International Affairs; High Seas Fishing Compliance Act; Permitting and Monitoring of U.S. High Seas Fishing Vessels, 62488-62501 [2015-26398]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62488-62501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26398]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 300, 600, 660, and 665

[Docket No. 070516126-5907-04]
RIN 0648-AV12


International Affairs; High Seas Fishing Compliance Act; 
Permitting and Monitoring of U.S. High Seas Fishing Vessels

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final action sets forth regulatory changes to improve the 
administration of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act program and the 
monitoring of U.S. fishing vessels operating on the high seas. This 
final rule includes, for all U.S. fishing vessels operating on the high 
seas, adjustments to permitting and reporting procedures. It also 
includes requirements for the installation and operation of enhanced 
mobile transceiver units (EMTUs) for vessel monitoring, carrying 
observers on vessels, reporting of transshipments taking place on the 
high seas, and protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems. This final 
rule has been prepared to minimize duplication and to be consistent 
with other established requirements.

DATES: This rule is effective January 14, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wildman, Trade and Marine 
Stewardship Division, Office for International Affairs and Seafood 
Inspection, NMFS (phone 301-427-8386 or email mark.wildman@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The purposes of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA; 16 
U.S.C. 5501 et seq.) are (1) to implement the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Agreement to Promote 
Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by 
Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement) and (2) to 
establish a system of permitting, reporting and regulation for vessels 
of the United States fishing on the high seas. 16 U.S.C. 5501. ``High 
seas'' is defined in the HSFCA and its implementing regulations as 
waters beyond the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the 
equivalent) of any nation, to the extent that such territorial sea or 
exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) is recognized by the United 
States. 16 U.S.C. 5502 (3); 50 CFR 300.11.
    The HSFCA authorizes a system of permitting U.S. fishing vessels 
that operate on the high seas to satisfy the obligation of Parties to 
the Compliance Agreement (Parties) to require that fishing vessels 
flying their flags obtain specific authorization to operate on the high 
seas. The HSFCA requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to 
establish conditions and restrictions on each permit issued under HSFCA 
as necessary and appropriate to carry out the obligations of the United 
States under the Compliance Agreement. 16 U.S.C. 5503 (d). At a 
minimum, such conditions and restrictions must include the marking of 
the permitted vessel in accordance with the FAO Standard Specifications 
for the Marking and Identification of Fishing Vessels, and reporting of 
fishing activities. Parties are also responsible for ensuring that 
their authorized vessels do not undermine conservation and management 
measures, including those adopted by international fisheries management 
organizations, or by treaties or other international agreements. 
Accordingly, the HSFCA prohibits the use of fishing vessels on the high 
seas in contravention of international conservation and management 
measures recognized by the United States. 16 U.S.C. 5505(1). A list of 
the international conservation and management measures recognized by 
the United States is published by NMFS in the Federal Register from 
time to time, in consultation with the Secretary of State, as required 
by section 5504(e) of the HSFCA. The last such notice was published on 
May 19, 2011 (76 FR 28954). NMFS reinforces this prohibition by 
requiring a high seas fishing permit for any vessel operating on the 
high seas and, through the permit, authorizing only those activities 
that would not undermine international conservation and management 
measures recognized by the United States. The HSFCA also gives NMFS 
discretion to impose permit conditions and restrictions pursuant to 
other applicable law, such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act, in addition to international conservation 
and management measures recognized by the United States. See 16 U.S.C. 
5503(d); Turtle Island Restoration Network v. National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 340 F.3d 969 (9th Cir. 2003).
    Finally, the HSFCA authorizes NMFS to promulgate regulations ``as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Agreement and [the 
Act],'' including its permitting authorities. 16 U.S.C. 5504(d). In 
promulgating such regulations, NMFS shall ensure that ``[t]o the extent 
practicable, such regulations shall also be consistent with regulations 
implementing fishery management plans under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act,'' 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 
which provides broad authority to establish measures for the 
conservation and management of fisheries. Id. at 1853(b)(14).
    Regulations implementing the HSFCA were first promulgated in 1996 
(61 FR 11751, March 22, 1996). The initial regulations included 
application and issuance procedures for high seas fishing permits. 
Subsequent regulations promulgated in 1999 (64 FR 13, January 4, 1999) 
specified how high seas fishing vessels must be marked for 
identification purposes and required vessel owners and operators to 
report catch and fishing effort when fishing on the high seas.
    On April 13, 2015, NMFS published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
for this action (80 FR 19611) to codify NMFS' procedures for reviewing 
its high seas fishing authorizations under environmental laws, 
particularly the

[[Page 62489]]

ESA and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Another objective of 
this action is to improve the monitoring of U.S. fishing vessels 
operating on the high seas. In order to enhance the U.S. government's 
ability to ensure compliance with international conservation and 
management measures. Furthermore, this action describes how NMFS will, 
through high seas permit conditions and restrictions, address impacts 
to vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) from bottom fishing consistent 
with international conservation and management measures recognized by 
the United States and United Nations General Assembly resolutions 
regarding VMEs. Additionally, NMFS will continue to assess the impact 
of the long-term exemption on the use of an EMTU, set forth in Sec.  
300.337(d)(2) of this rule, on the efficacy of the HSFCA VMS provisions 
and may make appropriate adjustments, including elimination of the 
long-term exemption, through a future rulemaking.
    Responses to public comments received on the proposed rule are set 
forth below.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    NMFS has made one change to the final rule in light of comments 
received on the proposed rule. Section 300.333(i) in the proposed rule, 
which addressed provisions for permit modification and revocation, has 
been modified to clarify that modification, suspension, or revocation 
of a high seas permit will be carried out consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act and other applicable law. Additional 
detail is provided in Responses to Public Comments section below.

Responses to Public Comments

    NMFS received 18 public comments on the proposed rule. Comments 
were received from the Western Fish Boat Owners Association, the 
American Albacore Fishing Association, the Hawaii Longline Association, 
and individual west coast albacore fishers potentially affected by new 
requirements in this rule.

General Comments

    NMFS received numerous comments from west coast albacore fishers 
who voiced their view that the proposed rule, if finalized, would 
impose considerable and unnecessary burdens. These fishers noted that 
the additional burden on the fleet resulting from the requirements 
contained in this rule would have adverse impacts on vessels, families, 
onshore support businesses, local communities, and consumers. 
Commenters noted the rule could reduce access to high seas fisheries by 
U.S. vessels and ensure that an increasing portion of catch would be 
taken by foreign vessels that are not subject to similar requirements. 
Commenters also noted that the U.S. albacore fishery already has 
mandatory logbook requirements that would not change under this new 
rule, and the information in these logbooks provides all the 
information necessary to monitor this fishery.
    Response: NMFS recognizes the new EMTU and observer requirements 
will primarily impact those fishers who do not currently have to comply 
with such requirements in domestic fisheries or in international 
fisheries managed pursuant to conservation and management measures 
adopted by Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs). NMFS has 
therefore made efforts to mitigate these new burdens by informing 
fishers of possible reimbursement for the cost of purchasing an EMTU 
unit (see https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/slider_stories/2015/3june15_vms_program_codifies_requirements.html). Additionally, NMFS 
notes that observer coverage will not be required under this rule where 
such coverage is already mandated under other legal authorities. NMFS 
will also carefully take into consideration both the scientific need 
for observer coverage as well as the characteristics of the fishery 
when designating high seas vessels for observer coverage.
    These new requirements are deemed necessary to improve U.S. 
capacity to monitor its vessels' compliance with domestic laws, 
including those used to implement RFMO requirements (both for those 
RFMOs to which we are a party as well as those recognized by the United 
States for purposes of the Compliance Act). This will enhance the 
United States' ability to comply with its international obligations, 
including the obligation to report high seas fishery data to the U.N. 
Food and Agriculture Organization. NMFS believes the cost of complying 
with these new requirements is justified in light of the benefits that 
will be gained from a uniform level of real-time monitoring of all high 
seas activities conducted by U.S. fishers.

Requirements for Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Units (EMTUs)

    Comment 1: Several west coast albacore fishers noted that under 
WCPFC regulations, EMTUs are required for all vessels that fish west of 
the 150W line. This includes some of the larger U.S. albacore vessels. 
These fishers commented that EMTUs should not be required for pole and 
line and troll vessels fishing for albacore east of the 150W line. 
These fishers also noted that the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) only requires VMS on vessels greater than 24 meters 
in length and the regulations developed by the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council for the albacore fishery under its purview do not 
require VMS. It was also noted that Canadian vessels under 24 meters 
are not required to have VMS.
    Response: In light of U.S. obligations under the Compliance 
Agreement to ensure that U.S. fishing vessels on the high seas do not 
engage in any activity that undermines the effectiveness of 
international conservation and management measures, NMFS considers it 
necessary to require all vessels permitted to fish on the high seas be 
equipped with EMTUs. NMFS also notes that under its existing 
regulations, all U.S. vessels with WCPFC endorsement permits must 
continuously operate a VMS unit while at sea, regardless of where the 
vessel operates, i.e., east or west of the 150W meridian.
    Comment 2: Several west coast albacore fishers noted that the 
mandatory EMTU requirement is onerous, particularly since most albacore 
vessels fish inside the U.S. EEZ and only occasionally go out into high 
seas waters. With the new EMTU requirement, however, these commenters 
noted that many vessels would forgo obtaining the high seas permit 
because of the cost associated with procuring and operating an EMTU.
    Response: NMFS notes that, in contrast with logbooks, VMS/EMTU 
reports are received in real time, enabling more timely monitoring and 
enforcement. NMFS recognizes the additional cost burden associated with 
procuring and operating EMTUs and offers a reimbursement program to 
provide eligible vessel owners with up to $3,100 towards the cost of 
procuring an EMTU unit (see ``further information'' below).
    Comment 3: Since the focus of the proposed rule is on the 
activities of U.S. fishers on the high seas, several west coast 
albacore fishers questioned the necessity of a requirement for the EMTU 
to transmit while a U.S. vessel is still within the U.S. EEZ.
    Response: NMFS considered the alternative of only requiring EMTU 
operation on the high seas but allowing units to be powered down while 
a vessel is in the U.S. EEZ or in the EEZ of another country, but 
determined that such actions would weaken the effectiveness of using 
EMTU position information to monitor the locations of high seas fishing 
vessels. Allowing power-downs whenever in the U.S. EEZ,

[[Page 62490]]

in addition to the in-port and long-term exemptions provided in the 
rule, could also encourage non-compliance and undermine NMFS' ability 
to monitor U.S. high seas fishing vessels.
    Comment 4: West coast albacore fishers noted that requirements in 
the rule to notify NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) of EMTU 
power-up during office hours is burdensome and waiting for email 
confirmation from OLE regarding the receipt of such notifications would 
be another burdensome delay.
    Response: NMFS recognizes that OLE office hours are somewhat 
constraining, but notes that vessel owners could choose to leave EMTUs 
on and not power them down to help alleviate pre-planning for turning 
on such units. NMFS also notes such power up notifications from fishers 
to OLE may take place after office hours although OLE acknowledgement 
of receipt will take place during business hours. OLE makes best 
efforts to minimize delays in its responses to fishers.
    Comment 5: Several west coast fishers stated their view that the 
initial cost and expenses associated with EMTU installation and 
operation are significant. They furthermore noted that the lost income 
resulting from downtime while having an EMTU unit installed and the 
additional expense of travelling to a different location to have an 
EMTU unit installed are not included in NMFS cost estimates.
    Response: NMFS recognizes the additional cost burden associated 
with procuring EMTUs and did account for the time necessary to have an 
EMTU installed as part of its cost estimate. NMFS also has a 
reimbursement program that will offer up to $3,100 towards the cost of 
the EMTU unit for eligible vessel owners (see ``further information'' 
below). Such units can usually be installed without unduly impacting 
the vessel's normal operations.
    Comment 6: Several west coast albacore fishers noted that, with 
regard to the proposed requirement for high seas vessels to possess a 
backup communications device in the event of an EMTU failure, it was 
unclear what kind of backup communications device would be required. 
These fishers noted that although U.S. vessels are required by the 
Coast Guard to carry a single side band radio when offshore, such a 
radio may not be capable of meeting the functionality requirements 
delineated by NMFS in the proposed rule.
    Response: NMFS notes that as long as the communications device is 
two-way and capable of real-time communications per Sec.  300.337(k) in 
the final rule, NMFS would allow fishers to use a device of their 
choosing whether it be a satellite phone or some other communications 
device, including a single side band radio.
    Comment 7: West coast albacore fishers expressed their view that 
there are no bycatch issues in this fishery, and there are no closed 
areas where pole and line and troll vessels fish. Because this is the 
case, these fishers view the EMTU requirement as being unnecessary and 
creating a considerable financial and administrative burden.
    Response: Although there may be little bycatch of protected species 
in the west coast albacore fishery, NMFS is required under the 
Compliance Agreement to monitor all its high seas fishing vessels and 
believes the enhanced compliance monitoring and enforcement benefits 
obtained from the EMTU requirement justify the cost of procuring and 
operating such equipment, a significant portion of which may be 
lessened through the reimbursement program for eligible fishers needing 
to procure an EMTU. Furthermore, VMS monitoring allows the U.S. 
government to comply with its international obligations by ensuring 
that vessels not authorized to fish in certain areas (for example, west 
of 150 degrees longitude without a WCPFC Area Endorsement) are not 
fishing there.

Requirements for Observers

    Comment 1: Several west coast albacore fishers noted that the new 
observer requirement would be problematic due to the small size of most 
U.S. pole and line and troll vessels fishing for albacore off the west 
coast. It was furthermore noted that the IATTC does not have observer 
requirements and neither do regulations developed by the Pacific 
Fishery Management Council for the albacore fishery under its purview.
    Response: NMFS notes that the new observer requirement is 
consistent with regulations for Pacific HMS fisheries (including the 
north Pacific albacore fishery) at 50 CFR 660.719(a), which states that 
``all fishing vessels with permits issued under this subpart and 
operating in HMS fisheries, including catcher/processors, at-sea 
processors, and vessels that embark from a port in Washington, Oregon, 
or California and land catch in another area, may be required to 
accommodate an NMFS certified observer on board to collect scientific 
data.'' That being said, NMFS would carefully take into consideration 
both the scientific need for observer coverage as well as the 
characteristics of the fishery when designating high seas vessels for 
observer coverage.
    Comment 2: The Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) noted that the 
proposed rule includes a new requirement stating that ``[w]here 
observer coverage is not otherwise required by other regulations or 
relevant RFMO conservation and management measures, NMFS may select for 
at-sea observer coverage any vessel that has been issued a high seas 
fishing permit.'' Although the preamble to the proposed rule clarifies 
that this requirement ``would not be invoked by NMFS if the vessel will 
already be carrying an observer pursuant to other legal authorities,'' 
HLA believes it does not speak to the situation where a fishery is 
already generally subject to a rigorous observer monitoring program.
    Response: NMFS will take other applicable observer coverage 
requirements into consideration in our assignment of observers under 
this final rule. As stated in the preamble of the proposed rule, this 
requirement would not be invoked by NMFS if the vessel will already by 
carrying an observer pursuant to other legal authorities. NMFS does not 
view amending the regulatory text as desirable since it could lessen 
the agency's flexibility in deploying scientific observers to monitor 
unforeseen issues that could arise unexpectedly in a high seas fishery.

Provisions for Permit Modification and Revocation

    Comment 1: HLA notes that the proposed rule includes a new 
provision that would allow NMFS to ``modify, suspend, or revoke high 
seas permits if permitted activities impact living marine resources in 
ways that were not foreseen or anticipated at the time of permit 
issuance or are in contravention of an international conservation and 
management measure or are in violation of any provision of domestic 
law.'' HLA is concerned with the ambiguity of the phrase ``impact 
living marine resources in ways that were not foreseen or anticipated'' 
and recommends NMFS modify the proposed Sec.  300.333(i) to eliminate 
the phrase ``may impact living marine resources in ways that were not 
foreseen or anticipated at the time of permit issuance'' and provide a 
more transparent standard for the regulated community. In addition to 
this proposed revision, HLA believes NMFS should provide an 
administrative process whereby the permit holder may contest the permit 
modification, suspension, or revocation. HLA notes its proposed 
revisions would require NMFS to provide reasonable notice to the permit 
holder before a permit is modified or revoked, as well as an 
opportunity to be

[[Page 62491]]

heard, consistent with due process requirements.
    Response: Under this rule, consistent with international 
conservation and management measures and applicable law, NMFS 
authorizes the issuance of high seas fishing permits for high seas 
fisheries where fishing activities have been analyzed in accordance 
with the ESA, NEPA, and other applicable law. However, new information 
about fishing activities and impacts to living marine resources may 
arise after a fishery is authorized and permits are issued. Recognizing 
this, Sec.  300.333(i) provides NMFS with authority to modify, suspend, 
or revoke a permit, as needed. Prior to doing so, NMFS would provide 
affected permit holders the new information that was not available and 
therefore not considered at the time of permit issuance, along with the 
rationale for the proposed permit modification, suspension, or 
revocation. In response to comments, NMFS has revised the final rule to 
refer to impacts that were ``not considered'' (as opposed to ``not 
foreseen or anticipated'') at the time of permit issuance to provide 
more clarity. Broad language is necessary here because it is impossible 
to anticipate and codify all of the types of new information that could 
lead NMFS to modify, suspend, or revoke an HSFCA permit. However, the 
final rule also explains that, in the event of a potential permit 
change, NMFS would notify affected permit holders and provide an 
opportunity to respond, consistent with the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) and other applicable law. Individual permit infractions will 
continue to be handled in accordance with procedures at 15 CFR part 
904. Beyond the permit change provision of Sec.  300.333(i), NMFS notes 
that Sec.  300.334(d)-(f) provides broader authority to delete a 
fishery from the authorized fisheries list through rulemaking. Among 
other things, a relevant consideration is whether fishing activities 
would detrimentally affect the well-being of a regulated species of 
fish, marine mammal, or ESA-protected species. If NMFS were to delete 
an authorized fishery, any activities on the high seas related to that 
fishery would be prohibited.

Procedures for Deletion of a Fishery From the List of Authorized High 
Seas Fisheries

    Comment 1: The HLA stated it is essential that the process to 
delete a fishery from the list of authorized high seas fisheries 
involve a full administrative process, including issuance of a proposed 
rule and the opportunity for public comment, similar to the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) List of Fisheries. The HLA view is that 
the proposed regulations only provide such process for the addition of 
fisheries--not for the deletion of fisheries. In HLA's view, such a 
deletion of a fishery without notice and the opportunity for comment 
would violate due process requirements.
    Response: Section 300.334(d) of the rule provides for rulemaking 
procedures to take place in the case of any revision (addition or 
deletion) to the list of authorized high seas fisheries and Sec.  
300.334(f) reiterates that NMFS will issue a final rule announcing any 
deletion from the list of authorized high seas fisheries. NMFS would 
conduct the rulemaking consistent with the APA which generally requires 
publication of a proposed and final rule, opportunity for public 
comment and delayed effectiveness for a final rule, but also provides 
for good cause waiver of notice and comment when impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. Any such action would 
also be conducted consistent with the ESA, MMPA, MSA, and other 
applicable law.

Conditions for Obtaining or Renewing a Permit or Authorization

    Comment 1: The HLA notes that Sec.  300.334(b)(2) of the proposed 
regulations, if finalized, will require a new applicant for a high seas 
permit to ``obtain and renew any appropriate permits or 
authorizations.'' Based on HLA's past experience, there are situations 
that may arise in which a required authorization by NMFS for a given 
fishery is overdue (such as the issuance of a negligible impact 
determination under the MMPA) as a result of agency delay. In this 
situation, vessels in the fishery that already have permits are 
typically allowed to continue fishing under a temporary extension, 
which is issued by an agency letter. It is not clear to HLA whether 
Sec.  300.334(b)(2) will prevent a new vessel from receiving a high 
seas permit or authorization in this situation. HLA recommends that 
NMFS clarify in the preamble to the final rule or in the final 
regulations that this condition will not apply to situations in which 
an authorization cannot be obtained as a result of agency delay or 
fault by the agency.
    Response: NMFS recognizes there are temporary situations such as 
those noted by HLA. We believe that the phrase ``permit or 
authorization'' in Sec.  300.334(b)(2) of the final rule is broad 
enough to encompass a temporary extension of a permit issued via an 
agency letter.

Further Information for High Seas Vessel Owners Applying for 
Reimbursement for Purchase of a Type-Approved VMS/EMTU Unit

    High seas vessel owners that do not currently possess VMS/EMTU 
units type-approved for use on the high seas may apply for 
reimbursement by contacting the VMS reimbursement program at the 
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (www.psmfc.org).
    Vessel owners are reimbursed on a first-come, first-served basis 
until funds for the reimbursement program are exhausted. The standard 
processing time is within 30 days of a completed application. Since 
funding for these reimbursements in only available until the end of 
2015, NOAA recommends VMS installations/activations be made no later 
than November 15, 2015, and all applications for reimbursement be 
submitted to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission no later 
than 5 p.m./PST on November 30, 2015.

Classification

    This final rule is published under the authority of the High Seas 
Fishing Compliance Act (16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.). The NMFS Assistant 
Administrator has determined that this final rule is consistent with 
this and other applicable laws.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rule 
is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    A Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The 
FRFA describes the economic impact this final rule will have on small 
entities. This FRFA incorporates the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2015 (80 
FR 19611). A description of the action, why it is being considered, and 
the legal basis for this action are contained above in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. The analysis follows. A copy of the 
full FRFA is available from NMFS (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities

    The final rule will apply to owners and operators of U.S. fishing 
vessels operating on the high seas, including harvesting vessels, 
refrigerated cargo vessels, and other vessels used to support fishing. 
There are approximately 600 U.S. vessels permitted under the HSFCA to 
fish on the high seas. The majority of these

[[Page 62492]]

permitted vessels are longliners, purse seiners, trollers, or pole and 
line vessels that fish for highly migratory species. There are also 
small numbers of gillnetting, squid jigging, hand or other lining, 
multipurpose, and trawl vessels.
    In this RFA analysis, an individual vessel is the proxy for each 
business entity. Although a single business entity may own multiple 
vessels, NMFS does not have a reliable means at this time to track 
ownership of multiple vessels to a single business entity. Based on 
limited financial information about the affected fishing vessels, NMFS 
believes that all the affected fish harvesting businesses, except for 
the Pacific tuna purse seine vessels, are small entities as defined by 
the RFA; that is, they are independently owned and operated and not 
dominant in their fields of operation, and have annual receipts of no 
more than $20.5 million.

Projecting Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

    For each element of the final rule, the analysis of impacts to 
small entities is described below.
    Permit Application Process. NMFS currently authorizes fisheries on 
the high seas only after appropriate reviews are completed pursuant to 
the ESA, MMPA, NEPA, and other applicable law. Applicants select from a 
list of such authorized fisheries when applying for a high seas fishing 
permit. The final rule will codify this procedure. Vessel owners and 
operators apply for a high seas fishing permit every 5 years, paying an 
application fee currently set at $129 and completing the application 
form, which is estimated to take 30 minutes. The rule will not change 
these burdens.
    The final rule is explicit about the requirement that vessels 
harvesting or participating in operations on the high seas in support 
of harvesting, such as transshipment and provision of supplies or fuel, 
have on board a valid high seas fishing permit. NMFS expects this 
aspect of the final rule to result in few additional applications for 
high seas permits, if any, because transshipment of fish on the high 
seas is prohibited in some fisheries and, where it is not prohibited, 
records show few instances of transshipment. NMFS is not aware of any 
U.S. vessels that provide supplies or fuel to harvesting vessels on the 
high seas.
    The rule will require a photograph of the high seas fishing vessel 
to be submitted with the permit application. The time necessary to 
photograph the vessel, print or scan the photograph, and attach it to 
the application is estimated to take 30 minutes per application.
    The final rule will allow a person, which could include an 
organization or a group of persons, to request that NMFS add a fishery 
to the list of fisheries authorized on the high seas. A request will 
need to include the following information:
    (a) The species (target and incidental) expected to be harvested 
and the anticipated amounts of harvest and bycatch.
    (b) The approximate times and places fishing will take place, 
approximate number of vessels participating, and the type, size, and 
amount of gear to be used.
    (c) A description of the specific area that may be affected by the 
fishing activities.
    (d) A description of any anticipated impacts on the environment, 
including impacts on fish stocks, marine mammals, species listed as 
threatened or endangered under the ESA or their critical habitat.
    (e) If requested by NMFS, any additional information necessary for 
NMFS to conduct analyses under ESA, MMPA and NEPA.
    Making the request to add an authorized fishery is expected to take 
approximately 110 hours. This time would be spent gathering and 
compiling the required information. NMFS does not expect such requests 
on a regular basis. For the purposes of this FRFA, NMFS estimates that 
one request might be submitted every 5 years. The impact from this 
aspect of the final rule is not expected to be significant because this 
is not a requirement, but an option for the public, and such requests 
are expected to be made infrequently.
    Installation and Operation of EMTUs. The final rule will require 
the installation of EMTUs on all high seas fishing vessels. The EMTU 
will need to be operated at all times, except when the vessel will be 
at a dock or permanent mooring for more than 72 consecutive hours, or 
when the vessel will not operate on the high seas or in any fishery 
that requires EMTU operation for more than 30 consecutive days. Notices 
prior to EMTU power-down and power-up will need to be provided to NMFS.
    Under the final rule, approximately 200 of the currently permitted 
high seas fishing vessels will need to install an EMTU. The remaining 
400 or so vessels currently holding high seas fishing permits are 
already subject to EMTU requirements and will not bear any additional 
compliance costs as a result of this final rule.
    The majority of the approximately 200 affected vessels are albacore 
trollers or pole and line vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean. These 
vessels have generally not been subject to VMS requirements contained 
in other regulations. The cost of compliance with this requirement 
includes the cost of purchase, installation, maintenance, and operation 
of the EMTU. The costs of purchase and installation are treated as one-
time costs because this analysis shows costs just in the near-term 
future. Table 1 summarizes the costs associated with the EMTU 
requirement. A description of the estimates and calculations used in 
Table 1 is provided below the table.

      Table 1--Estimated Costs of Compliance With EMTU Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Description                             Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMTU purchase.............................  Up to $3,100
Installation cost (one-time)..............  $50-400 ($400 used for
                                             estimation)
Daily position report costs (Hourly, 24/    $1.44
 day; $0.06/report *24 reports/day).
Annual position report cost per vessel      $525/vessel
 ($1.44/day * 365 days/year).
Annual EMTU maintenance cost..............  $50-100 ($100 used for
                                             estimation)
Total cost per vessel (Year 1; unit +       $4025
 installation + position reports).
Total cost per vessel after reimbursement   $925
 of EMTU cost (for eligible vessels only).
Cost per vessel (Year 2 and beyond;         $625/vessel
 position reports and EMTU maintenance).
Number of affected vessels................  200
Total cost (Year 1; total cost per vessel   $805,000
 before reimbursement * number of affected
 vessels).
Total cost (Year 2 and beyond; total cost   $125,000
 per vessel * number of affected vessels).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Units must be installed by a qualified marine electrician. Based on 
experience in other fisheries with EMTU requirements, NMFS believes 
that installation cost can range from $50 to $400, depending on the 
vessel, proximity to the installer, and the difficulty of the 
installation. For estimation purposes, $400 was used to calculate the 
costs of compliance with this final rule.
    The cost of transmitting data through the EMTU depends on the type 
of

[[Page 62493]]

EMTU installed and the communication service provider selected. For the 
purposes of this rulemaking, NMFS is assuming the cost of EMTU position 
data transmissions is approximately $0.06 per transmission. This 
equates to $1.44 per day for the location reports, at a rate of one 
transmission per hour. Providing position reports throughout the year 
will cost a high seas fishing vessel $525 (365 days per year * 24 
position reports per day * $0.06 = $525).
    The EMTU may be powered down if the vessel will be at the dock or 
mooring for more than 72 consecutive hours or if the vessel, for 30 or 
more consecutive days, will not be operating on the high seas or 
participating in a fishery that requires EMTU operation. A message 
notifying NMFS of the power-down must be sent to NMFS prior to powering 
down the unit and again when the EMTU will be powered back up. If an 
EMTU is powered down for portions of the year, the actual annual cost 
of transmitting position data will be less. Thus the annual costs of 
EMTU operation will vary among individual vessels depending on the 
number of days an EMTU may be powered down.
    The cost of compliance for vessel owners is estimated to be $4025 
per vessel in the first year (Table 1). This is the cost of compliance 
prior to receiving reimbursement for the cost of the EMTU. 
Reimbursement funds of up to $3,100 per VMS unit will reduce the cost 
to $925 per vessel, on average, for reimbursement-eligible vessels. The 
cost of operating the EMTU in year two and beyond will include the cost 
of sending position reports and maintenance and is estimated to be 
$625.
    Aside from the costs of purchase, installation, and operation of 
EMTUs, vessel owners or operators will need to spend time purchasing a 
unit, having it installed, and submitting an installation and 
activation report form. These steps are estimated to take an average of 
4 hours. The notices prior to power-down and powering back up the EMTU 
are estimated to take 10 minutes each.
    The compliance cost of obtaining, carrying on board, and monitoring 
communication devices required to be used in the event of an EMTU 
failure is expected to be zero, as NMFS believes all affected small 
entities already carry and monitor such devices.
    Requirement to Carry an Observer. Under the final rule, a high seas 
fishing vessel will be required to carry an observer for the duration 
of a fishing trip, if so selected by NMFS. When an observer is deployed 
pursuant to this rule, NMFS will pay the cost of the observer's salary 
and benefits. Most high seas fishing vessels are already subject to 
requirements for carrying an observer. For example, in the shallow-set 
and deep-set longline sectors of the Hawaii longline fleet, 100 percent 
and approximately 20 percent of fishing trips, respectively, are 
covered by observers. In authorized fisheries where observers are 
placed on all participating vessels pursuant to other regulations, the 
compliance cost of the final rule will be nil.
    In high seas fisheries where only a portion of the high seas 
fishing vessels are selected for observer coverage, the possibility of 
being selected to carry an observer may increase under this final rule. 
However, as noted in response to Comment 8 above, NMFS would carefully 
take into consideration both the scientific need for observer coverage 
as well as the characteristics of the fishery when designating high 
seas vessels for observer coverage. Vessels that are not already 
subject to any other observer requirements may be selected to carry 
observers. This includes, but is not limited to, South Pacific albacore 
trollers, purse seine vessels of Class 5 or smaller participating in 
the Eastern Pacific tuna fisheries, and some longline vessels in 
Western Pacific pelagic fisheries.
    When a vessel is selected for observer coverage under this rule, 
the vessel owner or operator will be required to provide NMFS a notice 
of their next fishing trip. This notification is estimated to take 5 
minutes and cost $1 in communication costs.
    For trips on which an observer is deployed under this new 
requirement, the affected entity will at least be responsible for the 
costs associated with providing the observer with food, accommodations, 
and medical facilities. These costs are expected to be $20 to $50 per 
day. Assuming a high seas fishing trip averages 20 days in duration, 
the estimated cost of compliance for accommodating an observer on a 
vessel would be between $400 and $1,000.
    Transshipment Notices and Reports. For owners and operators of 
vessels involved in offloading or receiving a transshipment of fish or 
fish product on the high seas, the final rule will require vessel 
owners or operators to provide to NMFS notice of transshipments at 
least 36 hours prior to any transshipment on the high seas and to 
submit reports of transshipment following the transshipment events.
    Transshipment is also regulated under other applicable law. For 
example, in the Atlantic Ocean, transshipments (the offloading, 
unloading, or transferring of fish or fish products from one vessel to 
another) are generally prohibited, with some exceptions. In the Pacific 
Ocean, purse seine vessels are prohibited from transshipping in some 
instances. NMFS is aware that during 2006 to 2009, four to eight 
vessels offloaded longline-caught fish each year and four to eight 
vessels received longline-caught fish each year. It is likely that most 
of these transshipments took place at sea by the Hawaii-based longline 
fleet, but it is unknown how many of these transshipments took place on 
the high seas. NMFS also has data on past transshipments on the high 
seas involving a few U.S. albacore troll vessels.
    Each transshipment notice is estimated to take about 15 minutes and 
no more than $1 in communication costs to prepare and submit to NMFS.
    Each transshipment report is estimated to take about 60 minutes and 
$1 in communication costs to prepare and submit to NMFS. Thus, for each 
transshipment event on the high seas, the time burden is estimated to 
be 1 hour and 15 minutes and cost $2 for each U.S. flagged vessel 
involved in the transshipment.
    Reporting Requirements. Existing regulations require submission of 
high seas fishing logbooks. This final rule deletes that requirement 
under the HSFCA regulations, and instead, provides that owners and 
operators of high seas fishing vessels use the reporting forms 
developed for their authorized fisheries to report high seas catch and 
fishing effort information. Given that the former reporting 
requirements would not be changed in a substantive way, the associated 
compliance cost is unchanged.
    Summary. The final rule may increase the cost of operating on the 
high seas for all affected entities. Fulfillment of these requirements 
is not expected to require any professional skills that the vessel 
owners and operators do not already possess.

Significant Alternatives Considered

    NMFS attempted to identify alternatives that would accomplish the 
objectives of the rulemaking and minimize any significant economic 
impact of the final rule on small entities.
    The alternative of taking no action was rejected because it would 
fail to achieve the objectives of the rulemaking.
    NMFS evaluated an option to rely on existing permit programs, other 
than the HSFCA permit program, to authorize high seas fishing 
activities. However, by continuing to require the separate HSFCA 
permit, NMFS is able to maintain a separate record of vessels

[[Page 62494]]

permitted to fish on the high seas, facilitating NMFS' ability to 
submit information regarding U.S. high seas vessels to the FAO as 
required under the Compliance Agreement. FAO compiles records of 
vessels authorized to fish on the high seas submitted by the Parties to 
the Compliance Agreement. The separate HSFCA permit, required under the 
existing regulations to be carried on board the vessel, is also useful 
in demonstrating to any domestic inspectors, foreign inspectors 
operating under the authority of a high seas boarding and inspection 
scheme adopted by an RFMO to which the United States is party, or 
foreign port inspectors, that a vessel is permitted to fish on the high 
seas.
    With respect to the EMTU requirement, one alternative would be to 
require EMTU operation at all times, which would provide NMFS the 
ability to monitor a vessel's location at any time. However, NMFS is 
aware that some vessels holding high seas fishing permits may remain in 
the EEZ for extended periods and are not currently subject to EMTU 
operation requirements while in the EEZ. Some of these vessels may also 
dock their vessels and not engage in fishing for portions of the year. 
This alternative is not preferred because the regulatory burden could 
be minimized by providing some exemptions to the EMTU operation 
requirement, such as exemptions to address the two circumstances 
described above. The preferred alternative would maintain the ability 
to monitor high seas fishing vessels yet minimize the regulatory 
burden.
    Another alternative would be to require EMTU operation only on the 
high seas. However, allowing units to be powered down while a vessel is 
in the EEZ of the U.S. for less than the allotted exemption time or in 
the EEZ of another country would weaken the effectiveness of using EMTU 
position information to monitor the locations of high seas fishing 
vessels. For vessels that are highly mobile and could operate at any 
time of the year, such as many high seas fishing vessels, EMTUs are 
more effective if they remain in operation at all times. Allowing 
power-downs whenever in the EEZ, in addition to the in-port and long-
term exemptions provided in the proposed rule, could also encourage 
non-compliance and result in large gaps in NMFS' ability to monitor 
high seas fishing vessels. Thus, this alternative is not preferred.
    With respect to the requirement for prior notice of high seas 
transshipments, one alternative would be to allow affected entities to 
provide the notice of high seas transshipment to NMFS at least one 
business day in advance of the transshipment, rather than 36 hours as 
proposed. However, a shorter advance notice would reduce opportunities 
for NMFS or the U.S. Coast Guard to observe transshipments in the event 
they are able to meet the transshipping vessels at sea. For this 
reason, this alternative is not preferred.
    With respect to the transshipment reporting requirements, one 
alternative would be to impose a different timeframe for submission of 
the report. The report could be submitted more than 15 days after 
completion of the transshipment. However, NMFS believes 15 days is a 
reasonable timeframe, and that extending it further could lead to NMFS 
not receiving transshipment reports in a timely manner and would not 
support collection of complete information regarding authorized 
fisheries.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency shall explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. As part of 
this rulemaking process, a letter to permit holders that also serves as 
small entity compliance guide (the guide) was prepared. Copies of this 
final rule are available from the NMFS Office for International Affairs 
and Seafood Inspection, and the guide, i.e., permit holder letter, will 
be sent to all HSFCA permit holders. The guide and this final rule will 
be available upon request.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The provisions of this rule are administrative in nature and 
facilitate monitoring of all high seas fishing vessels. The 
requirements for the installation of VMS EMTUs on vessels, the carrying 
of observers, and the prior notice and reporting of transshipments on 
the high seas will facilitate monitoring of vessels and will not have 
any impacts on the human environment. Moreover, the final rule also 
includes procedures that incorporate reviews under ESA and NEPA prior 
to any authorization of activities on the high seas. Therefore, this 
action is categorically excluded from further environmental review 
under NEPA pursuant to section 6.03.c.3(i) of NOAA Administrative Order 
216-6.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule contains a collection-of-information requirement 
approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This 
collection of information, under OMB Control No. 0648-0304, includes a 
permit application, vessel marking requirements, and high seas fishing 
effort and catch reporting. In addition to this collection of 
information, the final rule includes new requirements listed below.
    The public reporting burden for each requirement has been 
estimated, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information per response. 
The estimates are as follows:
     Inclusion of a vessel photograph in the permit 
application: 30 minutes.
     Request for a fishery to be authorized on the high seas 
(optional): 110 hours.
     EMTU purchase and installation: 4 hours for purchase, 
installation, and activation of the EMTU and submittal of the 
installation and activation report.
     Position reports: Automatically sent by the EMTU.
     Notices of EMTU power-down and power-up: 10 minutes each.
     Prior notice for high seas transshipments: 15 minutes.
     Transshipment reporting: 1 hour.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    The reporting requirements described above amend an existing 
collection of information, (OMB Control No. 0648-0304) which has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 300

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, 
Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Statistics.

50 CFR Part 600

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing

[[Page 62495]]

vessels, Foreign relations, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Statistics.

50 CFR Part 660

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Fisheries, 
Fishing, Guam, Hawaiian Natives, Indians, Northern Mariana Islands, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

50 CFR Part 665

    Accountability measures, Annual catch limits, Fisheries, Fishing, 
Western and central Pacific.

    Dated: October 9, 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 parts 300, 600, 660 
and 665 are amended as follows:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 
U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq., 31 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.

Subpart B--[Removed and Reserved]

0
2. Remove and reserve subpart B, consisting of Sec.  300.10 through 
300.17.


0
3. Add subpart Q to read as follows:
Subpart Q--High Seas Fisheries
Sec.
300.330 Purpose.
300.331 Definitions.
300.332 Issuing offices.
300.333 Vessel permits.
300.334 Fisheries authorized on the high seas.
300.335 Bottom fishing.
300.336 Vessel identification.
300.337 Requirements for Enhanced Mobile Transceiver Units (EMTUs).
300.338 Observers.
300.339 Transshipment on the high seas.
300.340 Prohibitions.
300.341 Reporting.

Subpart Q--High Seas Fisheries

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.


Sec.  300.330  Purpose.

    This subpart implements the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 
1995 (Act), which requires the Secretary to license U.S. vessels 
fishing on the high seas and to ensure that such vessels do not operate 
in contravention of international conservation and management measures 
recognized by the United States.


Sec.  300.331  Definitions.

    In addition to the terms defined in section 300.2 and those in the 
Act and the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International 
Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High 
Seas, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations on November 24, 1993 (Agreement), 
the terms used in this subpart have the following meanings. If a term 
is defined differently in section 300.2, the Act, or the Agreement, the 
definition in this section shall apply.
    Bottom fishing means fishing using gear that is likely to contact 
the seafloor during the normal course of fishing operations.
    Enhanced mobile transceiver unit (EMTU) is defined in 50 CFR 
600.1500.
    High seas means the waters beyond the territorial sea or exclusive 
economic zone (or the equivalent) of any Nation, to the extent that 
such territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) is 
recognized by the United States.
    High seas fishing permit means a permit issued under this subpart.
    High seas fishing vessel means any vessel of the United States used 
or intended for use on the high seas for the purpose of the commercial 
exploitation of living marine resources and as a harvesting vessel, 
mothership, or any other support vessel directly engaged in a fishing 
operation. Support vessels include vessels that process or transship 
fish on the high seas; provide supplies, personnel or fuel on the high 
seas to other fishing vessels; or conduct other activities in support 
of, or in preparation for fishing.
    International conservation and management measures means measures 
to conserve or manage one or more species of living marine resources 
that are adopted and applied in accordance with the relevant rules of 
international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention 
on the Law of the Sea, and that are recognized by the United States. 
Such measures may be adopted by global, regional, or sub-regional 
fisheries organizations, subject to the rights and obligations of their 
members, or by treaties or other international agreements.
    Observer means any person serving in the capacity of an observer 
employed by NMFS, either directly or under contract with a third party, 
or certified as an observer by NMFS.
    Office Director means the director of the NMFS Office for 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection.
    Regional Administrator means any one of the Directors of a NMFS 
regional office, defined under Sec.  300.2.
    Transship or transshipment means offloading or receiving or 
otherwise transferring fish or fish products from one fishing vessel to 
another. Excluded from this definition is net sharing, which means the 
transfer of fish that have not yet been loaded on board any fishing 
vessel from the purse seine net of one vessel to another fishing 
vessel. Fish shall be considered to be on board a fishing vessel once 
they are on a deck or in a hold, or once they are first lifted out of 
the water by the vessel.
    Vessel monitoring system (VMS) is defined in 50 CFR 600.1500.


Sec.  300.332  Issuing offices.

    Any Regional Administrator or the Office Director may issue permits 
required under this subpart. While applicants for permits may submit an 
application to any Regional Administrator or the Office Director, 
applicants are encouraged to submit their applications (with envelopes 
marked ``Attn: HSFCA Permits'') to the Regional Administrator or the 
Office Director with whom they normally interact on fisheries matters.


Sec.  300.333  Vessel permits.

    (a) Eligibility. (1) Any vessel owner or operator of a high seas 
fishing vessel is eligible to receive a permit for a fishery authorized 
on the high seas under this subpart, unless the vessel was previously 
authorized to be used for fishing on the high seas by a foreign nation, 
and--
    (i) The foreign nation suspended such authorization, because the 
vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and 
management measures, and the suspension has not expired; or
    (ii) The foreign nation, within the 3 years preceding application 
for a permit under this section, withdrew such authorization, because 
the vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation 
and management measures.
    (2) The restrictions in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this 
section do not apply if ownership of the vessel has changed since the 
vessel undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and 
management measures, and the new owner has provided sufficient evidence 
to the Regional Administrator or Office Director demonstrating that the 
owner and operator at the time the vessel

[[Page 62496]]

undermined the effectiveness of such measures have no further legal, 
beneficial, or financial interest in, or control of, the vessel.
    (3) The restrictions in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this 
section do not apply if it is determined by the Regional Administrator 
or Office Director that issuing a permit would not subvert the purposes 
of the Agreement.
    (b) Applicability. Any high seas fishing vessel used for fishing, 
as defined under Sec.  300.2, on the high seas must have on board a 
valid permit issued under this subpart.
    (c) Application. Permit application forms are available from the 
NMFS Web site or from any Regional Administrator or the Office 
Director. Failure to submit a complete and accurate application, along 
with all other required documentation and the specified fee will 
preclude issuance of a permit. To apply for a permit under this 
subpart, the owner or operator of a high seas fishing vessel must 
submit the following to a Regional Administrator or Office Director:
    (1) A complete, accurate application form signed by the vessel 
owner or operator.
    (2) Information required under this section and Sec.  300.334(a).
    (3) A color photograph showing an entire bow-to-stern side-view of 
the vessel in its current form and appearance. The photograph must 
clearly and legibly display the vessel name and identification 
markings. If the vessel's form or appearance materially changes (such 
as the vessel is painted another color, the vessel's identification 
markings change, or the vessel undergoes a structural modification) the 
vessel owner and operator must submit a new photograph of the vessel 
within 15 days of the change.
    (4) For vessels with state registration instead of U.S. Coast Guard 
documentation, the applicant must supply additional vessel information 
that NMFS may request.
    (5) The fee specified in the application form. Payment by a 
commercial instrument later determined to be insufficiently funded will 
invalidate any permit. NMFS charges this fee to recover the 
administrative expenses of permit issuance, and the amount of the fee 
is determined in accordance with the procedures of the NOAA Finance 
Handbook.
    (d) Permit issuance and validity. (1) Except as provided for in 
subpart D of 15 CFR part 904, and subject to paragraphs (a), (c), and 
(d)(2) and (3) of this section, the Regional Administrator or Office 
Director will issue a permit, which will include applicable conditions 
or restrictions, within 15 days of receipt of a completed application 
and payment of the appropriate fee.
    (2) The Regional Administrator or Office Director will not issue a 
permit unless an EMTU has been installed and activated on the vessel in 
accordance with Sec.  300.337(c)(2).
    (3) The Regional Administrator or Office Director will not issue a 
permit unless the applicant holds a valid permit for the subject vessel 
for any U.S. domestic fisheries related to the authorized high seas 
fishery.
    (4) Except as otherwise provided, permits issued under this subpart 
are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. For a permit to remain 
valid to its expiration date, the vessel's U.S. Coast Guard 
documentation or state registration must be kept current. A permit 
issued under this subpart is void when the vessel owner or the name of 
the vessel changes, or in the event the vessel is no longer eligible 
for U.S. documentation, such documentation is revoked or denied, or the 
vessel is removed from such documentation.
    (5) A permit issued under this subpart is not transferable or 
assignable to another vessel or owner; it is valid only for the vessel 
and owner to which it is issued.
    (e) Display. A valid permit, or a copy thereof, issued under this 
subpart must be on board any high seas fishing vessel while operating 
on the high seas and available for inspection by an authorized officer.
    (f) Change in application information. Any changes in vessel 
documentation status or other permit application information must be 
reported in writing to the Regional Administrator or Office Director 
who issued the permit within 15 days of such changes.
    (g) Renewal. Application for renewal of a permit prior to its 
expiration is the responsibility of the permit holder and may be 
completed per Sec.  300.333(c). The Regional Administrator or Office 
Director will not consider a permit renewal application to be complete 
until the permit holder satisfies all required fishing activity report 
requirements under the permit and Sec.  300.341. The Regional 
Administrator or Office Director will not issue a renewed permit unless 
an EMTU has been activated on the vessel in accordance with Sec.  
300.337(c)(2) and the applicant holds a valid permit for the subject 
vessel for any U.S. domestic fisheries related to the authorized high 
seas fishery.
    (h) Marine mammals and ESA-listed species. Permits issued under 
this section do not authorize vessels or persons subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States to take marine mammals or ESA-listed 
species. No marine mammals or ESA-listed species may be taken in the 
course of fishing operations unless the taking is allowed under the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act or the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 
pursuant to regulations, an authorization, or permit granted by NMFS or 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (i) Permit Status Changes. NMFS may modify, suspend, or revoke a 
permit issued under this subpart if permitted activities may impact 
living marine resources in ways that were not considered at the time of 
permit issuance; are in contravention of an international conservation 
and management measure; or violate any applicable law. NMFS will notify 
an affected permit holder of any potential change in permit status by 
contacting the permit holder at the address of record provided on the 
permit application or as updated pursuant to paragraph (f) of this 
subsection and will provide an opportunity to respond, consistent with 
the Administrative Procedure Act and other applicable law.


Sec.  300.334  Fisheries authorized on the high seas.

    (a) General. When applying for a permit under Sec.  300.333, the 
owner or operator of a high seas fishing vessel must identify in the 
application the authorized fisheries in which he or she intends to 
fish. More than one authorized fishery may be selected. The following 
fisheries are authorized on the high seas:
    (1) 50 CFR part 300, subpart C--Eastern Pacific Tuna Fisheries.
    (2) 50 CFR part 300, subpart D--South Pacific Tuna Fisheries.
    (3) 50 CFR part 300, subpart G--Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
    (4) 50 CFR part 635--Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries.
    (5) 50 CFR part 660, subpart K--U.S. West Coast Fisheries for 
Highly Migratory Species.
    (6) 50 CFR part 665, subpart F--Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries.
    (7) South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishery.
    (8) Northwest Atlantic Fishery.
    (b) Requirements for authorized fisheries. For each of the 
authorized fisheries specified on the high seas fishing permit, the 
owner or operator of the high seas fishing vessel must:
    (1) Abide by the regulations, set forth in other parts of this 
chapter and Chapter VI, governing those authorized fisheries while 
operating on the high seas;
    (2) Obtain and renew any appropriate permits or authorizations; and

[[Page 62497]]

    (3) Notify the Regional Administrator or Office Director who issued 
the permit immediately in the event that a species listed as threatened 
or endangered under the ESA is taken incidental to the fishing 
activities without authorization under a relevant incidental take 
statement.
    (c) Change in authorized fisheries. If a high seas fishing permit 
holder elects to change the authorized fisheries specified on the 
permit, he or she shall notify the Regional Administrator or Office 
Director who issued the permit of the change(s) and shall obtain the 
underlying permits for the authorized fisheries prior to engaging in 
the fishery on the high seas. Per the process under Sec.  300.333(d), 
the Regional Administrator or Office Director will then issue a revised 
high seas fishing permit which will expire 5 years from the original 
effective date.
    (d) Revision of authorized fisheries list. Through rulemaking, NMFS 
will add a fishery to, or delete a fishery from, the list in paragraph 
(a) of this section. NMFS may add or delete fisheries from the list 
after completing any analyses required under the Endangered Species 
Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act, 
and other applicable laws. In taking such action, NMFS, in consultation 
with the relevant Regional Fishery Management Council(s) where 
appropriate, will consider, among other things, whether:
    (1) The proposed fishing activities would detrimentally affect the 
well-being of the stock of any regulated species of fish, marine 
mammal, or species listed as threatened or endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act;
    (2) The proposed fishing activities would be inconsistent with 
relevant fishery management plans and their implementing regulations or 
other applicable law;
    (3) Insufficient mechanisms exist to effectively monitor the 
activities of vessels engaged in the proposed fishing activities; or
    (4) The proposed fishing activities would contravene international 
conservation and management measures recognized by the United States.
    (e) Request for revision of authorized fisheries list. A person may 
submit a written request to the Office Director to add a fishery to or 
delete a fishery from the list. A request to delete a fishery from the 
list of authorized fisheries must include the name of the fishery; 
information that addresses considerations under paragraph (d) of this 
section; and, if requested by NMFS, any additional information 
necessary for NMFS to conduct analyses required under applicable laws. 
A request to add a fishery to the list of authorized fisheries must 
include the following information:
    (1) The species (target and incidental) expected to be harvested 
and the anticipated amounts of such harvest and bycatch;
    (2) The approximate times and places when fishing is expected to 
take place, the number and type of vessels expected to participate, and 
the type, size, and amount of gear expected to be used;
    (3) A description of the specific area that may be affected by the 
fishing activities;
    (4) A description of any anticipated impacts on the environment, 
including impacts on fisheries, marine mammals, and species listed as 
threatened or endangered under the ESA or their critical habitat;
    (5) Other information that addresses considerations under paragraph 
(d) of this section; and
    (6) If requested by NMFS, any additional information necessary for 
NMFS to conduct analyses required under applicable laws.
    (7) Once all required information is received to proceed with 
consideration of a request, NMFS will publish in the Federal Register a 
proposed rule, noting receipt of the request to add an authorized 
fishery, and inviting information and comments. Relevant information 
received during the comment period may be considered by NMFS and, where 
appropriate, the relevant Regional Fishery Management Council(s), in 
analyzing potential environmental impacts of the fisheries and 
developing any conditions or restrictions. Based on its analysis, 
considerations under paragraph (d) of this section, and other relevant 
considerations, NMFS will publish its decision on the request in the 
Federal Register.
    (f) Deletion of a fishery from the authorized fisheries list. NMFS 
will delete (i.e., deauthorize) a fishery under paragraph (d) or (e) of 
this section through publication of a final rule. NMFS will also 
provide notice to affected permit holders by email and by Registered 
Mail at the addresses provided to NMFS in the high seas permit 
application. When a fishery is deleted from the list, any activities on 
the high seas related to that fishery are prohibited as of the 
effective date of the final rule. In addition, the high seas permit 
will be voided unless the permit holder notifies NMFS that he or she 
elects to change to another authorized high seas fishery or continue in 
any other authorized fisheries noted on the permit. Once the applicant 
so notifies NMFS and, if necessary, secures any underlying permits 
necessary for participation in another authorized high seas fishery, 
the Regional Administrator or Office Director will then issue a revised 
high seas fishing permit per the process under Sec.  300.333(d). The 
revised permit will expire 5 years from the original effective date.


Sec.  300.335  Bottom fishing.

    (a) Bottom fishing may be permitted on the high seas when 
authorized by international conservation and management measures 
recognized by the United States. For bottom fishing activity not 
subject to international conservation measures recognized by the United 
States, a person who seeks to engage in such fishing must request 
authorization of a new high seas fishery as described in Sec.  
300.334(e) and then, if the fishery is authorized, must obtain all 
applicable permits including a high seas fishing permit issued under 
Sec.  300.333. NMFS may specify conditions and restrictions in the 
permit to mitigate adverse impacts on VMEs, which may include the types 
of conditions that have been adopted in relevant RFMO measures 
recognized by the United States.
    (b) Permit. To be permitted under this section, the owner or 
operator of a high seas fishing vessel must follow the procedures under 
Sec.  300.334(e) or, if he or she seeks to change an existing permit, 
must follow the procedures under Sec.  300.334(c).


Sec.  300.336  Vessel identification.

    (a) General. A vessel permitted under this subpart must be marked 
for identification purposes in accordance with this section.
    (b) Marking. Vessels must be marked either:
    (1) In accordance with vessel identification requirements specified 
in Federal fishery regulations issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Act or 
under other Federal fishery management statutes; or
    (2) In accordance with the following identification requirements:
    (i) A vessel must be marked with its international radio call sign 
(IRCS) or, if not assigned an IRCS, must be marked (in order of 
priority) with its Federal, state, or other documentation number 
appearing on its high seas fishing permit and, if a WCPFC Area 
Endorsement has been issued for the vessel under Sec.  300.212, that 
documentation number must be preceded by the characters ``USA'' and a 
hyphen (that is, ``USA-'');
    (ii) The markings must be displayed at all times on the vessel's 
side or

[[Page 62498]]

superstructure, port and starboard, as well as on a deck;
    (iii) The markings must be placed so that they do not extend below 
the waterline, are not obscured by fishing gear, whether stowed or in 
use, and are clear of flow from scuppers or overboard discharges that 
might damage or discolor the markings;
    (iv) Block lettering and numbering must be used;
    (v) The height of the letters and numbers must be in proportion to 
the size of the vessel as follows: for vessels 25 meters (m) and over 
in length overall, the height of letters and numbers must be no less 
than 1.0 m; for vessels 20 m but less than 25 m in length overall, the 
height of letters and numbers must be no less than 0.8 m; for vessels 
15 m but less than 20 m in length overall, the height of letters and 
numbers must be no less than 0.6 m; for vessels 12 m but less than 15 m 
in length overall, the height of letters and numbers must be no less 
than 0.4 m; for vessels 5 m but less than 12 m in length overall, the 
height of letters and numbers must be no less than 0.3 m; and for 
vessels under 5 m in length overall, the height of letters and numbers 
must be no less than 0.1 m;
    (vi) The height of the letters and numbers to be placed on decks 
must be no less than 0.3 m;
    (vii) The length of the hyphen(s), if any, must be half the height 
(h) of the letters and numbers;
    (viii) The width of the stroke for all letters, numbers, and 
hyphens must be h/6;
    (ix) The space between letters and/or numbers must not exceed h/4 
nor be less than h/6;
    (x) The space between adjacent letters having sloping sides must 
not exceed h/8 nor be less than h/10;
    (xi) The marks must be white on a black background, or black on a 
white background;
    (xii) The background must extend to provide a border around the 
mark of no less than h/6; and
    (xiii) The marks and the background must be maintained in good 
condition at all times.


Sec.  300.337  Requirements for Enhanced Mobile Transceiver Units 
(EMTUs).

    (a) Vessel position information. The owner or operator of a vessel 
issued a permit under this subpart, or for which such permit is 
required, must have installed on board the vessel a NMFS type-approved 
enhanced mobile transceiver unit (EMTU). The operator or owner of the 
vessel must ensure that the EMTU is operational and properly reporting 
positions to NMFS as required by this section, except when exempt under 
paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section. If the vessel is also subject 
to EMTU requirements in other parts of this title, the more restrictive 
requirements apply.
    (b) Contact information and business hours. With respect to the 
requirements in this section, vessel owners and operators should 
consult with the divisional office of the NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE) in, or nearest, the Region issuing the permit under 
this subpart. The OLE VMS Helpdesk in OLE headquarters office may also 
be contacted.
    (c) EMTU installation and activation--(1) EMTU installation. The 
vessel owner or operator shall obtain and have installed on the fishing 
vessel, by a qualified marine electrician and in accordance with any 
instructions provided by the VMS Helpdesk or OLE divisional office, a 
NMFS type-approved EMTU. OLE is authorized to receive and relay 
transmissions from the EMTU. The vessel owner and operator shall 
arrange for a type-approved mobile communications service to receive 
and transmit position reports and email communications from the EMTU to 
OLE. NMFS makes available lists of type-approved EMTUs and mobile 
communications service providers. Vessel owners must ensure that the 
EMTU and communications service hardware purchased is type-approved for 
all fisheries and regions in which their vessel will be operating.
    (2) EMTU activation. When an EMTU is installed or reinstalled or 
the mobile communications service provider changes, or if directed by 
OLE, the vessel owner and operator shall, prior to leaving port:
    (i) Turn on the EMTU to make it operational;
    (ii) Submit a VMS Installation and Activation Certification form, 
or an activation report as directed by OLE, to the OLE divisional 
office within or nearest to the region issuing the permit under this 
subpart; and
    (iii) Receive confirmation from OLE that transmissions are being 
received properly from the EMTU.
    (d) EMTU operation. Unless otherwise provided below, and subject to 
more restrictive requirements where applicable, the vessel owner or 
operator shall continuously operate the EMTU so that it automatically 
transmits position information to OLE, once every hour or as directed 
by OLE.
    (1) In-port exemption: The EMTU may be powered down when the vessel 
will remain at a dock or permanent mooring for more than 72 consecutive 
hours and after the notice required in paragraph (d)(3) of this section 
is submitted to OLE. When powering up the EMTU after the in-port 
exemption, the vessel owner or operator must submit the report required 
in paragraph (d)(4) of this section at least 2 hours before leaving 
port or mooring.
    (2) Long-term exemption: The EMTU may be powered down if the vessel 
will not operate on the high seas, or in any fishery that requires EMTU 
operation, for more than 30 consecutive days and after the notice 
required in paragraph (d)(3) of this section is submitted. When 
powering up the EMTU from the long-term exemption, the vessel owner or 
operator must submit the report required in paragraph (d)(4) of this 
section.
    (3) Prior to each power-down of the EMTU, under paragraph (d)(1) or 
(2) of this section, the vessel owner or operator must report to the 
OLE divisional office in, or nearest, the Region issuing the permit 
under this subpart during business hours, via email or other means as 
directed by OLE: the vessel's name; the vessel's official number; the 
intent to power down the EMTU; the reason for power-down; the port 
where the vessel is docked or area where it will be operating; and the 
full name, telephone, and email contact information for the vessel 
owner or operator.
    (4) When powering up the EMTU, the vessel owner or operator must 
report to the OLE divisional office in, or nearest, the Region issuing 
the permit under this subpart during business hours, via email or other 
means as directed by OLE: The fact that the EMTU has been powered up; 
the vessel's name; the vessel's official number; port name; intended 
fishery; and full name, telephone, and email contact information for 
the vessel owner or operator.
    (5) If the EMTU is powered up after a long-term or in-port 
exemption, the vessel owner must receive confirmation from the OLE 
divisional office in, or nearest, the Region issuing the permit under 
this subpart that EMTU transmissions are being received properly before 
leaving port, entering the high seas, or entering a fishery that 
requires EMTU operation.
    (e) Failure of EMTU. If the vessel owner or operator becomes aware 
that the EMTU has become inoperable or that transmission of automatic 
position reports from the EMTU has been interrupted, or if notified by 
OLE or the U.S. Coast Guard that automatic position reports are not 
being received from the EMTU or that an inspection of the EMTU has 
revealed a problem with the performance of the EMTU, the

[[Page 62499]]

vessel owner or operator shall comply with the following requirements:
    (1) If the vessel is in port, the vessel owner or operator shall 
repair or replace the EMTU and comply with the requirements in 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section before the vessel leaves port.
    (2) If the vessel is at sea, the vessel owner, operator, or 
designee shall contact the OLE divisional office in, or nearest, the 
Region issuing the permit under this subpart by telephone or email at 
the earliest opportunity during business hours and identify the caller, 
vessel name, vessel location, and the type of fishing permit(s). The 
vessel operator shall follow the instructions provided by the OLE 
divisional office, which could include: Ceasing fishing, stowing 
fishing gear, returning to port, or submitting periodic position 
reports at specified intervals by other means. The vessel owner or 
operator must repair or replace the EMTU and comply with the 
requirements in paragraph (c)(2) of this section within 30 days or 
before the vessel leaves port, whichever is sooner.
    (f) Related VMS requirements. Unless specified otherwise in the 
high seas fishing permit, a vessel owner's and operator's compliance 
with requirements in part 300, 635, 660, or 665 of this title relating 
to the installation, carrying, and operation of EMTUs will satisfy the 
requirements of this section, if the requirements are the same or more 
restrictive than those in this section and provided that:
    (1) On the high seas, the EMTU is operated continuously and 
position information is automatically transmitted a minimum of once 
every hour;
    (2) The EMTU is type-approved by NMFS;
    (3) OLE is authorized to receive and relay transmissions from the 
EMTU; and
    (4) The requirements of paragraph (d) of this section are complied 
with. If the EMTU is owned by NMFS, the requirement under paragraph (e) 
of this section to repair or replace the EMTU will be the 
responsibility of NMFS, but the vessel owner and operator shall be 
responsible for ensuring that the EMTU complies with the requirements 
specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section before the vessel leaves 
port.
    (g) Costs. The vessel owner and operator shall be responsible for 
all costs associated with the purchase, installation, operation, and 
maintenance of the EMTU and for all charges levied by vendors as 
necessary to ensure the transmission of automatic position reports to 
OLE as required in paragraph (c) of this section. However, if the EMTU 
is being carried and operated in compliance with the requirements in 
part 300, 635, 660, or 665 of this title relating to the installation, 
carrying, and operation of EMTUs, the vessel owner and operator shall 
not be responsible for any costs that are the responsibility of NMFS 
under those regulations.
    (h) Tampering. The vessel owner and operator shall ensure that the 
EMTU is not tampered with, disabled, destroyed, damaged or operated 
improperly, and that its operation is not impeded or interfered with.
    (i) Inspection. The vessel owner and operator shall make the EMTU, 
including its antenna, connectors and antenna cable, available for 
inspection by authorized officers or by officers conducting boarding 
and inspection under a scheme adopted by an RFMO of which the United 
States is a member.
    (j) Access to data. As required under fishery-specific regulations 
in other parts of this title, the vessel owner and operator shall make 
the vessel's position data, obtained from the EMTU or other means, 
available to authorized officers and to any inspector conducting a high 
seas boarding and inspection pursuant to a scheme adopted by an RFMO of 
which the United States is a member.
    (k) Communication devices. In cases of EMTU failure as specified 
under paragraph (e) of this section, and to facilitate communication 
with management and enforcement authorities regarding the functioning 
of the EMTU and other purposes, the vessel operator shall, while the 
vessel is at sea, carry on board and continuously monitor a two-way 
communication device, in addition to the EMTU, that is capable of real-
time communication with the OLE divisional office in, or nearest, the 
Region issuing the permit under this subpart.


Sec.  300.338  Observers.

    (a) Where observer coverage is not otherwise required by other 
regulations or relevant RFMO conservation and management measures, NMFS 
may select for at-sea observer coverage any vessel that has been issued 
a high seas fishing permit. A vessel so selected by NMFS must carry an 
observer when directed to do so.
    (b) NMFS will contact a vessel owner, in writing, when his or her 
vessel is selected for observer coverage under this section.
    (c) A vessel shall not fish on the high seas without taking an 
observer if NMFS contacted the vessel owner under paragraph (b) of this 
section, or if so required as a condition of a permit issued under this 
subpart or pursuant to other legal authorities, unless the requirement 
to carry an observer has been waived under paragraph (d) of this 
section.
    (d) The vessel owner that NMFS contacts under paragraph (b) of this 
section must notify NMFS of his or her next fishing trip that may take 
place on the high seas before commencing the fishing trip. NMFS will 
specify the notification procedures and information requirements, such 
as expected gear deployment, trip duration and fishing area, in its 
selection letter. Once notified of a trip by the vessel owner, NMFS 
will assign an observer for that trip or notify the vessel owner that 
coverage pursuant to this subpart is not required, given the existing 
requirement for observer coverage under other legal authorities.
    (e) The owner, operator, and crew of a vessel on which a NMFS-
approved observer is assigned must comply with safety regulations at 
Sec. Sec.  600.725 and 600.746 of this title and--
    (1) Facilitate the safe embarkation and debarkation of the 
observer.
    (2) Provide the observer with accommodations, food, and amenities 
that are equivalent of those provided to vessel officers.
    (3) Allow the observer access to all areas of the vessel necessary 
to conduct observer duties.
    (4) Allow the observer free and unobstructed access to the vessel's 
bridge, working decks, holding bins, weight scales, holds, and any 
other space used to hold, process, weigh, or store fish.
    (5) Allow the observer access to EMTUs, communications equipment, 
and navigation equipment to verify operation, obtain data, and use the 
communication capabilities of the units for official purposes.
    (6) Allow the observer to inspect and copy the vessel's log, 
communications logs, and any records associated with the catch and 
disposition of fish for that trip.
    (7) Provide accurate vessel locations by latitude and longitude 
upon request by the observer.
    (8) Provide access to sea turtle, marine mammal, sea bird, or other 
specimens as requested by the observer.
    (9) Notify the observer in a timely fashion when commercial fishing 
activity is to begin and end.
    (f) The permit holder, vessel operator, and crew must cooperate 
with the observer in the performance of the observer's duties.
    (g) The permit holder, vessel operator, and crew must comply with 
other terms and conditions to ensure the effective deployment and use 
of observers that the Regional Administrator or Office Director imposes 
by written notice.

[[Page 62500]]

Sec.  300.339  Transshipment on the high seas.

    (a) In addition to any other applicable restrictions on 
transshipment, including those under parts 300 and 635 of this title, 
the following requirements apply to transshipments, when authorized, 
taking place on the high seas:
    (1) The owner or operator of a U.S. vessel receiving or offloading 
fish on the high seas shall provide a notice by fax or email to the 
Regional Administrator or the Office Director at least 36 hours prior 
to any intended transshipment on the high seas with the following 
information: the vessels offloading and receiving the transshipment 
(names, official numbers, and vessel types); the location (latitude and 
longitude to the nearest tenth of a degree) of transshipment; date and 
time that transshipment is expected to occur; and species, processed 
state, and quantities (in metric tons) expected to be transshipped. If 
another requirement for prior notice applies, the more restrictive 
requirement (i.e., a requirement for greater advance notice and/or more 
specific information regarding vessels, location etc.) must be 
followed.
    (2) U.S. high seas fishing vessels shall report transshipments on 
the high seas to the Regional Administrator or Office Director within 
15 calendar days after the vessel first enters into port, using the 
form obtained from the Regional Administrator or Office Director. If 
there are applicable transshipment reporting requirements in other 
parts of this title, the more restrictive requirement (e.g., a 
reporting requirement of fewer than 15 calendar days) must be followed.
    (b) [Reserved]


Sec.  300.340  Prohibitions.

    In addition to the prohibitions in Sec.  300.4, it is unlawful for 
any person to:
    (a) Use a high seas fishing vessel on the high seas in 
contravention of international conservation and management measures.
    (b) Fish on the high seas unless the vessel has been issued, and 
has on board, a valid permit issued under Sec.  300.333(d).
    (c) Fish on the high seas unless the vessel has been issued, and 
has on board, valid permits related to the authorized fisheries noted 
on the high seas fishing permit, as required under Sec.  300.334(b).
    (d) Operate a high seas fishing vessel on the high seas that is not 
marked in accordance with Sec.  300.336.
    (e) With respect to the EMTU,
    (1) Fail to install, activate, or continuously operate a properly 
functioning and type-approved EMTU as required in Sec.  300.337;
    (2) Power-down or power-up the EMTU without following the 
procedures required in Sec.  300.337;
    (3) In the event of EMTU failure or interruption, fail to repair or 
replace an EMTU, fail to notify the appropriate OLE divisional office 
and follow the instructions provided, or otherwise fail to act as 
required in Sec.  300.337;
    (4) Disable, destroy, damage or operate improperly an EMTU 
installed under Sec.  300.337, attempt to do any of the same, or fail 
to ensure that its operation is not impeded or interfered with, as 
provided in Sec.  300.337;
    (5) Fail to make an EMTU installed under Sec.  300.337 or the 
position data obtained from it available for inspection, as provided in 
Sec.  300.337; or
    (6) Fail to carry on board and monitor communication devices as 
required in Sec.  300.337(l);
    (f) With respect to observers,
    (1) Fail to provide to an observer, a NMFS employee, or a 
designated observer provider, information that has been requested 
pursuant to Sec.  300.338 or Sec.  600.746 of this title, or fail to 
allow an observer, a NMFS employee, or a designated observer provider 
to inspect any item described at Sec.  300.338 or Sec.  600.746 of this 
title;
    (2) Fish without an observer when the vessel is required to carry 
an observer pursuant to Sec.  300.338(c);
    (3) Assault, oppose, harass, impede, intimidate, or interfere with 
an observer;
    (4) Prohibit or bar by command, impediment, threat, coercion, 
interference, or refusal of reasonable assistance, an observer from 
conducting his or her duties as an observer; or
    (5) Tamper with or destroy samples or equipment.
    (g) Fail to submit a prior notice or a report of a transshipment as 
provided in Sec.  300.339(b) of this title.
    (h) Fail to comply with reporting requirements as provided in Sec.  
300.341.


Sec.  300.341  Reporting.

    (a) General. The operator of any vessel permitted under this 
subpart must accurately maintain on board the vessel a complete record 
of fishing activities, such as catch, effort, and other data and report 
high seas catch and effort information to NMFS in a manner consistent 
with the reporting requirements of the authorized fishery(ies) noted on 
the high seas permit. Reports must include: identification information 
for vessel and operator; operator signature; crew size; whether an 
observer is aboard; target species; gear used; dates, times, locations, 
and conditions under which fishing was conducted; species and amounts 
of fish retained and discarded; and details of any interactions with 
sea turtles, marine mammals, or birds.
    (1) The vessel owner and operator are responsible for obtaining and 
completing the reporting forms from the Regional Administrator or 
Office Director who issued the permit holder's high seas fishing 
permit. The completed forms must be submitted to the same Regional 
Administrator or Office Director or, if directed by NMFS, to a Science 
Center.
    (2) Reports must be submitted within the deadline provided for in 
the authorized fishery or within 15 days following the end of a fishing 
trip, whichever is sooner. Contact information for the Regional 
Administrators and Science Center Directors can be found on the NMFS 
Web site.
    (b) [Reserved]

PART 600--MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT PROVISIONS

0
4. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


0
5. In Sec.  600.705, add paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  600.705  Relation to other laws.

* * * * *
    (g) High seas fishing activities. Regulations governing permits and 
requirements for fishing activities on the high seas are set forth in 
50 CFR part 300, subparts A and Q. Any vessel operating on the high 
seas must obtain a permit issued pursuant to the High Seas Fishing 
Compliance Act.
0
6. In Sec.  600.745, revise the first two sentences in paragraph (a) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  600.745  Scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and 
exempted educational activity.

    (a) Scientific research activity. Nothing in this part is intended 
to inhibit or prevent any scientific research activity conducted by a 
scientific research vessel. Persons planning to conduct scientific 
research activities on board a scientific research vessel in the EEZ or 
on the high seas are encouraged to submit to the appropriate Regional 
Administrator or Director, 60 days or as soon as practicable prior to 
its start, a scientific research plan for each scientific activity.* * 
*
* * * * *

[[Page 62501]]

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
7. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.


0
8. In Sec.  660.2, add paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.2  Relation to other laws.

* * * * *
    (c) Fishing activities on the high seas are governed by regulations 
of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act set forth in 50 CFR part 300, 
subparts A and Q.

Sec.  660.708  [Amended]

0
9. In Sec.  660.708, remove paragraph (a)(1)(iii) and redesignate 
paragraph (a)(1)(iv) as paragraph (a)(1)(iii).

PART 665--FISHERIES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

0
10. The authority citation for part 665 continues to read as follows:

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


0
11. In Sec.  665.1, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  665.1  Purpose and scope.

* * * * *
    (b) General regulations governing fishing by all vessels of the 
United States and by fishing vessels other than vessels of the United 
States are contained in 50 CFR parts 300 and 600.
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2015-26398 Filed 10-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P