[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54579-54584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21954]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 191002-0053]
RIN 0648-BI45


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Vessel Movement, Monitoring, and Declaration Management for the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery

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 proposes revisions to reporting and monitoring provisions 
for vessels participating in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This 
proposed action would: Increase the position transmission rate for 
certain vessels using NMFS type-approved vessel monitoring system 
units, including limited entry groundfish vessels, open access vessels 
using non-groundfish trawl gear (ridgeback prawn, California halibut, 
and sea cucumber trawl), and any vessels that use open access gear 
targeting groundfish or that have groundfish bycatch (salmon troll, 
prawn trap, Dungeness crab, halibut longline, California halibut line 
gear, and sheephead trap); allow midwater trawl vessels participating 
in the Pacific whiting fishery to change their landing declarations 
while at sea; exempt groundfish trawl vessels from observer coverage 
while testing authorized fishing gear; and allow shorebased Individual 
Fishing Quota fixed gear vessels to deploy pot gear in one management 
area while retrieving gear from another management area on a single 
trip. The proposed action will increase monitoring efficiency and 
effectiveness, improve enforcement of restricted areas, and increase 
operational flexibility for groundfish fishery participants.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before 
November 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0093, by 
any of the following methods:
     Online Submission: Go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal 
at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0093, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Shannon Penna, Fishery 
Management Specialist, West Coast Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., 
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
    NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other 
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the 
comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender is 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.
    Copies of the analytic document supporting this action, are 
available via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, docket NOAA-NMFS-2019-0093, or by contacting the 
Pacific Fisheries Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 
101, Portland, OR 97220-1384.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Penna, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 562-980-4238, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Between September 2014 and April 2016, the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) developed and considered management 
measures to address a range of vessel and gear movement issues and 
aggregated these issues under a single vessel movement monitoring 
agenda item. Additional details about the Council's considerations are 
included in the Council's analytic document (see ADDRESSES), and 
included in the discussion of individual measures below.
    The Council deemed the proposed regulations consistent with and 
necessary to implement this action in a July 17, 2019, letter from 
Council Executive Director, Chuck Tracy, to Regional Administrator 
Barry Thom. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), NMFS is required to publish 
proposed rules for comment after preliminarily determining whether they 
are consistent with applicable law. We are seeking comment on the 
Council's proposed measures in this action and whether they are 
consistent with the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and its National Standards, and other 
applicable law.

Summary of the Proposed Regulations

    This section discusses proposed regulatory revisions that are 
expected to increase NMFS's ability to enforce fishing activity in and 
around restricted areas, and result in cost savings, increased 
profitability, and flexibility for the groundfish fishery. The proposed 
measures would:
     Increase the position transmission rate requirements for 
certain vessels using NOAA NMFS type-approved vessel monitoring system 
(VMS) units;
     Amend the definition for continuous transit;
     Allow midwater trawl vessels participating in the Pacific 
whiting fishery to change their landing declarations while at sea;
     Exempt groundfish trawl vessels from observer coverage 
while testing authorized fishing gear; and,
     Allow shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fixed gear 
vessels to retrieve pot gear in one management area and deploy that 
gear in another management area on a single trip.

A. Increased Position Transmission Rate for Groundfish VMS

    Vessels participating in the limited entry groundfish fishery 
(limited entry

[[Page 54580]]

``A'' endorsed permit), open access vessels using non-groundfish trawl 
gear (ridgeback prawn, California halibut, and sea cucumber trawl), and 
any vessels that use open access gear targeting groundfish or that have 
groundfish bycatch (salmon troll, prawn trap, Dungeness crab, halibut 
longline, California halibut line gear, and sheephead trap), are 
required to install a NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) type-
approved mobile transceiver unit and to arrange for a NMFS OLE type-
approved communications service provider to receive and relay 
transmissions to NMFS OLE prior to fishing. These units automatically 
record a vessel's position (i.e., the vessel's geographic location in 
latitude and longitude coordinates), and transmit those coordinates to 
a communications service provider. The current regulations require that 
VMS units transmit a vessel's position once every hour, 24 hours a day 
throughout the fishing year. Less frequent position reporting, at least 
once every four hours, may be authorized when a vessel has temporarily 
paused participation in the fishery and remains in port for an extended 
period of time. The VMS units record vessel positions at a random time 
during each hour so that vessel operators are unaware of when the 
vessel position is being recorded.
    An Initial Decision in a 2013 enforcement case (NOAA Case No. 
SW1002974) concluded that the current requirement of hourly position 
reports was insufficient to prove that a vessel was not operating in 
continuous transit through a restricted area as required by regulation. 
While the raw data from the VMS communications provider in the case did 
provide reliable information about vessel location and speed, it only 
accounted for a five second period out of each hour.
    The Council recommended increasing the vessel position frequency to 
increase NMFS's ability to enforce fishing activity around restricted 
areas. This proposed action would require an increase in the position 
transmission rate to every 15 minutes per hour for groundfish vessels 
using NMFS type-approved VMS units. This increase in frequency would 
produce more course, location, and speed data to improve NMFS's ability 
to identify whether vessels are continuously transiting in restricted 
areas or not.
    Increasing the VMS position transmission rate from once every hour 
to every 15 minutes will increase vessel operating costs. While vessels 
can choose from a variety of VMS service providers, the average monthly 
operating costs for transmissions every 15 minutes is $105 per month 
($69 to $150 range) compared to an average of $50 per month ($37 to $65 
range) for a single transmission per hour.
    The Council recommended two exemptions that would reduce redundant 
reporting and may provide cost savings to some portions of the fleet. 
For the first exemption, vessels that have installed and are using 
electronic monitoring (EM) systems for the duration of the fishing year 
would be allowed to maintain the current position transmission rate of 
one transmission per hour. EM systems include a Global Positioning 
System (GPS) that records the vessel position every 10 seconds. Because 
EM systems record vessel positions so frequently, it is not necessary 
to also increase the VMS position transmission rates. The GPS data are 
recorded to a hard drive, which the captain removes every 10 days and 
mails to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. For the second 
exemption, limited entry trawl vessels fishing with midwater trawl gear 
would be allowed to maintain the current position transmission rate of 
one transmission per hour. Limited entry vessels are only allowed to 
use midwater trawl gear to target whiting or non-whiting groundfish 
species during the primary whiting season from May 15 to December 31 
each year. These vessels are also limited to using midwater trawl gear 
seaward of the trawl rockfish conservation area (RCA) south of 
40[deg]10' North (N), but can use midwater trawl gear anywhere within 
the Exclusive Economic Zone north of 40[deg]10' N. Because there are 
only very broad seasonal and area restrictions associated with midwater 
trawl gear, and because these vessels are not generally subject to 
smaller geographic areas restrictions such as the trawl RCA and 
essential fish habitat conservation areas (EFHCAs) the increased 
position transmission rate is not necessary for restricted area 
enforcement for vessels using midwater trawl gear. Limited entry vessel 
operators would be allowed to change their transmission rates or VMS 
declaration reports on a trip-by-trip basis when necessary.

B. Continuous Transit Definition

    Vessels are allowed to continuously transit through restricted 
areas, such as EFHCA, and restricted areas, when fishing gear is 
properly stowed and the vessel is on a direct course. This action 
proposes to revise the current definition of ``continuous transiting or 
transit through'' to encompass a broader array of vessel activity that 
is akin to loitering within a restricted area, whether that be by means 
of a source of power or by drifting with the prevailing water current 
or weather conditions. Under this revised definition, visual, 
electronic, or other evidence of vessel activity should provide 
information on vessel speed and course sufficient to indicate direct 
and expeditious transiting of a restricted area.

C. Exemption From Observer Coverage While Testing Gear

    Groundfish vessels participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program, the 
Mothership (MS) Coop Program, or the Catcher/processor (C/P) Coop 
Program are required to have 100 percent observer coverage when 
fishing. Currently, when fishermen want to test their fishing gear 
during an open or closed season, they must contact the West Coast 
Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP) prior to departure. Although gear 
testing does not usually involve the retention of fish, it falls under 
the definition of fishing as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These 
vessels sometimes inquire if certain gear testing situations are 
considered fishing activity and if they are required to carry an 
observer. NMFS has previously reviewed these on a case-by-case basis.
    Vessels with a NMFS required positioning system (VMS, EM) installed 
must also notify NMFS OLE which fishery or sector they will be 
participating in with a declaration. This declaration allows NMFS OLE 
to determine the restricted area closures with which the vessel is 
required to comply and whether the vessel is in compliance with 
restricted area regulations, based on the vessel's course as 
transmitted from the VMS unit. Other than EM, there is currently no way 
to remotely confirm that a vessel is testing fishing gear, and not 
engaged in fishing activity.
    This action would establish a definition for gear testing. The 
proposed definition states that gear testing is the deployment of 
lawful gear without retaining fish, for purposes, including, but not 
limited to: Deployment of nets using open codends; calibration of 
engines and transmission under load (i.e., towing a net with an open 
codend); deployment of wire and/or doors; testing new electronic 
equipment associated with deploying fishing gear; and testing and 
calibration of newly installed propulsion systems (i.e., engine, 
transmission, shaft, propeller, etc.). NMFS welcomes comments on the 
sufficiency of this definition, and recommendations to refine and 
clarify the types of activity that would qualify for gear testing.

[[Page 54581]]

    This action would also exempt groundfish vessels participating in 
the Shorebased IFQ, MS, and C/P sectors from the requirement to carry 
an observer while testing gear. A vessel would not need an observer 
because gear testing activity would specifically prohibit retaining 
fish. In addition to being prohibited from retaining fish while gear 
testing, vessels would be prohibited from testing experimental gear, 
testing with a closed codend, terminal gear, or with open pots, and 
from testing gear in groundfish conservation areas or EFHCAs.
    To be exempted from observer coverage while testing gear, vessels 
would need to communicate with both WCGOP and NMFS OLE. Vessels would 
be required to notify WCGOP by phone: or email, of the gear testing 
activity at least 48 hours prior to departing on a trip to test gear or 
equipment. This action would also add a VMS declaration code for ``Gear 
testing.'' When a vessel operator calls the West Coast Groundfish 
Declaration Line to declare ``Gear testing,'' the VMS technician would 
review the information submitted and determine if the vessel is 
eligible for this declaration. This measure would result in observer 
coverage cost savings on trips to test fishing gear or equipment.

D. Declaration Changes at Sea for Whiting Fishery

    Currently, midwater catcher trawl vessels participating in the 
Pacific whiting fishery are restricted to landing either at a 
mothership or shoreside processor. After Pacific whiting catcher 
vessels have made their delivery obligation to a mothership, they are 
not allowed to make a tow for a delivery to a shoreside processor 
without returning to port first. This proposed regulatory revision 
would remove restrictions on catcher vessels to allow them to change 
their declarations while at sea by calling the West Coast Groundfish 
Declaration Line. After a vessel offloads onto a mothership, it could 
immediately change its declaration from one of the ``Pacific whiting 
mothership sector'' declarations to one of the ``Pacific whiting 
shorebased IFQ'' declarations to make a tow and offload on shore, or 
vice versa.
    Allowing vessels to change their declarations at sea would provide 
a vessel the opportunity to optimize available resources before 
returning to port. As a result, vessels will spend less time at sea, 
and in transit to and from fishing ports, which will ultimately reduce 
the cost of fuel and crew.

E. Movement of IFQ Fishpot Gear Across Management Lines

    At the time the Council selected final alternatives for this rule, 
vessels fishing in the shorebased IFQ program using fixed gear (i.e., 
pot gear) were prohibited from moving gear from one management area to 
another during a single trip. The area of operation of the shorebased 
IFQ fixed gear fishery stretches along the entire west coast and is 
divided into four management areas (50 CFR 660.140). Vessels were 
required to land catch from a single management area prior to returning 
to deploying gear in a different management area. In addition, fish 
caught from one management area could not be on board while in a 
different management area from which they were caught. For example, if 
a fisherman retrieves fixed gear in area B, they could land their fish 
from area B before deploying that gear in area C.
    The prohibition on harvesting fish in two management areas during a 
single trip was put into place because the area of harvest is an 
important element in stock assessment. In addition, allocations to 
different fishing fleets and gear types stem from area-based stock 
management. However, this prohibition had negative impacts on fishery 
participants. For example, unlike trawl and longline vessels who can 
stow all of their gear on deck, pot gear vessels may have to make 
multiple trips to move their gear from one management area to the next. 
Some vessel owners report that the prohibition is expensive to their 
operations, particularly for those owners that fish out of ports in 
close proximity to a management line.
    The revised regulations would explicitly allow vessels retrieving 
pots from one management area to retain their catch on board and move 
to a second management area to deploy pots. These pots may be either 
baited or not baited. The vessel may then return to port to deliver 
their fish, then return to retrieve their pots from the second 
management area. Although the proposed adjustment increases operational 
flexibility in deploying pots, vessels are still only permitted to 
retain and land fish from a single management area. This will ensure 
the integrity of data to support stock assessments and catch monitoring 
for a single management area. Overall, fishing vessels will spend less 
time at sea, which should reduce the cost of fishing.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has made a preliminary determination that 
this proposed rule is consistent with the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP, 
other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. 
In making the final determination, NMFS will consider the data, views, 
and comments received during the public comment period.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this 
proposed rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 
12866.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, this proposed rule was developed 
after meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials 
from the area covered by the PCGFMP. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act at 
16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(5), one of the voting members of the Pacific Council 
must be a representative of an Indian tribe with federally recognized 
fishing rights from the area of the Council's jurisdiction.
    This proposed rule does not contain policies with Federalism or 
``takings'' implications as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared for 
this action, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 603). The IRFA describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A summary of 
the IRFA follows. A copy of the IRFA is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES). When an agency proposes regulations, the RFA requires the 
agency to prepare and make available for public comment an IRFA that 
describes the impact on small businesses, non-profit enterprises, local 
governments, and other small entities. The IRFA is to aid the agency in 
considering all reasonable regulatory alternatives that would minimize 
the economic impact on affected small entities.

Description of the Reasons Why Action By the Agency Is Being Considered 
and Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Action

    A description of the action, why it is being considered, and the 
legal basis for this action is contained in the SUMMARY section and at 
the beginning of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the preamble, 
and is not repeated here.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which This 
Proposed Rule Would Apply

    For RFA purposes only, NMFS established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2).

[[Page 54582]]

A business primarily engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) 
is classified as a small business if it is independently owned and 
operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its 
affiliates), and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 
million for all its affiliated operations worldwide.
    For the purposes of our Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, 
the proposed action is considered to regulate ownership entities that 
are potentially affected by the action. The U.S. Small Business 
Association (SBA) established criteria for business in the fishery 
sector to qualify as small entities. Limited entry groundfish vessels 
directly regulated by this action are required to renew a permit 
annually, and the application asks for entity size including 
affiliation. Of those who responded as being large entities, 15 permits 
owned by 9 large entities were attached to vessels that participated in 
bottom trawl or fixed gear groundfish fisheries in 2018 and are the 
most likely to be impacted by the rule.
    Of the 571 vessels impacted by this rule, none had annual ex-vessel 
revenue on the West Coast (participation in other fisheries is not 
known) greater than the NMFS $11 million size standard. The top three 
revenue vessels, all in the IFQ fishery, had an average revenue of $1.9 
million in 2018 in all West Coast fisheries. In contrast, the bottom 
ten earning vessels had revenues in all West Coast fisheries of less 
than $1,000.

Description of the Proposed Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of This Proposed Rule

    This action contains a revision to an information collection 
requirement, which has been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0648-0573: West Coast Region 
Vessel Monitoring System Requirement for the Pacific Groundfish 
Fishery. This action proposes to adjust the position transmissions rate 
for certain vessels using NMFS type-approved vessel monitoring system 
units, including limited entry groundfish vessels, open access vessels 
using non-groundfish trawl gear (ridgeback prawn, California halibut, 
and sea cucumber trawl), and any vessels that use open access gear 
targeting groundfish or that have groundfish bycatch (salmon troll, 
prawn trap, Dungeness crab, halibut longline, California halibut line 
gear, and sheephead trap). Vessel owners would be required to increase 
their position transmission rate from once per hour to four times per 
hour. Vessels that are operating with electronic monitoring will be 
exempt from this increase and allowed to continue with a rate of four 
times per hour.
    The proposed action would add a declaration for gear testing so 
vessels will be exempt from observer coverage while testing gear and 
restricted from harvesting fish, and allow Groundfish midwater trawl 
vessels participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program and the MS Coop 
Program, to make a new declaration from sea and allowed to make a tow 
for a delivery to a shoreside processor without returning to port 
first. The numbers of declaration reports the vessel operator is 
required to submit to NMFS would not change under this request. 
Therefore, no small entity would be subject to additional reporting 
requirements.
    Public comment is sought regarding the following: Whether this 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of agency functions, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways 
to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection of information to the 
Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES), and email to 
[email protected] or fax to 202-395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This 
Proposed Rule

    There are no relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with this action.

Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and Which 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

    NMFS considered sub alternatives to the proposed rule that may have 
minimized significant economic impact, but not meet stated objectives 
of applicable statutes. The Council briefly considered increasing the 
position transmission signal to every 30 minutes or every 20 minutes, 
but rejected those alternatives from further analysis because those 
position transmission signals may not be frequent enough to provide 
information to enforce small restricted areas, or provide enough 
information to calculate a vessel's course for enforcement of 
continuous transit requirements.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.

    Dated: October 3, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

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

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

0
2. In Sec.  660.11, revise the definition of ``Continuous transiting or 
transit through'' and add the definition of ``Gear Testing'' in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec.  660.11  General Definitions

* * * * *
    Continuous transiting or transit through means that a vessel 
crosses a groundfish conservation area or EFHCA on a heading as nearly 
as practicable to a direct route, consistent with navigational safety, 
while maintaining expeditious headway throughout the transit without 
loitering or delay.
* * * * *
    Gear Testing means the deployment of lawful gear without retaining 
fish, for the following purposes, including, but not limited to: 
Deployment of nets using open codends; calibration of engines and 
transmission under load (i.e., towing a net with an open codend); 
deployment of wire and/or doors; testing new electronic equipment 
associated with deploying fishing gear; and testing and calibration of 
newly installed propulsion systems (i.e., engine, transmission, shaft, 
propeller, etc.).
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  660.13, revise paragraphs (d)(1)(ii) and (d)(4)(iv)(A)(30) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  660.13  Recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *

[[Page 54583]]

    (ii) Limited entry midwater trawl vessels targeting Pacific whiting 
may change their declarations while at sea between the Pacific whiting 
shorebased IFQ sector and the mothership sector as specified at 
paragraph (4)(iv)(A) of this section. The declaration must be made to 
NMFS before a different sector is fished.
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (iv) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (30) Gear testing.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  660.14, revise paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), and 
(d)(5) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.14  Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) Obtain a NMFS OLE type-approved mobile transceiver unit and 
have it installed on board your vessel in accordance with the 
instructions provided by NMFS OLE. You may obtain a copy of the VMS 
installation and operation instructions from the NMFS OLE West Coast 
Region, VMS Program Manager upon request at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-6349, phone: 888-585-5518 or [email protected].
    (2) Activate the mobile transceiver unit, submit an activation 
report at least 72 hours prior to leaving port on a trip in which VMS 
is required, and receive confirmation from NMFS OLE that the VMS 
transmissions are being received before participating in a fishery 
requiring the VMS. Instructions for submitting an activation report may 
be obtained from the NMFS OLE West Coast Region, VMS Program Manager 
upon request at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349, phone: 
888-585-5518 or [email protected]. An activation report must again be 
submitted to NMFS OLE following reinstallation of a mobile transceiver 
unit or change in service provider before the vessel may be used to 
fish in a fishery requiring the VMS.
    (3) Transceiver unit operation. Operate and maintain the mobile 
transceiver unit in good working order continuously, 24 hours a day 
throughout the fishing year, unless such vessel is exempted under 
paragraph (d)(4) of this section.
    (i) Position frequency. The mobile transceiver unit must transmit a 
signal accurately indicating the vessel's position at least once every 
15 minutes, 24 hours a day, throughout the year unless an exemption in 
(ii) of this paragraph applies or a valid exemption report, as 
described in paragraph (d)(4) of this section, has been received by 
NMFS OLE. The signal indicating the vessel's position can consist of 
either: a single position report transmitted every 15 minutes; or a 
series of position reports, at no more than a 15 minute interval, 
combined and transmitted at least once every hour.
    (ii) Exemptions to position frequency requirement. (A) Electronic 
monitoring exemption. If a vessel has an electronic monitoring system 
installed and in use for the duration of a given fishing year, the 
mobile transceiver unit must transmit a signal at least once every 
hour.
    (B) Midwater trawl exemption. If a limited entry trawl vessel is 
fishing with midwater trawl gear under declarations (d)(4)(iv)(A), the 
mobile transceiver unit must transmit a signal at least once every 
hour.
    (C) In port exemption. If a vessel remains in port for an extended 
period of time, the mobile transceiver unit must transmit a signal at 
least once every four hours. The mobile transceiver unit must remain in 
continuous operation at all times unless the vessel is exempt under 
paragraph (d)(4) of this section.
* * * * *
    (5) When aware that transmission of automatic position reports has 
been interrupted, or when notified by NMFS OLE that automatic position 
reports are not being received, contact NMFS West Coast Region, VMS 
Program Manager upon request at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 
98115-6349, phone: 888-585-5518 or [email protected] and follow the 
instructions provided to you. Such instructions may include, but are 
not limited to, manually communicating to a location designated by NMFS 
OLE the vessel's position or returning to port until the VMS is 
operable.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  660.112, revise paragraph (a)(4), and add paragraphs (a)(7) 
and (b)(1) (xvii) to read as follows:


 Sec.  660.112  Trawl fishery--prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (4) Observers. (i) Fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program, the MS Coop 
Program, or the C/P Coop Program without observer coverage unless 
exempt from the observer coverage requirement for gear testing activity 
and have satisfied the declaration and notification requirements, as 
described in Sec.  660.140(h), Sec.  660.150(j), or Sec.  660.160(g).
    (ii) Fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program, the MS Coop Program, or 
the C/P Coop Program if the vessel is inadequate or unsafe for observer 
deployment as described at Sec.  660.12(e).
    (iii) Fail to maintain observer coverage in port as specified at 
Sec.  660.140(h)(1)(i).
* * * * *
    (7) Gear testing. (i) Retain fish while gear testing.
    (ii) Fish with a closed codend, use terminal gear (i.e., hooks), or 
fish with open pot gear while gear testing.
    (iii) Test gear in groundfish conservation areas described in Sec.  
660.70, or EFHCAs described in Sec. Sec.  660.76 through 660.79.
    (iv) Test experimental gear, or any other gear not currently 
approved for groundfish fishing.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (xvii) When declared into the limited entry groundfish non-trawl 
Shorebased IFQ fishery, retain fish caught with fixed gear in more than 
one IFQ management area, specified at Sec.  660.140(c)(1), on the same 
trip.
* * * * *
0
6. In 660.140, add paragraphs (c)(2) and (h)(1)(i)(A)(4) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  660.140  Shorebased IFQ Program.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) A vessel using fixed gear declared into the limited entry 
groundfish non-trawl Shorebased IFQ fishery may deploy pot or trap gear 
in multiple IFQ management areas on a trip provided the vessel does not 
retrieve gear from more than one IFQ management area during a trip.
* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (4) Is exempt from the requirement to maintain observer coverage as 
specified in this paragraph (h) while gear testing as defined in Sec.  
660.11. The vessel operator must submit a valid declaration for gear/
equipment testing, as required by Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), and must 
notify the Observer Program of the gear testing activity at least 48 
hours prior to departing on a trip to test gear/equipment.
* * * * *
0
7. In 660.150, add paragraph (j)(1)(i)(C) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.150  Mothership (MS) Coop Program.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *

[[Page 54584]]

    (C) Gear testing exemption. Vessels are exempt from the requirement 
to maintain observer coverage as specified in this paragraph (j) while 
gear testing as defined at Sec.  660.11. The vessel operator must 
submit a valid declaration for gear/equipment testing, as required by 
Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), and must notify the Observer Program of the 
gear testing activity at least 48 hours prior to departing on a trip to 
test gear/equipment.
* * * * *
0
8. In 660.160, add paragraph (g)(1)(iv) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.160  Catcher/processor (C/P) Coop Program.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iv) Gear testing exemption. Vessels exempt from the requirement to 
maintain observer coverage as specified in this paragraph (g) while 
gear testing as defined at Sec.  660.11. The vessel operator must 
submit a valid declaration for gear/equipment testing, as required by 
Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), and must notify the Observer Program of the 
gear testing activity at least 48 hours prior to departing on a trip to 
test gear/equipment.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-21954 Filed 10-9-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P