[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60605-60610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25486]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 150603502-5502-01]
RIN 0648-BF14


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic 
Region; Framework Amendment 3

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Amendment 3 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic 
Resources (CMP) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of 
Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) (Framework Amendment 3), as prepared 
and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 
(Council). This proposed rule would modify the trip limit, 
accountability measures (AMs), dealer reporting requirements, and 
gillnet permit requirements for commercial king mackerel landed by run-
around gillnet fishing gear in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The purpose 
of this proposed rule is to increase the efficiency, stability, and 
accountability, and to reduce the potential for regulatory discards of 
king mackerel in the commercial gillnet component of the CMP fishery.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2015-0101'' 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-2015-0101, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Susan Gerhart, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    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).
    Electronic copies of Framework Amendment 3, which includes an 
environmental assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, and a 
regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the Southeast Regional 
Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/2015/framework_am3/index.html.
    Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, clarity of the 
instructions, or other aspects of the collection-of-information 
requirements contained in this proposed rule (see the Classification 
section of the preamble) may be submitted in writing to Adam Bailey, 
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 
FL 33701; or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), by email at 
[email protected], or by fax to 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected].

[[Page 60606]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CMP fishery in the Gulf and Atlantic is 
managed under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Gulf and South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and implemented through 
regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Background

    Current Federal regulations allow for run-around gillnets to be 
used to commercially harvest king mackerel only in the Florida west 
coast southern subzone of the Gulf. This subzone includes waters off 
Collier County, Florida, year-round, and off Monroe County, Florida, 
from November 1 to March 30. To use gillnets for king mackerel, vessels 
must have on board a general Federal commercial king mackerel permit 
and a Federal king mackerel gillnet permit. A vessel with a gillnet 
permit is prohibited from fishing for king mackerel with hook-and-line 
gear. This proposed rule would modify management of the king mackerel 
gillnet component of the CMP fishery by increasing the commercial trip 
limit, revising AMs, modifying dealer reporting requirements, and 
requiring a documented landing history for a king mackerel gillnet 
permit to be renewed.

Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule

Commercial Trip Limit

    This proposed rule would increase the commercial trip limit for 
vessels harvesting king mackerel by gillnets from 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) 
to 45,000 lb (20,411 kg). The size of a school of king mackerel can be 
difficult to estimate precisely and king mackerel landed in gillnets 
experience very high discard mortality, which makes releasing fish in 
excess of the trip limit wasteful and impractical. Fishermen can cut 
the net and leave the section with excess fish in the water and another 
vessel may be able to retrieve the partial net, but this process 
damages gear, which takes time and money to repair. Fishermen have 
indicated that more than 90 percent of successful gillnet gear 
deployments yield less than 45,000 lb (20,411 kg) of fish. Therefore, 
increasing the current trip limit should reduce the number of trips 
that result in king mackerel landings in excess of the commercial trip 
limit and the associated discard mortality.

Accountability Measures

    Currently, the commercial AM for the king mackerel gillnet 
component of the fishery is an in-season closure when the annual catch 
limit for the gillnet component (gillnet ACL) is reached or is 
projected to be reached. This proposed rule would add a provision by 
which any gillnet ACL overage in one year would be deducted from the 
gillnet ACL in the following fishing year. If the gillnet ACL is not 
exceeded in that following fishing year, then in the subsequent year 
the gillnet ACL would return to the original gillnet ACL level as 
specified in Sec.  622.388(a)(1)(ii). However, if the adjusted gillnet 
ACL is exceeded in the following fishing year, then the gillnet ACL 
would be reduced again in the subsequent fishing year by the amount of 
the most recent gillnet ACL overage. Because the proposed trip limit 
increase could increase the chance of exceeding the gillnet ACL, a 
payback provision would help ensure that any overage is mitigated in 
the following year.

Dealer Reporting Requirements

    This proposed rule would modify the reporting requirements for 
federally permitted dealers purchasing commercial king mackerel 
harvested by gillnets. Currently, such dealers are required to submit 
an electronic form daily to NMFS by 6 a.m. during the gillnet fishing 
season for purposes of monitoring the gillnet ACL. However, because 
some vessels land their catch after midnight and may have long 
offloading times, some gillnet landings are not reported until the 
following day. Further, the electronic monitoring system involves 
processing and quality control time before the data can be passed to 
NMFS fishery managers. This results in some landings information not 
reaching NMFS until nearly 2 days after the fish are harvested.
    This proposed rule would change the daily electronic reporting 
requirement to daily reporting by some other means determined by NMFS, 
such as using port agent reports or some more direct method of 
reporting to NMFS fishery managers (e.g., by telephone or internet). If 
the proposed rule is implemented, NMFS would work with dealers to 
establish a landings reporting system that would minimize the burden to 
the dealers as well as the time for landings to reach NMFS fishery 
managers. NMFS would then provide written notice to the king mackerel 
gillnet dealers of the requirements of the reporting system, and will 
also post this information on the NMFS Southeast Regional Office Web 
site. Prior to the beginning of each subsequent commercial king 
mackerel gillnet season, NMFS would provided written notice to king 
mackerel gillnet dealers if the reporting method and deadline change 
from the previous year, and will also post this information on the NMFS 
Southeast Regional Office Web site. Dealers would also report gillnet-
caught king mackerel in their regular weekly electronic report of all 
species purchased to ensure king mackerel landings are included in the 
Commercial Landings Monitoring database maintained by the Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center.

Renewal Requirements for King Mackerel Gillnet Permits

    This proposed rule would change the renewal requirements for a king 
mackerel gillnet permit. A king mackerel gillnet permit would be 
renewable only if the vessel associated with the permit landed at least 
1 lb (0.45 kg) of king mackerel during any one year between 2006 and 
2015. Currently, there are 21 vessels with valid or renewable gillnet 
permits; 4 of these vessels have had no landings since 2001 and the 
permits associated with those vessels would no longer be renewable. 
Some active gillnet fishermen are concerned that permit holders who 
have not been fishing may begin participating in the gillnet component 
of the fishery, which would result in increased effort in a sector that 
already has a limited season. For example, the 2014/2015 season, which 
closed on February 20, 2015, was 32 days long and included 5 days of 
active fishing. Requiring a landings history of king mackerel in any 
one of the last 10 years to renew a gillnet permit would help ensure 
the continued participation of those permit holders who actively fish 
or have done so in the more recent past.
    NMFS would notify each king mackerel gillnet permittee to advise 
them whether the gillnet permit is eligible for renewal based upon 
NMFS' initial determination of eligibility. If NMFS advises a permittee 
that the permit is not renewable and they do not agree, a permittee may 
appeal that initial determination.
    NMFS would establish an appeals process to provide a procedure for 
resolving disputes regarding eligibility to renew the king mackerel 
gillnet permit. The NMFS National Appeals Office would process any 
appeals, which would be governed by the regulations and policy of the 
National Appeals Office at 15 CFR part 906. Appeals would need to be 
submitted to the National Appeals Office no later than 90 days after 
the date the initial determination by NMFS is issued. Determinations of 
appeals would be based on NMFS' logbook records, submitted on or before 
30 days after the

[[Page 60607]]

effective date of any final rule. If NMFS' logbooks are not available, 
state landings records that were submitted in compliance with 
applicable Federal and state regulations on or before 30 days after the 
effective date of any final rule, may be used.

Other Changes to the Codified Text

    In addition to the measures described for Framework Amendment 3, 
this proposed rule would correct an error in the recreational 
regulations for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. The 
regulatory text in Sec.  622.388(a)(2), (c)(1), and (e)(1)(i) includes 
the statement that ``the bag and possession limit would also apply in 
the Gulf on board a vessel for which a valid Federal charter vessel/
headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish has been issued, 
without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or 
Federal waters.'' This was included in the final rule for Amendment 18 
to the FMP included statements (76 FR 82058, December 29, 2011), but 
the Council did not approve this provision for CMP species. This 
proposed rule would remove that text.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with Framework Amendment 3, the FMP, other provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, for this 
proposed rule. The IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed 
rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A description of the 
action, why it is being considered, the objectives of, and legal basis 
for this action are contained at the beginning of this section in the 
preamble and in the SUMMARY section of the preamble. A copy of the full 
analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA 
follows.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
proposed rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal 
rules have been identified.
    In general, the proposed rule is not expected to change current 
reporting, record-keeping, and other compliance requirements on vessel 
owners. However, the proposed rule would replace the dealer daily 
electronic reporting requirement with daily reporting by some other 
means as determined by NMFS. This could involve reporting to a port 
agent, as used in the past or some more direct method of reporting to 
managers (e.g., by telephone or internet). NMFS would work with dealers 
to establish a system that will minimize the burden to the dealers as 
well as the time for landings to reach managers. Dealers would still 
have to report king mackerel gillnet landings through the electronic 
monitoring system weekly, when they report all species purchased. The 
weekly reporting would ensure any king mackerel landings are included 
in the Commercial Landings Monitoring database maintained by the 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, is expected to directly affect 
commercial fishermen with valid or renewable Federal Gulf king mackerel 
gillnet permits and dealers purchasing king mackerel from vessels with 
king mackerel gillnet permits. The Small Business Administration 
established size criteria for all major industry sectors in the U.S. 
including commercial finfish harvesters (NAICS code 114111), seafood 
dealers/wholesalers (NAICS code 424460), and seafood processors (NAICS 
code 311710). A business primarily involved in finfish harvesting is 
classified as a small business if it is independently owned and 
operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its 
affiliates), and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $20.5 
million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. A business 
involved in seafood purchasing and processing is classified as a small 
business based on either employment standards or revenue thresholds. A 
business primarily involved in seafood processing is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual employment not in excess of 500 employees for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide. For seafood dealers/wholesalers, the 
other qualifiers apply and the employment threshold is 100 employees. 
The revenue threshold for seafood dealers/wholesalers/processors is 
$7.5 million.
    The Federal commercial king mackerel permit is a limited access 
permit, which can be transferred or sold, subject to certain 
conditions. From 2008 through 2014, the number of commercial king 
mackerel permits decreased from 1,619 in 2008 to 1,478 in 2014, with an 
average of 1,534 during this period. As of April 30, 2015, there were 
1,342 valid or renewable commercial king mackerel permits. The king 
mackerel gillnet permit, which acts as an endorsement to a commercial 
king mackerel permit, is also a limited access permit. Its 
transferability is more restrictive than that for the commercial king 
mackerel permit. Specifically, it may be transferred only to another 
vessel owned by the same entity or to an immediate family member. From 
2008 through 2014, there were an average of 23 king mackerel gillnet 
permits. At present, there are 21 valid or renewable king mackerel 
gillnet permits. Beginning in 2014, a Federal dealer permit has been 
required to purchase king mackerel (among other species) harvested in 
the Gulf or South Atlantic. This dealer permit is an open access 
permit, and as of May 4, 2015, there were 325 such dealer permits.
    Of the 21 vessels with king mackerel gillnet permits, 11 to 15 
vessels landed king mackerel each year from 2006-2014, or an average of 
13 vessels landed king mackerel. These vessels generated a combined 
average of $544,981 in total ex-vessel revenues. These vessels, 
together with those that did not catch king mackerel, generated average 
revenues of $427,258 from other species during 2006-2014. Averaging 
total revenues across all 21 vessels, the average total revenue per 
vessel was $46,297 annually.
    From 2008 through 2015, the number of dealers that purchased king 
mackerel from gillnet fishermen ranged from 4 to 6, with an average of 
5. On average (2008-2015), these dealers purchased approximately 
$570,105 (2014 dollars) worth of king mackerel from gillnet fishermen, 
or an average of $114,021 per dealer. These dealers also purchased 
other species from Gulf and South Atlantic commercial fishermen, but 
the total amount cannot be estimated due to the absence of adequate 
information. The estimated average annual revenue from seafood 
purchases for dealers with a Gulf and South Atlantic Federal dealer 
permit is approximately $546,000.
    Based on the revenue figures above, all federally permitted vessels 
and dealers expected to be directly affected by this proposed rule are 
assumed for the purpose of this analysis to be small business entities.
    Because all entities expected to be affected by this proposed rule 
are assumed to be small entities, NMFS has determined that this 
proposed rule would affect a substantial number of small entities. 
Moreover, the issue of disproportionate effects on small versus

[[Page 60608]]

large entities does not arise in the present case.
    Increasing the commercial trip limit would be expected to result in 
greater king mackerel harvests per vessel per trip. This would directly 
translate into increased ex-vessel revenues from king mackerel per trip 
and possibly profits, assuming relatively stable operating costs per 
trip. However, trip limit increases would be expected to decrease the 
already limited number of fishing days currently needed to harvest the 
gillnet portion of the king mackerel quota. Relative to status quo, 
fewer fishing days would concentrate the same amount of king mackerel 
over a smaller time interval, possibly depressing the ex-vessel price 
for king mackerel and canceling out some of the revenue increases 
expected to result from higher trip limits. Whether the reduction in 
revenues due to price depression would offset revenue increases from a 
higher trip limit cannot be determined with available information.
    In the last nine fishing years (2006/2007-2014/2015), the king 
mackerel gillnet quota was exceeded four times although this has not 
occurred in the last three years. Under the proposed trip limit 
increase, however, there is some possibility that the quota would be 
exceeded, and thus the overage provision (payback) would apply with the 
following year's quota being reduced by the full amount of the overage. 
The amount of overage would partly depend on how effectively the 
landings could be monitored. Regardless of the amount of overage and 
reduction in the following year's quota, the net economic effects of 
the overage provision could be negative, neutral, or positive, at least 
over a two-year period. Revenues and profits could be relatively higher 
if an overage occurred but the following year's revenues and profits 
could be lower with a reduced quota. It cannot be ascertained which of 
the three net economic effects would occur.
    Replacing the requirement for daily electronic reporting by dealers 
purchasing gillnet-caught king mackerel with an alternative form of 
daily reporting would not impose an additional reporting burden on 
dealers. The replacement reporting requirement would be similar to what 
had been done in previous years or it could be more efficient in 
monitoring the amount of landings without changing the burden compared 
with the current daily electronic reporting requirement. NMFS would 
work with the dealers in developing such a reporting system to ensure 
timely reporting of landings at no greater burden to the dealers.
    Establishing new renewal requirements for commercial king mackerel 
gillnet permits based on a landings threshold of one pound would not be 
expected to result in economic effects other than the potential loss of 
opportunities to excluded permit holders, should they want to re-enter 
the gillnet component of the fishery to harvest king mackerel in the 
future. Of the 21 vessels with valid or renewable gillnet permits, 4 
vessels would not meet the renewal requirement. These 4 vessels have 
not landed any king mackerel using gillnets from 2001 through 2015, and 
thus have not generated any revenues from such activity. Disallowing 
these 4 vessels to renew their gillnet permits would have no short-term 
effects on their revenues and profits. It may also be expected that the 
remaining vessels in the gillnet component of fishery would not 
experience revenue increases as a result of eliminating 4 vessels. 
Despite not having used gillnets to harvest king mackerel, those 4 
permit owners have continued to renew their gillnet permits. To an 
extent, their decision not to exercise their option to re-enter the 
gillnet component of the fishery in the last 15 years may indicate that 
they have not undertaken substantial investments, e.g., in boats and 
gear, in preparation for harvesting king mackerel. The gillnet permit 
cost they have spent, which is currently $10 annually per gillnet 
permit, is relatively small. There is a good possibility that if they 
are not able to renew their permits to re-enter the king mackerel 
gillnet component of the CMP fishery they would not lose any 
significant investments. They still would stand to forgo future 
revenues from using gillnets in fishing for king mackerel. Those 
remaining in the fishery would not face the possibility of additional 
competition from those ineligible vessels.
    The following discussion describes the alternatives that were not 
selected as preferred by the Council.
    Four alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were 
considered for modifying the commercial daily trip limit for gillnet-
caught king mackerel. The first alternative, the no action alternative, 
would retain the 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) trip limit. This alternative 
would maintain the same economic benefits per trip but at levels lower 
than those afforded by the preferred alternative. The second 
alternative, which would increase the trip limit to 35,000 lb (15,876 
kg), would yield lower economic benefits per trip than the preferred 
alternative. The third alternative would remove the trip limit, and 
thus would be expected to yield higher economic benefits per trip than 
the preferred alternative. However, it cannot be determined whether the 
benefits per trip would translate into total benefits because prices, 
and thus revenues, would tend to be affected by the amount of landings 
over a certain time period. This price effect would tend to offset any 
revenue effects from trip limit changes. That is, larger landings over 
a shorter period, as in the preferred or no trip limit alternatives, 
would tend to be associated with lower prices, just as smaller landings 
over a longer period, as in the no action alternative, would tend to be 
associated with higher prices. The net economic effects of all these 
alternatives for increasing the trip limit cannot be determined.
    Three alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were 
considered for modifying the AM for the gillnet component of the king 
mackerel fishery. The first alternative, the no action alternative, 
would retain the in-season AM, which would close king mackerel gillnet 
fishing in the Florida west coast southern subzone when the quota is 
met or is projected to be met. This alternative would not alter the 
level of economic benefits from the harvest of king mackerel by 
commercial gillnet fishermen. The second alternative would establish an 
annual catch target (ACT), which is the quota, with various options. 
The first three options would establish an ACT equal to 95 percent, 90 
percent, or 80 percent of the gillnet ACL; the fourth option would set 
the ACT according to the Gulf Council's ACL/ACT control rule (currently 
equal to 95 percent of the ACL); and the fifth option, which applies 
only if an ACT is established, would allow the amount of landings under 
the quota to be added to the following year's quota but the total quota 
could not exceed the gillnet ACL. The first four options would result 
in lower short-term revenues and profits than the preferred alternative 
by restricting the amount of harvest to less than the gillnet ACL. The 
fifth option has the potential to yield higher revenues than the 
preferred alternative, because any unused quota would generate 
additional revenues in the following year. The absence of an overage 
provision, however, would have adverse consequences on the status of 
the king mackerel stock and eventually on vessel revenues and profits. 
The third alternative, with two options, would establish a payback 
provision. The first option is the preferred alternative, which would 
establish a payback provision regardless of the stock status, while the 
second option

[[Page 60609]]

would establish a payback provision only if the Gulf migratory group 
king mackerel stock is overfished. Because the Gulf migratory group 
king mackerel stock is not overfished, the second option would yield 
the same economic results as the no action alternative but possibly 
lower adverse economic impacts than the preferred alternative in the 
short term should an overage occurs. However, the second option would 
provide less protection to the king mackerel stock before the stock 
becomes overfished.
    Three alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were 
considered for modifying the electronic reporting requirements for 
dealers first receiving king mackerel harvested by gillnets. The first 
alternative, the no action alternative, would retain the daily 
electronic reporting requirements. This alternative would not provide 
timely reporting of landings because some landings reports could not be 
processed until the next day. The second alternative would remove the 
daily electronic reporting requirement but would require a weekly 
electronic reporting instead. While this would be less burdensome to 
dealers, it would not allow timely reporting of landings, which is 
necessary to monitor a season that generally lasts for only a few days.
    Five alternatives, including the preferred alternative, were 
considered for renewal requirements for king mackerel gillnet permits. 
The first alternative, the no action alternative, would maintain all 
current requirements for renewing king mackerel gillnet permits. This 
alternative would allow all 21 gillnet permit holders to renew their 
gillnet permits. The second alternative, with three options, would 
allow renewal of king mackerel gillnet permits if average landings 
during 2006-2015 exceed 1 lb (0.45 kg), 10,000 lb (4,536 kg), or 25,000 
lb (11,340 kg). The third alternative, with three options, would allow 
renewal of king mackerel gillnet permits if landings for a single year 
during 2006-2015 exceed 1 lb (0.45 kg), 10,000 lb (4,536 kg), or 25,000 
lb (11,340 kg). This alternative with a landings threshold of 1 lb 
(0.45 kg) is the preferred alternative. The fourth alternative, with 
three options, would allow renewal of king mackerel gillnet permits if 
average landings during 2011-2015 exceed 1 lb (0.45 kg), 10,000 lb 
(4,536 kg), or 25,000 lb (11,340 kg). The fifth alternative, with three 
options, would allow renewal of king mackerel gillnet permits if 
landings for a single year during 2011-2015 exceed 1 lb (0.45 kg), 
10,000 lb (4,536 kg), or 25,000 lb (11,340 kg). All these other 
alternatives, except the no action alternative, would eliminate the 
same or greater number of vessels than the preferred alternative.
    This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). NMFS is changing the 
collection-of-information requirement under OMB Control Number 0648-
0013. NMFS estimates that no change to the overall reporting burden 
would result from modifying the required daily reporting method for 
dealers that purchase king mackerel caught by gillnets during the 
fishing season. Instead of submitting an electronic form daily, NMFS 
would require daily reporting by some other means as developed by NMFS. 
Other means could involve reporting to the NMFS port agents or some 
other more direct method of reporting to managers, such as by email or 
phone. Dealers would report any purchase of king mackerel landed by the 
gillnet component of the fishery with the current and approved 
requirement for dealers to report fish purchases on a weekly basis, as 
specified in 50 CFR 622.5(c). NMFS estimates that this requirement 
would not change the reporting burden of 10 minutes per response for 
dealers purchasing king mackerel caught by gillnets. This estimate of 
the public reporting burden includes the time for reviewing 
instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing 
and reviewing the collection-of-information. NMFS will submit this 
change request to OMB for approval.
    NMFS seeks public comment regarding:
     Whether this proposed collection-of-information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
     The instructions for how to fill out the form or record 
the information; 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 regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of 
the collection-of-information requirement, including suggestions for 
reducing the burden, to NMFS or to OMB (see ADDRESSES).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a 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 collections of 
information may be viewed at: http://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Accountability measure, Annual catch limit, Fisheries, Fishing, 
Gulf of Mexico, King mackerel, Permits, Run-around gillnet.

    Dated: September 30, 2015.
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 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.5, revise paragraph (c)(1)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.5  Recordkeeping and reporting--general.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) A person issued a Gulf and South Atlantic dealer permit must 
submit a detailed electronic report of all fish first received for a 
commercial purpose within the time period specified in this paragraph 
via the dealer electronic trip ticket reporting system. These 
electronic reports must be submitted at weekly intervals via the dealer 
electronic trip ticket reporting system by 11:59 p.m., local time, the 
Tuesday following a reporting week. If no fish were received during a 
reporting week, an electronic report so stating must be submitted for 
that reporting week. In addition, during the open season, dealers must 
submit daily reports for Gulf migratory group king mackerel harvested 
by the run-around gillnet component in the Florida west coast southern 
subzone via the port agents, telephone, internet, or other similar 
means determined by NMFS. From the beginning of the open season until 
the commercial ACL (commercial quota) for the run-around gillnet sector 
for Gulf migratory group king mackerel is reached, dealers must submit 
a daily report if no king mackerel were received during the previous 
day. NMFS will provide written notice to dealers that first receive 
Gulf king mackerel

[[Page 60610]]

harvested by the run-around gillnet component prior to the beginning of 
each fishing year if the reporting methods or deadline change from the 
previous year.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  622.371, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.371  Limited access system for commercial vessel permits for 
king mackerel.

    (a) No applications for additional commercial vessel permits for 
king mackerel will be accepted. Existing vessel permits may be renewed, 
are subject to the restrictions on transfer or change in paragraph (b) 
of this section, and are subject to the requirement for timely renewal 
in paragraph (c) of this section.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  622.372, add paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.372  Limited access system for king mackerel gillnet permits 
applicable in the Florida west coast southern subzone.

* * * * *
    (d) Renewal criteria for a king mackerel gillnet permit. A king 
mackerel gillnet permit may be renewed only if NMFS determines at least 
1 year of landings from 2006 to 2015 associated with that permit was 
greater than 1 lb (0.45 kg), round or gutted weight.
    (1) Initial determination. On or about [7 days after the date of 
publication of the final rule in the Federal Register], the RA will 
mail each king mackerel gillnet permittee a letter via certified mail, 
return receipt requested, to the permittee's address of record as 
listed in NMFS' permit files, advising the permittee whether the permit 
is eligible for renewal. A permittee who does not receive a letter from 
the RA, must contact the RA no later than [7 days after the date of 
publication of the final rule in the Federal Register], to clarify the 
renewal status of the permit. A permittee who is advised that the 
permit is not renewable based on the RA's determination of eligibility 
and who disagrees with that determination may appeal that 
determination.
    (2) Procedure for appealing landings information. The only item 
subject to appeal is the landings used to determine whether the permit 
is eligible for renewal. Appeals based on hardship factors will not be 
considered. Any appeal under this regulation will be processed by the 
NMFS National Appeals Office. Appeals will be governed by the 
regulations and policy of the National Appeals Office at 15 CFR part 
906. Appeals must be submitted to the National Appeals Office no later 
than 90 days after the date the initial determination in issued. 
Determinations of appeals regarding landings data for 2006 to 2015 will 
be based on NMFS' logbook records, submitted on or before [60 days 
after the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal 
Register]. If NMFS' logbooks are not available, state landings records 
or data for 2006 to 2015 that were submitted in compliance with 
applicable Federal and state regulations on or before [60 days after 
the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal Register], may 
be used.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  622.385, revise paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(A)(1) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.385  Commercial trip limits.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (1) In the Florida west coast southern subzone, king mackerel in or 
from the EEZ may be possessed on board or landed from a vessel for 
which a commercial vessel permit for king mackerel and a king mackerel 
gillnet permit have been issued, as required under Sec.  622.370(a)(2), 
in amounts not exceeding 45,000 lb (20,411 kg) per day, provided the 
gillnet component for Gulf migratory group king mackerel is not closed 
under Sec.  622.378(a) or Sec.  622.8(b).
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  622.388:
0
a. Add paragraph (a)(1)(iii); and
0
b. Revise paragraphs (a)(2), (c)(1), and (e)(1)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.388  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) If commercial landings for Gulf migratory group king mackerel 
caught by run-around gillnet in the Florida west coast southern 
subzone, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, the AA 
will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to 
reduce the commercial ACL for king mackerel harvested by run-around 
gillnet in the Florida west coast southern subzone in the following 
fishing year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the prior 
fishing year.
    (2) Recreational sector. If recreational landings, as estimated by 
the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL of 8.092 
million lb (3.670 million kg), the AA will file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register to implement a bag and possession limit 
for Gulf migratory group king mackerel of zero, unless the best 
scientific information available determines that a bag limit reduction 
is unnecessary.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) If the sum of the commercial and recreational landings, as 
estimated by the SRD, reaches or is projected to reach the stock ACL, 
as specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the AA will file a 
notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the 
commercial and recreational sectors for the remainder of the fishing 
year. On and after the effective date of such a notification, all sale 
and purchase of Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel is prohibited and 
the harvest and possession limit of this species in or from the Gulf 
EEZ is zero.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) If the sum of all cobia landings, as estimated by the SRD, 
reaches or is projected to reach the stock quota (stock ACT), specified 
in Sec.  622.384(d)(1), the AA will file a notification with the Office 
of the Federal Register to prohibit the harvest of Gulf migratory group 
cobia in the Gulf zone for the remainder of the fishing year. On and 
after the effective date of such a notification, all sale and purchase 
of Gulf migratory group cobia in the Gulf zone is prohibited and the 
possession limit of this species in or from the Gulf EEZ is zero.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-25486 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P