Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Framework Adjustment 27, 26727-26738 [2016-10439]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26727-26738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10439]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No.: 151210999-6348-02]
RIN 0648-BF59


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery; Framework Adjustment 27

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS approves and implements through regulations the measures 
included in Framework Adjustment 27 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery 
Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council 
adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. The purpose of Framework 27 
is to prevent overfishing, improve yield-per-recruit, and improve the 
overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. Framework 27 
sets specifications for the scallop fishery for fishing year 2016, 
including days-at-sea allocations, individual fishing quotas, and sea 
scallop access area trip allocations; creates a new rotational closed 
area south of Closed Area 2 to protect small scallops; opens the 
northern portion of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to the Limited 
Access General Category fleet; transfers 19 percent of the Limited 
Access General Category access area trips from the Mid-Atlantic Access 
Area to the northern portion of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area; 
and implements an accountability measure to the fishing year 2016 
Northern Gulf of Maine Total Allowable Catch as a result of a fishing 
year 2015 catch overage.

DATES: Effective May 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The Council developed an environmental assessment (EA) for 
this action that describes the action and other considered alternatives 
and provides a thorough analysis of the impacts of these measures. 
Copies of the Framework, the EA, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA), are available upon request from Thomas A. Nies, 
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. The EA/IRFA is also accessible via the 
Internet at: https://www.nefmc.org/scallops/ or https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/scallop/.
    Copies of the small entity compliance guide are available from John 
K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional 
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298, 
or available on the internet at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/scallop/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
978-281-9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Council adopted Framework 27 on December 3, 2015, and submitted 
a draft of the framework to NMFS on December 22, 2015, that presented 
Council recommended measures, rationale, impacts for review, and a 
draft EA. NMFS published a proposed rule, including a reference on how 
to obtain the framework and the draft final EA, for approving and 
implementing Framework 27 on February 24, 2016 (81 FR 9151). The 
proposed rule included a 30-day public comment period that closed on 
March 25, 2016. The Council submitted a final EA to NMFS on March 14, 
2016, for approval. This annual action includes catch, effort, and 
quota allocations and adjustments to the rotational area management 
program for fishing year 2016. Framework 27 specifies measures for 
fishing year 2016, and includes fishing year 2017 measures that will go 
into place as a default should the next specifications-setting 
framework be delayed beyond the start of fishing year 2017. NMFS has 
approved all of the measures recommended by the Council and described 
below. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) permits NMFS to approve, partially approve, or 
disapprove measures proposed by the Council based only on whether the 
measures are consistent with the fishery management plan, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and its National Standards, and other applicable law. We 
must defer to the Council's policy choices unless there is a clear 
inconsistency with the law or the FMP. Details concerning the 
development of these measures were contained in the preamble of the 
proposed rule and are not repeated here.

Specification of Scallop Overfishing Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological 
Catch (ABC), Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), Annual Catch Targets (ACTs), 
and Set-Asides for the 2016 Fishing Year and Default Specifications for 
Fishing Year 2017

    Table 1 outlines the scallop fishery catch limits derived from the 
ABC values.

 Table 1--Scallop Catch Limits (mt) for Fishing Years 2016 and 2017 for
the Limited Access and Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Individual
                       Fishing Quota (IFQ) Fleets
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 2017
                                                     2016      (default)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL.............................................      68,418      68,418
ABC/ACL (discards removed)......................      37,852      37,852
Incidental Catch................................          23          23
Research Set-Aside (RSA)........................         567         567
Observer Set-Aside..............................         379         379
ACL for fishery.................................      36,884      36,884
Limited Access ACL..............................      34,855      34,855
LAGC ACL........................................       2,029       2,029
LAGC IFQ........................................       1,845       1,845
Limited Access with LAGC IFQ....................         184         184
Limited Access ACT..............................      18,290      18,290
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This action deducts 1.25 million lb (567 mt) of scallops annually 
for 2016 and 2017 from the ABC and sets it aside

[[Page 26728]]

as the Scallop RSA to fund scallop research and to compensate 
participating vessels through the sale of scallops harvested under RSA 
projects. As of March 1, 2016, this set-aside has been available for 
harvest by RSA-funded projects in open areas. Framework 27 allows RSA 
to be harvested from the Mid-Atlantic Access Area (MAAA), but prevents 
RSA harvesting from access areas under 2017 default measures. Of this 
1.25 million-lb (567-mt) allocation, NMFS has already allocated 3,393 
lb (1.5 mt) to multi-year projects it previously funded as part of the 
2015 RSA awards process. NMFS reviewed proposals submitted for 
consideration of 2016 RSA awards and announced project selections on 
April 7, 2016. Details on the 2016 RSA awards can be found on our Web 
site here: https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/coopresearch/news/scallop-rsa-2016.html.
    This action sets aside 1 percent of the ABC for the industry-funded 
observer program to help defray the cost of scallop vessels that carry 
an observer. The observer set-aside is 379 mt for fishing year 2016 and 
379 mt for fishing year 2017. In fishing year 2016, the compensation 
rates for limited access vessels in open areas fishing under days-at-
sea (DAS) is 0.11 DAS per DAS fished. For access area trips, the 
compensation rate is 175 lb (79 kg), in addition to the vessel's 
possession limit for the trip for each day or part of a day an observer 
is onboard. LAGC IFQ vessels may possess an additional 175 lb (79 kg) 
per trip in open areas when carrying an observer. NMFS may adjust the 
compensation rate throughout the fishing year, depending on how quickly 
the fleets are using the set aside. The Council may adjust the 2017 
observer set-aside when it develops specific, non-default measures for 
2017.

Open Area DAS Allocations

    This action implements vessel-specific DAS allocations for each of 
the three limited access scallop DAS permit categories (i.e., full-
time, part-time, and occasional) for 2016 and 2017 (Table 2). Fishing 
year 2016 DAS allocations are higher than those allocated to the 
limited access fleet in 2015 (30.86 DAS for full-time, 12.94 DAS for 
part-time, and 2.58 DAS for occasional vessels). Framework 27 also sets 
a 2017 DAS allocations equal to fishing year 2016 as a default measure 
in the event the 2017 specifications action is delayed past the start 
of the 2017 fishing year. The 2016 level default measure is expected to 
be more precautionary than the 2017 projected level. The allocations in 
Table 2 exclude any DAS deductions that are required if the limited 
access scallop fleet exceeded its 2015 sub-ACL. In addition, these DAS 
values take into account a 0.14-DAS per vessel reduction necessary to 
compensate for a measure implemented in Framework Adjustment 26 to the 
FMP (80 FR 22119; April 21, 2015) that allows vessel to transit to 
ports south of 39[deg] N Lat. while not on DAS.

      Table 2--Scallop Open Area DAS Allocations for 2016 and 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Permit category                      2016       2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full-Time.........................................      34.55      34.55
Part-Time.........................................      13.82      13.82
Occasional........................................       2.88       2.88
------------------------------------------------------------------------

LA Allocations and Trip Possession Limits for Scallop Access Areas

    For fishing year 2016 and the start of 2017, Framework 27 keeps all 
three Georges Bank Access Areas (i.e., Nantucket Lightship, Closed Area 
1, and Closed Area 2 Access Areas) closed and keeps the MAAA open to 
the limited access fleet. This action closes a new area, the Closed 
Area 2 Extension, to protect small scallops located south of the 
current Closed Area 2 boundary. The Council will reconsider opening 
this closure area to scallop fishing in a future framework action when 
the scallops are larger and ready for harvest.
    Table 3 outlines the limited access allocations that can be fished 
from the MAAA, which each vessel can take in as many trips as needed, 
so long as the trip possession limits (also in Table 3) are not 
exceeded.

 Table 3--Scallop Access Area Limited Access Vessel Poundage Allocations and Trip Possession Limits for 2016 and
                                                      2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2016 Vessel
         Permit category           Possession limits        allocation             2017 Vessel allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full-Time.......................  17,000 lb (7,711     51,000 lb (23,133    17,000 lb (7,711 kg).
                                   kg).                 kg).
Part-Time.......................  10,200 lb (4,627     20,400 lb (9,253     10,200 lb (4,627 kg).
                                   kg).                 kg).
Occasional......................  1,420 lb (644 kg)..  4,250 lb (1,928 kg)  1,420 lb (644 kg).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Measures To Reduce Impacts on Scallops

    1. Delayed Harvesting of Default 2017 MAAA Allocations. Although 
the Framework includes default access area allocations for the 2017 
fishing year (see 2017 allocations in Table 3), vessels have to wait to 
fish these allocations until April 1, 2017. This measure is 
precautionary to help to protect scallops when scallop meat weights are 
lower than other times of the year (generally, this change in meat-
weight is a physiological change in scallops due to spawning). However, 
if a vessel has not fully harvested its 2016 scallop access area 
allocation in fishing year 2016, it may still fish the remainder of its 
allocation in the first 60 days of 2017 (i.e., March 1, 2017, through 
April 29, 2017).
    2. 2017 RSA Harvest Restrictions. This action prohibits vessels 
participating in RSA projects from harvesting RSA in access areas while 
default 2017 measures are in place. If default measures are in place at 
the start of 2017, RSA can only be harvested from open areas. The 
Council will re-evaluate this measure in the framework action that 
would set final 2017 specifications.

LAGC Measures

    1. ACL for LAGC vessels with IFQ permits. For LAGC vessels with IFQ 
permits, this action implements a 1,845-mt ACL for 2016 and an initial 
ACL of 1,845 mt for 2017 (see Table 1). The Council and NMFS calculate 
IFQ allocations by applying each vessel's IFQ contribution percentage 
to these ACLs. IFQ allocations for each vessel assume that LAGC IFQ 
fleet does not trigger any accountability measures (AMs). The AM 
dictates that if a vessel exceeds its IFQ in a given fishing year, its 
IFQ for the subsequent fishing year is reduced by the amount of the 
overage.
    Because Framework 27 will go into effect after the March 1 start of 
fishing year 2016, the default 2016 IFQ allocations went into place 
automatically on March 1, 2016. This action implements IFQ allocations 
greater than the default allocations. NMFS sent a letter to IFQ permit 
holders providing both March 1, 2016, IFQ allocations and Framework 27 
IFQ allocations so that vessel owners know

[[Page 26729]]

what mid-year adjustments will occur now that Framework 27 is approved.
    2. ACL for Limited Access Scallop Vessels with IFQ Permits. For 
limited access scallop vessels with IFQ permits, this action implements 
a 184-mt ACL for 2016 and a default 184-mt ACL for 2017 (see Table 1). 
We calculate IFQ allocations by applying each vessel's IFQ contribution 
percentage to these ACLs. IFQ allocations for each vessel assume that 
the LAGC IFQ fleet doesn't trigger any AMs. The AM dictates that if a 
vessel exceeds its IFQ in a given fishing year, its IFQ for the 
subsequent fishing year would be reduced by the amount of the overage.
    3. LAGC IFQ Trip Allocations and Possession Limits for Scallop 
Access Areas. Framework 27 allocates LAGC IFQ vessels a fleetwide 
number of trips in the MAAA and a fleetwide number of trips in the 
northern portion of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area (NLSN). This 
action does not grant the limited access fleet access to the NLSN.
    Framework 27 allocates 2,068 and 602 trips in 2016 and the same 
default amounts for 2017, respectively, to the MAAA. Under default 2017 
measures, LAGC IFQ vessels must wait to fish these trips until April 1, 
2017. It also allocates 485 trips to the NLSN for fishing year 2016. 
The total number of trips for both areas combined (2,553) for fishing 
year 2016 is equivalent to the overall proportion of total catch from 
access areas compared to total catch. Framework 27 does not allocate 
any trips to either fleet category in NLSN for the 2017 fishing year.
    4. NGOM Total Allowable Catch (TAC). The Framework 27 proposed rule 
proposed a 70,000-lb (31,751-kg) annual NGOM TAC for fishing years 2016 
and 2017. However, the year-end analysis of the fishing year 2015 NGOM 
fishery shows a 2,546-lb (1,155-kg) overage in the NGOM TAC. The 
regulations implementing the Scallop FMP require that we implement an 
AM that reduces the NGOM TAC by the amount of the overharvest. 
Therefore, as a result of the fishing year 2015 catch overage, this 
action implements that AM, reducing the fishing year 2016 NGOM TAC to 
67,454 lb (30,597 kg).
    5. Scallop Incidental Catch Target TAC. This action allocates a 
50,000-lb (22,680-kg) scallop incidental catch target TAC for fishing 
years 2016 and a default target TAC for 2017 to account for mortality 
from this component of the fishery, and to ensure that F targets are 
not exceeded. The Council and NMFS may adjust this target TAC in a 
future action if vessels catch more scallops under the incidental 
target TAC than predicted.
    Despite the comments opposing the action, we find that the 
justification and analysis support the Council's recommendations, and 
that the Council process, in adopting Framework 27, followed up by the 
proposed and final rulemaking process, provided Council members and the 
public sufficient analysis to consider the proposed alternatives, 
including opening NLSN to LAGC vessels only, and adequate opportunity 
to comment on such alternatives. We have determined the Council's 
recommendations are consistent with law and we intend to approve all 
measures. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act we can only disapprove a 
Council measure if it is not consistent with all applicable law. 
Otherwise, we give deference to the Council's policy recommendations.

Regulatory Corrections Under Regional Administrator Authority

    This action includes several revisions to the regulatory text to 
address text that is unnecessary, outdated, unclear, or NMFS could 
otherwise improve. NMFS proposed these changes consistent with section 
305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provides that the Secretary 
of Commerce may promulgate regulations necessary to ensure that 
amendments to an FMP are carried out in accordance with the FMP and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The first revision, at Sec.  
648.14(i)(2)(ii)(B)(7), clarifies that the crew member restrictions, 
specified in Sec.  648.51(c) and Sec.  648.51(e)(3)(i), apply in all 
access areas. The second revision, at Sec.  648.14(i)(3)(v)(C), 
clarifies that LAGC IFQ vessels must be declared into the Sea Scallop 
Access Area Program if they fish for, possess, or land scallops in or 
from any Sea Scallop Access Area. The third revision, at Sec.  
648.51(e)(2), clarifies that vessels participating in the small dredge 
program may carry component parts on board the vessel such that they do 
not conform with the definition of ``dredge or dredge gear.'' The 
fourth revision, at Sec.  648.52(f), clarifies that LAGC IFQ vessels 
are permitted to possess no more than 75 bu (26.4 hL) of in-shell 
scallops outside of the Access Areas. Finally, the fifth revision, at 
Sec.  648.60(g)(2), clarifies that LAGC IFQ vessels may fish with trawl 
gear in the MAAA.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received several comments on Framework 27 after the Council 
voted to submit the action but prior to the publication of the proposed 
rule. The majority of these comments objected to the alternative to 
allow exclusive LAGC effort in the NLSN, but we also received comments 
supporting this alternative. We considered these comments when 
preparing the proposed rule, but they did not present sufficient legal 
concerns that would require us to discuss possible disapproval of the 
measure in the proposed rule. Because these comments were mostly 
mirrored in comments on the proposed rule, we have not summarized them 
here.
    We received 17 comment letters on the proposed rule during the 
public comment period, including letters from 14 individuals; the 
Associated Fisheries of Maine (AFM); the Virginia Department of 
Environmental Quality; and Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF). The following 
summarizes the issues raised in the comments and NMFS's responses.
    Comment 1: Thirteen individuals wrote in support approving of the 
measure that allocates LAGC trips in the NLSN. These commenters were 
LAGC IFQ vessel owners and/or operators from New England. They believe 
that access to the NLSN will be extremely beneficial to their 
businesses and will allow them to fish closer to their homeports. They 
urged NMFS to approve this measure.
    Response: NMFS has approved all of the measures recommended by the 
Council, as supported by these commenters.
    Comment 2: Regarding the measure that allocates LAGC trips in the 
NLSN, AFM highlighted that the biological and economic analysis could 
not identify any negative impacts to the scallop resource or human 
communities because the amount of proposed harvest would be very small. 
It also highlighted that the Council has moved LAGC access area trips 
from Closed Area 2 to areas closer to shore in previous actions. AFM 
views the alternative to provide LAGC access to NLSN as a similar 
accommodation for a fleet comprised primarily of small vessels.
    Response: NMFS agrees that accommodating one specific fleet, 
whether the Limited Access fleet or LAGC fleet, with area-specific 
allocations is consistent with the Scallop FMP and with prior Council 
actions.
    Comment 3: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
commented that it has no concerns with the proposed rule, and it 
believes the action is unlikely to have adverse impacts on fisheries 
resources under its jurisdiction.
    Response: We appreciate Virginia Department of Environmental 
Quality's comment.
    Comment 4: An individual was concerned that Framework 27 will 
adversely affect the income of the

[[Page 26730]]

fishermen involved. He stated that the open area cannot withstand the 
increased effort due to an increase in the LAGC ACL. He asserts that 
vessels will target small scallops and prices will drop as a result of 
this increase. He also stated that the IFQ fleet will have a large 
amount of carryover because of poor catch rates in fishing year 2015, 
and that the LAGC fleet was caught off guard by this unforeseen 
anticipated increase.
    Response: We disagree with the commenter's concern about small 
scallops. Scallop dredges are required to have 4-inch rings that are 
designed to allow smaller scallops to pass through the gear, which 
should reduce the ability of vessel operators to target small scallops. 
Further, because larger scallops draw a higher price per pound there is 
generally an incentive to target larger scallops. Therefore, it is not 
likely to be in a vessel's best interest to target small scallops. In 
any event, because this substantial increase is only applicable to 5.5 
percent of the fleet, analysis shows that it would not have a 
meaningful effect on price. The estimated ex-vessel price for the 
preferred alternative is $11.50, which is equal to or similar to the 
ex-vessel price in all of the other viable alternatives. Regarding 
carryover, LAGC IFQ vessels are limited to carrying over 15 percent of 
their available catch from fishing year 2015. However, despite this 
additional 15 percent that the LAGC fleet could carry over into fishing 
year 2016, that 15 percent carryover is unlikely to cause unexpected 
negative impacts resulting from additional catch on top of an already-
increased sub-ACL. Finally, we projected an increase in the LAGC IFQ 
ACL during the fishing year 2015 specifications process in Framework 
26. Because the LAGC ACL is formulaic, the magnitude of this increase 
was dependent on the result of the 2015 summer surveys. Once the 
surveys were completed, Council staff presented the potential increase 
in the LAGC ACL to the public in September of 2015. Therefore, this 
increase was not unforeseen. The quota allocations for fishing years 
2016 and 2017 are based on the best scientific information available 
and are consistent with the control rules outlined in the ACL process 
established under Amendment 15 to the FMP.
    Comment 5: FSF, which represents a majority of the limited access 
scallop fleet, commented generally in favor of the Framework 27 
measures, but, in a comment, recommended we disapprove the measure that 
allocates only LAGC effort in the NLSN. FSF stated in its comment its 
opinion that approval of this alternative is not legally permissive 
because of procedural flaws by the Council and NMFS. FSF contends that 
because the analysis was not included in the draft Framework until the 
day the Council voted on preferred alternatives (December 3, 2015), we 
cannot approve this measure because approval would violate the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA). In support of this comment FSF notes, that, ``alternatives 
considered by the Council must be `encompassed by the range of 
alternatives discussed in the relevant environmental documents,' '' 
citing NEPA and Agency Planning regulations at 40 CFR 1501.1(e).
    Response: FSF conflates the Council process with legal requirements 
on NMFS mandated by NEPA and APA. The legal adequacy of the relevant 
documents subject to NEPA and APA are not the draft documents 
considered by the Council at the December meeting because the Council 
is not a federal agency subject to these laws. Rather, the relevant 
documents are the final EA prepared after the December Council meeting 
and the proposed rule proposing to adopt the framework. The final EA 
encompasses a range of alternatives, including the NLSN measure, which 
are thoroughly analyzed for environmental and socioeconomic impacts and 
address the concerns raised by FSF. Further, the proposed rule provided 
ample opportunity for the public in general, and FSF in particular, to 
comment on the Framework, the EA analysis completed after the December 
Council meeting and referenced in the proposed rule, and the NLSN 
measure in particular.
    Comment 6: FSF cites 50 CFR 648.55(f) and states that the 
biological analysis for the measure allowing only LAGC vessels in the 
NLSN was conducted during the December Council meeting and not prior 
to, as required by law, and that the Council did not ``provide the 
public with advance notice of the availability of both the proposals 
and the analyses, and opportunity to comment on them prior to and at 
the second Council meeting.'' FSF cites the regulations at Sec.  
648.55(f) which state: ``After considering the PDT's findings and 
recommendations, or at any other time, if the Council determines that 
adjustments to, or additional management measures are necessary, it 
shall develop and analyze appropriate management actions over the span 
of at least two Council meetings . . . The Council shall provide the 
public with advance notice of the availability of both the proposals 
and the analyses, and opportunity to comment on them prior to and at 
the second Council meeting . . .'' FSF comments that any public notice 
deficiencies or, procedural irregularities at the Council level cannot 
be remedied by this rulemaking process. FSF goes on to state that the 
addition of the NSLN alternative could not be approved as a ``logical 
outgrowth'' of other alternatives.
    Response: We disagree with FSF's comment that we cannot approve the 
NLSN alternative because it is inconsistent with Sec.  648.55(f) by 
failing to provide sufficient public notice and analysis before the 
Council voted on the alternative. First, there was sufficient public 
notice, analysis and full discussion before the Council voted to adopt 
the alternative. Although this specific alternative was not explicitly 
incorporated into the draft EA for Framework 27 at the beginning of the 
Council meeting, the public, and FSF in particular, were aware of this 
alternative well before the Council meeting and at the very least it is 
a logical outgrowth of measures that were being considered by the 
Council during the development of the framework. The Council initiated 
Framework 27 at its June 18, 2015, meeting and developed alternatives 
over several meetings including its September and December meetings, as 
well as the September 17, 2015, and the November 19, 2015, Scallop 
Oversight Committee meetings. Based on a Committee motion from its 
September 17, 2015, meeting, the concept of an alternative to allow 
fishing by all scallopers in NSLN was first included in a draft 
framework document for the September Council meeting. Members of the 
Scallop Advisory Panel, on which members of FSF sit, first suggested 
limiting scallop fishing in the NLSN to LAGC vessels only as an 
alternative at their meeting on November 18, 2015. The Advisory Panel 
suggested this alternative only after the Advisory Panel suggested a 
new alternative, created and raised by FSF, which proposed to have all 
access area effort in the MAAA. The next day, the Committee, in its 
meeting attended by representatives of FSF, requested that the Scallop 
Plan Development Team (PDT) analyze both the restricted NSLN 
alternative and the FSF sponsored alternative for the December Council 
meeting. Once analysis was complete, the PDT held a conference call on 
December 1, 2015. The notice for this call was posted on the Council 
Web site on November 23, 2015, and an automatic email was sent out on 
November 24, 2015, to anyone who registered to be informed on Council 
scallop issues. Members of the public, including representatives from 
FSF, attended the call. The next day, the

[[Page 26731]]

Council summarized the details of that call in a PDT memo dated 
December 2, 2015, and made the memo available to the public at the 
Council meeting prior to the scallop discussion on December 3, 2015. 
The PDT memo provided both a biological and an economic analysis of the 
alternative.
    The Council heard public comment during the discussion of this 
measure both against and in support of this alternative, including 
comments against the measure from different representatives of FSF. The 
analyses included in the PDT memo, in combination with the public 
comment solicited at the meeting, and other analyses in Framework 27, 
allowed the Council to make an informed decision on this alternative. 
While this timing was tight, the process was consistent with the intent 
of the cited regulation in that it gave advance notice and analysis to 
the public over the course of two meetings (the November Committee 
meeting and the December Council meeting) before the measure was 
adopted. The Council frequently adjusts specific management 
alternatives that are logical outgrowths in the actions it is 
considering at or just before the final Council meeting. This provides 
the Council with the flexibility to consider sensible solutions or 
adjustments to these logical outgrowth alternatives without postponing 
action. Indeed, FSF was pushing for the adoption of its own sponsored 
proposed alternative even though it was subject to the same sequence of 
events and given the same analysis and consideration as the NSLN 
alternative. Therefore, we conclude that the Council and the public, 
including FSF, had more than adequate opportunity to consider and 
comment on the NLSN measure. Further, the adoption of this measure by 
the Council was consistent with the Council's procedural requirements 
to ensure that measures it adopts are sufficiently analyzed and the 
public is sufficiently aware of the analysis and propose alternatives 
before it adopts such a measure. Even if the Council's activity 
marginally infringed its established procedures because of the tight 
timing, courts, including those cited by FSF, have held that if there 
were procedural irregularities, they would not necessarily invalidate a 
regulation if such irregularities resulted in only ``harmless error,'' 
or there is no evidence that our decision to approve the alternative 
was materially affected by the Council's procedural irregularities (for 
which there is no evidence in this instance). Indeed, the Ninth U.S. 
Circuit Court of Appeals has held that ``[i]if the Secretary has 
followed the appropriate rulemaking procedures and has established a 
rational basis for this action in promulgating regulations based on the 
submitted amendment, procedural challenges for irregularities at the 
Council level will not provide a justification for invalidating the 
regulations.'' Atlantic Factory Trawler Association, et al. v. 
Baldridge, et al., 831 F. 2d 1456,1464 (9th Cir. 1987). FSF's comments 
that there was not adequate or sufficient understanding of and 
discussion about the alternative at the Council meeting is not 
supported by the facts as discussed above. There can be no doubt that 
there was a rational basis for the Council and NMFS adopting this 
alternative and nothing in the Council process materially affected our 
decision regarding this framework. Therefore any inconvenience FSF or 
the public may have experienced was at worst ``harmless error,'' which 
has been cured through notice and comment rulemaking.
    Comment 7: FSF alleges that the alternative that allocates LAGC 
trips in the NLSN violates the Scallop FMP access area guidelines, 
claiming that Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP (69 FR 35194; June 23, 
2004), ``describes access area policies in terms that plainly 
anticipate that such areas are either open proportionally to both 
fleets or to neither.'' FSF also cites a section of Amendment 11 to the 
Scallop FMP (73 FR 20090; April 14, 2008) referring to access area 
allocations for LAGC vessels that states that once an area is 
designated as controlled access, ``it is understood that a specific 
percentage of the TAC per access area would be allocated to the General 
Category fleet.'' FSF further contends that the Scallop FMP does not 
provide for decoupling of limited access and LAGC access to access 
areas, and the Council has never embarked on this path before. Finally, 
FSF quotes the Regional Administrator, who commented at the December 
Council meeting that he was concerned this alternative, ``[takes] a 
chink out of this rotational closure and allows one group in early.''
    Response: There is nothing in the guidelines or policy underlying 
the Scallop FMP that prohibits this type of measure. Granting increased 
access area allocation to one part of the scallop fleet and not the 
other is not only contemplated by the Scallop FMP, it has been done in 
the past. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to Amendment 11 
acknowledges the possibility of differential allocations of area access 
specifically where it was determined that ``it may not be effective to 
allocate the same percent per access area to the general category 
fishery. About 2 percent of the total TAC has been allocated to the 
general category fishery in previous access programs, but it was noted 
during this process that it may be most effective to consider variable 
percents for different access areas. For example, the 2 percent 
allocated in Closed Area 2 has never been caught by the general 
category fishery. It was discussed that these decisions are best 
considered in future framework actions that set specifications and 
allocations for the access area program and there is nothing in current 
regulations to prevent different percentages from being considered.'' 
(EIS for Amendment 11 to the Scallop FMP; pg. 65). FSF's citation to 
Amendment 11 action comes from the description of a considered but 
rejected alternative. The rationale for rejection provides the same 
analysis as stated above that ``it was discussed that it may not be 
effective to allocate the same percent per access area to the general 
category fishery.'' FSF's reference to Amendment 10's intent is not 
specifically documented, and, in any event, Amendment 11 clearly allows 
for variable allocations among the Limited Access and LAGC fleets. 
Framework Adjustment 25 to the Scallop FMP (79 FR 26690; May 9, 2014) 
serves as the most recent example of the Council deciding to 
differentially allocate harvesting opportunities to one group of 
scallopers and not the other without any objection from FSF. In that 
framework, the Council allowed access to Closed Area 2 to the limited 
access fleet only, while permitting the LAGC fleet trips to another 
area based on a determination of equivalency of the LAGC fleet fishing 
in Closed Area 2. The fact that the Regional Administrator both spoke 
and voted against this measure at the December Council meeting does not 
by itself justify disapproval of the measure. The Regional 
Administrator's comments expressed policy, but not legal, concerns 
about the measure. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, even though the 
Regional Administrator may not be in favor of this measure on policy 
grounds, we can only disapprove a Council measure if it is not 
consistent with all applicable law, which is not the case here.
    Comment 8: FSF was concerned that the alternative that allocates 
LAGC trips in the NLSN differentially affects LAGC vessels homeported 
in New England differently than those homeported in the Mid-Atlantic, 
and the Council did not

[[Page 26732]]

hold any meetings or hearings on this issue in the Mid-Atlantic region.
    Response: The Framework 27 EA discusses that this alternative may 
have a different impact on vessels regionally. Analysis in the EA 
suggests that allowing LAGC access to the NLSN may reduce the number of 
New England vessels traveling to the MAAA to fish, therefore increasing 
the total number of MAAA trips available to the Mid-Atlantic LAGC 
fleet. Furthermore, industry members from all regions had an equal 
opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, and there are members of 
the Advisory Panel, the Committee, and the Council that have LAGC and/
or Mid-Atlantic interests. The fact that meetings were not held in an 
affected region does not mean that the framework is invalid, 
particularly when there was adequate opportunity for different regional 
fishers to comment.
    Comment 9: FSF asserts that ``required analyses were inadequate or 
entirely lacking both prior to and at the meeting during which the 
Council took its vote.'' It goes on to cite NEPA requirements for an 
EIS and they extend these requirements to the EA that the Council 
prepared for Framework 27.
    Response: NEPA regulations at 40 CFR 1508.9 state that an EA, 
``Shall include brief discussions of the need for the proposal, of 
alternatives as required by section 102(2)(E), of the environmental 
impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and a listing of 
agencies and persons consulted.'' The final EA includes these 
requirements. As stated above, the Council is not required to have a 
completed EA during the development of an action because it is not a 
Federal agency. In fact, it is impossible to analyze the action as a 
whole until after the Council selects preferred alternatives. While 
this regulation imposes a requirement ultimately of NMFS, the Council 
uses a draft EA as a means to present and analyze alternatives, and, in 
turn, submits that as part of the Council's recommendation to NMFS on 
the action. NMFS adopts the draft document prepared by the Council and 
works with the Council to finalize it. Nevertheless, we disagree with 
FSF's comment that there was inadequate analysis at the Council meeting 
before the Council took its vote. The analysis of the alternative that 
allocates LAGC trips in the NLSN that was available to the Council at 
the December meeting (the December 2, 2015, PDT memo) before any vote 
was taken was on par with other alternatives in the document. This 
analysis contained detailed images describing where fishing would occur 
and the condition of the resource in that area, both biological and 
economic projections of the impacts of the alternative, and a 
comparative analysis of those impacts compared to alternatives already 
in the document. This analysis found that the allowing LAGC access into 
the NLSN had the highest total benefits of any alternative in 2016 and 
no noticeable biological impact. Once the Council chose preferred 
alternatives, Council staff worked with NMFS to fully analyze all the 
alternatives and meet NEPA requirements for Framework 27.
    Comment 10: FSF believes that Framework 27 failed to sufficiently 
analyze economic impacts such as regional variation in lease prices.
    Response: FSF is incorrect. Framework 27 includes an economic and 
social analysis of all of the considered alternatives in Section 5.4 
and it specifically analyzes regional variation in leasing in Section 
5.4.3.12.3. Framework 27 concludes that ``the distribution of access 
area allocations could have some impacts on (lease) prices, however, 
those impacts would be uncertain given that not only the size of 
scallops but several other factors, including the distance to each area 
from the homeports of IFQ holders, the fuel and trip costs, total 
amount of IFQ available, distribution of IFQ holdings among the active 
vessels, relative price of scallops by market category have an 
influence on lease prices.'' Furthermore, as stated above, the PDT 
analysis available to the Council during its December meeting found 
that the allowing LAGC access into the NLSN had the highest total 
benefits of any alternative in 2016.
    Comment 11: FSF also claims that the alternative that allocates 
LAGC trips in the NLSN is an allocative measure and requires an 
amendment, as opposed to a framework, and also an EIS versus an EA. 
They cite NMFS' Operational Guidelines that limit a framework action, 
by definition, to ``a mechanism for implementing recurrent, routine, or 
foreseeable actions in an expedited manner.''
    Response: This measure is not fundamentally allocative in the way 
suggested by FSF. The NLSN provision is only a one-year specification 
that does not increase total allocations or take away any allocations 
from the limited access fleet. The provision merely shifts around how 
LAGC scallopers can harvest their allocations based on their particular 
circumstances, not the amount they are allocated. This type of 
specification is a regular annual action that is foreseeable and 
consistent with the Scallop FMP, as discussed in the response to 
comment 7, which allows for differential access to access areas for the 
limited access and LAGC fleets depending on the annual needs of each 
fleet. Thus, although controversial, this action was a routine 
specifications action that is appropriate for a Framework. 50 CFR 
648.55(f) describes the types of measures that the Council can decide 
to adjust. It allows for adjustments to area-specific trip allocations, 
specifications for IFQs for limited access general category vessels, 
and any other management measures currently included in the FMP. The 
controversiality of a measure in terms of its desirability is not 
justification to conduct an EIS. Only when the analysis of an action is 
controversial in terms of its validity is an EIS required. Finally, 
there is no law or provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that requires 
an amendment for allocative issues. Nor does NEPA require an EIS 
because of significant economic impacts as suggested by FSF.
    Comment 12: FSF says that the Council made the decision that NLSN 
was not ready to be opened as a biological matter. FSF states that the 
alternative that allocates LAGC trips in the NLSN violates National 
Standard 2 requiring that ``conservation and management measures shall 
be based upon the best scientific information available.'' FSF asserts 
that the Council made their decision to allow LAGC effort in the NLSN 
area based on politics and not the best available science.
    Response: This is not true as even acknowledged by FSF. In fact, 
alternatives in the document considered access to NLSN. The PDT 
determined that the NLSN area could handle a small amount of limited 
access effort (52 trips at 17,000 lb (400 mt)) and this alternative was 
included in Framework 27. Allowing the LAGC trips in the NLSN included 
in this final rule will result in approximately 132 mt of harvest. The 
Council's non-selected alternative to open the NLSN to both fleets at a 
very limited level would have resulted in approximately 400 mt of 
scallop harvest. The reason the broader NLSN alternative was not 
selected was not biological, but rather it was not supported by the 
limited access fleet because only 16.6 percent of the full-time limited 
access fleet would receive a trip in NLSN.
    The best available science shows that allowing access to the LAGC 
fleet will not harm the resource. Indeed, the analysis in the draft and 
final EA and the PDT memo concludes that the alternative allowing three 
times more access (400 mt) by limited access vessels and LAGC vessels 
would not jeopardize sustainability of the scallop resource.

[[Page 26733]]

The decision was a policy decision of how much to allocate between the 
two fleets. The Council has the right to make these types of decisions, 
and we can only disapprove if it is inconsistent with Magnuson-Stevens 
Act requirements and the applicable law, not on whether we disagree 
with the policy underlying the measure. The Council made its decision 
based on the scientific analysis provided in the December 2, 2015, PDT 
memo, public and Council member testimony, and other analyses in the 
Framework 27 EA. FSF has not offered any other science or biological 
analysis to contradict the scientific information upon which the 
Council made its decision. FSF even notes that the PDT analysis in the 
memo could not identify negative biological impacts to the scallop 
resource because the amount of proposed harvest would be very small. 
Also, the draft and final EA concluded that there would be overall 
positive economic impacts for the scallop fleet, with relatively higher 
positive economic impacts for LAGC vessels homeported in the New 
England states. The Advisory Panel, including members of FSF preferred 
access to MAAA over NSLN in part because it allowed the entire limited 
access fleet into the area. It was only when the limited access fleet 
requested this alternative, that members of the LAGC fleet requested 
that 19 percent of their MAAA trip allocation be moved into the NLSN.
    Comment 13: FSF claims that the alternative that allocates LAGC 
trips in the NLSN violates National Standard 8 because it analyzed only 
impacts on the LAGC fleet that fished from ports closer to the access 
area rather than how it affects the entire LAGC fleet.
    Response: National Standard 8 requires that ``Conservation and 
management measures shall . . . take into account the importance of 
fishery resources to fishing communities by utilizing economic and 
social data . . . in order to (A) provide for the sustained 
participation of such communities, and (B) to the extent practicable, 
minimize adverse economic impacts on such communities.'' (16 U.S.C. 
1851, Sec 301(a)(8)). The final version of the Framework, the expanded 
draft EA available when the proposed rule was published, and the final 
EA specifically analyze the differential impacts and conclude that 
because fewer northern vessels will go down to the MAAA, the Mid-
Atlantic vessels, i.e., those farther from the NLSN, may have more 
quota to fish. While this analysis was not specifically available at 
the time the Council approved the NLSN measure there was a general 
mention of possible differential impacts in the PDT report that was 
available during the Council meeting and a self-evident understanding 
by Council members and the public that area-based allocations are, by 
their very nature, going to have more benefits to regions that are 
closer to areas open to fishing. As discussed above, the public had 
additional opportunity to comment on the draft EA which was made 
available for review at the time of the publication of the proposed 
rule. Ultimately, the adequacy of the NEPA analysis is determined by 
the final EA not the draft NEPA analysis available at the Council 
meeting. This level of analysis alerting the public and FSF to the 
differential impacts to communities as required by National Standard 8, 
followed up by more complete analysis in the draft and final EA is 
consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act and NEPA requirements.

Changes From Proposed Rule to Final Rule

    We included changes to the regulatory text to Sec.  648.62 to 
implement an AM due to the overage of the NGOM TAC.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is 
consistent with the FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
the ESA, and other applicable law.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this 
rule is not significant pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
    This final rule does not contain policies with federalism or 
``takings'' implications, as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    This action does not contain any collection-of-information 
requirements subject the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that the 
need to implement these measures in an expedited manner in order to 
help achieve conservation objectives for the scallop fishery and 
certain fish stocks constitutes good cause, under authority contained 
in 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness and 
to make the Framework 27 final measures effective upon publication in 
the Federal Register.
    Because Framework 27 has not yet been approved and implemented, 
certain default measures, including access area designations and DAS, 
IFQ, research set-aside and observer set-aside allocations, are 
automatically put into place. These default allocations were purposely 
set to be more conservative than what would eventually be implemented 
under Framework 27. Under default measures, each full-time vessel has 
26 DAS and one access area 17,000-lb (7,711-kg) trip in the MAAA. We 
have good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness because this 
action provides full-time vessels with an additional 8.55 DAS (34.55 
DAS total) and 34,000 lb (15,422 kg) in access area allocation (51,000 
lb (23,133 kg) total) into the MAAA. Further, LAGC IFQ vessels will 
receive an additional 330 mt (2,029 mt total) of allocation and 1,466 
trips into the MAAA (2,068 trips total) and 485 trips in the NLSN. 
Framework 27 could not have been put into place sooner to allow for a 
30-day delayed effectiveness because the information and data necessary 
for the Council to develop the framework was not available in time. We 
received the final submission of the EA from the Council on March 14, 
2016. We published the proposed rule on February 24, 2016, and the 
comment period did not close until March 25, 2016. Delaying the 
implementation of Framework 27 for 30 days would delay positive 
economic benefits to the scallop fleet and could negatively impact the 
access area rotation program by delaying fishing in access areas that 
should be available. There are no new measures that implement 
additional burdens on the fleet, and we do not expect that any members 
of the scallop industry will be aggrieved by waiving this delay.
    NMFS, pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), has completed a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) in 
support of Framework 27 in this final rule. The FRFA incorporates the 
IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by the public comments 
in response to the IRFA, NMFS responses to those comments, a summary of 
the analyses completed in the Framework 27 EA, and this portion of the 
preamble. A summary of the IRFA was published in the proposed rule for 
this action and is not repeated here. A description of why this action 
was considered, the objectives of, and the legal basis for this rule is 
contained in Framework 27 and in the preamble to the proposed and this 
final rule, and is not repeated here. All of the documents that 
constitute the FRFA are available from NMFS and a copy of the IRFA, the 
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the EA are available upon request 
(see ADDRESSES).

[[Page 26734]]

A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public in Response to 
the IRFA, a Summary of the Agency's Assessment of Such Issues, and a 
Statement of Any Changes Made in the Final Rule as a Result of Such 
Comments

    There were no specific comments on the IRFA. The Comments and 
Responses section summarizes the comments that highlight concerns about 
the economic impacts and implications of impacts on small businesses 
(i.e., comments 4, 8, 9, 10, and 13).

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

    The regulations affect all vessels with limited access and LAGC 
scallop permits. The Framework 27 EA provides extensive information on 
the number and size of vessels and small businesses that will be 
affected by the regulations, by port and state (see ADDRESSES). There 
were 313 vessels that obtained full-time limited access permits in 
2014, including 250 dredge, 52 small-dredge, and 11 scallop trawl 
permits. In the same year, there were also 34 part-time limited access 
permits in the sea scallop fishery. No vessels were issued occasional 
scallop permits. NMFS issued 220 LAGC IFQ permits in 2014 and 128 of 
these vessels actively fished for scallops that year (the remaining 
permits likely leased out scallop IFQ allocations with their permits in 
Confirmation of Permit History). The RFA defines a small business in 
shellfish fishery as a firm that is independently owned and operated 
and not dominant in its field of operation, with receipts of up to $5.5 
million annually. Individually-permitted vessels may hold permits for 
several fisheries, harvesting species of fish that are regulated by 
several different fishery management plans, even beyond those impacted 
by this action. Furthermore, multiple permitted vessels and/or permits 
may be owned by entities with various personal and business 
affiliations. For the purposes of this analysis, ``ownership entities'' 
are defined as those entities with common ownership as listed on the 
permit application. Only permits with identical ownership are 
categorized as an ``ownership entity.'' For example, if five permits 
have the same seven persons listed as co-owners on their permit 
applications, those seven persons would form one ``ownership entity,'' 
that holds those five permits. If two of those seven owners also co-own 
additional vessels, that ownership arrangement would be considered a 
separate ``ownership entity'' for the purpose of this analysis.
    Ownership data from 2014 result in 166 distinct ownership entities 
for the limited access fleet and 106 distinct ownership entities for 
the LAGC IFQ fleet. Of these, and based on the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) guidelines, 152 of the limited access distinct 
ownership entities and 102 of the LAGC IFQ entities are categorized as 
small. The remaining 14 of the limited access and 4 of the LAGC IFQ 
entities are categorized as large entities, all of which are shellfish 
businesses.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements of the Proposed Rule

    This action contains no new collection-of-information, reporting, 
or recordkeeping requirements.

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes

    During the development of Framework 27, NMFS and the Council 
considered ways to reduce the regulatory burden on, and provide 
flexibility for, the regulated entities in this action. For example, 
they opened the NLSN to LAGC vessels to provide vessels homeported in 
Massachusetts an opportunity to fish in an access area without 
traveling to the MAAA. This measure addresses safety and economic 
concerns for smaller northern LAGC vessels when fishing in an access 
area. Final actions and alternatives are described in detail in 
Framework 27, which includes an EA, RIR, and IRFA (available at 
ADDRESSES). The measures implemented by this final rule minimize the 
long-term economic impacts on small entities to the extent practicable. 
The only alternatives for the prescribed catch limits that were 
analyzed were those that met the legal requirements to implement 
effective conservation measures. Catch limits are fundamentally a 
scientific calculation based on the Scallop FMP control rules and SSC 
approval, and therefore are legally limited to the numbers contained in 
this rule. Moreover, the limited number of alternatives available for 
this action must be evaluated in the context of an ever-changing 
fishery management plan that has considered numerous alternatives over 
the years and have provided many mitigating measures applicable every 
fishing year.
    Overall, this rule minimizes adverse long-term impacts by ensuring 
that management measures and catch limits result in sustainable fishing 
mortality rates that promote stock rebuilding, and as a result, 
maximize yield. The measures implemented by this final rule also 
provide additional flexibility for fishing operations in the short-
term. This final rule implements measures that enable small entities to 
offset some portion of the estimated economic impacts. These measures 
include allocating about 19 percent of LAGC IFQ access area trips (or 
300,000 lb (136 mt)) to the NLSN which is open to LAGC vessels only. 
Because of the proximity of the LAGC vessels, which are smaller in size 
and homeported in Massachusetts to NLSN, this option will reduce 
fishing costs and have positive impacts on their profits; and allowing 
about 1.5 million lb (680 mt) of the total LAGC allocation of 4.4 
million lb (1,996 mt) to be harvested from access areas.

List of Subjects 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: April 28, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES


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

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

0
2. In Sec.  648.14, paragraphs (i)(2)(ii)(B)(7) and (i)(3)(v)(B) are 
revised, and paragraph (i)(3)(v)(C) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) * * *
    (7) Fish in a Sea Scallop Access Area, as described in Sec.  
648.59, with more persons on board the vessel than the number specified 
in Sec.  648.51(c) or Sec.  648.51(e)(3)(i), unless otherwise 
authorized by the Regional Administrator.
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (v) * * *
    (B) Declare into or leave port for an area specified in Sec.  
648.59(a) through (d) after the effective date of a notification 
published in the Federal Register stating that the number of LAGC trips 
have been taken, as specified in Sec.  648.60.

[[Page 26735]]

    (C) Fish for or land per trip, or possess in excess of 40 lb (18.1 
kg) of shucked scallops at any time in or from any Sea Scallop Access 
Area specified at Sec.  648.59, unless declared into the Sea Scallop 
Access Area Program.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  648.51, paragraph (e)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.51  Gear and crew restrictions.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) The vessel may not use or have more than one dredge on board. 
However, component parts may be on board the vessel such that they do 
not conform with the definition of ``dredge or dredge gear'' in Sec.  
648.2, i.e., the metal ring bag and the mouth frame, or bail, of the 
dredge are not attached, and no more than one complete spare dredge 
could be made from these component's parts.
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  648.52, paragraph (f) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.52  Possession and landing limits.

* * * * *
    (f) A limited access vessel or an LAGC vessel that is declared into 
the Sea Scallop Area Access Program as described in Sec.  648.60, may 
not possess more than 50 bu (17.6 hL) or 75 bu (26.4 hL), respectively, 
of in-shell scallops outside of the Access Areas described in Sec.  
648.59(a) through (e).
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  648.53, paragraphs (a), (b)(1), (b)(4), and (g)(1) are 
revised, and paragraph (h)(5)(iv)(D) is removed and reserved to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.53  Acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limits 
(ACL), annual catch targets (ACT), DAS allocations, and individual 
fishing quotas (IFQ).

    (a) Scallop fishery ABC. The ABC for the scallop fishery shall be 
established through the framework adjustment process specified in Sec.  
648.55 and is equal to the overall scallop fishery ACL minus discards. 
The ABC/ACL, after discards are removed, shall be divided as sub-ACLs 
between limited access vessels, limited access vessels that are fishing 
under a LAGC permit, and LAGC vessels as specified in paragraphs (a)(3) 
and (4) of this section, after deducting the scallop incidental catch 
target TAC specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, observer set-
aside specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this section, and research set-
aside specified in Sec.  648.56(d). The ABC/ACL for the 2017 fishing 
year is subject to change through a future framework adjustment.
    (1) ABC/ACL for fishing years 2016 through 2017, excluding 
discards, shall be:
    (i) 2016: 37,852 mt.
    (ii) 2017: 37,852 mt.
    (2) Scallop incidental catch target TAC. The annual incidental 
catch target TAC for vessels with incidental catch scallop permits is 
22.7 mt.
    (3) Limited access fleet sub-ACL and ACT. The limited access 
scallop fishery shall be allocated 94.5 percent of the ACL specified in 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section, after deducting incidental catch, 
observer set-aside, and research set-aside, as specified in this 
paragraph (a)(3). ACT for the limited access scallop fishery shall be 
established through the framework adjustment process described in Sec.  
648.55. DAS specified in paragraph (b) of this section shall be based 
on the ACTs specified in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section. The 
limited access fleet sub-ACL and ACT for the 2017 fishing year are 
subject to change through a future framework adjustment.
    (i) The limited access fishery sub-ACLs for fishing years 2016 and 
2017 are:
    (A) 2016: 36,884 mt.
    (B) 2017: 36,884 mt.
    (ii) The limited access fishery ACTs for fishing years 2016 and 
2017 are:
    (A) 2016: 18,290 mt.
    (B) 2017: 18,290 mt.
    (4) LAGC fleet sub-ACL. The sub-ACL for the LAGC IFQ fishery shall 
be equal to 5.5 percent of the ACL specified in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section, after deducting incidental catch, observer set-aside, and 
research set-aside, as specified in this paragraph (a)(4). The LAGC IFQ 
fishery ACT shall be equal to the LAGC IFQ fishery's ACL. The ACL for 
the LAGC IFQ fishery for vessels issued only a LAGC IFQ scallop permit 
shall be equal to 5 percent of the ACL specified in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section, after deducting incidental catch, observer set-aside, and 
research set-aside, as specified in this paragraph (a)(4). The ACL for 
the LAGC IFQ fishery for vessels issued only both a LAGC IFQ scallop 
permit and a limited access scallop permit shall be 0.5 percent of the 
ACL specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, after deducting 
incidental catch, observer set-aside, and research set-aside, as 
specified in this paragraph (a)(4).
    (i) The ACLs for fishing years 2016 and 2017 for LAGC IFQ vessels 
without a limited access scallop permit are:
    (A) 2016: 1,845 mt.
    (B) 2017: 1,845 mt.
    (ii) The ACLs for fishing years 2016 and 2017 for vessels issued 
both a LAGC and a limited access scallop permits are:
    (A) 2016: 184 mt.
    (B) 2017: 184 mt.
    (b) * * *
    (1) Landings per unit effort (LPUE). LPUE is an estimate of the 
average amount of scallops, in pounds, that the limited access scallop 
fleet lands per DAS fished. The estimated LPUE is the average LPUE for 
all limited access scallop vessels fishing under DAS, and shall be used 
to calculate DAS specified in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the DAS 
reduction for the AM specified in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section, 
and the observer set-aside DAS allocation specified in paragraph (g)(1) 
of this section. LPUE shall be:
    (i) 2016 fishing year: 2,316 lb/DAS (1.051 kg/DAS).
    (ii) 2017 fishing year: 2,690 lb/DAS (1,220 kg/DAS).
    (iii) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (4) Each vessel qualifying for one of the three DAS categories 
specified in the table in this paragraph (b)(4) (full-time, part-time, 
or occasional) shall be allocated the maximum number of DAS for each 
fishing year it may participate in the open area limited access scallop 
fishery, according to its category, excluding carryover DAS in 
accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. DAS allocations shall be 
determined by distributing the portion of ACT specified in paragraph 
(a)(3)(ii) of this section, as reduced by access area allocations 
specified in Sec.  648.59, and dividing that amount among vessels in 
the form of DAS calculated by applying estimates of open area LPUE 
specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Allocation for part-time 
and occasional scallop vessels shall be 40 percent and 8.33 percent of 
the full-time DAS allocations, respectively. The annual open area DAS 
allocations for each category of vessel for the fishing years indicated 
are as follows:

                    Scallop Open Area DAS Allocations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Permit category                      2016       2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full-Time.........................................      34.55      34.55
Part-Time.........................................      13.82      13.82
Occasional........................................       2.88       2.88
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) To help defray the cost of carrying an observer, 1 percent of 
the ABC/ACL specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be set 
aside to be used by vessels that are assigned to take an at-sea 
observer on a trip. The total TAC for observer set aside is 379 mt in 
fishing

[[Page 26736]]

year 2016, and 379 mt in fishing year 2017.
* * * * *

0
6. In Sec.  648.58 paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.58  Rotational Closed Areas.

* * * * *
    (b) Closed Area II--(1) Closed Area II Closed Area. No vessel may 
fish for scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known 
as the Closed Area II Closed Area. No vessel may possess scallops in 
the Closed Area II Closed Area. The Closed Area II Closed Area is 
defined by straight lines, except where noted, connecting the following 
points in the order stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are 
available from the Regional Administrator upon request):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Point                                  Latitude        Longitude         Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAIIA1..........................................................   41[deg]00' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
CAIIA2..........................................................   41[deg]00' N.    66[deg]35.8'  ..............
                                                                                              W.
CAIIA3..........................................................   41[deg]18.45'           (\1\)           (\2\)
                                                                              N.
CAIIA4..........................................................   41[deg]30' N.           (\3\)           (\2\)
CAIIA5..........................................................   41[deg]30' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
CAIIA1..........................................................   41[deg]00' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 41[deg]18.45' N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41[deg]18.45'
  N. lat. and 66[deg]24.89' W. long.
\2\ From Point CAIIA3 connected to Point CAIIA4 along the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\3\ The intersection of 41[deg]30' N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41[deg]30' N.
  lat., 66[deg]34.73' W. long.

    (2) Closed Area II Extension Closed Area. No vessel may fish for 
scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the 
Closed Area II Extension Closed Area. No vessel may possess scallops in 
the Closed Area II Extension Closed Area. The Closed Area II Extension 
Closed Area is defined by straight lines, except where noted, 
connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a chart 
depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator upon 
request):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Point                                  Latitude        Longitude         Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAIIE1..........................................................   40[deg]30' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
CAIIE2..........................................................   41[deg]00' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
CAIIE3..........................................................   41[deg]00' N.    66[deg]35.8'  ..............
                                                                                              W.
CAIIE4..........................................................   41[deg]18.45'           (\1\)           (\2\)
                                                                              N.
CAIIE5..........................................................   40[deg]30' N.           (\3\)           (\2\)
CAIIE1..........................................................   40[deg]30' N.   67[deg]20' W.  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The intersection of 41[deg]18.45' N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately 41[deg]18.45'
  N. lat. and 66[deg]24.89' W. long.
\2\ From Point CAIIE4 to Point CAIIE5 following the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.
\3\ The intersection of 40[deg]30' N. lat. and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, approximately, 65[deg]44.34'
  W. long.

    (c) Nantucket Lightship Closed Area. No vessel may fish for 
scallops in, or possess or land scallops from, the area known as the 
Nantucket Lightship Closed Area. No vessel may possess scallops in the 
Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, unless such vessel is an IFQ LAGC 
vessel participating in, and complying with the requirements of, the 
IFQ LAGC area access program described in Sec.  648.60(g)(3), or the 
vessel is only transiting the area as provided in paragraph (e) of this 
section. The Nantucket Lightship Closed Area is defined by straight 
lines connecting the following points in the order stated (copies of a 
chart depicting this area are available from the Regional Administrator 
upon request),

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Point                        Latitude    Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NLAA1.........................................   40[deg]50'   69[deg]30'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA2.........................................   40[deg]50'   69[deg]00'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA3.........................................   40[deg]33'   69[deg]00'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA4.........................................   40[deg]33'   68[deg]48'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA5.........................................   40[deg]20'   68[deg]48'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA6.........................................   40[deg]20'   69[deg]30'
                                                         N.           W.
NLAA1.........................................   40[deg]50'   69[deg]30'
                                                         N.           W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (e) Transiting. No vessel possessing scallops may enter or be in 
the area(s) specified in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section unless 
the vessel is transiting the area and the vessel's fishing gear is 
stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in Sec.  648.2, 
or there is a compelling safety reason to be in such areas without such 
gear being stowed. A vessel may only transit the Closed Area II Closed 
Area or the Closed Area II Extension Closed Area, as described in 
paragraph (b) of this section, or the Elephant Trunk Closed Area, as 
described in paragraph (d) of this section, if there is a compelling 
safety reason for transiting the area and the vessel's fishing gear is 
stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in Sec.  648.2.
* * * * *

0
7. In Sec.  648.59, paragraphs (a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), and (d)(1) are 
revised and paragraph (a)(2)(i) is removed and reserved to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.59  Sea Scallop Access Areas.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Beginning March 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018 (i.e., 
fishing years 2016 and 2017), a vessel issued a scallop permit may not 
fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the area known as the 
Mid-Atlantic Access Area unless the vessel is participating in, and 
complies with the requirements of, the area access program described in 
Sec.  648.60 or the vessel is transiting pursuant to paragraph (f) of 
this section. The Mid-Atlantic Access Area is comprised of the 
following scallop access areas: The Delmarva Scallop Access Area, as 
described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section; the Elephant Trunk 
Scallop Access Area, as described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; 
and the Hudson Canyon Scallop Access Area, as described in paragraph 
(a)(4) of this section.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) From March 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018 (i.e., fishing 
years 2016 and 2017), a vessel issued a scallop permit may not fish 
for, possess, or land scallops in or from, the area known as the Closed 
Area I Scallop

[[Page 26737]]

Access Area, described in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, unless 
transiting in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section. A vessel 
issued both a NE multispecies permit and an LAGC scallop permit may not 
fish in an approved SAP under Sec.  648.85 and under multispecies DAS 
in the scallop access area, unless it complies with restrictions in 
paragraph (b)(5)(ii)(C) of this section.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) From March 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018 (i.e., fishing 
years 2016 and 2017), a vessel issued a scallop permit may not fish 
for, possess, or land scallops in or from, the area known as the Closed 
Area II Access Area, described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, 
unless transiting in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section. A 
vessel issued both a NE multispecies permit and an LAGC scallop permit 
may not fish in an approved SAP under Sec.  648.85 and under 
multispecies DAS in the scallop access area, unless it complies with 
restrictions in paragraph (c)(5)(ii)(C) of this section.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) From March 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018 (i.e., fishing 
years 2016 and 2017), a vessel issued a scallop permit may not fish 
for, possess, or land scallops in or from the area known as the 
Nantucket Lightship Access Area, described in paragraph (d)(3) of this 
section, unless the vessel is an IFQ LAGC vessel participating in, and 
complying with the requirements of, the IFQ LAGC area access program 
described in Sec.  648.60(g)(3), or the vessel is transiting pursuant 
to paragraph (f) of this section. A vessel issued both a NE 
multispecies permit and an LAGC scallop permit may not fish in an 
approved SAP under Sec.  648.85 and under multispecies DAS in the 
scallop access area, unless it complies with restrictions in paragraph 
(d)(5)(ii)(C) of this section.
* * * * *

0
8. In Sec.  648.60, paragraphs (a)(3)(i), (a)(5)(i), (c), (e), and 
(g)(1), (g)(2), and (g)(3) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.60  Sea scallop access area program requirements.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Sea Scallop Access Area Allocations--(i) Limited access vessel 
allocations. (A) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, 
paragraphs (a)(3)(i)(B) through (E) of this section specify the total 
amount of scallops, in weight, that a limited access scallop vessel may 
harvest from Sea Scallop Access Areas during applicable seasons 
specified in Sec.  648.59. A vessel may not possess or land in excess 
of its scallop allocation assigned to specific Sea Scallop Access 
Areas, unless authorized by the Regional Administrator, as specified in 
paragraph (d) of this section, unless the vessel owner has exchanged an 
area-specific scallop allocation with another vessel owner for 
additional scallop allocation in that area, as specified in paragraph 
(a)(3)(ii) of this section. A vessel may harvest its scallop 
allocation, as specified in paragraph (a)(3)(i)(B) of this section, on 
any number of trips in a given fishing year, provided that no single 
trip exceeds the possession limits specified in paragraph (a)(5) of 
this section, unless authorized by the Regional Administrator, as 
specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section,
    (B) Full-time scallop vessels. (1) In fishing year 2016, each full-
time vessel shall have a total of 51,000 lb (23,133 kg) of scallops 
that may be harvested from the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as defined in 
Sec.  648.59(a).
    (2) For the 2017 fishing year, each full-time vessel shall have a 
total of 17,000 lb (7,711 kg) of scallops that may be harvested from 
the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as defined in Sec.  648.59(a), starting 
on April 1, 2017.
    (C) Part-time scallop vessels. (1) For the 2016 fishing year, each 
part-time scallop vessel shall have a total of 20,400 lb (9,253 kg) of 
scallop that may be harvested from the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as 
defined in Sec.  648.59(a).
    (2) For the 2016 fishing year, each part-time scallop vessel shall 
have a total of 10,200 lb (4,627 kg) of scallop that may be harvested 
from the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as defined in Sec.  648.59(a), 
starting on April 1, 2017.
    (D) Occasional scallop vessels. (1) For the 2016 fishing year, each 
occasional scallop vessel shall have a total of 4,250 lb (1,928 kg) of 
scallop that may be harvested from the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as 
defined in Sec.  648.59(a).
    (2) For the 2017 fishing year, each occasional scallop vessel shall 
have a total of 1,420 lb (644 kg) of scallop that may be harvested from 
the Mid-Atlantic Access Area, as defined in Sec.  648.59(a), starting 
on April 1, 2017.
* * * * *
    (5) Possession and landing limits--(i) Scallop possession limits. 
Unless authorized by the Regional Administrator, as specified in 
paragraph (d) of this section, after declaring a trip into a Sea 
Scallop Access Area, a vessel owner or operator of a limited access 
scallop vessel may fish for, possess, and land, per trip, scallops, up 
to the maximum amounts specified in the table in this paragraph (a)(5). 
No vessel declared into the Access Areas as described in Sec.  
648.59(a) through (e) may possess more than 50 bu (17.62 hL) of in-
shell scallops outside of the Access Areas described in Sec.  648.59(a) 
through (e).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Permit category possession limit
           Fishing year            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Full-time              Part-time                  Occasional
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016..............................  17,000 lb (57,711 kg)  10,200 lb (4,627 kg)  1,420 lb (644 kg).
2017..............................  17,000 lb (57,711 kg)  10,200 lb (4,627 kg)  1,420 lb (644 kg).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (c) Access area scallop allocation carryover. Unless otherwise 
specified in Sec.  648.59, a limited access scallop vessel operator may 
fish any unharvested Scallop Access Area allocation from a given 
fishing year within the first 60 days of the subsequent fishing year if 
the Access Area is open. For example, if a full-time vessel has 7,000 
lb (3,175 kg) remaining in the Mid-Atlantic Access Area at the end of 
fishing year 2016, that vessel may harvest 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) from its 
2017 fishing year scallop access area allocation during the first 60 
days that the Mid-Atlantic Access Area is open in fishing year 2017 
(March 1, 2017, through April 29, 2018). Unless otherwise specified in 
Sec.  648.59, if an Access Area is not open in the subsequent fishing 
year, then the unharvested scallop allocation would expire at the end 
of the fishing year that the scallops were allocated.
* * * * *
    (e) Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Harvest in Access Areas--(1) 
Access Areas available for harvest of research set-aside (RSA). Unless 
otherwise specified, RSA may be harvested in any access area that is 
open in a given fishing year, as specified through a framework 
adjustment and pursuant to Sec.  648.56. The amount of scallops that

[[Page 26738]]

can be harvested in each access area by vessels participating in 
approved RSA projects shall be determined through the RSA application 
review and approval process. The access areas open for RSA harvest for 
fishing years 2016 and 2017 are:
    (i) 2016: The Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area, as specified in 
Sec.  648.59(a).
    (ii) 2017: None.
    (2) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (g) Limited Access General Category Gear restrictions. (1) An LAGC 
scallop vessel may only fish in the scallop access areas specified in 
Sec.  648.59(a) through (e) or in (g)(3)(iv) of this section, subject 
to the seasonal restrictions specified in Sec.  648.59(b)(4), (c)(4), 
and (d)(4), and subject to the possession limit specified in Sec.  
648.52(a), and provided the vessel complies with the requirements 
specified in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(6) through (9), (d), (e), 
(f), and (g) of this section. A vessel issued both a NE multispecies 
permit and an LAGC scallop permit may fish in an approved SAP under 
Sec.  648.85 and under multispecies DAS in the Closed Area I, Closed 
Area II, and Nantucket Lightship Sea Scallop Access Areas specified in 
Sec.  648.59(b) through (d), provided the vessel complies with the 
requirements specified in Sec.  648.59(b)(5)(ii), (c)(5)(ii), and 
(d)(5)(ii), and this paragraph (g), but may not fish for, possess, or 
land scallops on such trips.
    (2) Limited Access General Category Gear restrictions. An LAGC IFQ 
scallop vessel authorized to fish in the Access Areas specified in 
Sec.  648.59(b) through (e) must fish with dredge gear only. The 
combined dredge width in use by, or in possession on board of, an LAGC 
scallop vessel fishing in Closed Area I, Closed Area II, and Nantucket 
Lightship Access Areas may not exceed 10.5 ft (3.2 m). The combined 
dredge width in use by, or in possession on board of, an LAGC scallop 
vessel fishing in the remaining Access Areas described in Sec.  648.59 
may not exceed 31 ft (9.4 m). Dredge width is measured at the widest 
point in the bail of the dredge.
    (3) LAGC IFQ Access Area Trips. (i) An LAGC scallop vessel 
authorized to fish in the Access Areas specified in Sec.  648.59(a) 
through (e) or in paragraph (g)(3)(iv) of this section may land 
scallops, subject to the possession limit specified in Sec.  648.52(a), 
unless the Regional Administrator has issued a notice that the number 
of LAGC IFQ access area trips have been or are projected to be taken. 
The total number of LAGC IFQ trips in a specified Access Area for 
fishing year 2016 and 2017 are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Access area                         2016     2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic Access Area..............................    2,068      602
Closed Area 1.........................................        0        0
Closed Area 2.........................................        0        0
Nantucket Lightship...................................        0        0
Nantucket Lightship North.............................      485        0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Scallops landed by each LAGC IFQ vessel on an access area trip 
shall count against the vessel's IFQ.
    (iii) Upon a determination from the Regional Administrator that the 
total number of LAGC IFQ trips in a specified Access Area have been or 
are projected to be taken, the Regional Administrator shall publish 
notification of this determination in the Federal Register, in 
accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Once this 
determination has been made, an LAGC IFQ scallop vessel may not fish 
for, possess, or land scallops in or from the specified Access Area 
after the effective date of the notification published in the Federal 
Register.
    (iv) Nantucket Lightship North Sea Scallop Access Area. (A) From 
March 1, 2016, through February 28, 2018 (i.e., fishing years 2016 and 
2017), a vessel issued an LAGC IFQ scallop permit may not fish for, 
possess, or land scallops in or from the area known as the Nantucket 
Lightship North Access Area, described in paragraph (g)(3)(iv)(B) of 
this section, unless the vessel is participating in, and complying with 
the requirements of, the area access program described in this section 
or the vessel is transiting pursuant to Sec.  648.59(f). A vessel 
issued both a NE multispecies permit and an LAGC scallop permit may not 
fish in an approved SAP under Sec.  648.85 and under multispecies DAS 
in the scallop access area, unless it complies with restrictions in 
paragraph (d)(5)(ii)(C) of this section.
    (B) The Nantucket Lightship North Sea Scallop Access Area is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order 
stated (copies of a chart depicting this area are available from the 
Regional Administrator upon request):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Point                        Latitude    Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NLNAA1..........................................  40[deg]50'  69[deg]00'
                                                          N.          W.
NLNAA2..........................................  40[deg]30'  69[deg]00'
                                                          N.          W.
NLNAA3..........................................  40[deg]30'  69[deg]30'
                                                          N.          W.
NLNAA4..........................................  40[deg]50'  69[deg]30'
                                                          N.          W.
NLNAA1..........................................  40[deg]50'  69[deg]00'
                                                          N.          W.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
9. In Sec.  648.62, paragraph (b)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.62  Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Management Program.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) NGOM annual hard TACs. The annual hard TAC for the NGOM is 
67,454 lb (30,597 kg) for the 2016 fishing year and 70,000 lb (31,413 
kg) for the 2017 fishing year.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-10439 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P