Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish Fishery; Secretarial Interim Action, 39591-39595 [2016-14349]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 117 / Friday, June 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
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Access Area to be closed to LAGC IFQ
permitted vessels for the remainder of
the fishing year once the NMFS Greater
Atlantic Regional Administrator
determines that the allowed number of
trips for fishing year 2016 are projected
to be taken.
Based on trip declarations by LAGC
IFQ scallop vessels fishing in the
Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area, analysis of fishing effort,
and other information, NMFS projects
that 485 trips will be taken as of June
16, 2016. Therefore, in accordance with
§ 648.60(g)(3)(iii), NMFS is closing the
Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area to all LAGC IFQ scallop
vessels as of June 16, 2016. No vessel
issued an LAGC IFQ permit may fish
for, possess, or land scallops in or from
the Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area after 0001 local time, June
16, 2016. Any LAGC IFQ vessel that has
declared into the Nantucket Lightship
North Access Area scallop fishery,
complied with all trip notification and
observer requirements, and crossed the
VMS demarcation line on the way to the
area before 0001, June 16, 2016, may
complete its trip without being subject
to this closure. This closure is in effect
for the remainder of the 2016 scallop
fishing year.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866. NMFS finds
good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the
opportunity for public comment
because it would be contrary to the
public interest and impracticable. The
Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area opened for the 2016 fishing
year on May 4, 2016. The regulations at
§ 648.60(g)(3)(iii) require this closure to
ensure that LAGC IFQ scallop vessels do
not take more than their allocated
number of trips in the Nantucket
Lightship North Scallop Access Area.
The projections of the date on which the
LAGC IFQ fleet will have taken all of its
allocated trips in an Access Area
become apparent only as trips into the
area occur on a real-time basis and as
activity trends begin to appear. As a
result, NMFS can only make an accurate
projection very close in time to when
the fleet has taken all of its trips. In
order to propose a closure for purposes
of receiving prior public comment,
NMFS would need to make a projection
based on very little information, which
would result in a closure too early or too
late. To allow LAGC IFQ scallop vessels
to continue to take trips in the
Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area during the period necessary
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to publish and receive comments on a
proposed rule would likely result in
vessels taking much more than the
allowed number of trips in the
Nantucket Lightship North Scallop
Access Area. Excessive trips and harvest
from the Nantucket Lightship North
Scallop Access Area would result in
excessive fishing effort in the area,
where effort controls are critical,
thereby undermining conservation
objectives of the Atlantic Sea Scallop
Fishery Management Plan and requiring
more restrictive future management
measures. Also, the public had prior
notice and full opportunity to comment
on this closure process when we put
these provisions in place. For these
same reasons, NMFS further finds,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good
cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 14, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–14403 Filed 6–14–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160609505–6505–01]
RIN 0648–BG07
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Blueline Tilefish Fishery;
Secretarial Interim Action
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; interim
measures; request for comments.
AGENCY:
This temporary rule
implements possession limits and
permit requirements for the commercial
and recreational blueline tilefish
fisheries in waters north of the Virginia/
North Carolina border. These interim
management measures are necessary to
prevent a return to an unregulated
fishery which could result in
overfishing and to temporarily constrain
fishing effort on the blueline tilefish
stock while a long-term management
plan is implemented. These measures
are expected to constrain fishing
mortality and help ensure the long-term
sustainability of the stock, while
potentially preventing overfishing.
SUMMARY:
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Effective June 17, 2016, through
December 14, 2016. Comments must be
received on or before July 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0063,
by either of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20160063, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on
Blueline Tilefish Interim Measures.’’
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).
Copies of the Environmental
Assessment and Regulatory Impact
Review (EA/RIR), Supplemental
Information Report (SIR), and other
supporting documents for these interim
measures are available from John K.
Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS,
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. The EA/RIR and
SIR are also accessible via the internet
at:
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Background
Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus
microps) are mainly distributed in
Atlantic waters off the eastern United
States, and have been managed as part
of the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council’s Snapper Grouper
Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
However, South Atlantic management
measures do not apply to vessels fishing
for blueline tilefish north of the South
Atlantic Council’s jurisdiction (which
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extends as far north as the Virginia/
North Carolina border).
In recent years, there has been
increasing recreational and commercial
fishing activity for blueline tilefish in
the unregulated mid-Atlantic portion of
the Greater Atlantic Region, north of the
jurisdiction of the South Atlantic
Council’s Snapper Grouper FMP. From
2005–2013, commercial landings in the
Greater Atlantic Region (Virginia to
Maine) averaged 11,000 lb (5 mt) per
year. From 2002–2011, recreational
charter/party vessels in this area
reported an average of 2,400 fish per
year. But after the South Atlantic
Council’s FMP implemented significant
harvest limits to protect blueline tilefish
under its jurisdiction, commercial
landings in the unregulated midAtlantic portion of the blueline tilefish
range increased to over 217,000 lb (98
mt) in 2014 and recreational landings
from 2012–2014 increased to 10,000–
16,000 fish per year. This rapid increase
in blueline tilefish harvest in the Greater
Atlantic Region poses a potential longterm risk to the conservation of the
species and the substantial possibility of
overfishing the stock.
Based upon these concerns about the
effects of the unregulated harvest of
blueline tilefish, the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council submitted
a request on March 10, 2015, for
Secretarial emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act to implement temporary
management measures for blueline
tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region.
On June 4, 2015, NMFS published an
emergency rule (80 FR 31864) to
establish temporary management
measures, including possession limits
for the commercial and recreational
sectors of the fishery and permitting and
reporting requirements for commercial
and for-hire vessels that fish for blueline
tilefish north of the Virginia/North
Carolina border. Then on November 30,
2015 (80 FR 74712), NMFS extended the
emergency measures for an additional
186 days through June 3, 2016.
After requesting emergency action,
the Mid-Atlantic Council began
developing a plan for long-term
management of this species. At its April
2015 meeting, the Council initiated
scoping for either a new deep-water
species complex FMP, with an initial
focus on blueline tilefish, or an
amendment to the Golden Tilefish FMP
to add blueline tilefish to the
management unit. After scoping
hearings and review of public
comments, the Council opted to initiate
an amendment to the existing Golden
Tilefish FMP. Following development of
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a range of management measures, the
Council held a series of public meetings
in March 2016 to solicit feedback on the
measures contained in the draft
amendment. On April 13, 2016, the
Mid-Atlantic Council took final action
to select preferred alternatives and
approve the amendment for submission
to NMFS for review and
implementation. Due to the procedural
and public participation requirements of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, and the
Administrative Procedure Act, and the
need to fully deliberate and develop the
amendment, it was not possible for the
Council to prepare its final action for
submission to NMFS for approval, and
for NMFS to implement it, before the
emergency measures expired.
NMFS anticipates that the action will
be submitted to the Secretary of
Commerce for review and approval
during the summer of 2016. NMFS,
acting on behalf of the Secretary of
Commerce, will then conduct the formal
review and approval process required
by the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
complete the necessary notice-andcomment rulemaking to implement the
Council’s recommended management
measures. If approved, it is anticipated
that permanent measures will be in
place by the end of this year. However,
the current emergency regulations have
expired and the fishery would be
unregulated in Federal waters until the
Mid-Atlantic Council’s recommended
management measures can be formally
reviewed and implemented. The
potential for a dramatic increase in
catch of blueline tilefish resulting from
the fishery being unregulated could
result in overfishing and pose a threat
to the long-term sustainability of the
resource. When the fishery was
previously unregulated, substantial
commercial and recreational landings
were occurring in several states from
New Jersey south. In the interim since
emergency regulations have been put in
place in Federal waters, all states from
New Jersey south have implemented
state measures that could constrain
harvest if a lapse in Federal regulation
occurs. However, there remains a
substantial potential for unregulated
landings to occur in states from New
York north if the fishery returns to an
extended unregulated state. Such
landings would potentially subject the
stock to overfishing and could have a
long-term detrimental impact on the
stock, even if the unregulated period is
only a matter of months. Summer
through early fall is typically the peak
fishing period for blueline tilefish, so
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the lack of Federal regulations would
occur right in this peak time.
Blueline tilefish is a data poor species
throughout the Atlantic coast and
particularly in the mid-Atlantic. There
is not currently an overfishing limit
established for this stock; therefore, it
cannot yet be quantitatively determined
if overfishing is occurring. In March
2016, the Mid-Atlantic Council’s
Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) reviewed all available information
and for the first time set a target catch
limit specifically for the mid-Atlantic
fishery. For 2017, the SSC
recommended an acceptable biological
catch (ABC) of 87,031 lb (39.4 mt).
Although this figure is not intended to
apply to the 2016 fishing year, it
provides a reasonable estimate of a
target catch level that, if exceeded,
would be expected to cause long-term
harm to the stock. In 2014, when the
harvest was unregulated, the total midAtlantic harvest was 274,972 lb (124.7
mt), and in 2015 it was 124,113 lb (56.3
mt) (this decrease from 2014 is likely
due to the fact that the emergency rule
went into effect in June 2015). The
harvests for 2014 and 2015 were both
dramatically higher than the new ABC
of 87,031 lb (39.4 mt). As noted earlier,
recreational harvest of blueline tilefish
in the Greater Atlantic Region has been
increasing steadily since 2011, while in
2014 commercial landings suddenly
increased 20-fold over previous years.
We do not have sufficient information to
predict exactly how the resource would
adapt to such a substantial increase in
harvest. However, if the Mid-Atlantic
blueline tilefish fishery were to return to
an unregulated condition for an
extended period of time, there is the
strong potential for effort to expand as
it did in 2014. Comparing potential
2016 catch to the recommended catch
limit for 2017 creates a mismatch of
evaluation across multiple years.
However, because formal catch advice is
only established at this point for 2017,
it is informative by illustrating that if
landings in 2016 return to preregulation levels, those catches would
grossly exceed next year’s catch advice
by some 200 percent. Catch levels of
such magnitude would be expected to
have a significant impact on the stock
and cause a serious risk of overfishing.
We estimate that maintaining the
current Federal management measures
through this interim rule could
constrain catch close to the SSC’s ABC
recommendation until the Golden
Tilefish FMP amendment approved by
the Mid-Atlantic Council in April 2016
can be implemented.
Continuing the existing possession
and permit requirements in this interim
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rule is likely to prevent the potential for
overfishing, if it is occurring, while we
formally review the Mid-Atlantic
Council’s amendment and complete
notice-and-comment rulemaking to
implement that action.
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Interim Management Measures
Consistent with the previously issued
emergency rule and extension, we are
implementing the following
management measures for blueline
tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region:
1. A requirement for commercial or
for-hire vessels landing blueline tilefish
in the Greater Atlantic Region (i.e.,
north of the latitude of the Virginia/
North Carolina border: 36°33′01.0″ N.
latitude) to hold a valid Greater Atlantic
open access golden tilefish commercial
or charter/party vessel permit, which
are issued by the Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office;
2. A commercial possession limit of
300 lb (136 kg) whole weight per trip;
and
3. A recreational possession limit of
seven blueline tilefish per person, per
trip.
None of these management measures
modify the existing possession
regulations for golden tilefish, or any
other species. The requirement to hold
a valid Greater Atlantic permit will
ensure that catch, effort, and fishing
location information for blueline tilefish
will be reported moving forward. The
duration of these interim measures is
limited by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to
an initial period of 180 days. It is likely
that the Council’s amendment can be
implemented before an extension
expires. Such measures would
supersede these interim measures.
Interim Management Measures
Justification
NMFS has determined that this
section 305(c) interim rule, directly
following a section 305(c) emergency
rule, independently meets the
requirements in section 305(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and NMFS
policy guidance for the use of
emergency rules (62 FR 44421, August
21, 1997). This action meets the
requirements of section 305(c)(3) for
interim rules because it is needed to
prevent the potential of overfishing and
deterioration of this stock while the
proposed amendment to address
blueline tilefish conservation is being
reviewed for approval. While a
definitive, qualitative overfishing limit
has not been formally established for
this data-poor stock, NMFS has
determined that there is a potential for
overfishing because, based on fishing
activity for this stock in 2014,
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unregulated fishing in the mid-Atlantic
portion of the blueline tilefish stock
would likely exceed the proposed 2017
ABC by as much as 3 times or more.
This interim rule is also consistent
with the Guidelines established for
appropriate use of 305(c) emergency
rules in 1997 (62 FR 44421, August 21,
1997). These guidelines state that
emergency rules are only warranted
when there are special circumstances
where substantial harm to or disruption
of the resource, fishery, or community
would be caused in the time it would
take to follow standard rulemaking
procedures. The guidelines go on to
state three criteria for approving a 305(c)
emergency rule: (1) Results from recent,
unforeseen events or recently
discovered circumstances; (2) presents
serious conservation or management
problems in the fishery; and (3) can be
addressed through emergency
regulations for which the immediate
benefits outweigh the value of advance
notice, public comment, and
deliberative consideration of the
impacts on participants to the same
extent as would be expected under the
normal rulemaking process. Section
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act also
provides for interim measures, which
are a type of emergency rule.
There have been significant new
information and developments since the
implementation of the emergency rule
that qualify as recently discovered
circumstances not present until after the
implementation of the 2015 emergency
rule. When the emergency measures
were first implemented, substantial
discussions were beginning between the
South Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic
Councils about management jurisdiction
for the portion of the stock north of the
North Carolina/Virginia border. Since
then, those discussions have led to
definitive guidance that the MidAtlantic Council would develop
management measures for the portion of
the stock within its jurisdiction.
Consistent with this conclusion, the
Mid-Atlantic Council’s SSC developed
an ABC for the portion of the stock
within its jurisdiction, which, as
indicated above, is significantly below
potential harvest levels if the fishery
remains unregulated. These actions
provided a clear directive, with specific
ABC’s, for the Mid-Atlantic Council to
develop, consistent with the statutory
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, a plan or plan amendment as
envisaged by section 303 of the Act.
Due to the need to resolve questions
about Council jurisdiction and the
timing of receiving the SSC’s
recommendations, it was not possible
for the Council to have completed the
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39593
amendment and submitted it for
Secretarial approval before the current
emergency expired due to procedural
and public participation requirements of
applicable law. Therefore, the
likelihood of a gap between the
expiration of the emergency rule and
implementation of the amendment was
unavoidable and not due to Council
inaction or delay. There is no doubt that
these interim measures would
significantly address a serious
conservation problem for the blueline
tilefish stock. Absent these interim
measures, portions of the mid-Atlantic
range of this stock will remain
unregulated which could lead to
substantial increases in fishing mortality
and overfishing. Finally, the immediate
benefits to the blueline tilefish resource
outweigh the value of advance notice
and public comment, particularly
because this action continues the same
measures already in place under the
2015 emergency rule which received
public comments after it was published.
In addition to these interim measures
independently meeting the emergency
rule guidelines, NMFS also finds that
back-to-back 305(c) rules is justified
because he fishery was, and absent
another Federal action will become
again, unregulated in Federal waters.
This is a very different situation than a
fishery already under management by a
Fishery Management Council and
therefore presents a more exigent need
for interim management. Although the
blueline tilefish has not formally been
declared to be subject to overfishing due
to current lack of sufficient data, the
need for this interim rule is consistent
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act
recognition in section 304(e) that such
interim rules may be necessary while a
council develops an amendment to
address overfishing. Moreover, the 180day period provided by these temporary
interim measures should be sufficient to
put in place permanent management
measures. The Mid-Atlantic Council
took final action in April 2016 and is
expected to complete the necessary
analyses and documentation for
submission to the Secretary in the
coming months. In turn, NMFS will
then review and conduct notice-andcomment rulemaking on the Council’s
recommendations this fall/early winter.
Because of this, NMFS is not inclined to
extend the interim measures being
implemented by this rule beyond 180
days even if subsequent delays occur
within the Council’s documentation
development or within the Agency’s
review and rulemaking processes.
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Classification
Based on reasons and findings cited
above, NMFS has determined that this
section 305(c) interim rule, following a
section 305(c) emergency rule, is
necessary and justified given the
unusual and exigent circumstances
surrounding the need to prevent an
unregulated fishery and the likelihood
of overfishing of blueline tilefish on a
short-term basis. NMFS reviewed the
requirements in section 305(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and NMFS
policy guidance for the use of
emergency rules (62 FR 44421, August
21, 1997) and determined that this
action, which is a type of emergency
rule under section 305(c), is consistent
with both the criteria and justifications
for use of emergency measures in the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Pursuant to section 553(b)(B) of the
Administrative Procedure Act, the
Assistant Administrator (AA) for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds that it would be
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest to provide for prior notice and
opportunity for public comment. The
current emergency measures expired on
June 3, 2016, and the blueline tilefish
fishery will return to an unregulated
condition in Federal waters. Due to the
uncertainty surrounding the timing of
when the Mid-Atlantic Council would
complete and submit to NOAA
amendment to the Golden Tilefish FMP,
it was not possible to prepare and
publish a proposed rule to continue the
current measures restricting landings of
blueline tilefish. Based on the landings
information from fishing activity in
2014, there is the potential for
unregulated catch and landings to
increase rapidly if these measures are
not continued. Because there is a clear
need to maintain measures to constrain
fishing mortality on the stock in the
Greater Atlantic Region and potentially
prevent overfishing, it would be
potentially harmful to the long-term
sustainability of the resource to further
delay implementation of these measures
through notice-and-comment
rulemaking. Moreover, the benefit of
allowing prior public comment on this
rule has been addressed because NMFS
has already received public comment on
these very same measures after the
implementation of the 2015 emergency.
These comments were taken into
account in implementing this interim
rule. Therefore, the public interest is
best served by waiving the need for
additional prior public comment in
order to avoid the potential for longterm harm to the blueline tilefish stock.
Public comments will be accepted on
this temporary rule through July 18,
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2016, and there will be opportunities for
public participation and notice-andcomment rulemaking as we work to
implement new management measures
already developed and approved by the
Mid-Atlantic Council.
Additionally, the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
finds good cause to waive the
requirement for a 30-day delay in
effectiveness pursuant to section
553(d)(3) of the Administrative
Procedure Act. For the reasons
described above, delaying the
effectiveness of these regulations could
undermine the purpose of this
temporary rule, to maintain measures to
reduce catch during the 2016 fishing
year as a stop-gap measure while new
management measures developed by the
Council are implemented to ensure the
long-term sustainable harvest of
blueline tilefish.
This action is being taken pursuant to
the emergency provision of MSA and is
exempt from OMB review.
This temporary rule is exempt from
the otherwise applicable requirement of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act to prepare
a regulatory flexibility analysis because
the rule is issued without opportunity
for prior public comment.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: June 13, 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
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. In 648.2, add a definition for
‘‘Blueline tilefish’’ in alphabetical order
to read as follows:
■
§ 648.2
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Blueline tilefish means Caulolatilus
microps.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. In § 648.4, add paragraph (a)(12)(ii)
to read as follows:
§ 648.4
Vessel permits.
(a) * * *
(12) * * *
(ii) Blueline tilefish vessels—(A)
Commercial. Any vessel of the United
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States must have been issued and have
on board a valid Federal commercial
tilefish permit to fish for, catch, possess,
transport, land, sell, trade, or barter, any
blueline tilefish in excess of the
recreational possession limit as
specified under § 648.298(c) from the
EEZ portion of the area defined at
§ 648.298(a).
(B) Party and charter vessel permits.
Any party or charter vessel must have
been issued, under this part, a Federal
charter/party tilefish vessel permit to
fish for blueline tilefish in the EEZ
portion of the area defined at
§ 648.298(a), if it carries passengers for
hire. Any person onboard such a vessel
must observe the recreational
possession limit as specified at
§ 648.298(c) and the prohibition on sale
in § 648.14(w)(1)(ii).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. In § 648.5, add paragraph (a)(1) and
reserve paragraph (a)(2) to read as
follows:
§ 648.5
Operator permits.
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(1) The operator permit provisions
outlined in § 648.5(a) pertaining to
operator permit requirements also apply
to the operator of any vessel fishing for
or possessing blueline tilefish harvested
in or from the EEZ portion of the area
defined at § 648.298(a).
(2) [Reserved]
■ 5. In § 648.14, add paragraph (w) to
read as follows:
§ 648.14
Prohibitions.
*
*
*
*
*
(w) Blueline tilefish. It is unlawful for
any person owning or operating a vessel
to do any of the following:
(1) Permit requirements—(i) Operator
permit. Operate a vessel with a tilefish
permit to fish for or possess blueline
tilefish in or from the EEZ portion of the
area defined at § 648.298(a), unless the
operator has been issued, and is in
possession of, a valid operator permit.
(ii) Vessel permit. Fish for, catch,
possess, transport, land, sell, trade, or
barter any blueline tilefish for a
commercial purpose, other than solely
for transport on land, unless the vessel
has been issued a tilefish permit, or
unless the blueline tilefish were
harvested by a vessel without a tilefish
permit that fished exclusively in State
waters.
(2) Possession and landing. (i) Fish
for, possess, retain, or land blueline
tilefish, unless:
(A) The blueline tilefish are being
fished for or were harvested in or from
the EEZ portion of the area defined at
E:\FR\FM\17JNR1.SGM
17JNR1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 117 / Friday, June 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
§ 648.298(a) by a vessel holding a valid
tilefish permit under this part, and the
operator on board such vessel has been
issued an operator permit that is on
board the vessel.
(B) The blueline tilefish were
harvested by a vessel that has not been
issued a tilefish permit and that was
fishing exclusively in State waters.
(C) The blueline tilefish are being
fished for or were harvested in or from
the EEZ portion of the area defined at
§ 648.298(a) in accordance with the
possession limits specified at
§ 648.298(b) or (c).
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) Fish for or possess blueline tilefish
inside and outside of the EEZ portion of
the area defined at § 648.298(a) on the
same trip.
(4) Transfer and purchase. (i)
Purchase, possess, or receive for a
commercial purpose, other than solely
for transport on land; or attempt to
purchase, possess, or receive for a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:07 Jun 16, 2016
Jkt 238001
commercial purpose, other than solely
for transport on land; blueline tilefish
caught by a vessel without a tilefish
permit, unless the blueline tilefish were
harvested by a vessel without a tilefish
permit that fished exclusively in State
waters.
(ii) [Reserved]
(5) Presumption. For purposes of this
part, the following presumption applies:
All blueline tilefish retained or
possessed on a vessel issued any permit
under § 648.4 are deemed to have been
harvested in or from the EEZ portion of
the area defined at § 648.298(a), unless
the preponderance of all submitted
evidence demonstrates that such tilefish
were harvested by a vessel fishing
exclusively in State waters.
■ 6. Add § 648.298 to read as follows:
§ 648.298 Blueline tilefish management
measures.
(a) Management unit. The regulations
in this paragraph apply to vessels or
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
39595
operators of vessels fishing for blueline
tilefish in the area of the Atlantic Ocean
from the latitude of the VA and NC
border (36°33′01.0″ N. Lat.), extending
eastward from the shore to the outer
boundary of the EEZ and northward to
the United States-Canada border.
(b) Commercial possession limit. A
vessel or operator of a vessel that has
been issued a valid Federal commercial
tilefish permit under this part may fish
for, possess, and/or land up to 300 lb
(136 kg) whole weight of blueline
tilefish per trip from the area defined in
this section.
(c) Recreational possession limit. Any
person fishing on a vessel who is not
fishing under a commercial tilefish
vessel permit issued pursuant to
§ 648.4(a)(12), may land up to seven
blueline tilefish per trip from the area
defined in this section.
[FR Doc. 2016–14349 Filed 6–14–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39591-39595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14349]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160609505-6505-01]
RIN 0648-BG07
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish
Fishery; Secretarial Interim Action
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; interim measures; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This temporary rule implements possession limits and permit
requirements for the commercial and recreational blueline tilefish
fisheries in waters north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. These
interim management measures are necessary to prevent a return to an
unregulated fishery which could result in overfishing and to
temporarily constrain fishing effort on the blueline tilefish stock
while a long-term management plan is implemented. These measures are
expected to constrain fishing mortality and help ensure the long-term
sustainability of the stock, while potentially preventing overfishing.
DATES: Effective June 17, 2016, through December 14, 2016. Comments
must be received on or before July 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0063,
by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0063, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Blueline Tilefish
Interim Measures.''
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).
Copies of the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Impact Review
(EA/RIR), Supplemental Information Report (SIR), and other supporting
documents for these interim measures are available from John K.
Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. The
EA/RIR and SIR are also accessible via the internet at:
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) are mainly distributed in
Atlantic waters off the eastern United States, and have been managed as
part of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Snapper Grouper
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, South Atlantic management
measures do not apply to vessels fishing for blueline tilefish north of
the South Atlantic Council's jurisdiction (which
[[Page 39592]]
extends as far north as the Virginia/North Carolina border).
In recent years, there has been increasing recreational and
commercial fishing activity for blueline tilefish in the unregulated
mid-Atlantic portion of the Greater Atlantic Region, north of the
jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Council's Snapper Grouper FMP. From
2005-2013, commercial landings in the Greater Atlantic Region (Virginia
to Maine) averaged 11,000 lb (5 mt) per year. From 2002-2011,
recreational charter/party vessels in this area reported an average of
2,400 fish per year. But after the South Atlantic Council's FMP
implemented significant harvest limits to protect blueline tilefish
under its jurisdiction, commercial landings in the unregulated mid-
Atlantic portion of the blueline tilefish range increased to over
217,000 lb (98 mt) in 2014 and recreational landings from 2012-2014
increased to 10,000-16,000 fish per year. This rapid increase in
blueline tilefish harvest in the Greater Atlantic Region poses a
potential long-term risk to the conservation of the species and the
substantial possibility of overfishing the stock.
Based upon these concerns about the effects of the unregulated
harvest of blueline tilefish, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council submitted a request on March 10, 2015, for Secretarial
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act to implement temporary management
measures for blueline tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region. On June
4, 2015, NMFS published an emergency rule (80 FR 31864) to establish
temporary management measures, including possession limits for the
commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery and permitting and
reporting requirements for commercial and for-hire vessels that fish
for blueline tilefish north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. Then
on November 30, 2015 (80 FR 74712), NMFS extended the emergency
measures for an additional 186 days through June 3, 2016.
After requesting emergency action, the Mid-Atlantic Council began
developing a plan for long-term management of this species. At its
April 2015 meeting, the Council initiated scoping for either a new
deep-water species complex FMP, with an initial focus on blueline
tilefish, or an amendment to the Golden Tilefish FMP to add blueline
tilefish to the management unit. After scoping hearings and review of
public comments, the Council opted to initiate an amendment to the
existing Golden Tilefish FMP. Following development of a range of
management measures, the Council held a series of public meetings in
March 2016 to solicit feedback on the measures contained in the draft
amendment. On April 13, 2016, the Mid-Atlantic Council took final
action to select preferred alternatives and approve the amendment for
submission to NMFS for review and implementation. Due to the procedural
and public participation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
National Environmental Policy Act, and the Administrative Procedure
Act, and the need to fully deliberate and develop the amendment, it was
not possible for the Council to prepare its final action for submission
to NMFS for approval, and for NMFS to implement it, before the
emergency measures expired.
NMFS anticipates that the action will be submitted to the Secretary
of Commerce for review and approval during the summer of 2016. NMFS,
acting on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, will then conduct the
formal review and approval process required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act
and complete the necessary notice-and-comment rulemaking to implement
the Council's recommended management measures. If approved, it is
anticipated that permanent measures will be in place by the end of this
year. However, the current emergency regulations have expired and the
fishery would be unregulated in Federal waters until the Mid-Atlantic
Council's recommended management measures can be formally reviewed and
implemented. The potential for a dramatic increase in catch of blueline
tilefish resulting from the fishery being unregulated could result in
overfishing and pose a threat to the long-term sustainability of the
resource. When the fishery was previously unregulated, substantial
commercial and recreational landings were occurring in several states
from New Jersey south. In the interim since emergency regulations have
been put in place in Federal waters, all states from New Jersey south
have implemented state measures that could constrain harvest if a lapse
in Federal regulation occurs. However, there remains a substantial
potential for unregulated landings to occur in states from New York
north if the fishery returns to an extended unregulated state. Such
landings would potentially subject the stock to overfishing and could
have a long-term detrimental impact on the stock, even if the
unregulated period is only a matter of months. Summer through early
fall is typically the peak fishing period for blueline tilefish, so the
lack of Federal regulations would occur right in this peak time.
Blueline tilefish is a data poor species throughout the Atlantic
coast and particularly in the mid-Atlantic. There is not currently an
overfishing limit established for this stock; therefore, it cannot yet
be quantitatively determined if overfishing is occurring. In March
2016, the Mid-Atlantic Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) reviewed all available information and for the first time set a
target catch limit specifically for the mid-Atlantic fishery. For 2017,
the SSC recommended an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 87,031 lb
(39.4 mt). Although this figure is not intended to apply to the 2016
fishing year, it provides a reasonable estimate of a target catch level
that, if exceeded, would be expected to cause long-term harm to the
stock. In 2014, when the harvest was unregulated, the total mid-
Atlantic harvest was 274,972 lb (124.7 mt), and in 2015 it was 124,113
lb (56.3 mt) (this decrease from 2014 is likely due to the fact that
the emergency rule went into effect in June 2015). The harvests for
2014 and 2015 were both dramatically higher than the new ABC of 87,031
lb (39.4 mt). As noted earlier, recreational harvest of blueline
tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region has been increasing steadily
since 2011, while in 2014 commercial landings suddenly increased 20-
fold over previous years. We do not have sufficient information to
predict exactly how the resource would adapt to such a substantial
increase in harvest. However, if the Mid-Atlantic blueline tilefish
fishery were to return to an unregulated condition for an extended
period of time, there is the strong potential for effort to expand as
it did in 2014. Comparing potential 2016 catch to the recommended catch
limit for 2017 creates a mismatch of evaluation across multiple years.
However, because formal catch advice is only established at this point
for 2017, it is informative by illustrating that if landings in 2016
return to pre-regulation levels, those catches would grossly exceed
next year's catch advice by some 200 percent. Catch levels of such
magnitude would be expected to have a significant impact on the stock
and cause a serious risk of overfishing. We estimate that maintaining
the current Federal management measures through this interim rule could
constrain catch close to the SSC's ABC recommendation until the Golden
Tilefish FMP amendment approved by the Mid-Atlantic Council in April
2016 can be implemented.
Continuing the existing possession and permit requirements in this
interim
[[Page 39593]]
rule is likely to prevent the potential for overfishing, if it is
occurring, while we formally review the Mid-Atlantic Council's
amendment and complete notice-and-comment rulemaking to implement that
action.
Interim Management Measures
Consistent with the previously issued emergency rule and extension,
we are implementing the following management measures for blueline
tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region:
1. A requirement for commercial or for-hire vessels landing
blueline tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region (i.e., north of the
latitude of the Virginia/North Carolina border: 36[deg]33'01.0'' N.
latitude) to hold a valid Greater Atlantic open access golden tilefish
commercial or charter/party vessel permit, which are issued by the
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office;
2. A commercial possession limit of 300 lb (136 kg) whole weight
per trip; and
3. A recreational possession limit of seven blueline tilefish per
person, per trip.
None of these management measures modify the existing possession
regulations for golden tilefish, or any other species. The requirement
to hold a valid Greater Atlantic permit will ensure that catch, effort,
and fishing location information for blueline tilefish will be reported
moving forward. The duration of these interim measures is limited by
the Magnuson-Stevens Act to an initial period of 180 days. It is likely
that the Council's amendment can be implemented before an extension
expires. Such measures would supersede these interim measures.
Interim Management Measures Justification
NMFS has determined that this section 305(c) interim rule, directly
following a section 305(c) emergency rule, independently meets the
requirements in section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and NMFS
policy guidance for the use of emergency rules (62 FR 44421, August 21,
1997). This action meets the requirements of section 305(c)(3) for
interim rules because it is needed to prevent the potential of
overfishing and deterioration of this stock while the proposed
amendment to address blueline tilefish conservation is being reviewed
for approval. While a definitive, qualitative overfishing limit has not
been formally established for this data-poor stock, NMFS has determined
that there is a potential for overfishing because, based on fishing
activity for this stock in 2014, unregulated fishing in the mid-
Atlantic portion of the blueline tilefish stock would likely exceed the
proposed 2017 ABC by as much as 3 times or more.
This interim rule is also consistent with the Guidelines
established for appropriate use of 305(c) emergency rules in 1997 (62
FR 44421, August 21, 1997). These guidelines state that emergency rules
are only warranted when there are special circumstances where
substantial harm to or disruption of the resource, fishery, or
community would be caused in the time it would take to follow standard
rulemaking procedures. The guidelines go on to state three criteria for
approving a 305(c) emergency rule: (1) Results from recent, unforeseen
events or recently discovered circumstances; (2) presents serious
conservation or management problems in the fishery; and (3) can be
addressed through emergency regulations for which the immediate
benefits outweigh the value of advance notice, public comment, and
deliberative consideration of the impacts on participants to the same
extent as would be expected under the normal rulemaking process.
Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act also provides for interim
measures, which are a type of emergency rule.
There have been significant new information and developments since
the implementation of the emergency rule that qualify as recently
discovered circumstances not present until after the implementation of
the 2015 emergency rule. When the emergency measures were first
implemented, substantial discussions were beginning between the South
Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Councils about management jurisdiction for
the portion of the stock north of the North Carolina/Virginia border.
Since then, those discussions have led to definitive guidance that the
Mid-Atlantic Council would develop management measures for the portion
of the stock within its jurisdiction. Consistent with this conclusion,
the Mid-Atlantic Council's SSC developed an ABC for the portion of the
stock within its jurisdiction, which, as indicated above, is
significantly below potential harvest levels if the fishery remains
unregulated. These actions provided a clear directive, with specific
ABC's, for the Mid-Atlantic Council to develop, consistent with the
statutory requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, a plan or plan
amendment as envisaged by section 303 of the Act.
Due to the need to resolve questions about Council jurisdiction and
the timing of receiving the SSC's recommendations, it was not possible
for the Council to have completed the amendment and submitted it for
Secretarial approval before the current emergency expired due to
procedural and public participation requirements of applicable law.
Therefore, the likelihood of a gap between the expiration of the
emergency rule and implementation of the amendment was unavoidable and
not due to Council inaction or delay. There is no doubt that these
interim measures would significantly address a serious conservation
problem for the blueline tilefish stock. Absent these interim measures,
portions of the mid-Atlantic range of this stock will remain
unregulated which could lead to substantial increases in fishing
mortality and overfishing. Finally, the immediate benefits to the
blueline tilefish resource outweigh the value of advance notice and
public comment, particularly because this action continues the same
measures already in place under the 2015 emergency rule which received
public comments after it was published.
In addition to these interim measures independently meeting the
emergency rule guidelines, NMFS also finds that back-to-back 305(c)
rules is justified because he fishery was, and absent another Federal
action will become again, unregulated in Federal waters. This is a very
different situation than a fishery already under management by a
Fishery Management Council and therefore presents a more exigent need
for interim management. Although the blueline tilefish has not formally
been declared to be subject to overfishing due to current lack of
sufficient data, the need for this interim rule is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act recognition in section 304(e) that such interim
rules may be necessary while a council develops an amendment to address
overfishing. Moreover, the 180-day period provided by these temporary
interim measures should be sufficient to put in place permanent
management measures. The Mid-Atlantic Council took final action in
April 2016 and is expected to complete the necessary analyses and
documentation for submission to the Secretary in the coming months. In
turn, NMFS will then review and conduct notice-and-comment rulemaking
on the Council's recommendations this fall/early winter. Because of
this, NMFS is not inclined to extend the interim measures being
implemented by this rule beyond 180 days even if subsequent delays
occur within the Council's documentation development or within the
Agency's review and rulemaking processes.
[[Page 39594]]
Classification
Based on reasons and findings cited above, NMFS has determined that
this section 305(c) interim rule, following a section 305(c) emergency
rule, is necessary and justified given the unusual and exigent
circumstances surrounding the need to prevent an unregulated fishery
and the likelihood of overfishing of blueline tilefish on a short-term
basis. NMFS reviewed the requirements in section 305(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and NMFS policy guidance for the use of emergency
rules (62 FR 44421, August 21, 1997) and determined that this action,
which is a type of emergency rule under section 305(c), is consistent
with both the criteria and justifications for use of emergency measures
in the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Pursuant to section 553(b)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act,
the Assistant Administrator (AA) for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that it
would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide
for prior notice and opportunity for public comment. The current
emergency measures expired on June 3, 2016, and the blueline tilefish
fishery will return to an unregulated condition in Federal waters. Due
to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of when the Mid-Atlantic
Council would complete and submit to NOAA amendment to the Golden
Tilefish FMP, it was not possible to prepare and publish a proposed
rule to continue the current measures restricting landings of blueline
tilefish. Based on the landings information from fishing activity in
2014, there is the potential for unregulated catch and landings to
increase rapidly if these measures are not continued. Because there is
a clear need to maintain measures to constrain fishing mortality on the
stock in the Greater Atlantic Region and potentially prevent
overfishing, it would be potentially harmful to the long-term
sustainability of the resource to further delay implementation of these
measures through notice-and-comment rulemaking. Moreover, the benefit
of allowing prior public comment on this rule has been addressed
because NMFS has already received public comment on these very same
measures after the implementation of the 2015 emergency. These comments
were taken into account in implementing this interim rule. Therefore,
the public interest is best served by waiving the need for additional
prior public comment in order to avoid the potential for long-term harm
to the blueline tilefish stock. Public comments will be accepted on
this temporary rule through July 18, 2016, and there will be
opportunities for public participation and notice-and-comment
rulemaking as we work to implement new management measures already
developed and approved by the Mid-Atlantic Council.
Additionally, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
finds good cause to waive the requirement for a 30-day delay in
effectiveness pursuant to section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative
Procedure Act. For the reasons described above, delaying the
effectiveness of these regulations could undermine the purpose of this
temporary rule, to maintain measures to reduce catch during the 2016
fishing year as a stop-gap measure while new management measures
developed by the Council are implemented to ensure the long-term
sustainable harvest of blueline tilefish.
This action is being taken pursuant to the emergency provision of
MSA and is exempt from OMB review.
This temporary rule is exempt from the otherwise applicable
requirement of the Regulatory Flexibility Act to prepare a regulatory
flexibility analysis because the rule is issued without opportunity for
prior public comment.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: June 13, 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 NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In 648.2, add a definition for ``Blueline tilefish'' in alphabetical
order to read as follows:
Sec. 648.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Blueline tilefish means Caulolatilus microps.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec. 648.4, add paragraph (a)(12)(ii) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.4 Vessel permits.
(a) * * *
(12) * * *
(ii) Blueline tilefish vessels--(A) Commercial. Any vessel of the
United States must have been issued and have on board a valid Federal
commercial tilefish permit to fish for, catch, possess, transport,
land, sell, trade, or barter, any blueline tilefish in excess of the
recreational possession limit as specified under Sec. 648.298(c) from
the EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a).
(B) Party and charter vessel permits. Any party or charter vessel
must have been issued, under this part, a Federal charter/party
tilefish vessel permit to fish for blueline tilefish in the EEZ portion
of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a), if it carries passengers for
hire. Any person onboard such a vessel must observe the recreational
possession limit as specified at Sec. 648.298(c) and the prohibition
on sale in Sec. 648.14(w)(1)(ii).
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 648.5, add paragraph (a)(1) and reserve paragraph (a)(2) to
read as follows:
Sec. 648.5 Operator permits.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(1) The operator permit provisions outlined in Sec. 648.5(a)
pertaining to operator permit requirements also apply to the operator
of any vessel fishing for or possessing blueline tilefish harvested in
or from the EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a).
(2) [Reserved]
0
5. In Sec. 648.14, add paragraph (w) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.14 Prohibitions.
* * * * *
(w) Blueline tilefish. It is unlawful for any person owning or
operating a vessel to do any of the following:
(1) Permit requirements--(i) Operator permit. Operate a vessel with
a tilefish permit to fish for or possess blueline tilefish in or from
the EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a), unless the
operator has been issued, and is in possession of, a valid operator
permit.
(ii) Vessel permit. Fish for, catch, possess, transport, land,
sell, trade, or barter any blueline tilefish for a commercial purpose,
other than solely for transport on land, unless the vessel has been
issued a tilefish permit, or unless the blueline tilefish were
harvested by a vessel without a tilefish permit that fished exclusively
in State waters.
(2) Possession and landing. (i) Fish for, possess, retain, or land
blueline tilefish, unless:
(A) The blueline tilefish are being fished for or were harvested in
or from the EEZ portion of the area defined at
[[Page 39595]]
Sec. 648.298(a) by a vessel holding a valid tilefish permit under this
part, and the operator on board such vessel has been issued an operator
permit that is on board the vessel.
(B) The blueline tilefish were harvested by a vessel that has not
been issued a tilefish permit and that was fishing exclusively in State
waters.
(C) The blueline tilefish are being fished for or were harvested in
or from the EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a) in
accordance with the possession limits specified at Sec. 648.298(b) or
(c).
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) Fish for or possess blueline tilefish inside and outside of the
EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec. 648.298(a) on the same trip.
(4) Transfer and purchase. (i) Purchase, possess, or receive for a
commercial purpose, other than solely for transport on land; or attempt
to purchase, possess, or receive for a commercial purpose, other than
solely for transport on land; blueline tilefish caught by a vessel
without a tilefish permit, unless the blueline tilefish were harvested
by a vessel without a tilefish permit that fished exclusively in State
waters.
(ii) [Reserved]
(5) Presumption. For purposes of this part, the following
presumption applies: All blueline tilefish retained or possessed on a
vessel issued any permit under Sec. 648.4 are deemed to have been
harvested in or from the EEZ portion of the area defined at Sec.
648.298(a), unless the preponderance of all submitted evidence
demonstrates that such tilefish were harvested by a vessel fishing
exclusively in State waters.
0
6. Add Sec. 648.298 to read as follows:
Sec. 648.298 Blueline tilefish management measures.
(a) Management unit. The regulations in this paragraph apply to
vessels or operators of vessels fishing for blueline tilefish in the
area of the Atlantic Ocean from the latitude of the VA and NC border
(36[deg]33'01.0'' N. Lat.), extending eastward from the shore to the
outer boundary of the EEZ and northward to the United States-Canada
border.
(b) Commercial possession limit. A vessel or operator of a vessel
that has been issued a valid Federal commercial tilefish permit under
this part may fish for, possess, and/or land up to 300 lb (136 kg)
whole weight of blueline tilefish per trip from the area defined in
this section.
(c) Recreational possession limit. Any person fishing on a vessel
who is not fishing under a commercial tilefish vessel permit issued
pursuant to Sec. 648.4(a)(12), may land up to seven blueline tilefish
per trip from the area defined in this section.
[FR Doc. 2016-14349 Filed 6-14-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P