Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North and South Atlantic 2016 Commercial Swordfish Quotas, 36511-36515 [2016-13367]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36511-36515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13367]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 160412328-6446-01]
RIN 0648-BF97


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North and South Atlantic 2016 
Commercial Swordfish Quotas

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In this rule, NMFS proposes to adjust the 2016 fishing season 
quotas for North and South Atlantic swordfish based upon 2015 
commercial quota underharvests and international quota transfers 
consistent with the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendations 13-02 and 13-03. The rule also 
discusses our intent to simplify the annual North and South Atlantic 
quota adjustment process when the adjustment simply applies a 
previously-adopted formula or measure. Finally, the proposed rule would 
remove extraneous regulatory text about the percentage of the annual 
baseline quota allocation that may be carried over in a given year. 
This proposed rule could affect commercial and recreational fishing for 
swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf 
of Mexico. This action implements ICCAT recommendations, consistent 
with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and furthers domestic 
management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 7, 2016. An operator-
assisted, public conference call and webinar will be held on June 29, 
2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST.

ADDRESSES: The conference call information is phone number 1 (888) 469-
1171; participant passcode 6508132. Participants are strongly 
encouraged to log/dial in fifteen minutes prior to the meeting. NMFS 
will show a brief presentation via webinar followed by public comment. 
To join the webinar go to: https://noaa-meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php?MTID=mc0c72c596c13e8dde4e1d2edf8d8ebd2, event password: swGMiC3d. 
Participants that have not used WebEx before will be prompted to 
download and run a plug-in program that will enable them to view the 
webinar.
    You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2016-0051, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0051, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Margo Schulze-Haugen, 
NMFS/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Presentation materials and copies of the supporting documents--
including the 2012 Environmental Assessment (EA), Regulatory Impact 
Review (RIR), and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) for 
North Atlantic swordfish; the 2007 EA, RIR, and FRFA for South Atlantic 
swordfish; and the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
Fishery Management Plan and associated documents--are available from 
the HMS Management Division Web site at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637 
or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed under the 2006 
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). Implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 635 are issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and 
ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to promulgate regulations, as may be necessary and 
appropriate, to implement ICCAT recommendations.

North Atlantic Swordfish Quota

    At the 2013 ICCAT annual meeting, Recommendation 13-02 was adopted, 
maintaining the North Atlantic swordfish total allowable catch (TAC) of 
10,301 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) (13,700 mt whole weight 
(ww)) through 2016. Of this TAC, the United States' baseline quota is 
2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt ww) per year. ICCAT Recommendation 13-02 also 
includes an 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota transfer from the United 
States to Mauritania and limits underharvest carryover to 15 percent of 
a contracting party's baseline quota. Therefore, the United States may 
carry over a maximum of 440.6 mt dw (586.0 mt ww) of underharvest from 
2015 to 2016. This proposed rule would establish the U.S. adjusted 
quota for the 2016 fishing year to account for the annual quota 
transfer to Mauritania and the 2015 underharvest.
    The preliminary estimate of North Atlantic swordfish underharvest 
for 2015 was 2,181.6 mt dw as of December

[[Page 36512]]

31, 2015; therefore, NMFS is proposing to carry forward 440.6 mt dw, 
the maximum carryover allowed under Recommendation 13-02. The 2,937.6 
mt dw baseline quota would be reduced by the 18.8 mt dw annual quota 
transfer to Mauritania and increased by the underharvest carryover of 
440.6 mt dw, resulting in a proposed adjusted North Atlantic swordfish 
quota for the 2016 fishing year of 3,359.4 mt dw (2,937.6-18.8 + 440.6 
= 3,359.4 mt dw). From that proposed adjusted quota, 50 mt dw would be 
allocated to the reserve category for inseason adjustments and 
research, and 300 mt dw would be allocated to the incidental category, 
which includes recreational landings and landings by incidental 
swordfish permit holders, in accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 
635.27(c)(1)(i). This would result in an allocation of 3,009.4 mt dw 
(3,359.4-50-300 = 3,009.4 mt dw) for the directed category, which would 
be split equally between two seasons in 2016 (January through June, and 
July through December) (Table 1).
    The preliminary landings used to calculate the proposed adjusted 
quota for North Atlantic swordfish are based on commercial dealer 
reports and reports by anglers in the HMS Non-Tournament Recreational 
Swordfish and Billfish Landings Database and the Recreational Billfish 
Survey received as of December 31, 2015, and do not include dead 
discards or late landings reports. The estimates are preliminary and 
have not yet undergone quality control and assurance procedures. NMFS 
will adjust the quotas in the final rule based on updated data, 
including dead discard data, if available. Note that the United States 
has carried over the full amount of underharvest allowed under ICCAT 
recommendations for the past several years and NMFS does not expect 
fishing activity to vary significantly from these past years. For the 
final adjusted quota to deviate from the proposed quota, the sum of 
updated landings data (from late reports) and dead discard estimates 
would need to reach or exceed 1,741.0 mt dw, which is the difference 
between the current estimate of the 2015 underharvest (2,181.6 mt dw) 
and the maximum carryover cap of 440.6 mt dw (2,181.6-440.6 = 1,741.0 
mt dw). In 2013 (the most recent year of dead discard data), dead 
discards were estimated to equal 90.2 mt dw and late reports equaled 
143.0 mt dw. Consequently, NMFS does not believe updated data and dead 
discard estimates would alter the proposed adjusted quota. Thus, while 
the 2016 proposed North Atlantic swordfish quota is subject to further 
adjustments and this rule notifies the public of that potential change, 
NMFS does not expect the final quota to change from the proposed quota 
on this basis.
    For clarity, the proposed rule would remove extraneous regulatory 
text about the percentage of the annual baseline quota allocation that 
may be carried over in a given year. Under prior ICCAT recommendations, 
25 percent of the unused annual baseline could be carried over to the 
subsequent year. ICCAT Recommendation 13-02 changed the allowable 
carryover to 15 percent from 2015 on. The proposed change would 
simplify the regulatory text by removing the reference to the 25 
percent carryover allowance.

South Atlantic Swordfish Quota

    In 2013, ICCAT Recommendation 13-03 established the South Atlantic 
swordfish TAC at 11,278.2 mt dw (15,000 mt ww) for 2014, 2015, and 
2016. Of this, the United States receives 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww). 
Recommendation 13-03 limits the amount of South Atlantic swordfish 
underharvest that can be carried forward, and the United States may 
carry forward up to 100 percent of its baseline quota (75.2 mt dw). 
Recommendation 13-03 also included a total of 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) of 
quota transfers from the United States to other countries. These 
transfers were 37.6 mt dw (50 mt ww) to Namibia, 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) 
to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, and 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Belize.
    In 2015, U.S. fishermen landed no South Atlantic swordfish 
according to data available as of December 31, 2015. The adjusted 2015 
South Atlantic swordfish quota was 75.1 mt dw due to nominal landings 
in previous years. Therefore, 75.1 mt dw of underharvest is available 
to carry over to 2016. NMFS is proposing to carry forward 75.1 mt dw to 
be added to the 75.2 mt dw baseline quota. The quota would then be 
reduced by the 75.2 mt dw of annual international quota transfers 
outlined above, resulting in an adjusted South Atlantic swordfish quota 
of 75.1 mt dw for the 2016 fishing year.
    As with the landings and proposed quota for North Atlantic 
swordfish, the South Atlantic swordfish landings and proposed quota are 
based on dealer reports received as of December 31, 2015, do not 
include dead discards or late landings reports, and are preliminary 
landings estimates that have not yet undergone quality control and 
assurance procedures. NMFS will adjust the quotas in the final rule 
based on any updated data, including dead discard data, if available. 
Thus, the 2016 proposed South Atlantic swordfish quota is subject to 
further adjustments. However, the United States has only landed South 
Atlantic swordfish twice in the past several years (0.2 mt dw in April 
2010 and 0.1 mt dw in April 2013) and therefore does not anticipate 
additional landings or discard data that would change the final quota 
from the proposed quota.

                             Table 1--2016 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2015                                   2016
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     North Atlantic Swordfish quota (mt dw)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline Quota....................  2,937.6..............................  2,937.6.
International Quota Transfer......  (-)18.8 (to Mauritania)..............  (-)18.8 (to Mauritania).
Total Underharvest from Previous    1,337.4..............................  2,181.6.
 Year \+\.
Underharvest Carryover from         (+) 440.6............................  (+) 440.6.
 Previous Year \+\.
Adjusted Quota....................  3,359.4..............................  3,359.4.
Quota Allocation
    Directed Category.............  3,009.4..............................  3,009.4.
    Incidental Category...........  300..................................  300.
    Reserve Category..............  50...................................  50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     South Atlantic Swordfish quota (mt dw)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline Quota....................  75.2.................................  75.2.
International Quota Transfers *...  (-)75.2..............................  (-)75.2.

[[Page 36513]]

 
Total Underharvest from Previous    75.1.................................  75.1.
 Year \+\.
Underharvest Carryover from         75.1.................................  75.1.
 Previous Year \+\.
Adjusted quota....................  75.1.................................  75.1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\+\ Allowable underharvest carryover is now capped at 15 percent of the baseline quota allocation for the North
  Atlantic and 75.2 dw (100 mt ww) for the South Atlantic. The available 2014 and 2015 underharvests are based
  on data current as of December 31, 2015; they do not include dead discards, late reports, or changes to the
  data as a result of quality control adjustments.
* Under Recommendation 13-03, the United States transfers 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) annually to Namibia (37.6 mt
  dw, 50 mt ww), C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww), and Belize (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww).

Modification of the Annual Quota Adjustment Public Notification Process

    In the past, NMFS annually has published proposed swordfish quota 
specifications, allowed for a public comment period, and then issued a 
final rule. We have done this whether we are adopting new quotas/
otherwise altering conservation and management measures pursuant to an 
ICCAT recommendation or simply adjusting the swordfish quotas based on 
formulas or measures codified in regulations adopted through notice-
and-comment rulemaking (see, e.g., regulatory text at 50 CFR 
635.27(c)). Where NMFS is simply administering a pre-established 
formula that is already embodied in regulations, it has limited 
discretion over implementation. Inviting public notice and comment on 
these actions may have unnecessarily confused the regulated community, 
who has not understood the scope of these actions and our limited 
discretion to make changes to the quota in these situations. Thus, past 
public comments have included requests that go well beyond the scope of 
these actions, including suggestions to carry over underharvests in an 
amount exceeding the carryover limit, which would be inconsistent with 
ICCAT recommendations; requests not to carry over any underharvests, 
which would be inconsistent with the established regulatory formulas; 
and requests to shut down the commercial swordfish fishery.
    To address public confusion and streamline the regulatory process, 
NMFS notifies the public that it intends to annually adjust the North 
and South Atlantic swordfish quotas through a final rule without an 
opportunity for public comment, as appropriate, when such adjustments 
simply apply a previously-adopted formula and are administrative in 
nature. NMFS would take such action consistent with requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act.

Ecological and Socioeconomic Impacts

    The proposed North Atlantic swordfish quota adjustments would 
result in an adjusted quota for 2016 substantially similar to that 
analyzed in the 2012 EA, RIR, and FRFA and implemented in 2013 and 
2014, and is the same as the adjusted quota implemented in 2015. The 
quota analyzed in the 2012 EA, RIR, and FRFA was 3,559.2 mt dw and the 
proposed 2016 adjusted quota is 3,359.4 mt dw; a decrease of 199.8 mt 
dw. The 2016 North Atlantic swordfish proposed quota is not expected to 
increase fishing effort, protected species interactions, or 
environmental effects in a manner not considered in the 2012 EA and 
would, in fact, cap the quota at a level slightly lower than that 
analyzed in the 2012 EA and thus likely have fewer environmental 
effects or protected species interactions.
    The 2016 proposed quota differs slightly from that quota analyzed 
in the 2012 EA for two reasons. First, Recommendation 13-02 reduces the 
underharvest carryover limit beginning in 2015 from 25 percent of the 
base quota to 15 percent. In the 2012 EA, the analysis took into 
account North Atlantic Swordfish underharvest carryovers of up to 25 
percent. Since the lower underharvest carryover limit is within this 
range (i.e., it is less than 25 percent), the quota that would be 
implemented consistent with the reduced carryover provision has been 
previously analyzed. Furthermore, once effective, the reduced 
underharvest carryover limit would result in a lower overall North 
Atlantic swordfish adjusted quota.
    The second reason the 2012 quota is different than the 2016 
proposed adjusted quota is Recommendation 13-02's elimination of the 
112.8 mt dw quota transfer to Morocco and the introduction of a lower 
18.8 mt dw quota transfer to Mauritania. No additional NEPA analysis is 
needed for the change in international quota transfers because--in 
concert with the reduction in the underharvest carryover limit--these 
changes are not expected to increase fishing effort, affect protected 
species interactions, or environmental effects beyond those considered 
in the existing NEPA analyses. Thus, NMFS has determined that the North 
Atlantic swordfish quota portion of the specifications and impacts to 
the human environment as a result of the proposed quota adjustments do 
not require additional NEPA analysis beyond that discussed in the 2012 
EA.
    Similarly, NMFS analyzed--in the EA, RIR, and FRFA that were 
prepared for the 2007 Swordfish Quota Specification Final Rule (October 
5, 2007; 72 FR 56929)--the impacts of harvesting the same amount of 
annual baseline quota being proposed here in the 2016 South Atlantic 
swordfish specifications. The proposed South Atlantic swordfish quota 
adjustments would not change overall quotas and are not expected to 
increase fishing effort, protected species interactions, or 
environmental effects beyond those analyzed in the 2007 EA. While ICCAT 
SCRS conducted a stock assessment for South Atlantic swordfish in 2013, 
that assessment did not alter the stock status or TAC from when 2007 EA 
analyses were conducted and no additional information about the 
environment has become available that would alter the analyses. 
Therefore, because there would be no changes to the South Atlantic 
swordfish management measures in this proposed rule, and no changes to 
the affected environment or any environmental effects that have not 
been previously analyzed, NMFS has determined that the South Atlantic 
swordfish quota portion of the specifications and impacts to the human 
environment as a result of the proposed quota adjustments do not 
require additional NEPA analysis beyond that analyzed in the 2007 EA.

Request for Comments

    NMFS is requesting comments on any of the measures or analyses 
described in this proposed rule. During the comment period, NMFS will 
hold one conference call and webinar for this proposed rule. The 
conference call and webinar will be held on June 29, 2016, from 2:00-
4:00 p.m. EST. Please see the DATES and ADDRESSES headings for more 
information.

[[Page 36514]]

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants on phone 
conferences to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of 
the conference call, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground 
rules (e.g., all comments are to be directed to the agency on the 
proposed action; attendees will be called to give their comments in the 
order in which they registered to speak; each attendee will have an 
equal amount of time to speak; attendees may not interrupt one another; 
etc.). NMFS representative(s) will structure the meeting so that all 
attending members of the public will be able to comment, if they so 
choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject(s). 
Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and those that do 
not may be removed from the conference call.

Classification

    Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant 
Administrator has determined that the proposed rule is consistent with 
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, other provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Atlantic Tuna Convention Act, and other 
applicable law, subject to further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Previously, NMFS determined that proposed rules to implement the 
North Atlantic swordfish quota framework (77 FR 25669, May 1, 2012) and 
South Atlantic swordfish quota framework (75 FR 35432, June 22, 2010) 
were consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable 
policies of the approved coastal management program of coastal states 
on the Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. 
Pursuant to 15 CFR 930.41(a), NMFS provided the Coastal Zone Management 
Program of each coastal state a 60-day period to review the consistency 
determination and to advise the Agency of their concurrence. NMFS 
received concurrence with the consistency determinations from several 
states and inferred consistency from those states that did not respond 
within the 60-day time period. This proposed action to establish the 
2016 North and South Atlantic swordfish quotas does not change the 
framework previously consulted upon; therefore, no additional 
consultation is required.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because the proposed quota adjustments are largely the same as in 
previous years and the United States is not expected to catch its 
entire quota in 2016.
    As described above, this proposed rule would adjust the 2016 
baseline quota for North Atlantic swordfish (January 1, 2016, through 
December 31, 2016) to account for 2015 underharvests, as allowable, and 
international quota transfers per Sec.  635.27(c)(1)(i) and (c)(3)(ii) 
based on ICCAT Recommendation 13-02. The United States can carry over 
2015 underharvest at a level not to exceed 15 percent of its baseline 
quota. Additionally, ICCAT Recommendation 13-02 stipulates that the 
United States transfer 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) of quota to Mauritania.
    In 2015, U.S. fishermen landed 1,177.8 mt dw of North Atlantic 
swordfish as of December 31, 2015, leaving 2,181.6 mt dw of quota 
underharvest. This underharvest amount exceeds the maximum underharvest 
carryover of 440.6 mt dw; therefore, only the maximum amount of 440.6 
mt dw of 2015 underharvest would be carried over and added to the 2016 
baseline quota. The quota transfer of 18.8 mt dw to Mauritania would be 
deducted, leaving a proposed 2016 North Atlantic swordfish adjusted 
quota of 3,359.4 mt dw (Table 1).
    This proposed rule would also adjust the 2016 baseline quota for 
South Atlantic swordfish (January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016) 
to account for 2015 underharvests and international quota transfers per 
Sec.  635.27(c)(1)(ii) and (c)(3)(ii) based on ICCAT Recommendation 13-
03. The United States can carry over 2015 underharvest at a level not 
to exceed 100 percent of the baseline quota. Additionally, ICCAT 
Recommendation 13-03 stipulates that the United States transfer the 
following quota amounts to other countries: 37.6 mt dw (50 mt ww) to 
Namibia; 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire; and 18.8 mt dw 
(25 mt ww) to Belize.
    In 2015, U.S. fishermen landed no South Atlantic swordfish 
according to data available as of December 31, 2015. The adjusted 2015 
South Atlantic swordfish quota was 75.1 mt dw due to nominal landings 
in previous years. Therefore, 75.1 mt dw of underharvest is available 
to carry over to 2016. NMFS is proposing to carry forward 75.1 mt dw to 
be added to the 75.2 mt dw baseline quota. The quota would then be 
reduced by the 75.2 mt dw of annual international quota transfers 
outlined above, resulting in an adjusted South Atlantic swordfish quota 
of 75.1 mt dw for the 2016 fishing year. (Table 1).
    The commercial swordfish fishery is comprised of fishermen who hold 
one of three swordfish limited access permits (LAPs) (i.e., directed, 
incidental, or handgear), fishermen who hold a swordfish general 
commercial permit, fishermen who hold an HMS incidental squid trawl 
permit, fishermen who hold a commercial Caribbean small boat permit, 
and the related industries, including processors, bait houses, and 
equipment suppliers. As of October 2015, there were approximately 188 
vessels with a directed swordfish LAP, 72 vessels with an incidental 
swordfish LAP, 83 vessels with a handgear LAP for swordfish, and 651 
vessels that held a swordfish general commercial permit. Additionally, 
there were approximately 66 HMS incidental squid trawl permit holders, 
which allow vessels in the Illex squid fishery to retain up to 15 
incidentally-caught swordfish while trawling for squid. A total of 20 
Caribbean small boat permits were issued in 2015 as of October 2015; 
however, 14 of these were held by vessels in Florida where the permit 
is not valid. NMFS considers all participants in the commercial 
swordfish fishery to be small entities, based on the relevant North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and size 
standards set by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
    The Small Business Administration has established size criteria for 
all major industry sectors in the U.S. including fish harvesters. A 
business involved in fish harvesting is classified as a ``small 
business'' if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant 
in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has combined 
annual receipts (revenue) not in excess of $20.5 million (NAICS code 
114111, finfish fishing) for all its affiliated operations worldwide. 
NAICS is the North American Industry Classification System, a standard 
system used by business and government to classify business 
establishments into industries, according to their economic activity. 
The United States government developed NAICS to collect, analyze, and 
publish data about the economy. In addition, the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) has defined a small charter/party boat entity 
(NAICS code 487210, for-hire) as one with average annual receipts 
(revenue) of less than $7.5 million.
    On December 29, 2015, NMFS published a final rule (80 FR 81194; 
December 29, 2015) to establish a single small business size standard 
for

[[Page 36515]]

commercial fishing businesses (NAICS 11411) of $11 million for RFA 
compliance purposes only. NMFS has chosen to delay the effective date 
of the rule to establish a small business size until July 1, 2016. 
Given the length of the regulatory development process, NMFS is 
considering this size standard for small entities for this proposed 
rule given that the final rule may occur after the July 1, 2016 
effective date. The new size standards do not affect analyses prepared 
for this action.
    This action is not expected to result in a significant economic 
impact on the small entities subject to the quota limits. Based on the 
2015 average price for swordfish of $4.07/lb (based on 2015 electronic 
dealer data), the 2016 North and South Atlantic swordfish baseline 
quotas could result in gross revenues of $26,358,268 (2,937.6 mt dw 
(6,476,233 lbs dw) * $4.07/lb) and $674,749 (75.2 mt dw (165,786 lbs 
dw) * $4.07/lb), respectively, if the quotas were fully utilized. Under 
the adjusted quotas of 3,359.4 mt dw (7,406,133 lbs dw) for North 
Atlantic swordfish and 75.1 mt dw (165,565 lbs dw) for South Atlantic 
swordfish, the gross revenues could be $30,142,961 and $673,850, 
respectively, for fully utilized quotas.
    Potential revenues per vessel resulting from full utilization of 
the adjusted quotas could be $27,910 for the North Atlantic swordfish 
fishery and $3,584 for the South Atlantic swordfish fishery, 
considering a total of 1,080 swordfish permit holders in the North 
Atlantic and 188 directed permit holders that can harvest South 
Atlantic swordfish (only limited access directed swordfish permit 
holders may retain South Atlantic swordfish). The North Atlantic 
estimate, however, represents an average across all permit types, 
despite permit differences in retention limits, target species, and 
geographical range. For North Atlantic swordfish, directed swordfish 
permit holders would likely experience higher than average per-vessel 
ex-vessel revenues due to the use of pelagic longline gear and the lack 
of a per-trip retention limit, although trip expenses are likely to be 
relatively high. HMS incidental squid trawl permit holders would likely 
experience per vessel ex-vessel revenues well below those received by 
pelagic longline vessels due to the low retention limit per trip (15 
swordfish) and because these vessels do not target swordfish and only 
catch them incidentally. Swordfish general commercial permit holders 
would likely experience lower than average per-vessel ex-vessel 
revenues, despite higher ex-vessel prices and lower fishing expenses. 
Although the proposed 2016 North Atlantic swordfish adjusted quota is 
199.8 mt dw lower than the quota analyzed in the 2012 EA, U.S. 
fishermen in recent years have not harvested the full North Atlantic 
swordfish quota. Thus, the 199.8 mt dw change in the total adjusted 
quota is unlikely to cause any economic impacts since that portion of 
the quota will likely be unutilized. In the future, if the North 
Atlantic swordfish fishery achieves full quota utilization, economic 
impacts will need to be reanalyzed. For South Atlantic swordfish, only 
directed swordfish permit holders can land these fish; therefore, 
potential revenue per vessel is higher than the average for these 
directed swordfish permit holders since the other permit types may not 
land swordfish. However, U.S. fishermen rarely catch South Atlantic 
swordfish. Over the past 6 years, 0.3 mt dw of South Atlantic swordfish 
catch has been reported. The proposed 2016 South Atlantic swordfish 
adjusted quota is unchanged from that analyzed in the 2007 EA, thus, no 
new economic impacts are expected.
    Because the United States' commercial swordfish fishery is not 
expected to catch its entire quota in 2016, the adjustments to the 
quota and management measures proposed in this rule will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. As a 
result, no initial regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and 
none has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Imports, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: May 27, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 635 is proposed to 
be amended as follows:

PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  635.27, revise paragraphs (c)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.27  Quotas.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) Annual adjustments. NMFS will file with the Office of the 
Federal Register for publication notice of the following adjustments to 
or apportionments of the annual quota:
    (i) Adjustments to the quota necessary to meet the objectives of 
the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan 
consistent with the quota provisions of paragraph (c)(1).
    (ii) If consistent with applicable ICCAT recommendations, total 
landings above or below the specific North Atlantic or South Atlantic 
swordfish annual quota will be subtracted from, or added to, the 
following year's quota for that area. As necessary to meet management 
objectives, such adjustments may be apportioned to fishing categories 
and/or to the reserve. Carryover adjustments for the North Atlantic 
shall be limited to 15 percent of the annual baseline quota allocation. 
Carryover adjustments for the South Atlantic shall be limited to 100 mt 
ww (75.2 mt dw). Any adjustments to the 12-month directed fishery quota 
will be apportioned equally between the two semiannual fishing seasons.
    (iii) The dressed weight equivalent of the amount by which dead 
discards exceed the allowance specified at paragraph (c)(1)(i)(C) of 
this section will be subtracted from the landings quota in the 
following fishing year or from the reserve category.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-13367 Filed 6-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P