[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61489-61498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28046]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 170823804-7999-02]
RIN 0648-BH17


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Individual Bluefin Quota 
Program; Accountability for Bluefin Tuna Catch

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS modifies the Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) 
regulations to require vessels in the pelagic longline fishery to 
account for bycatch of bluefin tuna (bluefin) using Individual Bluefin 
Quota (IBQ) on a quarterly basis instead of on a trip-level basis. 
Previously, vessel owners had to account for quota debt or IBQ balances 
less than the minimum required before commencing any fishing trip with 
pelagic longline gear. With this rulemaking, vessels may fish during a 
given calendar quarter if they have an IBQ balance below the minimum 
amount required to depart on a fishing trip or with quota debt incurred 
by exceeding their IBQ balance; however, vessels are required to 
reconcile quota debt and satisfy the minimum IBQ requirement prior to 
departing on their first pelagic longline fishing trip in each calendar 
quarter. The action optimizes

[[Page 61490]]

fishing opportunity in the directed pelagic longline fishery for target 
species such as tuna and swordfish and improves the functionality of 
the IBQ Program and its accounting provisions, consistent with the 
objectives of Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP).

DATES: Effective on January 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Supporting documents, including the Regulatory Impact Review 
and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, may be downloaded from the 
HMS website at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren, 978-281-9260; or Carrie 
Soltanoff, 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by 
persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR 
part 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by 
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories, per the 
allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) 
(71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006), as amended by Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 7) (79 FR 71510, December 2, 2014), and 
in accordance with implementing regulations. The current baseline U.S. 
BFT quota and subquotas were established and analyzed in the BFT quota 
final rule (80 FR 52198, August 28, 2015). NMFS is required under ATCA 
and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a 
reasonable opportunity to harvest the ICCAT-recommended quota.

Background

    Bluefin tuna fishing is managed domestically through a quota system 
(on a calendar-year basis), in conjunction with other management 
measures including permitting, reporting, gear restrictions, minimum 
fish sizes, closed areas, trip limits, and catch shares. NMFS 
implements the ICCAT U.S. quota recommendation, and divides the quota 
among U.S. fishing categories (i.e., the General, Angling, Harpoon, 
Purse Seine, Longline, and Trap categories) and the Reserve category on 
an annual basis. Vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear, which 
catch bluefin incidentally while fishing for target species (primarily 
swordfish and yellowfin tuna), hold limited access Atlantic Tunas 
Longline permits and utilize Longline category quota. Through Amendment 
7, NMFS established the IBQ Program, a catch share program that 
identified 136 permit holders as IBQ share recipients based on 
specified criteria, including historical target species landings and 
the bluefin catch-to-target species ratios from 2006 through 2012. The 
objectives of the IBQ Program include limiting the amount of BFT 
landings and dead discards in the pelagic longline fishery; providing 
strong incentives for the vessel owner and operator to avoid bluefin 
interactions and thus reduce bluefin dead discards; and balancing the 
objective of limiting bluefin landings and dead discards with the 
objective of optimizing fishing opportunities and maintaining 
profitability.
    IBQ share recipients receive an annual allocation of the Longline 
category quota based on the percentage share they received through 
Amendment 7, but only if their permit is associated with a vessel in 
the subject year (i.e., only ``qualified IBQ share recipients'' receive 
annual allocations). Through rulemaking, NMFS later modified the 
regulations to optimize quota transferred inseason by allowing NMFS to 
distribute inseason transfers of quota to all permitted Atlantic Tunas 
Longline vessels with recent fishing activity whether they have IBQ 
shares or not (81 FR 95903; December 29, 2016). Permit holders that did 
not receive IBQ shares through shares in Amendment 7 or allocation 
through inseason distribution of bluefin quota to active vessels under 
the later regulatory provision may still fish, but they are required to 
lease IBQ through the IBQ electronic system. Every vessel must 
individually account for its bluefin bycatch (landings and dead 
discards) with IBQ allocation through the IBQ electronic system.
    Delayed effective dates for some of the regulations implemented 
through Amendment 7 assisted in the transition to measures adopted in 
Amendment 7, which substantially increased individual vessel 
accountability for bluefin bycatchin the Longline fishery. During 2015, 
the first year of implementation of the IBQ Program, a pelagic longline 
vessel that had insufficient IBQ to account for its landings and dead 
discards (i.e., went into ``quota debt'') was allowed to continue to 
fish; however, any additional landings and dead discards continued to 
accrue, and the cumulative quota debt needed to be accounted for no 
later than December 31, 2015. A vessel that did not resolve its quota 
debt by December 31 would retain the quota debt into 2016, and its 
quota debt would be deducted from its annual IBQ allocation (allocated 
January 1 to shareholders associated with permitted vessels) or the 
vessel would be required to lease quota to resolve the outstanding 
quota balance before taking any trips with pelagic longline gear. As of 
January 1, 2016, a vessel fishing with pelagic longline gear onboard 
was required to have a minimum IBQ allocation to embark on a trip. A 
minimum allocation required to fish was 0.25 mt (551 lb) whole weight 
(ww) for each trip in the Gulf of Mexico and 0.125 mt ww (276 lb ww) 
for each trip in the Atlantic. Pelagic longline vessels could lease IBQ 
allocation from other such vessels or from Purse Seine fishery 
participants in the IBQ Program to obtain sufficient allocation for 
each trip and to account for quota debt where necessary. Pelagic 
longline vessel owners have been accounting for bluefin catch using the 
IBQ Program since its implementation and leasing quota among themselves 
(and from Purse Seine fishery participants) as needed to fully account 
for bluefin catch using IBQ. Notably, estimates of 2015 and 2016 dead 
discards of bluefin (17.1 mt and 22.6 mt, respectively) by the pelagic 
longline fishery indicate substantial reductions of greater than 85 
percent compared to the pre-2015 levels (159.6 mt on average for 2006 
through 2014). However, since implementation, pelagic longline fishery 
participants have consistently requested additional operational 
flexibility to address the costs and availability of leased IBQ, which 
they are concerned may affect the profitability of target species catch 
and causes uncertainty in a vessel owner's short-term and long-term 
plans. Vessel owners stated that their ability to account for bluefin 
using allocated IBQ or IBQ leased at an affordable price is key to the 
success of the IBQ Program. A vessel that has below the minimum amount 
of IBQ to fish or is in quota debt is uncertain about their ability to 
depart on a subsequent fishing trip. Specifically, vessels have been 
concerned that the IBQ Program, including the trip-level accountability 
requirements, could negatively impact vessel operations and finances 
given the timing restrictions, lease pricing of IBQ, the distribution 
of quota among permit holders as implemented by Amendment 7, and the 
behavior of some permit holders who, for example, do not appear to be 
actively fishing nor engaged in any

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leasing activities. They also say that the expense of leasing IBQ 
allocation when needed can impact other operational costs such as crew 
pay. If availability of IBQ is limited, or costs are prohibitive, the 
operational impacts increase. IBQ Program data generally reflect that, 
for leasing transactions that occurred, sales revenue received per 
pound approximated the cost per pound of leasing IBQ. However, IBQ 
Program participants (which include any permit holder or vessel that 
leases quota to facilitate pelagic longline operations) and potential 
lessees have communicated that there were instances where the cost at 
which lessors were willing to lease their IBQ was prohibitive and 
leasing did not occur, and this information would not be reflected in 
NMFS data. Furthermore, expanded opportunities to fish with pelagic 
longline gear within the available swordfish quota are contingent on 
access to additional quota to account for bluefin bycatch and discards. 
Longline fishery participants requested that NMFS take further steps to 
provide more flexibility regarding timing for vessel owners to lease 
IBQ needed to cover bluefin catchdue to the dynamics and costs 
associated with leasing IBQ described above, which can affect 
profitability of target species catch, increase uncertainty, and 
negatively affect the ability to plan their business. Such effects may 
be compounded by the impacts of other constraints associated with 
Amendment 7, including additional gear restricted areas and VMS and 
electronic monitoring requirements, as well as non-Amendment 7 related 
constraints (e.g., market demands etc.).
    In light of these challenges facing the fishery, as well as the 
Amendment 7 objectives--which include ``minimizing constraints on 
fishing for target species,'' as well as ``optimizing fishing 
opportunities and maintaining profitability''--NMFS has utilized its 
authority to transfer quota inseason to the Longline category (80 FR 
45098; July 29, 2015; 81 FR 19; January 4, 2106; 82 FR 12296; March 2, 
2017) to foster conditions in which vessel owners become more willing 
to lease IBQ, optimize fishing opportunity, and reduce uncertainty in 
the fishery. NMFS modified the IBQ Program in 2017 (81 FR 95903, 
December 29, 2016) to provide additional flexibility regarding the 
distribution of inseason Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota transfers to 
the Longline category. That rulemaking provided NMFS the flexibility to 
distribute quota inseason either to all qualified IBQ share recipients 
(i.e., share recipients who have associated their permit with a vessel) 
or only to those permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels with recent 
fishing activity, whether or not they are associated with IBQ shares.
    During its May 2017 Advisory Panel Meeting, pelagic longline vessel 
owners acknowledged the effectiveness of NMFS' actions in support of 
the IBQ Program objectives, but reiterated the need for additional 
flexibility and offered suggestions for high priority regulatory 
changes to achieve such flexibility.
    NMFS received requests, among other suggestions about the IBQ 
Program and management of the pelagic longline fishery, to allow more 
time for vessel owners to resolve quota debt and achieve a minimum 
balance of IBQ, rather than require vessels to have a minimum balance 
of IBQ as a prerequisite of every longline trip. In light of past 
fishery dynamics under the IBQ Program and public input regarding the 
need for additional flexibility, NMFS published a proposed rule on 
October 25, 2017 (82 FR 49303), that proposed modifying the 
accountability provisions of the IBQ Program to provide some additional 
flexibility for individual vessel owners, while achieving a balance 
among the IBQ Program objectives. Public comments on the proposed rule 
were accepted through November 24, 2017.
    The pelagic longline fishery is a diverse fishing fleet, with a 
variety of vessel sizes and types of operations distributed from the 
waters off Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and South 
America. Timing of fishing trips are typically based on the 
availability of target species, weather, moon phase, markets, crew and 
bait availability, and other factors. Quarterly accountability may 
achieve a better balance between minimizing constraints on fishing for 
target species and ensuring accountability for incidental bluefin 
catch, due to the fact that it allows a vessel owner to determine the 
timing of lease transactions or level of quota debt they are 
comfortable maintaining over a longer period. Alleviation of the timing 
constraint associated with trip-level accountability would provide 
additional flexibility. A vessel owner may need flexibility to pay 
costs associated with fishing (fuel, bait, ice, labor, repairs, etc.), 
including the cost of leasing IBQ, on a timeline unique to their 
operation and finances. The opportunity to fish with a low IBQ balance 
or with quota debt may enable a vessel owner to continue to obtain 
revenue during the time period when they are looking for quota to lease 
and accommodate different types of fishing operations and financial 
obligations. Quarterly accountability requires vessel owners to resolve 
quota debt and obtain the minimum amount of IBQ prior to fishing for 
the first time in a subsequent calendar quarter.

Response to Comments

    NMFS received nine written comments on the proposed rule during the 
comment period. Five commenters expressed support for the rule as 
proposed; one expressed qualified support; two commenters did not 
support the proposed changes; and one commenter did not address topics 
included in the proposed rule. All written comments can be found at 
http://www.regulations.gov/. The comments are summarized below by topic 
together with NMFS' responses.
    Comment 1: Two commenters noted the IBQ system was implemented 
without an established trading system in place and that vessels have 
had difficulty finding quota to lease in a diverse, widely dispersed 
fishery. Three commenters stated that under quarterly accountability, 
lessors and lessees, as well as NMFS, will develop a better 
understanding of the IBQ market. One commenter stated that participants 
in the IBQ market would have a better understanding of the market value 
of available IBQ with quarterly accountability.
    Response: NMFS agrees that upon inception of the IBQ program 
(January 2015), the leasing market for IBQ was not yet established, 
there was not yet an operative understanding of the dynamics and 
pricing of IBQ in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery, and some vessels 
reported having a difficult time finding IBQ to lease and/or leasing 
IBQ at an affordable price. When implementing Amendment 7, NMFS 
acknowledged that the novelty of the IBQ system (as well as other 
Amendment 7 requirements) could create uncertainty in the fishery, and 
therefore delayed implementation of trip-level accountability during 
the first year of the IBQ Program, instead requiring annual 
accountability during 2015. During 2016 and 2017, both the pelagic 
longline fishery and NMFS gained a better understanding of the IBQ 
market. NMFS anticipates that understanding of the IBQ market will 
continue to improve with time and agrees with the commenters that such 
understanding will be augmented by quarterly accountability.
    Comment 2: The five commenters that fully supported the proposed 
measures anticipated improvements to the IBQ leasing market, including 
aspects of the cost and logistics of leasing. Regarding

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costs and logistics, five commenters noted the importance of quarterly 
accountability in providing additional time to lease IBQ and that 
quarterly accountability would allow more time to obtain IBQ when 
prices are low. One commenter stated that leasing is highly compromised 
when a lessee is bidding for IBQ on short notice, even if the lessee 
knows a vessel owner from whom to lease quota, stating that bids under 
time pressure favor lessors, in terms of price. Under quarterly 
accountability, the commenter stated, leasing prices would be more 
reasonable, and reflect the ``ample supply'' of IBQ, instead of the 
lease pricing being ``inflated and unreasonable.'' One commenter stated 
that lessors tend to have different levels of participation in the 
fishery, or less of a need for IBQ than lessees, which tends to provide 
an advantage to the lessor under trip-level accountability (that may be 
reduced under quarterly accountability). For example, the commenter 
stated that lessors may not be actively fishing in the pelagic longline 
fishery or, if fishing, may be fishing in locations and times where 
they do not expect to catch bluefin. One commenter stated that 
quarterly accountability would be beneficial because it can be 
difficult to contact people when searching for available IBQ to lease, 
and even after negotiation, the lessor may not have access to the 
online system in a timely manner. The commenter stated that the time 
constraint of trip-level accountability is particularly difficult for 
vessel operators who are looking for IBQ to lease in a short window of 
time between two fishing trips. One commenter stated that quarterly 
accountability would enhance the ability for vessel owners to plan 
their businesses.
    Response: NMFS agrees that quarterly accountability will improve 
the IBQ market by providing lessees more time to shop for IBQ and lease 
at reasonable prices, which more accurately reflect supply. NMFS agrees 
that the flexibility associated with quarterly accountability will help 
facilitate successive fishing trips consistent with typical longline 
vessel practice (i.e., without extended wait time between trips), 
reduce uncertainty in planning, and provide more time to conduct the 
logistics associated with IBQ leasing.
    Comment 3: Several commenters stated that quarterly accountability 
would improve the IBQ market at the end of the year because IBQ would 
be leased as needed rather than on a speculative basis and would 
increase the availability of IBQ for lease to those that need it during 
the end of the year time period. One commenter stated that the 
perceived need to ``hoard'' IBQ by vessels would be reduced. 
Furthermore, the commenter stated, under quarterly accountability (and 
removal of the minimum amount of IBQ to fish), vessels would not lose 
the value of IBQ during the latter part of the year by maintaining the 
minimum amount of quota, whether or not they anticipate needing the 
quota to account for bluefin catch.
    Response: NMFS agrees that quarterly accountability may improve the 
end-of-the year IBQ market. At the end of a year, if a vessel has quota 
debt remaining at, the quota debt will carry forward to the subsequent 
year, whereas available IBQ balance does not carry forward. This 
creates increased incentives to resolve quota debt immediately at a 
time when there may not be as much quota in the IBQ market. Under trip-
level accounatability, a vessel that is fishing during December in the 
Atlantic may not be willing to lease to another vessel due to the 
minimum quota requirement (276 lb) and the desire to retain some quota 
in case the vessel encounters a bluefin tuna. This final rule removes 
the minimum quota requirement after the first trip of the quarter, thus 
vessel owners may be willing to lease more at year's end without 
concern about interfering with their ability to fish during that 
quarter.
    Comment 4: The five commenters that fully supported the proposed 
measures anticipated ancillary benefits from quarterly accountability 
that are less directly related to IBQ leasing per se, but that are 
related to flexibility in their fishing operations, resulting in 
benefits to the fishery as a whole. One commenter stated that U.S. 
pelagic longline operators would have peace of mind as they leave the 
dock fishing for target species, due to the flexibility associated with 
quarterly accountability. Another commenter stated that, under 
quarterly accountability, captains would be able to fish more 
confidently in search of target species without fear of immediate 
shutdown because of interactions with BFT that went beyond their 
available IBQ balance at the time. One commenter stated that trip-level 
accountability was burdensome to vessels and hurt their ability to get 
back on the water if they were unfortunate and had an interaction with 
bluefin and that active vessels will gain additional economic and 
operational flexibility because they will no longer have to `stockpile' 
IBQ. One commenter stated that the flexibility affects operations in 
multiple ways that have the net effect of more effectively fishing for 
target species and that quarterly accountability would reduce the 
chances the pelagic longline vessels would be tied to the dock while 
attempting to acquire IBQ, especially for those vessels that received 
little or no IBQ shares under Amendment 7. Several commenters stated 
the fishery would have a better opportunity to fully utilize U.S. ICCAT 
quotas for target species such as swordfish. One commenter noted that 
the proposed measure would add revenue to help the ``dwindling'' 
American fleet, as well as reduce the U.S. seafood trade deficit.
    Response: NMFS agrees that the additional flexibility for fishing 
operations resulting from quarterly accountability would result in 
social benefits for the portion of the fleet that is constrained by 
quota debt or low IBQ balances. The social benefits include a decrease 
in some vessel owner/operator stress and uncertainty in addition to 
economic benefits described below and under Responses to Comments 3 and 
4. NMFS agrees that quarterly accountability will reduce the chances 
that vessels with quota debt or low IBQ balance will not be able to 
depart on fishing trips and to earn fishing revenue due to a lack of 
IBQ, will support increased revenue for some of the pelagic longline 
fleet and contribute towards full utilization of the U.S. ICCAT quotas 
for target species, and may contribute to the reduction of the U.S. 
seafood trade deficit.
    Comment 5: One commenter supported providing additional flexibility 
to the pelagic longline fishery through quarterly accountability 
because they were encouraged by the results of the IBQ program, 
specifically by the reduction in dead discards by the pelagic longline 
fishery during 2015 and 2016 (compared to 2014, prior to the 
implementation of Amendment 7). The commenter stated that the dead 
discard data suggests the IBQ Program is achieving the goals of 
limiting dead discards and providing strong incentives to avoid bluefin 
interactions. The commenter stated that in order to be fully 
successful, the IBQ Program must also balance those objectives with the 
objective of optimizing fishing opportunities and maintaining 
profitability. Another commenter acknowledged the success of the IBQ 
Program to date, but was concerned that quarterly accountability would 
undermine its success.
    Response: NMFS agrees that based on available information to date, 
the IBQ Program has reduced the amount of dead discards in the pelagic 
longline fishery, and appears to be meeting the objectives of the IBQ 
Program. A full evaluation of the IBQ Program during its

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first 3 years of operation (2015 through 2017) will occur during the 3-
year review, completion of which is anticipated in 2019. The 3-year 
review will evaluate all the objectives of the IBQ Program, including 
limiting bluefin tuna interactions, reducing bluefin dead discards, 
optimizing fishing opportunities, and maintaining profitability. The 
response to the commenter's concerns about undermining the success of 
the IBQ Program is addressed in the response to Comment 6.
    Comment 6: One commenter did not support quarterly accountability, 
stating that it would encourage a ``debt mindset'' in which vessel 
operators fish more in the present with only the hope of future leasing 
to `pay for' the bluefin catch, that a quarter is too long before 
requiring full accounting, and that they were concerned about a lack of 
IBQ to account for the bluefin caught by all pelagic longline fishers. 
The commenter was concerned about weakening the IBQ restrictions and 
undermining the past success of the IBQ program in minimizing bluefin 
bycatch and reducing dead discards, while minimizing reductions in 
target catch. Specifically the commenter was concerned that quarterly 
accountability could result in exceeding the overall pelagic longline 
quota at the end of the calendar year, especially with the occurrence 
of a `disaster set'. The commenter also stated that the proposed change 
to the IBQ regulations is premature, in light of the upcoming formal 
review of the IBQ Program (``3-year review'') by NMFS, as well as the 
fact that NMFS already made a modification to the IBQ to increase 
flexibility (81 FR 95903, December 29, 2016). The commenter stated that 
multiple changes to the IBQ Program prior to the 3-year review will 
make it difficult to evaluate the IBQ Program, and that any changes to 
the IBQ Program should only occur after the 3-year review.
    Response: NMFS disagrees with the conclusions of the commenters 
that quarterly accountability will increase the potential for bluefin 
catch (landings and dead discards) to exceed the pelagic longline quota 
and the concern that the measures will undermine the success of the IBQ 
Program to date. Although quarterly accountability will modify the 
timing of IBQ accountability, full accountability for bluefin tuna 
catch will be maintained and will not affect the overall limits set on 
bluefin tuna catch through quotas and other measures. The regulatory 
change is relatively minor with respect to the full scope of Amendment 
7 regulations associated with the IBQ Program, affecting only the 
timing of full accountability. Quarterly accountability will require 
vessel owners to resolve quota debt and obtain the minimum amount of 
IBQ prior to fishing for the first time in a calendar year quarter. 
NMFS believes that vessel owners will not forget that they must fully 
account for bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead, even if on a 
quarterly basis. Quarterly accountability will not result in a 
generalized ``quota debt mindset,'' but will provide vessel owners some 
additional flexibility to carry an amount of quota debt commensurate 
with their unique business operations. Vessel owners will have more 
flexibility in their fishing operations, but no less incentive to avoid 
bluefin, given that all bluefin must be accounted for using IBQ, IBQ is 
allocated to vessels in limited amounts, and leasing additional IBQ 
comes at a price. It should be noted the amount of bluefin retained or 
discarded dead will continue to be tracked on a trip-level basis and 
the appropriate balance of IBQ (either a positive balance or negative 
balance/`quota debt') will be maintained. At the end of a trip on which 
bluefin tuna are retained or discarded dead, a vessel's IBQ balance 
will be reduced by the appropriate amount. If the trip catch exceeds 
the vessel's available quota, the vessel will incur quota debt.
    Current landings and dead discard data do not support the 
commenter's concern that there will not be enough IBQ to account for 
all bluefin caught by the pelagic longline fleet. During 2015, the 
first year of the IBQ Program, there was annual accountability (i.e., 
vessels could fish in quota debt and there was no minimum amount of IBQ 
to fish, but quota debt accumulated during the full year). Trip-level 
accountability was not implemented until 2016. During 2015 and 2016, 35 
percent and 50 percent (respectively) of the adjusted Longline Category 
quota was caught (not including the distinct Northeast Distant Area 
quota that has different IBQ accountability rules for the first 25 mt). 
In the unlikely event that the Longline Category quota were approached, 
NMFS has the authority under Sec.  635.28(a)(3) to close the fishery 
when the Atlantic Tunas Longline category quota is reached, projected 
to be reached, or exceeded, or when there is high uncertainty regarding 
the estimated or documented levels of bluefin tuna catch. Lastly, the 
extensive vessel reporting and monitoring requirements applicable to 
vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear will remain in effect, 
including Vessel Monitoring Systems (satellite tracking) and Electronic 
Monitoring Systems (video cameras as associated equipment).
    Additionally, NMFS has determined that the 3-year review will be 
able to effectively evaluate the IBQ Program including consideration of 
two minor regulatory changes to the program since its inception (this 
final rule, and previous rule regarding the distribution of inseason 
quota transfers to the Longline category; 81 FR 95903, December 29, 
2016). The pelagic longline fishery is a highly diverse and dynamic 
fishery, and NMFS believes it is important to incorporate operational 
flexibility into management of the fishery where possible. Analyzing 
the pelagic longline fishery under varying conditions may in fact 
enhance NMFS' ability to understand and evaluate the IBQ Program.
    Quarterly accountability will achieve a better balance between 
minimizing some operational constraints on fishing for target species 
and ensuring accountability for incidental bluefin catch by allowing a 
vessel owner more flexibility to determine the timing of lease 
transactions or level of quota debt they are comfortable maintaining 
over a longer period. Alleviation of the timing constraint associated 
with trip-level accountability will provide additional flexibility. A 
vessel owner may need flexibility to pay costs associated with fishing 
(fuel, bait, ice, labor, repairs, etc.), including the cost of leasing 
IBQ, on a timeline unique to their operation and finances. The 
opportunity to fish with a low IBQ balance or with quota debt may 
enable a vessel owner to continue to obtain revenue during the time 
period when they are looking for quota to lease and accommodate 
different types of fishing operations and financial obligations.
    Comment 7: One commenter was unsure of the intent of the proposed 
measures with respect to the balance of impacts on the operation of the 
fishery and the impacts on bluefin bycatch. Specifically, the commenter 
supported quarterly accountability, provided the primary intent is to 
address the economic objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. If 
the intent of the action is also to further reduce bycatch of bluefin, 
the commenter did not think quarterly accountability would achieve that 
objective.
    Response: This action, as an adjustment to Amendment 7, is 
consistent with all of the objectives in Amendment 7 and with all 10 
national standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This final rule is not 
anticipated to impact the overall level of bluefin bycatch by the 
pelagic longline fishery

[[Page 61494]]

or the overall level of accountability, which is managed through the 
IBQ Program consistent with Amendment 7.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    Changes to regulatory text from those in the proposed rule were 
made to correct cross-references that were incorrect at the proposed 
rule stage and to improve clarity of the proposed regulations. The 
proposed regulatory text at Sec.  635.15(b)(3)(i) specified that a 
vessel owner or operator must have ``the relevant required minimum IBQ 
allocation for the region in which the fishing activity will occur.'' 
This same language was added to Sec.  635.15(b)(3)(ii) and (b)(5)(i) to 
improve clarity. Incorrect cross-references in Sec.  635.15(b)(5)(i) 
and (ii) were corrected to refer to Sec.  635.15(b)(9) rather than 
Sec.  635.15(f).

Classification

    The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the final rule 
is consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, 
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.
    This action is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment in accordance with NOAA 
Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A. This action may appropriately be 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare either an 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement in 
accordance with CE A1 of the Companion Manual for NAO 216-6A for an 
action that is a technical correction or a change to a fishery 
management action or regulation, which does not result in a substantial 
change in any of the following: Fishing location, timing, effort, 
authorized gear types, access to fishery resources or harvest levels. 
By somewhat altering the timing of the accounting for bluefin tuna by 
individual pelagic longline vessels, the changes in this action could 
also be expected to alter some fishing timing, and this is the intent 
of the additional flexibility offered by this action. NMFS expects this 
to result in some minor alterations in fishing trip timing by 
individual vessel owners. Timing would not, however, be altered in a 
way that would constitute a substantial change. In practice, this 
action provides some individual vessels flexibility to alter the timing 
of some of their fishing trips within a three-month period. Given the 
size of the fleet and the number of fishing trips taken, such minor 
variations in individual fishing trips will not result in substantial 
changes to fishing timing overall. Moreover, the level of fishing 
remains capped by the U.S. bluefin tuna quota; the timing of the 
fishing is substantively managed by the various subquota categories, 
inseason actions (e.g., regarding retention limits), and seasons. Minor 
modifications in individual vessel practice related to the timing of 
certain trips will not increase or decrease the quota nor the fishing 
mortality associated with that quota or have any other environmental 
effects. The annual U.S. bluefin tuna quota and subquota allocations to 
the Longline category will not be affected by this action.
    NMFS has prepared a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and a Final 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), which present and analyze 
anticipated social and economic impacts of the alternatives contained 
in this final rule. The list of alternatives and their analyses are 
provided in the RIR and are not repeated here in their entirety. A copy 
of the RIR prepared for this final rule is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).
    A FRFA was prepared, as required by section 604 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA, 5 U.S.C. 604 et seq.), and is included below. The 
FRFA describes the economic impact this rule will have on small 
entities. A description of the action, why it is being implemented, and 
the legal basis for this action are contained in the SUMMARY section of 
the preamble.
    The goal of the RFA is to minimize the economic burden of federal 
regulations on small entities. To that end, the RFA directs federal 
agencies to assess whether the regulation is likely to result in 
significant economic impacts to a substantial number of small entities, 
and identify and analyze any significant alternatives to the rule that 
accomplish the objectives of applicable statutes and minimizes any 
significant effects on small entities.

Statement of the Need for and Objectives of This Final Rule

    In compliance with section 604(b)(1) of the RFA, this action is 
needed is to provide some additional flexibility regarding the timing 
of accounting for bluefin tuna catch with the IBQ Program in a manner 
that maintains accountability for bluefin tuna bycatch and a strong 
incentive for pelagic longline vessels to avoid interactions with 
bluefin tuna, while minimizing constraints on fishing for target 
species and, to the greatest extent possible, the socioeconomic impacts 
on affected fisheries.
    Current regulations require permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline 
vessels to possess a minimum amount of IBQ to depart on a fishing trip 
with pelagic longline gear and account for bluefin tuna catch (fish 
retained or discarded dead) using IBQ (0.25 mt for a trip in the Gulf 
of Mexico and 0.125 mt for a trip in the Atlantic). At the end of a 
trip on which bluefin tuna are caught, a vessel's IBQ balance is 
reduced by the amount caught. If the trip catch exceeds the vessel's 
available quota, the vessel will incur quota debt (i.e., exceeding its 
available IBQ balance). In this case, the regulations required the 
vessel to obtain additional IBQ through leasing to resolve that quota 
debt and to acquire the minimum IBQ amount before departing on a 
subsequent trip using pelagic longline gear. Thus, a pelagic longline 
vessel owner who took consecutive trips had to account for bluefin tuna 
catch in almost real time, effectively creating a system of ``trip-
level accountability'' for those vessels.
    This action modifies these rules to require vessels to resolve 
quota debt on a quarterly basis (i.e., they must balance the debt and 
obtain the minimum amount required to depart on a fishing trip before 
going on a trip in the next quarter). Vessels will be allowed to fish 
with a low IBQ balance or with quota debt during a calendar quarter. 
Vessels will still be required to report bluefin tuna catch at the end 
of each trip (and account for it with IBQ), but this regulatory change 
would provide the flexibility to fish even if the vessel has less than 
the minimum amount of IBQ, including quota debt, until the first 
fishing trip in each calendar quarter. For example, under the new 
measure, after the initial trip, if a vessel has a low balance or quota 
debt in January 2018, the vessel will be allowed to fish without first 
resolving that low balance or quota debt through March 31, 2018. In 
order to depart on a pelagic longline fishing trip in the following 
quarter, starting April 1, 2018, that vessel will need to lease 
additional IBQ resolve the quota debt and acquire the minimum amount of 
IBQ required to fish.
    The rule will provide flexibility for two important operational 
business decisions made by vessel owners: Decisions regarding quota 
balance and quota debt (subject to full accounting quarterly) and 
decisions regarding the timing and price at which they lease additional 
quota. Importantly, this regulatory change will maintain vessel 
accountability for bluefin tuna catch and the associated incentives for 
vessel operators to minimize catch of bluefin tuna. By changing the 
timing of the accountability, however, the proposed

[[Page 61495]]

rule will provide some additional flexibility in vessel operations and 
thus provide vessel owners more of a reasonable opportunity to catch 
available quota for target species (i.e., swordfish and yellowfin 
tuna).

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

    In compliance with section 604(a)(2) of the RFA, NMFS reviewed the 
public comments in response to the proposed rule and the Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA). While NFMS received several 
comments regarding the proposed rule, none of those comments was 
specific to the IRFA. In addition, no comments were received by the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in 
response to the proposed rule. The Agency did not make any changes as a 
result of comments.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the 
Final Rule Will Apply

    Section 604(b)(4) of the RFA requires agencies to provide an 
estimate of the number of small entities to which the rule will apply. 
The SBA has established size criteria for all major industry sectors in 
the United States, including fish harvesters. Provision is made under 
SBA's regulations for an agency to develop its own industry-specific 
size standards after consultation with the SBA Office of 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, 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 Atlantic Tunas Longline 
permit holders (280 as of October 2016) to be small entities because 
these vessels have reported annual gross receipts of less than $11 
million for commercial fishing. The average annual gross revenue per 
active pelagic longline vessel was estimated to be $187,000 based on 
the 170 active vessels between 2006 and 2012 that produced an estimated 
$31.8 million in revenue annually. The maximum annual revenue for any 
pelagic longline vessel between 2006 and 2015 was $1.9 million, well 
below the NMFS small business size threshold of $11 million in gross 
receipts for commercial fishing. Therefore, NMFS considers all Atlantic 
Tunas Longline permit holders to be small entities.
    NMFS has determined that this rule will apply to the small 
businesses associated with the 136 Atlantic Tunas Longline permits with 
IBQ shares and the additional permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels 
that fish with quota leased through the IBQ Program. NMFS has 
determined that this action will 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 Rule, Including an Estimate of the 
Classes of Small Entities That 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 
does not contain any new collection of information, reporting, or 
record-keeping requirements but only modifies existing requirements.

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
States Objectives of Applicable Statues, 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 a 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. The quarterly and annual accountability 
alternatives in the rule would reduce the burden of complying with the 
existing trip level accountability requirement and thus would fall into 
this category of alternatives by simplifying compliance and reporting 
requirements for small entities. The IBQ Program was designed to adhere 
to performance standards, the third category above; modifications to 
the regulations implementing the IBQ Program simply make adjustments to 
the administration of those underlying performance standards. Thus, 
NMFS has considered the significant alternatives to the rule and 
focused on simplifying compliance and reporting requirements associated 
with IBQ accountability in order to minimize any significant economic 
impact of the rule on small entities.
    NMFS analyzed several different alternatives in this rulemaking, 
and the rationale that NMFS used to determine the alternative for 
achieving the desired objectives is described below.
    The first alternative is the ``no action'' (status quo) 
alternative. The second alternative, the preferred alternative, would 
adjust the Atlantic HMS regulations to require the pelagic longline 
fishery to account for bycatch of bluefin tuna using IBQ on a quarterly 
basis instead of before embarking on a trip after incurring quota debt. 
The third alternative would adjust the Atlantic HMS regulations to 
require the pelagic longline fishery to account for bycatch of bluefin 
tuna using IBQ on an annual basis instead of before embarking on a trip 
after incurring quota debt. The economic impacts of these three 
alternatives are detailed below. Under

[[Page 61496]]

all three alternatives, a vessel's IBQ balance would be reduced to 
account for bluefin tuna discarded dead or retained immediately after 
the catch is reported in the IBQ system. The difference among the 
alternatives is the timing of when quota debt or a low balance of IBQ 
precludes fishing and must be resolved prior to departing on a 
subsequent trip using pelagic longline gear (trip level, quarterly, or 
annually).
    Under the ``no action'' alternative, NMFS would maintain the 
current regulations regarding accounting for bluefin tuna catch and 
prerequisites for departing on a fishing trip with pelagic longline 
gear on board. Current regulations require permitted Atlantic Tunas 
Longline vessel owners (or vessel operators, where applicable) to 
possess a minimum amount of IBQ to depart on a fishing trip with 
pelagic longline gear and account for bluefin tuna caught (retained or 
discarded dead) using IBQ at the end of the trip. Therefore, at the end 
of a trip on which bluefin tuna are caught, a vessel owner's balance of 
IBQ would be reduced, possibly below the minimum amount needed for a 
subsequent trip, or the vessel owner may incur quota debt by exceeding 
their IBQ balance. In either of these cases, the vessel owner must 
obtain additional IBQ through leasing in order to satisfy the minimum 
requirement (and resolve any quota debt they may have) prior to 
departing on another trip using pelagic longline gear. The net effect 
of these rules is that a pelagic longline vessel owner that takes 
multiple sequential trips must account for bluefin tuna in real-time, 
which NMFS refers to as ``trip-level accountability.''
    This approach was implemented by Amendment 7, but effectiveness was 
delayed until January 1, 2016, in contrast to most of the other 
Amendment 7 measures that were effective on January 1, 2015. During 
2016, there were 1,025 pelagic longline trips by 85 vessels, which 
deployed 6,885 sets and 5,217,547 hooks. During 2016, there were 81 IBQ 
lease transactions with a total of 141,183 lb IBQ leased and an average 
price of $2.52 per pound (weighted average). There were a total of 17 
vessels that incurred quota debt at some time during the year, with a 
total amount of 40,237 lb of debt incurred and resolved. Mean revenue 
per trip during 2016 based on logbook, dealer, and weigh out data was 
$24,707.
    During 2016, pelagic longline vessel owners successfully accounted 
for bluefin tuna catch using the IBQ Program and leasing quota among 
themselves (and from Purse Seine fishery participants) as needed in 
order to fully account for bluefin tuna catch using IBQ. However, since 
implementation, pelagic longline fishery participants have consistently 
requested some additional flexibility due to the costs associated with 
leasing IBQ, which can affect profitability of target species catch, as 
well as the concern that vessel owners appear to be unwilling to lease 
IBQ at certain times, uncertainties regarding the availability of IBQ 
to lease, and the impacts of other constraints associated with 
Amendment 7, including additional gear restricted areas and VMS and 
electronic monitoring requirements. The ability of vessel owners to 
account for bluefin tuna using allocated quota or IBQ leased at an 
affordable price is key to the success of the IBQ Program. A trend that 
may in part reflect the uncertainties and constraints associated with 
trip-level accountability is the lower amount of fishing effort in 2016 
compared to 2015 (despite the active IBQ leasing market in 2016). For 
example, the number of trips, active vessels, longline sets and hooks 
fished were all lower in 2016 than they were in 2015. The No Action 
alternative would not, however, provide the timing flexibility benefits 
that could facilitate better operational and economic decisions and 
options for individual vessel owners who need to lease IBQ, and NMFS 
therefore does not prefer the no action alternative.
    Under the second alternative (preferred), NMFS would adjust the 
Atlantic HMS regulations to require the pelagic longline fishery to 
account for bycatch of bluefin tuna using IBQ on a quarterly basis 
instead of before commencing any fishing trip while in quota debt or 
with less than the minimum required IBQ balance. The preferred 
alternative would provide flexibility for two important operational 
business decisions made by vessel owners. First, decisions regarding 
quota balance and quota debt (subject to full accounting quarterly); 
and second, decisions regarding the timing and price at which they 
lease additional quota. It is likely that the vessels would take 
advantage of increased operational flexibility as a result of removal 
of the constraints associated with the trip-level accountability. 
Specifically, operational flexibility associated with the preferred 
alternative may enable vessels to fish at more optimal times and avoid 
delay in the timing of a trip due to a low IBQ balance and issues 
related to availability of quota to lease; lease IBQ at a lower price 
by providing the flexibility for a vessel owner to `shop around'; 
reduce uncertainty in the IBQ market such that vessels are willing to 
plan and undertake fishing trips they previously may not have; and 
improve their cash flow by allowing fishing while in quota debt (i.e., 
accrual of revenue with which to lease additional IBQ). In 2016, each 
additional trip earned vessels on average $24,707 in revenue.
    NMFS used the available data on the IBQ lease markets to estimate 
the potential reduction in transaction costs (mainly labor costs) 
associated with moving from trip-level accountability to quarterly 
accountability. There were 33 vessels that leased quota in 2016 and 
they were involved in 81 transactions. On average, that is almost 2.5 
transactions per vessel that entered the IBQ lease market. Under the 
quarterly accountability requirement of Alternative 2, these vessels 
might be able to reduce their number of lease transactions to one lease 
per quarter, which would reduce business costs and have economic and 
operational benefits. Based on data from 2016 and the first-half of 
2017, quarterly accountability could lead to 51 fewer lease 
transactions if vessel owners reduced their number of lease transaction 
to one per quarter under this alternative. Each lease transaction costs 
vessel owners additional labor time to search for available IBQ, 
contact potential lessors, negotiate prices, and complete the 
transactions. NMFS estimates that could involve approximately four 
hours per transaction. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly 
wage rate for first-line supervisors of farming, fishing and forestry 
workers of $23 per hour in 2016 (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes451011.htm), NMFS estimates the value of the time involved in these 
additional 51 leases to be approximately worth $4,692 (51 transactions 
x 4 hours x $23/hr). Since this amount is based on six quarters, the 
annual estimated savings in the time associated with these leases is 
approximately $3,128 per year ($4,692/1.5 years). Given that 33 vessels 
were involved in leasing in 2016, the per vessel savings per year would 
be approximately $95 per vessel.
    Although it is not possible to precisely quantify the economic 
impacts of the preferred alternative, the no action alternative with 
trip-level accountability (i.e., the regulations implemented in 2016) 
and the third alternative with annual accountability (i.e., the 
regulations implemented in 2015) may be informative about the likely 
impacts of the alternatives. The amount of flexibility to account for 
bluefin tuna catch afforded by the preferred alternative is likely 
somewhere in between the two other alternatives: Trip-level 
accountability (no action alternative) and annual accountability (third 
alternative).

[[Page 61497]]

    Under the third alternative, there would be no minimum amount of 
IBQ required to fish and vessels would only be required to account for 
their catch at the end of the year. The third alternative is the same 
as the IBQ accounting regulations that were in effect during 2015. 
During 2015, there were 1,124 pelagic longline trips, by 104 vessels, 
which deployed 7,769 sets and 5,549,451 hooks. During 2015, there were 
49 IBQ lease transactions from 24 distinct vessels with a total of 
126,407 lb IBQ leased, and an average price of $3.46 per pound 
(weighted average). There were a total of 16 vessels that incurred 
quota debt, with a total amount of 42,746 lb. The mean revenue per trip 
during 2015 based on dealer data was $17,603 (not including bluefin 
tuna or dolphin revenue). Although it is possible to glean some 
insights from data from 2015 as the basis for evaluating potential 
economic impacts of the third alternative, the fishing behavior of the 
pelagic longline fleet during 2015, the first year of Amendment 7 
regulations, was likely heavily influenced by the newness of the 
regulations and the relatively high amount of uncertainty in 2015.
    There were approximately 2.0 lease transactions per vessel in 2015 
versus 2.5 leases per vessel in 2016. Assuming the 33 vessels that 
leased in 2016 only leased 2 times per year under annual 
accountability, the number of leases would be reduced from 81 to 66, a 
reduction of 15 transactions. This reduction in 15 transactions taking 
approximately 4 hours of an owner's time would be worth $1,380 in labor 
costs per year (15 x 4 hours x $23/hr). Given the 33 vessels that 
leased in 2016, the per vessel cost savings would be approximately $42 
per vessel per year. Alternatively, if vessel owners could reduce the 
number of leases to one per year, the number of lease transactions 
could be reduced down to 33 transactions based on 2016 lease activity. 
This would result in 48 fewer transactions, and would result in a 
savings of up to $4,416 per year for the whole fleet or $134 per vessel 
that leased. However, based on the 2015 IBQ lease data under annual 
accountability that year, it is unlikely that the number of lease 
transactions would be reduced by this much. It is likely that there 
would be more leasing activity associated with this alternative than 
occurred during 2015, since 2015 was the initial implementation of the 
IBQ Program and participants were just learning how the IBQ lease 
market worked and which IBQ Program participants were interested in 
leasing IBQ, as well as a lower average price per pound for leased IBQ.
    There is uncertainty as to the full impact of moving from trip-
level accountability to annual accountability. Annual accountability 
might cause vessel owners to wait until December to try to lease quota. 
Quota available for lease in December might become scarcer and this 
holiday period might cause fewer IBQ shareholders to participate in the 
market. This increased scarcity of IBQ available for lease and the 
tight end of the year timeframe might result in spikes in the price for 
IBQ, thus driving up costs and potentially leaving some vessel owners 
unable to resolve their quota debt at the last minute as the year ends. 
NMFS prefers to incrementally move to quarterly accountability under 
Alternative 2 to avoid some of the risks associated with Alternative 3.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

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

    Dated: December 22, 2017.
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 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.  635.15, revise paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4)(i) and (ii), 
(b)(5)(i) and (ii), and (b)(8)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.15   Individual bluefin tuna quotas.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Minimum IBQ allocation. For purposes of this paragraph (b), 
calendar year quarters start on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 
1.
    (i) First fishing trip in a calendar year quarter. Before departing 
on the first fishing trip in a calendar year quarter, a vessel with an 
eligible Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit that fishes with or 
has pelagic longline gear onboard must have the minimum IBQ allocation 
for either the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic, depending on fishing 
location. The minimum IBQ allocation for a vessel fishing in the Gulf 
of Mexico, or departing for a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico, is 
0.25 mt ww (551 lb ww). The minimum IBQ allocation for a vessel fishing 
in the Atlantic or departing for a fishing trip in the Atlantic is 
0.125 mt ww (276 lb ww). A vessel owner or operator may not declare 
into or depart on the first fishing trip in a calendar year quarter 
with pelagic longline gear onboard unless it has the relevant required 
minimum IBQ allocation for the region in which the fishing activity 
will occur.
    (ii) Subsequent fishing trips in a calendar year quarter. 
Subsequent to the first fishing trip in a calendar year quarter, a 
vessel owner or operator may declare into or depart on other fishing 
trips with pelagic longline gear onboard with less than the relevant 
minimum IBQ allocation for the region in which the fishing activity 
will occur, but only within that same calendar year quarter.
    (4) Accounting for bluefin tuna caught. (i) With the exception of 
vessels fishing in the NED, in compliance with the requirements of 
paragraph (b)(8) of this section, all bluefin tuna catch (dead discards 
and landings) must be deducted from the vessel's IBQ allocation at the 
end of each pelagic longline trip.
    (ii) If the amount of bluefin tuna catch on a particular trip 
exceeds the amount of the vessel's IBQ allocation or results in an IBQ 
balance less than the minimum amount described in paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section, the vessel may continue to fish, complete the trip, and 
depart on subsequent trips within the same calendar year quarter. The 
vessel must resolve any quota debt (see paragraph (b)(5) of this 
section) before declaring into or departing on a fishing trip with 
pelagic longline gear onboard in a subsequent calendar year quarter by 
acquiring adequate IBQ allocation to resolve the debt and acquire the 
needed minimum allocation through leasing, as described in paragraph 
(c) of this section.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) Quarter level quota debt. A vessel with quota debt incurred in 
a given calendar year quarter cannot depart on a trip with pelagic 
longline gear onboard in a subsequent calendar year quarter until the 
vessel leases allocation or receives additional allocation (see 
paragraphs (c) and (b)(9) of this section), and applies allocation for 
the appropriate region to settle the quota debt such that the vessel 
has the relevant minimum quota allocation required to fish for the 
region in which the fishing activity will occur (see paragraph (b)(3) 
of this section). For example, a vessel with quota debt incurred during 
January through March

[[Page 61498]]

may not depart on a trip with pelagic longline gear onboard during 
April through June (or subsequent quarters) until the quota debt has 
been resolved such that the vessel has the relevant minimum quota 
allocation required to fish for the region in which the fishing 
activity will occur.
    (ii) Annual level quota debt. If, by the end of the fishing year, a 
permit holder does not have adequate allocation to settle its vessel's 
quota debt through leasing or additional allocation (see paragraphs (c) 
and (b)(9) of this section), the vessel's allocation will be reduced in 
the amount equal to the quota debt in the subsequent year or years 
until the quota debt is fully accounted for. A vessel may not depart on 
any pelagic longline trips if it has outstanding quota debt from a 
previous fishing year.
* * * * *
    (8) * * *
    (i) When NED bluefin quota is available. Permitted vessels fishing 
with pelagic longline gear may fish in the NED, and any bluefin catch 
will count toward the ICCAT-allocated separate NED quota until the NED 
quota has been filled. Permitted vessels fishing in the NED must still 
fish in accordance with the relevant minimum IBQ allocation 
requirements specified under paragraph (b)(3) of this section to depart 
on a trip using pelagic longline gear.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  635.71, revise paragraphs (b)(48) and (56) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  635.71   Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (48) Depart on a fishing trip or deploy or fish with any fishing 
gear from a vessel with a pelagic longline on board without accounting 
for bluefin caught as specified in Sec.  635.15(b)(4).
* * * * *
    (56) Fish with or have pelagic longline gear on board if any quota 
debt associated with the permit from a preceding calendar year quarter 
has not been settled as specified in Sec.  635.15(b)(5)(i).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-28046 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P