Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Implementation of the Shark Conservation Act of 2010, 25685-25690 [2013-10439]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25685-25690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10439]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 111014628-3329-01]
RIN 0648-BB54


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Implementation of the Shark 
Conservation Act of 2010

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 a rule to implement the provisions of the Shark 
Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA) and prohibit any person from removing 
any of the fins of a shark at sea, possessing shark fins on board a 
fishing vessel unless they are naturally attached to the corresponding 
carcass, transferring or receiving fins from one vessel to another at 
sea unless the fins are naturally attached to the corresponding 
carcass, landing shark fins unless they are naturally attached to the 
corresponding carcass, or landing shark carcasses without their fins 
naturally attached. NMFS proposes this action to amend existing 
regulations and make them consistent with the SCA.

DATES: Written comments must be received by June 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0092, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0092 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Kim Marshall, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA; 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910.
     Fax: 301-713-1193; Attn: Kim Marshall.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the 
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. 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 or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA), the 
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action are available on the Federal 
e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Marshall, 301-427-8556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 21, 2000, the President signed 
into law the Shark Finning Prohibition Act (Pub. L. 106-557) (SFPA). 
Among other things, the SFPA amended section 307 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act to prohibit removing any of the fins of a shark (including 
the tail) and returning the remainder of the shark to the sea. In 
addition, the SFPA prohibited any person from having custody, control, 
or possession of shark fins aboard a fishing vessel without the 
corresponding carcass, and prohibited any person from landing shark 
fins without the corresponding carcass. NMFS published a final rule to 
implement the SFPA on February 11, 2002 (67 FR 6194).

[[Page 25686]]

    In 2010, the President signed into law the Shark Conservation Act 
of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-348, Jan. 4, 2011) (SCA). The SCA amended two 
existing acts, the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act 
(Moratorium Protection Act), 16 U.S.C. 1826d et seq., and the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act 
or MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., to improve the conservation of sharks.
    In particular, the SCA amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act to prohibit 
any person from: (1) Removing any of the fins of a shark (including the 
tail) at sea; (2) having custody, control, or possession of a fin 
aboard a fishing vessel unless it is naturally attached to the 
corresponding carcass; (3) transferring a fin from one vessel to 
another vessel at sea, or receiving a fin in such transfer, unless the 
fin is naturally attached to the corresponding carcass; or (4) landing 
a fin that is not naturally attached to the corresponding carcass, or 
landing a shark carcass without its fins naturally attached. For the 
purpose of the SCA and these regulations, ``naturally attached,'' with 
respect to a shark fin, means to be attached to the corresponding shark 
carcass through some portion of uncut skin.
    This proposed action would amend NMFS' regulations to implement 
these provisions of the SCA. Specifically, the proposed rule would 
amend regulations at 50 CFR Part 600, Subpart N to prohibit the removal 
of shark fins at sea, namely, the possession, transfer and landing of 
shark fins that are not naturally attached to the corresponding 
carcass, and the landing of shark carcasses without the corresponding 
fins naturally attached. NMFS notes that it interprets the prohibitions 
in that section as applying to sharks, not skates and rays, and 
solicits public comment on whether clarification is needed in the 
regulatory text on this or any other issues (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS also proposes here to adopt language from section 103(b) of 
the SCA regarding individuals engaged in commercial fishing for smooth 
dogfish. While this proposed rule adopts the statutory text, NMFS 
intends to further develop those provisions in a subsequent rulemaking. 
This rule would also combine the existing sections Sec. Sec.  600.1203 
and 600.1204 into one section. The text in all sections would be 
amended to implement the provisions of the SCA.
    The MSA authorizes the Secretary to regulate fisheries seaward of 
the inner boundary of the EEZ, which is defined as a line coterminous 
with the seaward boundary of each U.S. coastal state. 16 U.S.C. 
1802(11). Thus, the SCA provisions apply to any person subject to the 
jurisdiction of the U.S., including persons on board U.S. and foreign 
vessels, engaging in activities prohibited under the statute for sharks 
harvested seaward of the inner boundary of the EEZ. Federal regulations 
pertaining to the conservation and management of specific shark 
fisheries are set forth in Parts 635, 648 and 660 of Title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations. For Atlantic highly migratory species 
fisheries, as a condition of its federal permit, a vessel's fishing, 
catch, and gear are subject to federal requirements even when fishing 
in state waters. See 50 CFR 635.4(a)(10) (noting that, when fishing 
within the waters of a state with more restrictive regulations, persons 
aboard the vessel must comply with those requirements). This rule 
amends 50 CFR part 600, subpart N, and does not supersede or amend any 
other federal regulation or requirement related to the conservation and 
management of sharks.
    The SCA also amended the Moratorium Protection Act, which provides 
for identification and certification of nations to address illegal, 
unreported, or unregulated fishing; bycatch of protected living marine 
resources; and, as amended by the SCA, shark catches. 16 U.S.C. 1826h-
1826k. With regard to sharks, the Moratorium Protection Act provides 
for identification of a nation if its fishing vessels have been engaged 
during the preceding calendar year in fishing activities or practices 
in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally 
catch sharks and the nation has not adopted a regulatory program for 
sharks that is comparable to the United States, taking into account 
different conditions. 16 U.S.C. 1826k(a)(2). NMFS published a final 
rule that amends the Moratorium Protection Act regulations consistent 
with the SCA on January 16, 2013 (78 FR 3338).

Relationship of Regulations With Current State Rules

    Several states and territories have enacted or are considering 
enacting statutes that address shark fins. Each statute differs in its 
precise details, but generally most contain a prohibition on 
possession, landing or sale of, or other activities involving, shark 
fins. Depending on how they are interpreted and implemented, these 
statutes have the potential to undermine significantly conservation and 
management of federal shark fisheries.
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the United States claims sovereign 
rights and exclusive fishery management authority over all fish, and 
all Continental Shelf fishery resources, within the U.S. exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) and also claims exclusive fishery management 
authority for specified resources beyond the EEZ. 16 U.S.C. 1811. To 
conserve and manage fishery resources and promote domestic commercial 
and recreational fishing under sound conservation and management 
principles, the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes NMFS and Fishery 
Management Councils to develop and implement federal fishery management 
plans, which must be consistent with ten national standards and other 
mandatory provisions set forth in the statute. 16 U.S.C. 1801, 1851(a) 
and 1853(a). The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines ``conservation and 
management'' as including measures ``which are designed to assure that 
. . . a supply of food and other products may be taken, and that 
recreational benefits may be obtained, on a continuing basis.'' 16 
U.S.C. 1802(5). National Standard 1 requires that conservation and 
management measures under a fishery management plan, plan amendment or 
implementing regulations ``prevent overfishing while achieving, on a 
continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery for the United 
States fishing industry.'' 16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(1). Obtaining optimum 
yield, which includes providing the greatest overall benefit to the 
Nation, particularly with respect to food production and recreational 
opportunities, is a fundamental principle under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act. State prohibitions on possession, landing, transfer, or sale of 
sharks or shark fins lawfully harvested seaward of state boundaries 
constrain the ability of federal fishery participants to make use of 
those sharks for commercial and other purposes.
    Neither the SFPA nor the SCA suggest that Congress intended to 
amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act to prohibit the possession or sale of 
shark fins. Rather, Congress chose to prohibit discarding shark 
carcasses at sea, and required that fins be naturally attached to the 
carcass of the corresponding shark. The SCA therefore reflects a 
balance between addressing the wasteful practice of shark finning and 
preserving opportunities to land and sell sharks harvested consistent 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Although state shark fin laws are also 
intended to conserve sharks, they may not unduly

[[Page 25687]]

interfere with the conservation and management of federal fisheries.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act preempts state regulation of fisheries in 
waters outside the boundaries of a state, except according to the 
narrow opportunities for state regulation specified at 16 U.S.C. 
1856(a)(3). Within the U.S. EEZ, a State may regulate a fishing vessel 
only where: (1) The fishing vessel is registered under the laws of that 
State, and there is no federal fishery management plan or regulations 
for the fishery, or the State's laws and regulations are consistent 
with the applicable federal plan and regulations; or (2) the applicable 
federal plan delegates management of the fishery to the State, and the 
State's laws and regulations are consistent with that plan (16 U.S.C. 
1856(a)(3)(A-B)). ``State'' means each of the several States, the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, and any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States (16 U.S.C. 1802(41)).
    State or territorial shark fin laws are preempted if they are 
inconsistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act as amended by the SCA, 
implementing regulations for the statutes, or applicable federal 
fishery management plans or regulations. If state or territorial laws 
are construed or interpreted so they are consistent with federal law, 
fishery management plans and regulations, those laws are not preempted. 
For example, if a state law prohibiting the possession, landing, or 
sale of shark fins is interpreted not to apply to sharks legally 
harvested in federal waters, the law would not be preempted. On the 
other hand, a state law that interferes with accomplishing the purposes 
and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act would be preempted. As 
described above, promoting commercial fishing under sound conservation 
and management principles is a key purpose of the Act. If sharks are 
lawfully caught in federal waters, state laws that prohibit the 
possession and landing of those sharks with fins naturally attached or 
that prohibit the sale, transfer or possession of fins from those 
sharks unduly interfere with achievement of Magnuson-Stevens Act 
purposes and objectives.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act generally does not preempt a state's laws 
applicable to its fisheries in state waters and states that, ``Except 
as provided in subsection (b), nothing in this Act shall be construed 
as extending or diminishing the jurisdiction or authority of any State 
within its boundaries.'' 16 U.S.C. 1856(a)(1). Regulations issued in 
2002 at 50 CFR 600.1201(c) provide that: ``Nothing in this regulation 
supersedes more restrictive state laws or regulations regarding shark 
finning in state waters.'' The intent of this provision was to affirm 
that the regulations would not infringe on a state's jurisdiction or 
authority. It was not intended to imply that states may interfere with 
or impede accomplishment of fishery management objectives for 
federally-managed commercial and recreational fisheries. NMFS' view 
regarding state and federal authority has not changed since 2002, but 
the agency believes that section 600.1201(c) could be clarified. Thus, 
this proposed rule would revise section 600.1201(c) to state that the 
subpart does not supersede state laws or regulations governing 
conservation and management of state shark fisheries in state waters.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS 
Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public 
comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The 
IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule would have on 
small entities. A description of the action, why it is being 
considered, and the legal basis for this action are included at the 
beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY section of 
the preamble. A summary of the analysis follows. A copy of this 
analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS proposes this action to implement the SCA. This proposed 
action would revise existing regulations that implement the SFPA, which 
banned ``shark finning'' (the practice of removing the fin or fins from 
a shark and discarding the remainder of the shark at sea). The proposed 
rule would amend regulations to prohibit the removal of shark fins at 
sea, namely, the possession, transfer and landing of shark fins that 
are not naturally attached to the corresponding carcass, and the 
landing of shark carcasses without the corresponding fins naturally 
attached. The SCA applies to any person subject to the jurisdiction of 
the U.S., including persons on board U.S. and foreign vessels, who 
engages in activities prohibited under the statute for sharks harvested 
seaward of the inner boundary of the EEZ. For Atlantic highly migratory 
species fisheries, as a condition of its federal permit, a vessel's 
fishing, catch, and gear are subject to federal requirements even when 
fishing in state waters. See 50 CFR 635.4(a)(10) (noting that, when 
fishing within the waters of a state with more restrictive regulations, 
persons aboard the vessel must comply with those requirements).
    This rule is expected to directly affect commercial and for-hire 
fishing vessels that land sharks harvested seaward of the inner 
boundary of the U.S. EEZ or possess permits which allow them to land 
sharks harvested seaward of the inner boundary of the U.S. EEZ. The 
Small Business Administration has established size criteria for all 
major industry sectors in the U.S. including fish harvesters. 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 annual 
receipts not in excess of $4.0 million (NAICS code 114111, finfish 
fishing) for all its affiliated operations worldwide. For for-hire 
vessels, the other qualifiers apply and the receipts threshold is $7.0 
million (NAICS code 713990, recreational industries).
    Sharks are harvested in several commercial fisheries that occur in 
the U.S. EEZ, including the spiny dogfish fishery in the northeast 
United States, the Atlantic HMS fishery in the northeast and southeast 
United States, the west coast HMS and groundfish fisheries, and the 
Hawaii and American Samoa-based pelagic longline fisheries, which allow 
retention of incidentally caught sharks. In addition, groundfish 
vessels in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands can 
retain sharks, although there are no directed shark fisheries and the 
vast majority of incidentally caught sharks are discarded.
    In 2011, 2,743 vessels were issued federal spiny dogfish permits, 
but only 326 of these vessels actually landed spiny dogfish. The total 
ex-vessel value of commercially landed spiny dogfish in calendar year 
2011 was about $4.646 million. Thus, average ex-vessel revenue per 
vessel from spiny dogfish was approximately $14,250 in calendar year 
2011. Based on these figures, all spiny dogfish vessels that might be 
affected by this proposed rule are determined for the purpose of this 
analysis to be small entities.
    As of October 2011, NMFS had issued 217 directed shark permits and 
262 incidental shark permits in the Atlantic

[[Page 25688]]

highly migratory species fishery. In 2011, the ex-vessel revenues for 
all sharks landed in the Atlantic highly migratory species fishery 
totaled $3,067,116. Thus, the average ex-vessel revenue per permitted 
vessel was approximately $6,400 in 2011. Based on these figures, all 
Atlantic highly migratory species shark vessels that might be affected 
by this proposed rule are determined for the purpose of this analysis 
to be small entities.
    Most sharks on the west coast are caught in the drift gillnet 
component of the HMS fishery and the northwest groundfish fishery. In 
2011, 243 commercial vessels had shark landings on the west coast and 
total ex-vessel revenue for west coast shark landings was $349,634. 
Thus, in 2011, average ex-vessel revenue per vessel from shark landings 
was approximately $1,450. Average total ex-vessel revenue per vessel 
was about $107,000 in 2011. The maximum total ex-vessel revenue for a 
single vessel that commercially harvested sharks on the west coast was 
approximately $1.48 million in 2011. Based on these figures, all west 
coast commercial fishing vessels that land sharks and might be affected 
by this proposed rule are determined for the purpose of this analysis 
to be small entities.
    Entry into the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery is limited, 
with a maximum of 164 vessels allowed. As of March 2012, 132 vessels 
held Hawaii longline limited entry permits (out of 164 total permits). 
NMFS estimates the 2010 ex-vessel revenue of pelagic fish landed by 
Hawaii-based longline vessels to be about $70 million, or approximately 
$427,000 per vessel. In addition, in 2010, 267,000 pounds of sharks 
were landed by Hawaii-based longline vessels, and the average price for 
these sharks was $0.50 per pound in 2010. Thus, ex-vessel revenue from 
shark landings was $135,000 and average revenue per vessel was 
approximately $1,020. Thus, shark landings represent a very small 
portion of the ex-vessel revenue for the Hawaii-based longline vessels. 
In 2009, 50 vessels obtained American Samoa longline limited entry 
permits, and 26 of those vessels actively fished. These vessels' 
operations are economically smaller than those based in Hawaii. Based 
on these figures, all Hawaii and American Samoa-based pelagic longline 
vessels that might be affected by this proposed rule are determined for 
the purpose of this analysis to be small entities.
    As of 2009, approximately 867 vessels operated in the Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) or Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries, 
with some vessels operating in both. Approximately 97% of shark catch 
in Alaska groundfish fisheries is discarded. The other 3 percent is 
retained and largely processed into fishmeal. Both large and small 
fishing entities operate in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. In 2008, 215 
small groundfish entities operated in the BSAI, with estimated average 
2008 gross revenues from all sources of about $1.53 million. Most of 
these (204) are catcher vessels, with estimated average gross revenues 
of $1.49 million. About half of the catcher-vessels (103) are trawlers 
with average gross revenues of about $1.71 million, 46 are hook-and-
line vessels with average gross revenues of about $0.58 million, and 62 
are pot vessels with average gross revenues of about $1.70 million. 
There were 11 small catcher-processors, seven of which were hook-and-
line vessels with average gross revenues of about $2.65 million. These 
figures may overstate the number of small entities since it considers 
individual vessel gross revenues, but does not capture affiliations 
among vessels. The key fleets harvesting shark are the Pollock trawlers 
and the hook-and-line vessels fishing for Pacific cod. All of the 
Pollock trawlers are believed to be large entities, either because the 
vessels themselves gross more than $4 million or because they are 
members of American Fisheries Act cooperatives that gross more than 
that. The BSAI hook-and-line vessels targeting Pacific cod are 
predominately large vessels, though two are considered small.
    In 2008, 702 small groundfish entities operated in the GOA 
groundfish fisheries, with average revenues from all sources of about 
$0.60 million. Almost all of these vessels (697) are catcher vessels 
with average revenues of about $0.60 million. A majority of the 
catcher-vessels (520) use hook-and-line gear and have average revenues 
of about $0.49 million, while 73 are trawlers with average revenues of 
about $1.27 million, and 142 are pot vessels with average revenues of 
$0.85 million. There were five catcher-processors, mostly hook-and-line 
vessels, with average gross revenues of about $1.52 million. These 
figures may overstate the number of small entities since it considers 
individual vessel gross revenues, but does not capture affiliations 
among vessels. Halibut hook-and-line vessels took a significant 
proportion of the shark catch. There were an estimated 270 small 
sablefish hook-and-line vessels with an estimated average gross revenue 
from all sources of $0.77 million, an estimated 128 Pacific cod hook-
and-line vessels with an average gross of $0.59 million, an estimated 
21 small pelagic pollock trawlers with average gross revenues of about 
$1.02 million, five non-pelagic trawlers targeting arrowtooth flounder 
with average gross revenues of about $0.58 million, and five non-
pelagic trawlers targeting shallow water flatfish with average gross 
revenues of about $0.65 million.
    Owners of charter boats or headboats (i.e., for-hire vessels) that 
are used to fish for, take, retain, or possess Atlantic tunas, sharks, 
swordfish, or billfish must obtain an Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat 
permit. As of October 2011, NMFS had issued 4,194 Atlantic HMS Charter/
Headboat permits. No information is currently available regarding the 
number of for-hire vessels that specifically land sharks in the 
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or Caribbean Sea. However, in 2010, average 
annual gross revenue for headboats and charter vessels in the Northeast 
were approximately $214,000 and $27,650, respectively. In the South 
Atlantic, average annual gross revenue for headboats and charter 
vessels in 2009 were approximately $187,500 and $106,000, respectively. 
In the Gulf of Mexico, average annual gross revenue for headboats and 
charter vessels were about $230,000 and $45,500, respectively. 
According to these studies, no individual for-hire vessel had annual 
gross revenues exceeding $7 million. Thus, all for-hire vessels that 
may be affected by this proposed rule are determined for the purpose of 
this analysis to be small entities.
    Party and charter boats target sharks on the west coast as well. In 
2011, about 620,256 west coast recreational trips (days) by party and 
charter boats retained about 16 metric tons of sharks. Similarly, an 
estimate of about 778,798 recreational trips (days) by west coast 
private or rental boats retained about 48 metric tons of sharks in 
2011. In 2011, only 13 for-hire vessels were known to land sharks in 
California that were harvested from the EEZ. In 2000, the average 
annual gross revenue for a large or medium size charter vessel on the 
west coast was approximately $401,000, while the maximum annual gross 
revenue for one of these vessels was $7 million. In 2007, the average 
annual gross revenue for a charter vessel in Washington and Oregon was 
approximately $70,600. Based on these figures, all for-hire vessels 
that land sharks and might be affected by this proposed rule are 
determined for the purpose of this analysis to be small entities. Based 
on these figures, all charter boats, headboats, and that land

[[Page 25689]]

sharks and might be affected by this proposed rule are determined for 
the purpose of this analysis to be small business entities.
    NMFS does not have information on types of small entities other 
than those discussed above. However, other types of small entities may 
exist. In addition, NMFS has little information on the number of 
transshipment vessels that would be affected by this rule. However, it 
is likely that the number of vessels would be small.
    The SCA and this proposed rule would not allow fins to be removed 
from sharks at sea. Shark fins from for-hire vessels generally are not 
removed from the carcass and not sold in commerce, so for-hire vessels 
are not expected to experience any economic effects as a result of this 
proposed rule.
    In many commercial fisheries across the country, such as Atlantic 
HMS and Northeast spiny dogfish, SCA provisions are consistent with 
current federal regulations. Further, directed fishing for sharks is 
prohibited and incidentally harvested sharks are largely processed as 
fishmeal in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries. As a result, 
commercial vessels in these fisheries are not expected to experience 
any economic effects as a result of this proposed rule.
    The implementation of state shark fin laws in Washington, Oregon, 
California, Hawaii, and American Samoa, raises concerns about potential 
negative economic effects on some entities in West Coast, Western 
Pacific and other fisheries. State or territorial shark fin laws are 
preempted under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution if they 
are inconsistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act as amended by the SCA, 
implementing regulations for the statutes, or applicable federal 
fishery management plans or regulations. The clarification provided in 
this proposed rule may have positive economic effects on these 
fisheries. Therefore, the effect of this proposed rule on the 
commercial vessels in these fisheries is expected to be non-existent or 
potentially positive.
    No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have been 
identified. This rule would not establish any new reporting or record-
keeping requirements.
    One alternative, the status quo, was considered for the proposed 
action. This alternative would maintain the current regulations under 
the SFPA. Under this alternative, any person may remove and retain on 
the vessel fins (including the tail) from a shark harvested seaward of 
the inner boundary of the U.S. EEZ; however, the corresponding carcass 
must also be retained on board the vessel. It would be a rebuttable 
presumption that shark fins landed by a U.S. or foreign fishing vessel 
were taken, held, or landed in violation of the regulations if the 
total weight of the shark fins landed exceeds 5 percent of the total 
dressed weight of shark carcasses on board or landed from the fishing 
vessel. This alternative was rejected because it would not comply with 
the requirements of the SCA. No other alternatives meet the statutory 
requirements, and so none were considered.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 600

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, 
Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Statistics.

    Dated: April 26, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and 
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 
CFR part 600 as follows:

PART 600-MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT PROVISIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. Subpart N is revised to read as follows:
Subpart N--Shark Fin Removal, Possession, Transfer and Landing
Sec.
600.1200 Purpose and scope.
600.1201 Relation to other laws.
600.1202 Definitions.
600.1203 Prohibitions.

Subpart N--Shark Fin Removal, Possession, Transfer and Landing


Sec.  600.1200  Purpose and scope.

    The regulations in this subpart implement the Shark Conservation 
Act of 2010.


Sec.  600.1201  Relation to other laws.

    (a) Regulations pertaining to conservation and management 
(including record keeping and reporting) for certain shark fisheries 
are also set forth in parts 635 (for Federal Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean shark fisheries), 648 (for spiny dogfish 
fisheries), 660 (for fisheries off West Coast states), and 665 (for 
fisheries in the western Pacific) of this chapter.
    (b)(1) This subpart does not apply to an individual engaged in 
commercial fishing for smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) in that area of 
the waters of the United States located shoreward of a line drawn in 
such a manner that each point on it is 50 nautical miles from the 
baseline of a State from which the territorial sea is measured, if the 
individual holds a valid State commercial fishing license, unless the 
total weight of smooth dogfish fins landed or found on board a vessel 
to which this subsection applies exceeds 12 percent of the total weight 
of smooth dogfish carcasses landed or found on board.
    (2) State, for the purpose of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, 
means Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, 
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, the District of Columbia, 
or the Potomac River Fisheries Commission.
    (c) This subpart does not supersede state laws or regulations 
governing conservation and management of state shark fisheries in state 
waters.
    (d) State and territorial statutes that address shark fins are 
preempted if they are inconsistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act as 
amended by the Shark Conservation Act of 2010, regulations under this 
part, and applicable federal fishery management plans and regulations.


Sec.  600.1202  Definitions.

    (a) In addition to the definitions in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
in Sec.  600.10, the terms used in this subpart have the following 
meanings:
    Fin means any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) or a 
portion thereof.
    Land or landing means offloading fish, or causing fish to be 
offloaded, from a fishing vessel, either to another vessel or to a 
shore side location or facility, or arriving in port, or at a dock, 
berth, beach, seawall, or ramp to begin offloading fish.
    Naturally attached, with respect to a shark fin, means attached to 
the corresponding shark carcass through some portion of uncut skin.
    (b) If there is any difference between a definition in this section 
and in Sec.  600.10, the definition in this section is the operative 
definition for the purposes of this subpart.


Sec.  600.1203  Prohibitions.

    (a) It is unlawful for any person to do, or attempt to do, any of 
the following:

[[Page 25690]]

    (1) Remove a fin at sea.
    (2) To have custody, control, or possession of a fin, aboard a 
fishing vessel, unless the fin is naturally attached.
    (3) Transfer a fin from one vessel to another vessel at sea unless 
the fin is naturally attached.
    (4) Receive a fin in a transfer from one vessel to another vessel 
at sea unless the fin is naturally attached.
    (5) Land a fin unless the fin is naturally attached.
    (6) Land a shark carcass without all of its fins naturally 
attached.
    (7) Possess, purchase, offer to sell, or sell fins or shark 
carcasses taken, transferred, landed, or possessed in violation of this 
section.
    (8) When requested, fail to allow an authorized officer or any 
employee of NMFS designated by a Regional Administrator, or by the 
Director of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries in the case of the 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, access to or inspection or copying 
of any records pertaining to the landing, sale, transfer, purchase, or 
other disposition of fins or shark carcasses.
    (b) For purposes of this section, it is a rebuttable presumption 
that:
    (1) If a fin is found aboard a vessel, other than a fishing vessel, 
without being naturally attached, such fin was transferred in violation 
of this section.
    (2) If, after landing, the total weight of fins landed from any 
vessel exceeds five percent of the total weight of shark carcasses 
landed, such fins were taken, held, or landed in violation of this 
section.

[FR Doc. 2013-10439 Filed 5-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P