[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57543-57551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26275]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 170901859-7999-02]
RIN 0648-BH19


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Charter/Headboat Permit 
Commercial Sale Provision

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule creates a separate permit endorsement 
provision for the commercial sale of Atlantic highly migratory species 
(HMS) by HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders. Prior to implementation 
of this final rule, all vessels issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
could be categorized as commercial fishing vessels and could be subject 
to United States Coast Guard (USCG) commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements regardless of whether the permit holder engages or intends 
to engage in commercial fishing. Under this final rule, HMS Charter/
Headboat permit holders will be prohibited from selling Atlantic tunas, 
swordfish, or sharks unless they obtain a commercial sale endorsement 
for their permit. This final rule will clarify which HMS Charter/
Headboat permitted vessels are properly categorized as commercial 
fishing vessels for purposes of USCG safety requirements. This action 
is administrative in nature and will not affect fishing practices or 
result in any significant environmental effects or economic impacts.

DATES: Effective January 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the supporting documents--including the 2006 
Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments and 
associated documents--are available from the HMS Management Division 
Web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting Dianne 
Stephan by phone at 978-281-9260. Written comments regarding the 
burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information 
requirements contained in this final rule may be submitted to the HMS 
Management Division and by email to [email protected], or fax 
to (202) 395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dianne Stephan or Tobey Curtis by 
phone at 978-281-9260, or Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic HMS are managed under the dual 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act 
(ATCA). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS must ensure consistency 
with 10 National Standards and manage fisheries to maintain optimum 
yield, rebuild overfished fisheries, and prevent overfishing. Under 
ATCA, the Secretary of Commerce is required to promulgate regulations, 
as necessary and appropriate, to implement measures adopted by the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The 
implementing regulations for Atlantic HMS are at 50 CFR part 635.

Background

    Atlantic HMS regulations at 50 CFR 635.4(b) require that charter/
headboat vessels (i.e., vessels taking fee-paying passengers) used to 
fish for, take, retain, or possess Atlantic HMS must obtain an HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit. In addition to carrying paying passengers, the 
permit also allows charter/headboat fishermen to diversify their 
operations by fishing commercially for Atlantic tunas and swordfish. 
They may sell sharks if they also have a commercial shark permit in 
addition to the Charter/Headboat permit. Relatively few permit holders 
use the commercial sale provision. From 2012-2016, an annual average of 
only seven percent of HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders sold any tuna 
or swordfish. USCG commercial vessel safety requirement therefore may 
result in an unnecessary ``commercial vessel'' compliance burden for 
HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels.
    Commercial fishing vessel safety provisions contained in the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (CGAA) and the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2012 were the subject of a Marine Safety 
Information Bulletin (MSIB 12-15) issued by the USCG on October 20, 
2015. MSIB 12-15 clarified that the law would require mandatory 
dockside safety exams for a broader population of commercial fishing 
vessels. As clarified in the notice, that broader community included 
HMS Charter/Headboat vessels that were authorized by the permit to sell 
fish commercially (i.e., all Charter/Headboat vessels). The mandatory 
safety exam includes a check for required commercial fishing vessel 
safety equipment such as life rafts, emergency beacons, and survival 
suits, and other requirements found in 46 CFR part 28. Outfitting a 
vessel with these items comes at a substantial cost. Mandatory dockside 
safety exams for vessels operating beyond three nautical miles from 
shore began October 15, 2015 under this program.
    These mandatory commercial vessel safety requirements had overly 
broad application to all Charter/Headboat permit holders, whether they 
engaged in commercial sales or not, absent a more effective way to 
identify which HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders engage in commercial 
fishing. After questions about applicability from NMFS and the 
regulated community, on July 10, 2017, the USCG issued Marine Safety 
Information Bulletin (MSIB 008-17) in an attempt to clarify the 
applicability of commercial fishing vessel safety requirements for 
vessels with HMS permits, including HMS Charter/Headboat permits. USCG 
regulations at 46 CFR 28.50 define a commercial fishing vessel as a 
vessel that commercially engages in the catching, taking, or harvesting 
of fish, or an activity that can reasonably be expected to result in 
the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish. According to the MSIB 008-
17, if an individual has an HMS Charter/Headboat permit (which allows 
commercial sale) and a state permit to sell catch, the vessel is 
considered subject to commercial fishing vessel safety regulations.
    Many HMS Charter/Headboat operators that neither sell, nor intend 
to sell, their catch but hold a permit to sell have thus found that the 
USCG policy identifies their operations as a ``commercial fishing 
vessel,'' and requires them to adhere to USCG commercial fishing vessel 
safety requirements. For example, even small charter vessels (i.e., 
less than 20 feet in length) operating in the warm waters of the Gulf 
of Mexico and with no intent to sell HMS, may be required under the 
USCG regulations to carry an inflatable life raft that can cost 
approximately $1,750. In addition to the cost burden, a vessel of this 
size has minimal space to store such gear. These smaller HMS Charter/
Headboat permitted vessels were previously subject to the USCG safety 
regulations for uninspected passenger vessels of less than 100 gross

[[Page 57544]]

tons and carrying six or less passengers, which are less extensive and 
less costly.
    In late 2016 and early 2017, NMFS and the USCG staff informally 
discussed how to more effectively categorize HMS charter/headboat 
vessels under USCG regulations. The HMS Advisory Panel discussed this 
issue at length at its May and September 2017 meetings. Many HMS 
Advisory Panel members, including commercial, recreational, and 
council/state representatives, supported creating a separate regulatory 
provision for charter/headboat vessels that intend to sell HMS and to 
thus specify that other such vessels were not engaged in commercial 
sale and not subject to expensive USCG commercial vessel compliance 
obligations. Panel members stated that creating a separate sale 
provision would support more appropriate application and enforcement of 
USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements in the Atlantic HMS 
Charter/Headboat fishery, and would better clarify for permit holders 
the specific USCG regulations that apply to their vessels and fishing 
operations. On October 6, 2017, the USCG formally reviewed the proposed 
rule of this action and concurred with the approach to provide clarity 
on the applicability on their requirements.

HMS Charter/Headboat Permit Commercial Sale Endorsement

    This final rule creates a ``commercial sale'' endorsement that can 
be placed on the existing HMS Charter/Headboat permit. Under this 
action, HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders will be prohibited from 
selling any catch of HMS unless they first obtain a ``commercial sale'' 
endorsement on their permit. Only those HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
holders with the endorsement will be permitted to sell Atlantic tunas, 
swordfish, or sharks if they also have the additionally required 
commercial shark permit.
    This final rule clarifies that any HMS Charter/Headboat vessel 
issued a Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement 
will be categorized as a commercial fishing vessel under USCG criteria, 
and therefore could be subject to USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements. A vessel issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit without a 
``commercial sale'' endorsement will not be categorized as a commercial 
fishing vessel and should not be subject to the USCG commercial fishing 
vessel safety requirements. HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders with 
the commercial sale endorsement allowing the sale of tunas or swordfish 
must adhere to the applicable Atlantic Tunas General Category or 
General Commercial Swordfish permit possession limits and restrictions; 
any landings will be applied against the appropriate commercial quota. 
HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders that sell or intend to sell sharks 
must obtain the commercial sale endorsement on their permit as well as 
a commercial shark permit. This final rule would only change the permit 
category under which certain vessels are fishing. It will not affect 
quotas, gear types, or time/area restrictions, and neither increase or 
decrease fishing effort or affect fishing timing nor implement other 
measures that will potentially have any environmental effects.

Response to Comments

    During the public comment period, NMFS held a public hearing via 
webinar. Two members of the public provided comments during the 
hearing. Additionally, NMFS received 14 written comments. All written 
comments can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/. The summarized 
comments and NMFS' response to those comments can be found below.
    Comment 1: NMFS received comments, including from the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, in support of the HMS Charter/
Headboat permit commercial sales endorsement considered in the proposed 
rule. We also received a comment stating a commercial sale endorsement 
would not be useful since a lot of charter/headboat fishing occurs in 
state waters. Another commenter requested clarification on the cost of 
the commercial sales endorsement.
    Response: NMFS believes that the commercial sales endorsement will 
effectively delineate between HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders that 
intend to sell HMS catch and those that do not. This clarification 
should facilitate USCG's application of commercial fishing vessel 
safety requirements. Regarding the comment that charter/headboat 
fishing occurs primarily in state waters, and the apparent concern that 
USCG requirements therefore would not apply nor be ``useful,'' we note 
that as a condition of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit, permit holders 
are required to abide by federal HMS regulations regardless of where 
fishing occurs, including in state waters, unless state regulations are 
stricter. With respect to Atlantic tunas, NMFS manages the tuna 
fisheries to the shore even if a vessel holds no Federal permit, except 
in the States of Maine, Connecticut, and Mississippi. Regarding the 
cost, the cost of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit with and without the 
commercial sale endorsement will be the same; there will be no 
additional cost to obtain the commercial sales endorsement.
    Comment 2: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) 
submitted a comment stating the HMS Charter/Headboat permit commercial 
sale endorsement could make it more difficult to differentiate between 
recreational and commercial fishing activities, particularly in the 
coastal shark fishery. ASMFC also stated that State commercial fishing 
permits already identify those individuals that are able to sell 
sharks.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that the HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
commercial sale endorsement would make it more difficult to 
differentiate between recreational and commercial fishing activities. 
Instead, the commercial sale endorsement will effectively identify HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit holders that intend to sell HMS catch. HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit holders that do not obtain the commercial sale 
endorsement will clearly not be engaging in commercial fishing. As 
detailed in the background information section above, approximately 93 
percent of HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders do not sell HMS catch. 
These permit holders are unlikely to obtain the commercial sale 
endorsement; thus, the vast majority of HMS charter/headboat activity 
would be easily categorized as recreational. Furthermore, State 
commercial fishing permits do not authorize HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
holders to sell sharks. HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders that intend 
to sell sharks must obtain a Federal Atlantic commercial shark permit 
in addition to the commercial sale endorsement created in this action. 
Furthermore, the action is specifically taken with regard to 
categorization for USCG regulatory purposes.
    Comment 3: NMFS received comments expressing concern that defining 
a charter/headboat as a commercial vessel for the entire year is overly 
burdensome on the owner and captain. Instead, commenters stated that 
commercial fishing vessel safety requirements should be enforced on a 
trip-by-trip basis and that when an HMS Charter/Headboat permit holder 
intends to sell HMS catch, that trip should be categorized as a 
commercial trip, subject to the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements. Commenters stated that if an HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
holder is on a for-hire trip, that trip should be categorized as a non-
commercial trip and not be subject to the USCG commercial fishing 
vessel

[[Page 57545]]

safety requirements. Commenters included examples of hardships, such as 
requiring safety drills with clients and requesting customers' clothing 
sizes to ensure immersion suits are properly sized. One commenter 
stated that NMFS should require proof of a USCG commercial fishing 
vessel safety sticker when applying for the HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
commercial sales endorsement and should conduct a review of compliance 
of HMS Charter/Headboat vessels with commercial fishing vessel safety 
exam requirements. Another commenter stated that all commercial vessels 
should be subject to the same commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements regardless of vessel size or where fishing occurs.
    Response: The purpose of this action is to clarify which HMS 
Charter/Headboat permitted vessels are authorized to sell Atlantic HMS 
and thus are appropriately categorized as commercial fishing vessels 
for purposes of the USCG commercial safety requirements. Doing so will 
facilitate USCG's appropriate application of commercial fishing vessel 
safety requirements. The mandatory USCG safety requirements arguably 
may have been overly broad as currently applied because it is difficult 
to identify which HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders engage in 
commercial fishing and, therefore, should appropriately be subject to 
the requirements. This action is not intended to address, nor otherwise 
consider, the effectiveness of USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements. Regarding the comment that NMFS should require compliance 
with USCG regulations before issuing an HMS Charter/Headboat permit and 
should conduct a review of compliance with commercial fishing vessel 
safety exam requirements, NMFS may consider requiring proof of 
compliance (e.g., submission of sticker number) as a condition of 
obtaining the endorsement in the future, after additional consultation 
with USCG. NMFS will coordinate with USCG Commercial Safety Exam 
program staff to conduct a review of compliance of HMS permitted 
vessels with CFVS exam requirements. The proper application of USCG 
commercial fishing vessel safety requirements based on trip type, 
vessel size, or fishing location is outside the purview of NMFS. NMFS 
will share these comments and concerns with USCG Commercial Fishing 
Vessel Safety program staff.
    Comment 4: NMFS also received a comment suggesting increased 
reporting requirements for vessels landing and selling bigeye, 
albacore, and yellowfin tunas and to prohibit the sale of HMS caught on 
charter/headboats while engaged in a for-hire trip.
    Response: This comment is outside the scope of this rulemaking, 
which focuses on overly burdensome and unnecessary application of USCG 
commercial vessel requirements to HMS vessels that do not sell or 
intend to sell their catch. However, NMFS will consider these 
suggestions regarding increased reporting requirements and whether to 
propose further regulations modifying HMS charter/headboat commercial 
sale provisions in the future, as appropriate. Any such new management 
measures and regulations would be presented in a proposed rule, and the 
public would have an opportunity to provide comment.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    The final rule contains no changes from the proposed rule.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA) has determined that 
the final rule is consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its 
amendments, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and 
other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    For the reasons described in the preamble, this final rule is 
expected to be deregulatory under Executive Order 13771.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This final rule contains a collection-of-information requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that has been approved by 
OMB under control number 0648-0327. Public reporting burden for 
Atlantic HMS Permit Family of Forms is estimated to average 34 minutes 
per respondent for initial permit applicants, and 10 minutes for permit 
renewals, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments 
regarding these burden estimates or any other aspect of this data 
collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES) and by email to [email protected], or fax to 202-
395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared for 
this rule. The FRFA incorporates the initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis (IRFA) and a summary of the analyses completed to support the 
action. NMFS did not receive any public comment on the IRFA. The full 
FRFA is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary is provided 
below.
Statement of the Need for and Objectives of This Final Rule
    A description of the action and the legal basis for this action are 
contained in the Background section of the preamble and in the SUMMARY 
of this final rule.
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the 
Final Rule Will Apply
    Section 604(a)(4) of the RFA requires agencies to provide an 
estimate of the number of small entities to which the rule will apply. 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established size criteria 
for all major industry sectors in the United States, including for-hire 
charter/headboat businesses. For-hire charter/headboat business fit 
into the ``Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water'' industry 
under NAICS code 487210. SBA has established that the small entity size 
standard for that industry is $7.5 million in average annual receipts.
    Provision is made under SBA's regulations for an agency to develop 
its own industry-specific size standards after consultation with 
Advocacy and an opportunity for public comment (see 13 CFR 121.903(c)). 
Under this provision, NMFS may establish size standards that differ 
from those established by the SBA Office of Size Standards, but only 
for use by NMFS and only for the purpose of conducting an analysis of 
economic effects in fulfillment of the agency's obligations under the 
RFA. To utilize this provision, NMFS must publish such size standards 
in the Federal Register (FR), which NMFS did on December 29, 2015 (80 
FR 81194, December 29, 2015). In this final rule effective on July 1, 
2016, NMFS established a small business size standard of $11 million in 
annual gross receipts for all businesses in the commercial fishing 
industry (NAICS 11411) for RFA compliance purposes.
    NMFS considers all HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders (3,594 as of 
October 2016) to be small entities because these vessels have reported

[[Page 57546]]

annual gross receipts of less than $11 million for commercial fishing 
or earn less than $7.5 million from for-hire fishing trips.
    NMFS has determined that this rule will apply to the small 
businesses associated with the approximately seven percent of HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit holders that also commercially fish for 
swordfish and tuna. Based on the most recent number of permit holders, 
NMFS estimates that this rule will apply to approximately 252 HMS 
charter/headboat vessel owners. NMFS has determined that this action 
would not likely directly affect any small organizations or small 
government jurisdictions defined under the RFA.
Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of the Final Rule, Including an Estimate of the 
Classes of Small Entities Which Would Be Subject to the Requirements of 
the Report or Record
    Section 604(a)(5) of the RFA requires Agencies to describe any new 
reporting, record-keeping and other compliance requirements. This rule 
will create a commercial sale endorsement for the HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit. Under the rule, HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders will be 
prohibited from selling any catch of HMS unless they obtain a 
commercial sale endorsement on their permit. The commercial sale 
endorsement could be added to the Charter/Headboat permit at the time 
of the permit application or renewal, or anytime thereafter. Only 
Charter/Headboat permit holders with the endorsement will be allowed to 
sell HMS although they would not be obligated to sell any HMS. There 
will be no additional charge for the commercial sale endorsement above 
the cost of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit; the endorsement will add 
less than a minute more of labor effort to the normal HMS Charter/
Headboat permit process. Those vessels issued an HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit with a commercial sale endorsement will be categorized as a 
commercial vessel for the purposes of USCG commercial fishing vessel 
safety requirements.
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, Including a Statement of the 
Factual, Policy, and Legal Reasons for Selecting the Alternative 
Adopted in the Final Rule and the Reason That Each One of the Other 
Significant Alternatives to the Rule Considered by the Agency Which 
Affect Small Entities Was Rejected
    One of the requirements of an FRFA is to describe any significant 
alternatives to the rule which accomplish the stated objectives of 
applicable statutes and which minimize any significant economic impact 
of the rule on small entities. The analysis shall discuss significant 
alternatives such as: (1) Establishment of differing compliance or 
reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the 
resources available to small entities; (2) clarification, 
consolidation, or simplification of compliance and reporting 
requirements under the rule for such small entities; (3) use of 
performance rather than design standards; and (4) exemptions from 
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities.
    These categories of alternatives are described at 5 U.S.C. 
603(c)(1)-(4). NMFS examined each of these categories of alternatives. 
Regarding the first and fourth categories, NMFS cannot establish 
differing compliance or reporting requirements for small entities or 
exempt small entities from coverage of the rule or parts of it because 
all of the businesses impacted by this rule are considered small 
entities and thus the requirements are already designed for small 
entities. NMFS examined alternatives that fall under the second 
category, which requires agencies to consider whether they can clarify, 
consolidate, or simplify compliance and reporting requirements under 
the rule for small entities. NMFS does examine alternatives that fall 
under the second category described above that clarify which HMS 
charter/headboat vessels should be considered commercial fishing 
vessels for USCG safety requirements. The use of a performance 
standard, the third category, to determine whether the USCG commercial 
fishing safety gear requirements would apply would be too difficult to 
effectively monitor for enforcement, so they were not considered by 
NMFS. Thus, NMFS has considered the significant alternatives to the 
rule and focused on simplifying compliance and reporting requirements 
associated with the charter/headboat commercial sale provision and USCG 
commercial fishing safety gear requirements in order to minimize any 
significant economic impact of the rule on small entities.
    NMFS considered four different alternatives to separate the 
commercial sale provision from the HMS Charter/Headboat permit, and 
thus relieve some HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders from the changes 
in USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements. Alternative 1, 
the status quo/no action alternative, would make no changes to current 
HMS regulations. Alternative 2, the preferred alternative, would create 
an endorsement for the HMS Charter/Headboat permit that allows 
commercial sale of Atlantic tunas and swordfish. Alternative 3 would 
remove the commercial sale provision of the HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit. Alternative 4 would create two separate HMS Charter/Headboat 
permits; one that allows commercial sale of Atlantic tunas and 
swordfish, and one that does not.
    Under the ``no action'' Alternative 1, NMFS would maintain the 
current regulations regarding the Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit. 
Under current regulations at 635.4(b), permit holders taking fee-paying 
passengers to fish for HMS (i.e. charter boats or headboats) must 
obtain the HMS Charter/Headboat permit. Since HMS Charter/Headboat 
permits allow the commercial sale of Atlantic tunas and swordfish, the 
vessels would now be subject to USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements, regardless of whether the permit holder intends to sell 
HMS. However, without a change to the HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
regulations, USCG will consider all HMS charter/headboat vessels as 
commercial fishing vessels that must adhere to the to USCG commercial 
fishing vessel safety requirements. HMS Charter/Headboat permitted 
vessels were previously subject to the USCG safety regulations for 
uninspected passenger vessels of less than 100 gross tons and carrying 
six or less passengers, which are less extensive and less costly.
    Under the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements, many 
Atlantic HMS charter/headboats would have to comply with four rule 
requirements for survival craft, records keeping, examinations and 
certificates of compliance, and classing of vessels.
    The survival craft requirement establishes that all fishing 
industry vessels operating beyond 3 nautical miles must carry survival 
craft that will meet a new performance standard for primary lifesaving 
equipment. The use of ``lifeboats or liferafts'' are required for 
commercial vessels, whereas strictly for-

[[Page 57547]]

hire vessels are only required to a have ``a survival craft that 
ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water.'' This 
means that lifefloats and buoyant apparatus will no longer be accepted 
as survival craft on any commercial fishing vessel operating beyond 3 
nautical miles once the most recent USCG guidance in fully enforced. 
Some HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels would incorrectly be 
identified as commercial vessels, subject to the more stringent 
lifeboat/liferaft requirements. USCG estimates that the maximum initial 
cost of this requirement per vessel would be $1,740 and have a 
recurring annual cost of $300. The records provision requires the 
individual in charge of a vessel operating beyond 3 nautical miles to 
maintain a record of lifesaving and fire equipment maintenance. It 
would be incumbent upon the master/individual in charge of the vessel 
to maintain these records onboard. The USCG estimates this record 
keeping requirement would cost $18 annually per vessel.
    The examinations and certificates of compliance provision requires 
a dockside safety examination at least once every 5 years for vessels, 
such as HMS charter/headboats that engage in commercial fishing, 
operating beyond 3 nautical miles with the first exam statutorily 
required by October 15, 2015. A ``certificate of compliance'' will be 
issued to a vessel successfully completing the exam. Voluntary exams 
will continue to be promoted for vessel operating inside 3 nautical 
miles. USCG estimates that the maximum initial cost of this requirement 
per vessel will be $600 and have a recurring cost of $600.
    The classing of vessels provision requires the survey and 
classification of a fishing vessel that is at least 50 feet overall in 
length, was built after July 1, 2013, and operates beyond 3 nautical 
miles. It is unlikely that this requirement will impact many Atlantic 
HMS charter/headboat vessels because the vessels are typically less 
than 50 feet overall in length.
    In sum, all 3,594 Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders 
would face an initial per vessel cost of $2,358. The annual cost 
savings per vessel in subsequent years would be approximately $300 for 
the survival craft, $18 for record keeping, and $120 ($600/5 yrs) for 
examinations and certificates of completion. The total annual recurring 
cost saving per vessel would be $438 for these three requirements. 
These costs could be higher for some individual vessels that are too 
small or have too little storage space for the survival craft 
requirement because those vessels might require extensive modifications 
to accommodate the storage space for the gear.
    Under Alternative 2, the preferred alternative, NMFS would modify 
the regulations so that the HMS Charter/Headboat permit alone does not 
allow commercial sale and also create an endorsement for the HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit that allows commercial sale of Atlantic tunas 
and swordfish. Currently, charter/headboat vessels are able, though not 
obligated, to sell swordfish and tunas with an HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit. Consequently, vessels that hold an HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
are categorized as commercial fishing vessels subject to USCG 
commercial vessel fishing safety requirements if they also possess a 
state commercial sale permit, regardless of whether the permit holder 
sells or intends to sell HMS. Under Alternative 2, NMFS would create a 
``commercial sale'' endorsement for the HMS Charter/Headboat permit. 
Under this action, HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders would be 
prohibited from selling any catch of HMS unless they apply for a 
commercial sale endorsement to be added to their permit. The commercial 
sale endorsement could be added to the Charter/Headboat permit at the 
time of the permit application or renewal. Only charter/headboat 
vessels with the endorsement would be permitted to sell HMS although 
they would not be obligated to sell any HMS. Those vessels holding an 
HMS Charter/Headboat permit without a commercial sale endorsement would 
not be categorized as a commercial fishing vessel and would not be 
subject to the USCG commercial safety gear requirements. Those vessels 
that hold an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a ``commercial sale'' 
endorsement would be categorized as commercial vessels for the purposes 
of USCG commercial fishing safety requirements.
    The cost savings associated with implementing a commercial 
endorsement option for Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permits would be 
that approximately 93 percent of the permit holders would not have to 
comply with the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements, 
because Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders would not be 
considered commercial fishing vessels unless they were issued the 
commercial endorsement. These vessels would have no costs associated 
with the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements. This would 
result in a reduction in costs per vessel initially of approximately 
$1,740 for the survival craft, $18 for record keeping, and $600 for 
examinations and certificates of completion. The total initial costs 
saved per vessel would be $2,358. The annual cost savings per vessel in 
subsequent years would be approximately $300 for the survival craft, 
$18 for record keeping, and $120 ($600/5 yrs) for examinations and 
certificates of completion. The total annual recurring cost savings per 
vessel would be $438 for these three requirements. In addition to the 
reduced costs associated with complying with the USCG commercial 
fishing vessel safety requirements for those HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit holders that do not intend to obtain the endorsement to fish 
commercially, most Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders would 
have to do nothing different when obtaining their permits unless they 
want to commercially sell tunas or swordfish.
    The approximately 7 percent of Atlantic Charter/Headboat permit 
holders that want to continue selling tunas and swordfish in addition 
to complying with the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements, would need to obtain an endorsement for the commercial 
sale of Atlantic tunas and swordfish. This would likely add less than a 
minute to the time it takes to obtain the Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit and it would not add to the cost of obtaining the permit. HMS 
charter/headboat permit holders who sell sharks must obtain a 
commercial shark permit in addition to an endorsement on an HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit. NMFS would incur some costs associated with 
altering the online permit application to accommodate the endorsement, 
along with some customer service changes.
    Under Alternative 3, NMFS would remove the commercial sale 
provision of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit. Currently, charter/
headboat vessels are able, though not obligated, to sell swordfish and 
tunas as a condition of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit, and may sell 
sharks if they also have a commercial shark permit. Consequently, 
vessels that hold an HMS Charter/Headboat permit are currently being 
categorized by USCG as commercial fishing vessels and subject to USCG 
commercial fishing vessel safety requirements if they also hold a state 
commercial sale permit, regardless of whether the permit holder sells 
or intends to sell HMS. Under Alternative 3, NMFS would remove the 
provision that allows commercial sales under the HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit. Thus, holding an HMS Charter/Headboat permit would no longer 
categorize a vessel as a commercial fishing vessel for the purposes of 
USCG regulations. Charter/headboat vessel owners or

[[Page 57548]]

operators that wish to engage in commercial sale of tunas and swordfish 
would instead need to obtain an Atlantic tunas General category and/or 
Swordfish General Commercial permit. The Atlantic Tunas General 
category and Swordfish General Commercial permits could be held in 
conjunction with the HMS Charter/Headboat permit. Those vessels with an 
HMS Charter/Headboat permit that do not intend to sell HMS and do not 
possess an Atlantic Tunas General category, Swordfish General 
Commercial, or commercial shark permit (which permit commercial sale) 
would not be subject to USCG commercial fishing vessel safety 
requirements.
    The benefits of Alternative 3 versus the No Action alternative 
would be identical to those of Alternative 2. Approximately 93 percent 
of the permit holders would not have to face the costs associated with 
the USCG commercial fishing safety requirements, because Atlantic HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit holders would not be considered to commercially 
fish. The costs for the fleet would be approximately $594,216 
initially, and then $231,336 annually thereafter, which are 
significantly lower than the costs for the fleet under No Action. The 7 
percent that wish to engage in commercial sale of tunas and swordfish 
would instead need to obtain an Atlantic tunas General category and/or 
Swordfish General Commercial permit. This would cost them $20 to obtain 
either the Atlantic Tunas General category permit or the Swordfish 
General Commercial permit. For the approximately 252 vessel owners that 
might obtain these $20 permits, the total cost would be $5,040 to 
$10,080 annually depending on whether they obtain one or both permits. 
In addition, vessel owners may need to expend a bit more time to 
complete the application for these additional permits. NMFS would incur 
costs associated with the substantial permits site and customer service 
changes that would be required for this change. NMFS prefers 
Alternative 2 over Alternative 3 because a commercial sale endorsement 
requirement more closely matches current fishing practices and would 
minimize disruptions. Currently, HMS Charter/Headboat permit holders 
can sell some HMS and Alternative 2 would allow them to continue by 
simply obtaining an endorsement on their Charter/Headboat permit. 
Alternative 3 would be more disruptive since it would require fishermen 
to obtain additional permits. NMFS would need to develop new regulatory 
text to describe these new requirements and fishery participants would 
have to learn and adapt to these changes.
    Under Alternative 4, NMFS would create two separate Atlantic HMS 
Charter/Headboat permits; one that allows commercial sale of Atlantic 
tunas and swordfish, and one that does not. Currently, charter/headboat 
vessels are able, though not obligated, to sell swordfish and tunas as 
a condition of the HMS Charter/Headboat permit. Consequently, vessels 
that hold an HMS Charter/Headboat permit could be categorized as 
commercial fishing vessels and subject to USCG commercial fishing 
vessel safety requirements, regardless of whether the permit holder 
sells or intends to sell HMS. Under Alternative 4, NMFS would create 
two separate HMS Charter/Headboat permits; one that would allow 
commercial sale of HMS, and one that would not. Those vessels holding 
an HMS Charter/Headboat permit that does not allow commercial sale 
would not be categorized as a commercial fishing vessel and would not 
be subject to the USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements. 
Those vessels that hold an HMS Charter/Headboat permit that allows 
commercial sale would be categorized as commercial vessels for the 
purposes of USCG commercial fishing vessel safety requirements.
    The benefits of Alternative 4 versus the No Action alternative 
would be identical to those of Alternative 2. Approximately 93 percent 
of the permit holders would not have to face the costs associated with 
the USCG commercial fishing safety requirements, since Atlantic HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit holders would not be considered commercial 
fishing. The costs for the fleet would be approximately $594,216 
initially, and then $231,336 annually thereafter, which is 
significantly lower than the costs for the fleet under No Action. Under 
this alternative, each of the 3,594 Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit holders would have to determine which type of Charter/Headboat 
permit they wish to obtain for the year, and all of charter/headboat 
vessel owners would have to learn the new permit process. Unlike 
Alternative 3, there would be no additional costs associated with 
obtaining a commercial permit, because under this alternative, each 
would pick either the no-sale HMS Charter/Headboat permit or the 
commercial sale Charter/Headboat permit. NMFS would incur costs 
associated with the substantial permits site and customer service 
changes that would be required for this change. NMFS would need to 
develop new regulatory text to describe these two new permits and 
fishery participants would have to learn of and adapt to these changes.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Imports, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: December 1, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is amended as 
follows:

PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  635.2, add a new definition for ``Charter/headboat 
commercial sale endorsement'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  635.2   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Charter/headboat commercial sale endorsement means an authorization 
added to an HMS Charter/Headboat permit that is required for vessels 
that sell or intend to sell Atlantic tunas, sharks, and swordfish, 
provided that all other requirements in this part are also met.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  635.4:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(5);
0
b. Add paragraph (b)(3);
0
c. Revise paragraphs (d)(1) and (2);
0
d. Remove the introductory text of paragraph (f); and
0
e. Revise paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), and (m)(2).
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  635.4   Permits and fees.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (5) Display upon offloading. Upon offloading of Atlantic HMS for 
sale, the owner or operator of the harvesting vessel must present for 
inspection the vessel's HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial 
sale endorsement; Atlantic tunas, shark, or swordfish permit; 
Incidental HMS squid trawl; HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit; 
and/or the shark research permit to the first receiver. The permit(s) 
must be presented prior to completing any applicable landing report 
specified at Sec.  635.5(a)(1), (a)(2), and (b)(2)(i).
* * * * *

[[Page 57549]]

    (b) * * *
    (3) The owner of a charter boat or headboat that intends to sell 
Atlantic tunas or swordfish must obtain a commercial sale endorsement 
for the vessel's HMS Charter/Headboat permit. The owner of a charter 
boat or headboat that intends to sell Atlantic sharks must obtain a 
commercial sale endorsement for the vessel's HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit at the time of permit renewal or when the permit is obtained and 
must also obtain any applicable Atlantic commercial shark permits. A 
vessel owner that has obtained an HMS Charter/Headboat permit without a 
commercial sale endorsement is prohibited from selling any Atlantic 
HMS.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) The owner of each vessel used to fish for or take Atlantic 
tunas commercially or on which Atlantic tunas are retained or possessed 
with the intention of sale must obtain an HMS Charter/Headboat permit 
with a commercial sale endorsement issued under paragraph (b) of this 
section, an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit issued under 
paragraph (o) of this section, or an Atlantic tunas permit in one, and 
only one, of the following categories: General, Harpoon, Longline, 
Purse Seine, or Trap.
    (2) Persons aboard a vessel with a valid Atlantic Tunas, HMS 
Angling, HMS Charter/Headboat, or an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small 
Boat permit may fish for, take, retain, or possess Atlantic tunas, but 
only in compliance with the quotas, catch limits, size classes, and 
gear applicable to the permit or permit category of the vessel from 
which he or she is fishing. Persons may sell Atlantic tunas only if the 
harvesting vessel has a valid permit in the General, Harpoon, Longline, 
Purse Seine, or Trap category of the Atlantic Tunas permit, a valid HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement, or an HMS 
Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit.
* * * * *
    (f) Swordfish vessel permits. (1) Except as specified in paragraphs 
(n) and (o) of this section, the owner of a vessel of the United States 
used to fish for or take swordfish commercially from the management 
unit, or on which swordfish from the management unit are retained or 
possessed with an intention to sell, or from which swordfish are sold, 
must obtain an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale 
endorsement issued under paragraph (b) of this section, or one of the 
following swordfish permits: A swordfish directed limited access 
permit, swordfish incidental limited access permit, swordfish handgear 
limited access permit, or a Swordfish General Commercial permit. These 
permits cannot be held in combination with each other on the same 
vessel, except that an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial 
sale endorsement may be held in combination with a swordfish handgear 
limited access permit on the same vessel. It is a rebuttable 
presumption that the owner or operator of a vessel on which swordfish 
are possessed in excess of the recreational retention limits intends to 
sell the swordfish.
    (2) The only valid commercial Federal vessel permits for swordfish 
are the HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement 
issued under paragraph (b) of this section (and only when on a non for-
hire trip), the Swordfish General Commercial permit issued under 
paragraph (f) of this section, a swordfish limited access permit issued 
consistent with paragraphs (l) and (m) of this section, or permits 
issued under paragraphs (n) and (o) of this section.
* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    (2) Shark and swordfish permits. A vessel owner must obtain the 
applicable limited access permit(s) issued pursuant to the requirements 
in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section and/or a Federal commercial 
smoothhound permit issued under paragraph (e) of this section; or an 
HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit issued under paragraph (o) 
of this section, if: The vessel is used to fish for or take sharks 
commercially from the management unit; sharks from the management unit 
are retained or possessed on the vessel with an intention to sell; or 
sharks from the management unit are sold from the vessel. A vessel 
owner must obtain the applicable limited access permit(s) issued 
pursuant to the requirements in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, 
a Swordfish General Commercial permit issued under paragraph (f) of 
this section, an Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit issued under 
paragraph (n) of this section, an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat 
permit issued under paragraph (o) of this section, or an HMS Charter/
Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement issued under 
paragraph (b) of this section, which authorizes a Charter/Headboat to 
fish commercially for swordfish on a non for-hire trip subject to the 
retention limits at Sec.  635.24(b)(4) if: The vessel is used to fish 
for or take swordfish commercially from the management unit; swordfish 
from the management unit are retained or possessed on the vessel with 
an intention to sell; or swordfish from the management unit are sold 
from the vessel. The commercial retention and sale of swordfish from 
vessels issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale 
endorsement is permissible only when the vessel is on a non for-hire 
trip. Only persons holding non-expired shark and swordfish limited 
access permit(s) in the preceding year are eligible to renew those 
limited access permit(s). Transferors may not renew limited access 
permits that have been transferred according to the procedures in 
paragraph (l) of this section.
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  635.19, revise paragraph (d)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.19   Authorized gears.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (4) Persons on a vessel issued a permit with a shark endorsement 
under Sec.  635.4 may possess a shark only if the shark was taken by 
rod and reel or handline, except that persons on a vessel issued both 
an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement (with 
or without a shark endorsement) and a Federal Atlantic commercial shark 
permit may possess sharks taken by rod and reel, handline, bandit gear, 
longline, or gillnet if the vessel is engaged in a non for-hire fishing 
trip and the commercial shark fishery is open pursuant to Sec.  
635.28(b).
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  635.22, revise the introductory text of paragraph (f), and 
paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.22   Recreational retention limits.

* * * * *
    (f) North Atlantic swordfish. The recreational retention limits for 
North Atlantic swordfish apply to persons who fish in any manner, 
except to persons aboard a vessel that has been issued an HMS Charter/
Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement under Sec.  635.4(b) 
and only when on a non for-hire trip; a directed, incidental or 
handgear limited access swordfish permit under Sec.  635.4(e) and (f); 
a Swordfish General Commercial permit under Sec.  635.4(f); an 
Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit under Sec.  635.4(n); or an HMS 
Commercial Caribbean Small boat permit under Sec.  635.4(o).
    (1) When on a for-hire trip as defined at Sec.  635.2, vessels 
issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit under Sec.  635.4(b), that are 
charter boats as

[[Page 57550]]

defined under Sec.  600.10 of this chapter, may retain, possess, or 
land no more than one North Atlantic swordfish per paying passenger and 
up to six North Atlantic swordfish per vessel per trip. When such 
vessels have been issued a commercial sale endorsement and are on a non 
for-hire trip, they must comply with the commercial retention limits 
for swordfish specified at Sec.  635.24(b)(4).
    (2) When on a for-hire trip as defined at Sec.  635.2, vessels 
issued an HMS Charter/Headboat permit under Sec.  635.4(b), that are 
headboats as defined under Sec.  600.10 of this chapter, may retain, 
possess, or land no more than one North Atlantic swordfish per paying 
passenger and up to 15 North Atlantic swordfish per vessel per trip. 
When such vessels have been issued a commercial sale endorsement and 
are on a non for-hire trip, they may land no more than the commercial 
retention limits for swordfish specified at Sec.  635.24(b)(4).
* * * * *

0
6. In Sec.  635.23, revise paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.23   Retention limits for bluefin tuna.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) When fishing other than in the Gulf of Mexico and when the 
fishery under the General category has not been closed under Sec.  
635.28, a person aboard a vessel that has been issued an HMS Charter/
Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement may fish under 
either the retention limits applicable to the General category 
specified in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section or the retention 
limits applicable to the Angling category specified in paragraphs 
(b)(2) and (3) of this section. The size category of the first BFT 
retained will determine the fishing category applicable to the vessel 
that day. A person aboard a vessel that has been issued an HMS Charter/
Headboat without a commercial sale endorsement permit may fish only 
under the retention limits applicable to the Angling category.
* * * * *

0
7. In Sec.  635.24, add introductory text to paragraph (b)(4), and 
revise paragraph (b)(4)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.24   Commercial retention limits for sharks, swordfish, and 
BAYS tunas.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) Persons aboard a vessel that has been issued a Swordfish 
General Commercial permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a 
commercial sale endorsement (and only when on a non for-hire trip) are 
subject to the regional swordfish retention limits specified at 
paragraph (b)(4)(iii) of this section, which may be adjusted during the 
fishing year based upon the inseason regional retention limit 
adjustment criteria identified in paragraph (b)(4)(iv) of this section.
* * * * *
    (ii) Vessels that have been issued a Swordfish General Commercial 
permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale 
endorsement (and only when on a non for-hire trip), as a condition of 
these permits, may not possess, retain, or land any more swordfish than 
is specified for the region in which the vessel is located.
* * * * *

0
8. In Sec.  635.27, revise paragraph (a)(1)(i) introductory text, and 
paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.27   Quotas.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Catches from vessels for which General category Atlantic Tunas 
permits have been issued and certain catches from vessels for which an 
HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement has been 
issued are counted against the General category quota in accordance 
with Sec.  635.23(c)(3). Pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the 
amount of large medium and giant bluefin tuna that may be caught, 
retained, possessed, landed, or sold under the General category quota 
is 466.7 mt, and is apportioned as follows, unless modified as 
described under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section:
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) A swordfish from the North Atlantic stock caught prior to the 
directed fishery closure by a vessel for which a directed swordfish 
limited access permit, a swordfish handgear limited access permit, a 
HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, a Swordfish General 
Commercial open access permit, or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a 
commercial sale endorsement (and only when on a non for-hire trip) has 
been issued or is required to have been issued is counted against the 
directed fishery quota. The total baseline annual fishery quota, before 
any adjustments, is 2,937.6 mt dw for each fishing year. Consistent 
with applicable ICCAT recommendations, a portion of the total baseline 
annual fishery quota may be used for transfers to another ICCAT 
contracting party. The annual directed category quota is calculated by 
adjusting for over- or under harvests, dead discards, any applicable 
transfers, the incidental category quota, the reserve quota and other 
adjustments as needed, and is subdivided into two equal semi-annual 
periods: One for January 1 through June 30, and the other for July 1 
through December 31.
    (B) A swordfish from the North Atlantic swordfish stock landed by a 
vessel for which an incidental swordfish limited access permit, an 
incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit, an HMS Angling permit, or an HMS 
Charter/Headboat permit (and only when on a for-hire trip) has been 
issued, or a swordfish from the North Atlantic stock caught after the 
effective date of a closure of the directed fishery from a vessel for 
which a swordfish directed limited access permit, a swordfish handgear 
limited access permit, a HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, a 
Swordfish General Commercial open access permit, or an HMS Charter/
Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement (when on a non for-
hire trip) has been issued, is counted against the incidental category 
quota. The annual incidental category quota is 300 mt dw for each 
fishing year.
* * * * *

0
9. In Sec.  635.31, revise paragraphs (a)(1) and (c)(6) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.31   Restrictions on sale and purchase.

    (a) * * *
    (1) A person that owns or operates a vessel from which an Atlantic 
tuna is landed or offloaded may sell such Atlantic tuna only if that 
vessel has a valid HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale 
endorsement; a valid General, Harpoon, Longline, Purse Seine, or Trap 
category permit for Atlantic tunas; or a valid HMS Commercial Caribbean 
Small Boat permit issued under this part, and the appropriate category 
has not been closed, as specified at Sec.  635.28(a). However, no 
person may sell a bluefin tuna smaller than the large medium size 
class. Also, no large medium or giant bluefin tuna taken by a person 
aboard a vessel with an Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing in 
the Gulf of Mexico at any time, or fishing outside the Gulf of Mexico 
when the fishery under the General category has been closed, may be 
sold (see Sec.  635.23(c)). A person may sell Atlantic bluefin tuna 
only to a dealer that has a valid permit for purchasing Atlantic 
bluefin tuna issued under this part. A person may

[[Page 57551]]

not sell or purchase Atlantic tunas harvested with speargun fishing 
gear.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (6) A dealer issued a permit under this part may not first receive 
silky sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks or scalloped, smooth, or great 
hammerhead sharks from an owner or operator of a fishing vessel with 
pelagic longline gear on board, or from the owner of a fishing vessel 
issued both a HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale 
endorsement and a commercial shark permit when tuna, swordfish or 
billfish are on board the vessel, offloaded from the vessel, or being 
offloaded from the vessel.
* * * * *

0
10. In Sec.  635.71, revise paragraph (a)(2) and add paragraph (a)(62) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  635.71   Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) Fish for, catch, possess, retain, land, or sell Atlantic HMS 
without the appropriate valid vessel permit with the appropriate 
endorsements, LAP, EFP, scientific research permit, display permit, 
chartering permit, or shark research permit on board the vessel, as 
specified in Sec. Sec.  635.4 and 635.32.
* * * * *
    (62) A vessel owner or operator that has an HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit without a commercial sale endorsement is prohibited from selling 
any Atlantic HMS.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-26275 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P