Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications, 18801-18805 [2015-08078]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18801-18805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08078]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 150205118-5290-01]
RIN 0648-BE87


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh 
Multispecies Specifications

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this action is to set the small-mesh 
multispecies specifications for the 2015-2017 fishing years, clarify 
what measures can be modified in a specifications package, and to 
correct the northern red hake accountability measure trigger rate. This 
action is necessary to implement the Council's recommended measures 
intended to reduce the risk of continuing overfishing of northern red 
hake and set catch and possession limits for the 2015-2017 fishing 
years. The proposed specifications are designed to help achieve 
sustainable yield and to inform the public of these measures.

DATES: Public comments must be received by April 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0170, 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-2012-0170, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2276. Mark the outside of the envelope: 
``Comments on Whiting Specifications.''
    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).
    New England Fishery Management Council staff prepared an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the small-mesh multispecies 
specifications that describes the proposed action and other considered 
alternatives. The EA provides a thorough analysis of the biological, 
economic, and social impacts of the proposed measures and other 
considered alternatives. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(IRFA) was also prepared for this action. The IRFA is contained in the 
EA prepared for this action, but also is summarized in the 
Classification section of this proposed rule. Copies of the 
specifications EA are available on request from Thomas A. Nies, 
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. This document is also available from the 
following internet addresses: www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 
or www.nefmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Berthiaume, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The New England Fishery Management Council manages the small-mesh 
multispecies fishery primarily through a series of exemptions from the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The small-mesh 
multispecies fishery is composed of five stocks of three species of 
hakes (northern and southern silver hake, northern and southern red 
hake, and offshore hake). It is managed separately from the other 
stocks of groundfish such as cod, haddock, and flounders, primarily 
because the fishing is prosecuted with much smaller mesh and does not 
generally result in the catch of these other stocks. Amendment 19 to 
the Northeast Multispecies FMP (April 4, 2013; 78 FR 20260) established 
a process and framework for setting the small-mesh multispecies catch 
specifications, as well as set the specifications for the 2012-2014 
fishing years.
    The purpose of this action is to set the specifications for the 
2015-2017 fishing years, based on the New England Fishery Management 
Council's recommendation. In 2012 and 2013, northern red hake catch 
rates exceeded the annual catch limits (ACL) and the acceptable 
biological catch (ABC). As a result, northern red hake was determined 
to be experiencing overfishing. To reduce the risk of continued 
overfishing of northern red hake and constrain catch within the 
proposed ACL, this action proposes to adopt the Council's recommended 
measures to adjust the northern red hake possession limits per trip and 
trigger points at which possession limits are reduced in-season.
    This proposed rule also includes a correction to the small-mesh 
accountability measures and clarifies what measures can be modified in 
a small-mesh multispecies specifications action.

Proposed Measures

1. 2015-2017 Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications

    The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met on 
August 26, 2014, to discuss the specifications and to recommend ABCs 
for the 2015-2017 small-mesh fishery. The FMP's implementing 
regulations require the involvement of an SSC in the specification 
process. Following the SSC, the Whiting Oversight Committee met on 
September 9 and October 30, 2014, to discuss and recommend small-mesh 
specifications. The Council approved the final specifications on 
November 17, 2014.
    This action proposes new specifications for the 2015-2017 fishing 
years, derived from a stock assessment update for northern and southern 
red

[[Page 18802]]

and silver hakes. The recent stock assessment was updated with survey 
data through spring 2014 for red hake, and through fall 2013 for silver 
hake. Reported landings and estimated discards were updated through 
calendar year 2013. Limits on fishing year catches for northern and 
southern stocks of red and silver hakes are based on the 
recommendations from the SSC and Committee to the Council which, in 
turn, recommended measures to NMFS for review and implementation. 
Changes to the total allowable landings (TAL) are needed to respond to 
changes in the discard rate of red and silver hakes. These 
specifications would remain effective for fishing years 2015-2017 
unless otherwise changed during that time.

                                      Table 1--Summary of the Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications for 2015-2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Overfishing
                 Stock                    limit  (OFL)      ABC  (mt)       ACL  (mt)     Percent change   Discard rate         TAL       Percent change
                                              (mt)                                        from 2012-2014     (percent)                    from 2012-2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N. Silver Hake.........................          43,608          24,383          23,161             85              11.2        19,948.7           122.3
N. Red Hake............................             331             287             273              2.6            60.6           104.2            15.4
S. Whiting *...........................          60,148          31,180          29,621             -8.2            17.1        23,833.4           -12.6
S. Red Hake............................           3,400           3,179           3,021             -2.4            55.3         1,309.4            -2.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Southern whiting includes southern silver hake and offshore hake

2. Northern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction

    This action proposes to reduce the northern red hake possession 
limit from 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg). This reduction 
in possession limit is intended to delay the in-season accountability 
measure (AM) until later in the year and to reduce the potential for 
northern red hake catches to exceed the ACL (as occurred in fishing 
years 2012 and 2013). Lowering the possession limit is expected to 
discourage the targeting of red hake and to encourage fishing in areas, 
seasons, or ways that avoid catching excess red hake. Compared to 
starting the fishing year with a 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) possession limit, 
it is expected that the in-season AM would be delayed, possibly 
increasing revenue for trips taken later in the year to target silver 
hake, and reducing discarding. This measure is intended to be combined 
with the proposed northern red hake possession limit reduction trigger 
to effectively constrain catch of northern red hake to the ACL and to 
slow catch rates to extend the fishing season.

3. Additional Northern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction Trigger

    This measure would implement an additional possession limit 
reduction trigger for northern red hake of 1,500 lb (680 kg) when 45 
percent of the TAL is reached. When the in-season possession limit 
reduction triggers were initially implemented, the trigger was set at 
90 percent of the TAL. When landings reach the 90-percent trigger, the 
red hake possession limit would be reduced to the incidental level of 
400 lb (181 kg). In both 2012 and 2013, the 90-percent trigger was 
reached and the ACL was still exceeded. As a result, in 2014, the 90-
percent trigger was reduced to 45 percent in accordance with the AM 
regulations. However, this rule's proposed regulatory correction would 
increase the 45-percent trigger to 62.5 percent. Because this trigger 
did not function as well as intended to ensure that the ACL is not 
exceeded, this rule proposes a second, earlier possession limit 
reduction trigger of 1,500 lb (680 kg) when 45 percent of the TAL is 
reached. For clarity, as a result of these proposed specifications, 
there would be two in-season possession limit triggers for northern red 
hake: At 45 percent of the TAL, the per-trip possession limit would be 
decreased from 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) to 1,500 lb (680 kg); and then when 
62.5 percent of the TAL is reached, the per-trip possession limit would 
be decreased from 1,500 lb (680 kg) to 400 lb (181 kg).
    As previously discussed, this additional possession limit trigger 
is intended to slow catch of northern red hake and to reduce the 
potential for northern red hake catch from exceeding the ACL.

4. Clarification on Modifications in a Specifications Action

    When developing the rulemaking for this action, we determined that 
the current regulations governing the specifications process as 
recommended in Amendment 19 do not fully reflect the Council's intent 
regarding the scope of measures that can be implemented pursuant to the 
specifications process. Amendment 19 specified that the Council shall 
specify on at least a 3-year basis the OFL, ABC, ACLs, and TALs for 
each small-mesh multispecies stock as well as the corresponding 
possession limits, including in-season possession limit triggers to be 
consistent with the revised specification recommendations and estimates 
of scientific and management uncertainty from the SSC. However, the 
implementing regulations for Amendment 19 inadvertently failed to 
specify that adjustments to possession limits and the in-season 
possession limit triggers were among the items that could be modified 
in a specifications action. This rule proposes to correct this problem 
by including possession limits and in-season possession limit triggers 
in small-mesh multispecies specifications regulations. The Magnuson-
Stevens Act at section 305(d) grants the agency the authority to 
promulgate regulations necessary to carry out any FMP or amendment to 
an FMP.

5. Regulatory Correction

    When the specifications were being developed, the Whiting Plan 
Development Team identified an error in the previous set of 
specifications (i.e., fishing years 2012-2014). This error resulted in 
a 39-mt underestimate of the ABC for northern red hake and a 552-mt 
underestimate for southern red hake ABC. Due to the 39-mt 
underestimate, fishing year 2012 catches were actually only 27.5 
percent over the ACL rather than 45 percent as previously announced. As 
a result, the northern red hake post-season accountability measure that 
was triggered for fishing year 2014 used the incorrect catch and 
landings limits. Using Magnuson-Stevens Act section 305(d) authority, 
this action would correct the AM based on the corrected information. No 
correction is required for the southern red hake error, because only a 
small fraction of the southern red hake ABC was caught and an increase 
in the ABC would have no effect.
    Currently, the northern red hake accountability measure trigger is 
45 percent, which would reduce the possession limit to 400 lb (181 kg) 
when 45 percent of the TAL is landed. This correction would increase 
the 400-lb

[[Page 18803]]

(181-kg) possession limit trigger point from 45 percent of the TAL to 
62.5 percent. This correction would result in a 1,500-lb (680-kg) 
possession limit when 45 percent of the TAL is landed and a subsequent 
possession limit reduction to 400 lb (181 kg) when 62.5 percent of the 
TAL is landed.
    Future AMs for fishing years in which the catch exceeds the ACL 
would be deducted from the corrected 62.5-percent trigger, pursuant to 
the small-mesh AM regulations at Sec.  648.90.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the Northeast Multispecies FMP, other provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this action 
is not significant for the purpose of E.O. 12866.
    An IRFA was prepared, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), which describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities.

Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered

    A description of the action and why it is being considered are 
contained at the beginning of this preamble and in the SUMMARY.

Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed Rule

    The statement of the objective and the legal basis for this action 
are contained at the beginning of this preamble and in the SUMMARY.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which This 
Proposed Rule Would Apply

    On June 12, 2014, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an 
interim final rule revising the small business size standards for 
several industries effective July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33467). The rule 
increased the size standard from $19.0 million to $20.5 million for 
finfish fishing, from $5.0 to $5.5 million for shellfish fishing, and 
from $7.0 million to $7.5 million for other marine fishing, for-hire 
businesses, and marinas. The small-mesh multispecies fishery falls 
under the finfish category and, thus, has a threshold of $20.5 million 
for determining small versus large entities. However, having different 
size standards for different types of commercial fishing activities 
creates difficulties in categorizing business that participate in 
multiple fishing related activities, which is typically the case in the 
fishing industry.
    In order to fish for small-mesh multispecies, a vessel owner must 
be issued either a limited access Northeast multispecies permit or an 
open access Northeast Multispecies Category K Permit; however, there 
are many vessels issued both of these types of permits that may not 
actually fish for small-mesh multispecies. Based on ownership data for 
2011-2013, there were 1,087 distinct ownership entities based on 
calendar year 2013 permits that could potentially target small mesh 
multispecies. Of these, 1,069 are categorized as small and 18 are 
categorized as large entities per the SBA guidelines. While 1,087 
commercial entities are directly regulated by the proposed action, not 
all of these entities land small-mesh multispecies and would, 
therefore, not be directly impacted by this action. To estimate the 
number of commercial entities that may experience impacts from the 
proposed action, active small-mesh multispecies entities are defined as 
those entities containing permits that are directly regulated and that 
landed any silver hake or red hake in 2013 for commercial sale. There 
are 298 potentially impacted, directly regulated commercial entities, 
295 (99 percent) of which are classified as small entities.
    According to SBA's new size standards, a business involved in 
harvesting finfish is classified as small business if it is 
independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation, with receipts not exceeding $20.5 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide. To identify an independent business, 
ownership information was used. The ownership data identifies 
individuals who own multiple vessels or a single vessel with multiple 
owners. This methodology assigns all the vessels owned by an individual 
into the same entity and including the co-owners in the same pool of 
affiliation following SBA's criteria for affiliation based on the 
principle of control that ``may arise through ownership, management, or 
other relationships or interactions between the parties'' even when the 
control is not exercised. Section 8.9 in the specifications EA 
describes the vessels, key ports, and revenue information for the 
small-mesh multispecies fishery, and is not repeated here.

Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of This Proposed Rule

    This action does not introduce any new reporting, recordkeeping, or 
other compliance requirements. This proposed rule does not duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with other Federal rules.

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This 
Proposed Rule

    NMFS is not aware of any relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with this proposed rule.

Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and Which 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

    The Council conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the potential 
socioeconomic impacts of the specifications in the EA (see ADDRESSES), 
and a discussion of this evaluation follows.
    Overall, the expected impact from the proposed changes to the ACL 
specifications is neutral to low positive, relative to the no-action 
alternative. The proposed specifications in this action would revise 
the ACL specifications for northern and southern stocks of silver and 
red hakes for fishing years 2015-2017 based on updated stock 
assessments. The proposed specifications would increase the northern 
red and silver hake TALs, but reduce the TALs of the southern red and 
silver stocks. Landings of southern red hake and both stocks of silver 
hake were well below the 2013 TALs and the proposed 2015-2017 TALs. 
Therefore, the proposed limits would not be restrictive for the fishery 
and as a result, compared to taking no action, impact on revenues would 
be neutral. In 2013, landings of northern red hake exceeded the TAL and 
also exceed the proposed 2015-2017 TAL. Thus, if the fishery stays 
under the TAL to prevent overfishing as is expected, the impacts on 
revenue from northern red hake landings would be negative, but 
insignificant when compared with status quo. Compared to the no action 
alternative, the status quo northern red hake TAL is 15 percent lower 
than the proposed TAL. Because the proposed specifications generally 
increase quotas, compared to taking no action the proposed 
specifications would be positive, but insignificant. However, over the 
long term, the proposed limits

[[Page 18804]]

are intended to reduce the risk of overfishing to maintain a healthy, 
sustainable stock which would in turn maximize revenues. Thus, compared 
to taking no action, the proposed specifications would have positive 
long term impacts on revenues.
    This action also proposes to reduce the possession limit for 
northern red hake from 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg). The 
preferred alternative may reduce catch and landings (on trips targeting 
red hake) early in the season. However, the alternative may also 
potentially delay the time when the AM is triggered, allowing more red 
hake catch to be landed later in the season. It is expected, based on 
input from industry advisors, that the in-season AM trigger would be 
delayed with a lower initial possession limit, increasing revenue for 
trips taken later in the fishing year and reducing discards. Compared 
to taking no action, reducing the northern red hake possession limit is 
intended to prevent early closures, thus extending the season and 
fishing opportunity. This alternative is intended to support better 
market conditions by allowing small-mesh vessels to operate at a more 
consistent level for a longer period of time. As such, although this 
measure reduces a possession limit, the reduction is intended to 
prolong the fishing season and provide for better and more consistent 
market conditions, thus increasing overall revenues. As such, the 
preferred alternative's impact on profitability is expected to be 
neutral to low positive relative to the no-action alternative. Actual 
impact will depend on how fishermen who target this species in the 
northern area adapt their targeted fishing activity (and discarding 
activity) to the proposed lower initial possession limit and in-season 
accountability measures.
    This action also proposes to implement an additional in-season 
possession limit reduction trigger for red hake. This proposed measure 
would reduce the possession limit to 1,500 lb (680 kg) when landings 
reach 45 percent of the TAL. This measure, in conjunction with the 
measure to reduce the initial northern red hake possession limit to 
3,000 lb (1,361 kg) are designed to slow catches of northern red hake. 
Although this would implement an additional possession limit reduction 
trigger, further reducing possession limits, the reduction is intended 
to extend the overall season and delay the reduction to incidental 
levels. Compared to taking no action, implementing an additional 
northern red hake possession limit trigger at 45 percent is intended to 
prevent early closures, thus extending the season. Without this 
additional trigger, possession limits could likely be reduced to the 
incidental limit trigger earlier in the year. Similar to the reduction 
in northern red hake possession limit, this alternative is expected to 
have neutral to slightly positive impacts compared to taking no action.
    In regard to correcting the accountability measure trigger for 
northern red hake, when the specifications were being developed the 
Whiting Plan Development Team identified an error in the previous set 
of specifications (i.e., fishing years 2012-2014). As a result, the 
northern red hake post-season accountability measure was triggered for 
fishing year 2014 using the incorrect catch and landings limits. This 
action would correct the AM trigger rate from 45 to 62.5 percent based 
on the corrected information. This should be beneficial for the 
industry and is not expected to have any negative economic impacts. Not 
doing this correction would result in the trigger rate remaining at 45 
percent. This would result in the possession limit being reduced to the 
incidental level of 400 lb (181 kg) earlier in the season at 45 percent 
of the TAL compared to 62.5 percent. Reducing the possession limit to 
the incidental level earlier in the season would not only reduce 
landings, but would also be damaging to market conditions as it would 
likely result in a shorter season, and less consistent catch rates. 
Therefore, this measure is expected to delay reducing possession 
limits, increase landings, and provide for better market conditions. 
Compared to taking no action, the proposed correction would have 
positive impacts.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 2, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 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.  648.86, revise paragraphs (d)(1)(i) introductory text, 
(d)(1)(ii) introductory text, (d)(1)(iii) introductory text, and (d)(4) 
introductory text, and add paragraph (d)(5) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.86  NE Multispecies possession restrictions.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Vessels possessing on board or using nets of mesh size smaller 
than 2.5 in (6.35 cm). Owners or operators of a vessel may possess and 
land not more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of red hake, and not more than 
3,500 lb (1,588 kg) of combined silver hake and offshore hake, if 
either of the following conditions apply:
* * * * *
    (ii) Vessels possessing on board or using nets of mesh size equal 
to or greater than 2.5 in (6.35 cm) but less than 3 in (7.62 cm). An 
owner or operator of a vessel that is not subject to the possession 
limit specified in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section may possess and 
land not more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of red hake, and not more than 
7,500 lb (3,402 kg) of combined silver hake and offshore hake if either 
of the following conditions apply:
* * * * *
    (iii) Vessels possessing on board or using nets of mesh size equal 
to or greater than 3 in (7.62 cm). An owner or operator of a vessel 
that is not subject to the possession limits specified in paragraphs 
(d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section may possess and land not more than 
3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of red hake, and not more than 30,000 lb (13,608 
kg) of combined silver hake and offshore hake when fishing in the Gulf 
of Maine or Georges Bank Exemption Areas, as described in Sec.  
648.80(a), and not more than 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) of combined silver 
hake and offshore hake when fishing in the Southern New England or Mid-
Atlantic Exemption Areas, as described in Sec.  648.80(b)(10) and 
(c)(5), respectively, if both of the following conditions apply:
* * * * *
    (4) Accountability measure in-season adjustment of small-mesh 
multispecies possession limits. If the Regional Administrator projects 
that an in-season adjustment TAL trigger level for any small-mesh 
multispecies stock, as specified in Sec.  648.90(b)(5)(iii), has been 
reached or exceeded, the Regional Administrator shall reduce the 
possession limit of that stock to the incidental level for that stock, 
as specified in this paragraph (d)(4), for the remainder of the fishing 
year through notice consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act, 
unless such a reduction in the possession limit would be expected to 
prevent the TAL from being reached.
* * * * *

[[Page 18805]]

    (5) In-season adjustment of northern red hake possession limits. In 
addition to the accountability measure in-season adjustment of small-
mesh multispecies possession limits specified in Sec.  648.86(d)(4), if 
the Regional Administrator projects that 45 percent of the northern red 
hake TAL has been reached or is exceeded, the Regional Administrator 
shall reduce the possession limit for northern red hake to 1,500 lb 
(680 kg) for the remainder of the fishing year unless further reduced 
to the incidental possession limit according to the accountability 
measure in-season adjustment of small-mesh multispecies possession 
limits specified in Sec.  648.86(d)(4).
* * * * *
0
 3. In Sec.  648.90, revise paragraphs (b)(4)(i) and (b)(5)(iii) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  648.90  NE multispecies assessment, framework procedures and 
specifications, and flexible area action system.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (i) The Whiting PDT shall prepare a specification package, 
including a SAFE Report, at least every 3 years. Based on the 
specification package, the Whiting PDT shall develop and present to the 
Council recommended specifications as defined in paragraph (a) of this 
section for up to 3 fishing years. The specifications package shall be 
the primary vehicle for the presentation of all updated biological and 
socio-economic information regarding the small-mesh multispecies 
fishery. The specifications package shall provide source data for any 
adjustments to the management measures that may be needed to continue 
to meet the goals and objectives of the FMP. The specifications package 
may include modifications to the OFL, ABC, ACL, TAL, possession limits, 
and in-season possession limit triggers.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (iii) Small-mesh multispecies in-season adjustment triggers. The 
small-mesh multispecies in-season accountability measure adjustment 
triggers are as follow:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            In-season
                                                            adjustment
                        Species                              trigger
                                                            (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Red Hake......................................             62.5
Northern Silver Hake...................................             90
Southern Red Hake......................................             90
Southern Whiting.......................................             90
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-08078 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P