[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66245-66252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23217]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 160706587-6814-01]
RIN 0648-BG21


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 16

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 measures in Amendment 
16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management 
Plan. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council developed Amendment 
16 to protect deep-sea corals from the impacts of commercial fishing 
gear in the Mid-Atlantic. Amendment 16 management measures include: A 
deep-sea coral protection area; a prohibition on the use of bottom-
tending commercial fishing gear within the deep-sea coral protection 
area; an exemption for American lobster and deep-sea red crab pots and 
traps from the gear prohibition; a vessel monitoring system requirement 
for limited access Illex squid moratorium permit holders; provisions 
for vessels transiting through the deep-sea coral area; and expanded 
framework adjustment provisions for future modifications to the deep-
sea coral protection measures. These proposed management measures are 
intended to protect deep-sea coral and deep-sea coral habitat while 
promoting the sustainable utilization and conservation of several 
different marine resources managed under the authority of the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

DATES: Public comments must be received by November 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting documents used by the Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, including the Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA), are available from: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, 
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, telephone (302) 674-2331. The 
EA/RIR/IRFA is also accessible online at http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0086, by 
either 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-2016-0086, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to NMFS, Greater Atlantic 
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on MSB Amendment 16 
Proposed Rule.''
    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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christopher, Supervisory Fishery

[[Page 66246]]

Policy Analyst, (978) 281-9288, fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 16, 2013, the Council published a Notice of Intent (NOI) 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (78 FR 3401) for Amendment 
16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) to consider measures to protect deep-sea corals from the 
impacts of commercial fishing gear in the Mid-Atlantic. The Council 
conducted scoping meetings during February 2013 to gather public 
comments on these issues. Following further development of Amendment 16 
through 2013 and 2014, the Council conducted public hearings in January 
2015. Following public hearings, and with disagreement about the 
boundaries of the various alternatives, the Council held a workshop 
with various stakeholders on April 29-30, 2015, to further refine the 
deep-sea coral area boundaries. The workshop was an example of 
effective collaboration among fishery managers, the fishing industry, 
environmental organizations, and the public to develop management 
recommendations with widespread support. The Council adopted Amendment 
16 on June 10, 2015, and submitted Amendment 16 on August 15, 2016, for 
final review by NMFS, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce.
    The Council developed the action, and the measures described in 
this notice, under the discretionary provisions for deep-sea coral 
protection in section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This provision 
gives the Regional Fishery Management Councils the authority to:
    (A) Designate zones where, and periods when, fishing shall be 
limited, or shall not be permitted, or shall be permitted only by 
specified types of fishing vessels or with specified types and 
quantities of fishing gear;
    (B) Designate such zones in areas where deep-sea corals are 
identified under section 408 (this section describes the deep-sea coral 
research and technology program), to protect deep-sea corals from 
physical damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or damage to such 
fishing gear from interactions with deep-sea corals, after considering 
long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources in such areas; and
    (C) With respect to any closure of an area under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act that prohibits all fishing, ensure that such closure:
    (i) Is based on the best scientific information available;
    (ii) Includes criteria to assess the conservation benefit of the 
closed area;
    (iii) Establishes a timetable for review of the closed area's 
performance that is consistent with the purposes of the closed area; 
and
    (iv) Is based on an assessment of the benefits and impacts of the 
closure, including its size, in relation to other management measures 
(either alone or in combination with such measures), including the 
benefits and impacts of limiting access to: Users of the area, overall 
fishing activity, fishery science, and fishery and marine conservation.
    Consistent with these provisions, the Council proposed the measures 
in Amendment 16 to balance the impacts of measures implemented under 
this discretionary authority with the management objectives of the 
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP and the value of potentially 
affected commercial fisheries.

Proposed Measures

Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    Amendment 16 would establish a deep-sea coral protection area that 
would be in Mid-Atlantic waters only. It would consist of a broad zone 
that would start at a depth contour of approximately 450 meters (m) and 
extend to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary, and to the 
north and south to the boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic waters (as 
defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act). In addition, the deep-sea coral 
protection area would include 15 discrete zones that outline deep-sea 
canyons on the continental shelf in Mid-Atlantic waters. The deep-sea 
coral area, including both broad and discrete zones, would be one 
continuous area.
    The Council proposed the broad coral zone designation to be 
precautionary in nature and to freeze the footprint of fishing to 
protect corals from future expansion of fishing effort into deeper 
waters. The broad coral zone would be designated with the landward 
boundary drawn between the 400 m contour as a hard landward boundary 
and the 500 m contour as a hard seaward boundary. The line created 
using this technique would focus on the center point (450 m) between 
the hard landward and seaward boundaries, with a 50-m depth tolerance 
in either direction as a guide used to draw this line as straight as 
possible without crossing the hard boundaries. In areas where there is 
conflict or overlap between this broad zone and any designated discrete 
zone boundaries, the discrete zone boundaries would be prioritized. 
From the landward boundary, the broad zone boundaries would extend 
along the northern and southern boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic 
management region, and to the edge of the EEZ as the eastward boundary.
    The discrete coral zones would be specific submarine canyons and 
slope areas located in Mid-Atlantic waters. The boundaries were 
developed collaboratively by participants at the Council's April 29-30, 
2015, Deep-sea Corals Workshop in Linthicum, MD. Participants included 
the Council's Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Advisory Panel, the 
Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel, members of the Deep-sea 
Corals Fishery Management Action Team, invited deep-sea coral experts, 
additional fishing industry representatives, and other interested 
stakeholders. The canyons and slope areas were identified as areas with 
observed coral presence or highly likely coral presence indicated by 
modeled suitable habitat. Therefore, prohibiting bottom-tending fishing 
gear in these areas would prevent interaction with and damage to deep-
sea corals that either are known through observation to live in these 
areas or that are likely to live there. The discrete coral zones are: 
Block Canyon; Ryan and McMaster Canyons; Emery and Uchupi Canyons; 
Jones and Babylon Canyons; Hudson Canyon; Mey-Lindenkohl Slope; Spencer 
Canyon; Wilmington Canyon; North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons; 
South Vries Canyon; Baltimore Canyon; Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex; 
Accomac and Leonard Canyons; Washington Canyon; and Norfolk Canyon.

Gear Restrictions in the Deep-Sea Coral Area

    This action would prohibit the use of bottom-tending commercial 
fishing gear within the designated deep-sea coral area, including: 
Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic 
dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; bottom-tending seines; bottom-tending 
longlines; sink or anchored gill nets; and pots and traps except those 
used to fish for red crab and American lobster. The prohibition on 
these gears would protect deep-sea corals from interaction with and 
damage from bottom-tending fishing gear.
    Vessels would be allowed to transit the deep-sea coral area 
protection area provided the vessels bring bottom-tending fishing gear 
onboard the vessel, and reel bottom-tending trawl gear onto the net 
reel. The Council proposed these slightly less restrictive transiting 
provisions because the majority of transiting will be through the very

[[Page 66247]]

narrow canyon heads (i.e., the narrow tips of the canyons that extend 
landward of the broad coral zone landward boundary). The Council 
determined that the normal gear stowage requirements, and requirements 
that gear be unavailable for immediate use, (at 50 CFR 648.2) would be 
too burdensome for commercial vessels within the narrow areas of some 
of the discrete coral zones.

Administrative Measures

    Vessels issued an Illex squid moratorium permit would be required 
to have a vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed and vessel operators 
of these vessels would have to declare Illex squid trips on which 
10,000 lb (4.53 mt) or more of Illex squid would be harvested. The 
Illex squid fishery currently does not have a requirement to install 
and operate VMS. By requiring Illex squid vessels to have VMS and 
declare Illex fishing trips prior to leaving port, this measure would 
facilitate enforcement of the deep-sea coral area and gear 
restrictions. NMFS notes that all Illex vessels currently have VMS 
installed and that all of these vessels are already required to declare 
trips. Therefore, this provision does not create any new operational 
requirement for Illex squid vessel owners or operators.
    This action would expand the framework adjustment provisions in the 
FMP to facilitate future modifications to the deep-sea coral protection 
measures. The framework measures would include:
    Modifications to coral zone boundaries via framework action;
    Modifications to the boundaries of broad or discrete deep-sea coral 
zones through a framework action; and
    Modification of management measures within deep-sea coral 
protection areas. This alternative would give the Council the option to 
modify fishing restrictions, exemptions, monitoring requirements, and 
other management measures within deep-sea coral zones through a 
framework action, including measures directed at gear and species not 
currently addressed in the FMP, with the purpose of such measures being 
to further the FMP's goal of protecting deep-sea corals from physical 
damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or damage to such fishing 
gear from interactions with deep-sea corals. This would also include 
the ability to add a prohibition on anchoring in deep-sea coral 
protection areas;
    Addition of discrete coral zones; and
    Implementation of special access program for deep-sea coral 
protection area. This alternative would give the Council the option to 
design and implement a special access program for commercial fishery 
operations in deep-sea coral zones through a framework action.

Formal Naming of the Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    The Council recommended that the deep-sea coral protection area 
should be named in honor of the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg. 
Senator Lautenberg was responsible for several important pieces of 
ocean conservation legislation and authored several provisions included 
in the most recent reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act (2007), including 
the discretionary provision for corals. Therefore, the Council proposed 
that the combined broad and discrete zones be officially known as the 
``Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.''
    A Notice of Availability (NOA) for Amendment 16, as submitted by 
the Council for review by the Secretary of Commerce, was published in 
the Federal Register on September 2, 2016 (81 FR 60666). The comment 
period on the Amendment 16 NOA ends on November 1, 2016. Comments 
submitted on the NOA and/or this proposed rule prior to November 1, 
2016, will be considered in NMFS's decision to approve, partially 
approve, or disapprove Amendment 16. NMFS will consider comments 
received by the end of the comment period for this proposed rule 
(November 1, 2016) in its decision regarding measures to be 
implemented.
    The proposed regulations are based on the measures in Amendment 16 
that would establish a deep-sea coral protection zone and management 
measures to limit commercial fishing gear interactions with deep-sea 
corals. On August 3, 2016, the Council deemed the regulations included 
in this proposed rule as necessary and appropriate to implement the 
Council's recommended deep-sea coral protection measures included in 
Amendment 16.

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 Amendment 16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 
Butterfish FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other 
applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). 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 online at 
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.

Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered 
and Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed 
Rule

    This action proposes to implement measures to protect deep-sea 
corals from fishing gear. The preamble to this proposed rule includes a 
complete description of the reasons why this action is being 
considered, and the objectives of and legal basis for this action, and 
these are not repeated here.

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

    On December 29, 2015, NMFS issued a final rule establishing a small 
business size standard of $11 million in annual gross receipts for all 
businesses primarily engaged in the commercial fishing industry (NAICS 
11411) for RFA compliance purposes only (80 FR 81194; December 29, 
2015). The $11 million standard became effective on July 1, 2016, and 
is to be used in place of the U.S. Small Business Administration's 
(SBA) current standards of $20.5 million, $5.5 million, and $7.5 
million for the finfish (NAICS 114111), shellfish (NAICS 114112), and 
other marine fishing (NAICS 114119) sectors of the U.S. commercial 
fishing industry in all NMFS rules subject to the RFA after July 1, 
2016 (Id. at 81194).
    The Council prepared the IRFA under the SBA standards and submitted 
the action for initial NMFS review in March 2016, prior to the July 1, 
2016, effective date of NMFS' new size standard for commercial fishing 
businesses, under the assumption that the proposed rule would also 
publish prior to the July 1, 2016, effective date. However, NMFS has 
reviewed the analyses prepared for this regulatory action in light of 
the new size standard. The new size standard could result in some of 
the large businesses being considered small, but, as explained below, 
this does not affect the conclusions of the analysis. The following 
summarizes the IRFA using the SBA definitions of small businesses.
    The proposed deep-sea coral zones measures in association with 
other management measures within the coral zones could affect any 
business entity that has an active federal fishing permit

[[Page 66248]]

and fishes in the proposed zone/gear restricted areas. In order to 
identify firms, vessel ownership data, which have been added to the 
permit database, were used to identify all the individuals who own 
fishing vessels. With this information, vessels were grouped together 
according to common owners. The resulting groupings were then treated 
as a fishing business (firm, affiliate, or entity), for purposes of 
identifying small and large firms. According to the ownership database 
a total of 113 finfish firms (all small entities) fished in the 
Council's preferred broad and discrete zones during 2014. Also in 2014, 
there were 184 small and 16 large shellfish entities. The ownership 
database shows that small finfish firms that operated in the Council's 
preferred broad and discrete zones generated average revenues that 
ranged from $18,344 (in 2013) to $21,055 (in 2014). The ownership 
database shows that small shellfish firms that operated in the 
Council's preferred broad and discrete zones generated average revenues 
that ranged from $35,276 (in 2014) to $58,723 (in 2012). The ownership 
database shows that large shellfish firms that operated in the 
Council's preferred broad and discrete zones generated average revenues 
that ranged from $146,901 (in 2013) to $314,223 (in 2012).

Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of This Proposed Rule

    The proposed action contains no new collection-of-information 
requirements subject to review and approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This action 
requires Illex squid vessels to install and operate VMS, and to declare 
Illex squid trips. However, NMFS has determined that all Illex squid 
vessels that would be affected by this action already have VMS. Because 
every Illex vessel has VMS, they are already required to enter a trip 
declaration for every trip. Therefore, there is no additional reporting 
burden imposed by this action.

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 Applicable Statues and Which 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

    The Council considered one alternative under the broad coral zone 
proposed measures that may have had less economic impact on small 
businesses and that met the Council's objective of protecting deep-sea 
corals. Using the same landward boundary as the proposed action, but 
prohibiting fishing with all mobile bottom-tending fishing gear 
(instead of the proposed prohibition on all bottom-tending gear, both 
mobile and static), may have had marginally lower overall average 
revenue reduction when compared to the proposed action because some 
bottom-tending gears would be allowed in the area.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: September 20, 2016.
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.  648.10, add paragraph (b)(11) and (p) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.10  VMS and DAS requirements for vessel owners/operators.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (11) Vessels issued an Illex squid moratorium permit.
* * * * *
    (p) Illex squid VMS notification requirement. A vessel issued an 
Illex squid moratorium permit intending to declare into the Illex squid 
fishery must notify NMFS by declaring an Illex squid trip prior to 
leaving port at the start of each trip in order to harvest, possess, or 
land 10,000 lb (4,535.9 kg) or more of Illex squid on that trip.
0
3. In Sec.  648.14, add paragraph (b)(10) and revise paragraphs 
(g)(2)(v) introductory text and (g)(2)(v)(A) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (10) Fish with bottom-tending gear within the Frank R. Lautenberg 
Deep-sea Coral Protection Area described at Sec.  648.27, unless 
transiting pursuant to Sec.  648.27(d), fishing lobster trap gear in 
accordance Sec.  697.21, or fishing red crab trap gear in accordance 
with Sec.  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes but is not limited to 
bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam trawls, hydraulic 
dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending seines, bottom 
longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gill nets.
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (v) Reporting requirements in the limited access Atlantic mackerel, 
longfin squid/butterfish, and Illex squid moratorium fisheries. (A) 
Fail to declare via VMS into the mackerel, longfin squid/butterfish, or 
Illex squid fisheries by entering the fishery code prior to leaving 
port at the start of each trip, if the vessel will harvest, possess, or 
land Atlantic mackerel, more than 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of longfin squid, 
or more than 10,000 lb (4,535.9 kg) of Illex squid, and is issued a 
Limited Access Atlantic mackerel permit, longfin squid/butterfish 
moratorium permit, or Illex squid moratorium permit, pursuant to Sec.  
648.10.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  648.25, revise paragraph (a)(1), redesignate paragraphs 
(a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4) as paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(4), and (a)(5), 
and add paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.25  Atlantic Mackerel, squid, and butterfish framework 
adjustments to management measures.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Adjustment process. The MAFMC shall develop and analyze 
appropriate management actions over the span of at least two MAFMC 
meetings. The MAFMC must provide the public with advance notice of the 
availability of the recommendation(s), appropriate justification(s) and 
economic and biological analyses, and the opportunity to comment on the 
proposed adjustment(s) at the first meeting and prior to and at the 
second MAFMC meeting. The MAFMC's recommendations on adjustments or 
additions to management measures must come from one or more of the 
following categories:
    (i) Adjustments within existing ABC control rule levels;
    (ii) Adjustments to the existing MAFMC risk policy;
    (iii) Introduction of new AMs, including sub-ACTs;

[[Page 66249]]

    (iv) Minimum and maximum fish size;
    (v) Gear restrictions, gear requirements or prohibitions;
    (vi) Permitting restrictions;
    (vii) Recreational possession limit, recreational seasons, and 
recreational harvest limit;
    (viii) Closed areas;
    (ix) Commercial seasons, commercial trip limits, commercial quota 
system, including commercial quota allocation procedure and possible 
quota set-asides to mitigate bycatch;
    (x) Annual specification quota setting process;
    (xi) FMP Monitoring Committee composition and process;
    (xii) Description and identification of EFH (and fishing gear 
management measures that impact EFH);
    (xiii) Description and identification of habitat areas of 
particular concern;
    (xiv) Overfishing definition and related thresholds and targets;
    (xv) Regional gear restrictions, regional season restrictions 
(including option to split seasons), regional management;
    (xvi) Restrictions on vessel size (LOA and GRT) or shaft 
horsepower;
    (xvii) Changes to the SBRM, including the CV-based performance 
standard, the means by which discard data are collected/obtained, 
fishery stratification, the process for prioritizing observer sea-day 
allocations, reports, and/or industry-funded observers or observer set 
aside programs;
    (xviii) Set aside quota for scientific research;
    (xix) Process for inseason adjustment to the annual specification;
    (xx) Mortality caps for river herring and shad species, time/area 
management for river herring and shad species, and provisions for river 
herring and shad incidental catch avoidance program, including 
adjustments to the mechanism and process for tracking fleet activity, 
reporting incidental catch events, compiling data, and notifying the 
fleet of changes to the area(s);
    (xxi) The definition/duration of `test tows,' if test tows would be 
utilized to determine the extent of river herring incidental catch in a 
particular area(s);
    (xxii) The threshold for river herring incidental catch that would 
trigger the need for vessels to be alerted and move out of the area(s), 
the distance that vessels would be required to move from the area(s), 
and the time that vessels would be required to remain out of the 
area(s);
    (xxiii) Modifications to the broad and discrete deep-sea coral zone 
boundaries and the addition of discrete deep-sea coral zones;
    (xxiv) Modifications to the management measures within the Frank R. 
Lautenberg Deep-sea Coral Protection Area and implementation of special 
access programs to the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-sea Coral Protection 
Area; and
    (xxv) Any other management measures currently included in the FMP.
    (2) Measures contained within this list that require significant 
departures from previously contemplated measures or that are otherwise 
introducing new concepts may require amendment of the FMP instead of a 
framework adjustment.
* * * * *
0
5. Add Sec.  648.27 to read as follows:


Sec.  648.27  Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.

    (a) No vessel may fish with bottom-tending gear within the Frank R. 
Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area described in this section, 
unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, fishing 
lobster trap gear in accordance Sec.  697.21, or fishing red crab trap 
gear in accordance with Sec.  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes but 
is not limited to bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam 
trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending 
seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored 
gillnets. The Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area 
consists of the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zones defined in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
    (b) Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone. The Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone is 
bounded on the east by the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic 
Zone, and bounded on all other sides by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this 
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An 
asterisk (*) in the Discrete Zone column means the point is shared with 
a Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (c) of this section.

                               Broad Zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Discrete
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude      zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  36[deg]33.02'    71[deg]29.33'
                                N.               W.
2............................  36[deg]33.02'    72[deg]00' W.
                                N.
3............................  36[deg]33.02'    73[deg]00' W.
                                N.
4............................  36[deg]33.02'    74[deg]00' W.
                                N.
5............................  36[deg]33.02'    74[deg]42.14'
                                N.               W.
6............................  36[deg]34.44'    74[deg]42.23'
                                N.               W.
7............................  36[deg]35.53'    74[deg]41.59'
                                N.               W.
8............................  36[deg]37.69'    74[deg]41.51'
                                N.               W.
9............................  36[deg]42.09'    74[deg]39.07'
                                N.               W.
10...........................  36[deg]45.18'    74[deg]38' W.
                                N.
11...........................  36[deg]45.69'    74[deg]38.55'
                                N.               W.
12...........................  36[deg]49.17'    74[deg]38.31'
                                N.               W.
13...........................  36[deg]49.56'    74[deg]37.77'
                                N.               W.
14...........................  36[deg]51.21'    74[deg]37.81'
                                N.               W.
15...........................  36[deg]51.78'    74[deg]37.43'
                                N.               W.
16...........................  36[deg]58.51'    74[deg]36.51'        (*)
                                N.               W.
17...........................  36[deg]58.62'    74[deg]36.97'        (*)
                                N.               W.
18...........................  37[deg]4.43' N.  74[deg]41.03'        (*)
                                                 W.
19...........................  37[deg]5.83' N.  74[deg]45.57'        (*)
                                                 W.
20...........................  37[deg]6.97' N.  74[deg]40.8'         (*)
                                                 W.
21...........................  37[deg]4.52' N.  74[deg]37.77'        (*)
                                                 W.
22...........................  37[deg]4.02' N.  74[deg]33.83'        (*)
                                                 W.
23...........................  37[deg]4.52' N.  74[deg]33.51'        (*)
                                                 W.
24...........................  37[deg]4.4' N.   74[deg]33.11'        (*)
                                                 W.
25...........................  37[deg]7.38' N.  74[deg]31.95'
                                                 W.
26...........................  37[deg]8.32' N.  74[deg]32.4'
                                                 W.
27...........................  37[deg]8.51' N.  74[deg]31.38'
                                                 W.
28...........................  37[deg]9.44' N.  74[deg]31.5'
                                                 W.
29...........................  37[deg]16.83'    74[deg]28.58'
                                N.               W.
30...........................  37[deg]17.81'    74[deg]27.67'
                                N.               W.
31...........................  37[deg]18.72'    74[deg]28.22'
                                N.               W.
32...........................  37[deg]22.74'    74[deg]26.24'        (*)
                                N.               W.
33...........................  37[deg]22.87'    74[deg]26.16'        (*)
                                N.               W.
34...........................  37[deg]24.44'    74[deg]28.57'        (*)
                                N.               W.
35...........................  37[deg]24.67'    74[deg]29.71'        (*)
                                N.               W.
36...........................  37[deg]25.93'    74[deg]30.13'        (*)
                                N.               W.
37...........................  37[deg]27.25'    74[deg]30.2'         (*)
                                N.               W.
38...........................  37[deg]28.6' N.  74[deg]30.6'         (*)
                                                 W.
39...........................  37[deg]29.43'    74[deg]30.29'        (*)
                                N.               W.
40...........................  37[deg]29.53'    74[deg]29.95'        (*)
                                N.               W.
41...........................  37[deg]27.68'    74[deg]28.82'        (*)
                                N.               W.
42...........................  37[deg]27.06'    74[deg]28.76'        (*)
                                N.               W.
43...........................  37[deg]26.39'    74[deg]27.76'        (*)
                                N.               W.
44...........................  37[deg]26.3' N.  74[deg]26.87'        (*)
                                                 W.
45...........................  37[deg]25.69'    74[deg]25.63'        (*)
                                N.               W.
46...........................  37[deg]25.83'    74[deg]24.22'        (*)
                                N.               W.
47...........................  37[deg]25.68'    74[deg]24.03'        (*)
                                N.               W.
48...........................  37[deg]28.04'    74[deg]23.17'
                                N.               W.
49...........................  37[deg]27.72'    74[deg]22.34'
                                N.               W.
50...........................  37[deg]30.13'    74[deg]17.77'
                                N.               W.
51...........................  37[deg]33.83'    74[deg]17.47'
                                N.               W.
52...........................  37[deg]35.48'    74[deg]14.84'
                                N.               W.
53...........................  37[deg]36.99'    74[deg]14.01'
                                N.               W.
54...........................  37[deg]37.23'    74[deg]13.02'
                                N.               W.
55...........................  37[deg]42.85'    74[deg]9.97'
                                N.               W.
56...........................  37[deg]43.5' N.  74[deg]8.79'
                                                 W.
57...........................  37[deg]45.22'    74[deg]9.2' W.
                                N.
58...........................  37[deg]45.15'    74[deg]7.24'         (*)
                                N.               W.
59...........................  37[deg]45.88'    74[deg]7.44'         (*)
                                N.               W.
60...........................  37[deg]46.7' N.  74[deg]5.98'         (*)
                                                 W.
61...........................  37[deg]49.62'    74[deg]6.03'         (*)
                                N.               W.
62...........................  37[deg]51.25'    74[deg]5.48'         (*)
                                N.               W.
63...........................  37[deg]51.99'    74[deg]4.51'         (*)
                                N.               W.
64...........................  37[deg]51.37'    74[deg]3.3' W.       (*)
                                N.
65...........................  37[deg]50.63'    74[deg]2.69'         (*)
                                N.               W.
66...........................  37[deg]49.62'    74[deg]2.28'         (*)
                                N.               W.
67...........................  37[deg]50.28'    74[deg]0.67'         (*)
                                N.               W.
68...........................  37[deg]53.68'    73[deg]57.41'        (*)
                                N.               W.
69...........................  37[deg]55.07'    73[deg]57.27'        (*)
                                N.               W.
70...........................  38[deg]3.29' N.  73[deg]49.1'         (*)
                                                 W.
71...........................  38[deg]6.19' N.  73[deg]51.59'        (*)
                                                 W.
72...........................  38[deg]7.67' N.  73[deg]52.19'        (*)
                                                 W.
73...........................  38[deg]9.04' N.  73[deg]52.39'        (*)
                                                 W.
74...........................  38[deg]10.1' N.  73[deg]52.32'        (*)
                                                 W.
75...........................  38[deg]11.98'    73[deg]52.65'        (*)
                                N.               W.
76...........................  38[deg]13.74'    73[deg]50.73'        (*)
                                N.               W.
77...........................  38[deg]13.15'    73[deg]49.77'        (*)
                                N.               W.
78...........................  38[deg]10.92'    73[deg]50.37'        (*)
                                N.               W.
79...........................  38[deg]10.2' N.  73[deg]49.63'        (*)
                                                 W.
80...........................  38[deg]9.26' N.  73[deg]49.68'        (*)
                                                 W.
81...........................  38[deg]8.38' N.  73[deg]49.51'        (*)
                                                 W.
82...........................  38[deg]7.59' N.  73[deg]47.91'        (*)
                                                 W.
83...........................  38[deg]6.96' N.  73[deg]47.25'        (*)
                                                 W.
84...........................  38[deg]6.51' N.  73[deg]46.99'        (*)
                                                 W.
85...........................  38[deg]5.69' N.  73[deg]45.56'        (*)
                                                 W.
86...........................  38[deg]6.35' N.  73[deg]44.8'         (*)
                                                 W.
87...........................  38[deg]7.5' N.   73[deg]45.2'         (*)
                                                 W.
88...........................  38[deg]9.24' N.  73[deg]42.61'        (*)
                                                 W.
89...........................  38[deg]9.41' N.  73[deg]41.63'
                                                 W.
90...........................  38[deg]15.13'    73[deg]37.58'
                                N.               W.
91...........................  38[deg]15.25'    73[deg]36.2'         (*)
                                N.               W.
92...........................  38[deg]16.19'    73[deg]36.91'        (*)
                                N.               W.

[[Page 66250]]

 
93...........................  38[deg]16.89'    73[deg]36.66'        (*)
                                N.               W.
94...........................  38[deg]16.91'    73[deg]36.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
96...........................  38[deg]17.63'    73[deg]35.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
97...........................  38[deg]18.55'    73[deg]34.44'        (*)
                                N.               W.
98...........................  38[deg]18.38'    73[deg]33.4'         (*)
                                N.               W.
99...........................  38[deg]19.04'    73[deg]33.02'        (*)
                                N.               W.
100..........................  38[deg]25.08'    73[deg]34.99'        (*)
                                N.               W.
101..........................  38[deg]26.32'    73[deg]33.44'        (*)
                                N.               W.
102..........................  38[deg]29.72'    73[deg]30.65'        (*)
                                N.               W.
103..........................  38[deg]28.65'    73[deg]29.37'        (*)
                                N.               W.
104..........................  38[deg]25.53'    73[deg]30.94'        (*)
                                N.               W.
105..........................  38[deg]25.26'    73[deg]29.97'        (*)
                                N.               W.
106..........................  38[deg]23.75'    73[deg]30.16'        (*)
                                N.               W.
107..........................  38[deg]23.47'    73[deg]29.7'         (*)
                                N.               W.
108..........................  38[deg]22.76'    73[deg]29.34'        (*)
                                N.               W.
109..........................  38[deg]22.5' N.  73[deg]27.63'        (*)
                                                 W.
110..........................  38[deg]21.59'    73[deg]26.87'        (*)
                                N.               W.
111..........................  38[deg]23.07'    73[deg]24.11'
                                N.               W.
112..........................  38[deg]25.83'    73[deg]22.39'
                                N.               W.
113..........................  38[deg]25.97'    73[deg]21.43'
                                N.               W.
114..........................  38[deg]34.14'    73[deg]11.14'        (*)
                                N.               W.
115..........................  38[deg]35.1' N.  73[deg]10.43'        (*)
                                                 W.
116..........................  38[deg]35.94'    73[deg]11.25'        (*)
                                N.               W.
117..........................  38[deg]37.57'    73[deg]10.49'        (*)
                                N.               W.
118..........................  38[deg]37.21'    73[deg]9.41'         (*)
                                N.               W.
119..........................  38[deg]36.72'    73[deg]8.85'         (*)
                                N.               W.
120..........................  38[deg]43' N.    73[deg]1.24'         (*)
                                                 W.
121..........................  38[deg]43.66'    73[deg]0.36'         (*)
                                N.               W.
122..........................  38[deg]45' N.    73[deg]0.27'         (*)
                                                 W.
123..........................  38[deg]46.68'    73[deg]1.07'         (*)
                                N.               W.
124..........................  38[deg]47.54'    73[deg]2.24'         (*)
                                N.               W.
125..........................  38[deg]47.84'    73[deg]2.24'         (*)
                                N.               W.
126..........................  38[deg]49.03'    73[deg]1.53'         (*)
                                N.               W.
127..........................  38[deg]48.45'    73[deg]1' W.         (*)
                                N.
128..........................  38[deg]49.15'    72[deg]58.98'        (*)
                                N.               W.
129..........................  38[deg]48.03'    72[deg]56.7'         (*)
                                N.               W.
130..........................  38[deg]49.84'    72[deg]55.54'        (*)
                                N.               W.
131..........................  38[deg]52.4' N.  72[deg]52.5'         (*)
                                                 W.
132..........................  38[deg]53.87'    72[deg]53.36'        (*)
                                N.               W.
133..........................  38[deg]54.17'    72[deg]52.58'        (*)
                                N.               W.
134..........................  38[deg]54.7' N.  72[deg]50.26'        (*)
                                                 W.
135..........................  38[deg]57.2' N.  72[deg]47.74'        (*)
                                                 W.
136..........................  38[deg]58.64'    72[deg]48.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
137..........................  38[deg]59.3' N.  72[deg]47.86'        (*)
                                                 W.
138..........................  38[deg]59.22'    72[deg]46.69'        (*)
                                N.               W.
139..........................  39[deg]0.13' N.  72[deg]45.47'        (*)
                                                 W.
140..........................  39[deg]1.69' N.  72[deg]45.74'        (*)
                                                 W.
141..........................  39[deg]1.49' N.  72[deg]43.67'        (*)
                                                 W.
142..........................  39[deg]3.9' N.   72[deg]40.83'        (*)
                                                 W.
143..........................  39[deg]7.35' N.  72[deg]41.26'        (*)
                                                 W.
144..........................  39[deg]7.16' N.  72[deg]37.21'        (*)
                                                 W.
145..........................  39[deg]6.52' N.  72[deg]35.78'        (*)
                                                 W.
146..........................  39[deg]11.73'    72[deg]25.4'         (*)
                                N.               W.
147..........................  39[deg]11.76'    72[deg]22.33'
                                N.               W.
148..........................  39[deg]19.08'    72[deg]9.56'         (*)
                                N.               W.
149..........................  39[deg]25.17'    72[deg]13.03'        (*)
                                N.               W.
150..........................  39[deg]28.8' N.  72[deg]17.39'        (*)
                                                 W.
151..........................  39[deg]30.16'    72[deg]20.41'        (*)
                                N.               W.
152..........................  39[deg]31.38'    72[deg]23.86'        (*)
                                N.               W.
153..........................  39[deg]32.55'    72[deg]25.07'        (*)
                                N.               W.
154..........................  39[deg]34.57'    72[deg]25.18'        (*)
                                N.               W.
155..........................  39[deg]34.53'    72[deg]24.23'        (*)
                                N.               W.
156..........................  39[deg]33.17'    72[deg]24.1'         (*)
                                N.               W.
157..........................  39[deg]32.07'    72[deg]22.77'        (*)
                                N.               W.
158..........................  39[deg]32.17'    72[deg]22.08'        (*)
                                N.               W.
159..........................  39[deg]30.3' N.  72[deg]15.71'        (*)
                                                 W.
160..........................  39[deg]29.49'    72[deg]14.3'         (*)
                                N.               W.
161..........................  39[deg]29.44'    72[deg]13.24'        (*)
                                N.               W.
162..........................  39[deg]27.63'    72[deg]5.87'         (*)
                                N.               W.
163..........................  39[deg]28.26'    72[deg]2.2' W.       (*)
                                N.
164..........................  39[deg]29.88'    72[deg]3.51'         (*)
                                N.               W.
165..........................  39[deg]30.57'    72[deg]3.47'         (*)
                                N.               W.
166..........................  39[deg]31.28'    72[deg]2.63'         (*)
                                N.               W.
167..........................  39[deg]31.46'    72[deg]1.41'         (*)
                                N.               W.
168..........................  39[deg]37.15'    71[deg]55.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
169..........................  39[deg]39.77'    71[deg]53.7'         (*)
                                N.               W.
170..........................  39[deg]41.5' N.  71[deg]51.89'
                                                 W.
171..........................  39[deg]43.84'    71[deg]44.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
172..........................  39[deg]48.01'    71[deg]45.19'        (*)
                                N.               W.
173..........................  39[deg]49.97'    71[deg]39.29'        (*)
                                N.               W.
174..........................  39[deg]55.08'    71[deg]18.62'        (*)
                                N.               W.
175..........................  39[deg]55.99'    71[deg]16.07'        (*)
                                N.               W.
176..........................  39[deg]57.04'    70[deg]50.01'
                                N.               W.
177..........................  39[deg]55.07'    70[deg]32.42'
                                N.               W.
178..........................  39[deg]50.24'    70[deg]27.78'
                                N.               W.
179..........................  39[deg]42.18'    70[deg]20.09'
                                N.               W.
180..........................  39[deg]34.11'    70[deg]12.42'
                                N.               W.
181..........................  39[deg]26.04'    70[deg]4.78'
                                N.               W.
182..........................  39[deg]17.96'    69[deg]57.18'
                                N.               W.
183..........................  39[deg]9.87' N.  69[deg]49.6'
                                                 W.
184..........................  39[deg]1.77' N.  69[deg]42.05'
                                                 W.
185..........................  38[deg]53.66'    69[deg]34.53'
                                N.               W.
186..........................  38[deg]45.54'    69[deg]27.03'
                                N.               W.
187..........................  38[deg]37.42'    69[deg]19.57'
                                N.               W.
188..........................  38[deg]29.29'    69[deg]12.13'
                                N.               W.
189..........................  38[deg]21.15'    69[deg]4.73'
                                N.               W.
190..........................  38[deg]13' N.    68[deg]57.35'
                                                 W.
191..........................  38[deg]4.84' N.  68[deg]49.99'
                                                 W.
192..........................  38[deg]2.21' N.  68[deg]47.62'
                                                 W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zones.
    (1) Block Canyon. Block Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order 
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the 
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone 
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as 
defined in part (b) of this section.

                              Block Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  39[deg]55.08'    71[deg]18.62'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  39[deg]55.99'    71[deg]16.07'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  39[deg]49.51'    71[deg]12.12'
                                N.               W.
4............................  39[deg]38.09'    71[deg]9.5' W.
                                N.
5............................  39[deg]37.4' N.  71[deg]11.87'
                                                 W.
6............................  39[deg]47.26'    71[deg]17.38'
                                N.               W.
7............................  39[deg]52.6' N.  71[deg]17.51'
                                                 W.
1............................  39[deg]55.08'    71[deg]18.62'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Ryan and McMaster Canyons. Ryan and McMaster Canyons discrete 
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this 
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An 
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with 
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                        Ryan and McMaster Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  39[deg]43.84'    71[deg]44.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  39[deg]48.01'    71[deg]45.19'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  39[deg]49.97'    71[deg]39.29'        (*)
                                N.               W.
4............................  39[deg]48.29'    71[deg]37.18'
                                N.               W.
5............................  39[deg]42.96'    71[deg]35.01'
                                N.               W.
6............................  39[deg]33.43'    71[deg]27.91'
                                N.               W.
7............................  39[deg]31.75'    71[deg]30.77'
                                N.               W.
8............................  39[deg]34.46'    71[deg]35.68'
                                N.               W.
9............................  39[deg]40.12'    71[deg]42.36'
                                N.               W.
1............................  39[deg]43.84'    71[deg]44.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Emery and Uchupi Canyons. Emery and Uchupi Canyons discrete 
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this 
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An 
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with 
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                        Emery and Uchupi Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  39[deg]37.15'    71[deg]55.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  39[deg]39.77'    71[deg]53.7' W.      (*)
                                N.
3............................  39[deg]39.55'    71[deg]47.68'
                                N.               W.
4............................  39[deg]30.78'    71[deg]36.24'
                                N.               W.
5............................  39[deg]27.26'    71[deg]39.13'
                                N.               W.
6............................  39[deg]28.99'    71[deg]45.47'
                                N.               W.
7............................  39[deg]33.91'    71[deg]52.61'
                                N.               W.
1............................  39[deg]37.15'    71[deg]55.85'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) Jones and Babylon Canyons. Jones and Babylon Canyons discrete 
deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this 
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An 
asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with 
the Broad Deep-sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                        Jones and Babylon Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  39[deg]28.26'    72[deg]2.2' W.       (*)
                                N.
2............................  39[deg]29.88'    72[deg]3.51' W.      (*)
                                N.
3............................  39[deg]30.57'    72[deg]3.47' W.      (*)
                                N.
4............................  39[deg]31.28'    72[deg]2.63' W.      (*)
                                N.
5............................  39[deg]31.46'    72[deg]1.41' W.      (*)
                                N.
6............................  39[deg]30.37'    71[deg]57.72'
                                N.               W.
7............................  39[deg]30.63'    71[deg]55.13'
                                N.               W.
8............................  39[deg]23.81'    71[deg]48.15'
                                N.               W.
9............................  39[deg]23' N.    71[deg]52.48'
                                                 W.
1............................  39[deg]28.26'    72[deg]2.2' W.       (*)
                                N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (5) Hudson Canyon. Hudson Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order 
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the 
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone 
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as 
defined in part (b) of this section.

[[Page 66251]]



                              Hudson Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  39[deg]19.08'    72[deg]9.56' W.      (*)
                                N.
2............................  39[deg]25.17'    72[deg]13.03'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  39[deg]28.8' N.  72[deg]17.39'        (*)
                                                 W.
4............................  39[deg]30.16'    72[deg]20.41'        (*)
                                N.               W.
5............................  39[deg]31.38'    72[deg]23.86'        (*)
                                N.               W.
6............................  39[deg]32.55'    72[deg]25.07'        (*)
                                N.               W.
7............................  39[deg]34.57'    72[deg]25.18'        (*)
                                N.               W.
8............................  39[deg]34.53'    72[deg]24.23'        (*)
                                N.               W.
9............................  39[deg]33.17'    72[deg]24.1' W.      (*)
                                N.
10...........................  39[deg]32.07'    72[deg]22.77'        (*)
                                N.               W.
11...........................  39[deg]32.17'    72[deg]22.08'        (*)
                                N.               W.
12...........................  39[deg]30.3' N.  72[deg]15.71'        (*)
                                                 W.
13...........................  39[deg]29.49'    72[deg]14.3' W.      (*)
                                N.
14...........................  39[deg]29.44'    72[deg]13.24'        (*)
                                N.               W.
15...........................  39[deg]27.63'    72[deg]5.87' W.      (*)
                                N.
16...........................  39[deg]13.93'    71[deg]48.44'
                                N.               W.
17...........................  39[deg]10.39'    71[deg]52.98'
                                N.               W.
18...........................  39[deg]14.27'    72[deg]3.09' W.
                                N.
1............................  39[deg]19.08'    72[deg]9.56' W.      (*)
                                N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (6) Mey-Lindenkohl Slope. Mey-Lindenkohl Slope discrete deep-sea 
coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points 
in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are 
available from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk 
(*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad 
Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                          Mey-Lindenkohl Slope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]43' N.    73[deg]1.24' W.      (*)
2............................  38[deg]43.66'    73[deg]0.36' W.      (*)
                                N.
3............................  38[deg]45' N.    73[deg]0.27' W.      (*)
4............................  38[deg]46.68'    73[deg]1.07' W.      (*)
                                N.
5............................  38[deg]47.54'    73[deg]2.24' W.      (*)
                                N.
6............................  38[deg]47.84'    73[deg]2.24' W.      (*)
                                N.
7............................  38[deg]49.03'    73[deg]1.53' W.      (*)
                                N.
8............................  38[deg]48.45'    73[deg]1' W.         (*)
                                N.
9............................  38[deg]49.15'    72[deg]58.98'        (*)
                                N.               W.
10...........................  38[deg]48.03'    72[deg]56.7' W.      (*)
                                N.
11...........................  38[deg]49.84'    72[deg]55.54'        (*)
                                N.               W.
12...........................  38[deg]52.4' N.  72[deg]52.5' W.      (*)
13...........................  38[deg]53.87'    72[deg]53.36'        (*)
                                N.               W.
14...........................  38[deg]54.17'    72[deg]52.58'        (*)
                                N.               W.
15...........................  38[deg]54.7' N.  72[deg]50.26'        (*)
                                                 W.
16...........................  38[deg]57.2' N.  72[deg]47.74'        (*)
                                                 W.
17...........................  38[deg]58.64'    72[deg]48.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
18...........................  38[deg]59.3' N.  72[deg]47.86'        (*)
                                                 W.
19...........................  38[deg]59.22'    72[deg]46.69'        (*)
                                N.               W.
20...........................  39[deg]0.13' N.  72[deg]45.47'        (*)
                                                 W.
21...........................  39[deg]1.69' N.  72[deg]45.74'        (*)
                                                 W.
22...........................  39[deg]1.49' N.  72[deg]43.67'        (*)
                                                 W.
23...........................  39[deg]3.9' N.   72[deg]40.83'        (*)
                                                 W.
24...........................  39[deg]7.35' N.  72[deg]41.26'        (*)
                                                 W.
25...........................  39[deg]7.16' N.  72[deg]37.21'        (*)
                                                 W.
26...........................  39[deg]6.52' N.  72[deg]35.78'        (*)
                                                 W.
27...........................  39[deg]11.73'    72[deg]25.4' W.      (*)
                                N.
28...........................  38[deg]58.85'    72[deg]11.78'
                                N.               W.
29...........................  38[deg]32.39'    72[deg]47.69'
                                N.               W.
30...........................  38[deg]34.88'    72[deg]53.78'
                                N.               W.
1............................  38[deg]43' N.    73[deg]1.24' W.      (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (7) Spencer Canyon. Spencer Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order 
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the 
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone 
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as 
defined in part (b) of this section.

                             Spencer Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]34.14'    73[deg]11.14'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  38[deg]35.1' N.  73[deg]10.43'        (*)
                                                 W.
3............................  38[deg]35.94'    73[deg]11.25'        (*)
                                N.               W.
4............................  38[deg]37.57'    73[deg]10.49'        (*)
                                N.               W.
5............................  38[deg]37.21'    73[deg]9.41' W.      (*)
                                N.
6............................  38[deg]36.72'    73[deg]8.85' W.      (*)
                                N.
7............................  38[deg]36.59'    73[deg]8.25' W.
                                N.
8............................  38[deg]28.94'    72[deg]58.96'
                                N.               W.
9............................  38[deg]26.45'    73[deg]3.24' W.
                                N.
1............................  38[deg]34.14'    73[deg]11.14'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (8) Wilmington Canyon. Wilmington Canyon discrete deep-sea coral 
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available 
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the 
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-sea 
Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                            Wilmington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]19.04'    73[deg]33.02'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  38[deg]25.08'    73[deg]34.99'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  38[deg]26.32'    73[deg]33.44'        (*)
                                N.               W.
4............................  38[deg]29.72'    73[deg]30.65'        (*)
                                N.               W.
5............................  38[deg]28.65'    73[deg]29.37'        (*)
                                N.               W.
6............................  38[deg]25.53'    73[deg]30.94'        (*)
                                N.               W.
7............................  38[deg]25.26'    73[deg]29.97'        (*)
                                N.               W.
8............................  38[deg]23.75'    73[deg]30.16'        (*)
                                N.               W.
9............................  38[deg]23.47'    73[deg]29.7' W.      (*)
                                N.
10...........................  38[deg]22.76'    73[deg]29.34'        (*)
                                N.               W.
11...........................  38[deg]22.5' N.  73[deg]27.63'        (*)
                                                 W.
12...........................  38[deg]21.59'    73[deg]26.87'        (*)
                                N.               W.
13...........................  38[deg]18.52'    73[deg]22.95'
                                N.               W.
14...........................  38[deg]14.41'    73[deg]16.64'
                                N.               W.
15...........................  38[deg]13.23'    73[deg]17.32'
                                N.               W.
16...........................  38[deg]15.79'    73[deg]26.38'
                                N.               W.
1............................  38[deg]19.04'    73[deg]33.02'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (9) North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons. North Heyes and South 
Wilmington Canyons discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight 
lines connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a 
chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator 
upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point 
is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of 
this section.

                North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]15.25'    73[deg]36.2' W.      (*)
                                N.
2............................  38[deg]16.19'    73[deg]36.91'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  38[deg]16.89'    73[deg]36.66'        (*)
                                N.               W.
4............................  38[deg]16.91'    73[deg]36.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
5............................  38[deg]17.63'    73[deg]35.35'        (*)
                                N.               W.
6............................  38[deg]18.55'    73[deg]34.44'        (*)
                                N.               W.
7............................  38[deg]18.38'    73[deg]33.4' W.      (*)
                                N.
8............................  38[deg]19.04'    73[deg]33.02'        (*)
                                N.               W.
9............................  38[deg]15.79'    73[deg]26.38'
                                N.               W.
10...........................  38[deg]14.98'    73[deg]24.73'
                                N.               W.
11...........................  38[deg]12.32'    73[deg]21.22'
                                N.               W.
12...........................  38[deg]11.06'    73[deg]22.21'
                                N.               W.
13...........................  38[deg]11.13'    73[deg]28.72'
                                N.               W.
1............................  38[deg]15.25'    73[deg]36.2' W.      (*)
                                N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (10) South Vries Canyon. South Vries Canyon discrete deep-sea coral 
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available 
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the 
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea 
Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                           South Vries Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]6.35' N.  73[deg]44.8' W.      (*)
2............................  38[deg]7.5' N.   73[deg]45.2' W.      (*)
3............................  38[deg]9.24' N.  73[deg]42.61'        (*)
                                                 W.
4............................  38[deg]3.22' N.  73[deg]29.22'
                                                 W.
5............................  38[deg]2.38' N.  73[deg]29.78'
                                                 W.
6............................  38[deg]2.54' N.  73[deg]36.73'
                                                 W.
1............................  38[deg]6.35' N.  73[deg]44.8' W.      (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (11) Baltimore Canyon. Baltimore Canyon discrete deep-sea coral 
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available 
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the 
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea 
Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                            Baltimore Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  38[deg]3.29' N.  73[deg]49.1' W.      (*)
2............................  38[deg]6.19' N.  73[deg]51.59'        (*)
                                                 W.
3............................  38[deg]7.67' N.  73[deg]52.19'        (*)
                                                 W.
4............................  38[deg]9.04' N.  73[deg]52.39'        (*)
                                                 W.
5............................  38[deg]10.1' N.  73[deg]52.32'        (*)
                                                 W.
6............................  38[deg]11.98'    73[deg]52.65'        (*)
                                N.               W.
7............................  38[deg]13.74'    73[deg]50.73'        (*)
                                N.               W.
8............................  38[deg]13.15'    73[deg]49.77'        (*)
                                N.               W.
9............................  38[deg]10.92'    73[deg]50.37'        (*)
                                N.               W.
10...........................  38[deg]10.2' N.  73[deg]49.63'        (*)
                                                 W.
11...........................  38[deg]9.26' N.  73[deg]49.68'        (*)
                                                 W.
12...........................  38[deg]8.38' N.  73[deg]49.51'        (*)
                                                 W.
13...........................  38[deg]7.59' N.  73[deg]47.91'        (*)
                                                 W.
14...........................  38[deg]6.96' N.  73[deg]47.25'        (*)
                                                 W.
15...........................  38[deg]6.51' N.  73[deg]46.99'        (*)
                                                 W.
16...........................  38[deg]5.69' N.  73[deg]45.56'        (*)
                                                 W.
17...........................  38[deg]6.35' N.  73[deg]44.8' W.      (*)
18...........................  38[deg]2.54' N.  73[deg]36.73'
                                                 W.

[[Page 66252]]

 
19...........................  37[deg]59.19'    73[deg]40.67'
                                N.               W.
1............................  38[deg]3.29' N.  73[deg]49.1' W.      (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (12) Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex. Warr and Phoenix Canyon 
Complex discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines 
connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart 
depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon 
request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is 
shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of 
this section.

                     Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  37[deg]53.68'    73[deg]57.41'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  37[deg]55.07'    73[deg]57.27'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  38[deg]3.29' N.  73[deg]49.1' W.      (*)
4............................  37[deg]59.19'    73[deg]40.67'
                                N.               W.
5............................  37[deg] 52.5'    73[deg] 35.28'
                                N.               W.
6............................  37[deg]50.92'    73[deg]36.59'
                                N.               W.
7............................  37[deg]49.84'    73[deg]47.11'
                                N.               W.
1............................  37[deg]53.68'    73[deg]57.41'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (13) Accomac and Leonard Canyons. Accomac and Leonard Canyons 
discrete deep-sea coral zone is defined by straight lines connecting 
the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting 
this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request). 
An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone column means the point is shared with 
the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                       Accomac and Leonard Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  37[deg]45.15'    74[deg]7.24' W.      (*)
                                N.
2............................  37[deg]45.88'    74[deg]7.44' W.      (*)
                                N.
3............................  37[deg]46.7' N.  74[deg]5.98' W.      (*)
4............................  37[deg]49.62'    74[deg]6.03' W.      (*)
                                N.
5............................  37[deg]51.25'    74[deg]5.48' W.      (*)
                                N.
6............................  37[deg]51.99'    74[deg]4.51' W.      (*)
                                N.
7............................  37[deg]51.37'    74[deg]3.3' W.       (*)
                                N.
8............................  37[deg]50.63'    74[deg]2.69' W.      (*)
                                N.
9............................  37[deg]49.62'    74[deg]2.28' W.      (*)
                                N.
10...........................  37[deg]50.28'    74[deg]0.67' W.      (*)
                                N.
11...........................  37[deg]50.2' N.  74[deg]0.17' W.
12...........................  37[deg]50.52'    73[deg]58.59'
                                N.               W.
13...........................  37[deg]50.99'    73[deg]57.17'
                                N.               W.
14...........................  37[deg]50.4' N.  73[deg]52.35'
                                                 W.
15...........................  37[deg]42.76'    73[deg]44.86'
                                N.               W.
16...........................  37[deg]39.96'    73[deg]48.32'
                                N.               W.
17...........................  37[deg]40.04'    73[deg]58.25'
                                N.               W.
18...........................  37[deg]44.14'    74[deg]6.96' W.
                                N.
1............................  37[deg]45.15'    74[deg]7.24' W.      (*)
                                N.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (14) Washington Canyon. Washington Canyon discrete deep-sea coral 
zone is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in 
the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available 
from the Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the 
Broad Zone column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea 
Coral Zone, as defined in part (b) of this section.

                            Washington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  37[deg]22.74'    74[deg]26.24'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  37[deg]22.87'    74[deg]26.16'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  37[deg]24.44'    74[deg]28.57'        (*)
                                N.               W.
4............................  37[deg]24.67'    74[deg]29.71'        (*)
                                N.               W.
5............................  37[deg]25.93'    74[deg]30.13'        (*)
                                N.               W.
6............................  37[deg]27.25'    74[deg]30.2' W.      (*)
                                N.
7............................  37[deg]28.6' N.  74[deg]30.6' W.      (*)
8............................  37[deg]29.43'    74[deg]30.29'        (*)
                                N.               W.
9............................  37[deg]29.53'    74[deg]29.95'        (*)
                                N.               W.
10...........................  37[deg]27.68'    74[deg]28.82'        (*)
                                N.               W.
11...........................  37[deg]27.06'    74[deg]28.76'        (*)
                                N.               W.
12...........................  37[deg]26.39'    74[deg]27.76'        (*)
                                N.               W.
13...........................  37[deg]26.3' N.  74[deg]26.87'        (*)
                                                 W.
14...........................  37[deg]25.69'    74[deg]25.63'        (*)
                                N.               W.
15...........................  37[deg]25.83'    74[deg]24.22'        (*)
                                N.               W.
16...........................  37[deg]25.68'    74[deg]24.03'        (*)
                                N.               W.
17...........................  37[deg]25.08'    74[deg]23.29'
                                N.               W.
18...........................  37[deg]16.81'    73[deg]52.13'
                                N.               W.
19...........................  37[deg] 11.27'   73[deg] 54.05'
                                N.               W.
20...........................  37[deg] 15.73'   74[deg] 12.2'
                                N.               W.
1............................  37[deg] 22.74'   74[deg] 26.24'       (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (15) Norfolk Canyon. Norfolk Canyon discrete deep-sea coral zone is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order 
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the 
Regional Administrator upon request). An asterisk (*) in the Broad Zone 
column means the point is shared with the Broad Deep-Sea Coral Zone, as 
defined in part (b) of this section.

                             Norfolk Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Broad
            Point                  Latitude        Longitude       zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  36[deg]58.51'    74[deg]36.51'        (*)
                                N.               W.
2............................  36[deg]58.62'    74[deg]36.97'        (*)
                                N.               W.
3............................  37[deg]4.43' N.  74[deg]41.03'        (*)
                                                 W.
4............................  37[deg]5.83' N.  74[deg]45.57'        (*)
                                                 W.
5............................  37[deg]6.97' N.  74[deg]40.8' W.      (*)
6............................  37[deg]4.52' N.  74[deg]37.77'        (*)
                                                 W.
7............................  37[deg]4.02' N.  74[deg]33.83'        (*)
                                                 W.
8............................  37[deg]4.52' N.  74[deg]33.51'        (*)
                                                 W.
9............................  37[deg]4.4' N.   74[deg]33.1' W.      (*)
10...........................  37[deg]4.16' N.  74[deg]32.37'
                                                 W.
11...........................  37[deg]4.4' N.   74[deg]30.5' W.
12...........................  37[deg]3.65' N.  74[deg]3.66' W.
13...........................  36[deg]57.75'    74[deg]3.61' W.
                                N.
14...........................  36[deg]59.77'    74[deg]30' W.
                                N.
15...........................  36[deg]58.23'    74[deg]32.95'
                                N.               W.
16...........................  36[deg]57.99'    74[deg]34.18'
                                N.               W.
1............................  36[deg]58.51'    74[deg]36.51'        (*)
                                N.               W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Transiting. Vessels may transit the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea 
Coral Zones defined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provided 
bottom-tending trawl nets are out of the water and stowed on the reel 
and any other fishing gear that is prohibited in these areas is 
onboard, out of the water, and not deployed. Fishing gear is not 
required to meet the definition of ``not available for immediate use'' 
in Sec.  648.2 of this part, when a vessel transits the Broad and 
Discrete Deep-Sea Coral Zones.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-23217 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P