery means small 
amounts of fish that cannot be pumped on board and remain in the codend 
or seine at the end of pumping operations. Leaving small amounts of 
fish in the codend or seine at the end of pumping operations is 
operationally discarding catch.
* * * * *
    Slip, slips, or slipping catch in the Atlantic herring fishery 
means catch that is discarded by a vessel issued an Atlantic herring 
permit prior to it being brought on board and made available for 
sampling and inspection by a NMFS-approved observer. Slip or slipping 
catch includes releasing fish from a codend or seine prior to the 
completion of pumping the fish on board and the release of fish from a 
codend or seine while the codend or seine is in the water. Slippage or 
slipped catch refers to fish that are slipped. Slippage or slipped 
catch does not include operational discards, discards that occur after 
the catch is brought on board, or fish that inadvertently fall out of 
or off fishing gear as gear is being brought on board the vessel.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  648.4, paragraph (a)(10)(iv)(P) is added to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.4  Vessel permits.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (10) * * *
    (iv) * * *
    (P) Volumetric hold certification. All vessels with limited access 
herring permits that store catch in fish holds must certify the 
capacity of the vessel fish hold. The fish hold capacity measurement 
must be certified by one of the following qualified individuals or 
entities: Certified Marine Surveyor with a fishing specialty by the 
National Association of Marine Surveyors; Accredited Marine Surveyor 
with a fishing specialty by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors; 
employees or agents of a classification society approved by the Coast 
Guard pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 3316(c); the Maine State Sealer of Weights 
and Measures; a professionally-licensed and/or registered Marine 
Engineer; or a Naval Architect with a professional engineer license. 
Vessel owners must submit a certified fish hold capacity measurement to 
NMFS with a signed certification by the individual or entity that 
completed the measurement.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  648.11, paragraphs (m)(3)(ii) and (m)(4) are revised and 
paragraph (m)(5) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.11  At-sea sea sampler/observer coverage.

* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) Reasonable assistance to enable observers to carry out their 
duties, including but not limited to assistance with: Obtaining and 
sorting samples; measuring decks, codends, and holding bins; providing 
an observer a NMFS-approved measuring stick when requested; estimating 
the volume of fish in fish hold(s) before offloading; collecting 
bycatch when requested by the observers; and collecting and carrying 
baskets of fish when requested by the observers.
* * * * *
    (4) Measures to address slippage. (i) No vessel issued a limited 
access herring permit may slip catch, as defined at Sec.  648.2, except 
in the following circumstances:
    (A) The vessel operator has determined, and the preponderance of 
available evidence indicates that, there is a compelling safety reason; 
or
    (B) A mechanical failure, including gear damage, precludes bringing 
some or all of the catch on board the vessel for inspection; or,
    (C) The vessel operator determines that pumping becomes impossible 
as a result of spiny dogfish clogging the pump intake. The vessel 
operator shall take reasonable measures, such as strapping and 
splitting the net, to remove all fish which can be pumped from the net 
prior to release.
    (ii) Vessels may make test tows without pumping catch on board if 
the net is re-set without releasing its contents provided that all 
catch from test tows is available to the observer to sample when the 
next tow is brought on board for sampling.
    (iii) If a vessel issued any limited access herring permit slips 
catch, the vessel operator must report the slippage event on the 
Atlantic herring daily VMS catch report and indicate the reason for 
slipping catch. Additionally, the vessel operator must complete and 
sign a Released Catch Affidavit detailing: The vessel name and permit 
number; the VTR serial number; where, when, and the reason for slipping 
catch; the estimated weight of each species brought on board or slipped 
on that tow. A completed affidavit must be submitted to NMFS within 48 
hr of the end of the trip.
    (iv) If a vessel issued an All Areas or Areas 2/3 Limited Access 
Herring permit slips catch for any of the reasons described in 
paragraph (m)(4)(i) of this section, the vessel operator must move at 
least 15 nm (27.78 km) from the location of release before deploying 
any gear again, and must stay at least 15 nm (27.78 km) away from the 
slippage event location for the remainder of the fishing trip.
    (v) If catch is slipped by a vessel issued an All Areas or Areas 2/
3 Limited Access Herring permit for any reason not described in 
paragraph (m)(4)(i) of this section, the vessel operator must 
immediately terminate the trip and return to port. No fishing activity 
may occur during the return to port.
    (5) Vessels must carry on board a NMFS-approved measuring stick 
which must be made available to the observer upon request.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  648.14, paragraphs (r)(1)(ii)(D), (r)(1)(vii)(F), and 
(r)(2)(xiii) are added and paragraphs (r)(2)(v) through (xii) are 
revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (r) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (D) For vessels issued an All Areas or Areas 2/3 Limited Access 
Herring Permit to begin a declared herring trip to fish for, possess, 
transfer, or receive herring without fish holds empty of fish as 
specified at Sec.  648.204(c), unless the vessel has received a waiver 
to begin a trip with fish in the fish hold.
* * * * *
    (vii) * * *
    (F) Transit or be in an area that has zero percent sub-ACL 
available for harvest specified at Sec.  648.201(d) with herring on 
board, unless such herring were caught in an area or areas with an 
available sub-ACL specified at Sec.  648.201(d), all fishing gear is 
stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in Sec.  648.2, 
and the vessel is issued a vessel permit that authorizes the amount of 
herring on board for the area where the herring was harvested.
* * * * *
    (r) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (v) Fish with midwater trawl gear in any Northeast Multispecies 
Closed Area, as defined in Sec.  648.81(a) through (e), without a NMFS-
approved observer on board, if the vessel has been issued an Atlantic 
herring permit.
    (vi) Slip or operationally discard catch, as defined at Sec.  
648.2, unless for one of the reasons specified at Sec.  648.202(b)(2), 
if fishing any part of a tow inside the Northeast Multispecies Closed 
Areas, as defined at Sec.  648.81(a) through (e).

[[Page 52014]]

    (vii) Fail to immediately leave the Northeast Multispecies Closed 
Areas and comply with reporting requirements after slipping or 
operationally discarding catch, as required by Sec.  648.202(b)(4).
    (viii) Slip catch, as defined at Sec.  648.2, unless for one of the 
reasons specified at Sec.  648.11(m)(4)(i).
    (ix) For vessels with All Areas or Areas 2/3 Limited Access Herring 
Permits, fail to move 15 nm (27.78 km), as required by Sec.  
648.11(m)(4)(iv) and Sec.  648.202(b)(4)(iv).
    (x) For vessels with All Areas or Areas 2/3 Limited Access Herring 
Permits, fail to immediately return to port, as required by Sec.  
648.11(m)(4)(v) and Sec.  648.202(b)(4)(iv).
    (xi) Fail to complete, sign, and submit a Released Catch Affidavit 
if fish are released pursuant to the requirements at Sec.  
648.11(m)(4)(iii).
    (xii) Fail to report a slippage event on the Atlantic herring daily 
VMS catch report, as required by Sec.  648.11(m)(4)(iii).
    (xiii) Fail to carry on board, or make available to an observer 
upon request, a NMFS-approved measuring stick, as required by Sec.  
648.11(m)(5).
* * * * *


Sec.  648.80  [Amended]

0
6. In Sec.  648.80, paragraph (d)(7) is removed.
0
7. In Sec.  648.200, paragraph (f)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.200  Specifications.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) Management Area 2 (South Coastal Area): All state and Federal 
waters inclusive of sounds and bays, bounded on the east by 70[deg]00' 
W. long. and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; 
bounded on the north and west by the southern coastline of Cape Cod, 
Massachusetts, and the coastlines of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New 
York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina; and 
bounded on the south by a line following the lateral seaward boundary 
between North Carolina and South Carolina from the coast to the 
Submerged Lands Act line, approximately 33[deg]48'46.37'' N. lat, 
78[deg]29'46.46'' W. long., and then heading due east along 
33[deg]48'46.37'' N. lat. to the outer limit of the US Exclusive 
Economic Zone.
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  648.201, paragraphs (e) and (f) are revised and paragraph 
(g) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.201  AMs and harvest controls.

* * * * *
    (e) A vessel may transit an area that has zero percent sub-ACL 
available for harvest specified in paragraph (d) of this section with 
herring on board, provided such herring were caught in an area or areas 
with sub-ACL available specified in paragraph (d) of this section, that 
all fishing gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as 
defined in Sec.  648.2, and the vessel is issued a permit that 
authorizes the amount of herring on board for the area where the 
herring was harvested.
    (f) Up to 500 mt of the Area 1A sub-ACL shall be allocated for the 
fixed gear fisheries in Area 1A (weirs and stop seines) that occur west 
of 67[deg]16.8' W. long (Cutler, Maine). This set-aside shall be 
available for harvest by fixed gear within the specified area until 
November 1 of each fishing year. Any portion of this allocation that 
has not been utilized by November 1 shall be restored to the sub-ACL 
allocation for Area 1A.
    (g) Carryover. Subject to the conditions described in this 
paragraph (g), unharvested catch in a herring management area in a 
fishing year (up to 10 percent of that area's sub-ACL) shall be carried 
over and added to the sub-ACL for that herring management area for the 
fishing year following the year when total catch is determined. For 
example, NMFS will determine total catch from Year 1 during Year 2, and 
will add carryover to the applicable sub-ACL(s) in Year 3. All such 
carryover shall be based on the herring management area's initial sub-
ACL allocation for the fishing year, not the sub-ACL as increased by 
carryover or decreased by an overage deduction, as specified in 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section. All herring landed from a herring 
management area shall count against that area's sub-ACL, as increased 
by carryover. For example, if 500 mt of herring is added as carryover 
to a 5,000 mt sub-ACL, catch in that management area would be tracked 
against a total sub-ACL of 5,500 mt. NMFS shall add sub-ACL carryover 
only if the ACL, specified consistent with Sec.  648.200(b)(3), for the 
fishing year in which there is unharvested herring, is not exceeded. 
The ACL, consistent with Sec.  648.200(b)(3), shall not be increased by 
carryover specified in this paragraph (g).
0
9. In Sec.  648.202, paragraphs (b)(2) introductory text, (b)(4) 
introductory text, and (b)(4)(ii) are revised, and paragraphs 
(b)(4)(iii) and (iv) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.202  Season and area restrictions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) No vessel issued an Atlantic herring permit and fishing with 
midwater trawl gear, when fishing any part of a midwater trawl tow in 
the Closed Areas, may slip or operationally discard catch, as defined 
at Sec.  648.2, except in the following circumstances:
* * * * *
    (4) If catch is slipped or operational discarded by a vessel, the 
vessel operator must:
* * * * *
    (ii) Complete and sign a Released Catch Affidavit detailing: The 
vessel name and permit number; the VTR serial number; where, when, and 
for what reason the catch was released; the estimated weight of each 
species brought on board or released on that tow. A completed affidavit 
must be submitted to NMFS within 48 hr of the end of the trip.
    (iii) Report slippage events on the Atlantic herring daily VMS 
catch report and indicate the reason for slipping catch if the vessel 
was issued a limited access herring permit.
    (iv) Comply with the measures to address slippage specified in 
Sec.  648.11(m)(4)(iv) and (v) if the vessel was issued an All Areas or 
Areas 2/3 Limited Access Herring Permit.
0
10. In Sec.  648.204, paragraph (c) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.204  Possession restrictions.

* * * * *
    (c) Vessels issued an All Areas or Areas 2/3 Limited Access Herring 
Permit must have fish holds empty of fish before leaving the dock on 
any trip declared into the Atlantic herring fishery. After inspection 
by an authorized officer, a waiver for the requirement to have fish 
holds empty of fish may be issued to vessels for instances when there 
are fish in the hold due to a lack of marketability or refrigeration 
malfunction, provided those fish have been reported by the vessel.

[FR Doc. 2015-21146 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P