[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 90246-90254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29811]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No.: 160706587-6999-02]
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: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule implements regulations in Amendment 16 to the 
Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. 
Amendment 16 protects deep-sea corals from the effects of commercial 
fishing gear in the Mid-Atlantic. The management measures implemented 
in this rule 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: Effective January 13, 2017.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christopher, Supervisory Fishery 
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. 
NMFS published a Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing its review of 
Amendment 16 on September 2, 2016 (81 FR 60666), and a proposed rule 
including implementing regulations on September 27, 2016 (81 FR 66245). 
The public comment period for both the NOA and proposed rule ended on 
November 1, 2016.
    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 recommended 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.

Approved Measures

Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    This final rule creates a deep-sea coral protection area in Mid-
Atlantic waters. It consists of a broad zone that starts at a depth 
contour of approximately 450 meters (m) and extends 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 includes 
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, is one continuous area.

[[Page 90247]]

    The broad coral zone is precautionary in nature and is intended to 
freeze the footprint of fishing to protect corals from future expansion 
of fishing effort into deeper waters. The broad coral zone has a 
landward boundary drawn between the 400 m and 500 m contours with the 
intention to approximate the 450 m depth contour as closely as 
possible, minimizing the number of vertices in the boundary line. In 
areas where there is conflict or overlap between this broad zone and 
any designated discrete zone boundaries, the discrete zone boundaries 
are prioritized. From the landward boundary, the broad zone boundaries 
extends 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 are 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 prevents 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 prohibits 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 
will protect deep-sea corals from interaction with and damage from 
bottom-tending fishing gear.
    Vessels can 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 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 are required to 
have a vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed, and 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. By requiring Illex 
squid vessels to have VMS and declare Illex fishing trips prior to 
leaving port, this measure facilitates 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 expands the framework adjustment provisions in the FMP 
to facilitate future modifications to the deep-sea coral protection 
measures. The framework measures 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;
     Modification of management measures within deep-sea coral 
protection areas. This provides the Council the option to modify 
fishing restrictions, exemptions, monitoring requirements, and other 
management measures within deep-sea coral zones through a framework 
action. It includes measures directed at gear and species not currently 
addressed in the FMP 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 provides 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, this final rule 
implements the deep-sea coral protection area as the ``Frank R. 
Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.''

Comments and Responses

    We received 10 comments on the proposed rule and NOA (8 in general 
support of the action and 2 against the action), including letters from 
five individuals, the Garden State Seafood Association, the Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources, and the Wildlife Conservation 
Society's New York Aquarium. We also received a joint comment from 
Oceana, Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, Conservation 
Law Foundation, Earthjustice, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, 
Natural Resource Defense Council, Pew Charitable Trusts, Tycoon Tackle 
Inc., and Wild Oceans. Supporting this joint comment was a comment the 
PEW Charitable Trust submitted to the Council prior to final action on 
Amendment 16. This comment was included to convey the strong and broad 
public support for the protection of deep-sea corals (including 12,201 
signatures). The comment specific to the Amendment 16 proposed rule was 
supportive of the action. The following summarizes the issues raised in 
the comments and NMFS's responses.
    Comment 1: Garden State Seafood Association opposes the expansion 
of framework adjustment provisions as currently allowed by the fishery 
management plan.

[[Page 90248]]

    Response: In general, the framework alternatives are primarily 
administrative and intended to simplify and improve the efficiency of 
future actions related to deep-sea coral protections. The purpose of 
modifying the list of ``frameworkable items'' in the FMP is to 
demonstrate that the concepts included on the list have previously been 
considered in an amendment (i.e., they are not novel) and the 
applicable measures are included in the fishery management plan or 
regulations. Adjustment of the measures through the framework process 
allows for modification of the measures already included in the fishery 
management plan(s). The effects of any proposed action or future change 
through the framework adjustment process will be analyzed through a 
separate NEPA process and developed with public input through the 
Council process.
    Comment 2: The joint comment letter (from Oceana, Wildlife 
Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, Conservation Law Foundation, 
Earthjustice, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, Natural Resource 
Defense Council, PEW Charitable Trusts, Tycoon Tackle Inc., and Wild 
Oceans) requested that the exemptions for lobster and crab pots and 
traps provided in the action be reexamined in a future action to ensure 
that they are justified and that the final rule provide a full 
explanation of how the Council and NOAA will approach reconsideration 
of the exemption, including evaluation criteria and a detailed 
description of the information that will be collected over the 2-year 
period in order to make a better informed decision. The letter 
requested that NMFS and the Council establish a process to jointly 
assess the effectiveness in protecting deep-sea corals in the Coral 
Area, and that the chosen metrics be reviewed periodically to make 
adjustments.
    Response: The Council developed this action under the discretionary 
provisions for deep-sea coral protection in section 303(b) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. This provision gives the Council the authority to 
establish a timetable for review of the closed area's performance that 
is consistent with the purposes of the closed area. Although the 
Council did not establish a formal review process for the areas, it 
clearly indicated its intent to allow review and modification through 
the framework provisions it included in the amendment. Because the 
process is not included, and it is not required, NMFS cannot impose a 
timeline or process on the Council. However, NMFS will continue to work 
with the Council and remind it of the need to adjust these measures as 
necessary as new information becomes available.
    Comment 3: The joint comment letter recommended that the Council 
and NMFS consider expanding the boundaries of the discrete zones to 
better protect deep-sea corals, including stony corals (Scleractinia) 
and sea pens (Pennatulacea).
    Response: The Council can consider additional action to further 
expand the protection of deep-sea corals through the framework measures 
and process it included in this amendment.
    Comment 4: The joint comment letter recommended that the transit 
provision require the full gear stowage provisions as opposed to the 
slightly less restrictive requirements proposed.
    Response: The action allows slightly less restrictive transiting 
provisions because the majority of transiting will be through the very 
narrow canyon heads (i.e., the narrow tips of the canyons that extend 
landward of the broad coral zone landward boundary). The normal gear 
stowage requirements, and requirements that gear be unavailable for 
immediate use, (at 50 CFR 648.2), would be burdensome for commercial 
vessels within the narrow areas of some of the discrete coral zones. 
The less restrictive gear stowage requirement still prohibits vessels 
from fishing in the areas and they must have gear onboard; the more 
restrictive measures would not reduce the potential for fishing.
    Comment 5: The joint comment letter requested that the Council 
consider future prohibitions on mid-water trawl gear.
    Response: The Council has the option to consider additional gear 
prohibitions in the area through a framework.
    Comment 6: The joint comment letter opposed the implementation of a 
special access program for commercial fishing operations in the coral 
area via framework action. They feel there should be a full amendment 
to create such a program.
    Response: The framework alternatives are primarily administrative 
and intended to simplify and improve the efficiency of future actions 
related to deep-sea coral protections. The purpose of modifying the 
list of frameworkable items in the FMP is to demonstrate that the 
concepts included on the list have previously been considered in an 
amendment. Any proposed action or future change will be analyzed 
through a separate NEPA process and would be developed by the Council 
through a public process, including Council, Committee, and Advisory 
Panel meetings that are all open to public participation.
    Comment 7: One commenter requested that a large portion of the 
deep-sea coral protection area be set aside as a permanently protected 
no-take reserve, to both preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable 
fisheries into the future.
    Response: The Council did not consider measures that would 
establish ``no-take reserves.'' Rather, the measures approved as part 
of this amendment, and the alternatives the Council considered, were 
meant to prevent fishing in some areas and prevent expansion of 
fisheries into areas where corals are known or believed to exist. The 
Council balanced the desire to close these areas under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act's discretionary deep-sea coral provision with the need to 
promote sustainable fisheries as the primary requirement under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. However, if the Council wants to consider 
expanded protection of biodiversity through no-take reserves or similar 
measures, it can take an additional action to further expand the 
protection of deep-sea corals.
    Comment 8: One commenter stated that during the development of this 
action the Council led the fishing industry to believe that all 
existing fisheries operating in the areas protected under this action 
would be allowed to continue and that no new fisheries would be allowed 
to use the area, (i.e., the action would freeze the footprint of 
fishing). He stated that removing all bottom tending mobile gear from 
these areas will have ``devastating impacts on current fisheries that 
have historically taken place near/in the coral zones.''
    Response: We disagree that the Council misled the fishing industry. 
The Council held a workshop with various stakeholders (including 
fishing industry participants) because of disagreement about how to set 
the coral protection area boundaries so that it would limit fishing but 
not have a high negative impact on fisheries. Environmental advocates, 
and deep-sea coral experts, as well as the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, 
and Butterfish Advisory Panel and the Ecosystems and Ocean Planning 
Advisory Panel attended the workshop. The workshop resulted in 
stakeholders working together to compromise on a set of boundaries for 
the 15 discrete deep-sea coral zones, which the Council subsequently 
selected as its preferred alternative. During the workshop to refine 
boundaries for coral zones, advisors assisted in developing boundaries 
that would allow for continued fishing just outside the gear restricted 
areas. As a result, the Council determined the economic impacts of this 
action will result in overall neutral

[[Page 90249]]

to moderate negative economic impacts for fishing businesses, depending 
on the fishery and assuming vessels will redistribute effort to offset 
impacts of the prohibition on fishing in some areas where they 
traditionally fished.
    Comment 9: One commenter stated that the Council has never provided 
any justification for the decision to allow fixed gear in the area when 
data show that fixed gear poses a greater threat to deep-sea coral than 
mobile gear.
    Response: The Council recommended the exemption for the red crab 
fishery because of the small size of the red crab fleet (three vessels) 
and because all red crab effort takes place at depths entirely within 
all of the proposed broad zone areas. Prohibiting red crab fishing in 
the coral protection area would have severely limited the red crab 
fishery and would have had excessively high negative economic impacts 
on red crab vessels.
    Comment 10: One commenter stated that there should be names on all 
fishing equipment assigned to fishing boats and loss of such equipment 
should require a fine of a million dollars if equipment is lost because 
it is causing massive marine death.
    Response: Lobster and red crab gear are already required to be 
marked to identify the vessel. Further, both of these gears are 
required to be compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales due to incidental 
entanglement in fishing gear. Details on the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan can be found here: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/Protected/whaletrp/.

Changes From Proposed Rule to Final Rule

    There are no changes from the proposed rule.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is 
consistent with the FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
and other applicable law.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this 
final rule is not significant according to Executive Order (E.O.) 
12866.
    This final rule does not contain policies with federalism or 
``takings'' implications, as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    This action does not contain any collection-of-information 
requirements subject the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
    NMFS, pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), has completed a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) in 
support of Amendment 16 in this final rule. The FRFA incorporates the 
IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by the public comments 
in response to the IRFA, NMFS responses to those comments, a summary of 
the analyses completed in the Amendment 16 EA, and this portion of the 
preamble. A summary of the IRFA was published in the proposed rule for 
this action and is not repeated here. A description of why this action 
was considered, the objectives of, and the legal basis for this rule is 
contained in Amendment 16 and in the preamble to the proposed and this 
final rule, and is not repeated here. All of the documents that 
constitute the FRFA are available from NMFS and a copy of the IRFA, the 
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the EA are available upon request 
(see ADDRESSES).

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

    There were no specific comments on the IRFA. The Comments and 
Responses section summarizes the comments that highlight concerns about 
the economic impacts and implications of impacts on small businesses 
(i.e., comment 8). No comments were received from the Office of 
Advocacy for the Small Business Administration.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which This 
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 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 and fishes in the 
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

    This 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 will be affected by this action already have VMS. Because every 
Illex vessel has VMS,

[[Page 90250]]

they are already required to enter a trip declaration for every trip. 
Therefore, there is no additional reporting burden imposed by this 
action.

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes

    During the development of Amendment 16, the Council considered 
several alternatives to the deep-sea coral protection measures it 
ultimately recommended. While some alternatives would have closed less 
area (smaller discrete zone areas and broad zone area starting at a 
deeper depth) and other alternatives would have allowed more fishing 
(an exemption for tilefish gear), NMFS has does not have the authority 
to implement measures that were not recommended by the Council as part 
of its preferred action. Rather, NMFS can only approve or disapprove 
Council recommendations in an amendment. NMFS, therefore, is 
implementing the Council's preferred action, but the action includes 
some measures that reduce the economic impact inherent in closing areas 
to fishing. Specifically, this final rule exempts red crab pot gear 
from the prohibition on fishing with bottom-tending fishing gear in the 
deep-sea coral protection area. The red crab fishery exists entirely 
within the boundaries of the deep-sea coral protection area in the Mid-
Atlantic. The exemption allows the fishery to continue to operate in 
the Mid-Atlantic and gain revenue from its catch. In addition, vessels 
are allowed to transit the deep-sea coral protection area, which is 
particularly important at the heads of the discrete zone canyons (where 
the boundaries come to a point). Because vessels fish with bottom-
tending gear along the edges of the canyons, they would have to transit 
around them to fish on both sides of the canyon. This would cost fuel 
and could ultimately impact trip duration and catch if vessel operators 
would have had to spend time transiting around the canyon heads rather 
than across them. Both the red crab pot gear exemption and the 
transiting provision therefore reduces cost and time and minimizes the 
economic impact of the measures implemented under this final rule.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility 
analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small 
entities in complying with the rule, and shall designate such 
publications as ``small entity compliance guides.'' The agency shall 
explain the actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a 
rule or group of rules. The preamble to the proposed rule (81 FR 66245, 
September 27, 2016) and the preamble to this final rule serve as the 
small entity compliance guide. This final rule does not require any 
additional compliance from small entities that is not described in the 
preamble to the proposed rule and this final rule. Copies of the 
proposed rule and this final rule are available from NMFS at the 
following Web site: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/scallop/.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: December 7, 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 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 paragraphs (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) heading 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 with Sec.  697.21 of this chapter, 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:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(1);
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4) as paragraphs 
(a)(3), (a)(4), and (a)(5); and
0
c. Add new paragraph (a)(2).
    The revisions and addition 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 90251]]

    (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 subpart B 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 with Sec.  697.21 of this chapter, 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 paragraph (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'    74[deg]41.03'           *
                               N.              W.
19..........................  37[deg]5.83'    74[deg]45.57'           *
                               N.              W.
20..........................  37[deg]6.97'    74[deg]40.8'            *
                               N.              W.
21..........................  37[deg]4.52'    74[deg]37.77'           *
                               N.              W.
22..........................  37[deg]4.02'    74[deg]33.83'           *
                               N.              W.
23..........................  37[deg]4.52'    74[deg]33.51'           *
                               N.              W.
24..........................  37[deg]4.4' N.  74[deg]33.11'           *
                                               W.
25..........................  37[deg]7.38'    74[deg]31.95'   ..........
                               N.              W.
26..........................  37[deg]8.32'    74[deg]32.4'    ..........
                               N.              W.
27..........................  37[deg]8.51'    74[deg]31.38'   ..........
                               N.              W.
28..........................  37[deg]9.44'    74[deg]31.5'    ..........
                               N.              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'    74[deg]30.6'            *
                               N.              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'    74[deg]26.87'           *
                               N.              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'    74[deg]8.79'    ..........
                               N.              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'    74[deg]5.98'            *
                               N.              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'    73[deg]49.1'            *
                               N.              W.
71..........................  38[deg]6.19'    73[deg]51.59'           *
                               N.              W.
72..........................  38[deg]7.67'    73[deg]52.19'           *
                               N.              W.
73..........................  38[deg]9.04'    73[deg]52.39'           *
                               N.              W.
74..........................  38[deg]10.1'    73[deg]52.32'           *
                               N.              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'    73[deg]49.63'           *
                               N.              W.
80..........................  38[deg]9.26'    73[deg]49.68'           *
                               N.              W.
81..........................  38[deg]8.38'    73[deg]49.51'           *
                               N.              W.
82..........................  38[deg]7.59'    73[deg]47.91'           *
                               N.              W.
83..........................  38[deg]6.96'    73[deg]47.25'           *
                               N.              W.
84..........................  38[deg]6.51'    73[deg]46.99'           *
                               N.              W.
85..........................  38[deg]5.69'    73[deg]45.56'           *
                               N.              W.
86..........................  38[deg]6.35'    73[deg]44.8'            *
                               N.              W.
87..........................  38[deg]7.5' N.  73[deg]45.2'            *
                                               W.
88..........................  38[deg]9.24'    73[deg]42.61'           *
                               N.              W.
89..........................  38[deg]9.41'    73[deg]41.63'   ..........
                               N.              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 90252]]

 
93..........................  38[deg]16.89'   73[deg]36.66'           *
                               N.              W.
94..........................  38[deg]16.91'   73[deg]36.35'           *
                               N.              W.
95..........................  38[deg]17.63'   73[deg]35.35'           *
                               N.              W.
96..........................  38[deg]18.55'   73[deg]34.44'           *
                               N.              W.
97..........................  38[deg]18.38'   73[deg]33.4'            *
                               N.              W.
98..........................  38[deg]19.04'   73[deg]33.02'           *
                               N.              W.
99..........................  38[deg]25.08'   73[deg]34.99'           *
                               N.              W.
100.........................  38[deg]26.32'   73[deg]33.44'           *
                               N.              W.
101.........................  38[deg]29.72'   73[deg]30.65'           *
                               N.              W.
102.........................  38[deg]28.65'   73[deg]29.37'           *
                               N.              W.
103.........................  38[deg]25.53'   73[deg]30.94'           *
                               N.              W.
104.........................  38[deg]25.26'   73[deg]29.97'           *
                               N.              W.
105.........................  38[deg]23.75'   73[deg]30.16'           *
                               N.              W.
106.........................  38[deg]23.47'   73[deg]29.7'            *
                               N.              W.
107.........................  38[deg]22.76'   73[deg]29.34'           *
                               N.              W.
108.........................  38[deg]22.5'    73[deg]27.63'           *
                               N.              W.
109.........................  38[deg]21.59'   73[deg]26.87'           *
                               N.              W.
110.........................  38[deg]23.07'   73[deg]24.11'   ..........
                               N.              W.
111.........................  38[deg]25.83'   73[deg]22.39'   ..........
                               N.              W.
112.........................  38[deg]25.97'   73[deg]21.43'   ..........
                               N.              W.
113.........................  38[deg]34.14'   73[deg]11.14'           *
                               N.              W.
114.........................  38[deg]35.1'    73[deg]10.43'           *
                               N.              W.
115.........................  38[deg]35.94'   73[deg]11.25'           *
                               N.              W.
116.........................  38[deg]37.57'   73[deg]10.49'           *
                               N.              W.
117.........................  38[deg]37.21'   73[deg]9.41'            *
                               N.              W.
118.........................  38[deg]36.72'   73[deg]8.85'            *
                               N.              W.
119.........................  38[deg]43' N.   73[deg]1.24'            *
                                               W.
120.........................  38[deg]43.66'   73[deg]0.36'            *
                               N.              W.
121.........................  38[deg]45' N.   73[deg]0.27'            *
                                               W.
122.........................  38[deg]46.68'   73[deg]1.07'            *
                               N.              W.
123.........................  38[deg]47.54'   73[deg]2.24'            *
                               N.              W.
124.........................  38[deg]47.84'   73[deg]2.24'            *
                               N.              W.
125.........................  38[deg]49.03'   73[deg]1.53'            *
                               N.              W.
126.........................  38[deg]48.45'   73[deg]1' W.            *
                               N.
127.........................  38[deg]49.15'   72[deg]58.98'           *
                               N.              W.
128.........................  38[deg]48.03'   72[deg]56.7'            *
                               N.              W.
129.........................  38[deg]49.84'   72[deg]55.54'           *
                               N.              W.
130.........................  38[deg]52.4'    72[deg]52.5'            *
                               N.              W.
131.........................  38[deg]53.87'   72[deg]53.36'           *
                               N.              W.
132.........................  38[deg]54.17'   72[deg]52.58'           *
                               N.              W.
133.........................  38[deg]54.7'    72[deg]50.26'           *
                               N.              W.
134.........................  38[deg]57.2'    72[deg]47.74'           *
                               N.              W.
135.........................  38[deg]58.64'   72[deg]48.35'           *
                               N.              W.
136.........................  38[deg]59.3'    72[deg]47.86'           *
                               N.              W.
137.........................  38[deg]59.22'   72[deg]46.69'           *
                               N.              W.
138.........................  39[deg]0.13'    72[deg]45.47'           *
                               N.              W.
139.........................  39[deg]1.69'    72[deg]45.74'           *
                               N.              W.
140.........................  39[deg]1.49'    72[deg]43.67'           *
                               N.              W.
141.........................  39[deg]3.9' N.  72[deg]40.83'           *
                                               W.
142.........................  39[deg]7.35'    72[deg]41.26'           *
                               N.              W.
143.........................  39[deg]7.16'    72[deg]37.21'           *
                               N.              W.
144.........................  39[deg]6.52'    72[deg]35.78'           *
                               N.              W.
145.........................  39[deg]11.73'   72[deg]25.4'            *
                               N.              W.
146.........................  39[deg]11.76'   72[deg]22.33'   ..........
                               N.              W.
147.........................  39[deg]19.08'   72[deg]9.56'            *
                               N.              W.
148.........................  39[deg]25.17'   72[deg]13.03'           *
                               N.              W.
149.........................  39[deg]28.8'    72[deg]17.39'           *
                               N.              W.
150.........................  39[deg]30.16'   72[deg]20.41'           *
                               N.              W.
151.........................  39[deg]31.38'   72[deg]23.86'           *
                               N.              W.
152.........................  39[deg]32.55'   72[deg]25.07'           *
                               N.              W.
153.........................  39[deg]34.57'   72[deg]25.18'           *
                               N.              W.
154.........................  39[deg]34.53'   72[deg]24.23'           *
                               N.              W.
155.........................  39[deg]33.17'   72[deg]24.1'            *
                               N.              W.
156.........................  39[deg]32.07'   72[deg]22.77'           *
                               N.              W.
157.........................  39[deg]32.17'   72[deg]22.08'           *
                               N.              W.
158.........................  39[deg]30.3'    72[deg]15.71'           *
                               N.              W.
159.........................  39[deg]29.49'   72[deg]14.3'            *
                               N.              W.
160.........................  39[deg]29.44'   72[deg]13.24'           *
                               N.              W.
161.........................  39[deg]27.63'   72[deg]5.87'            *
                               N.              W.
162.........................  39[deg]28.26'   72[deg]2.2' W.          *
                               N.
163.........................  39[deg]29.88'   72[deg]3.51'            *
                               N.              W.
164.........................  39[deg]30.57'   72[deg]3.47'            *
                               N.              W.
165.........................  39[deg]31.28'   72[deg]2.63'            *
                               N.              W.
166.........................  39[deg]31.46'   72[deg]1.41'            *
                               N.              W.
167.........................  39[deg]37.15'   71[deg]55.85'           *
                               N.              W.
168.........................  39[deg]39.77'   71[deg]53.7'            *
                               N.              W.
169.........................  39[deg]41.5'    71[deg]51.89'   ..........
                               N.              W.
170.........................  39[deg]43.84'   71[deg]44.85'           *
                               N.              W.
171.........................  39[deg]48.01'   71[deg]45.19'           *
                               N.              W.
172.........................  39[deg]49.97'   71[deg]39.29'           *
                               N.              W.
173.........................  39[deg]55.08'   71[deg]18.62'           *
                               N.              W.
174.........................  39[deg]55.99'   71[deg]16.07'           *
                               N.              W.
175.........................  39[deg]57.04'   70[deg]50.01'   ..........
                               N.              W.
176.........................  39[deg]55.07'   70[deg]32.42'   ..........
                               N.              W.
177.........................  39[deg]50.24'   70[deg]27.78'   ..........
                               N.              W.
178.........................  39[deg]42.18'   70[deg]20.09'   ..........
                               N.              W.
179.........................  39[deg]34.11'   70[deg]12.42'   ..........
                               N.              W.
180.........................  39[deg]26.04'   70[deg]4.78'    ..........
                               N.              W.
181.........................  39[deg]17.96'   69[deg]57.18'   ..........
                               N.              W.
182.........................  39[deg]9.87'    69[deg]49.6'    ..........
                               N.              W.
183.........................  39[deg]1.77'    69[deg]42.05'   ..........
                               N.              W.
184.........................  38[deg]53.66'   69[deg]34.53'   ..........
                               N.              W.
185.........................  38[deg]45.54'   69[deg]27.03'   ..........
                               N.              W.
186.........................  38[deg]37.42'   69[deg]19.57'   ..........
                               N.              W.
187.........................  38[deg]29.29'   69[deg]12.13'   ..........
                               N.              W.
188.........................  38[deg]21.15'   69[deg]4.73'    ..........
                               N.              W.
189.........................  38[deg]13' N.   68[deg]57.35'   ..........
                                               W.
190.........................  38[deg]4.84'    68[deg]49.99'   ..........
                               N.              W.
191.........................  38[deg]2.21'    68[deg]47.62'   ..........
                               N.              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 paragraph (b) of this 
section.

                              Block Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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'    71[deg]11.87'   ..........
                               N.              W.
6...........................  39[deg]47.26'   71[deg]17.38'   ..........
                               N.              W.
7...........................  39[deg]52.6'    71[deg]17.51'   ..........
                               N.              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 paragraph (b) of this 
section.

                        Ryan and McMaster Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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 paragraph (b) of this 
section.

                        Emery and Uchupi Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  39[deg]37.15'   71[deg]55.85'           *
                               N.              W.
2...........................  39[deg]39.77'   71[deg]53.7'            *
                               N.              W.
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 paragraph (b) of this 
section.

                        Jones and Babylon Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  39[deg]28.26'   72[deg]2.2' W.          *
                               N.
2...........................  39[deg]29.88'   72[deg]3.51'            *
                               N.              W.
3...........................  39[deg]30.57'   72[deg]3.47'            *
                               N.              W.
4...........................  39[deg]31.28'   72[deg]2.63'            *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  39[deg]31.46'   72[deg]1.41'            *
                               N.              W.
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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                              Hudson Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  39[deg]19.08'   72[deg]9.56'            *
                               N.              W.
2...........................  39[deg]25.17'   72[deg]13.03'           *
                               N.              W.
3...........................  39[deg]28.8'    72[deg]17.39'           *
                               N.              W.
4...........................  39[deg]30.16'   72[deg]20.41'           *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  39[deg]31.38'   72[deg]23.86'           *
                               N.              W.

[[Page 90253]]

 
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'            *
                               N.              W.
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'    72[deg]15.71'           *
                               N.              W.
13..........................  39[deg]29.49'   72[deg]14.3'            *
                               N.              W.
14..........................  39[deg]29.44'   72[deg]13.24'           *
                               N.              W.
15..........................  39[deg]27.63'   72[deg]5.87'            *
                               N.              W.
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'    ..........
                               N.              W.
1...........................  39[deg]19.08'   72[deg]9.56'            *
                               N.              W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                          Mey-Lindenkohl Slope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  38[deg]43' N.   73[deg]1.24'            *
                                               W.
2...........................  38[deg]43.66'   73[deg]0.36'            *
                               N.              W.
3...........................  38[deg]45' N.   73[deg]0.27'            *
                                               W.
4...........................  38[deg]46.68'   73[deg]1.07'            *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  38[deg]47.54'   73[deg]2.24'            *
                               N.              W.
6...........................  38[deg]47.84'   73[deg]2.24'            *
                               N.              W.
7...........................  38[deg]49.03'   73[deg]1.53'            *
                               N.              W.
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'            *
                               N.              W.
11..........................  38[deg]49.84'   72[deg]55.54'           *
                               N.              W.
12..........................  38[deg]52.4'    72[deg]52.5'            *
                               N.              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'    72[deg]50.26'           *
                               N.              W.
16..........................  38[deg]57.2'    72[deg]47.74'           *
                               N.              W.
17..........................  38[deg]58.64'   72[deg]48.35'           *
                               N.              W.
18..........................  38[deg]59.3'    72[deg]47.86'           *
                               N.              W.
19..........................  38[deg]59.22'   72[deg]46.69'           *
                               N.              W.
20..........................  39[deg]0.13'    72[deg]45.47'           *
                               N.              W.
21..........................  39[deg]1.69'    72[deg]45.74'           *
                               N.              W.
22..........................  39[deg]1.49'    72[deg]43.67'           *
                               N.              W.
23..........................  39[deg]3.9' N.  72[deg]40.83'           *
                                               W.
24..........................  39[deg]7.35'    72[deg]41.26'           *
                               N.              W.
25..........................  39[deg]7.16'    72[deg]37.21'           *
                               N.              W.
26..........................  39[deg]6.52'    72[deg]35.78'           *
                               N.              W.
27..........................  39[deg]11.73'   72[deg]25.4'            *
                               N.              W.
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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                             Spencer Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  38[deg]34.14'   73[deg]11.14'           *
                               N.              W.
2...........................  38[deg]35.1'    73[deg]10.43'           *
                               N.              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'            *
                               N.              W.
6...........................  38[deg]36.72'   73[deg]8.85'            *
                               N.              W.
7...........................  38[deg]36.59'   73[deg]8.25'    ..........
                               N.              W.
8...........................  38[deg]28.94'   72[deg]58.96'   ..........
                               N.              W.
9...........................  38[deg]26.45'   73[deg]3.24'    ..........
                               N.              W.
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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                            Wilmington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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'            *
                               N.              W.
10..........................  38[deg]22.76'   73[deg]29.34'           *
                               N.              W.
11..........................  38[deg]22.5'    73[deg]27.63'           *
                               N.              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 paragraph 
(b) of this section.

                North Heyes and South Wilmington Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  38[deg]15.25'   73[deg]36.2'            *
                               N.              W.
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'            *
                               N.              W.
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'            *
                               N.              W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 paragraph (b) of this section.

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

                            Baltimore Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  38[deg]3.29'    73[deg]49.1'            *
                               N.              W.
2...........................  38[deg]6.19'    73[deg]51.59'           *
                               N.              W.
3...........................  38[deg]7.67'    73[deg]52.19'           *
                               N.              W.
4...........................  38[deg]9.04'    73[deg]52.39'           *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  38[deg]10.1'    73[deg]52.32'           *
                               N.              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'    73[deg]49.63'           *
                               N.              W.
11..........................  38[deg]9.26'    73[deg]49.68'           *
                               N.              W.
12..........................  38[deg]8.38'    73[deg]49.51'           *
                               N.              W.
13..........................  38[deg]7.59'    73[deg]47.91'           *
                               N.              W.
14..........................  38[deg]6.96'    73[deg]47.25'           *
                               N.              W.
15..........................  38[deg]6.51'    73[deg]46.99'           *
                               N.              W.
16..........................  38[deg]5.69'    73[deg]45.56'           *
                               N.              W.
17..........................  38[deg]6.35'    73[deg]44.8'            *
                               N.              W.
18..........................  38[deg]2.54'    73[deg]36.73'   ..........
                               N.              W.
19..........................  37[deg]59.19'   73[deg]40.67'   ..........
                               N.              W.
1...........................  38[deg]3.29'    73[deg]49.1'            *
                               N.              W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (12) Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex. Warr and Phoenix Canyon

[[Page 90254]]

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 paragraph (b) 
of this section.

                     Warr and Phoenix Canyon Complex
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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'    73[deg]49.1'            *
                               N.              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 paragraph (b) of this 
section.

                       Accomac and Leonard Canyons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  37[deg]45.15'   74[deg]7.24'            *
                               N.              W.
2...........................  37[deg]45.88'   74[deg]7.44'            *
                               N.              W.
3...........................  37[deg]46.7'    74[deg]5.98'            *
                               N.              W.
4...........................  37[deg]49.62'   74[deg]6.03'            *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  37[deg]51.25'   74[deg]5.48'            *
                               N.              W.
6...........................  37[deg]51.99'   74[deg]4.51'            *
                               N.              W.
7...........................  37[deg]51.37'   74[deg]3.3' W.          *
                               N.
8...........................  37[deg]50.63'   74[deg]2.69'            *
                               N.              W.
9...........................  37[deg]49.62'   74[deg]2.28'            *
                               N.              W.
10..........................  37[deg]50.28'   74[deg]0.67'            *
                               N.              W.
11..........................  37[deg]50.2'    74[deg]0.17'    ..........
                               N.              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'    73[deg]52.35'   ..........
                               N.              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'    ..........
                               N.              W.
1...........................  37[deg]45.15'   74[deg]7.24'            *
                               N.              W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                            Washington Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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'            *
                               N.              W.
7...........................  37[deg]28.6'    74[deg]30.6'            *
                               N.              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'    74[deg]26.87'           *
                               N.              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 paragraph (b) of this section.

                             Norfolk Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                Latitude        Longitude    Broad 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'    74[deg]41.03'           *
                               N.              W.
4...........................  37[deg]5.83'    74[deg]45.57'           *
                               N.              W.
5...........................  37[deg]6.97'    74[deg]40.8'            *
                               N.              W.
6...........................  37[deg]4.52'    74[deg]37.77'           *
                               N.              W.
7...........................  37[deg]4.02'    74[deg]33.83'           *
                               N.              W.
8...........................  37[deg]4.52'    74[deg]33.51'           *
                               N.              W.
9...........................  37[deg]4.40'    74[deg]33.11'           *
                               N.              W.
10..........................  37[deg]4.16'    74[deg]32.37'   ..........
                               N.              W.
11..........................  37[deg]4.40'    74[deg]30.58'   ..........
                               N.              W.
12..........................  37[deg]3.65'    74[deg]3.66'    ..........
                               N.              W.
13..........................  36[deg]57.75'   74[deg]3.61'    ..........
                               N.              W.
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, when a vessel transits the Broad and Discrete Deep-Sea 
Coral Zones.

[FR Doc. 2016-29811 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P