[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33205-33217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14568]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 190214111-9513-01]
RIN 0648-BI51


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is proposing to adjust regulatory measures put in place 
to manage bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery for 
Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), specifically addressing the 
Northeastern United States Closed Area, the Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area, and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area as 
well as the weak hook requirement in the Gulf of Mexico. Several of the 
proposed measures would have an evaluation period component to 
determine whether the current area-based management measure remains 
necessary to reduce and/or maintain low numbers of bluefin tuna 
discards and interactions in the pelagic longline fishery. Other 
proposed measures would eliminate the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted 
Area and would adjust the requirement to use weak hooks from a year-
round requirement to a seasonal (January-June) requirement. The 
proposed measures would affect the HMS pelagic longline fishery in the 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 30, 2019. NMFS 
will hold four public hearings and two operator-assisted public 
hearings via conference call and webinar for this proposed rule from 
July 2019 to August 2019. For specific dates and times see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035, click the 
``Comment Now'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Craig Cockrell, NMFS/SF1, 
1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Please include the identifier NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035 
when submitting comments. Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the close of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    NMFS will hold four public hearings and two operator-assisted 
public hearings via conference call and webinar on this proposed rule 
and the associated draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which 
was published on May 17, 2019 (84 FR 22492). NMFS will hold public 
hearings in; Gloucester, MA; Houma, LA; Toms River, NJ; and Manteo, NC. 
For specific locations, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document.
    Supporting documents--including the DEIS, Regulatory Impact Review 
(RIR), Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and the 2006 
Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and amendments 
are available from the HMS Division website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species or by 
contacting Craig Cockrell at (301) 427-8503 or Jennifer Cudney at (727) 
824-5399.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Cockrell at (301) 427-8503, or 
Jennifer Cudney or Randy Blankinship at (727) 824-5399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) are managed under the dual 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), as amended, and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (ATCA). The Magnuson-Stevens Act, at 16 U.S.C. 1802(21), 
defines the term ``highly migratory species'' as ``tuna species, marlin 
(Tetrapturus spp. and Makaira spp.), oceanic sharks, sailfishes 
(Istiophorus spp.), and swordfish (Xiphias gladius).'' The 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments are implemented by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 635. A summary of the background of this proposed rule 
is provided below. Additional information regarding bluefin tuna or 
pelagic longline fishery management can be found in the DEIS associated 
with this rulemaking, the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, 
the annual HMS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports, 
and online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species.
    A 1998 Recommendation by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to establish a Rebuilding 
Program for Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Rec. 98-07) required that 
all Contracting Parties, including the United States, minimize dead 
discards of bluefin tuna to the extent practicable and set a country-
specific dead discard allowance. Given the status of bluefin tuna and 
recommendations from ICCAT at that time, NMFS investigated a range of 
different time/area options for locations

[[Page 33206]]

with high bluefin tuna bycatch through the rulemaking process for the 
1999 HMS FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Sharks, and Swordfish (64 FR 29090, 
May 28, 1999). In the final rule for that FMP, NMFS implemented the 
Northeastern United States Closed Area based, in part, on a 
redistribution analysis (disbursement analysis in the Final EIS) that 
showed that a closure during the month of June could reduce bluefin 
tuna discards by 55 percent in this area, without any substantial 
changes to target catch or other bycatch levels. This area, located off 
the coast of New Jersey, is now closed from June 1 through June 30 each 
year. Considerable effort has been occurring on the outer seaward edges 
of the closed area for the past 20 years.
    From 2007-2010, NMFS conducted research on the use of weak hooks by 
pelagic longline vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico to reduce 
bycatch of spawning bluefin tuna. A weak hook is a circle hook that 
meets NMFS' hook size and offset restrictions for the pelagic longline 
fishery but also is constructed of round wire stock that is a thinner 
gauge than the circle hooks otherwise used in the pelagic longline 
fishery and is no larger than 3.65 mm in diameter. Weak hooks 
straighten to release large fish, such as bluefin tuna, when they are 
caught, while retaining smaller fish, such as swordfish and other 
tunas. Research results showed that the use of weak hooks can 
significantly reduce the amount of bluefin tuna caught by pelagic 
longline vessels. Some reductions in the amount of target catch of 
yellowfin tuna and swordfish were noted but were not statistically 
significant. In 2011, a large year class (2003) of bluefin tuna was 
approaching maturity and was expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico to 
spawn for the first time. Consistent with the advice of the ICCAT 
Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) that ICCAT may 
wish to protect the strong 2003 year class until it reaches maturity 
and can contribute to spawning, and for other stated objectives, NMFS, 
in a final rule on Bluefin Tuna Bycatch Reduction in the Gulf of Mexico 
Pelagic Longline Fishery, implemented mandatory use of weak hooks on a 
year-round basis to reduce bycatch of bluefin tuna (76 FR 18653; April 
5, 2011). Weak hooks have since been required for vessels fishing in 
the Gulf of Mexico, that have pelagic longline gear on board, and that 
have been issued, or are required to have been issued, a swordfish, 
shark, or Atlantic Tunas Longline category limited access permit (LAP) 
for use in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf 
of Mexico.
    In 2015, Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMP FMP (79 FR 71510; 
December 2, 2014) implemented pelagic longline gear restrictions in 
areas that were identified as locations of high bluefin tuna 
concentrations and interactions with pelagic longline gear. The Spring 
Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area was designated in two geographic 
areas in the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico and are closed to 
pelagic longline gear from April 1 through May 31 annually. The timing 
of this gear restricted area was intended to coincide with the peak of 
the spawning season for bluefin in the Gulf of Mexico. The time and 
location were also selected to provide a reduction in bluefin 
interactions based on past patterns of interactions with the pelagic 
longline fishery. Also in Amendment 7, the Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area was established off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North 
Carolina, and is in place from December 1 through April 30 annually. 
While the area encompassed by the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area 
had a high level of bluefin interactions, the majority of those 
interactions were by only a few pelagic longline vessels. Due to this 
dynamic, NMFS implemented performance measures to grant ``qualified'' 
fishery participants access to the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area. 
Access is granted based on an annual assessment of pelagic longline 
vessels using performance-based metrics. Pelagic longline vessels are 
evaluated on their ratio of bluefin tuna interactions to designated 
species landings (swordfish; yellowfin tuna; bigeye, albacore, and 
skipjack tunas; shortfin mako, thresher, and porbeagle sharks; dolphin, 
and wahoo), compliance with the Pelagic Observer Program, and timely 
submission of logbooks. For the 2018-2019 effective period of the Cape 
Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, 83 out of 97 vessels evaluated were 
granted access to the area based on these metrics. The Spring Gulf of 
Mexico Gear Restricted Area (comprised of two areas) is closed to all 
vessels with pelagic longline gear, instead of being implemented with 
performance-based access, because the distribution of interactions was 
more widespread across both the areas and fishery participants.
    Amendment 7 also shifted the focus of managing bluefin tuna bycatch 
in the HMS pelagic longline fishery from fleet-wide management measures 
to individual vessel accountability through the implementation of a 
bluefin tuna catch share program (i.e., the Individual Bluefin Quota, 
or IBQ Program). A recent Draft Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program 
drew preliminary conclusions that the Program has successfully reduced 
bluefin tuna interactions and dead discards in the pelagic longline 
fishery, improved timely catch reporting across the fleet, and 
addressed previous problems with Longline category quota overages, and 
that a healthy, functioning IBQ allocation leasing market exists to 
support the Program. The Draft Three-Year Review also found, however, 
that effort--as defined by the number of vessels, trips, sets, and 
hooks within the pelagic longline fishery--has continued to decrease.
    While the IBQ Program has helped effectively manage the Longline 
category quota and avoid quota exceedances (which occurred prior to 
implementation of Amendment 7), effort within the pelagic longline 
fishery has decreased and quotas established for some target species 
(e.g., swordfish) are not being met. The Draft Three-Year Review noted 
that it is difficult to separate out the effects of the IBQ Program 
from other factors, including the effect of swordfish imports on the 
market for U.S. product, other regulations such as closed and gear 
restricted areas, as well as target species availability/price. 
Nevertheless, NMFS has received comments from pelagic longline fishery 
participants and other interested parties to examine whether fleet-wide 
measures such as gear requirements, area restrictions, or time/area 
closures remain necessary to effectively manage the Longline category 
quota by reducing bluefin tuna bycatch given the effectiveness of the 
IBQ Program. Commenters (including the public and HMS Advisory Panel 
members) specifically requested that NMFS evaluate ways to potentially 
reduce regulatory burden or remove regulations that may have been 
rendered redundant with implementation of the IBQ Program.

Proposed Measures

    This action proposes changes to the Northeastern United States 
Closed Area, Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, Gulf of Mexico Gear 
Restricted Area, and Gulf of Mexico Weak Hook requirements. For quota-
managed stocks, including western Atlantic bluefin tuna and North 
Atlantic swordfish, the Proposed Rule measures would not affect or 
alter the science-based quotas for the stocks. Any action considered in 
the alternatives would manage stocks within these already-established 
allowable catch levels. For these stocks, NMFS previously

[[Page 33207]]

implemented the quotas through rulemaking with the appropriate 
environmental analyses of the effects of quota implementation. While 
some increases in target catch in the pelagic longline fishery may 
occur, any such increases would be within previously-analyzed quotas 
and would be consistent with other management measures that 
appropriately conserve the stocks. The extent and effect of any such 
changes were discussed and analyzed in the DEIS and considered in 
developing the Proposed Rule.
    This proposed rule is designed to (1) continue to minimize, to the 
extent practicable, bycatch and bycatch mortality of bluefin tuna and 
other Atlantic HMS by pelagic longline gear consistent with the 
conservation and management objectives (e.g., prevent or end 
overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, manage Atlantic HMS fisheries 
for continuing optimum yield) of the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS 
FMP, its amendments, and all applicable laws; (2) simplify and 
streamline Atlantic HMS management, to the extent practicable, by 
reducing any redundancies in regulations established to reduce bluefin 
tuna interactions that apply to the pelagic longline fishery; and (3) 
optimize the ability for the pelagic longline fishery to harvest target 
species quotas (e.g., swordfish), to the extent practicable, while also 
considering fairness among permit/quota categories. In the associated 
DEIS, NMFS considered a reasonable range of alternatives to meet these 
objectives and is proposing to implement the Preferred Alternatives in 
this proposed rule. NMFS' detailed analysis of the alternatives is 
provided in the DEIS (see ADDRESSES for how to get a copy of the DEIS) 
and a summary is provided in the IRFA below. In developing this 
proposed rule, NMFS considered comments received at HMS Advisory Panel 
meetings, other conservation and management measures that have been 
implemented in HMS fisheries since 2006 that have affected relevant 
fisheries and bycatch issues, and public comments received during 
scoping on the Issues and Options paper for this rulemaking (83 FR 
8969; March 2, 2018), including comments provided at the March 2018 HMS 
Advisory Panel meeting. In response to public comment on this proposed 
rule and the associated DEIS, NMFS may make changes in the final rule 
by modifying the proposed measures or adopting different or additional 
measures in response to public comment.

Northeastern United States Closed Area

    NMFS proposes implementing the preferred alternative analyzed in 
the DEIS to convert the ``Northeastern United States Closed Area'' to a 
``Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area.'' This 
area has been closed to pelagic longline fishing during the month of 
June since 1999. This alternative would have a three-year evaluation 
period (January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022) for the Monitoring 
Area, which would be managed as follows:

--The Monitoring Area would initially remain open to pelagic longline 
fishing from June 1 to June 30.
--There would be an annual 150,519 pound IBQ allocation threshold for 
landings and dead discards of bluefin caught within the Monitoring 
Area.
--If the threshold is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS 
would file a closure notice for the Monitoring Area with the Office of 
the Federal Register.
--On and after the effective date of the notice, the Monitoring Area 
would be closed to pelagic longline fishing each year from June 1 
through June 30, unless NMFS takes further action.
--If no closure notice is filed between January 1, 2020 and December 
31, 2022, the Monitoring Area would remain open, unless and until NMFS 
decides to take additional action. The area would be closely monitored 
by NMFS under a process that would prohibit fishing if the fleet were 
to use IBQ allocation in exceedance of an established annual threshold 
to account for bluefin landings or dead discards caught within the 
boundaries of the Monitoring Area. The proposed 150,519 lb threshold is 
based on the average annual amount of unused Atlantic IBQ allocation 
that was available for use by the pelagic longline fleet from June 1 
through December 31 (from 2015 through 2018). Using unused allocation 
as the threshold helps to ensure that opening the area to fishing would 
not compromise adherence to the overall bluefin quota or the ability of 
fishery participants to obtain enough IBQ allocation to cover bluefin 
landings and dead discards for the rest of the year. It should be noted 
that the threshold does not mean that 150,519 lb of IBQ allocation can 
be used only in the Monitoring Area. IBQ allocation is still subject to 
the same regulations previously applicable. The threshold is for NMFS' 
monitoring and evaluation purposes for the Area only. After the 2020-
2022 evaluation period, NMFS will evaluate data collected from the 
Monitoring Area and compile a report. Based on the findings of the 
report, NMFS may then decide to initiate a follow-up action to 
implement new, longer-term management measures for the area.

    This management measure would further optimize the ability of the 
pelagic longline fleet to harvest target species, while providing a 
carefully controlled mechanism to allow fishermen back into an area 
that was previously closed. Due to a lack of data collected in the 
Northeastern United States Closed Area in June over the past 20 years, 
there is uncertainty about whether this spatially managed area is still 
appropriately located or if it remains needed to meet bluefin 
management objectives. The use of an evaluative process and a 
threshold, instead of simply opening the area to fishing without such a 
process, provides a precautionary mechanism to collect and review data, 
and determine whether the area is still needed. This management measure 
would give fishermen more flexibility in choosing where to fish to 
optimize target catch and to avoid bluefin tuna and increase 
flexibility to adapt to changing distributions and concentrations of 
bluefin tuna and target catch species by providing more locations to 
distribute fishing activity. This management measure could simplify and 
streamline regulations if the evaluation process indicates that the 
closed area is no longer needed. The individual accountability aspects 
of the IBQ Program would still incentivize bluefin tuna avoidance. 
Preliminary analyses in the Draft Three-Year Review indicated that the 
IBQ Program has likely met or exceeded its objectives, and provides 
sufficient incentives to control bycatch on an individual vessel level. 
NMFS anticipates that it is an effective way to support the objectives 
of continuing to minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality of bluefin 
tuna. The evaluation process would also provide access to fishing 
grounds that may be closer to shore than locations currently fished 
during this time. Therefore, an anticipated short-term socioeconomic 
benefit of this alternative would be potential reductions in trip 
length and associated fuel cost.

Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area

    Another proposed measure would remove the current gear restricted 
area off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as defined in 50 CFR 635.2, and 
associated regulatory provisions, restrictions, and prohibitions. This 
management measure is not anticipated to result in changes to

[[Page 33208]]

overall fishing effort or fishing patterns, since the area is currently 
subject to performance-based access, and most of the vessels that 
recently (2015-2017) fished in this region have qualified for access to 
the gear restricted area. Individual vessels that have been denied 
access are often only denied temporarily before being granted access 
again, or they are vessels that have not been fishing in this area. 
Spatial patterns of interaction with target species have not changed 
greatly since implementation of the IBQ Program and this gear 
restricted area, which implies that overall fishing patterns will 
likely not change.
    Removal of this gear restricted area would be consistent with the 
proposed rule objective to simplify and streamline Atlantic HMS 
management by reducing any redundancies in regulations established to 
reduce bluefin tuna interactions that apply to the pelagic longline 
fishery. Pelagic longline vessels must account for bluefin discards and 
landings under the IBQ Program, which incentivizes the avoidance of 
bluefin tuna. The stated objectives of this gear restricted area when 
it was implemented under Amendment 7 were to balance reducing dead 
discards with providing reasonable fishing opportunities, to provide 
strong incentives to avoid bluefin tuna, and to reduce dead discards by 
modifying fishing behavior. However, there is some question as to 
whether the gear restricted area serves as an incentive to avoid 
bluefin tuna. The purpose of the performance metrics was to incentivize 
adjustments in fishing behavior to reduce bluefin tuna mortality, and 
they are especially useful in addressing excessive mortality by a small 
number of participants that fish in a specified area. When the Cape 
Hatteras Gear Restricted Area was first implemented, NMFS found that 34 
of the 136 vessels with sufficient history to participate in the IBQ 
Program fished within the boundaries of the gear restricted area 
between 2006 and 2012 during the months of December through April. Of 
these, fourteen vessels (approximately 39 percent) were not qualified 
for access to the area in winter 2014-2015. However, as the program 
matured, an increasingly smaller proportion of vessels that actually 
fished within the area were denied access. For example, only one vessel 
that did not qualify for access to the gear restricted area in 2018-
2019 had recently deployed gear within its boundaries during the months 
of December through April in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Most of the other 
vessels that did not qualify for access did not make a set within the 
boundaries of the gear restricted area. Rather, they fished in other 
locations such as the South Atlantic Bight, Sargasso Sea, Gulf of 
Mexico, or in open areas of the Mid-Atlantic Bight during the effective 
months (December-April). Some of the vessels not qualifying for access 
are also part of the pelagic longline distant water fleet that fish in 
the Northeast Distant Area (NED). Northeast Distant landings and dead 
discards are counted first against a 25 mt separate set-aside quota 
without application of the IBQ Program requirements. Thus, vessels in 
the NED have no incentive to avoid or release bluefin within that first 
25 mt, as they are not counted against their IBQ allocation. These 
interactions are, however, incorporated into the performance metric 
calculations that grant or deny access to the Cape Hatteras Gear 
Restricted Area and thus can result in poor ``bluefin avoidance'' 
scores. Thus, it appears that most vessels that wish to fish in the 
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area generally qualify to do so and 
generally are--or have become--skilled at managing their bycatch 
through the IBQ Program and in avoiding bluefin bycatch. This makes the 
gear restrictions in the area duplicative, since both were designed to 
achieve the same result and the IBQ Program alone is sufficient to 
achieve that result.
    As shown in the DEIS associated with this proposed rule, there no 
longer appears to be a hotspot of bluefin tuna interactions in the Cape 
Hatteras Gear Restricted Area even though the majority of the fleet has 
been granted access to the area in recent years. There have been 
substantial reductions in the average annual number of interactions 
from historical periods (approximately 468 average interactions per 
year from 2006-2011) and years before Amendment 7 implementation 
(approximately 94 average interactions per year from 2012-2014), to 
recent time periods (approximately 31 average interactions per year 
from 2015-2017). This implies that sufficient incentives are in place 
through the IBQ Program to control any excessive bluefin tuna bycatch 
that might occur by vessels that are operating locally or regionally.

Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area

    NMFS proposes implementing the preferred alternative analyzed in 
the DEIS to convert the ``Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area'' 
to a ``Spring Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area'' (which 
will continue to be comprised of two areas) (``Monitoring Area''). This 
area has been closed to pelagic longline fishing during the months of 
April and May since 2015. This alternative would have a three-year 
evaluation period (January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2022) for the 
Monitoring Area, which would be managed as follows:

--The Monitoring Area would initially remain open to pelagic longline 
fishing from June 1 through June 30.
--There would be an annual 63,150 pound IBQ allocation threshold for 
landings and dead discards of bluefin caught within the Monitoring 
Area.
--If the threshold is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS 
would file a closure notice for the Monitoring Area with the Office of 
the Federal Register.
--On or after the effective date of the notice, the Monitoring Area 
would be closed to pelagic longline fishing each year from June 1 
through June 30, unless NMFS takes further action.
--If no closure notice is filed between January 1, 2020 through 
December 31, 2022, the Monitoring Area would remain open, unless and 
until NMFS decides to take additional action regarding the area.

    The threshold proposed would be 63,150 lb, which is equivalent to 
the amount of IBQ allocation that could be used by the portion of the 
fleet that was recently (2015 through 2017) active during these months 
in the Gulf of Mexico. The intent of this threshold design is to 
discourage a level of fishing that would compromise adherence to the 
quota needed to appropriately conserve and manage bluefin. The 
evaluation process is designed to enable managers to evaluate whether 
the areas remain necessary to keep incidental catch within the 
allocated Longline quota overall. It should be noted that the threshold 
does not mean that 61,150 lb of IBQ allocation can be used only in the 
Monitoring Area. IBQ allocation is still subject to the same 
regulations previously applicable. The threshold is for NMFS' 
monitoring and evaluation purposes for the Area only. After the 2020-
2022 evaluation period, NMFS will evaluate data collected from the 
Monitoring Area and compile a report. Based on the findings of the 
report, NMFS may then decide to initiate a follow-up action to 
implement new, longer-term management measures for the area.
    This management measure would provide increased flexibility for 
fishermen to adapt to changing distributions and concentrations of 
bluefin tuna and target catch by providing more locations to distribute

[[Page 33209]]

fishing activity. This alternative would also give fishermen the 
ability to make choices on where to fish to optimize target catch while 
minimizing bycatch. This management measure balances the proposed rule 
objective of continuing to minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality of 
bluefin tuna with the objective of optimizing the ability of the 
pelagic longline fleet to harvest target species quotas, because it 
provides a carefully controlled mechanism to allow fishermen back into 
areas that were previously closed. The use of an evaluative process and 
a threshold, instead of just opening the area to fishing without such a 
process, provides a precautionary mechanism to collect fishery-
dependent data and determine whether the area is still needed to 
minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality of bluefin tuna and other 
Atlantic HMS. This management measure also alleviates short-term 
uncertainty due to lack of data collection from within the boundaries 
of this spatially managed area regarding whether the area still 
appropriately located or even needed to meet bluefin tuna management 
objectives. This management measure gives fishermen the flexibility to 
determine where in the Gulf of Mexico they choose to fish to optimize 
target catch and to avoid bluefin tuna. Provided the threshold is not 
reached, this management measure may also provide access to fishing 
grounds that may be closer to shore for some boats than locations 
currently fished during this time. Therefore, an unquantified but 
anticipated short-term socioeconomic benefit of this management measure 
is a reduction in trip length and associated fuel cost. The individual 
accountability aspects of the IBQ Program would still be relied upon to 
incentivize bluefin tuna avoidance, meaning that there is still a 
proven means to achieve the objectives of continuing to minimize 
bycatch and bycatch mortality of bluefin tuna. The management measures 
in the proposed rule have the potential to simplify and streamline 
regulations in the Gulf of Mexico intended to reduce bluefin tuna 
bycatch if the evaluation process indicates that the gear restricted 
area is no longer needed.

Gulf of Mexico Weak Hooks

    Under the proposed rule, NMFS would modify regulations that 
currently require the use of weak hooks year-round by vessels fishing 
in the Gulf of Mexico that have pelagic longline gear on board, and 
that have been issued, or are required to have been issued, a 
swordfish, shark, or Atlantic Tunas Longline category LAP for use in 
the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. 
This proposed rule would require such weak hook use only from January 
through June, when bluefin tuna are highest in abundance in the Gulf of 
Mexico. This timeframe includes the bluefin April through June spawning 
period. Fishermen may voluntarily choose to continue to use weak hooks 
when they are not required (i.e., July through December). In the second 
half of the year, catch-per-unit effort increases for other bycatch 
species, such as white marlin, that may be more vulnerable to capture 
on weak hooks. Southeast Fisheries Science Center research comparing 
catch of numerous species on weak hooks and standard circle hooks 
completed between 2008 and 2012 (see Appendix 2 in the DEIS associated 
with this proposed rule) noted that the use of weak hooks results in a 
statistically significant, 46 percent decrease in the catch of bluefin 
tuna. However, a statistically significant increase in white marlin and 
roundscale spearfish catch (by 45.7 percent) was noted with the use of 
weak hooks. While bluefin tuna interactions and catch per unit effort 
are highest in the first half of the year, white marlin and roundscale 
spearfish interactions and catch per unit effort are highest in the 
second half of the year. Therefore, this alternative is expected to 
strike a balance between the objectives of continuing to minimize 
bluefin tuna bycatch mortality and continuing to minimize bycatch 
mortality of other Atlantic HMS (i.e., white marlin and roundscale 
spearfish). Southeast Fisheries Science Center research results 
indicate that use of weak hooks did not have a statistically 
significant effect on catch of many target species such as swordfish 
and yellowfin tuna. Despite the lack of statistical significance in the 
experiment, many fishermen believe that the use of weak hooks reduces 
catch of large target catch species. This measure may meet rule 
objectives by providing an unquantifiable increase in opportunity for 
the pelagic longline fishery to harvest target species in the second 
half of the year, since fishermen would have flexibility to adjust hook 
type to maximize the likelihood of catching target species. Use of weak 
hooks may also help fishermen reduce IBQ allocation needed to cover 
incidental bluefin tuna landings or dead discards in the first half of 
the year, since the live release of large bluefin tuna shortly after 
hooking means that fishermen would not have to account for those 
bluefin tuna with IBQ allocation, which is used only for landings and 
dead discards.

Request for Comments

    NMFS is requesting comments on the alternatives and analyses 
described in this proposed rule and IRFA. These comments will be 
considered in conjunction with comments received on the DEIS associated 
with this proposed rule, which was published May 17, 2019, to 
facilitate review and comment by the HMS Advisory Panel at its Spring 
2019 meeting. NMFS is also requesting specific comments on appropriate 
thresholds for the evaluation process in the Gulf of Mexico Pelagic 
Longline Monitoring Area and the Northeastern United States Pelagic 
Longline Monitoring Area. Comments may be submitted via http://www.regulations.gov or mail. Comments may also be submitted at a public 
hearing (see Public Hearings and Special Accommodations below). We 
solicit comments on this proposed rule by September 30, 2019 (see DATES 
and ADDRESSES). Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted via 
http://www.regulations.gov or mail and comments may also be submitted 
at a public hearing.

Public Hearings

    During the comment period, NMFS will hold four public hearings and 
two operator-assisted public hearings via conference call and webinar 
for this proposed rule. The hearing locations will be physically 
accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language 
interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Craig 
Cockrell at 301-427-8503 or Jennifer Cudney at 727-824-5399, at least 7 
days prior to the meeting.

[[Page 33210]]



  Table 1--Dates, Times, and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings and
                             Conference Call
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Street address/
             Venue                  Date/time       webinar information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Hearing................  July 16, 2019,     National Marine
                                 5:00-7:00 p.m.     Fisheries Service,
                                                    Greater Atlantic
                                                    Regional Fisheries
                                                    Office, Hearing Room
                                                    A, 55 Great Republic
                                                    Dr, Gloucester, MA
                                                    01930.
Conference call/Webinar.......  July 19, 2019,     To participate in the
                                 2:00-4:00 pm.      conference call:
                                                    Phone: 888-989-7692,
                                                    Passcode: 2664906.
                                                   To participate in the
                                                    webinar, RSVP at:,
                                                    https://noaanmfs-events2.webex.com/noaanmfs-events2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8963997f0720f8ca85ee2fb56b726f19 6f19.
                                                   A confirmation email
                                                    with webinar log-in
                                                    information will be
                                                    sent after RSVP is
                                                    registered.
Public Hearing................  July 24, 2019,     Terrebonne Parish
                                 5:00-8:00 p.m.     Library (Main
                                                    Branch), 151 Library
                                                    Drive, Houma, LA
                                                    70360, Vietnamese
                                                    translation will be
                                                    provided.
Public Hearing................  July 30, 2019,     Ocean County Library,
                                 5:00-7:00 p.m.     Toms River Branch,
                                                    101 Washington
                                                    Street, Toms River,
                                                    NJ 08753.
Conference call/Webinar.......  July 31, 2019,     To participate in the
                                 10:00 a.m.-12:00   conference call:
                                 p.m.               Phone: 888-946-2707,
                                                    Passcode: 3542964.
                                                   To participate in the
                                                    webinar, RSVP at:,
                                                    https://noaanmfs-events2.webex.com/noaanmfs-events2/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed3603a85564cf407b17a8f31bd261c26 1c26.
                                                   A confirmation email
                                                    with webinar log-in
                                                    information will be
                                                    sent after RSVP is
                                                    registered.
Public Hearing................  August 13, 2019,   Dare County
                                 5:00-7:00 p.m.     Administration
                                                    Building,
                                                    Commissioners
                                                    Meeting Room, 954
                                                    Marshall Collins
                                                    Drive, Manteo, NC
                                                    27954.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public 
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each 
public hearing, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). At the beginning of the 
conference call, the moderator will explain how the conference call 
will be conducted and how and when attendees can provide comments. The 
NMFS representative will attempt to structure the meeting so that all 
attending members of the public will be able to comment, if they so 
choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject(s). 
Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and, if they do 
not, they may be asked to leave the hearing or may not be allowed to 
speak during the conference call.

Classification

    Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant 
Administrator has determined that the proposed rule is consistent with 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, other provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and other applicable law, subject to 
further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866. This proposed rule is expected to be 
an Executive Order 13771 deregulatory action.
    NMFS prepared a DEIS for this proposed rule that discusses the 
impacts on the environment that would result from this rule (84 FR 
22492; May 17, 2019). Copies of the DEIS are available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    An IRFA was prepared, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A summary of 
the analysis follows. A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES).
    Section 603(b)(1) requires Agencies to describe the reasons why the 
action is being considered. Consistent with the provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA, NMFS proposes to determine whether 
current regulations are still necessary to achieve management 
objectives for the pelagic longline fishery, or if conservation and 
management measures can be streamlined to eliminate regulations that 
are redundant in effect. For weak hooks, NMFS proposes changes to 
regulations that currently require the use of weak hooks year-round by 
vessels with shark, swordfish, and Atlantic tunas longline category 
limited access permits with pelagic longline gear onboard in the Gulf 
of Mexico. Specifically, the rule would require such weak hook use only 
when bluefin tuna are highest in abundance in the Gulf of Mexico from 
January through June, which includes their spawning period. Fishermen 
may voluntarily choose to continue to use weak hooks when they are not 
required (i.e., July through December).
    Section 603(b)(2) of the RFA requires Agencies to state the 
objective of, and legal basis for the proposed action. (See Chapter 1 
of the DEIS associated with this rulemaking for a full description of 
the objectives of this action.) Consistent with the provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA, NMFS proposes to adjust measures put in 
place to manage bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery, 
namely the Northeastern United States Closed Area, the Cape Hatteras 
Gear Restricted Area, and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted 
Area, as well as the weak hook requirement in the Gulf of Mexico. The 
objectives of this rulemaking are to: (1) Continue to minimize, to the 
extent practicable, bycatch and bycatch mortality of bluefin tuna and 
other Atlantic HMS by pelagic longline gear consistent with the 
conservation and management objectives (e.g., prevent or end 
overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, manage Atlantic HMS fisheries 
for continuing optimum yield) of the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS 
FMP, its amendments, and all applicable laws; (2) simplify and 
streamline Atlantic HMS management, to the extent practicable, by 
reducing any redundancies in regulations established to reduce bluefin 
tuna interactions that apply to the pelagic longline fishery; and (3) 
optimize the ability for the pelagic longline fishery to harvest target 
species quotas (e.g., swordfish), to the extent practicable, while also

[[Page 33211]]

considering fairness among permit/quota categories. This evaluation is 
necessary given the IBQ Program's shift in management focus towards 
individual vessel accountability for bluefin tuna bycatch in the 
pelagic longline fishery; the continued underharvest of quotas in the 
associated target fisheries, particularly the swordfish quota; comments 
from the public and the HMS Advisory Panel members indicating that 
certain regulations may be redundant in effect; and requests from the 
public and HMS Advisory Panel members to reduce regulatory burden and 
remove duplicative regulations.
    Section 603(b)(3) of the RFA requires Agencies to provide an 
estimate of the number of small entities to which the rule would apply. 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established size criteria 
for all major industry sectors in the United States, including fish 
harvesters. Provision is made under the SBA regulations for an agency 
to develop its own industry-specific size standards after consultation 
with 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 permit holders to be small 
entities because they had average annual receipts of less than $11 
million for commercial fishing. The Small Business Administration (SBA) 
has established size standards for all other major industry sectors in 
the U.S., including the scenic and sightseeing transportation (water) 
sector (NAICS code 487210, for-hire), which includes charter/party boat 
entities. The SBA has defined a small charter/party boat entity as one 
with average annual receipts (revenue) of less than $7.5 million.
    Regarding those entities that would be directly affected by the 
preferred alternatives, the average annual revenue per active pelagic 
longline vessel is 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 2016 was less than $1.9 million, well 
below the NMFS small business size standard for commercial fishing 
businesses of $11 million. Other non-longline HMS commercial fishing 
vessels typically generally earn less revenue than pelagic longline 
vessels. Therefore, NMFS considers all Atlantic HMS commercial permit 
holders to be small entities (i.e., they are engaged in the business of 
fish harvesting, are independently owned or operated, are not dominant 
in their field of operation, and have combined annual receipts not in 
excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations worldwide). The 
preferred commercial alternatives would apply to the 280 Atlantic tunas 
Longline category permit holders, 221 directed shark permit holders, 
and 269 incidental shark permit holders. Of these 280 Atlantic tunas 
Longline category permit holders, 85 pelagic longline vessels were 
actively fishing in 2016 based on logbook records.
    NMFS has determined that the proposed measures would not likely 
directly affect any small organizations or small government 
jurisdictions defined under RFA, nor would there be disproportionate 
economic impacts between large and small entities. More information 
regarding the description of the fisheries affected can be found in 
Chapter 3.0 of the DEIS.
    Section 603(b)(4) of the RFA requires Agencies to describe any new 
reporting, record-keeping and other compliance requirements. The action 
does not contain any new collection of information, reporting, or 
record-keeping requirements.
    Under section 603(b)(5) of the RFA, Agencies must identify, to the 
extent practicable, relevant Federal rules which duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with the proposed action. Fishermen, dealers, and managers in 
these fisheries must comply with a number of international agreements, 
domestic laws, and other fishery management measures. These include, 
but are not limited to, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act, the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental 
Policy Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Coastal Zone 
Management Act. This proposed action has been determined not to 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal rules.
    One of the requirements of an IRFA is to describe any significant 
alternatives to the proposed rule which accomplish the stated 
objectives of applicable statutes and which minimize any significant 
economic impact of the proposed 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, second, 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 did incorporate performance standards when developing 
several of the area-based alternatives. As described below, NMFS 
analyzed several different alternatives in developing this proposed 
rulemaking, and provides rationales for identifying and proposing the 
preferred alternatives to achieve the desired objectives. The 
alternatives considered and analyzed are described below.

Northeastern United States Closed Area

    Alternative A1, the No Action alternative, would maintain the 
current regulations regarding the Northeastern United States Closed 
Area. Average annual revenue for bluefin tuna and target species 
combined between 2015-2017 in a ``reference area'' (area surrounding 
the Northeastern United States Closed Area selected to help describe 
the ecological and socioeconomic impacts) was $42,942. Since 14 vessels 
operated in the reference area in June between 2015 and 2017, the 
average annual revenue per vessel during this time period was $3,067. 
This alternative would maintain the recent landings levels and 
corresponding revenues, resulting in neutral direct economic impacts to 
these small entities.
    Alternative A2 would modify the current Northeastern United States 
Closed Area to remove portions of the closure (i.e., those areas west 
of 70[deg] W longitude) that current analyses

[[Page 33212]]

indicate: (1) Did not historically have high numbers of bluefin 
discards reported in the HMS logbook during the timeframe of data 
(1996-1997) originally analyzed for implementation of the closure in 
1999, and (2) were adjacent to areas that recently (2015-2017) did not 
have bluefin interactions. As mentioned above regarding Alternative A1, 
in the reference area, total average annual revenue for the 14 vessels 
for bluefin tuna and target species in June of 2015 through 2017 was 
$42,942 ($3,067 per vessel). The predicted total average annual revenue 
under Alternative A2 would be $35,394 ($2,528 per vessel). Under 
Alternative A2, revenue from most species is predicted to decrease 
during the month of June, particularly for bluefin tuna, because 
anticipated catch rates for some species in the area being considered 
for opening under this alternative were lower than those in the 
reference area. Revenue from bigeye tuna, on the other hand, could 
increase slightly. Some of the analyses in the DEIS predicted that, if 
fishing effort moved directly and proportionately from the now-open 
areas to the newly-opened areas, catch rates could be lower for most 
species, and revenue would also be lower. This analysis rests, however, 
on the presumption of direct movement of the same levels of effort from 
one area to the other. It does not account for a critical element of 
fishing behavior that is determinative of how and where effort changes 
would actually occur under this rule: Namely, fishermen selection of 
productive fishing grounds. In practical application, we expect that 
fishermen would make decisions about productive fishing grounds and 
move their effort responsively and accordingly, thus offsetting any 
impact that the change in area could otherwise produce. Fishermen will 
make decisions about productive fishing grounds in any given year 
depending on fish availability and will likely decide not to fish in 
the area being considered for opening if they discover it could lower 
their fishing revenue. Thus, fishing revenue impacts for this 
alternative are expected to be neutral.
    Alternative A3 considered converting the Northeastern United States 
Closed Area to the ``Northeastern United States Gear Restricted Area'', 
and allowing performance-based vessel access therein using the access 
criteria currently used for the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area 
(currently codified at Sec. Sec.  635.21(c)(3) and 635.14). Vessels 
would be evaluated against criteria (i.e., performance metrics) 
evaluating a vessel's ability to avoid bluefin tuna, comply with 
Pelagic Observer Program requirements, and comply with HMS logbook 
submission requirements using the three most recent years of available 
data associated with a vessel. If no data are available, then NMFS 
would not be able to make a determination about vessel access, and such 
vessels would be excluded from gear restricted area access until NMFS 
has collected sufficient data for assessment (consistent with current 
procedures for the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area). Those vessels 
that meet the criteria for performance metrics would be allowed to fish 
in the closed area. This measure would be evaluated after at least 
three years of data have been collected to determine whether it 
effectively achieves the management objectives of this rulemaking.
    As mentioned above, in the reference area, total average annual 
revenue for the 14 vessels for bluefin tuna and target species in June 
of 2015 through 2017 was $42,942 ($3,067 per vessel). The predicted 
range of total average annual revenue under Alternative A3 would be 
$20,185 to $35,352 and the average annual revenue per vessel during 
this time period under this alternative would be $1,442 to $2,525. 
Revenue from some species is predicted to decrease during the month of 
June, particularly for bluefin tuna and dolphin, because anticipated 
catch rates for some species in the Northeastern United States Gear 
Restricted Area were lower than those in the reference area. Revenue 
from yellowfin tuna, on the other hand, could increase substantially. 
Some of the analyses in the DEIS predicted that, if fishing effort 
moved directly and proportionately from the now-open areas to the 
newly-opened areas, catch rates could be lower for most species, and 
revenue would also be lower. This analysis rests, however, on the 
presumption of direct movement of the same levels of effort from one 
area to the other. It does not account for a critical element of 
fishing behavior that is determinative of how and where effort changes 
would actually occur under this rule: Namely, fishermen selection of 
productive fishing grounds. In practical application, we expect that 
fishermen would make decisions about productive fishing grounds and 
move their effort responsively and accordingly, thus offsetting any 
impact that the change in area could otherwise produce. Fishermen will 
make decisions about productive fishing grounds in any given year 
depending on fish availability and will likely decide not to fish in 
the Northeastern United States Closed Area if they qualify for access 
and discover it could lower their fishing revenue. Thus, fishing 
revenue impacts for this alternative are expected to be neutral.
    Implementing performance-based access would provide increased 
flexibility for fishermen to adapt to changing distributions and 
concentrations of bluefin tuna and target catch. This alternative will 
also give fishermen the ability to make choices on where to fish to 
optimize target catch while minimizing bycatch.
    An unquantified short-term economic benefit of this alternative is 
a reduction in trip length and associated fuel cost. The Northeastern 
United States Gear Restricted Area would open areas for qualified 
pelagic longline vessels that are closer to shore than where most of 
the effort is currently occurring during the month of June in the 
adjacent open areas. The closure is approximately 320 miles wide from 
west to east, so allowing fishing in the area could reduce some trips 
by hundreds of miles. Less fuel consumption would lower the trip cost 
and increase the trip profit, which may influence fishermen's decisions 
on fishing in the Monitoring Area. In addition, shorter trip lengths 
could also reduce the opportunity costs for crew and captains on the 
vessel by reducing the number of days they are away at sea fishing.
    In the short-term, overall economic impacts are expected to range 
between minor positive to neutral based on the increased flexibility in 
fishing areas, potentially shorter trips and associated lower fuel 
costs, and thus potentially increased profits from fishing.
    Alternative A4, the preferred alternative, would convert the 
``Northeastern United States Closed Area'' to a ``Northeastern United 
States Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area.'' This area has been closed to 
pelagic longline fishing during the month of June since 1999. This 
alternative would have a three-year evaluation period (January 1, 2020 
through December 31, 2022) for the Monitoring Area, which would be 
managed as follows:

--The Monitoring Area would initially remain open to pelagic longline 
fishing from June 1 to June 30.
--There would be an annual 150,519 pound IBQ allocation threshold for 
landings and dead discards of bluefin caught within the Monitoring 
Area.
--If the threshold is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS 
would file a closure notice for the Monitoring Area with the Office of 
the Federal Register.
--On and after the effective date of the notice, the Monitoring Area 
would be

[[Page 33213]]

closed to pelagic longline fishing each year from June 1 through June 
30, unless NMFS takes further action.
--If no closure notice is filed between January 1, 2020 and December 
31, 2022, the Monitoring Area would remain open, unless and until NMFS 
decides to take additional action regarding the area.

    The proposed 150,519 lb threshold is based on the average annual 
amount of unused Atlantic IBQ allocation that is available for use by 
the pelagic longline fleet from June 1 through December 31. Using 
unused allocation as the threshold helps to ensure that opening the 
area to fishing would not compromise adherence to the overall bluefin 
quota or the ability of fishery participants to obtain enough IBQ 
allocation to cover bluefin landings and dead discards for the rest of 
the year. It should be noted that the threshold does not mean that 
150,519 lb of IBQ allocation can be used only in the Monitoring Area. 
IBQ allocation is still subject to the same regulations previously 
applicable. The threshold is for NMFS' monitoring and evaluation 
purposes for the Area only. After the 2020-2022 evaluation period, NMFS 
will evaluate data collected from the Monitoring Area. NMFS may then 
decide to initiate a follow-up action to implement new, longer-term 
management measures for the area.
    This Monitoring Area will provide increased flexibility for 
fishermen to adapt to changing distributions and concentrations of 
bluefin tuna and target catch. This alternative will also give 
fishermen the ability to make choices about where to fish to optimize 
target catch while minimizing bycatch. An unquantified benefit of this 
alternative could be a reduction in trip length and associated fuel 
cost. The alternative would open areas for pelagic longline fishing 
that are closer to shore than where most of the effort is currently 
occurring during the month of June in the adjacent open areas. In the 
long-term, overall economic impacts are expected to range between minor 
positive to neutral based on the increased flexibility in fishing 
areas, potentially shorter trips and associated lower fuel costs, and 
thus potentially increased profits from fishing.
    Following the evaluation period, NMFS would conduct an evaluation 
of data collected from the Monitoring Area. As discussed in Chapters 2 
and 4 of the DEIS, the status of the Monitoring Area following the 
three-year evaluation period is dependent on whether the threshold has 
been reached in any of those three years.
    The short-term economic impacts would be very similar to those of 
Alternative A3. Long-term economic impacts would depend on the result 
of the three-year evaluation period for this Monitoring Area. If NMFS 
were to decide to take action so that these areas remain open after 
three years, long-term impacts would be expected to be the same as 
short-term impacts.
    Alternative A5 would eliminate all current restrictions associated 
with the Northeastern United States Closed Area. Since this alternative 
would allow access to all vessels in the month of June by removing 
regulations related to the Northeastern United States Closed Area, the 
socioeconomic impacts would be the same as presented in the preferred 
alternative, Alternative A4. In the long-term, overall economic impacts 
are expected to range between minor positive to neutral based on the 
increased flexibility in fishing areas, potentially shorter trips and 
associated lower fuel costs, and thus potentially increased profits 
from fishing.

Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area

    Alternative B1, the No Action alternative, would maintain the 
current boundaries and restrictions associated with the Cape Hatteras 
Gear Restricted Area. Access to the area would be based on an 
evaluation of performance metrics. Since implementation of the program, 
the majority of the pelagic longline fleet has been granted access to 
the gear restricted area. However, the number of permit holders with 
data available for analysis has declined, coincident with an increase 
in the number of permits in ``NOVESID'' status (i.e., permits are 
renewed but not associated with a vessel). In the first year of the 
program, 136 vessels (~48 percent of the 281 pelagic longline permits) 
were determined to have sufficient data for the analysis, while 145 
permits were either in NOVESID status, were inactive during the initial 
analysis period, or were in an invalid status. Approximately 75 percent 
of active vessels were granted access to the gear restricted area. 
During the 2018-2019 effective period, 97 vessels (~34.5 percent) had 
data available for analysis. Approximately 85 percent of active vessels 
were granted access to the gear restricted area in the 2018-2019 
effective period. Only one vessel denied access to the gear restricted 
area in 2018 due to bluefin tuna avoidance issues had previously fished 
within the gear restricted area in recent years (data not shown in DEIS 
to protect data confidentiality).
    Since implementation of the IBQ Program in 2015, revenue in the 
Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area for highly valued target species has 
increased. This is to be expected as fishermen adjusted business 
practices to the gear restricted area and IBQ Program, and became more 
familiar with leasing markets. During the gear restricted area's 
December through April effective period, from 2015 through 2017, sets 
made within this gear restricted area contributed approximately 8.9 
percent of the revenue generated for swordfish, 24.5 percent of the 
revenue from bigeye tuna, and 15 percent of the revenue from bluefin 
tuna.
    Retaining this gear restricted area is likely to have neutral 
economic impacts fleet-wide, as the majority of vessels qualified for 
access, and those not qualified for access to the gear restricted area 
did not make sets within this area either prior to implementation or 
after implementation when access was granted. Retaining the gear 
restricted area may have temporary, minor adverse economic impacts to 
individual vessels that either recently made sets in the gear 
restricted area or may be denied access in the future.
    Alternative B2 would remove the current gear restricted area off 
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as currently defined in Sec.  635.2 and 
all associated regulatory provisions, restrictions, and prohibitions. 
Removing the gear restricted area is likely to have neutral to minor 
and beneficial economic impacts, depending on the scale of 
consideration. Fleet-wide effects on fishing revenue for this time 
period are anticipated to be neutral as the majority of the fleet had 
access to the area and continued to fish in it following implementation 
of Amendment 7 management measures. Vessels recently denied access (for 
the 2018-2019 effective period) to the gear restricted area fished in a 
variety of locations between 2015 and 2017. Many of these vessels did 
not make sets within this area either prior to implementation or after 
implementation when access was granted. Revenue for these vessels may 
therefore be based on factors other than access to the gear restricted 
area. Removing the gear restricted area may have temporary, localized 
and minor beneficial economic impacts to a small number of individual 
vessels. Removing this restriction would remove functionally redundant 
layers of regulation and year-to-year uncertainty associated with 
access decisions. It may also provide a small number of fishermen with 
more options regarding fishing locations. The gear restricted area is 
situated in a location where wintertime fishing activities are largely 
dependent on weather and wind

[[Page 33214]]

direction. Cape Hatteras and adjacent Diamond Shoals shelter fishing 
grounds to the south and west from northerly and westerly winds, and to 
the north from southerly and westerly winds. Removing the closures 
could enable greater flexibility for fishermen to safely conduct 
fishing activities in short, favorable wintertime weather windows.

Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Areas

    Alternative C1, the No Action alternative, would maintain the 
current regulations regarding the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted 
Area (comprised of two areas). NMFS would maintain current restrictions 
which prohibit fishing to all vessels with pelagic longline gear 
onboard from April 1 through May 31 each year (vessels may transit the 
area if gear is properly stowed). Outside of the gear restricted area, 
average annual revenue for bluefin tuna and target species from April-
May in 2015 through 2017 was $627,842. There were 46 pelagic longline 
vessels active in the Gulf of Mexico during that time period, thus each 
vessel generated an average of $13,649 annually between April-May. This 
alternative would maintain the recent landings levels and resulting 
revenues, resulting in neutral direct economic impacts.
    Alternative C2 would apply performance-based access to the Spring 
Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area. Vessels would be evaluated against 
criteria (i.e., performance metrics) evaluating their ability to avoid 
bluefin tuna, comply with Pelagic Observer Program requirements, and 
comply with HMS logbook submission requirements using the three most 
recent years of available data associated with a vessel. If no data are 
available, then NMFS would not be able to make a determination about 
vessel access, and such vessels would be excluded from gear restricted 
area access until NMFS has collected sufficient data for assessment 
(consistent with current operational Amendment 7 implementation 
procedures). Those vessels that meet the criteria for performance 
metrics would be allowed to fish in the closed area. This measure would 
be evaluated after at least three years of data have been collected to 
determine whether it effectively achieves the management objectives of 
this rulemaking. In the analyses of gear restricted area access for 
2015 through 2019, up to 3 pelagic longline vessels associated with 
Gulf of Mexico IBQ shares have been excluded from the Cape Hatteras 
Gear Restricted Area in any given year, out of a total of 52 vessels 
associated with Gulf of Mexico IBQ shares. Those same vessels would 
also be excluded from the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area 
under this alternative. Therefore, given these past access 
determinations, at least 94 percent of vessels with Gulf of Mexico IBQ 
allocation would be expected to have access to the Spring Gulf of 
Mexico Gear Restricted Area under this alternative. As noted under 
Alternative C1, average annual revenue per vessel for bluefin tuna and 
target species in April-May of 2015 through 2017 was $13,649. The 
predicted range of average annual revenue per vessel under this 
alternative would be $10,909 to $13,628. Revenue from some species is 
predicted to decrease during these two months, particularly for 
swordfish, because anticipated catch rates for some species in the Gulf 
of Mexico Gear Restricted Area with performance access were lower than 
those in the open portions of the Gulf of Mexico. Revenue from bigeye 
tuna, on the other hand, is predicted to remain the same or increase. 
Some of the analyses in the DEIS predicted that, if fishing effort 
moved directly and proportionately from the now-open areas to the 
newly-opened areas, catch rates could be lower for most species, and 
revenue would also be lower. This analysis rests, however, on the 
presumption of direct movement of the same levels of effort from one 
area to the other. It does not account for a critical element of 
fishing behavior that is determinative of how and where effort changes 
would actually occur under this rule: Namely, fishermen selection of 
productive fishing grounds. In practical application, we expect that 
fishermen would make decisions about productive fishing grounds and 
move their effort responsively and accordingly, thus offsetting any 
impact that the change in area could otherwise produce. Fishermen will 
make decisions about productive fishing grounds in any given year 
depending on fish availability. Access to the gear restricted areas 
will provide increased flexibility for fishermen to adapt to changing 
distributions and concentrations of bluefin tuna and target catch. This 
alternative will also give fishermen the ability to make choices on 
where to fish to optimize target catch while minimizing bycatch. Thus, 
fishing revenue impacts for this alternative are expected to be 
neutral.
    Long-term impacts on these species would depend on future trends in 
performance-based access to the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted 
Area. If the number of vessels allowed access to these areas remains 
consistent over time, long-term impacts would be expected to be the 
same as short-term impacts. As described above, this analysis assumes 
that all vessels with Gulf of Mexico IBQ shares would have access to 
the gear restricted areas. There could be a slight decrease in revenues 
within the gear restricted areas from the values described here, with a 
corresponding increase in revenues in the open area, due to vessels 
excluded from the areas, but the predicted ranges of catch still 
represent the best estimate for these areas.
    Alternative C3, the preferred alternative, would convert the 
``Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area'' to a ``Spring Gulf of 
Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area'' (which will continue to be 
comprised of two areas) (``Monitoring Area''). This area has been 
closed to pelagic longline fishing during the months of April and May 
since 2015. This alternative would have a three-year evaluation period 
(January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2022) for the Monitoring Area, 
which would be managed as follows:

--The Monitoring Area would initially remain open to pelagic longline 
fishing from June 1 through June 30.
--There would be an annual 63,150 pound IBQ allocation threshold for 
landings and dead discards of bluefin caught within the Monitoring 
Area.
--If the threshold is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS 
would file a closure notice for the Monitoring Area with the Office of 
the Federal Register.
--On or after the effective date of the notice, the Monitoring Area 
would be closed to pelagic longline fishing each year from June 1 
through June 30, unless NMFS takes further action.
--If no closure notice is filed between January 1, 2020 through 
December 31, 2022, the Monitoring Area would remain open, unless and 
until NMFS decides to take additional action regarding the area.

    The threshold proposed would be 63,150 lb threshold is equivalent 
to the amount of IBQ allocation that could be used by the portion of 
the fleet that was recently (2015 through 2017) active during these 
months in the Gulf of Mexico. The intent of this threshold design is to 
discourage a level of fishing that would compromise adherence to the 
quota needed to appropriately conserve and manage bluefin. The 
evaluation process is designed to enable managers to evaluate whether 
the areas remain necessary to keep incidental catch within the 
allocated Longline quota overall. It should be noted that the threshold 
does not mean that 61,150 lb of IBQ allocation can be used only in the

[[Page 33215]]

Monitoring area. IBQ allocation is still subject to the same 
regulations previously applicable. The threshold is for NMFS' 
monitoring and evaluation purposes for the Area only.
    After the 2020-2022 evaluation period, NMFS will evaluate data 
collected from the Monitoring Area, NMFS may then decide to initiate a 
follow-up action to implement new, longer-term management measures for 
the area. As discussed in Chapters 2 and 4, the status of the 
Monitoring Area following the three-year evaluation period is dependent 
on whether the threshold has been reached.
    As noted under Alternative C1, average annual revenue per vessel 
for bluefin tuna and target species in April-May of 2015 through 2017 
was $13,649. The predicted range of average annual revenue per vessel 
under this alternative would be $10,909 to $13,628. Revenue from some 
species is predicted to decrease during these two months, particularly 
for swordfish, because anticipated catch rates for some species in the 
Spring Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area were lower than 
those in the open portions of the Gulf of Mexico. Revenue from bigeye 
tuna, on the other hand, is predicted to remain the same or increase. 
Some of the analyses in the DEIS predicted that, if fishing effort 
moved directly and proportionately from the now-open areas to the 
newly-opened areas, catch rates could be lower for most species, and 
revenue would also be lower. This analysis rests, however, on the 
presumption of direct movement of the same levels of effort from one 
area to the other. It does not account for a critical element of 
fishing behavior that is determinative of how and where effort changes 
would actually occur under this rule: Namely, fishermen selection of 
productive fishing grounds. In practical application, we expect that 
fishermen would make decisions about productive fishing grounds and 
move their effort responsively and accordingly, thus offsetting any 
impact that the change in area could otherwise produce. Fishermen will 
make decisions about productive fishing grounds in any given year 
depending on fish availability and will likely decide not to fish in 
the Spring Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area if they 
discover it could lower their fishing revenue. The Monitoring Area will 
provide increased flexibility for fishermen to adapt to changing 
distributions and concentrations of bluefin tuna and target catch. This 
alternative will also give fishermen the ability to make choices on 
where to fish to optimize target catch while minimizing bycatch. Thus, 
fishing revenue impacts for this alternative are expected to be 
neutral.
    Long-term economic impacts would depend on the result of the three-
year evaluation period for this Monitoring Area. If NMFS decides to 
take action to keep these areas open after three years, long-term 
impacts would be expected to be the same as short-term impacts. 
Alternative C4 would remove the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted 
Area. Since this alternative would allow access to all vessels by 
removing regulations related to the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear 
Restricted Area, the short-term socioeconomic impacts would be the same 
as presented in the preferred Alternative C3. As noted under 
Alternative C1, average annual revenue per vessel for bluefin tuna and 
target species in April-May of 2015 through 2017 was $13,649. The 
predicted range of average annual revenue per vessel under this 
alternative would be $10,909 to $13,628. Revenue from some species is 
predicted to decrease during these two months, particularly for 
swordfish, because anticipated catch rates for some species in the 
Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area were lower than those in the 
open portions of the Gulf of Mexico. Revenue from bigeye tuna, on the 
other hand, is predicted to remain the same or increase. Overall 
economic impacts for this alternative are expected to be neutral in the 
short-term, despite the predicted decrease in overall revenue. 
Fishermen will make decisions about where to fish in any given year 
depending on fish availability. This alternative will also give 
fishermen the ability to make choices on where to fish to optimize 
target catch while minimizing bycatch. Long-term economic impacts would 
be expected to be the same as short-term impacts.

Weak Hooks

    Under Alternative D1, NMFS would maintain the current regulations 
at 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) requiring vessels fishing in the 
Gulf of Mexico, that have pelagic longline gear on board, and that have 
been issued, or are required to have been issued, a swordfish, shark, 
or Atlantic Tunas Longline category LAP for use in the Atlantic Ocean, 
including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, to use weak hooks 
year-round when operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Because this 
alternative does not change current regulations, economic impacts on 
small entities would be neutral. However, this alternative would not 
address the higher bycatch of other species, such as white marlin that 
occurs in the second half of the year on weak hooks, nor would it 
address comments NMFS has received from pelagic longline fishermen 
expressing concern about their perception that swordfish catches have 
been reduced with weak hooks. Under this alternative, fishermen would 
not have any additional flexibility to choose a stronger circle hook 
(that also meets other existing requirements for hook size and type) 
that they feel may work better for their fishing operations. Weak hook 
research conducted by NMFS from 2008-2012 indicated that there was no 
significant difference in the catch rates of any targeted species when 
compared to previously allowed stronger circle hooks, even though the 
catch rates of legally sized swordfish did in fact decrease with weak 
hooks.
    Alternative D2, the preferred alternative, would modify the 
regulations described under Alternative D1 to only require use weak 
hooks from January through June. This time period is when bluefin tuna 
are highest in abundance and it includes the April through June bluefin 
tuna spawning season. Fishermen may voluntarily choose to continue to 
use weak hooks when they are not required. This alternative would 
likely result in short- and long-term minor beneficial economic impacts 
since it would give fishermen more flexibility in choosing how to fish. 
During the months without the weak hook requirement, fishermen could 
choose whether to use the gear based on their knowledge of bluefin tuna 
presence and distribution. Furthermore, weak hooks can help fishermen 
manage their IBQ allocation by reducing the number of captured bluefin 
tuna that would be counted against their IBQ allocation. NMFS prefers 
this alternative at this time because it increases fishermen's 
flexibility and helps fishermen manage their IBQ allocation by reducing 
the number of captured bluefin tuna that would be counted against their 
IBQ allocation. There may be potential economic benefits for 
recreational fishermen that fish for white marlin or roundscale 
spearfish as a result of the anticipated decrease in commercial bycatch 
rates and associated fishing mortality and potential improvements to 
stock health and status.
    Under Alternative D3, NMFS would remove the weak hook regulations 
described under Alternative D1. NMFS would continue to encourage 
voluntary use of weak hooks in the Gulf of Mexico as a conservation 
strategy for bluefin tuna. This alternative would likely result in 
short- and long-term neutral economic impacts since it would give 
fishermen more flexibility in choosing how to fish. In the absence of a 
weak

[[Page 33216]]

hook requirement, fishermen could choose whether to use the gear based 
on their knowledge of bluefin tuna presence and distribution. Weak 
hooks may have, in some cases, assisted fishermen in reducing use of 
IBQ allocation because large bluefin were able to free themselves from 
gear before coming to the boat, and therefore never needed to be 
counted against a vessel's IBQ allocation. Some fishermen may still 
find their use beneficial in conserving their IBQ allocation, and would 
still have the option to deploy weak hooks under this alternative. For 
example, pelagic longline fishermen that plan to fish in areas with 
high rates of bluefin tuna interactions may wish to deploy weak hooks 
to reduce interactions and conserve their IBQ allocation. There could 
be some risk that not requiring weak hooks from January through June 
could result in an increased risk for high bluefin tuna interactions 
for pelagic longline vessels that fish during those months but decide 
not to use weak hooks, and therefore, those vessels could face a higher 
risk in depleting their IBQ quota for the year. Under Alternative D3, 
NMFS would encourage the voluntary use of weak hooks and leave the 
decision up to individual fishermen based on their experience and on-
the-water knowledge. Any potentially risky fishing practices leading to 
elevated interactions with Gulf of Mexico bluefin tuna would still be 
dis-incentivized under the IBQ Program. There may be potential economic 
benefits for recreational fishermen that fish for white marlin or 
roundscale spearfish as a result of the anticipated decrease in 
commercial bycatch rates and associated fishing mortality and potential 
improvements to stock health and status.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Gear Restricted Areas, 
Performance metrics, Individual Bluefin Quota, Penalties, Fishing gear, 
Closed Areas.

    Dated: July 3, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is 
proposed to be 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.


Sec.  635.2  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  635.2 as follows:
0
a. Remove the definition for ``Cape Hatteras gear restricted area'';
0
b. In the definition for ``Northeastern United States closed area'' 
remove the words ``Northeastern United States closed area'' and add in 
their place ``Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline Monitoring 
Area''; and
0
c. In the definition for ``Spring Gulf of Mexico gear restricted area'' 
remove the words ``Spring Gulf of Mexico gear restricted area'' and add 
in their place ``Spring Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring 
Area.''


Sec.  635.14  [Removed and reserved]

0
3. Remove and reserve Sec.  635.14.
0
4. In Sec.  635.15, revise paragraph (c)(3)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.15   Individual bluefin tuna quotas.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) History of leased IBQ allocation use. The fishing history 
associated with the catch of bluefin tuna will be associated with the 
vessel that caught the bluefin tuna regardless of how the vessel 
acquired the IBQ allocation (e.g., through initial allocation or 
lease), for the purpose of any relevant restrictions based upon bluefin 
tuna catch.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  635.21:
0
a. Revise paragraph (b)(2);
0
b. Revise paragraph (c)(1)(i);
0
c. Revise the introductory text of paragraph (c)(2) and paragraphs 
(c)(2)(i) through (iii);
0
d. Remove paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) through (vi) and redesignate paragraph 
(c)(2)(vii) as paragraph (c)(2)(iv);
0
e. Revise paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(5)(iii)(B); and
0
f. Add paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(C).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  635.21  Gear operation and deployment restrictions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Transiting and gear stowage: If a vessel issued or required to 
be issued a LAP under this part has pelagic or bottom longline gear 
onboard and is in a closed or gear restricted area as designated in 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section or a monitoring area designated in 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section that has been closed, it is a 
rebuttable presumption that any fish on board such a vessel were taken 
with pelagic or bottom longline gear in the area except where such 
possession is aboard a vessel transiting such an area with all fishing 
gear stowed appropriately. Longline gear is stowed appropriately if all 
gangions and hooks are disconnected from the mainline and are stowed on 
or below deck, hooks are not baited, and all buoys and weights are 
disconnected from the mainline and drum (buoys may remain on deck).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Has bottom longline gear onboard and is in a closed or gear 
restricted area designated under paragraph (c)(2) of this section or is 
in a monitoring area designated under (c)(3) of this section that has 
been closed, the vessel may not, at any time, possess or land any 
pelagic species listed in table 2 of appendix A to this part in excess 
of 5 percent, by weight, of the total weight of pelagic and demersal 
species possessed or landed, that are listed in tables 2 and 3 of 
appendix A to this part.
* * * * *
    (2) If pelagic longline gear is on board a vessel issued or 
required to be issued a LAP under this part, persons aboard that vessel 
may not fish or deploy any type of fishing gear:
    (i) In the Charleston Bump closed area from February 1 through 
April 30 each calendar year;
    (ii) In the East Florida Coast closed area at any time;
    (iii) In the Desoto Canyon closed area at any time;
* * * * *
    (3) From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, a vessel issued or 
required to be issued a LAP under this part may fish with pelagic 
longline gear in the Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline 
Monitoring Area during the month of June or in the Spring Gulf of 
Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area during the months of April and 
May until the annual IBQ allocation threshold for the monitoring area 
has been reached or is projected to be reached. The annual IBQ 
allocation threshold is 150,519 lb for the Northeastern United States 
Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area, and 63,150 lb for the Spring Gulf of 
Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area. When the relevant threshold is 
reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS will file for publication 
with the Office of the Federal Register a closure for that monitoring 
area, which will be effective no fewer than five days from date of 
filing. From the effective date and time of the closure, vessels issued 
or required to be issued a LAP under this part and that have pelagic 
longline gear onboard are prohibited from deploying pelagic longline 
gear within the boundaries of

[[Page 33217]]

the relevant monitoring area during the months specified for that area 
above. After December 31, 2022: If no closure of a particular 
monitoring area has been implemented under the provisions of this 
paragraph, vessels with pelagic longline gear onboard may continue to 
deploy pelagic longline gear in that area; if a closure has been issued 
for a particular monitoring area under the provisions of this 
paragraph, vessels with pelagic longline gear onboard will continue to 
be prohibited from deploying pelagic longline gear in that area.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (B) Bait. Vessels fishing outside of the Northeast Distant gear 
restricted area, as defined at Sec.  635.2, that have pelagic longline 
gear on board, and that have been issued or required to be issued a LAP 
under this part, are limited, at all times, to possessing on board and/
or using only whole finfish and/or squid bait except that if green-
stick gear is also onboard, artificial bait may be possessed, but may 
be used only with green-stick gear.
    (C) Hook size and type. Vessels fishing outside of the Northeast 
Distant gear restricted area, as defined at Sec.  635.2, that have 
pelagic longline gear on board, and that have been issued or are 
required to be issued a LAP under this part are limited, at all times, 
to possessing on board and/or using only 16/0 or larger non-offset 
circle hooks or 18/0 or larger circle hooks with an offset not to 
exceed 10[deg]. These hooks must meet the criteria listed in paragraphs 
(c)(5)(iii)(C)(1) through (3) of this section. A limited exception for 
the possession and use of J hooks when green stick gear is onboard is 
described in paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(C)(4).
    (1) For the 18/0 or larger circle hooks with an offset not to 
exceed 10[deg], the outer diameter of an 18/0 circle hook at its widest 
point must be no smaller than 2.16 inches (55 mm), when measured with 
the eye of the hook on the vertical axis (y-axis) and perpendicular to 
the horizontal axis (x-axis). The distance between the hook point and 
the shank (i.e., the gap) on an 18/0 circle hook must be no larger than 
1.13 inches (28.8 mm). The allowable offset is measured from the barbed 
end of the hook, and is relative to the parallel plane of the eyed-end, 
or shank, of the hook when laid on its side. The only allowable offset 
circle hooks are those that are offset by the hook manufacturer.
    (2) For the 16/0 or larger non-offset circle hooks, the outer 
diameter of a 16/0 circle hook at its widest point must be no smaller 
than 1.74 inches (44.3 mm), when measured with the eye of the hook on 
the vertical axis (y-axis) and perpendicular to the horizontal axis (x-
axis). The distance between the hook point and the shank (i.e., the 
gap) on a 16/0 circle hook must be no larger than 1.01 inches (25.8 
mm).
    (3) Between the months of January through June of any given 
calendar year in the Gulf of Mexico, all circle hooks must also be 
constructed of corrodible round wire stock that is no larger than 3.65 
mm in diameter. For the purposes of this section, the Gulf of Mexico 
includes all waters of the U.S. EEZ west and north of the boundary 
stipulated at 50 CFR 600.105(c).
    (4) If green-stick gear, as defined at Sec.  635.2, is also 
onboard, a vessel that has pelagic longline gear onboard, may possess 
up to 20 J-hooks. J-hooks may be used only with green-stick gear, and 
no more than 10 hooks may be used at one time with each green-stick 
gear. J-hooks used with green-stick gear may be no smaller than 1.5 
inch (38.1 mm) when measured in a straight line over the longest 
distance from the eye to any other part of the hook.
* * * * *
0
6. For Sec.  635.21, in the table below, for each section indicated in 
the left column, remove the text indicated in the middle column from 
wherever it appears in the section, and add the text indicated in the 
right column:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Section                        Remove        Add
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   635.21(c)(2)(iv)(D)....................  (c)(2)(vii)   (c)(2)(iv)
Sec.   635.21(c)(2)(iv)(E)....................  (c)(2)(vii)   (c)(2)(iv)
Sec.   635.21(c)(2)(iv)(F)....................  (c)(2)(vii)   (c)(2)(iv)
Sec.   635.21(c)(2)(iv)(G)....................  (c)(2)(vii)   (c)(2)(iv)
Sec.   635.21(c)(5)(ii)(C)(1).................  (c)(2)(vii)   (c)(2)(iv)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
7. In Sec.  635.71, revise paragraphs (a)(31), (a)(54), (a)(57) and 
(58), and (b)(36) through(40) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.71  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (31) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel with a 
pelagic longline on board in any closed or gear restricted areas during 
the time periods specified at Sec.  635.21(c).
* * * * *
    (54) Possess, use, or deploy, in the Gulf of Mexico, with pelagic 
longline gear on board, any circle hook that is constructed of round 
wire stock that is larger than 3.65 mm in diameter during the months of 
January through June of any calendar year as specified in Sec.  
635.21(c)(5)(iii).
* * * * *
    (57) Fail to appropriately stow longline gear when transiting a 
closed or gear restricted area or a monitoring area that has been 
closed, as specified in Sec.  635.21(b)(2).
    (58) Deploy or fish with any fishing gear from a vessel with a 
pelagic longline gear on board in a monitoring area that has been 
closed as specified at Sec.  635.21(c)(3).
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (36) Possess J-hooks onboard a vessel that has pelagic longline 
gear onboard, and that has been issued or required to be issued a LAP 
under this part, except when green-stick gear is onboard, as specified 
at Sec.  635.21(c)(2)(v)(A) and (c)(5)(iii)(C).
    (37) Use or deploy J-hooks with pelagic longline gear from a vessel 
that has been issued, or required to be issued a LAP under this part, 
as specified in Sec.  635.21(c)(5)(iii)(C).
    (38) As specified in Sec.  635.21(c)(5)(iii)(C), possess more than 
20 J-hooks onboard a vessel that has been issued or required to be 
issued a LAP under this part, when possessing onboard both pelagic 
longline gear and green-stick gear as defined in Sec.  635.2.
    (39) Use or deploy more than 10 hooks at one time on any individual 
green-stick gear, as specified in Sec.  635.21(j), (c)(2)(v)(A), or 
(c)(5)(iii)(C).
    (40) Possess, use, or deploy J-hooks smaller than 1.5 inch (38.1 
mm), when measured in a straight line over the longest distance from 
the eye to any part of the hook, when fishing with or possessing green-
stick gear onboard a vessel that has been issued or required to be 
issued a LAP under this part, as specified at Sec.  
635.21(c)(5)(iii)(C) or (c)(2)(v)(A).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-14568 Filed 7-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P