Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area, 51779-51784 [06-7270]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51779-51784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7270]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 060621176-6219-02; I.D. 052306A]
RIN 0648-AU50


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to modify the regulations 
implementing the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) to allow vessels issued either a General Category Atlantic sea 
scallop permit or a limited access sea scallop permit, when not fishing 
under a scallop days-at-sea (DAS) limitation, to fish for scallops with 
small dredges (combined width not to exceed 10.5 ft (3.2 m)) within the 
Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area. This final rule 
responds to a request from the fishing industry to add this area to the 
list of exempted fisheries. The intent of this action is to allow small 
scallop dredge vessels to harvest scallops in a manner that is 
consistent with the bycatch reduction objectives of the FMP.

DATES: Effective August 31, 2006.

[[Page 51780]]


ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting documents, including the Regulatory 
Impact Review (RIR), the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(IRFA), and the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for this action 
are available from Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 
NMFS prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), which is 
contained in the Classification section of the preamble of this final 
rule. Copies of the FRFA and the Small Entity Compliance Guide are 
available from the Regional Administrator, and are also available via 
the internet at https://www.nero.nmfs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey H. Curtis, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9273, fax 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Current regulations (implemented under Framework Adjustment 9 and 
expanded under Amendment 7 to the FMP) contain a multispecies fishing 
mortality and bycatch reduction measure that is applied to the Gulf of 
Maine (GOM), Georges Bank (GB), and Southern New England (SNE) 
Exemption Areas. A vessel may not fish in these areas unless it is 
fishing under a NE multispecies or a scallop days-at-sea (DAS) 
allocation, is fishing with exempted gear, is fishing under the Small 
Vessel Handgear (A or B) or Party/Charter permit restrictions, or is 
fishing in an exempted fishery. The procedure for adding, modifying, or 
deleting fisheries from the list of exempted fisheries is found in 50 
CFR 648.80. A fishery may be exempted by the Regional Administrator 
(RA), after consultation with the New England Fishery Management 
Council (Council), if the RA determines, based on available data or 
information, that the bycatch of regulated species of groundfish is, or 
can be reduced to, less than 5 percent by weight of the total catch, 
and that such exemption will not jeopardize the fishing mortality 
objectives of the FMP.
    On October 25, 2005, a request was submitted on behalf of the 
General Category scallop fleet to establish an additional exempted 
scallop dredge fishery in the GOM/GB Exemption Area in the vicinity of 
traditional scalloping grounds within the area known as the Great South 
Channel, off Cape Cod, MA. Neither the GOM Scallop Dredge Exemption 
Area, established in Framework 21 to the FMP (February 1997), nor the 
SNE Scallop Dredge Exemption Area, established in Amendment 13 to the 
FMP (April 2004), include this area within their exemption programs.
    Bycatch analyses conducted by NMFS for all observed scallop trips 
(both General Category and limited access scallop vessels) demonstrate 
that the exempted fishery described below meets the requirements of the 
regulations in a discrete area of the Great South Channel, in a portion 
of the initially requested area. On July 6, 2006, a proposed rule was 
published in the Federal Register (71 FR 38352) soliciting public 
comment. The proposed rule and EA discuss these analyses in greater 
detail. This final rule addresses the public comments that were 
received during the comment period, which ended on July 21, 2006. Based 
on some of the received comments, NMFS is slightly modifying the final 
rule with regard to the boundaries of the exemption area described in 
the proposed rule. This final rule exempts a slightly larger area 
around the Great South Channel, which includes an area of bottom 
identified as important to the General Category scallop fleet, and from 
which observer data were available that indicated low bycatch rates. 
This additional area was included in another alternative as reflected 
in the Comments section.

Approved Management Measures

Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area

    Based on the analysis of available data, the bycatch of regulated 
species by scallop dredge vessels is less than 5 percent, by weight, of 
the total catch in the Great South Channel. Therefore, the RA has 
determined that an exempted scallop dredge fishery in a specifically 
defined portion of the Great South Channel meets the exemption 
requirements specified in Sec.  648.80(a)(8). At this time, there are 
not sufficient data to determine if a scallop dredge fishery in any 
other area would also meet the exemption requirements.
    Therefore, this final rule implements an exempted fishery for 
vessels fishing with General Category scallop permits, or limited 
access scallop permits not fishing under a DAS allocation, to use small 
dredges with a combined width not greater than 10.5 ft (3.2 m) in 
portions of the Great South Channel (see area definition below). This 
area will be referred to as the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Area (GSC Area). Portions of the GSC Area will be seasonally 
closed to protect SNE, GB, and Cape Cod (CC)/GOM yellowtail flounder 
during their peak spawning periods. Peak spawning periods are defined 
in the EA prepared for Framework Adjustment 40-B to the FMP. The 
portion of the GSC Area that lies within statistical areas 525 and 526 
(SNE and GB yellowtail flounder stock areas) will be closed from April 
1 through June 30. The portion of the GSC that lies within statistical 
area 521 (CC/GOM yellowtail flounder stock area) will be closed from 
June 1 through June 30.
    Vessels fishing in this exemption that wish to land more than 40 lb 
(18.1 kg) of shucked (5 bu (1.76 hL) unshucked) scallops are required 
to have a Category 1B General Category scallop permit, an operational 
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and are allowed to land a maximum of 
400 lb (181.4 kg) of shucked (50 bu (17.62 hL) unshucked) scallops per 
trip. Vessels with a limited access scallop permit may also participate 
in the exemption when not fishing under a scallop DAS, and are 
restricted to the Category 1B General Category scallop permit 
regulations. These vessels are not allowed to fish for, possess on 
board, or land any fish species other than scallops. Other than the 
seasonal closures between April and June, these regulations are 
consistent with those of the existing scallop dredge exemption areas 
defined at Sec.  648.80(a)(11) and (b)(11). Regulations governing the 
scallop fishery can be found at Sec.  648 subpart D.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 25 comment letters on the proposed rule; 18 letters 
were from General Category scallop vessel owner/operators, three were 
from industry representatives, one was from an individual, one was from 
a state-level fisheries management agency, one was from the Council, 
and one was from an environmental advocacy group. Although comments 
were received on the economic effects of the rule more generally, no 
public comments were received specifically on the economic analyses 
summarized in the IRFA. These comment letters could generally be 
divided into several main groups of similar comments, which are 
summarized below:
    Comment 1: Most letters from General Category scallop vessel owner/
operators indicated strong support for the GSC Area as proposed. Their 
personal observations agree with the low observed groundfish bycatch 
rates described in the proposed rule. Many described the economic 
hardships that they have endured since learning the Great South Channel 
was prohibited for General Category scallop vessels, and

[[Page 51781]]

requested that the area be opened as soon as possible.
    Response: The proposed rule and EA for this action identified that, 
based on the best available data, this exemption meets the bycatch 
requirements of the regulations (i.e., regulated multispecies bycatch 
is less than 5 percent of the total catch). The IRFA also described how 
the No Action alternative would have negative impacts on small entities 
in the affected communities. The RA has therefore approved the 
exemption and is implementing the GSC Area through this final rule.
    Comment 2: Four letters primarily support the establishment of the 
GSC Area, but requested that the boundaries be expanded to include one 
or two areas the commenters stated are important scallop fishing areas 
that were not included in the proposed rule. They stated that the 
spatial distribution of observed scallop dredge tows would support this 
expansion. The commenters indicated that the change in boundaries of 
the GSC Area should only be considered if it would not delay the 
implementation of the exemption; again citing economic hardship and a 
need to open the GSC Area as soon as possible.
    Response: NMFS reviewed the relevant data and found that an 
expansion of the GSC Area to include an area north of the northwest 
corner of Closed Area I was justified because of its relatively small 
size, and the fact that available data in this general area indicated 
low bycatch rates. This adjustment from the boundaries defined in the 
proposed rule are addressed in this final rule. This adjustment 
incorporates part of a larger potential exemption area which was 
analyzed as an alternative in the EA for this action. A more complete 
discussion of the justification and impacts of this modification are 
described in the EA, and were determined to not have any further 
significant impacts than previously identified in the draft EA.
    Comment 3: Many of the General Category scallop owner/operators 
argued that the GSC Area should be open solely because the limited 
access scallop fleet is already permitted to fish in the Great South 
Channel, and it is inequitable to prohibit General Category scallop 
vessels, which arguably have fewer impacts on habitat and fishery 
resources.
    Response: Because of the poor condition of many groundfish stocks, 
the NE multispecies regulations prohibit all vessels from fishing in 
the GOM, GB, and SNE Exemption Areas, unless the vessel is fishing 
under a groundfish or scallop DAS, is fishing with exempted gear, is 
fishing under the Small Vessel Handgear (A or B) or Party/Charter 
permit restrictions, or is fishing in an exempted fishery. An exempted 
fishery is a fishery where the bycatch of groundfish has been 
determined to be less than 5-percent of the total catch in that 
fishery. Under existing regulations, the General Category scallop 
fishery has only demonstrated that it would meet these bycatch 
requirements in the GOM and SNE Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas, and has 
therefore been limited to those specific areas. This final rule finds 
that this exempted fishery status now also applies to the Great South 
Channel. Additionally, although General Category effort expansion has 
not yet been specifically analyzed in the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
(Scallop) FMP, this action is not expected to result in increased 
effort in this fishery, but rather a redistribution of existing effort. 
The Council is also currently considering measures for General Category 
scallop vessels that would address issues with capacity, effort, and 
mortality in the long-term.
    Comment 4: The Council commented that it previously voted to 
support this exemption proposal if the RA found that the exemption 
would meet the bycatch and fishing mortality objectives of the 
regulations. The Council supports the establishment of the GSC Area as 
described in the proposed rule.
    Response: The regulations require that the RA consult with the 
Council before approving new exempted fisheries. The RA has found that 
the proposed exemption meets the requirements of the regulations, and 
the Council concurs with this determination.
    Comment 5: Two letters did not support the proposed rule to create 
the GSC Area. One letter did not provide any specific reasons for its 
arguments against the exemption. The other letter described its 
concerns in detail, citing the potentially negative impacts on habitat 
and bycatch species that the commenter believed could result from the 
increased dredge effort in the Great South Channel. This letter also 
proposed that NMFS should implement an annual bycatch quota in the GSC 
Area, similar to those utilized in the Scallop Access Area Program.
    Response: NMFS addressed the impacts that the proposed action would 
have on habitat and non-target species in the EA. It was acknowledged 
that this area provides important habitat for managed species of 
groundfish and that the proposed action will adversely impact EFH for 
those species. However, given the substantial amount of bottom trawling 
and dredging that already takes place in the area and the fact that the 
environment is naturally so dynamic, NMFS concluded that any additional 
adverse impacts that result from this action would be no more than 
minimal. Therefore, no management measures to mitigate for the adverse 
effects of this action are required (see 50 CFR 600.815(a)(2)(ii)). The 
EA does not include any quantitative data that would indicate more 
exactly how much additional bottom contact would result from this 
action, but rather notes that there is not enough information available 
to make such a prediction. However, NMFS believes that the amount of 
bottom disturbance caused by the existing fishing activity and the 
natural disturbance caused by bottom currents and storms far exceeds 
the additional disturbance that would result from this action. 
Additionally, impacts will be minimized to the extent practicable by 
limiting the size of the dredge gear to 10.5 ft (3.2 m), and with 
comparatively low daily trips limits, which would result in less bottom 
contact.
    As pointed out by the commenter, several closed area alternatives 
were analyzed in Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP that partially overlap 
with the proposed GSC Area. However, including the results of these 
analyses in the EA would not change the conclusions reached in the 
document. The commenter also suggested that this action could have a 
detrimental effect on the Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) 
designation process that is currently underway in New England. NMFS 
does not agree. This process is still in the very early stages. No 
management decisions that would affect fishing will be made until new 
HAPC areas are established. Until such time, fishing can continue in 
any potential HAPC. Allowing General Category scallop vessels into the 
GSC Area will not complicate the HAPC designation process or any 
subsequent decisions that would affect fishing in the area.
    As discussed above, based on the best available data, the bycatch 
of regulated multispecies in this exempted fishery is expected to be 
within the allowable limits defined in the regulations, and a seasonal 
closure to protect spawning yellowtail flounder will be implemented. 
Furthermore, the opening of the GSC Area is expected to redistribute 
the effort of the General Category scallop fishery, to some degree, 
from other areas where bycatch rates tend to be higher. With regard to 
annual bycatch quotas, such a measure is not warranted or practicable 
in an exempted fishery with very low bycatch rates. The observed 
bycatch rates in the adjacent Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access

[[Page 51782]]

Area, similar to those calculated for the GSC Area, average less than 1 
percent. Bycatch quotas could also pose negative social and economic 
effects by promoting rapid harvest rates to maximize landings before 
the quota is reached, as has been observed in the Scallop Access Area 
Program. A steady, long-term harvest rate would be more beneficial to 
the fishery as a whole, provided the bycatch rates remain low. 
Moreover, it would be impracticable to monitor on a real time basis, 
the very low bycatch levels in this fishery. The regulations allow for 
the periodic review and modification of exempted fisheries if it is 
determined that bycatch rates have risen above the acceptable 
thresholds.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    In Sec.  648.80, paragraph (a)(18)(i) is revised to include new 
coordinates for the boundary of the GSC Area.
    In Sec.  648.80, paragraph (a)(18)(ii)(D) is revised to include new 
coordinates for the boundary of the GSC CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Peak 
Spawning Closure.

Classification

    NMFS has determined that this final rule is consistent with the FMP 
and determined that the rule is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Because Sec.  648.80(a)(18) of this rule eliminates a prohibition 
on General Category scallop vessels fishing in the Great South Channel, 
thereby relieving a restriction, it is not subject to the 30-day 
delayed effectiveness provision of the APA pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1). The NE multispecies regulations at Sec.  648.80(a)(2)(viii) 
prohibit all vessels from fishing in the GOM/GB Exemption Area, unless 
the vessel is fishing under a groundfish or scallop DAS, is fishing 
with exempted gear, is fishing under the Small Vessel Handgear (A or B) 
or Party/Charter permit restrictions, or is fishing in an exempted 
fishery. Under existing regulations, the General Category scallop 
fishery has only demonstrated that it would meet these bycatch 
requirements in the GOM and SNE Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas, and has 
therefore been limited to those specific areas. This final rule finds 
that this exempted fishery status now also applies to the Great South 
Channel, thereby relieving the restrictions on General Category scallop 
vessels in this area.
    NMFS, pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
has prepared a FRFA in support of this action. The FRFA describes the 
economic impact that this final rule will have on small entities. The 
FRFA incorporates the economic impacts and analysis summarized in the 
IRFA for the proposed rule to implement the GSC Area (71 FR 38352), and 
the corresponding economic analyses prepared for this action in the EA 
and the RIR. The contents of these documents are not repeated in detail 
here. Copies of the IRFA, the RIR, and the EA are available upon 
request (see ADDRESSES). A description of the reasons for this action, 
the objectives of the action, and the legal basis for this final rule 
are found in the preamble to the proposed and final rules.
    There are no Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict 
with this final rule. This action will create a new scallop dredge 
exemption area for General Category scallop vessels in the GOM/GB 
Exemption Area. This action was compared to three different 
alternatives for the boundaries of the exemption area. Alternatives to 
the proposed exemption area included exempting all of statistical areas 
521 and 526, exempting the entirety of the GOM/GB Exemption Area, and a 
No Action alternative, which would continue to prohibit General 
Category scallop dredge vessels from fishing outside of the existing 
scallop dredge exemption areas.

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

    The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small commercial 
fishing entity as a firm with gross receipts not exceeding $4 million. 
As of March 2006, a total of 2,814 vessels had been issued open access 
General Category scallop permits in the NE region. Approximately 30 
percent of these were issued a Category 1B permit, which allows up to 
400 lb (181.4 kg) of scallop meats per trip, and are considered to be 
vessels that primarily rely on scallops for the bulk of their revenues. 
Any of these permitted vessels would be allowed to participate in this 
exemption program, but the area proposed to be exempt has traditionally 
been mostly fished by vessels from Massachusetts and Maine. Average 
2005 scallop revenues for General Category scallop vessels was $87,369 
per vessel, though there was great variation from vessel to vessel, 
ranging from less than $7,000 to over $160,000 per vessel. The majority 
of these vessels also receive additional revenues from landings of a 
variety of other species. Each vessel in this analysis is treated as a 
single entity for purposes of size determination and impact assessment. 
All commercial fishing entities would fall under the SBA size standard 
for small commercial fishing entities. Therefore, there is no 
differential impact between large and small entities. A more complete 
description of the General Category fishery can be found in Framework 
Adjustment 18 to the Scallop FMP, available from the Council 
(www.nefmc.org).

Economic Impacts of This Action

    The economic impacts of the action are expected to be positive. 
This action will open a valuable scallop fishing ground to the General 
Category scallop fleet, and allow the fleet to utilize these resources 
in a manner consistent with the bycatch and mortality objectives of the 
FMP. The demand for scallops has increased significantly in recent 
years, and revenues for General Category vessels are also expected to 
increase if the exemption area is approved. There is evidence that some 
General Category vessels have been fishing in this area for years, 
despite the fact that it is outside of the existing Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Areas. Their profits from scallop fishing have declined since 
access to this area was prohibited and enforced. The ports in Cape Cod 
and southern Massachusetts will be the most impacted, due to their 
proximity to the proposed exemption area.

Economic Impacts of Other Non-Selected Alternatives

    Three alternatives other than the preferred alternative were 
considered. The alternative that proposed to exempt the entirety of 
statistical areas 521 and 526 throughout the year to General Category 
scallop vessels, and the alternative that proposed to exempt the much 
larger area of the GOM/GB Exemption Area year-round would also have 
positive impacts; possibly slightly more positive than the preferred 
alternative due to the larger exempted area and the lack of a closure 
period. These alternatives were rejected, however, due primarily to the 
lack of observer data needed to estimate the bycatch rates of regulated 
multispecies throughout these areas. The No Action alternative was the 
only alternative that could pose negative economic impacts by 
continuing to prohibit General Category scallop vessels from fishing in 
the Great South Channel.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of

[[Page 51783]]

1996 states that, for each rule for which an agency is required to 
prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist 
small entities in complying with the rule, and shall designate such 
publications as ``small entity compliance guides.'' The agency shall 
explain the actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a 
rule. As part of this rulemaking process, a small entity compliance 
guide was prepared. The guide will be sent to all holders of permits 
issued for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. In addition, copies of 
this final rule and guide (i.e., permit holder letter) are available 
from the Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: August 25, 2006.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for RegulatoryPrograms, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended as 
follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as 
follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  648.14, paragraph (a)(43) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (43) Violate any of the provisions of Sec.  648.80, including 
paragraphs (a)(5), the small-mesh northern shrimp fishery exemption 
area; (a)(6), the Cultivator Shoal whiting fishery exemption area; 
(a)(9), Small-mesh Area 1/Small-mesh Area 2; (a)(10), the Nantucket 
Shoals dogfish fishery exemption area; (a)(11), the GOM Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Area; (a)(12), the Nantucket Shoals mussel and sea urchin 
dredge exemption area; (a)(13), the GOM/GB monkfish gillnet exemption 
area; (a)(14), the GOM/GB dogfish gillnet exemption area; (a)(15), the 
Raised Footrope Trawl Exempted Whiting Fishery; (a)(18), the Great 
South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area; (b)(3), exemptions (small 
mesh); (b)(5); the SNE monkfish and skate trawl exemption area; (b)(6), 
the SNE monkfish and skate gillnet exemption area; (b)(8), the SNE 
mussel and sea urchin dredge exemption area; (b)(9), the SNE little 
tunny gillnet exemption area; and (b)(11), the SNE Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Area. Each violation of any provision in Sec.  648.80 
constitutes a separate violation.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  648.80, paragraphs (a)(3)(viii) and (a)(7)(ii) are revised, 
and paragraph (a)(18) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.80  NE Multispecies regulated mesh areas and restrictions on 
gear and methods of fishing.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (viii) Other restrictions and exemptions. Vessels are prohibited 
from fishing in the GOM/GB Exemption Area as defined in paragraph 
(a)(17) of this section, except if fishing with exempted gear (as 
defined under this part) or under the exemptions specified in 
paragraphs (a)(5) through (7), (a)(9) through (16), (a)(18), (d), (e), 
(h), and (i) of this section; or if fishing under a NE multispecies 
DAS; or if fishing under the Small Vessel or Handgear A exemptions 
specified in Sec.  648.82(u)(5) and (6), respectively; or if fishing 
under a scallop DAS in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section; 
or if fishing pursuant to a NE multispecies open access Charter/Party 
or Handgear permit, or if fishing as a charter/party or private 
recreational vessel in compliance with the regulations specified in 
Sec.  648.89. Any gear on a vessel, or used by a vessel, in this area 
must be authorized under one of these exemptions or must be stowed as 
specified in Sec.  648.23(b).
* * * * *
    (7) * * *
    (ii) Vessels subject to the minimum mesh size restrictions 
specified in paragraphs (a)(3) or (4) of this section may transit 
through the Scallop Dredge Fishery Exemption Areas defined in 
paragraphs (a)(11) and (18) of this section with nets on board with a 
mesh size smaller than the minimum size specified, provided that the 
nets are stowed in accordance with one of the methods specified in 
Sec.  648.23(b), and provided the vessel has no fish on board.
* * * * *
    (18) Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area. Vessels 
issued a limited access scallop permit that have declared out of the 
DAS program as specified in Sec.  648.10, or that have used up their 
DAS allocations, and vessels issued a General Category scallop permit, 
may fish in the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area as 
defined under paragraph (a)(18)(i) of this section, when not under a NE 
multispecies or scallop DAS, provided the vessel complies with the 
requirements specified in paragraph (a)(18)(ii) of this section.
    (i) Area Definition. The Great South Channel Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Area is defined by the straight lines connecting the 
following points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting the 
area are available from the Regional Administrator upon request):

            Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point                       N. lat.         W. long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GSC 1..................................  42[deg]06 [min]       69[deg]40
                                                                   [min]
GSC 2..................................  41[deg]30 [min]       69[deg]10
                                                                   [min]
GSC 3..................................  41[deg]30 [min]       69[deg]23
                                                                   [min]
GSC 4..................................  40[deg]50 [min]     68[deg]49.2
                                                                   [min]
GSC 5..................................  40[deg]50 [min]    69[deg]29.46
                                                                   [min]
GSC 6..................................  41[deg]10 [min]       69[deg]50
                                                                   [min]
GSC 7..................................  41[deg]10 [min]       70[deg]00
                                                                   [min]
GSC 8..................................  41[deg]35 [min]       70[deg]00
                                                                   [min]
GSC 9..................................  41[deg]35 [min]       69[deg]40
                                                                   [min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Requirements. (A) A vessel fishing in the Great South Channel 
Scallop Dredge Exemption Area specified in this paragraph (a)(18) may 
not fish for, possess on board, or land any species of fish other than 
Atlantic sea scallops.
    (B) The combined dredge width in use by, or in possession on board, 
vessels fishing in the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption 
Area may not exceed 10.5 ft (3.2 m), measured at the widest point in 
the bail of the dredge.
    (C) GSC SNE/GB Yellowtail Flounder Peak Spawning Closure. No vessel 
that qualifies under this exemption, as defined in this paragraph 
(a)(18), may fish for or possess Atlantic sea scallops in the part of 
the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area that lies within 
the SNE and GB yellowtail flounder stock areas (statistical areas 525 
and 526) between April 1 and June 30, as defined by the straight lines 
connecting the following points in the order stated below.

             GSC SNE/GB Yellowtail Flounder Spawning Closure
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Point                      N. lat.          W. long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
YTA 1................................  41[deg]20         70[deg]00 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 2................................  41[deg]20         69[deg]50 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 3................................  41[deg]10         69[deg]50 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 4................................  41[deg]10         69[deg]30 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 5................................  41[deg]00         69[deg]30 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 6................................  41[deg]00            68[deg]57.58
                                        [min]                      [min]
YTA 7................................  40[deg]50            68[deg]49.20
                                        [min]                      [min]
YTA 8................................  40[deg]50            69[deg]29.46
                                        [min]                      [min]
YTA 9................................  41[deg]10         69[deg]50 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 10...............................  41[deg]10         70[deg]00 [min]
                                        [min]
YTA 11...............................  \(1)\             70[deg]00 [min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\(1)\ Intersection of south-facing coastline of Nantucket, MA, and
  70[deg]00 [min] W. Long.

    (D) GSC CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Peak Spawning Closure. No vessel 
that

[[Page 51784]]

qualifies under this exemption, as defined in this paragraph (a)(18), 
may fish for or possess Atlantic sea scallops in the part of the Great 
South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area that lies within the CC/GOM 
yellowtail flounder stock area (statistical area 521) between June 1 
and June 30 of each year, as defined by the straight lines connecting 
the following points in the order stated below.

             GSC CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder Spawning Closure
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point                       N. lat.         W. long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
YTB 1..................................  41[deg]33.05          70[deg]00
                                          [min]                    [min]
YTB 2..................................  41[deg]20 [min]       70[deg]00
                                                                   [min]
YTB 3..................................  41[deg]20 [min]       69[deg]50
                                                                   [min]
YTB 4..................................  41[deg]10 [min]       69[deg]50
                                                                   [min]
YTB 5..................................  41[deg]10 [min]       69[deg]30
                                                                   [min]
YTB 6..................................  41[deg]00 [min]       69[deg]30
                                                                   [min]
YTB 7..................................  41[deg]00 [min]    68[deg]57.58
                                                                   [min]
YTB 8..................................  41[deg]30 [min]       69[deg]23
                                                                   [min]
YTB 9..................................  41[deg]30 [min]       69[deg]10
                                                                   [min]
YTB 10.................................  42[deg]06 [min]       69[deg]40
                                                                   [min]
YTB 11.................................  41[deg]35 [min]       69[deg]40
                                                                   [min]
YTB 12.................................  41[deg]35 [min]       70[deg]00
                                                                   [min]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
5. Sec.  648.81, paragraph (g)(2)(iii) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.81  NE multispecies closed areas and measures to protect EFH.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) That are fishing with or using scallop dredge gear when 
fishing under a scallop DAS, and provided that the vessel complies with 
the NE multispecies possession restrictions for scallop vessels 
specified at Sec.  648.80(h); or when lawfully fishing in the Scallop 
Dredge Fishery Exemption Areas, as described in paragraphs (a)(11) and 
(18) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 06-7270 Filed 8-25-06; 4:23 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S