[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17926-17929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08441]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151211999-6343-02]
RIN 0648-XG900


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Common Pool Measures for Fishing Year 2019

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; possession and trip limit implementation.

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SUMMARY: This action implements measures for Northeast multispecies 
common pool vessels for the 2019 fishing year. This action is necessary 
to ensure that the Northeast multispecies common pool fishery may 
achieve the optimum yield (OY) for the relevant stocks, while 
controlling catch to help prevent inseason closures or quota overages. 
These measures include possession and trip limits and the allocation of 
zero trips into the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special 
Access Program for common pool vessels to target yellowtail flounder.

DATES: Effective at 0001 hours on May 1, 2019, through April 30, 2020.

[[Page 17927]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) regulations give the Regional Administrator the 
authority to implement certain types of management measures for the 
common pool fishery, the U.S. Canada Management Area, and Special 
Management Programs. This action implements a number of these 
management measures for the 2019 fishing year, effective May 1, 2019.

Common Pool Trip Limits

    The possession and trip limits for the 2019 fishing year are 
included in Tables 1 and 2 below. These possession and trip limits were 
developed based on the common pool sub-Annual Catch Limits (sub-ACLs) 
set by Framework Adjustment 57 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP that 
will be in effect on May 1, 2019. We also considered preliminary 2019 
sector rosters, expected common pool participation, and common pool 
fishing activity in previous fishing years. Based on that information, 
we project that these adjustments will facilitate optimized harvest of 
the common pool quotas, while preventing early trimester closures, and 
preventing catch from exceeding the 2019 fishing year sub-ACLs.
    The 2019 possession and trip limits are the same as the current 
2018 limits, with the exception of Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock and GOM 
cod. The limits for GOM haddock are reduced relative to the current 
2018 limits to prevent early stock area closures in Trimester 1, as 
occurred in 2018. The GOM cod limits are also reduced relative to 
current common pool possession and trip limits. On March 13, 2019, we 
published an inseason action to increase the GOM cod possession and 
trip limits for the common pool fishery to 100 lb (45 kg) per day-at-
sea (DAS), up to 200 lb (91 kg) per trip, through April 30, 2019 (84 FR 
8998). We increased the possession limit because we projected that the 
common pool fishery would not fully harvest its sub-ACL for GOM cod by 
the end of the 2018 fishing year. The limits for GOM cod are reduced 
relative to the current 2018 limits for the stock because they are 
based on our projection for the entire 2019 fishing year.
    For Handgear A and Handgear B vessels, possession and trip limits 
for Georges Bank (GB) and GOM cod are tied to the possession and trip 
limits for groundfish days-at-sea DAS vessels. The default cod trip 
limit is 300 lb (136 kg) for Handgear A vessels and 75 lb (34 kg) for 
Handgear B vessels. If the GOM or GB cod limit for vessels fishing on a 
groundfish DAS drops below 300 lb (136 kg), then the respective 
Handgear A cod trip limit must be reduced to the same limit. Similarly, 
the Handgear B trip limit must be adjusted proportionally to the DAS 
limit (rounded up to the nearest 25 lb (11 kg)).
    This action sets a GOM cod possession limit of 50 lb (23 kg) per 
DAS for vessels fishing on a groundfish DAS, which is 94 percent lower 
than the 800-lb (363-kg) per DAS limit specified in the regulations for 
these vessels. As a result, the Handgear A trip limit for GOM cod is 
set at 50 lb (23 kg) per trip. The Handgear B trip limit for GOM cod is 
reduced proportionally (94-percent reduction) and rounded up to 25 lb 
(11 kg) per trip.
    Additionally, this action sets a GB cod possession limit of 250 lb 
(113 kg) per DAS for vessels fishing on a groundfish DAS which is 87.5 
percent lower than the 2,000-lb (907-kg) per DAS limit specified in the 
regulations for these vessels. As a result, the Handgear A trip limit 
for GB cod would be set at 250 lb (113 kg) per trip, and the Handgear B 
trip limit for GB cod would be reduced proportionally (87.5-percent 
reduction) and rounded up to a 25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
    Vessels with a Small Vessel category permit can possess up to 300 
lb (136 kg) of cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder, combined, per 
trip. Additionally, for these vessels, the trip limit for all stocks is 
equal to the landing limits per DAS applicable to multispecies DAS 
vessels. This is necessary to ensure that the trip limit applicable to 
the Small Vessel category permit is consistent with reductions to the 
trip limits for other common pool vessels, as described above.
    Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery can be 
found on our website at: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue to monitor common pool 
catch through vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, vessel 
monitoring system catch reports, and other available information and, 
if necessary, we will make additional adjustments to common pool 
management measures.

    Table 1--2019 Fishing Year Common Pool Possession and Trip Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Stock                           2019 trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod (outside Eastern U.S./Canada      250 lb (113 kg) per DAS, up to
 Area).                                   500 lb (227 kg) per trip.
GB Cod (inside Eastern U.S./Canada
 Area).
GB Cod [Closed Area II Yellowtail        500 lb (227 kg) per trip.
 Flounder/Haddock SAP (for targeting
 haddock)].
GOM Cod................................  50 lb (23 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
GB Haddock.............................  100,000 lb (45, 359 kg) per
                                          trip.
GOM Haddock............................  500 lb (227 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip.
GB Yellowtail Flounder.................  100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.............  100 lb (45 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          200 lb (91 kg) per trip.
Cape Cod (CC)/GOM Yellowtail Flounder..  750 lb (340 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
American Plaice........................  750 lb (340 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
Witch Flounder.........................  600 lb (272 kg) per trip.
GB Winter Flounder.....................  250 lb (113 kg) per trip.
GOM Winter Flounder....................  2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip.
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.................  2,000 lb (907 kg) per DAS, up
                                          to 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) per
                                          trip.
Redfish................................  Unlimited.
White Hake.............................  1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
Pollock................................  Unlimited.
Atlantic Halibut.......................  1 fish per trip.
Windowpane Flounder....................  Possession Prohibited.
Ocean Pout.............................
Atlantic Wolffish......................
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[[Page 17928]]


 Table 2--2019 Fishing Year Cod Trip Limits for Handgear A, Handgear B,
                    and Small Vessel Category Permits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Permit                       Initial 2019 trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Handgear A GOM Cod................  50 lb (23 kg) per trip.
Handgear A GB Cod.................  250 lb (113 kg) per trip.
Handgear B GOM Cod................  25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
Handgear B GB Cod.................  25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
Small Vessel Category.............  300 lb (136 kg) of cod, haddock, and
                                     yellowtail flounder combined;
                                     additionally, vessels are limited
                                     to the common pool DAS limit for
                                     all stocks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As a reminder, Table 3 includes the initial common pool trimester 
Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for fishing year 2019. These trimester 
TACS are based on preliminary sector rosters. However, individual 
permit holders have until the end of the 2018 fishing year (April 30, 
2019) to drop out of a sector and fish in the common pool fishery for 
the 2019 fishing year. Therefore, it is possible that the sector and 
common pool catch limits, including the trimester TACs, may change due 
to changes in sector rosters. If changes to sector rosters occur, 
updated catch limits and/or possession and trip limits will be 
announced as soon as possible in the 2019 fishing year to reflect the 
final sector rosters as of May 1, 2019. On April 19, 2019, we also 
published a proposed rule to request comment on Framework Adjustment 58 
measures (84 FR 16441). If approved, that rule could make additional 
changes to common pool sub-ACLs, as well as common pool possession and 
trip limits.

         Table 3--Common Pool Trimester Total Allowable Catches for Fishing Year 2019 (mt, live weight)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Trimester total allowable catches (mt)
                              Stock                              -----------------------------------------------
                                                                    Trimester 1     Trimester 2     Trimester 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod..........................................................            11.1            13.5            15.1
GOM Cod.........................................................             5.8             3.9             2.1
GB Haddock......................................................            86.1           105.2           127.5
GOM Haddock.....................................................            25.1            24.1            43.6
GB Yellowtail Flounder..........................................             0.7             1.1             1.8
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder......................................             1.3             1.7             3.2
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder......................................             9.7             4.4             2.9
American Plaice.................................................            19.2             2.1             4.7
Witch Flounder..................................................            10.1             3.7             4.6
GB Winter Flounder..............................................             0.5             1.4             4.1
GOM Winter Flounder.............................................             6.5             6.7             4.4
Redfish.........................................................            12.8            15.9            22.5
White Hake......................................................             7.8             6.4             6.4
Pollock.........................................................            64.4            80.5            85.1
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Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program

    The regulations at Sec.  648.85(b)(3)(vii) provide the Regional 
Administrator with authority to determine the total number of trips 
that may be declared into the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/
Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) to target yellowtail flounder. 
This action allocates zero trips for common pool vessels to target 
yellowtail flounder within the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/
Haddock SAP for fishing year 2019. As a result, this SAP is only open 
to target haddock, from August 1, 2019, through January 31, 2020. 
Northeast multispecies vessels fishing in the SAP must fish with a 
haddock separator trawl, a Ruhle trawl, or hook gear. Vessels may not 
fish in this SAP using flounder trawl nets.
    The Regional Administrator (RA) has the authority to determine the 
allocation of the total number of trips into the Closed Area II 
Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock SAP based on several criteria, including 
the GB yellowtail flounder catch limit and the amount of GB yellowtail 
flounder caught outside of the SAP. Allocating trips to target 
yellowtail flounder in the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock 
SAP is discretionary if the available GB yellowtail flounder catch is 
insufficient to support at least 150 trips with a 15,000-lb (6,804-kg) 
trip limit, for a total catch of 2,250,000 lb (1,020,600 kg). This 
calculation considers projected catch from the area outside the SAP. 
Based on the fishing year 2019 GB yellowtail flounder groundfish sub-
ACL implemented by Framework Adjustment 57 of 526,905 lb (239,000 kg), 
there is insufficient GB yellowtail flounder to allocate any trips to 
the SAP. Further, given the low GB yellowtail flounder catch limit, 
catch rates outside of this SAP are more than adequate to fully harvest 
the 2019 GB yellowtail flounder allocation.
    On April 19, 2019, we published a proposed rule to request comment 
on Framework 58 measures. The New England Fishery Management Council's 
recommended 2019 GB yellowtail flounder sub-ACL is a 105 mt reduction 
from the 2019 sub-ACL implemented by Framework 57, which was used in 
the calculation for the determination not to allocate any trips to the 
SAP. As a result, we do not expect the final rule implementing 
Framework 58 would allocate trips to the SAP to target yellowtail 
flounder.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior 
notice and the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed 
effectiveness

[[Page 17929]]

period because it would be contrary to the public interest.
    The regulations at Sec.  648.86(o) authorize the RA to adjust the 
Northeast multispecies possession and trip limits for common pool 
vessels in order to prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the 
pertinent common pool quotas. This action sets the common pool 
possession and trip limits on May 1, 2019, for the 2019 fishing year. 
The possession and trip limits implemented through this action help to 
ensure that the Northeast multispecies common pool fishery may achieve 
the optimum yield for the relevant stocks, while controlling catch to 
help prevent inseason closures or quota overages. Delay of this action 
would leave the common pool fishery with the possession and trip limits 
found in Sec.  648.86, which are too high to control catch. This would 
likely lead to early closure of a trimester and quota overages. Any 
overage of the quota for either of the first two trimesters must be 
deducted from the Trimester 3 quota, which could substantially disrupt 
the trimester structure and intent to distribute the fishery across the 
entire fishing year. An overage reduction in Trimester 3 would further 
reduce fishing opportunities for common pool vessels and likely result 
in early closure of Trimester 3. Additionally, any overage of the 
annual quota would be deducted from common pool's quota for the next 
fishing year, to the detriment of this stock.
    The regulations at Sec.  648.85(b)(3)(vii) require that the 
Regional Administrator announce the total number of allowed trips by 
common pool vessels that may be declared into the Closed Area II 
Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock SAP on or about June 1. On April 19, 2019, 
we published the proposed rule for Framework 58 to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP, and the final rule for that action may not be 
implemented by June 1. As such, we have included the announcement in 
this inseason action to meet this regulatory requirement. Doing so also 
ensures that the fishing industry has sufficient notice in order to 
plan their activities in the new fishing year.
    For the reasons above, delay of this action for prior notice and 
the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness 
period would undermine management objectives of the FMP and cause 
unnecessary negative economic impacts to the common pool fishery.

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

    Dated: April 23, 2019.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-08441 Filed 4-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P