Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery, 31347-31348 [2015-13408]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Proposed Rules operator’s name, signature, and operator’s permit number (if applicable). * * * * * (f) * * * (2) * * * (i) For any vessel not issued a NE multispecies; Atlantic herring permit; or any Atlantic mackerel, longfin squid, Illex squid, or butterfish permit; fishing vessel log reports, required by paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, must be postmarked or received by NMFS within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. For any vessel issued a NE multispecies permit; Atlantic herring permit; or any Atlantic mackerel, longfin squid, Illex squid, or butterfish permit; fishing vessel log reports must be postmarked or received by midnight of the first Tuesday following the end of the reporting week. For the purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(i), the date when fish are offloaded will establish the reporting week or month the VTR must be submitted to NMFS, as appropriate. * * * * * ■ 5. In § 648.14, revise paragraphs (b)(4) and (k)(2)(i) to read as follows: § 648.14 baseline length overall of the transferor vessel. For the purposes of this program, the baseline horsepower and length overall are those associated with the permit as of January 29, 2004. Upon approval of the transfer, the baseline of the transferee vessel would be the smaller baseline of the two vessels or the vessel owner could choose to adopt the larger baseline of the two vessels provided such an upgrade is consistent with provisions of this paragraph (l)(1)(ii). A vessel that has executed a one-time downgrade of a DAS Leasing Program baseline in accordance with paragraph (k)(4)(xi) is subject to the restrictions of paragraph (k)(4)(xi)(C) of this section. (iii) The transferor vessel must transfer all of its Federal limited access permits for which it is eligible to the transferee vessel in accordance with the vessel replacement restrictions under § 648.4, or permanently cancel such permits. When duplicate permits exist, i.e., those permits for which both the transferor and transferee vessel are eligible, one of the duplicate permits must be permanently cancelled. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2015–13349 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am] Prohibitions. * * * * * (b) * * * (4) Fish for, possess, or land species regulated under this part with or from a vessel that is issued a limited access or moratorium permit under § 648.4(a) and that has had the horsepower or length overall of such vessel or its replacement upgraded or increased in excess of the limitations specified in § 648.4(a)(1)(i)(E) and (F). * * * * * (k) * * * (2) * * * (i) Fish for, possess, or land NE multispecies with or from a vessel that has had the length overall of such vessel, or its replacement, increased or upgraded in excess of limitations specified in § 648.4(a)(1)(i)(E) and (F). * * * * * ■ 6. In § 648.82, revise paragraphs (l)(1)(ii) and (l)(1)(iii) to read as follows: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS § 648. 82 Effort-control program for NE multispecies limited access vessels. 16:57 Jun 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 150506428–5468–01] RIN 0648–BF07 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for comments. AGENCY: This notice announces a control date that may limit or restrict access into the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. This action is necessary to inform fishery participants that we are considering future action. We intend for this notice to promote awareness of possible future rulemaking, and discourage speculative entry into and/or investment in the Jonah crab fishery. DATES: June 2, 2015 is established as the ‘‘control date’’ for the Jonah crab SUMMARY: (l) * * * (1) * * * (ii) NE multispecies DAS may be transferred only to a vessel with a baseline main engine horsepower rating that is no more than 20 percent greater than the baseline engine horsepower of the transferor vessel. NE multispecies DAS may be transferred only to a vessel with a baseline length overall that is no more than 10 percent greater than the VerDate Sep<11>2014 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 31347 fishery, and may be used as a reference date for future management measures related to the Jonah crab fishery, consistent with applicable Federal laws and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s recommendations. Written comments must be received on or before July 2, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA– NMFS–2015–0065 by any of the following methods: D Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20150065, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. D Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on Jonah crab Control Date.’’ Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered. We may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978–281–9122. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jonah crab (Cancer borealis), also known locally as rock crab, is not currently managed under Federal regulations or a coastwide Interstate Fishery Management Plan. Some individual Atlantic states do have management measures or permit requirements for Jonah crab. In May 2014, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s American Lobster Management Board initiated the development of an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab, throughout the species range within United States waters. The Board’s development of a formal management plan was based on its E:\FR\FM\02JNP1.SGM 02JNP1 31348 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Proposed Rules tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS concern about potential impacts to the Jonah crab resource with recent increases in landings. At its May 2015 meeting, the Board voted to approve a draft Jonah crab Interstate Fishery Management Plan for public comment. The draft Plan includes options for a limited access program for the fishery, such as an option that would limit Jonah crab fishing only to those fishermen who could document Jonah crab landings occurring before a certain date, known as a control date. Also during the May 2015 meeting, the Commission requested that we establish a control date for the Jonah crab fishery that may be used to affect future participation in the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. The control date communicates to fishermen that participation and landing history after the date of publication may not be treated the same as participation and VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Jun 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 landings history that occurred prior to the control date. New entrants into the Jonah crab fishery after the control date could potentially be restricted from harvesting Jonah crab depending on the management options ultimately chosen by the Commission. This notification establishes June 2, 2015 as a control date for potential use in determining historical or traditional participation for the Jonah crab fishery. Consideration of a control date does not commit us to develop any particular management program or criteria for participation in the fishery. We may choose a different control date; or may choose a management program that does not make use of such a date. We may also choose to take no further action to control entry or access to the Jonah crab fishery. Any action we take will be taken pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 will be discussed at Commission and Board meetings, and will make have additional Federal rulemaking, including opportunity to comment. This notification gives the public notice that interested Jonah crab fishery participants should locate and preserve records that substantiate and verify their participation in the fishery. This notification and control date do not impose any legal obligations, requirements, or expectation. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. Dated: May 28, 2015. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–13408 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\02JNP1.SGM 02JNP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31347-31348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13408]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 150506428-5468-01]
RIN 0648-BF07


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; 
Jonah Crab Fishery; Control Date for Jonah Crab Fishery

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

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR); request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces a control date that may limit or 
restrict access into the Jonah crab fishery in Federal waters. This 
action is necessary to inform fishery participants that we are 
considering future action. We intend for this notice to promote 
awareness of possible future rulemaking, and discourage speculative 
entry into and/or investment in the Jonah crab fishery.

DATES: June 2, 2015 is established as the ``control date'' for the 
Jonah crab fishery, and may be used as a reference date for future 
management measures related to the Jonah crab fishery, consistent with 
applicable Federal laws and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission's recommendations. Written comments must be received on or 
before July 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0065 by any of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0065, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
    [ssquf] Mail: Submit written comments to John K. Bullard, Regional 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, 
``Comments on Jonah crab Control Date.''
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered. We may not consider comments sent by any other method, to 
any other address or individual, or received after the end of the 
comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov 
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, 
address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. We will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9122.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jonah crab (Cancer borealis), also known 
locally as rock crab, is not currently managed under Federal 
regulations or a coastwide Interstate Fishery Management Plan. Some 
individual Atlantic states do have management measures or permit 
requirements for Jonah crab. In May 2014, the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission's American Lobster Management Board initiated the 
development of an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab, 
throughout the species range within United States waters. The Board's 
development of a formal management plan was based on its

[[Page 31348]]

concern about potential impacts to the Jonah crab resource with recent 
increases in landings. At its May 2015 meeting, the Board voted to 
approve a draft Jonah crab Interstate Fishery Management Plan for 
public comment. The draft Plan includes options for a limited access 
program for the fishery, such as an option that would limit Jonah crab 
fishing only to those fishermen who could document Jonah crab landings 
occurring before a certain date, known as a control date.
    Also during the May 2015 meeting, the Commission requested that we 
establish a control date for the Jonah crab fishery that may be used to 
affect future participation in the Jonah crab fishery in Federal 
waters. The control date communicates to fishermen that participation 
and landing history after the date of publication may not be treated 
the same as participation and landings history that occurred prior to 
the control date. New entrants into the Jonah crab fishery after the 
control date could potentially be restricted from harvesting Jonah crab 
depending on the management options ultimately chosen by the 
Commission.
    This notification establishes June 2, 2015 as a control date for 
potential use in determining historical or traditional participation 
for the Jonah crab fishery. Consideration of a control date does not 
commit us to develop any particular management program or criteria for 
participation in the fishery. We may choose a different control date; 
or may choose a management program that does not make use of such a 
date. We may also choose to take no further action to control entry or 
access to the Jonah crab fishery. Any action we take will be taken 
pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, 
will be discussed at Commission and Board meetings, and will make have 
additional Federal rulemaking, including opportunity to comment.
    This notification gives the public notice that interested Jonah 
crab fishery participants should locate and preserve records that 
substantiate and verify their participation in the fishery. This 
notification and control date do not impose any legal obligations, 
requirements, or expectation.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.

    Dated: May 28, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13408 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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