Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Revision of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements for Commercial Gulf Reef Fish Vessels, 73270-73274 [E7-25068]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73270-73274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25068]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No.070719385-7574-02]
RIN 0648-AV59


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Revision of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements for Commercial 
Gulf Reef Fish Vessels

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to revise VMS requirements 
applicable to the commercial reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico 
(Gulf) and to revise the allowable methods for complying with the 
advance notification of landing requirement in the Gulf red snapper 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. Regarding the VMS program, this 
final rule allows commercial reef fish vessel owners or operators to 
reduce the frequency of VMS transmissions while in port; extends the 
existing power-down exemption to include reef fish vessels while in 
port; and adds a grandfather clause to address VMS units approved for 
use in the Gulf reef fish fishery. Regarding the IFQ program, this 
final rule expands the allowable methods for communicating the required 
advance notification of landing. The intended effects of this final 
rule are to resolve an unanticipated technological problem with the VMS 
draining power from vessels that are in port without access to external 
power sources; provide a grandfather clause for previously approved 
Gulf reef fish VMS units; and facilitate compliance with the advance 
notification of landing requirement in the IFQ program. Finally, NMFS 
informs the public of the approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) of the collection-of-information requirements contained in 
this final rule and publishes the OMB control numbers for those 
collections.

DATES: This rule is effective January 28, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) 
may be obtained from Peter Hood, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone 727-824-5305; 
fax 727-824-5308; e-mail peter.hood@noaa.gov.
    Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of 
the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule 
may be submitted in writing to Jason Rueter at the Southeast Regional 
Office address (above) and to David Rostker, OMB, by e-mail at David--
Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or by fax to 202-395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, telephone 727-824-5305; 
fax 727-824-5308; e-mail peter.hood@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef fish fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf 
of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and is implemented 
through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).
    On August 6, 2007, NMFS published the proposed rule to revise VMS 
requirements applicable to the commercial Gulf reef fish fishery and 
revise the allowable methods for complying with the advance 
notification of landing requirement in the Gulf red snapper IFQ program 
and requested public comment (72 FR 43583). The rationale for the 
measures contained in this final rule is provided in the preamble to 
the proposed rule and is not repeated here.

Comments and Responses

    Comment 1: Several commenters indicated the 4-hour in port 
reporting exemption, while it would reduce the overall power 
consumption by VMS units, was insufficient to address the VMS power 
drain issue addressed in this final rule. Commenters suggested reducing 
in-port reporting to less than once every 4 hours, for example, once 
every 12 hours. Other suggestions included using a vessel's ignition 
switch to power VMS units on and off, or tying VMS units to global 
positioning systems (GPS), so VMS only power on when vessels are in 
motion.
    Response: The 4-hour in port reporting exemption is designed to 
reduce battery power drain when vessels have returned from fishing 
activities. If the vessel is not used for an extended period of time, 
batteries could be drained while in port creating safety problems for 
vessels. Vendors of VMS units have indicated a 4-hour reporting 
interval, while in port and without access to external power sources, 
should reduce the battery drain sufficiently to solve this issue. 
However, for vessel owners/operators who anticipate their vessels to be 
inactive for longer periods, this rule also provides the ability for 
them to power down their VMS unit if in port or continuously out of the 
water for more than 72 hours. This can be accomplished through the 
power-down exemption from NMFS OLE. Once an owner/operator is 
authorized to use this exemption, they need only send a report via 
their vessel's VMS terminal to the NMFS OLE VMS program each time they 
meet the power-down exemption criteria and wish to power down their VMS 
unit.
    Revising the in port reporting interval to time periods longer than 
4 hours would require VMS vendors to reconfigure their units to a time 
period longer than they recommend is needed to solve this problem. The 
power-down exemption provides owners/operators an alternative to the 4-
hour in port reporting exemption to conserve battery power. Currently 
VMS units are tied to GPS such that if a vessel enters or leaves a 
port, the vessel's VMS unit recognizes this movement and activates the 
VMS accordingly (i.e., once every 4 hours in port or once every hour 
out of port). The rationale for requiring 1-hour position reports once 
a vessel is out of port, even when the vessel is not moving, is to 
ensure that vessel owners/operators are not engaging in illegal 
activities, such as anchoring in closed areas, or fishing during closed 
seasons. NMFS OLE currently does not allow VMS units to be powered on 
or off through the ignition system, and is not considering this as an 
allowable capability at this time. This could create another safety 
issue by draining battery power should the ignition switch be left on 
when the engine is not running.
    Comment 2: One commenter expressed concern about who will pay for 
VMS units to be reconfigured to allow in-port reporting, power-down 
exemption requests, trip declarations, and red snapper IFQ program 3-
hour notifications. The commenter also expressed concern about the cost 
of the actual transmission of these reports through the VMS terminal.

[[Page 73271]]

    Response: Configuring VMS units to allow 4-hour in port reporting, 
as well as placing and upgrading OLE required forms on the VMS units, 
is paid for by NMFS. This includes forms for trip declarations, power-
down exemptions, and red snapper IFQ 3-hour notifications. Actual 
notifications and power-down requests sent by owners/operators to NMFS 
OLE through their VMS units are paid by vessel owners/operators to 
their respective VMS communication provider. The cost of the 
transmission depends on the type of VMS unit and communication provider 
plan purchased by the vessel owner/operator. Forms developed by NMFS to 
transmit the required information are designed to minimize costs to the 
fishermen. Estimated cost per transmission of the NMFS-based forms is 
estimated to range between approximately 13 and 24 cents, based on the 
type of form. Trip declarations and IFQ 3-hour notifications may also 
be transmitted via phone and IFQ 3-hour notifications may be 
transmitted through the internet, on the red snapper IFQ website. For 
the power-down exemption, requests to power-down the VMS unit would 
require a report sent through the VMS unit. Depending on which VMS 
communication provider an owner/operator uses, powering down the VMS 
unit could result in a cost savings because position reports would not 
be sent during this time.
    Comment 3: One commenter expressed concern regarding how often 
power-down exemptions need to be requested. The commenter asked if 
power-downs could only be requested through the VMS unit, and how much 
time was required to approve an exemption request.
    Response: Power-down exemptions need only be applied for once and 
the letter authorizing the exemption is required to remain on the 
vessel when the VMS unit is powered down. Power-down exemption 
applications are available online at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/vms/
vms.htm or from OLE at NOAA Fisheries Service, Office for Law 
Enforcement, Southeast Region, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 
FL 33701. Approval for a power-down exemption should take no more than 
5 days. Once a power-down exemption letter has been authorized for a 
vessel, an owner/operator will only need to successfully send a report 
via their VMS unit to NMFS OLE, containing the required information, 
prior to each power down.
    Comment 4: Two commenters suggested vessels having both a for-hire 
and commercial reef fish permit should be allowed to power down their 
VMS unit when fishing as a for-hire vessel in order to save power.
    Response: Current regulations state an owner or operator of a 
vessel that has been issued a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef 
fish, including a charter vessel/headboat issued such a permit, even 
when under charter, must ensure that such vessel has an operating VMS 
unit approved by NMFS for use in the Gulf reef fish fishery on board at 
all times, regardless of whether the vessel is underway or in port, 
unless exempted by NMFS under the power down exemptions.
    Comment 5: Three commenters expressed concern that repairs to VMS 
units can be time consuming. Two of these commenters requested VMS 
vendors or fleet owners be allowed to carry ``loaner'' units to replace 
VMS units being serviced.
    Response: The time needed for a vendor to install a ``loaner'' VMS 
unit and for NMFS OLE to verify the unit is working properly will 
likely take more time than repairing a VMS unit. Current operating 
agreements with VMS vendors require vendors to state their operating 
procedures for VMS unit repairs. These repairs should be completed in a 
timely manner. If an owner or operator of a vessel experiences delays 
in the repair of their unit, they should report the details of the 
needed repair and problems encountered immediately to NMFS OLE. NMFS 
OLE will investigate the incident and work with the vendor and owner or 
operator of the VMS unit to rectify the problem.
    Comment 6: Several commenters expressed that VMS units are an 
unnecessary burden on commercial reef fish fishermen, creating both 
economic and social hardships. Additionally, several people commented 
that VMS units are not practical for smaller vessels, stating that 
these vessels rarely venture far enough offshore to enter closed areas 
and have little room to safely house the VMS units.
    Response: These comments fall outside the scope of this rule which 
only addresses VMS reporting requirements, VMS power-down exemptions, 
and red snapper IFQ 3-hour notification reporting methods. However, 
regulations implementing the Reef Fish FMP contains several area-
specific measures in which fishing is restricted or prohibited to 
protect habitat, protect spawning aggregations, or reduce fishing 
pressure. Unlike size, bag, and trip limits, where the catch can be 
monitored when a vessel returns to port, area restrictions require at-
sea enforcement. Because of the sizes of these areas and their 
distances from shore, the effectiveness of enforcement through over 
flights and at-sea interception is limited. VMS allows a more effective 
means to monitor vessels for intrusions into restricted areas, and 
could be an important component of a possible future electronic logbook 
system.
    VMS units were required on all commercial reef fish vessels rather 
than just larger vessels, such as longliners, because most of the area 
restrictions in the Gulf of Mexico, with the exception of the longline/
buoy gear boundary and the stressed area boundary, apply to all gear 
types. The size of VMS units should not be a factor. The size of the 
computer and monitor of the system is no larger than other commonly 
used electronic equipment such as radios and fish-finders.
    Comment 7: Several commenters expressed concern about the security 
of vessel location data.
    Response: This comment falls outside the scope of this rule. Vessel 
location data may be disclosed to fishery managers and enforcement 
agents, or when required by a court order. Computers and monitors 
showing vessel location data are maintained in secure rooms, and access 
to these rooms is restricted to authorized personnel. Individuals may 
request vessel location data for their own permitted vessel(s). NMFS 
will respond to any other request for vessel location data consistent 
with the confidentiality provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the 
Freedom of Information Act, particularly Exemption (b)(4) pertaining to 
trade secrets or other confidential business information.

Changes from the Proposed Rule

    In Sec.  622.9(a)(2)(iv)(D), the requirement for an e-mail 
confirmation of a power-down authorization from NMFS OLE has been 
removed, and revised language has been added to require only that the 
person requesting the power-down exemption receive a confirmation, 
through the VMS terminal, that the power-down report was successfully 
delivered. NMFS believes that this revision will result in more timely 
and efficient processing of power-down exemption requests without 
compromising enforceability.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS determined that 
this rule is necessary for the conservation and management of the 
commercial Gulf reef fish fishery and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.

[[Page 73272]]

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared a FRFA for this final rule. The FRFA incorporates the 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a summary of the 
significant economic issues raised by public comments, NMFS responses 
to those comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support 
the action. A copy of the full analysis is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES). A summary of the analysis follows.
    This rule will allow vessels ``in port'' to send a VMS position 
report once every 4 hours, rather than every hour, and extend the VMS 
power-down exemption to vessels that are ``in port,'' subject to 
obtaining a letter of exemption and following OLE notification and 
confirmation procedures, rather than require removal of the vessel from 
the water (dry-docking) for the exemption. This rule will also allow 
continued use of a VMS unit that was previously approved for the Gulf 
reef fish fishery if that unit is subsequently removed from the 
approved list. This grandfathering is limited to the life of the 
grandfathered VMS unit. Once the grandfathered unit is no longer 
functional, a VMS unit from the approved list is required. Finally, 
this rule will broaden allowable methods for advance notification of 
landing in the commercial red snapper fishery.
    The objectives of this rule are to address an unanticipated 
technological problem in the VMS requirements for the Gulf of Mexico 
commercial reef fish fishery that could result in power drainage of 
vessels ``in port'' that lack an external power source, include a 
grandfather clause in the VMS requirements, and expand the methods for 
advance notification of landing in the commercial red snapper IFQ 
fishery.
    No significant economic issues were raised by public comments. 
Therefore, no changes were made in the final rule as a result of such 
comments.
    The VMS components of the rule will apply to all vessels permitted 
to operate in the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery. Some 
for-hire vessels also participate in the commercial reef fish fishery, 
and this sector is included in the following description of affected 
entities. The advance notification of landing component of the rule 
will apply to only that subset of the commercial reef fish fishery 
vessels that also operate in the commercial red snapper IFQ fishery.
    The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established size 
criteria for all major industry sectors in the U.S. including fish 
harvesters, for-hire operations, fish processors, and fish dealers. A 
business involved in fish harvesting 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 average 
annual total receipts not in excess of $4.0 million (NAICS code 114111, 
finfish fishing) for all affiliated operations worldwide. For for-hire 
operations, the other qualifiers apply and the average annual receipts 
threshold is $6.5 million (NAICS code 713990, recreational industries).
    Approximately 1,145 vessels are estimated to be permitted to 
operate in the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery. Over the 
period 2001-2003, an average of 1,050 vessels per year landed an 
average total of 19.2 million lb (8.7 million kg) gutted weight (GW) of 
Gulf reef fish per year with an ex-vessel value of $50.75 million (2006 
dollars). Median annual reef fish landings were 5,705 lb (2,588 kg) per 
vessel. The median vessel took 12 trips per year, spent approximately 
31 days at sea annually, and derived approximately 98 percent of its 
gross revenues from reef fish harvests. Median gross revenues from all 
species harvested by these vessels, which includes non-reef fish 
species, were approximately $19,000 (2006 dollars) for each of the 3 
years.
    The commercial reef fish fishery is conducted using two primary 
gears, longlines and hand or vertical lines. Within the longline fleet, 
over the same period (2001-2003), an average of 166 vessels per year 
landed an average total of approximately 6.5 million lb (3.0 million 
kg) GW of reef fish per year with an ex-vessel value of approximately 
$17.64 million (2006 dollars). The median vessel took 14 trips per 
year, spent 113-121 days at sea annually, and derived approximately 97 
percent of its gross revenues from reef fish harvests. Median gross 
revenues per year from all species harvested by these vessels ranged 
from approximately $109,000 (2006 dollars) to $115,000 (2006 dollars).
    Within the vertical-line fleet, over the same period (2001-2003), 
an average of 899 vessels per year landed an average total of 
approximately 11.6 million lb (5.3 million kg) GW of reef fish per year 
with an ex-vessel value of approximately $30.44 million (2006 dollars). 
The median vessel took 14 trips per year, spent 33-35 days at sea 
annually, and derived approximately 97 percent of its gross revenues 
from reef fish harvests. Median gross revenues from all species 
harvested by these vessels were approximately $15,000 (2006 dollars) 
for each of the 3 years.
    Alternative estimates derived from 1994 fishery data of the 
performance of vessels in this fishery show annual average gross and 
net revenues per vessel range from approximately $27,000 (2006 dollars) 
in gross revenues and $5,000 (2006 dollars) in net revenues for low-
volume handline vessels to approximately $133,000 (2006 dollars) 
($25,000 net) for high-volume longline vessels. These values are 
comparable to the more recent estimates of ex-vessel revenues and 
provide insight to net revenue estimates, which are not available from 
the more recent data.
    Vessels that operate in the commercial red snapper fishery are part 
of the commercial reef fish fishery and are included in the description 
of the reef fish vessels provided above. With the implementation of the 
two-class license system in the red snapper fishery in 1998, 764 
vessels were licensed to participate in the commercial red snapper 
fishery, though only 616 vessels recorded landings through 2004. 
Summary statistics specific to the red snapper fishery comparable to 
those of the reef fish fishery as a whole are not available. Further, 
substantial changes in the composition and characteristics of the 
commercial red snapper fleet are anticipated to develop under the IFQ 
program implemented in January 2007. Projections of fleet size under 
the IFQ program, which are expected to result from consolidation of 
quota shares, do not exceed 100 vessels. Total fleet-wide net revenues 
to owners, captain and crew from all species harvested by vessels 
operating in the red snapper fishery are estimated to range from 
approximately $14.5 million (2006 dollars) to approximately $26 million 
(2006 dollars) under annual total allowable catch (TAC) levels for 
harvest from all sectors of 5.0 million lb (2.3 million kg) and 9.12 
million lb (4.14 million kg), respectively, of which the commercial 
fishery is allocated 51 percent of the TAC. Based on these revenue 
projections, the average net revenue per vessel would range from 
$145,000 to $260,000 (2006 dollars) if the fleet consolidates to 100 
vessels, or $290,000 to $520,000 (2006 dollars) if the fleet 
consolidates to 50 vessels.
    Approximately 237 vessels permitted to participate as for-hire 
vessels (charterboats or headboats) also possess commercial reef fish 
permits. While these vessels are included in the description of 
commercial vessels provided above, in general, for-hire vessels would 
be expected to have

[[Page 73273]]

different production profiles than vessels that operate exclusively as 
commercial vessels. Production characteristics likely vary by the 
extent to which a vessel operated primarily as a commercial vessel or a 
for-hire vessel. However, information is only available on the for-hire 
fleet as a whole, and production characteristics for vessels that 
operate in both commercial fisheries and the for-hire fishery are 
unknown. On average, charterboats, which charge a fee on a boat-wide 
basis, generate approximately $82,000 (2006 dollars) in annual revenues 
and approximately $39,000 in annual operating profits. The average 
headboat, which charges a fee on the individual passenger (head) basis, 
generates approximately $431,000 (2006 dollars) in annual revenues and 
approximately $361,000 in annual operating profits.
    Some fleet activity exists in the commercial red snapper fishery 
and in the commercial finfish fisheries in general, but the extent of 
such activity is unknown. The maximum number of reef fish permits 
reported owned by the same entity is six permits. Additional 
affiliation may exist between permits (and the revenues associated with 
those permits) and an entity, but cannot be identified using existing 
data. Given the average economic performance provided above, NMFS 
determines that all entities operating in the Gulf of Mexico commercial 
reef fish fishery are, for purposes of this analysis, to be small 
business entities.
    This rule will reduce current electronic reporting requirements 
when a vessel is ``in port'' and simplify conditions for power-down 
exemptions. The requirement for these vessels to have a type-approved 
VMS unit would remain, and the operation of these units does not 
require specialized skill. The email notification requirements and 
power-down exemption application procedures will remain and do not 
require special skills. The expansion of landing notification methods 
will encompass other electronic means. The commercial red snapper IFQ 
program was designed around and requires an electronic environment in 
order to set up accounts and manage transactions. Therefore, the new 
methods are unlikely to require new or special skills by fishery 
participants. Further, no single method will be required, such that a 
participant could select the method that best fits his skills and 
circumstances.
    All Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish permitted vessels will be 
affected by this rule. Since all of these vessels have been determined 
for the purpose of this analysis to be small business entities, it is 
determined that this rule is expected to affect a substantial number of 
small entities. Since all entities that will be affected by this rule 
have been determined to be small business entities, the issue of 
disproportionality of impacts between large and small entities does not 
arise.
    No direct or indirect adverse economic effects on any affected 
entities are expected to occur as a result of this rule. Therefore, no 
reductions in profitability for any entities are expected. This rule 
will reduce the frequency with which the required VMS units will be 
required to send an electronic location signal when vessels are ``in 
port'' and not actively fishing. This is expected to reduce the power 
requirements for vessel operation, reducing the likelihood of battery 
drainage and compromised vessel operation and safety. This rule will 
also expand qualification conditions for vessels seeking power-down 
exemptions to the VMS operating requirements to apply to vessels being 
``in port'' and not require removal of the vessel from the water (dry-
docking). This is expected to further reduce the power requirements and 
compliance costs to qualify for exemption, since vessels could remain 
on the water. Allowing the continued use of a VMS unit that is removed 
from the list of type-approved units is expected to reduce the need to 
replace units before the end of their service life, allowing vessels to 
receive the full economic benefits of their unit. Finally, expanding 
the methods that vessels in the commercial red snapper fishery can use 
to satisfy the advance landing notification requirements is expected to 
reduce the likelihood that unloading and sale of their harvests would 
be delayed, thereby avoiding the costs of such delay and increasing the 
profitability of their operation.
    The alternative considered to the rule was the status quo, or no 
action. The status quo would maintain current VMS program requirements, 
maintain the current unanticipated technological problem associated 
with potential power drainage, require vessels to replace VMS units 
that were previously type-approved but are removed from the approved 
list, and limit vessels in the commercial red snapper fishery to a 
single method of satisfying the advance landing notification 
requirement. Thus, the status quo would not achieve the NMFS 
objectives.
    This final rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and which have been 
approved by OMB under Control Number 0648-0544 for VMS reporting 
requirements and Control Number 0648-0551 for Gulf red snapper IFQ 
reporting requirements. Public reporting for the VMS-related 
requirements is estimated to average 24 seconds for transmission of 
position reports and 10 minutes for submission of requests for power-
down exemptions. Public reporting for the IFQ-related advance 
notification of landing is estimated to average 3 minutes. These 
estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments 
regarding these burden estimates or any other aspect of this data 
collection, including suggestions for reducing burden hours, to NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES) and by email to David--Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax to 
202-395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of 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.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Virgin Islands.

    Dated: December 20, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended as 
follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.9, paragraph (a)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  622.9  Vessel monitoring systems (VMSs).

    (a) * * *
    (2) Gulf reef fish. The VMS requirements of this paragraph (a)(2) 
apply throughout the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent states.
    (i) General VMS requirement. An owner or operator of a vessel that 
has been issued a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish, 
including a charter vessel/headboat issued such a permit even when 
under charter, must ensure that such vessel has an operating VMS 
approved by NMFS for use in the Gulf reef fish fishery on board at all 
times

[[Page 73274]]

whether or not the vessel is underway, unless exempted by NMFS under 
the power-down exemptions specified in paragraph (a)(2)(iv) of this 
section and in the NOAA Enforcement Vessel Monitoring System 
Requirements for the Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. This NOAA 
Enforcement Vessel Monitoring System Requirements document is available 
from NMFS, Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), Southeast Region, 263 13th 
Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; phone: 800-758-4833. An 
operating VMS includes an operating mobile transmitting unit on the 
vessel and a functioning communication link between the unit and NMFS 
as provided by a NMFS-approved communication service provider. NMFS OLE 
maintains a current list of approved VMS units and communication 
providers which is available from the VMS Support Center, NMFS OLE, 
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by calling 
toll free 888-219-9228. If a VMS unit approved for the Gulf reef fish 
fishery is removed from the approved list by NMFS OLE, a vessel owner 
who purchased and installed such a VMS unit prior to its removal from 
the approved list will be considered to be in compliance with the 
requirement to have an approved unit, unless otherwise notified by NMFS 
OLE. At the end of a VMS unit's service life, it must be replaced with 
a currently approved unit for the fishery.
    (ii) Hourly reporting requirement. An owner or operator of a vessel 
subject to the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section must 
ensure that the required VMS unit transmits a signal indicating the 
vessel's accurate position at least once an hour, 24 hours a day every 
day unless exempted under paragraphs (a)(2)(iii) or (iv) of this 
section.
    (iii) In-port exemption. While in port, an owner or operator of a 
vessel with a type-approved VMS unit configured with the 4-hour 
reporting feature may utilize the 4-hour reporting feature rather than 
comply with the hourly reporting requirement specified in paragraph 
(a)(2)(ii) of this section. Once the vessel is no longer in port, the 
hourly reporting requirement specified in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this 
section applies. For the purposes of this paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section, ``in port'' means secured at a land-based facility, or moored 
or anchored after the return to a dock, berth, beach, seawall, or ramp.
    (iv) Power-down exemptions. An owner or operator of a vessel 
subject to the requirement to have a VMS operating at all times as 
specified in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section can be exempted from 
that requirement and may power down the required VMS unit if--
    (A) The vessel will be continuously out of the water or in port, as 
defined in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section, for more than 72 
consecutive hours;
    (B) The owner or operator of the vessel applies for and obtains a 
valid letter of exemption from NMFS OLE VMS personnel as specified in 
the NOAA Enforcement Vessel Monitoring System Requirements for the Reef 
Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. This is a one-time requirement. The 
letter of exemption must be maintained on board the vessel and remains 
valid for all subsequent power-down requests conducted consistent with 
the provisions of paragraphs (a)(2)(iv)(C) and (D) of this section.
    (C) Prior to each power-down, the owner or operator of the vessel 
files a report to NMFS OLE VMS program personnel, using the VMS unit's 
e-mail, that includes the name of the person filing the report, vessel 
name, vessel U.S. Coast Guard documentation number or state 
registration number, commercial vessel reef fish permit number, vessel 
port location during VMS power down, estimated duration of the power 
down exemption, and reason for power down; and
    (D) The owner or operator enters the power-down code through the 
use of the VMS Declaration form on the terminal and, prior to powering 
down the VMS, receives a confirmation, through the VMS terminal, that 
the form was successfully delivered.
    (v) Declaration of fishing trip and gear. Prior to departure for 
each trip, a vessel owner or operator must report to NMFS any fishery 
the vessel will participate in on that trip and the specific type(s) of 
fishing gear, using NMFS-defined gear codes, that will be on board the 
vessel. This information may be reported to NMFS using the toll-free 
number, 888-219-9228, or via an attached VMS terminal.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  622.16, paragraph (c)(3)(i) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  622.16  Gulf red snapper individual fishing quota (IFQ) program.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) Advance notice of landing. For the purpose of this paragraph, 
landing means to arrive at a dock, berth, beach, seawall, or ramp. The 
owner or operator of a vessel landing IFQ red snapper is responsible 
for ensuring that NMFS is contacted at least 3 hours, but no more than 
12 hours, in advance of landing to report the time and location of 
landing and the name of the IFQ dealer where the red snapper are to be 
received. Authorized methods for contacting NMFS and submitting the 
report include calling NMFS Office for Law Enforcement at 1-866-425-
7627, completing and submitting to NMFS the notification form provided 
through the VMS unit, or providing the required information to NMFS 
through the web-based form available on the IFQ website at 
ifq.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov. As new technology becomes available, NMFS will 
add other authorized methods for complying with the advance 
notification requirement, via appropriate rulemaking. Failure to comply 
with this advance notice of landing requirement is unlawful and will 
preclude authorization to complete the landing transaction report 
required in paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section and, thus, will 
preclude issuance of the required transaction approval code.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-25068 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S