[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62269-62281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26194]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 180207141-8999-02]
RIN 0648-BH74


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Groundfish Bottom Trawl and Midwater 
Trawl Gear in the Trawl Rationalization Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 62270]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule revises Federal regulations that currently restrict 
the use and configuration of bottom and midwater trawl gear for vessels 
fishing under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl 
Rationalization Program. The revisions implemented through this rule 
were developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to address 
restrictions that are no longer necessary because of changes to the 
fishery including implementation of the Trawl Rationalization Program 
in 2011 and improved status of a number of overfished rockfish stocks. 
This action will likely increase flexibility in how vessels can use and 
configure gear to increase access to target stocks and efficiency of 
fishing practices, while still limiting the catch of target and non-
target discards to meet the conservation objectives of the Trawl 
Rationalization Program.

DATES: This final rule is effective January 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of supporting documents referenced in this 
final rule, including the environmental assessment (EA) and regulatory 
impact review (RIR)/regulatory flexibility analysis (RFA), are 
available from www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS West Coast Region 
Groundfish Fisheries website at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Palmigiano, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 206-526-4491, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Regulations for Net Configurations
III. Requirement To Use Selective Flatfish Trawl Shoreward of the 
RCA and North of 40[deg]10' North Latitude
IV. Regulations for Vessel Operations
V. Comments and Responses
VI. Changes From the Proposed Rule
VII. Classification

I. Background

    Prior to 2011 the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery was primarily 
managed with trip and landing limits and area closures, and monitoring 
was limited (i.e., less than 25 percent of groundfish bottom and 
midwater trawl trip landings were subject to at-sea observer coverage). 
During that time NMFS implemented trawl gear restrictions to both 
reduce groundfish and non-groundfish bycatch and discards, as well as 
limit access to overfished rockfish habitat. Restrictions included: (1) 
Minimum mesh size requirements; (2) requirements for chafing gear and 
codends; (3) the trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA) in which the 
use of groundfish bottom trawl gear between certain fathom lines is 
prohibited, as defined in regulation at Sec. Sec.  660.71 through 
660.74; and, (4) a requirement that vessels use selective flatfish 
trawl, a type of small footrope trawl gear, shoreward of the trawl RCA 
and north of 40[deg]10' North (N) latitude.
    In 2011, NMFS implemented Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), which established the 
Trawl Rationalization Program. The Trawl Rationalization Program, a 
type of catch share program, replaced trip and landing limits with 
fixed allocations for limited entry trawl participants through an 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) management system. To allow managers to 
accurately account for catch against IFQ the program increased at-sea 
and shoreside monitoring to 100 percent of trips and landings for 
groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels. This management system 
increased individual vessel accountability and successfully reduced 
bycatch of target and non-target rockfish in the trawl fishery. Since 
implementation of the Trawl Rationalization Program, five of the seven 
previously overfished rockfish species are now rebuilt.
    Building on the successes of the Trawl Rationalization Program at 
reducing discards, NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) worked with industry members to identify regulations that 
limit the use and configuration of groundfish bottom and midwater trawl 
gears, and may no longer be necessary because the Trawl Rationalization 
Program effectively limits target and non-target species bycatch. 
Additional discussion of the background and rationale for the Council's 
development of changes to bottom and midwater trawl gear configuration 
is included in the proposed rule (83 FR 45396; September 7, 2018) and 
is not repeated here. Detailed information, including the supporting 
documentation the Council considered while developing these 
recommendations, is available at the Council's website, 
www.pcouncil.org.
    The discussion in this final rule and in the EA/RIR/RFA (see 
ADDRESSES) groups several related measures to reduce redundancy and to 
present the collective impacts of similar regulations. This final rule:
     Adjusts a suite of restrictions related to how nets are 
configured, including eliminating minimum mesh size restrictions, 
changing the definition of mesh size, removing chafing gear placement 
restrictions, and removing restrictions on using double-walled codends 
from groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels fishing under the 
Trawl Rationalization Program;
     Removes the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl 
gear north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and shoreward of the trawl RCA;
     Adjusts a number of provisions related to vessel 
operations on a single fishing trip, including allowing vessels that 
fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program under the Trawl Rationalization 
Program to carry and fish groundfish bottom and midwater trawl gears on 
the same trip, fish across IFQ management lines, and bring a new haul 
on deck before the catch from a previous haul is stowed.

II. Regulations for Net Configurations

    This section discusses several regulatory changes that remove some 
minimum mesh size restrictions, revise the definition of mesh size, 
remove chafing gear placement restrictions, and remove the prohibition 
on using double-walled codends for groundfish bottom and midwater trawl 
vessels fishing under the Trawl Rationalization Program. These measures 
all relate to net configuration and all affect the mesh size for trawl 
nets. A description of the existing regulations for net configurations, 
as well as a summary of the potential impacts of these combined 
measures, is included in the proposed rule and is not repeated here.
    This final rule removes the minimum mesh size requirement of 4.5 
inches (11.4 cm) for groundfish bottom trawl nets and revises the 
minimum mesh size requirements for midwater trawl gear. Midwater trawl 
gear nets are no longer required to have a minimum mesh size of 3.0 
inches (7.6 cm). However, the Council did not recommend revising the 
restriction on the minimum mesh size restriction for the first 20 feet 
(6.51 m) behind the footrope or head-rope for midwater trawl gears 
because it is essential to the definition of midwater trawl gear. As 
such, nets must still be configured so that the first 20 feet (6.51 m) 
immediately behind the footrope or head-rope is constructed with bare 
ropes or mesh with a minimum size of 16 inches (40.64 cm).
    This final rule redefines minimum mesh size as the smallest 
distance allowed from opposing knots or corners. In addition, this 
final rule revises the definition for measuring minimum

[[Page 62271]]

mesh size to include knotless nets, as well as redefining the approach 
for measuring mesh size as the opening between opposing corners. These 
changes will allow NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) to enforce 
current mesh size requirements for vessels using midwater trawl nets, 
which must meet minimum mesh size requirements for the first 20 feet 
(6.51 m) behind the footrope or head-rope.
    Finally, this final rule eliminates the prohibition on double-
walled codends and restrictions on the use of chafing gear. Removing 
these restrictions will allow vessel operators flexibility in how they 
use chafing gear to protect nets and codends, fish relative to the 
seafloor, and strategically use mesh sizes to enhance fishing 
operations (i.e., herding smaller fish through the net). NMFS 
anticipates that under these regulations vessel operators will use 
chafing gear strategically to provide protection in areas where the net 
can be susceptible to wear. This will allow vessels to extend the life 
of their nets and ultimately reduce operational costs.
    Eliminating restrictions on groundfish bottom and midwater trawl 
net configuration allows vessels to experiment with different mesh 
sizes, chafing gear placement, and use of double-walled codends. The 
new regulations will allow vessels to reduce the mesh size of their 
nets and increase net protections to better target semi-pelagic 
rockfish species or longspine thornyheads.

III. Requirement To Use Selective Flatfish Trawl Shoreward of the RCA 
and North of 40[deg]10' North Latitude

    This final rule adjusts groundfish vessel requirements for using 
selective flatfish trawl gear. A description of the existing 
regulations for selective flatfish trawl, as well as a summary of the 
potential impacts of this measure, is included in the proposed rule and 
is not repeated here.
    This final rule revises the definition of selective flatfish trawl, 
a type of small footrope trawl gear, to allow for a two- or four-seamed 
net with no more than four riblines, while retaining all other existing 
restrictions related to configuration of this gear including: The 
breastline may not be longer than 3 feet (0.92 m); there may be no 
floats along the center third of the headrope or attached to the top 
panel, except on the riblines; the footrope must be less than 105 feet 
(32.26 m); the headrope must be no less than 30 percent longer than the 
footrope; and the headrope is issued along the length of the headrope 
from the outside edge to the opposite outside edge.
    Revising the definition of selective flatfish trawl to allow for 
use of a four-seam net will provide for better flow and improved 
selectivity compared to a two-seam net. A four-seam net has more open 
meshes for smaller fish to escape. In addition, studies have 
demonstrated that improved flow within nets improves fishing 
efficiency, which may increase catch of marketable target groundfish 
(e.g., widow rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, and Pacific cod), and 
reduce bycatch of small or unmarketable groundfish (e.g., undersized 
redstripe rockfish, rosethorn rockfish, sand dabs).
    The final rule also eliminates the requirement that vessels use 
selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 
42[deg] N lat. Instead, trawl vessels are allowed to use any type of 
small footrope trawl gear, including selective flatfish trawl gear, 
shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 42[deg] N lat. Large footrope trawl 
gear will still be prohibited shoreward of the trawl RCA. This final 
rule does not make any changes to the requirement to use selective 
flatfish trawl gear between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 42[deg] N lat. 
Vessels that choose to fish groundfish bottom trawl gear in this area 
are required to use selective flatfish trawl gear. Fishing with small 
footrope trawl gear, other than selective flatfish trawl gear, is 
prohibited between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 42[deg] N lat.
    As described in the proposed rule for this action, the Council 
recommended that NMFS remove the requirement to use selective flatfish 
trawl gear north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and replace it with a requirement 
to use small footrope trawl gear. However, NMFS determined that the 
Council's recommended changes to the selective flatfish trawl gear 
requirement shoreward of the trawl RCA between 42[deg] N lat. and 
40[deg]10' N lat. are out of compliance with the terms and conditions 
of the December 2017 Salmon Incidental Take Statement. Term and 
Condition 4b requires that ``prior to allowing additional non-whiting 
trawling south 42[deg] N lat., NMFS will implement one or more exempted 
fishing permits (EFPs) designed to collect information about Chinook 
and coho bycatch levels and stock composition from fishing in those 
areas or at those times for a minimum of three years.'' Because the 
area shoreward of the trawl RCA between 42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N 
lat. was not part of the exemption to the selective flatfish trawl gear 
requirement in the 2017 and 2018 EFPs, which was the Council's 
recommendation, NMFS cannot make changes to restrictions in this area 
that could result in additional non-whiting trawling effort. NMFS 
notified the Council of this preliminary determination at its September 
2018 meeting in Seattle, Washington.
    NMFS does support the continued use of EFPs to obtain data on 
potential impacts of changing the selective flatfish trawl gear 
requirement between 42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N lat. This 
information would help inform any future regulatory changes the Council 
recommends for this area and gear type.

IV. Regulations for Vessel Operations

    This section discusses the three regulatory changes that relate to 
vessel operations on a single fishing trip including allowing vessels 
that fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program under the Trawl Rationalization 
Program to carry and fish groundfish bottom and midwater trawl gears on 
the same trip, fish across IFQ management lines, and bring a new haul 
on deck before the catch from a previous haul is stowed. A description 
of the existing regulations for vessel operators, as well as a summary 
of the potential impacts of these combined measures, is included in the 
proposed rule and is not repeated here.
    The groundfish regulations define four trawl gear types (large 
footrope trawl, small footrope trawl, selective flatfish trawl, and 
midwater trawl), as well as where and when vessels may carry those 
trawl gear types. Under the revised regulations in this final rule, 
vessels fishing north of 40[deg]10' N lat. may not have both groundfish 
trawl gear and non-groundfish trawl gear on board simultaneously, but 
vessels fishing in the Shorebased IFQ Program will be allowed to carry 
multiple trawl gear types (groundfish bottom or midwater trawl gear) on 
board simultaneously. A vessel may have more than one type of small 
footrope bottom trawl gear on board (selective flatfish trawl or small 
footrope trawl gear) either simultaneously or successively during a 
trip limit period, with one exception. Only a selective flatfish trawl 
is allowed onboard when fishing shoreward of the trawl RCA between 
42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N lat. Finally, a vessel may have more 
than one type of midwater groundfish trawl gear on board, either 
simultaneously or successively, during a cumulative trip limit period. 
South of 40[deg]10' N lat., a vessel may not have both groundfish trawl 
gear and non-groundfish trawl gear on board simultaneously; however, 
they may have both bottom trawl gear and midwater trawl gear on board 
simultaneously or any type of small footrope trawl gear, including 
selective

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flatfish trawl gear, simultaneously or successively.
    This final rule eliminates the prohibition on using multiple types 
of groundfish trawl gears (bottom and midwater trawl gear) on the same 
trip for vessels fishing in the Trawl Rationalization Program's IFQ 
Program. Allowing the use of multiple trawl gears during a single trip 
reduces the complexity in the regulations and will improve economic 
efficiency and safety at sea by reducing the number of trips and days 
at sea.
    Vessels fishing with multiple types of groundfish trawl gear are 
required to keep and land all catch separately by gear type, and catch 
must be reported on electronic fish tickets by gear type (i.e., 
midwater or bottom trawl). Vessels are not required to keep catch 
separate by haul. This rule does not adjust the current provision that 
requires vessels to stow any gear not authorized for use in the area 
when transiting through a groundfish conservation area. For species 
managed with trip limits, crossover provisions, or gear-specific trip 
limits, all current regulations would remain in effect.
    This final rule also modifies recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements for vessels fishing in the Shorebased IFQ Program that 
choose to use more than one type of groundfish trawl gear on the same 
trip. These vessels are required to make a new gear declaration to 
indicate that they have chosen to fish with a new gear type (i.e., 
groundfish bottom trawl vs. midwater trawl). Previously, the 
regulations only allowed vessels to declare one type of trawl gear at a 
time when fishing in the Trawl Rationalization Program, and vessel 
operators were required to make the declaration for each trip prior to 
leaving port. The final rule revises the regulations so that vessel 
operators in the Shorebased IFQ Program that choose to use multiple 
groundfish trawl gears on the same trip may adjust their gear 
declarations from sea and do not need to return to port to do so. 
Vessel operators are required to make a new declaration any time they 
switch to a gear other than the gear that was previously declared. This 
allows for the continued monitoring and enforcement of gear-specific 
closed areas. Allowing vessels the flexibility to use and carry 
multiple trawl gears onboard the vessel will reduce costs to operators 
by reducing daily fuel and observer coverage costs.
    This final rule eliminates both the existing prohibition on 
bringing a haul on board before the previous haul has been stowed and 
the requirement to stow all catch before catch from a new haul is 
brought on board. Vessels may now bring a new haul on board before the 
previous haul has been stowed and will not be required to stow all 
catch before the catch from a new haul is brought on board. Vessels are 
still required to keep catch from separate hauls until the observer has 
completed all haul-specific sampling protocols and has allowed the 
hauls to be mixed. Vessels will also still be required to allow 
observers and catch monitors to carry out all required duties without 
interference to ensure continued accurate monitoring and reporting of 
catch. This ensures availability of quality data for catch at-sea and 
landings which are used to manage the fishery in season and to assess 
the stocks and develop catch limits and harvest guidelines. Vessels 
fishing with electronic monitoring are required to keep catch from 
different hauls separate on deck until fully documented according to 
protocols established in the specific vessel's monitoring plan. All 
vessels are required to land any catch by gear type if it was caught 
using different gears separated by gear type.
    This final rule also eliminates the prohibition on fishing in 
multiple IFQ management areas on the same trip or tow, for vessels 
fishing in the Shorebased IFQ Program. These vessels are allowed to 
fish in multiple IFQ management areas on the same trip and the same 
haul, and catch does not need to be sorted by area. Vessel operators 
will be responsible for recording the number of hauls that took place 
in which IFQ management area. Catch will then be assigned to an area 
and quota pounds will be deducted from vessel accounts based on the 
proportion of hauls in a given management area. For example, if six 
hauls were taken in one IFQ management area, and two hauls were taken 
in another management area, the total catch would be apportioned to 
management areas by a 6 to 2 ratio. For any hauls that took place 
across management lines, catch would be apportioned 50 percent to each 
area. Therefore, if six hauls were taken in one management area, two 
hauls taken in another management area, and one haul taken across 
management areas, the total catch would be apportioned to management 
areas by a 6.5 to 2.5 ratio.
    Vessel operators are expected to use the flexibility to create an 
efficient fishing strategy that best limits bycatch of non-target and 
protected species while still maximizing catch of their target species. 
Vessels would maximize attainment of IFQ by carrying and fishing with 
both midwater and groundfish bottom trawl gear on the same trip. 
Eliminating regulations that manage vessel operations may have some 
potential negative impacts to processors, observers, and managers, but 
these are likely to be limited and may even decrease over time as 
operations adjust to the changes.

V. Comments and Responses

    NMFS received seven comment letters from private citizens during 
the comment period for the proposed rule. All of the comments raised 
similar issues regarding the potential for these gear changes to 
negatively impact previously overfished rockfish stocks and their 
habitat, and the potential for the changes to increase salmon bycatch. 
Only comments relevant to measures considered in the proposed rule are 
summarized and addressed below. Comments related to other fishery 
actions, general fishery management, or unrelated to fisheries are not 
addressed here. All public comment letters can be viewed, along with 
the proposed and final rules for this action, at www.regulations.gov.
    Comment 1: Please withhold changes to gear restrictions until 
salmon stocks have had a chance to rebuild. These gear changes will 
likely increase bycatch of Chinook salmon.
    Response: While NMFS shares the commenter's concerns over any 
action that could increase bycatch of Chinook salmon, the analysis for 
this action does not support the conclusion that removing these 
restrictions and requirements would result in additional bycatch beyond 
what already occurs in this fishery. Over the past two years NMFS has 
permitted more than 40 vessels annually to test whether removing these 
requirements or prohibitions would result in additional bycatch of 
Chinook and coho salmon. These vessels have completed more than 200 EFP 
trips. Based on the analysis of this EFP information, changes that have 
occurred within the fishery over the past several years, and the 
analysis in the December 2017 biological opinion, NMFS has determined 
that changes to mesh size, removing restrictions on codends and chafing 
gear, and removing restrictions on vessel operations is unlikely to 
result in additional impacts to Chinook salmon. With regards to removal 
of the selective flatfish trawl gear requirement, impacts to Chinook 
salmon are unlikely to increase from this action in the area north of 
42[deg] N lat. (the southern boundary of the 2017 and 2018 Trawl Gear 
EFPs). However, impacts to Chinook salmon resulting this action are 
less certain in the area between 42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N lat.

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    NMFS discussed uncertainty around potential impacts to Chinook 
salmon in the area between 42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N lat. in the 
proposed rule, particularly when considering the removal of the 
requirement to use selective flatfish trawl gear, because this area was 
not included in the 2017 or 2018 EFPs. Therefore, as mentioned above in 
Section III, NMFS is only removing the prohibition on using any small 
footrope trawl gear besides selective flatfish trawl gear for the area 
north of 42[deg] N lat. No changes to regulations requiring the use of 
selective flatfish trawl gear will be implemented for the area between 
42[deg] N lat. and 40[deg]10' N lat., where impacts to salmon are less 
certain.
    Additionally, unlike in previous years, NMFS is proposing through 
the proposed rule for the 2019-2020 harvest specifications and 
management measures (83 FR 47416, September 19, 2018), to establish 
hard caps for Chinook salmon established in the 2017 Salmon Biological 
Opinion. If implemented, NMFS will have a mechanism available in 
regulation that may be used to close the non-whiting and/or whiting 
fisheries if the bycatch of Chinook salmon exceeds or is projected to 
exceed the thresholds for those fisheries. Finally, NMFS continues to 
work with the Council to develop any management measures needed to 
address any unexpected high bycatch of Chinook or coho salmon in the 
groundfish fisheries.
    Comment 2: The proposed regulations do not acknowledge the 
potential for rockfish habitats to be destroyed with little chance of 
rehabilitation.
    Response: In developing the EA for this action NMFS considered 
potential impacts to the physical environment, which includes important 
habitats for rockfish species, and determined that impacts to the 
physical environment from this action are likely to be negligible to 
low for the several reasons. First, the regulatory revisions do not 
change any areas that are currently closed to fishing, such as 
essential fish habitat conservation areas (EFHCAs) designed to protect 
sensitive habitat from bottom contact gear. NMFS expects there may be 
increased effort shoreward of the trawl RCA and north of 42[deg] N 
latitude by vessels fishing without selective flatfish trawl gear. 
However, NMFS expects this effort would likely only occur with 
groundfish bottom trawl over soft-bottom habitat or with pelagic trawls 
fished off the ocean floor and in the water column away from any high 
relief structures that could damage fishing nets. Finally, the 
regulatory revisions do not change small footrope requirements for 
groundfish bottom trawl shoreward of the RCA. This small footrope 
requirement provides a strong disincentive for harvesters to fish with 
bottom trawl over high-relief habitat. Therefore, based on this 
analysis, NMFS determined that the revised regulations will not result 
in additional impacts to the physical environments.
    Comment 3: Eliminating the mesh and net size requirements would 
potentially increase the incentive for vessels to use larger equipment, 
which could increase the likelihood for overfishing. Rockfish are 
especially vulnerable to overfishing.
    Response: Eliminating regulations that restrict the configuration 
and use of the nets would not affect the size of the gear used. 
Requirements affecting rope size will still be in place. Additionally, 
trawl nets are often limited by the size of the vessel and the ability 
of the vessel to pull the net. None of the revisions implemented 
through this final rule will change any of the vessel size restrictions 
for limited entry permits in the groundfish fishery.
    In regard to overfishing, NMFS agrees that rockfish can be 
susceptible to overfishing because many species do not begin to 
reproduce until they are 5-20 years old, and very few of their young 
survive to adulthood. In addition, many species can live more than 100 
years (e.g, yelloweye rockfish). However, NMFS and the Council are 
obligated under National Standard 1 to ensure that conservation and 
management measures, including those implemented through this final 
rule, prevent overfishing while also providing an opportunity for 
industry to harvest catch. NMFS and the Council have worked diligently 
over the past 15 years to conservatively manage species in order to 
rebuild seven previously overfished rockfish stocks. There are only two 
stocks (i.e., yelloweye rockfish and cowcod) that remain in rebuilding 
plans, and both are projected to rebuild ahead of schedule. The Trawl 
Rationalization Program has proven to be an effective management system 
for groundfish fisheries because it increases individual vessel 
accountability and ensures full catch accounting for all stocks. NMFS 
and the Council will continue to use the management tools available 
through that program to protect rockfish stocks from overfishing while 
also providing economic opportunities for West Coast communities.
    Comment 4: Eliminating the mesh size requirements will result in 
increased unwanted bycatch, discards, and the increased mortality of 
small or young fish. Allowing this will reverse the Trawl 
Rationalization Program's longstanding success.
    Response: The Trawl Rationalization Program has been successful in 
addressing the NMFS and Council's responsibilities under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation Act (MSA) and the National Standards, in 
particular National Standard 1 guideline responsibilities for 
preventing overfishing, and National Standard 8 responsibilities to 
reduce bycatch to the extent practicable. Consistent with requirements 
under MSA, NMFS will continue to support development of actions that 
continue this success. As discussed in additional detail in the 
proposed rule, the continued success of the program relies on the use 
of an individual quota management system, which provides a disincentive 
for vessels to target small fish or reduce the mesh size of the net so 
as to catch more small fish. These undersized fish are not marketable 
and harvesters would have to use their quota pounds to cover the catch. 
One hundred percent at-sea monitoring, either with human observers or 
electronic monitoring, is required by all groundfish trawl vessels and 
ensures against vessels discarding unwanted or unmarketable catch 
without first recording the information. Additionally, reducing mesh 
size increases drag on the net which can reduce the efficiency of the 
fishing practices and also serves as a disincentive.
    The purpose of eliminating the mesh size restrictions is not to 
incentivize the catch of small fish. It is intended to allow vessel 
operators the ability to address concerns about gilled fish (fish stuck 
in the net) and to use different mesh sizes to attach excluders and 
chafing gear, or heard smaller fish through the net and out the codend. 
This will ultimately have a limited positive impact for vessel 
operators. NMFS and the Council will make every effort to continue the 
successful management of the Trawl Rationalization Program.
    Comment 5: Allowing vessels to use multiple types of groundfish 
trawl gear on the same trip will threaten the quality of stock 
assessments.
    Response: There is a potential to impact stock assessments by 
allowing vessels to use multiple types of groundfish trawl gear to be 
fished on the same trip, and allowing vessels to fish in multiple IFQ 
management areas on the same trip and haul. However, NMFS is 
implementing mitigation measures, such as sorting and haul tabulation 
requirements, to ensure that the impacts to stock assessments will be 
low. The Council and its advisory bodies, including the Groundfish 
Management Team, the Groundfish Advisory

[[Page 62274]]

Subpanel, and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), had 
extensive discussion on the potential issues that could arise from 
revising these regulations. The SSC spoke specifically to the risk that 
co-mingling of total catch could result in greater uncertainty in data 
used in stock assessments because gear-specific and area-specific 
catch, as well as effort per trip would be unknown, and species-
specific selectivity varies among gear types. However, the SSC reported 
that the sorting requirements (catch must be separate by gear type) and 
the haul tabulation requirements (number of hauls by area must be 
recorded) could alleviate the potential impacts on data for stock 
assessments. Additionally, recording the number of hauls should allow 
for an accurate assessment of catch location.
    Comment 6: The proposed rule appears to state that the purpose of 
removing the prohibition on the use of chafing gear is to extend the 
life of nets and ultimately reduce operational costs. This purpose is 
distinct from the purpose stated in the summary of the proposed rule, 
namely increasing flexibility while still limiting the catch of target 
and non-target species.
    Response: The intent of the entire package of proposed measures is 
to increase flexibility while still limiting the catch of target and 
non-target species. As stated in the proposed rule, removing the 
restrictions on chafing gear will increase flexibility in how vessel 
operators attach their chafing gear to both protect the net and 
increase fishing efficiency. When implemented in the mid-1990s, the 
original restrictions on chafing gear were introduced to ensure that 
chafing gear was not used to effectively reduce the mesh size of the 
net. When discussing the elimination of the restrictions on net 
configurations, the Council considered the flexibility vessel operators 
would have through elimination of the minimum mesh size requirements, 
and how that flexibility would be limited if restrictions on codends 
and chafing gear were not also revised. In developing these measures on 
net configuration, vessel operators sought the flexibility to configure 
their nets strategically with different mesh sizes and chafing gear 
panels to optimize fishing operations by reducing operational costs 
(i.e., reduction in net replacement costs) and increasing fishing 
efficiency (i.e., herding of smaller fish). As described in the 
proposed rule and elsewhere in this preamble, the provisions of the 
Trawl Rationalization Program will continue to limit catch of target 
and non-target species.
    Comment 7: A full environmental impact statement (EIS) is necessary 
to consider alternative approaches and designs that could serve the 
needs of NMFS while protecting marine life.
    Response: NMFS originally published a notice of intent (NOI) to 
prepare an EIS in the Federal Register on March 3, 2016 (81 FR 11189), 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
analyze the impacts on the human environment resulting from changes to 
gear requirements for groundfish bottom trawl and midwater trawl gear 
in the Trawl Rationalization Program. NMFS accepted public comments on 
the NOI from March 3, 2016, to April 4, 2016.
    Upon completion of the analysis for the action, NMFS determined 
that the impacts associated with implementing the action would not be 
significant and, therefore, there would be no need to complete an EIS. 
Instead, NMFS completed an EA for the proposed action, in compliance 
with NEPA. NMFS withdrew the NOI to prepare an EIS on June 8, 2018 (83 
FR 22640).

VI. Changes From the Proposed Rule

    The proposed rule for this action contained all the measures that 
the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended, including a measure 
that would eliminate the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl 
gear north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and shoreward of the trawl RCA, and 
replace it with a small footrope trawl gear requirement. The proposed 
rule also highlighted NMFS' concerns that the removal of the 
requirement to use selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl 
RCA between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 42[deg] N lat. may be inconsistent 
with the terms and conditions of the 2017 Salmon Biological Opinion.
    After consideration of public comment we preliminarily determined 
that, in order to maintain consistency with the 2017 Salmon Biological 
Opinion, it was only appropriate to remove the selective flatfish trawl 
requirement north of 42[deg] N lat. This final rule would implement a 
revised version of the regulation put forward in the proposed rule, and 
would maintain the selective flatfish trawl requirement between 
40[deg]10' N lat. and 42[deg] N lat. Vessels fishing in the area 
between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 42[deg] N lat. would be required to use 
selective flatfish trawl gear in a two- or four-seam net. North of 
42[deg] N lat., vessels would be allowed to fish with any type of small 
footrope trawl gear, including selective flatfish trawl gear.

VII. Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this action is 
consistent with the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP, other provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this final 
rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    This final rule does not contain policies with Federalism or 
``takings'' implications as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the 
proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received 
regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility 
analysis was not required and none was prepared.
    This action contains a change to an information collection 
requirement, which has been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0648-0573: Expanded Vessel 
Monitoring System Requirement for the Pacific Groundfish Fishery. The 
regulatory change, which was described in section IV of this final 
rule, would allow vessel operators who fish in the Shorebased IFQ 
Program to make a new declaration from sea when a new gear fished on a 
trip. This revision removes the requirement that vessels return to port 
to make a new declaration. The numbers of declaration reports the 
vessel operator is required to submit to NMFS would not change under 
this request. Therefore, no small entity would be subject to additional 
reporting requirements.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, this final rule was developed 
after meaningful collaboration with tribal officials from the area 
covered by the FMP. Consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act at 16 
U.S.C. 1852(b)(5), one of the voting members of the Council is a 
representative of an Indian tribe with federally recognized fishing 
rights from the area of the Council's jurisdiction.
    NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule may become 
effective January 1, 2019. Each of these revisions to groundfish 
regulations in this rule

[[Page 62275]]

would remove restrictions that are no longer necessary due to 
implementation of the Trawl Rationalization Program, create more 
efficient and safe harvesting practices, and allow vessel operators to 
better attain species that are currently under attained without causing 
any additional impacts on the fishery. NMFS was unable to finalize 
these regulations sooner because of the need to include data in the 
analysis for this action from the 2018 trawl gear exempted fishing 
permit which was not available until May 2018.
    Delaying the implementation of these revisions would reduce the 
benefits that they would provide to the industry and could cause 
confusion for vessel operators. For example, trawl vessels average 
between 10 and 20 days spent annually traveling back and forth to port 
to change gear types. Reducing restrictions on how they operate their 
vessels, including carrying multiple types of trawl gear onboard, 
vessel operators may be able to substantially reduce or eliminate the 
number of days spent traveling back and forth to port to change gears, 
resulting in financial savings and increased safety. Delays in 
implementing these revisions would reduce those financial savings and 
require vessels to continue more dangerous fishing practices. The 
revisions to regulations described in the preamble of this document 
affect commercial fisheries in Washington, Oregon and California. These 
revisions have been requested by members of industry, and were 
recommended to NMFS by the Council. No aspect of this action is 
controversial.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.

    Dated: November 28, 2018.
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 660 is amended 
as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  660.11, amend the definition of ``Fishing gear'' by 
revising paragraphs (7) and (11)(iii)(B) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.11  General definitions.

* * * * *
    Fishing gear * * *
* * * * *
    (7) Mesh size means the opening between opposing knots, or opposing 
corners for knotless webbing. Minimum mesh size means the smallest 
distance allowed between the inside of one knot or corner to the inside 
of the opposing knot or corner, regardless of twine size.
* * * * *
    (11) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (B) Chafing gear means webbing or other material that is attached 
to the trawl net to protect the net from wear and abrasions either when 
fishing or hauling on deck.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  660.13, revise paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.13  Recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (d) Declaration reporting requirements--When the operator of a 
vessel registers a VMS unit with NMFS OLE, the vessel operator must 
provide NMFS with a declaration report as specified at paragraph 
(d)(4)(iv) of this section. The operator of any vessel that has already 
registered a VMS unit with NMFS OLE but has not yet made a declaration, 
as specified at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, must provide NMFS 
with a declaration report upon request from NMFS OLE.
    (1) Declaration reports for vessels registered to limited entry 
permits. The operator of any vessel registered to a limited entry 
permit must provide NMFS OLE with a declaration report, as specified at 
paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before the vessel leaves port on 
a trip in which the vessel is used to fish in U.S. ocean waters between 
0 and 200 nm offshore of Washington, Oregon, or California.
    (i) Limited entry trawl vessels fishing in the Shorebased IFQ 
Program must provide NMFS OLE with a new declaration report each time a 
different groundfish trawl gear (bottom or midwater only) is fished. 
The declaration may be made from sea and must be made to NMFS before a 
different type (bottom or midwater only) of groundfish trawl gear is 
fished.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (2) Declaration reports for all vessels using non-groundfish trawl 
gear. The operator of any vessel that is not registered to a limited 
entry permit and which uses non-groundfish trawl gear to fish in the 
EEZ (3-200 nm offshore), must provide NMFS OLE with a declaration 
report, as specified at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before 
the vessel leaves port to fish in the EEZ.
    (3) Declaration reports for open access vessels using non trawl 
gear (all types of open access gear other than non-groundfish trawl 
gear). The operator of any vessel that is not registered to a limited 
entry permit, must provide NMFS with a declaration report, as specified 
at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before the vessel leaves port 
on a trip in which the vessel is used to take and retain or possess 
groundfish in the EEZ or land groundfish taken in the EEZ.
    (4) Declaration reports. (i) The operator of a vessel specified in 
paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(3) of this section must provide a 
declaration report to NMFS OLE prior to leaving port on the first trip 
in which the vessel meets the requirement specified at Sec.  660.14(b) 
to have a VMS.
    (ii) A declaration report will be valid until another declaration 
report revising the existing gear or fishery declaration is received by 
NMFS OLE. The vessel operator must send a new declaration report when:
    (A) A gear type that is different from the gear type most recently 
declared for the vessel will be used, or
    (B) A vessel will fish in a fishery other than the fishery most 
recently declared.
    (iii) During the period of time that a vessel has a valid 
declaration report on file with NMFS OLE, it cannot fish with a gear 
other than a gear type declared by the vessel or fish in a fishery 
other than the fishery most recently declared.
    (iv) Declaration reports will include: The vessel name and/or 
identification number, the gear type, and the fishery (as defined in 
paragraph (d)(4)(iv)(A) of this section).
    (A) One of the following gear types or sectors must be declared:
    (1) Limited entry fixed gear, not including Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (2) Limited entry groundfish non-trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (3) Limited entry midwater trawl, non-whiting Shorebased IFQ 
Program,
    (4) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting Shorebased IFQ 
Program,
    (5) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting catcher/processor 
sector,
    (6) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting mothership sector 
(catcher vessel or mothership),
    (7) Limited entry bottom trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program, not 
including demersal trawl,
    (8) Limited entry demersal trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (B) [Reserved]
    (v) Upon receipt of a declaration report, NMFS will provide a 
confirmation code or receipt to confirm that a valid declaration report 
was

[[Page 62276]]

received for the vessel. Vessel owners or operators are responsible for 
retaining the confirmation code or receipt to verify that a valid 
declaration report was filed.

0
4. In Sec.  660.25, revise paragraph (b)(4)(vii)(C) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.25  Permits.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vii) * * *
    (C) Limited entry MS permits and limited entry permits with an MS/
CV or a C/P endorsement. Limited entry MS permits and limited entry 
permits with an MS/CV or a C/P endorsement may be registered to another 
vessel up to two times during the calendar year as long as the second 
change in vessel registration is back to the original vessel. The 
original vessel is either the vessel registered to the permit as of 
January 1, or if no vessel is registered to the permit as of January 1, 
the original vessel is the first vessel to which the permit is 
registered after January 1. After the original vessel has been 
established, the first change in vessel registration would be to 
another vessel, but any second change in vessel registration must be 
back to the original vessel. For an MS/CV-endorsed permit on the second 
change in vessel registration back to the original vessel, that vessel 
must be used to fish exclusively in the MS Coop Program described Sec.  
660.150 for the remainder of the calendar year, and declare in to the 
limited entry mid water trawl, Pacific whiting mothership sector as 
specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv).
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  660.60, revise paragraphs (h)(7) introductory text, 
(h)(7)(i) introductory text, (h)(7)(ii)(A), (h)(7)(ii)(B)(1) 
introductory text, and (h)(7)(ii)(B)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.60  Specifications and management measures.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (7) Crossover provisions. Crossover provisions apply to three 
activities: Fishing on different sides of a management line, fishing in 
both the limited entry and open access fisheries, or fishing in both 
the Shorebased IFQ Program and the limited entry fixed gear fishery. 
Fishery-specific crossover provisions can be found in subparts D 
through F of this part.
    (i) Fishing in management areas with different trip limits. Trip 
limits for a species or a species group may differ in different 
management areas along the coast. The following crossover provisions 
apply to vessels fishing in different geographical areas that have 
different cumulative or ``per trip'' trip limits for the same species 
or species group, with the following exceptions. Such crossover 
provisions do not apply to: IFQ species (defined at Sec.  660.140(c), 
subpart D) for vessels that are declared into the Shorebased IFQ 
Program (see Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), for valid Shorebased IFQ 
Program declarations); species that are subject only to daily trip 
limits; or to trip limits for black rockfish off Washington, as 
described at Sec. Sec.  660.230(e) and 660.330(e).
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Fishing in limited entry and open access fisheries with 
different trip limits. Open access trip limits apply to any fishing 
conducted with open access gear, even if the vessel has a valid limited 
entry permit with an endorsement for another type of gear. Except such 
provisions do not apply to IFQ species (defined at Sec.  660.140(c), 
subpart D) for vessels that are declared into the Shorebased IFQ 
Program (see Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A) for valid Shorebased IFQ Program 
declarations). A vessel that fishes in both the open access and limited 
entry fisheries is not entitled to two separate trip limits for the 
same species. If a vessel has a limited entry permit registered to it 
at any time during the trip limit period and uses open access gear, but 
the open access limit is smaller than the limited entry limit, the open 
access limit may not be exceeded and counts toward the limited entry 
limit. If a vessel has a limited entry permit registered to it at any 
time during the trip limit period and uses open access gear, but the 
open access limit is larger than the limited entry limit, the smaller 
limited entry limit applies, even if taken entirely with open access 
gear.
    (B) * * *
    (1) Vessel registered to a limited entry trawl permit. To fish with 
open access gear, defined at Sec.  660.11, a vessel registered to a 
limited entry trawl permit must make the appropriate fishery 
declaration, as specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A). In addition, a 
vessel registered to a limited entry trawl permit must remove the 
permit from their vessel, as specified at Sec.  660.25(b)(4)(vi), 
unless the vessel will be fishing in the open access fishery under one 
of the following declarations specified at Sec.  660.13(d):
* * * * *
    (2) Vessel registered to a limited entry fixed gear permit(s). To 
fish with open access gear, defined at Sec.  660.11, subpart C, a 
vessel registered to a limit entry fixed gear permit must make the 
appropriate open access declaration, as specified at Sec.  
660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A). Vessels registered to a sablefish-endorsed 
permit(s) fishing in the sablefish primary season (described at Sec.  
660.231, subpart E) may only fish with the gear(s) endorsed on their 
sablefish-endorsed permit(s) against those limits.
* * * * *

0
6. In Sec.  660.112, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(vii), (b)(1)(xi), 
(b)(1)(xii)(A), (c)(4), and (e)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.112  Trawl fishery--prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vii) For vessels fishing with multiple trawl gear types on a 
single trip, fail to keep catch from different trawl gears separate and 
land the catch separately by gear type.
* * * * *
    (xi) Mix catch from different hauls before all sampling and 
monitoring requirements for the hauls have been met.
    (xii) * * *
    (A) A vessel that is 75-ft (23-m) or less LOA that harvests Pacific 
whiting and, in addition to heading and gutting, cuts the tail off and 
freezes the whiting, is not considered to be a C/P vessel nor is it 
considered to be processing fish, and
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) Catch, take, or harvest fish in the MS Coop Program with a 
vessel that does not have a valid VMS declaration for limited entry 
midwater trawl, Pacific whiting mothership sector, as specified at 
Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), subpart C.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (4) Fish in the C/P Coop Program with a vessel that does not have a 
valid VMS declaration for limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting 
catcher/processor sector, as specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A).
* * * * *

0
7. In Sec.  660.113, revise paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.113  Trawl fishery-recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Gear switching declaration. Any person with a limited entry 
trawl permit participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program using 
groundfish non-trawl gear (i.e., gear switching) must submit a valid 
gear declaration reporting such participation as specified in Sec.  
660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A).
* * * * *

[[Page 62277]]


0
8. In Sec.  660.130:
0
a. Remove paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3)(iii);
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) as (b)(1) and (b)(2), 
respectively;
0
c. Revise the newly redesignated paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A) and (b)(2);
0
d. Revise paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3)(ii), (c)(4)(i)(A), 
(c)(4)(i)(B), (c)(4)(i)(D) and (E), (c)(4)(ii)(A) and (B), (d)(2)(ii), 
(e) introductory text, (e)(4)(ii), and (e)(4)(iv).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  660.130  Trawl fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Selective flatfish trawl gear. Selective flatfish trawl gear is 
a type of small footrope trawl gear. The selective flatfish trawl net 
must be either a two-seamed or four-seamed net with no more than four 
riblines, excluding the codend. The breastline may not be longer than 3 
ft (0.92 m) in length. There may be no floats along the center third of 
the headrope or attached to the top panel except on the riblines. The 
footrope must be less than 105 ft (32.26 m) in length. The headrope 
must be not less than 30 percent longer than the footrope. The headrope 
shall be measured along the length of the headrope from the outside 
edge to the opposite outside edge. An explanatory diagram of a 
selective flatfish trawl net is provided as Figure 1 of part 660, 
subpart D.
* * * * *
    (2) Midwater (pelagic or off-bottom) trawl gear. Midwater trawl 
gear must have unprotected footropes at the trawl mouth, and must not 
have rollers, bobbins, tires, wheels, rubber discs, or any similar 
device anywhere on any part of the net. The footrope of midwater gear 
may not be enlarged by encircling it with chains or by any other means. 
Ropes or lines running parallel to the footrope of midwater trawl gear 
must be bare and may not be suspended with chains or any other 
materials. Sweep lines, including the bottom leg of the bridle, must be 
bare. For at least 20 ft (6.15 m) immediately behind the footrope or 
headrope, bare ropes or mesh of 16-inch (40.6-cm) minimum mesh size 
must completely encircle the net.
    (c) * * *
    (1) Fishing with large footrope trawl gear. It is unlawful for any 
vessel using large footrope gear to fish for groundfish shoreward of 
the RCAs defined at paragraph (e)(4) of this section and at Sec. Sec.  
660.70 through 660.74, subpart C. The use of large footrope gear is 
allowed seaward of the RCAs coastwide.
    (2) Fishing with small footrope trawl gear. The use of small 
footrope bottom trawl gear is allowed in all areas where bottom 
trawling is allowed with the following requirements:
    (i) Fishing with selective flatfish trawl gear. The use of 
selective flatfish trawl gear, a type of small footrope trawl gear, is 
allowed in all areas where bottom trawling is allowed and is required 
shoreward of the trawl RCA between 42[deg] North latitude and 
40[deg]10' North latitude.
    (ii) The use of small footrope trawl, other than selective flatfish 
trawl gear, is prohibited between 42[deg] North latitude and 40[deg]10' 
North latitude.
    (iii) The use small footrope trawl, other than of selective 
flatfish trawl gear, is required inside the Klamath River Salmon 
Conservation Zone (defined at Sec.  660.131(c)(1)) and the Columbia 
River Salmon Conservation Zone (defined at Sec.  660.131(c)(2)).
    (3) * * *
    (ii) South of 40[deg]10' N lat., midwater groundfish trawl gear is 
prohibited within and shoreward of the RCA boundaries (see Sec.  
660.130(e)(4)(i)) and allowed seaward of the RCA boundaries.
    (4) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) A vessel may not have both groundfish trawl gear and non-
groundfish trawl gear onboard simultaneously. A vessel may not have 
both selective flatfish trawl gear and any other type of small footrope 
trawl gear onboard simultaneously.
    (B) If a vessel fishes exclusively with large or small footrope 
trawl gear during an entire cumulative limit period, the vessel is 
subject to the cumulative limits for that gear.
* * * * *
    (D) If more than one type of groundfish bottom trawl gear 
(selective flatfish, large footrope, or small footrope) is on board, 
either simultaneously or successively, at any time during a cumulative 
limit period, then the most restrictive cumulative limit associated 
with the groundfish bottom trawl gear on board during that cumulative 
limit period applies for the entire cumulative limit period.
    (E) If a vessel fishes both north and south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 
with any type of small or large footrope gear onboard the vessel at any 
time during the cumulative limit period, the most restrictive trip 
limit associated with the gear on board applies for that trip and will 
count toward the cumulative limit for that gear (See crossover 
provisions at Sec.  660.60(h)(7)).
    (ii) * * *
    (A) A vessel may not have both groundfish trawl gear and non-
groundfish trawl gear onboard simultaneously.
    (B) If a vessel fishes both north and south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 
with any type of small or large footrope gear onboard the vessel at any 
time during the cumulative limit period, the most restrictive 
cumulative limit associated with the gear on board would apply for that 
trip and all catch would be counted toward that cumulative limit (See 
crossover provisions at Sec.  660.60(h)(7)).
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Catcher vessels. All catch must be sorted by the gear types 
declared in accordance with Sec.  660.13(d), and to the species groups 
specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section for vessels with limited 
entry permits, except those vessels retaining all catch during a 
Shorebased IFQ trip (i.e., maximized retention trips). The catch must 
not be discarded from the vessel and the vessel must not mix catch from 
hauls until the observer has sampled the catch. Catch separated by 
trawl gear type must be landed separately by trawl gear type. 
Prohibited species must be sorted according to the following species 
groups: Dungeness crab, Pacific halibut, Chinook salmon, other salmon. 
Non-groundfish species must be sorted as required by the state of 
landing.
* * * * *
    (e) Groundfish conservation areas (GCAs) applicable to trawl 
vessels. A GCA, a type of closed area, is a geographic area defined by 
coordinates expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. The 
latitude and longitude coordinates of the GCA boundaries are specified 
at Sec. Sec.  660.70 through 660.74. If a vessel is fishing within a 
GCA listed in this paragraph (e) using trawl gear authorized for use 
within a GCA, all prohibited gear: must be stowed below deck; or, if 
the gear cannot readily be moved, must be stowed in a secured and 
covered manner detached from all towing lines so that it is rendered 
unusable for fishing; or, if remaining on deck uncovered, must be 
stowed disconnected from the trawl doors with the trawl doors hung from 
their stanchions. The following GCAs apply to vessels participating in 
the limited entry trawl fishery. Additional closed areas that 
specifically apply to vessels using midwater groundfish trawl gear are 
described at Sec.  660.131(c).
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) Trawl vessels may transit through an applicable GCA, with or 
without

[[Page 62278]]

groundfish on board, provided all prohibited groundfish trawl gear: is 
stowed below deck; or, if the gear cannot readily be moved, is stowed 
in a secured and covered manner detached from all towing lines so that 
it is rendered unusable for fishing; or, if remaining on deck 
uncovered, is stowed disconnected from the trawl doors with the trawl 
doors hung from their stanchions. These restrictions do not apply to 
vessels allowed to fish within the trawl RCA under paragraph (e)(4)(i) 
of this section.
* * * * *
    (iv) If a vessel fishes in the trawl RCA using midwater trawl gear, 
it may also fish outside the trawl RCA with groundfish bottom trawl 
gear on the same trip. Nothing in these Federal regulations supersedes 
any state regulations that may prohibit trawling shoreward of the 
fishery management area (3-200 nm).
* * * * *

0
9. In Sec.  660.140, remove paragraphs (c)(1) and (h)(2)(viii)(I), and 
redesignate paragraph (c)(2) as (c)(1), revise newly redesignated 
paragraph (c)(1), and reserve paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.140  Shorebased IFQ Program.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) IFQ management areas. IFQ management areas are as follows:
    (i) Between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N lat.,
    (ii) Between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 36[deg] N lat.,
    (iii) Between 36[deg] N lat. and 34[deg]27' N lat., and
    (iv) Between 34[deg]27' N lat. and the U.S./Mexico border.
    (2) [Reserved]
* * * * *

0
10. Table 1 (North) and Table 1 (South) to part 660, subpart D are 
revised to read as follows:

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

[[Page 62279]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR03DE18.002


[[Page 62280]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR03DE18.003


0
11. In Sec.  660.333, revise paragraphs (b)(1), and (d)(1) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  660.333  Open access non-groundfish trawl fishery--management 
measures

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for ridgeback 
prawn'' under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(10), regardless of whether it 
is registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit; and
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for California 
halibut'' under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(11), regardless of whether it 
is registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit;
* * * * *
    (d) * * *

[[Page 62281]]

    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for sea cucumber'' 
under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(12), regardless of whether it is 
registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit;
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-26194 Filed 11-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-C