Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery, 51131-51132 [2013-20298]
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51131
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 20, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Authority
The authority for this action is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Comments must be received on
or before September 19, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2013–0110, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20130110, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
John K. Bullard, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope: ‘‘Comments on
American Lobster ANPR.’’
• Fax: 978–281–9135; Attn: Allison
Murphy
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous). Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9122, fax (978) 281–9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Dated: August 5, 2013.
Dan Ashe,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–19705 Filed 8–19–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 697
[Docket No. 130705590–3590–01]
RIN 0648–BD45
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries
Cooperative Management Act
Provisions; American Lobster Fishery
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
rulemaking.
AGENCY:
Based on Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission
(Commission) recommendations, the
NMFS is issuing this advance notice of
proposed rulemaking to provide
background information and request
public comment on potential changes to
Federal American lobster regulations.
The proposed measures for the lobster
trap fishery are intended to address the
Commission’s recommendations for
Federal action to address the poor
condition of the Southern New England
(SNE) lobster stock and foster stock
rebuilding. The rulemaking action
considers management measures that
would reduce lobster exploitation by 10
percent and reduce trap fishing effort in
the SNE lobster management areas.
SUMMARY:
Background
The American lobster fishery is
managed by the Commission under
Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery
Management Plan for American Lobster
(ISFMP). Since 1997, the Commission
has coordinated the efforts of the states
and Federal Government toward
sustainable management of the
American lobster fishery. We, NMFS,
manage the portion of the fishery
conducted in Federal waters from 3 to
200 miles offshore, based on
management recommendations made by
the Commission.
The American lobster management
unit is divided between three lobster
stocks and seven lobster conservation
management areas (Areas). Recent data
indicate that the SNE American lobster
stock, which includes all or part of six
Areas, is at a low level of abundance
and is experiencing persistent
recruitment failure, caused by a
combination of environmental factors
and continued fishing mortality. The
Commission opted to address the poor
condition of the SNE stock in two
phases: First by reducing lobster
exploitation by 10 percent through the
adoption of multiple management
measures in Addendum XVII in
February 2012; and, second, by scaling
the fishery to the size of the SNE stock
through lobster trap reductions as
mandated in Addendum XVIII, adopted
in August 2012. Copies of the Addenda
are available on the Commission’s Web
site at: http://www.asmfc.org/.
To achieve a 10-percent reduction in
exploitation of the SNE American
lobster stock under Addendum XVII, the
Commission recommended several
effort control measures for Areas 2, 3, 4,
5, and 6 to reduce the amount of
American lobsters harvested from these
Areas. We plan to develop proposed and
final rules to implement these measures,
which include: Minimum size increases;
mandatory v-notching of egg-bearing
female lobsters; and seasonal closures.
See Table 1 for specific management
measures by Area.
TABLE 1—ADDENDUM XVII MANAGEMENT MEASURE CHANGES
Area 2
Area 3
Area 4
Area 5
V-Notching* .......................
Mandatory for legal-sized
egg-bearing females.
n/a ....................................
n/a ...............
Mandatory for legal-sized
egg-bearing females.
n/a ....................................
Mandatory for legal-sized
egg-bearing females.
n/a ....................................
n/a.
New Minimum Size ...........
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Management measures
Seasonal Closure ..............
n/a ....................................
February 1–March 31 ......
February 1–March 31 ......
September
8–November 28.
3 17/32 in
(8.97 cm).
n/a ...............
Area 6
n/a.
* If v-notching is deemed insufficient to meet the conservation objectives, additional seasonal closures may be implemented.
Under Addendum XVIII, the
Commission proposed trap reductions
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:51 Aug 19, 2013
Jkt 229001
for Areas 2 and 3, following separate
trap reduction schedules. Specifically,
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
measures for Area 2 would reduce a
Federal lobster permit holder’s trap
E:\FR\FM\20AUP1.SGM
20AUP1
51132
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 20, 2013 / Proposed Rules
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
allocation in Area 2 by 25 percent in the
first year and by 5 percent each year
over a 5-year period, ultimately
reducing allocations by a total of 50
percent. Measures for Area 3 would
reduce a Federal lobster permit holder’s
Area 3 allocation by 5 percent each year
for 5 years, for a total reduction of 25
percent. We intend to include these trap
reductions in the proposed and final
rules mentioned above.
In addition to these upcoming
measures, we recently published a
proposed rule (78 FR 35217; June 12,
2013), based on Commission
recommendations, seeking comment on
establishing a limited access program in
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:51 Aug 19, 2013
Jkt 229001
two lobster conservation management
areas, Area 2 and the Outer Cape Area,
and implementing a Lobster Trap
Transfer Program in Areas 2 and 3, and
the Outer Cape Area. Because the
Lobster Trap Transfer Program may ease
economic impacts of trap reductions, we
would attempt to time the
implementation of the Lobster Trap
Transfer Program with the
implementation of the trap reduction
program to mitigate any negative
economic effects, and provide permit
holders with operational flexibility.
Public Comments
To help determine the scope of issues
to be addressed and to identify
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
significant issues related to this action,
we are soliciting written comments on
this ANPR. The public is encouraged to
submit comments related to the specific
ideas mentioned in this ANPR, and the
timing of the upcoming actions that are
currently under development.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.
Dated: August 15, 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.
[FR Doc. 2013–20298 Filed 8–19–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\20AUP1.SGM
20AUP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51131-51132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20298]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 697
[Docket No. 130705590-3590-01]
RIN 0648-BD45
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Coastal
Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster
Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Based on Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
(Commission) recommendations, the NMFS is issuing this advance notice
of proposed rulemaking to provide background information and request
public comment on potential changes to Federal American lobster
regulations. The proposed measures for the lobster trap fishery are
intended to address the Commission's recommendations for Federal action
to address the poor condition of the Southern New England (SNE) lobster
stock and foster stock rebuilding. The rulemaking action considers
management measures that would reduce lobster exploitation by 10
percent and reduce trap fishing effort in the SNE lobster management
areas.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 19, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2013-0110, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0110, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope:
``Comments on American Lobster ANPR.''
Fax: 978-281-9135; Attn: Allison Murphy
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy
Analyst, (978) 281-9122, fax (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The American lobster fishery is managed by the Commission under
Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American
Lobster (ISFMP). Since 1997, the Commission has coordinated the efforts
of the states and Federal Government toward sustainable management of
the American lobster fishery. We, NMFS, manage the portion of the
fishery conducted in Federal waters from 3 to 200 miles offshore, based
on management recommendations made by the Commission.
The American lobster management unit is divided between three
lobster stocks and seven lobster conservation management areas (Areas).
Recent data indicate that the SNE American lobster stock, which
includes all or part of six Areas, is at a low level of abundance and
is experiencing persistent recruitment failure, caused by a combination
of environmental factors and continued fishing mortality. The
Commission opted to address the poor condition of the SNE stock in two
phases: First by reducing lobster exploitation by 10 percent through
the adoption of multiple management measures in Addendum XVII in
February 2012; and, second, by scaling the fishery to the size of the
SNE stock through lobster trap reductions as mandated in Addendum
XVIII, adopted in August 2012. Copies of the Addenda are available on
the Commission's Web site at: http://www.asmfc.org/.
To achieve a 10-percent reduction in exploitation of the SNE
American lobster stock under Addendum XVII, the Commission recommended
several effort control measures for Areas 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to reduce
the amount of American lobsters harvested from these Areas. We plan to
develop proposed and final rules to implement these measures, which
include: Minimum size increases; mandatory v-notching of egg-bearing
female lobsters; and seasonal closures. See Table 1 for specific
management measures by Area.
Table 1--Addendum XVII Management Measure Changes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management measures Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
V-Notching*........................ Mandatory for legal- n/a.................. Mandatory for legal- Mandatory for legal- n/a.
sized egg-bearing sized egg-bearing sized egg-bearing
females. females. females.
New Minimum Size................... n/a................... 3 17/32 in (8.97 cm). n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a.
Seasonal Closure................... n/a................... n/a.................. February 1-March 31.. February 1-March 31.. September 8-November
28.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* If v-notching is deemed insufficient to meet the conservation objectives, additional seasonal closures may be implemented.
Under Addendum XVIII, the Commission proposed trap reductions for
Areas 2 and 3, following separate trap reduction schedules.
Specifically, measures for Area 2 would reduce a Federal lobster permit
holder's trap
[[Page 51132]]
allocation in Area 2 by 25 percent in the first year and by 5 percent
each year over a 5-year period, ultimately reducing allocations by a
total of 50 percent. Measures for Area 3 would reduce a Federal lobster
permit holder's Area 3 allocation by 5 percent each year for 5 years,
for a total reduction of 25 percent. We intend to include these trap
reductions in the proposed and final rules mentioned above.
In addition to these upcoming measures, we recently published a
proposed rule (78 FR 35217; June 12, 2013), based on Commission
recommendations, seeking comment on establishing a limited access
program in two lobster conservation management areas, Area 2 and the
Outer Cape Area, and implementing a Lobster Trap Transfer Program in
Areas 2 and 3, and the Outer Cape Area. Because the Lobster Trap
Transfer Program may ease economic impacts of trap reductions, we would
attempt to time the implementation of the Lobster Trap Transfer Program
with the implementation of the trap reduction program to mitigate any
negative economic effects, and provide permit holders with operational
flexibility.
Public Comments
To help determine the scope of issues to be addressed and to
identify significant issues related to this action, we are soliciting
written comments on this ANPR. The public is encouraged to submit
comments related to the specific ideas mentioned in this ANPR, and the
timing of the upcoming actions that are currently under development.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.
Dated: August 15, 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.
[FR Doc. 2013-20298 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P