Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Framework Adjustment 3, 33879-33889 [2014-13611]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33879-33889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13611]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140221166-4166-01]
RIN 0648-BE01


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring 
Fishery; Framework Adjustment 3

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery 
Management Plan would establish a process for setting river herring 
(alewife and blueback) and shad (American and hickory) catch caps for 
the herring fishery. In addition, this action would set these catch 
caps for the 2014 and 2015 fishing years. This action is consistent 
with Herring Amendment 5, which addresses river herring catch and 
allows for river herring and shad catch caps to be implemented through 
a framework. This action would allow the Council to set river herring 
and shad catch caps and associated measures in future years through 
specifications or frameworks, whichever is appropriate. Catch of river 
herring and shad includes both bycatch (discards) and incidental catch 
that is retained.

DATES: Public comments must be received by July 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The New England Fishery Management Council developed an 
environmental assessment (EA) for this action that describes the 
proposed action and other considered alternatives and provides a 
thorough analysis of the impacts of the proposed measures and 
alternatives. Copies of the framework,

[[Page 33880]]

the EA, and the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are available upon request from Thomas A. 
Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 
Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. The EA/RIR/IRFA is accessible via 
the Internet at https://www.nero.noaa.gov.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2014-0033, by any 
one 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-2014-0033, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to NOAA Fisheries, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Dr, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
Herring Framework 3.''
    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: Carrie Nordeen, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9272, fax 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The New England Fishery Management Council adopted Framework 
Adjustment 3 at its September 24, 2013, meeting. The Council submitted 
Framework 3 to NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) for review on January 3, 
2014, and resubmitted to NMFS on March 26, 2014.
    Framework 3 proposes to establish a process for setting and 
modifying catch caps for river herring (alewife and blueback) and shad 
(American and hickory) catch caps in the Atlantic (sea) herring 
fishery, and would set specific river herring and shad catch caps for 
the 2014 and 2015 fishing years. Catch of river herring and shad for 
2014 would count against the cap in 2014 only after the effective date 
of a final rule implementing these caps.
    River herring and shad are anadromous species that may co-occur 
seasonally with Atlantic herring and are harvested as a non-target 
species in the fishery. When river herring are encountered in the 
herring fishery, they are either discarded at sea (bycatch) or, because 
they closely resemble herring, they are retained and sold as part of 
the herring catch (incidental catch). According to the most recent 
river herring stock assessment (May 2012) conducted by the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission, river herring populations have 
declined from historic levels and many factors will need to be 
addressed to allow their recovery, including: Fishing in both state and 
Federal waters; improvement of river passageways and water quality; 
reduced predation; and understanding the effects of climate change. The 
Council has been working on addressing river herring and shad catch 
issues in the herring fishery, most recently in Herring Amendment 5 (79 
FR 8786; February 13, 2014). Framework 3 is consistent with Amendment 
5, which allowed for river herring and shad catch caps to be 
implemented through a framework adjustment. Framework 3 would allow the 
Council to set river herring and shad catch caps and associated 
measures in future years through specifications or frameworks, 
whichever is appropriate.
    Framework 3 outlines a process for setting and modifying the river 
herring and shad catch caps that includes: Identification of gears, 
areas, and trips that would be subject to the catch caps; changes to 
reporting requirements for vessels issued limited access and Herring 
Management Areas 2/3 open access herring permits; criteria that would 
trigger the closure of an area to directed herring fishing for a 
particular gear type; and a list of management measures related to 
setting catch caps that can be modified through the herring 
specifications process and/or framework adjustment process. This rule 
uses that process and sets the applicable caps.

Area and Gear Provisions of the River Herring and Shad Catch Caps

    Framework 3 proposes four distinct Catch Cap Areas that could have 
associated catch caps: Gulf of Maine (GOM); Cape Cod (CC); Southern New 
England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA); and Georges Bank (GB) (Table 1). During 
a given fishing year, catch of river herring and shad from all herring 
trips landing more than 6,600 lb (3 mt) of herring would apply against 
the catch caps for specific fishing gears in one or more of these 
areas. The Council considered alternatives for catch caps for all gear 
types used in the herring fishery, but ultimately decided to adopt 
catch caps for midwater trawl gear in the GOM, CC, and SNE/MA, as well 
as for bottom trawl gear in SNE/MA. The selection of these gear types 
in these areas is based on recent fishery data that indicate where 
river herring and shad interactions are occurring, and to what extent 
they may be occurring by each gear type used in the herring fishery. 
Because river herring and shad are not caught by the herring fishery in 
GB, the Council is not proposing catch caps for GB during 2014-2015. 
The Council may consider adjustments to the selected gears and areas 
that have associated catch caps in a future management action.

             Table 1--River Herring and Shad Catch Cap Areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Catch cap areas                     Statistical areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM.......................................  511-515.
CC........................................  521.
GB........................................  522, 525-526, 541-543, 561-
                                             562, and 640.
SNE/MA....................................  533-534, 537-539, 611-616,
                                             621-629, and 631-639.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reporting Requirements and Monitoring the River Herring and Shad Catch 
Caps

    This action proposes adjustments to current Vessel Monitoring 
System (VMS) trip notification requirements in order for NMFS to 
monitor the catch caps. Vessel operators would have to report kept 
catch of all species by statistical area daily via VMS catch reports. 
The Council may consider adjustments to trip notification requirements 
in the future as necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the catch 
caps.
    In terms of monitoring the catch cap, the Greater Atlantic Regional 
Fisheries Office would estimate the total river herring and shad catch 
in the herring fishery using data from observed hauls on herring trips 
to extrapolate to unobserved herring trips. The rate of river herring 
and shad catch would be estimated as the ratio of observed river 
herring and shad catch (including discards) to the kept catch of all 
species on observed trips that land greater than 6,600 lb (3 mt) of 
herring. Total river herring and shad catch (in weight) would then be 
derived by multiplying the catch rate by total pounds of all kept 
species on all trips that land greater

[[Page 33881]]

than 6,600 lb (3 mt) of herring. This methodology is identical to that 
used for catch cap accounting in the mackerel fishery. More information 
about our monitoring methodology for the mackerel fishery's river 
herring and shad catch can be found at https://www.nero.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/msb/.

River Herring and Shad Catch Triggers and Closure Areas

    This action proposes that when 95 percent of the river herring and 
shad catch for a gear-specific catch cap is projected to be reached in 
a Catch Cap Area, all vessels fishing with that gear type in the 
respective closure area would be subject to a reduced herring 
possession limit of 2,000 lb (0.9 mt) in or from that area for the 
remainder of the fishing year. Vessels using other gear types in the 
closure area would not be affected (i.e., those vessels would not be 
subject to the 2,000-lb (0.9 mt) possession limit and could continue 
directed fishing for herring in those areas with other gear types). 
Vessels participating in the herring fishery outside of the catch cap 
closure area(s) would be able to use any gear type (consistent with 
other regulations) until the applicable herring annual catch limits/
sub-annual catch limits are harvested. This 95-percent catch trigger is 
consistent with the trigger implemented for the river herring and shad 
catch cap in the mackerel fishery (79 FR 18834; April 4, 2014).
    The Catch Cap Closure Areas are identical to the Catch Cap Areas 
for GB, GOM, and CC. For SNE/MA, the catch cap closure area is the 
inshore portion of the SNE/MA Catch Cap Area (Table 2).

         Table 2--River Herring and Shad Catch Cap Closure Areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Catch cap closure areas                 Statistical areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM.......................................  Identical to GOM Cap Catch
                                             Area.
CC........................................  Identical to CC Cap Catch
                                             Area.
GB........................................  Identical to GB Cap Catch
                                             Area.
SNE/MA....................................  533-534, 537-539, 611-616,
                                             621-629, and 631-639.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modifying Future River Herring and Shad Catch Cap Management Measures

    This action proposes the mechanisms to modify measures related to 
the catch caps. Measures related to the catch cap process that would be 
established in this framework may be modified in the future through the 
specifications or framework adjustment process, depending on whether 
the modification is suitable for either specifications or framework 
adjustment. New or additional measures (e.g., new accountability 
measures to become effective when a catch cap is reached), or measures 
outside the scope already analyzed, would be implemented through 
another framework action or an amendment.

River Herring and Shad Catch Caps for Fishing Years 2014-2015

    This action proposes river herring and shad catch caps for the 
2014-2015 fishing years (Table 3). Catch of river herring and shad for 
2014 would only be counted after the effective date of a final rule 
implementing a 2014 catch cap. All the proposed catch caps in the GOM, 
CC, and SNE/MA Catch Cap Areas are based on the median value of 
estimated river herring and shad catch from 2008-2012. Current data are 
not sufficient to definitively determine the potential effects of such 
a cap on river herring and shad stocks. Using the median values are 
expected to provide an incentive for the industry to continue to avoid 
river herring and shad and help to minimize overall river herring and 
shad catch to the extent practicable, while still providing the 
opportunity to fully utilize the herring annual catch limit if the 
fleet can avoid river herring and shad.

  Table 3--Proposed River Herring and Shad Catch Caps by Area and Gear
                         Type for 2014 and 2015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Catch cap
           Catch cap area                    Gear type           (metric
                                                                 tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM.................................  Midwater Trawl.........         86
CC..................................  Midwater Trawl.........         13
SNE/MA..............................  Midwater Trawl.........        124
                                      Bottom Trawl...........         89
GB..................................  N/A....................        N/A
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Due to very low observed river herring and shad catch in GB, the 
Council did not recommend a catch cap in the GB Catch Cap Area for the 
2014-2015 fishing years. If the catch of river herring and shad 
increases in this area, the Council could consider setting a cap for 
this area in a future herring specifications.

Corrections

    This proposed rule also contains minor corrections to existing 
regulations. NMFS proposes these adjustments under the authority of 
section 305(d) to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provides that the 
Secretary of Commerce may promulgate regulations necessary to ensure 
that amendments to a fishery management plan (FMP) are carried out in 
accordance with the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These 
adjustments, which are identified and described below, are necessary to 
clarify current regulations or the intent of the FMP, and would not 
change the intent of any regulations.
    NMFS proposes to clarify many the coordinates for the herring 
management areas, modified haddock stock areas, and river herring 
monitoring/avoidance areas at Sec.  648.200(f) to more accurately 
define various areas. For example, some areas are based on groups of 
defined statistical areas, but the previous coordinates were 
unintentionally misaligned with those statistical areas. This action 
updates those coordinates to correctly coincide with the statistical 
areas upon which they were based. In addition, some area boundaries are 
being revised to correctly incorporate coastal bodies of water, as well 
as the legally defined U.S. Canada Maritime boundary. This action also 
proposes to move the coordinates for the GOM and GB modified haddock 
stock areas in the regulations from Sec.  648.10 to Sec.  648.200(f) so 
that all the herring-related management areas are in a single location 
for easy reference. Finally, this action also proposes to add a 
possession limit regulation to Sec.  648.204(a) to describe the 
possession limit requirements of the Areas 2/3 Open Access Permit. This 
regulation was overlooked during rulemaking for Herring Amendment 5 and 
is consistent with the intent of that action.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the Atlantic Herring FMP; 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.
    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic 
impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A 
summary of the analysis follows. A copy of this analysis is available 
from the Council or NMFS (see ADDRESSES) or via the Internet at https://www.nero.noaa.gov.

[[Page 33882]]

Statement of Objective and Need

    This action proposes a process for establishing river herring and 
shad catch caps in the herring fishery, as well as specific catch caps 
for the 2014-2015 fishing years. A complete description of the reasons 
why this action is being considered, and the objectives of and legal 
basis for this action, are contained in the preamble to this proposed 
rule and are not repeated here.

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

    On June 20, 2013, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a 
final rule revising the small business size standards for several 
industries effective July 22, 2013 (78 FR 37398). The rule increased 
the size standard for finfish fishing from $4.0 to $19.0 million, 
shellfish fishing from $4.0 to $5.0 million, and other marine fishing 
from $4.0 to $7.0 million.
    The proposed action would affect all limited access herring vessels 
(i.e., category A, B, or C permit). In 2012, there were 94 fishing 
vessels that had a limited access herring permit. Vessels and/or 
permits may be owned by entities affiliated by stock ownership, common 
management, identity of interest, contractual relationships, or 
economic dependency. For the purpose of this analysis, affiliated 
ownership entities are determined by those entities with common 
ownership personnel as listed on permit application documentation. Only 
permits with identical ownership personnel are categorized as an 
ownership entity. For example, if five permits have the same seven 
personnel listed as co-owners on their application paperwork, those 
seven personnel form one ownership entity, covering those five permits. 
If one or several of the seven owners also own additional vessels, with 
different co-owners (i.e., either sub-sets of the original seven 
personnel or new co-owners), those ownership arrangements are deemed to 
be separate ownership entities for the purpose of this analysis.
    Based on this ownership criterion, NMFS dealer-reported landings 
data for the last 3 years, and the size standards for finfish and 
shellfish firms, there are 72 directly regulated small entities and 6 
large entities, as defined in section 601 of the RFA. Not all of these 
permitted firms are active: Only 25 directly regulated small entities 
and 4 large entities were actively fishing for herring during the last 
3 years.
    The Office of Advocacy at the SBA suggests considering 
disproportionality and profitability criteria when determining the 
significance of regulatory impacts. The disproportionality criterion 
compares the effects of the regulatory action on small versus large 
entities (using the SBA-approved size definition of ``small entity''), 
not the difference between segments of small entities. The impacts of 
this rule on profits are discussed in greater detail below. However, 
the changes in profits, costs, and net revenues due to Framework 3 are 
not expected to be disproportional for small versus large entities as 
the proposed action will affect all entities, large and small, in a 
similar manner. As a result, this action would have proportionally 
similar impacts on revenues and profits of each vessel and each multi-
vessel owner compared both to status quo (i.e., FY 2013) and no action 
levels. Therefore, this action is not expected to have disproportionate 
impacts or place a substantial number of small entities at a 
competitive disadvantage relative to large entities. Profitability is 
described below.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements

    This action does not contain any new collection-of-information, 
reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance requirements. This action 
does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules.

Minimizing Significant Economic Impacts on Small Entities

Proposed Actions
    Framework 3 establishes a process for specifying and adjusting 
annual river herring and shad catch caps, and sets those caps for the 
2014 and 2015 fishing years. This action is consistent with the 
measures adopted in Amendment 5 and may result in positive impacts on 
fishery participants by reducing bycatch through industry-based 
initiatives.
    Under the proposed river herring and shad catch caps, small 
entities are expected to experience slight declines in both gross 
revenues and herring revenues if the catch cap(s) is exceeded. The 
catch cap can impose costs by triggering a 2,000-lb (0.9 mt) herring 
possession limit for certain gear types in the four monitoring areas. 
These are evaluated relative to the status quo in which catch of river 
herring and shad does not result in any directed fishery closures. 
Under the status quo, average net operating revenues are predicted to 
be $21.9 million per year. Under the proposed action, net operating 
revenues are projected to fall to $20.1 million per year. Therefore, 
because of the potential closure of portions of the directed herring 
fishery due to the river herring and shad catch cap, the proposed 
action may reduce net operating revenue across the fishery by $1.8 
million. The reduction in revenue per entity ranges from less than 
$10,000, to $50,000, depending on the entity's reliance on herring 
revenue. More specifically, the average reduction in revenue for 
vessels is estimated to be as follows: $1,600 for vessels earning less 
than $0.5 million, $6,600 for vessels earning $0.5 million-$1 million, 
$4,700 for vessels earning $1 million-$2 million, and $18,600 for 
vessels earning $2 million-$5 million.
    To minimize the economic impacts of directed fishery closures, 
catch caps are divided across various areas. If a catch cap in a given 
area for a specific gear is reached, the proposed action would close 
only that area to that gear type. Thus, the proposed catch cap measures 
avoid closing the directed herring fishery in all areas due to a single 
catch cap overage. This measure seeks to minimize negative impacts on 
fishing businesses reliant on gear types subject to directed fishery 
closures in terms of forgone profits. The extent of these impacts would 
depend on when an area is closed to directed fishing relative to nearby 
areas available for directed herring fishing. Further, the catch caps 
are not likely to preclude herring fishing in all areas and would 
provide midwater trawl vessels an opportunity to fish in Area 3 
(Georges Bank) without a catch cap, thereby potentially mitigating some 
of the negative impacts.
    Limiting catches of river herring and shad has the potential to 
benefit those species, although the extent of this benefit is unknown 
because overall abundance information for these species is not 
available. A benefit to these species is not expected to have an 
economic effect on the herring fishery, however.

Alternatives to the Proposed Rule

    Aside from the proposed action, the Council considered a No Action 
(status quo) alternative, which would not have implemented a river 
herring and shad catch cap in the fishery because there is currently no 
cap in place. This alternative would not have resulted in additional 
economic or social impacts on the participants of the herring fishery. 
However, selecting the No Action alternative could affect participants 
negatively in the future if the catch of river herring and shad is not 
managed proactively (i.e., more management measures may be necessary in 
the herring fishery if the stocks of river herring and shad continue to 
decline).

[[Page 33883]]

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: June 6, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  648.2, add in alphabetical order the definitions for 
``River herring'' and ``Shad'' to read as follows:


Sec.  648.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    River herring means alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback 
herring (Alosa aestivalis).
* * * * *
    Shad means American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and hickory shad 
(Alosa mediocris)
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  648.7, revise introductory paragraph (b)(3)(i) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.7  Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *--(i) Atlantic herring owners or operators issued a 
limited access permit or Areas 2/3 open access permit. The owner or 
operator of a vessel issued a limited access permit or Areas 2/3 open 
access permit to fish for herring must report catch (retained and 
discarded) of herring daily via VMS, unless exempted by the Regional 
Administrator. The report shall include at least the following 
information, and any other information required by the Regional 
Administrator: Fishing Vessel Trip Report serial number; month and day 
herring was caught; pounds retained for each herring management area; 
and pounds discarded for each herring management area. Additionally, 
the estimated total amount of all species retained (in pounds, landed 
weight) must be reported by statistical area for use in tracking catch 
against catch caps (haddock, river herring and shad) in the herring 
fishery. Daily Atlantic herring VMS catch reports must be submitted in 
24-hr intervals for each day and must be submitted by 0900 hr (9:00 
a.m.) of the following day. Reports are required even if herring caught 
that day has not yet been landed. This report does not exempt the owner 
or operator from other applicable reporting requirements of this 
section.
* * * * *


Sec.  648.10  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  648.10, paragraph (l) is removed and reserved.
0
5. In Sec.  648.14, revise paragraph (r)(1)(ii)(B) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (r) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) Fish for, possess, transfer, receive, or sell; or attempt to 
fish for, possess, transfer, receive, or sell; more than 2,000 lb 
(907.2 kg) of herring per trip; or land, or attempt to land more than 
2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring per day in or from a management area 
closed pursuant to Sec.  648.201(a), or with a specific gear type in or 
from a river herring and shad catch cap closure area closed pursuant to 
Sec.  648.201(a)(4)(ii) if the vessel has been issued and holds a valid 
herring permit.
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  648.200, revise introductory paragraph (a), paragraph (f), 
add paragraphs (b)(6), and (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.200  Specifications.

    (a) The Atlantic Herring Plan Development Team (PDT) shall meet at 
least every 3 years, but no later than July of the year before new 
specifications are implemented, with the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Atlantic Herring Plan Review Team 
(PRT) to develop and recommend the following specifications for a 
period of 3 years for consideration by the New England Fishery 
Management Council's Atlantic Herring Oversight Committee: Overfishing 
Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Annual Catch Limit 
(ACL), Optimum yield (OY), domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic 
annual processing (DAP), U.S. at-sea processing (USAP), border transfer 
(BT), the sub-ACL for each management area, including seasonal periods 
as specified at Sec.  648.201(d) and modifications to sub-ACLs as 
specified at Sec.  648.201(f), the amount to be set aside for the RSA 
(from 0 to 3 percent of the sub-ACL from any management area), and 
river herring and shad catch caps, as specified in Sec.  648.201(a)(4). 
Recommended specifications shall be presented to the New England 
Fishery Management Council (Council).
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (6) River herring and shad catch caps may be allocated to the 
herring fishery by the following: Species, as defined in Sec.  648.2, 
either separately or combined, area as specified in paragraph (f)(7) of 
this section, vessel permit, gear type or any combination of these.
* * * * *
    (f) Management areas. The specifications process establishes sub-
ACLs and other management measures for the three management areas, 
which may have different management measures. Management Area 1 is 
subdivided into inshore and offshore sub-areas. The management areas 
are defined as follows:
    (1) Management Area 1 (Gulf of Maine): All U.S. waters of the Gulf 
of Maine (GOM) north of a line extending from a point at 41[deg]39' N. 
lat, 70[deg]00' W. long. to 42[deg]53'14.32125'' N. lat., 
67[deg]44'33.01613'' W. long., thence northerly along the U.S.-Canada 
Maritime Boundary to the U.S.-Canadian border, to include state and 
Federal waters adjacent to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and 
Massachusetts. Management Area 1 is divided into Area 1A (inshore) and 
Area 1B (offshore). The line dividing these areas is described by the 
following coordinates:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................  41[deg]58'                 70[deg]00'
2................................  42[deg]38'                 70[deg]00'
3................................  42[deg]53'                 69[deg]40'
4................................  43[deg]12'                 69[deg]00'
5................................  43[deg]40'                 68[deg]00'
6................................  43[deg]58'16.0314''        67[deg]21'26.157''        (\1\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Point 6 falls on the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.


[[Page 33884]]

    (2) Management Area 2 (South Coastal Area): All state and Federal 
waters inclusive of sounds and bays, bounded on the east by 70[deg]00' 
W. long. and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; 
bounded on the north and west by the southern coastline of Cape Cod, 
Massachusetts, and the coastlines of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New 
York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina; and 
bounded on the south by a line following the lateral seaward boundary 
between North Carolina and South Carolina from the coast to the 
Submerged Lands Act line, approximately 33[deg]48'46.37'' N. lat, 
78[deg]29'46.46'' W. long., and then heading due east along 
38[deg]48'46.37'' N. lat. to the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive 
Economic Zone.
    (3) Management Area 3 (Georges Bank): All U.S. waters east of 
70[deg]00' W. long. and southeast of the line that runs from a point at 
41[deg]39' N. lat. and 70[deg]00' W. long., northeasterly to U.S.-
Canada Maritime Boundary at 42[deg]53'14.32125'' N. lat., 
67[deg]44'33.01613'' W. long.
    (4) River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas--(i) January-February 
River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The January-February River 
Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include four sub-areas. Each sub-
area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, connected in 
the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
    (A) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JF1A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
JF1B...........................  43[deg]00' N.        70[deg]30' W.
JF1C...........................  42[deg]30' N.        70[deg]30' W.
JF1D...........................  42[deg]30' N.        71[deg]00' W.
JF1A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JF2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
JF2B...........................  42[deg]00' N.        69[deg]30' W.
JF2C...........................  41[deg]30' N.        69[deg]30' W.
JF2D...........................  41[deg]30' N.        70[deg]00' W.
JF2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (C) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 3.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JF3A.............................  41[deg]30' N.              72[deg]00' W.
JF3B.............................  41[deg]30' N.              71[deg]00' W.
JF3C.............................  40[deg]30' N.              71[deg]00' W.
JF3D.............................  40[deg]30' N.              72[deg]30' W.
JF3E.............................  (\1\)                      72[deg]30' W.             (\3\)
JF3F.............................  (\2\)                      72[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
JF3A.............................  41[deg]30' N.              72[deg]00' W.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The southernmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.
\2\ The north-facing shoreline of Long Island, New York.
\3\ Points JF3E and JF3F are connected following the coastline of the south fork of eastern Long Island, New
  York.

    (D) January-February River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 4.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JF4A.............................  40[deg]30' N.              74[deg]00' W.
JF4B.............................  40[deg]30' N.              72[deg]30' W.
JF4C.............................  40[deg]00' N.              72[deg]30' W.
JF4D.............................  40[deg]00' N.              72[deg]00' W.
JF4E.............................  39[deg]30' N.              72[deg]00' W.
JF4F.............................  39[deg]30' N.              73[deg]30' W.
JF4G.............................  40[deg]00' N.              73[deg]30' W.
JF4H.............................  40[deg]00' N.              74[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
JF4A.............................  40[deg]30' N.              74[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Points JF4H and JF4A are connected following 74[deg] W. longitude and the easternmost shoreline of New
  Jersey, whichever is furthest east.

    (ii) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The 
March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include five sub-
areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates 
below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise 
noted.
    (A) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA1A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
MA1B...........................  43[deg]00' N.        70[deg]30' W.
MA1C...........................  42[deg]30' N.        70[deg]30' W.
MA1D...........................  42[deg]30' N.        71[deg]00' W.
MA1A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
MA2B...........................  42[deg]00' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MA2C...........................  41[deg]30' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MA2D...........................  41[deg]30' N.        70[deg]00' W.
MA2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (C) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 3.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA3A.............................  41[deg]00' N.              (\1\)
MA3B.............................  41[deg]00' N.              71[deg]00' W.
MA3C.............................  40[deg]30' N.              71[deg]00' W.
MA3D.............................  40[deg]30' N.              71[deg]30' W.
MA3E.............................  40[deg]00' N.              71[deg]30' W.
MA3F.............................  40[deg]00' N.              72[deg]30' W.
MA3G.............................  (\2\)                      72[deg]30' W.             (\3\)

[[Page 33885]]

 
MA3A.............................  41[deg]00' N.              (\1\)                     (\3\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The easternmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.
\2\ The southernmost shoreline of Long Island, New York.
\3\ Points MA3G and MA3A are connected following the southern shoreline of Long Island, New York.

    (D) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 4.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA4A...........................  40[deg]00' N.        73[deg]30' W.
MA4B...........................  40[deg]00' N.        72[deg]30' W.
MA4C...........................  39[deg]00' N.        72[deg]30' W.
MA4D...........................  39[deg]00' N.        73[deg]30' W.
MA4A...........................  40[deg]00' N.        73[deg]30' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (E) March-April River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 5.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA5A.............................  40[deg]30' N.              74[deg]00' W.
MA5B.............................  40[deg]30' N.              73[deg]30' W.
MA5C.............................  40[deg]00' N.              73[deg]30' W.
MA5D.............................  40[deg]00' N.              74[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
MA5A.............................  40[deg]30' N.              74[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Points MA5D and MA5A are connected following 74[deg] W. longitude and the easternmost shoreline of New
  Jersey, whichever is furthest east.

    (iii) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The May-
June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-areas. 
Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates below, 
connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted.
    (A) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MJ1A...........................  44[deg]00' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MJ1B...........................  44[deg]00' N.        69[deg]00' W.
MJ1C...........................  43[deg]30' N.        69[deg]00' W.
MJ1D...........................  43[deg]30' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MJ1A...........................  44[deg]00' N.        69[deg]30' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) May-June River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MJ2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
MJ2B...........................  42[deg]00' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MJ2C...........................  41[deg]30' N.        69[deg]30' W.
MJ2D...........................  41[deg]30' N.        70[deg]00' W.
MJ2A...........................  42[deg]00' N.        70[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (iv) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The 
July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two sub-
areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates 
below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise 
noted.
    (A) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 1.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA1A.............................  44[deg]00' N.              70[deg]00' W.
JA1B.............................  44[deg]00' N.              69[deg]30' W.
JA1C.............................  43[deg]00' N.              69[deg]30' W.
JA1D.............................  43[deg]00' N.              70[deg]00' W.             (\1\)
JA1A.............................  44[deg]00' N.              70[deg]00' W.             (\1\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The boundary from Points JA1D to JA1A excludes the portions Maquoit Bay and Middle Bay (Brunswick, ME) east
  of 70[deg]00' W.

    (B) July-August River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA2A...........................  44[deg]00' N.        69[deg]00' W.
JA2B...........................  44[deg]00' N.        68[deg]30' W.
JA2C...........................  43[deg]30' N.        68[deg]30' W.
JA2D...........................  43[deg]30' N.        69[deg]00' W.
JA2A...........................  44[deg]00' N.        69[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (v) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. The 
September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include two 
sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the coordinates 
below, connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise 
noted.
    (A) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 
1.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO1A.............................  44[deg]30' N.              68[deg]00' W.
SO1B.............................  44[deg]30' N.              (\1\)                     (\2\)
SO1C.............................  44[deg]00' N.              (\3\)                     (\2\)
SO1D.............................  44[deg]00' N.              68[deg]00' W.
SO1A.............................  44[deg]30' N.              68[deg]00' W.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 44[deg]30' N. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\2\ Point SO1B and Point SO1C are connected along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\3\ The intersection of 44[deg]00' N. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.


[[Page 33886]]

    (B) September-October River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 
2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO2A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
SO2B...........................  43[deg]00' N.        70[deg]30' W.
SO2C...........................  42[deg]30' N.        70[deg]30' W.
SO2D...........................  42[deg]30' N.        71[deg]00' W.
SO2A...........................  43[deg]00' N.        71[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (vi) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas. 
The November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas include 
two sub-areas. Each sub-area includes the waters bounded by the 
coordinates below, connected in the order listed by straight lines 
unless otherwise noted.
    (A) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 
1.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ND1A.............................  43[deg]00' N.              71[deg]00' W.
ND1B.............................  43[deg]00' N.              70[deg]00' W.
ND1C.............................  42[deg]00' N.              70[deg]00' W.
ND1D.............................  42[deg]00' N.              69[deg]30' W.
ND1E.............................  41[deg]30' N.              69[deg]30' W.
ND1F.............................  41[deg]30' N.              70[deg]00' W.
ND1G.............................  (\1\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
ND1H.............................  42[deg]00' N.              (\2\)                     (\3\)
ND1I.............................  42[deg]00' N.              70[deg]30' W.
ND1J.............................  42[deg]30' N.              70[deg]30' W.
ND1K.............................  42[deg]30' N.              71[deg]00' W.
ND1A.............................  43[deg]00' N.              71[deg]00' W.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The south-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\2\ The west-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\3\ Point ND1G and ND1H are connected following the coastline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

    (B) November-December River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Sub-Area 
2.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ND2A...........................  41[deg]30' N.        72[deg]00' W.
ND2B...........................  41[deg]30' N.        70[deg]00' W.
ND2C...........................  40[deg]30' N.        70[deg]00' W.
ND2D...........................  40[deg]30' N.        70[deg]30' W.
ND2E...........................  41[deg]00' N.        70[deg]30' W.
ND2F...........................  41[deg]00' N.        72[deg]00' W.
ND2A...........................  41[deg]30' N.        72[deg]00' W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (5) Gulf of Maine Modified Haddock Stock Area. The Gulf of Maine 
Modified Haddock Stock Area is composed of the portions of Greater 
Atlantic Region Statistical Areas 464, 465, 
511, 512, 513, 514, and 
515 in U.S. waters, and is defined by the following points 
connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................  (\1\)                      67[deg]00' W.
B................................  (\2\)                      67[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
C................................  42[deg]20' N.              (\4\)                     (\3\)
D................................  42[deg]20' N.              70[deg]00' W.
E................................  (\5\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\6\)
A................................  (\1\)                      67[deg]00' W.             (\6\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 67[deg]00' W. longitude and the southern coast of Maine.
\2\ The intersection of 67[deg]00' W. longitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\3\ From POINT B to POINT C along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\4\ The intersection of 42[deg]20' N latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\5\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the northeast-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\6\ From POINT E back to POINT A along the coastline of the United States.

    (6) Georges Bank Modified Haddock Stock Area. The Georges Bank 
Modified Haddock Stock Area is composed of Greater Atlantic Region 
Statistical Areas 521, 522, 525, 
526, 561, and 562, and is defined by bounded 
by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines 
unless otherwise noted:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................  42[deg]20' N.              70[deg]00' W.
B................................  42[deg]20' N.              (\1\)                     (\2\)
C................................  40[deg]30' N.              (\3\)                     (\2\)
D................................  40[deg]30' N.              66[deg]40' W.
E................................  39[deg]50' N.              66[deg]40' W.
F................................  39[deg]50' N.              70[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
A................................  42[deg]20' N.              70[deg]00' W.             (\4\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 42[deg]20' N. latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\2\ From POINT B to POINT C following the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\3\ The intersection of 40[deg]30' N. latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\4\ From POINT F back to POINT A along 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the coastlines of Nantucket Island and
  mainland Cape Cod, Massachusetts, whichever is further east.


[[Page 33887]]

    (7) River herring and shad catch cap areas--(i) Gulf of Maine Catch 
Cap Area. The Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area is composed of the portions 
of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas 464, 
465, 467, 511, 512, 513, 
514, and 515 in U.S. waters. The Gulf of Maine Catch 
Cap Area is bounded on the west by the coastline of the United States, 
bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and bounded 
on the south by the following coordinates connected by straight lines 
in the order listed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Point                   N. latitude         W. longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A..............................  (\1\)                70[deg]00' W.
B..............................  42[deg]20' N.        70[deg]00' W.
C..............................  42[deg]20' N.        (\2\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the northwest facing
  shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\2\ The intersection of 42[deg]00' N. latitude and the U.S.-Canada
  Maritime Boundary.

    (ii) Cape Cod Catch Cap Area. The Cape Cod Catch Cap Area is 
composed of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Area 521, and 
is defined by bounded by the following points connected in the order 
listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................  (\1\)                      70[deg]00' W.
B................................  42[deg]20' N.              70[deg]00' W.
C................................  42[deg]20' N.              68[deg]50' W.
D................................  41[deg]00' N.              68[deg]50' W.
E................................  41[deg]00' N.              69[deg]30' W.
F................................  41[deg]10' N.              69[deg]30' W.
G................................  41[deg]10' N.              69[deg]50' W.
H................................  41[deg]20' N.              69[deg]50' W.
I................................  41[deg]20' N.              (\2\)                     (\3\)
J................................  (\4\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
K................................  (\5\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\6\)
A................................  (\1\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\6\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the northeast-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
\2\ The intersection of 41[deg]20' N. latitude and the northeast-facing shoreline of Nantucket Island.
\3\ From Point I to Point J along the northeast-facing shoreline of Nantucket Island.
\4\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the northeast-facing shoreline of Nantucket Island.
\5\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the south-facing shoreline of mainland Cape Cod,
  Massachusetts.
\6\ From Point K to Point A along the east-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

    (iii) Georges Bank Catch Cap Area. The Georges Bank Catch Cap Area 
is composed of the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical 
Areas 522, 525, 526, 541, 
542, 543, 561, 562, and 
640 in US waters, and is defined by the following points, 
connected in the order listed by straight lines unless otherwise noted:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................  (\1\)                      70[deg]00' W.
B................................  (\2\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
C................................  41[deg]20' N.              (\4\)                     (\3\)
D................................  41[deg]20' N.              69[deg]50' W.
E................................  41[deg]10' N.              69[deg]50' W.
F................................  41[deg]10' N.              69[deg]30' W.
G................................  41[deg]00' N.              69[deg]30' W.
H................................  41[deg]00' N.              68[deg]50' W.
I................................  42[deg]20' N.              68[deg]50' W.
J................................  42[deg]20' N.              (\5\)                     (\6\)
A................................  (\1\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\6\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
\2\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the south-facing shoreline of Nantucket Island.
\3\ From Point B to Point C along the south- and east-facing shorelines of Nantucket Island.
\4\ The intersection of 41[deg]20' N. latitude and the northeast-facing shoreline of Nantucket Island.
\5\ The intersection of 42[deg]20' N. latitude and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\6\ From Point J back to Point A along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary and the outer limit of the U.S.
  Exclusive Economic Zone.

    (iv) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Area. The 
coordinates of this area are the same as Management Area 2 (South 
Coastal Area), as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
    (8) River herring and shad catch cap closure areas--(i) Gulf of 
Maine Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area are the same 
as the Gulf of Maine Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph 
(f)(7)(i) of this section.
    (ii) Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this area 
are the same as the Cape Cod Catch Cap Area, as specified in paragraph 
(f)(7)(ii) of this section.
    (iii) Georges Bank Catch Cap Closure Area. The coordinates of this 
area are the same as the Georges Bank Catch Cap Area, as specified in 
paragraph (f)(7)(iii) of this section.
    (iv) Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Closure Area. The 
Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Catch Cap Closure Area is composed of 
the portions of Greater Atlantic Region Statistical Areas 537, 
538, 539, 611, 612, 613, 
614, 615, 616, 621, 622, 
623, 625, 626, 627, 631, 
632, 635, and 636 in US waters, and is 
defined by the following coordinates, connected by straight lines in 
the order listed unless otherwise noted:

[[Page 33888]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                       N. latitude               W. longitude                  Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................  35[deg]00' N.              (\1\)
B................................  35[deg]00' N.              74[deg]00' W.
C................................  37[deg]00' N.              74[deg]00' W.
D................................  37[deg]00' N.              73[deg]00' W.
E................................  38[deg]00' N.              73[deg]00' W.
F................................  38[deg]00' N.              72[deg]00' W.
G................................  39[deg]00' N.              72[deg]00' W.
H................................  39[deg]00' N.              71[deg]40' W.
I................................  39[deg]50' N.              71[deg]40' W.
J................................  39[deg]50' N.              70[deg]00' W.
K................................  (\2\)                      70[deg]00' W.             (\3\)
A................................  35[deg]00' N.              (\1\)                     (\3\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 35[deg]00' N. latitude and the mainland shoreline of North Carolina.
\2\ The intersection of 70[deg]00' W. longitude and the south-facing shoreline of mainland Cape Cod,
  Massachusetts.
\3\ From Point K back to Point A along the mainland shoreline of the United States.

    (g) All aspects of the following measures can be modified through 
the specifications process:
    (1) AMs;
    (2) Possession limits;
    (3) River Herring Monitoring/Avoidance Areas; and
    (4) River herring and shad catch caps, including a joint catch cap 
with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
0
7. In Sec.  648.201 revise paragraphs (a)(2) and (e) and add paragraph 
(a)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.201  AMs and harvest controls.

    (a) * * *
    (2) When the Regional Administrator has determined that the GOM 
and/or GB incidental catch cap for haddock in Sec.  648.85(d) has been 
caught, no vessel issued a Federal Atlantic herring permit and fishing 
with midwater trawl gear in the applicable Accountability Measure (AM) 
Area, i.e., the Herring GOM Haddock AM Area or Herring GB Haddock AM 
Area, as defined in Sec.  648.86(a)(3)(ii)(A)(2) and (3) of this part, 
may fish for, possess, or land herring in excess of 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) 
per trip in or from the applicable AM Area, and from landing herring 
more than once per calendar day, unless all herring possessed and 
landed by a vessel were caught outside the applicable AM Area and the 
vessel complies with the gear stowage provisions specified in Sec.  
648.23(b) while transiting the applicable AM Area. Upon this 
determination, the haddock possession limit is reduced to 0 lb (0 kg) 
in the applicable AM area, for a vessel issued a Federal Atlantic 
herring permit and fishing with midwater trawl gear or for a vessel 
issued an All Areas Limited Access Herring Permit and/or an Areas 2 and 
3 Limited Access Herring Permit fishing on a declared herring trip, 
regardless of area fished or gear used, in the applicable AM area, 
unless the vessel also possesses a Northeast multispecies permit and is 
operating on a declared (consistent with Sec.  648.10(g)) Northeast 
multispecies trip.
* * * * *
    (4) River herring and shad catch cap. (i) The river herring and 
shad catch cap on the herring fishery applies to all trips that land 
more than 6,600 lb (3 mt) of herring. Caps by gear and by area shall be 
established through the specifications process described in Sec.  
648.201.
    (ii) If NMFS projects that catch will reach 95 percent of a 
specific catch cap for specified gear applicable to an area specified 
in Sec.  648.200(f)(7), NMFS shall prohibit vessels, beginning on the 
date the catch is projected to reach 95 percent of the catch cap, from 
fishing for, possessing, catching, transferring, or landing more than 
2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic herring per trip using the applicable 
gear in the applicable catch cap closure area, specified in Sec.  
648.200(f)(8), and from landing herring more than once per calendar 
day, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, for 
the remainder of the fishing year. NMFS shall implement these 
restrictions in accordance with the APA.
* * * * *
    (e) Up to 500 mt of the Area 1A sub-ACL shall be allocated for the 
fixed gear fisheries in Area 1A (weirs and stop seines) that occur west 
of 67[deg]16.8' W. long (Cutler, Maine). This set-aside shall be 
available for harvest by fixed gear within the specified area until 
November 1 of each fishing year. Any portion of this allocation that 
has not been utilized by November 1 shall be restored to the sub-ACL 
allocation for Area 1A.
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  648.204, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.204  Possession restrictions.

    (a) A vessel must be issued and possess a valid limited access 
herring permit to fish for, possess, or land more than 6,600 lb (3 mt) 
of Atlantic herring from any herring management area in the EEZ, 
provided none of the harvest controls specified in Sec.  648.201 have 
been triggered.
    (1) A vessel issued an All Areas Limited Access Herring Permit may 
fish for, possess, or land Atlantic herring with no possession 
restriction from any of the herring management areas defined in Sec.  
648.200(f), provided none of the accountability measure or harvest 
controls specified in Sec.  648.201 have been triggered.
    (2) A vessel issued only an Areas 2 and 3 Limited Access Herring 
Permit may fish for, possess, or land Atlantic herring with no 
possession restriction only from Area 2 or Area 3, as defined in Sec.  
648.200(f), provided none of the accountability measure or harvest 
controls specified in Sec.  648.201 have been triggered. Such a vessel 
may fish in Area 1 only if issued an open access herring permit or a 
Limited Access Incidental Catch Herring Permit, and only as authorized 
by the respective permit.
    (3) A vessel issued a Limited Access Incidental Catch Herring 
Permit may fish for, possess, or land up to 55,000 lb (25 mt) of 
Atlantic herring in any calendar day, and is limited to one landing of 
herring per calendar day, from any management area defined in Sec.  
648.200(f), provided none of the accountability measure or harvest 
controls specified in Sec.  648.201 have been triggered.
    (4) A vessel issued an All Areas Open Access Permit may fish for, 
possess, or land up to 6,600 lb (3 mt) of Atlantic herring from any 
herring management area per trip, and is limited to one landing of 
herring per calendar day, provided none of the accountability measure 
or harvest controls specified in Sec.  648.201 have been triggered.
    (5) A vessel issued an Areas 2/3 Open Access Permit may fish for, 
possess, or

[[Page 33889]]

land up to 20,000 lb (9 mt) of Atlantic herring from only Area 2 or 
Area 3, as defined in Sec.  648.200(f), per trip, and is limited to one 
landing of herring per calendar day, provided none of the 
accountability measure or harvest controls specified in Sec.  648.201 
have been triggered.
    (6) A vessel issued a herring permit may possess herring roe 
provided that the carcasses of the herring from which it came are not 
discarded at sea.
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec.  648.206, revise paragraphs (b)(36) and (b)(37) and add 
paragraph (b)(38) i to read as follows:


Sec.  648.206  Framework provisions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (36) River herring and shad catch caps, including species-specific 
caps, and vessels, permits, trips, gears, and areas to which caps 
apply;
    (37) River herring and shad Catch Cap Areas and Catch Cap Closure 
Areas; and
    (38) Any other measure currently included in the FMP.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-13611 Filed 6-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P