Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper Management Measures, 3541-3546 [2015-01145]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3541-3546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01145]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140818679-5042-01]
RIN 0648-BE47


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper Management 
Measures

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 to implement management measures described in 
Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources 
of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would establish 
a Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component and private 
angling component within the recreational sector, allocate the red 
snapper recreational quota and annual catch target (ACT) between the 
components based on historical and recent landings, and establish 
separate red snapper season closure provisions for the Federal for-hire 
and private angling components. These measures would sunset after 3 
years unless the Council takes additional action. The purpose of 
Amendment 40 is to define distinct private angling and Federal for-hire 
components of the recreational sector who fish for red snapper, and 
allocate the recreational quota between these components, to increase 
the stability for the for-hire component, provide a basis for increased 
flexibility in future management of the recreational sector, and 
minimize the chance for recreational quota overruns, which could 
negatively impact the rebuilding of the red snapper stock.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the amendment identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2014-0107'' 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-2014-0107, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Hood, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    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.
    Electronic copies of Amendment 40, which includes an environmental 
impact statement, a fishery impact statement, a Regulatory Flexibility 
Act analysis, and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the 
Southeast Regional Office Web site at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, 
NMFS, telephone: 727-824-5305; email: Peter.Hood@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage the Gulf reef 
fish fishery under the FMP. The Council prepared the FMP and NMFS 
implements the FMP through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Background

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS and regional fishery 
management councils to prevent overfishing and achieve, on a continuing 
basis, the optimum yield (OY) from federally managed fish stocks. These 
mandates are intended to ensure fishery resources are managed for the 
greatest overall benefit to the nation, particularly with respect to 
providing food production and recreational opportunities, and 
protecting marine ecosystems. Amendment 40 includes actions to define 
distinct private angling and Federal for-hire components of the reef 
fish recreational sector fishing for red snapper and allocate red 
snapper resources between these two recreational components. 
Establishing these separate components is intended to increase the 
stability for the for-hire component, provide a basis for increased 
flexibility in future management of the recreational sector, and reduce 
the likelihood for recreational quota overruns. As a result, the 
actions are intended to prevent overfishing while achieving the OY, 
particularly with respect to recreational fishing opportunities, while 
rebuilding the red snapper stock.

Recreational Red Snapper Fishing

    The Gulf red snapper stock is overfished and currently under a 
rebuilding plan until 2032. Consistent with the rebuilding plan, both 
commercial and recreational quotas have been allowed to increase as the 
stock has recovered. The recreational sector, which has experienced 
quota overages and more recently, shorter seasons, is managed under a 
quota, bag and size limits, and closed seasons. The recreational season 
length is determined using projections that rely on previous years' 
landings information. Even though the recreational quota has increased 
in recent years, the season length has decreased, in part because the 
average size of the fish harvested has increased and red snapper are 
more

[[Page 3542]]

readily available as the red snapper population has grown (i.e., it 
takes fewer fish that are more easily caught to fill the quota). 
Additionally, inconsistent state regulations require NMFS to reduce the 
length of the Federal recreational fishing season to account for 
increased state water harvest and have made harvest projections more 
difficult.
    To minimize the chances of the recreational sector exceeding its 
quota and to mitigate for any quota overages, the Council submitted and 
NMFS proposed regulations to implement a framework action to the FMP to 
establish a recreational ACT for red snapper and an accountability 
measure (AM) that requires an overage adjustment when the recreational 
quota is exceeded and red snapper are overfished (79 FR 69418, November 
21, 2014). The recreational ACT, which is used to set the recreational 
season length, is calculated by reducing the recreational quota by 20 
percent. Should landings exceed the recreational quota, the framework 
action includes an overage adjustment that would reduce the 
recreational quota and the recreational ACT in the year following the 
overage by the amount of the quota overage to mitigate the effects of 
the overharvest.
    The recreational sector in the Gulf includes a private angling 
component and a for-hire component. The for-hire component includes 
charter vessels and headboats. Those for-hire vessels with a Federal 
charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish are allowed to fish 
for red snapper in Federal waters, and those without Federal permits 
are restricted to fishing for red snapper in state waters. Current 
recreational management measures are typically applied to the 
recreational sector as a whole, without making a distinction between 
the private and for-hire components. Because recreational red snapper 
fishing seasons in Federal waters have been getting shorter, red 
snapper fishing opportunities for both the for-hire and private angling 
components have been reduced.
    There has been a moratorium on the issuance of new Federal charter 
vessel/headboat permits for Gulf reef fish since 2003. This means that 
no additional Federal permits are available. This also means that 
access to these vessels is limited to the recreational anglers that pay 
to fish from these permitted vessels. There is no limit to the number 
of anglers fishing from private recreational vessels that target reef 
fish species. Private recreational vessels can harvest red snapper in 
state waters if the state season is open when the Federal season is 
closed. There is also no limit to the number of state-issued permits 
for for-hire vessels operating in state waters. These state-permitted 
for-hire vessels may harvest federally managed species in state waters 
only; they may not take paying passengers on trips to harvest federally 
managed species from Federal waters. Over time, the number of private 
recreational anglers (state licensed) has increased, while the number 
of vessels with Federal charter vessels/headboat permits for Gulf reef 
fish has decreased. As a result, private vessel landings over time have 
represented a greater proportion of the recreational harvest as a 
whole. For example, in 2003, NMFS estimates that the Federal for-hire 
component caught 47.3 percent of the recreational harvest while the 
private angling component caught 52.7 percent. By 2013, the Federal 
for-hire component portion had declined to 16.7 percent of the 
recreational harvest while the private angling component had increased 
to 83.3 percent. By establishing separate sectors, NMFS intends to 
stabilize the Federal for-hire component's participation in the sector.
    Establishing separate components is also intended to provide a 
basis for flexible management that can be tailored to the needs of each 
component, thereby reducing the likelihood for recreational quota 
overruns which could negatively impact the rebuilding of the red 
snapper stock. The landings data for each component have different 
degrees of uncertainty because of differences in how recreational data 
are collected. Private angler data is derived from surveys whereas for-
hire data is collected through surveys and logbooks. In addition, the 
number of for-hire vessels is known and is much smaller than vessels 
operated by private anglers. When private recreational landings 
estimates that have a higher degree of uncertainty are combined with 
for-hire landings data, it is more difficult to project when the season 
should close and less effective management measures may be implemented 
in the recreational sector. Separating management of the components is 
expected to improve the projections of when the recreational quota is 
reached and create a platform for future management of the recreational 
sector that can focus on maximizing opportunities for each component.

Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule

    If implemented, this proposed rule would: Establish a Federal for-
hire and a private angling component within the Gulf recreational 
sector fishing for red snapper; establish a Federal for-hire quota and 
a private angling quota based on the component allocation of the red 
snapper recreational quota that was selected in Amendment 40; and 
establish separate red snapper ACTs and seasonal closure provisions for 
the two components. Under a sunset provision, these management measures 
would only be in effect for 3 years.

Establishing Private Angling and Federal For-Hire Components

    This proposed rule would establish a Federal for-hire and a private 
angling component within the Gulf recreational sector fishing for red 
snapper. The Federal for-hire component would include operators of 
vessels with Federal charter vessel/headboat permits for Gulf reef fish 
and the private angling component would include anglers fishing from 
private vessels and state-permitted for-hire vessels (for purpose of 
calculating landings for the recreational sector as a whole). The 
Council's rationale for establishing these components is to increase 
the stability for the Federal for-hire component, provide a basis for 
increased flexibility in future management of the recreational sector, 
and minimize the chance for recreational quota overruns. The biological 
effects analyses in Amendment 40 also explain that Amendment 40 is 
likely to have positive indirect effects on discard mortality as 
compared to the status quo. Thus, NMFS has made a preliminary 
determination that Amendment 40 and this proposed rule are consistent 
with National Standard 5, which requires that conservation and 
management measures, where practicable, consider efficiency in the 
utilization of fishery resources but prohibits any such measure from 
having economic allocation as its sole purpose.
    NMFS has also made a preliminary determination that creating the 
two components is consistent with the requirement in National Standard 
4 that conservation and management measures not discriminate between 
residents of different States. Because red snapper availability and 
abundance in state waters can vary regionally, fishing opportunities 
for individual fishermen in the private-angling component may vary if 
the Gulf States set inconsistent state seasons. However, the actions in 
Amendment 40 do not differentiate between residents of different 
states. For the private-angling component, there will be a single 
Federal season in the EEZ off all Gulf states that will be determined 
using past landings data and will take into account any harvest allowed 
in state waters.

[[Page 3543]]

    Section 407(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires separate quotas 
for commercial and recreational fishing (which for the purposes of the 
subsection includes charter fishing), and a prohibition on the 
retention of fish when each quota is reached. There is nothing in this 
section, or elsewhere in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, that prohibits the 
Council from further sub-dividing the recreational quota among 
different components of the recreational sector to further improve the 
management of the fishery, and this approach is one that has been used 
repeatedly by fishery management councils nationwide as consistent with 
the authority provided in the Act. See e.g., 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(3)(A) 
(allowing the councils to establish specified limitations which are 
necessary and appropriate for the conservation and management of the 
fishery on the--``(A) catch of fish (based on area, species, size, 
number, weight, sex, bycatch, total biomass, or other factors)''). The 
one constraint on managing the two components of the recreational 
sector independently in section 407(d) is the mandate to prohibit the 
retention of red snapper when the recreational red snapper quota is 
reached. Consistent with this requirement, the proposed rule would not 
change the total recreational quota or the requirement that the 
recreational sector be closed when that total quota is reached. Thus, 
if NMFS determines that the Gulf-wide recreational quota has been met, 
all recreational fishing will be prohibited regardless of whether one 
component has remaining allocation. As explained below, the use of an 
ACT to set the component season length will reduce the likelihood of 
this occurring.

Quotas

    This rule would establish component quotas based on the allocation 
of the recreational quota selected in Amendment 40 with 42.3 percent of 
the quota going to the Federal for-hire component and 57.7 percent 
going to the private angling component. Given a 2015 recreational quota 
of 5.390 million lb (2.445 million kg), the rule would set the Federal 
for-hire component quota at 2,279,970 lb (1,034,177 kg), round weight 
and the private angling component quota at 3,110,030 lb (1,410,686 kg), 
round weight.
    In determining the allocation, the Council considered eight 
alternatives that were based on average percentages of red snapper 
harvested by the Federal for-hire and the private angling components 
during various time intervals between 1986 and 2013. These allocation 
alternatives were calculated using revised landings data and models 
developed from a Marine Recreational Information Program calibration 
workshop. This workshop evaluated the potential effects of a change in 
sampling design in 2013 that resulted in increased estimates of red 
snapper recreational effort and landings. In order to ensure that the 
Council's allocation decision was based on the best scientific 
information available, the preliminary results of this workshop were 
presented to the Council at the October 2014 meeting and the Council 
was advised that the preferred allocation reflected in the briefing 
book version of Amendment 40 could change by up to 3.3 
percent. The Council discussed this new information before submitting 
Amendment 40 to the Secretary of Commerce for review and 
implementation. When the final results from the workshop were 
incorporated in Amendment 40, 1.7 percent of the recreational quota was 
shifted from the Federal for-hire component to the private angling 
component. This did not result in any changes to the season length 
projections included in Amendment 40 that estimated the Federal for-
hire and private angling fishing seasons if sector separation had been 
implemented in 2014.
    The Council also considered the analysis included in Amendment 40 
that addressed the economic impacts of establishing the two 
recreational sector components and allocating the recreational quota 
between these two components. A quantitative economic analysis is not 
presented in the amendment, because the information required for such 
an analysis is not available. However, Amendment 40 includes an 
extensive qualitative economic analysis based on the best scientific 
information available. NMFS has made a preliminary determination that 
Amendment 40 and the proposed rule are consistent with the mandate in 
National Standard 8 to use economic and social data that meet the 
requirements of National Standard 2, which states that conservation and 
management measures shall be based on the best scientific information 
available.
    The Council selected the alternative that combined the longest time 
period of available landings (1986-2013) with landings from a more 
recent range of years (2006-2013). Averages from each of the two time 
periods were then equally weighted to determine the allocation. The 
Council selected this allocation because it reflects both historical 
changes in the recreational sector as well as current conditions. It is 
also an approach used by the Council in setting allocations for other 
species (e.g., the jurisdictional apportionment of black grouper and 
yellowtail snapper resources between the Gulf and South Atlantic 
Councils).
    NMFS has made a preliminary determination that this allocation is 
fair and equitable, and does not discriminate directly or indirectly 
among residents of different states, consistent with National Standard 
4. NMFS recognizes that the allocation could limit the length of the 
Federal fishing season for the private-angling component. However, 
increasing effort, larger fish in the population as the species 
rebuilds, and inconsistent state seasons have already limited 
recreational fishing opportunities for red snapper in Federal waters, 
resulting most recently in a 9-day Federal fishing season in 2014. In 
addition, a shorter Federal fishing season for the private-angling 
component will likely be offset by any extended state fishing seasons; 
private anglers are able to fish for red snapper in state waters 
outside the Federal fishing season. By separating the sectors, 
Amendment 40 is expected to increase the total benefits to the 
recreational sector by stabilizing the Federal for-hire component's 
participation in the sector, creating a platform for future management 
that can focus on maximizing opportunities for each component, reducing 
discard mortality, and reducing the likelihood of recreational quota 
overruns.
    NMFS has also made a preliminary determination that Amendment 40 
and the proposed rule is consistent with National Standard 10, which 
requires that conservation and management measures, to the extent 
practicable, promote the safety of human life at sea. As noted above, a 
shorter Federal fishing season for the private-angling component will 
be offset by any extended state fishing seasons, reducing any incentive 
to fish in unsafe conditions. In addition, unlike commercial fishermen, 
private anglers do not have an economic incentive to fish in unsafe 
conditions. Thus, NMFS has determined that it is unlikely that private 
anglers will attempt to fish for red snapper in Federal waters in 
hazardous weather conditions.

Recreational Season Closure Provisions

    The proposed rule would establish separate red snapper seasonal 
closure provisions for the Federal for-hire and private angling 
components based on each component's ACT. Each component's season would 
begin on June 1 and the season length would be projected from each 
component's ACT. The ACTs would be reduced from each component's quota 
by 20 percent. This

[[Page 3544]]

is intended to reduce the likelihood that either component will exceed 
its quota. In 2014, the recreational fishing season was set based on an 
ACT that was 20 percent below the recreational quota and preliminary 
landings estimates indicate that this was effective in constraining 
recreational landings to the quota.
    Given the respective component quotas given above, the Federal 
charter vessel/headboat component ACT would be 1.824 million lb (0.827 
million kg), round weight, and the private angling ACT would be 2.488 
million lb (1.129 million kg), round weight. Season lengths would be 
determined after more information about 2014 recreational landings data 
and the results of an update stock assessment are available.

Sunset Provision

    This rule would implement a 3-year sunset provision for the 
establishment of the Federal for-hire and private angling components 
and associated management measures. For example, if this rule is 
implemented in time for the June 1, 2015, Federal recreational fishing 
season, the components and associated management measures would be 
effective through the end of the 2017 fishing year, on December 31, 
2017. For these components and management measures to extend beyond 3 
years, the Council would need to take further action.

Red Snapper Framework Action

    As noted above, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement a 
framework action to the FMP to revise the recreational AMs for red 
snapper and establish a recreational ACT for red snapper (79 FR 69418, 
November 21, 2014). That proposed rule added paragraph (q) to Sec.  
622.41, and this proposed rule would revise paragraph (q) to Sec.  
622.41 to include component specific ACTs and closure provisions. The 
final rule for the framework action is under development and is 
expected to publish before a final rule implementing Amendment 40 is 
published.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that this proposed 
rule is consistent with Amendment 40, the FMP, 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 Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) that this proposed rule, if implemented, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for this determination is as follows:
    The purpose of this proposed rule is to establish distinct private 
angling and Federal for-hire components of the recreational sector that 
harvests red snapper and allocate the allowable portion of the red 
snapper resource between these two components to facilitate the 
development of management approaches tailored to each component. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this proposed 
rule.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would directly affect all 
vessels with a Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef 
fish (hereafter referred to as a for-hire permit). For-hire vessels 
that only have a state permit would not be directly affected because 
they cannot take paying passengers to fish for red snapper in the EEZ. 
Headboats, which charge a fee per passenger, and charter vessels, which 
charge a fee on a whole vessel basis, are types of vessel operations 
that participate in the for-hire fishing sector. A Federal for-hire 
permit is required for for-hire vessels to harvest reef fish species, 
including red snapper, in the Gulf exclusive economic zone. On May 29, 
2014, there were 1,336 valid (non-expired) or renewable Gulf reef fish 
for-hire permits. A renewable permit is an expired permit that may not 
be actively fished, but is renewable for up to 1 year after expiration. 
Although the for-hire permit application collects information on the 
primary method of operation, the permit itself does not identify the 
permitted vessel as either a headboat or a charter vessel and vessels 
may operate in both capacities. However, only federally permitted 
headboats are required to submit harvest and effort information to the 
NMFS Southeast Region Headboat Survey (SRHS). Participation in the SRHS 
is based on determination by the Southeast Fishery Science Center that 
the vessel primarily operates as a headboat. Sixty-seven vessels were 
registered in the SHRS as of April 8, 2014. As a result, the estimated 
1,336 vessels expected to be directly affected by this proposed rule 
are expected to consist of 1,269 charter vessels and 67 headboats. The 
average charter vessel is estimated to receive approximately $83,000 
(2013 dollars) in annual revenue. The average headboat is estimated to 
receive approximately $251,000 (2013 dollars) in annual revenue.
    NMFS has not identified any other small entities that might be 
directly affected by this proposed rule.
    The Small Business Administration has established size criteria for 
all major industry sectors in the U.S., including fish harvesters. A 
business involved in the for-hire fishing industry 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 $7.5 million (NAICS code 
487210, for-hire businesses) for all its affiliated operations 
worldwide. All for-hire businesses expected to be directly affected by 
this proposed rule are believed to be small business entities.
    This proposed rule contains three actions that would establish 
separate Federal for-hire and private angler components for the 
recreational harvest of red snapper in the Gulf, specify the red 
snapper quota for each component, and set separate red snapper season 
closure provisions, based on the annual catch target, for each 
component. These proposed management changes would sunset after 3 
years. Collectively, these actions would be expected to result in 
increased economic benefits to for-hire small business entities because 
they would increase the management flexibility to implement component-
specific measures designed to increase the economic benefits accruing 
to each component. The immediate direct economic benefits of this 
proposed rule primarily, if not exclusively, would be expected to 
result from the specification of a for-hire component quota. 
Establishing the for-hire component would establish the platform on 
which to specify an allocation. Otherwise, no other immediate direct 
effects would accrue to this action. Establishing separate components, 
however, would enable future management changes that may be expected to 
result in increased economic benefits to small entities. These effects 
would be a direct effect of these future changes, and would be 
evaluated at that time, and not a direct effect of this proposed rule. 
Separate seasonal closure provisions would both aid the development of 
future component-specific management measures designed to increase 
economic benefits, and help ensure that the benefits expected to accrue 
to separate component quotas are realized.
    The proposed for-hire quota would result from an allocation of 42.3 
percent, that is larger than the portion of the allowable red snapper 
harvest taken by for-hire anglers in 2013 (18 percent) and the average 
annual harvest of 2011-2013 (23 percent). As a result, the proposed

[[Page 3545]]

quota would be expected to result in an increase in the red snapper 
harvest by for-hire anglers, an increase in the number of anglers that 
harvest red snapper from Federal for-hire vessels and, in turn, an 
increase in revenue and profits to for-hire vessels carrying these 
anglers. Meaningful estimation of the total increase in revenue and 
profits across the entire industry (all Federal for-hire vessels) or 
per vessel is not possible with available data. Increasing the amount 
of red snapper that can be harvested by anglers fishing from Federal 
for-hire vessels would be expected to increase the number of days red 
snapper may be harvested by these anglers. Because this would augment 
the ``harvest opportunity'' provided by a Federal for-hire vessel 
during the potentially extended season, some Federal for-hire vessels 
may be able to charge a higher price if angler demand is sufficient. 
Perhaps more importantly, only a portion of the increased allowable 
harvest by for-hire anglers would be expected to be taken on new trips. 
The remaining portion of the quota would be harvested on trips that 
would occur even if the red snapper season were closed, but could now 
keep red snapper as a result of the increase in the quota and 
associated extended season. Federal for-hire revenue would only 
increase if higher fees are charged or new trips occur. However, 
because competition would be expected to reduce the opportunity to 
increase for-hire prices, increases in revenue, and associated profits, 
are more likely to come from new trips. The proposed sunset provision 
would be expected to limit the duration of these effects, but not the 
amount or direction (increased revenue and profits) of these effects.
    Because of the uncertainty associated with these factors, 
meaningful estimates of the expected change in revenue or profits 
cannot be generated. Nevertheless, the net effect of the actions in 
this proposed rule is expected to be an increase in profit to the 
affected Federal for-hire small business entities.
    Because this proposed rule, if implemented, would not be expected 
to have a significant direct adverse economic effect on a substantial 
number of small entities, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not required and none has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf, Quotas, Recreational, Red Snapper.

    Dated: January 16, 2015.
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 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

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

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

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.8, paragraphs (a) and (c) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.8  Quotas--general.

    (a) Quotas apply for the fishing year for each species, species 
group, sector or component, unless accountability measures are 
implemented during the fishing year pursuant to the applicable annual 
catch limits and accountability measures sections of subparts B through 
V of this part due to a quota overage occurring the previous year, in 
which case a reduced quota will be specified through notification in 
the Federal Register. Annual quota increases are contingent on the 
total allowable catch for the applicable species not being exceeded in 
the previous fishing year. If the total allowable catch is exceeded in 
the previous fishing year, the RA will file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register to maintain the quota for the applicable 
species, sector or component from the previous fishing year for 
following fishing years, unless the best scientific information 
available determines maintaining the quota from the previous year is 
unnecessary. Except for the quotas for Gulf and South Atlantic coral, 
the quotas include species harvested from state waters adjoining the 
EEZ.
* * * * *
    (c) Reopening. When a species, sector or component has been closed 
based on a projection of the quota specified in this part, or the ACL 
specified in the applicable annual catch limits and accountability 
measures sections of subparts B through V of this part being reached 
and subsequent data indicate that the quota or ACL was not reached, the 
Assistant Administrator may file a notification to that effect with the 
Office of the Federal Register. Such notification may reopen the 
species, sector or component to provide an opportunity for the quota or 
ACL to be harvested.
0
3. In Sec.  622.39, paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (c) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.39  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Recreational quota for red snapper. (A) Total recreational 
quota (Federal charter vessel/headboat and private angling component 
quotas combined)--5.390 million lb (2.445 million kg), round weight.
    (B) Federal charter vessel/headboat component quota--2,279,970 lb 
(1,034,177 kg), round weight. The Federal charter vessel/headboat 
component quota applies to vessels that have a valid Federal charter 
vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish any time during the fishing 
year. This component quota is effective for only the 2015, 2016, and 
2017 fishing years. For the 2018 and subsequent fishing years, the 
total recreational quota specified in Sec.  622.39(a)(2)(i)(A) will 
apply to the recreational sector.
    (C) Private angling component quota--3,110,030 lb (1,410,686 kg), 
round weight. The private angling component quota applies to vessels 
that fish under the bag limit and do not have a Federal charter vessel/
headboat permit for Gulf reef fish any time during the fishing year. 
This component quota is effective for only the 2015, 2016, and 2017 
fishing years. For the 2018 and subsequent fishing years, the total 
recreational quota specified in Sec.  622.39(a)(2)(i)(A) will apply to 
the recreational sector.
* * * * *
    (c) Restrictions applicable after a recreational quota closure or 
recreational component quota closure. The bag limit for the applicable 
species for the recreational sector or recreational sector component in 
or from the Gulf EEZ is zero. When the Federal charter vessel/headboat 
component is closed or the entire recreational sector is closed, this 
bag and possession limit applies in the Gulf on board a vessel for 
which a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish 
has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, 
i.e. in state or Federal waters.
0
4. In Sec.  622.41, paragraph (q) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  622.41  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (q) Red snapper--(1) Commercial sector. The IFQ program for red 
snapper in the Gulf of Mexico serves as the accountability measure for 
commercial red snapper. The commercial ACL for red snapper is equal to 
the commercial quota specified in Sec.  622.39(a)(1)(i).

[[Page 3546]]

    (2) Recreational sector. (i) The AA will determine the length of 
the red snapper recreational fishing season, or recreational fishing 
seasons for the Federal charter vessel/headboat and private angling 
components, based on when recreational landings are projected to reach 
the recreational ACT, or respective recreational component ACT 
specified in paragraph (q)(2)(iii) of this section, and announce the 
closure date(s) in the Federal Register. These seasons will serve as 
in-season accountability measures. On and after the effective date of 
the recreational closure or recreational component closure 
notifications, the bag and possession limit for red snapper or for the 
respective component is zero. When the recreational sector or Federal 
charter vessel/headboat component is closed, this bag and possession 
limit applies in the Gulf on board a vessel for which a valid Federal 
charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, 
without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or 
Federal waters.
    (ii) In addition to the measures specified in paragraph (q)(2)(i) 
of this section, if red snapper recreational landings, as estimated by 
the SRD, exceed the total recreational quota specified in Sec.  
622.39(a)(2)(i)(A), and red snapper are overfished, based on the most 
recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a 
notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the 
total recreational quota by the amount of the quota overage in the 
prior fishing year, and if applicable, reduce the recreational 
component ACTs specified in paragraph (q)(2)(iii) of this section 
(based on the buffer between the component ACTs and the total 
recreational quota specified in the FMP), unless the best scientific 
information available determines that a greater, lesser, or no overage 
adjustment is necessary.
    (iii) The recreational ACL is equal to the total recreational quota 
specified in Sec.  622.39(b)(2)(i)(A). The total recreational ACT for 
red snapper is 4.312 million lb (1.956 million kg), round weight. The 
recreational component ACTs for red snapper are 1.824 million lb (0.827 
million kg), round weight, for the Federal charter vessel/headboat 
component and 2.488 million lb (1.129 million kg), round weight, for 
the private angling component. These recreational component ACTs are 
effective for only the 2015, 2016, and 2017 fishing years. For the 2018 
and subsequent fishing years, the total recreational ACT will apply to 
the recreational sector.

[FR Doc. 2015-01145 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P