Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Hogfish Management Measures, 84538-84544 [2016-28173]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 84538-84544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28173]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 160630574-6574-01]
RIN 0648-BG18


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Hogfish Management Measures

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in 
Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources 
of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf)(FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)(Amendment 43). This proposed 
rule would revise the geographic range of the fishery management unit 
(FMU) for Gulf hogfish (the West Florida stock) consistent with the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (South Atlantic Council) 
proposed boundary between the Florida Keys/East Florida and West 
Florida stocks, set the annual catch limit (ACL) for the West Florida 
stock, increase the minimum size limit for the proposed West Florida 
stock, and remove the powerhead exception for harvest of hogfish in the 
Gulf reef fish stressed area. This proposed rule would also correct a 
reference in the regulatory definition for charter vessel. The purpose 
of this proposed rule is to manage hogfish using the best scientific 
information available.

DATES: Written comments must be received by December 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2016-0126'' by either 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-2016-0126, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit all written comments to Peter Hood, NMFS 
Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701.
    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).
    Electronic copies of Amendment 43, which includes an environmental 
assessment, a fishery impact statement, a Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA) analysis, and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from 
the Southeast Regional Office Web site at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2016/am43/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: peter.hood@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage the Gulf reef 
fish fishery, which includes hogfish, under the FMP. The Council 
prepared the FMP and NMFS implements the FMP

[[Page 84539]]

through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the 
Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

Background

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS and regional fishery 
management councils to prevent overfishing and achieve, on a continuing 
basis, the optimum yield from federally managed fish stocks. These 
mandates are intended to ensure fishery resources are managed for the 
greatest overall benefit to the nation, particularly with respect to 
providing food production and recreational opportunities, and 
protecting marine ecosystems.
    Hogfish occur throughout the Gulf but are caught primarily off the 
Florida west coast. Hogfish are managed with a stock ACL and no 
allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors. Generally, 
the fishing season for both sectors is open year-round, January 1 
through December 31. However, accountability measures (AMs) for hogfish 
specify that if commercial and recreational landings exceed the stock 
ACL in a fishing year, then during the following fishing year, if the 
stock ACL is reached or is projected to be reached, the commercial and 
recreational sectors will be closed for the remainder of the fishing 
year. The hogfish ACL and AMs were implemented in 2012 (76 FR 82044, 
December 29, 2011). The AMs were triggered when the hogfish ACL was 
exceeded in 2012, and the 2013 season was closed on December 2 because 
NMFS determined that the 2013 hogfish stock ACL had been harvested (78 
FR 72583, December 3, 2013). The stock ACL was exceeded again in 2013. 
However, there was no closure in 2014 and the stock ACL was not 
exceeded in the 2014 or 2015 fishing years.
    In 2014, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 
(FWC) completed the most recent stock assessment for hogfish through 
the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review process (SEDAR 37). SEDAR 37 
divided the hogfish stock into three stocks based upon genetic analysis 
as follows: the West Florida stock, the Florida Keys/East Florida 
stock, and the Georgia through North Carolina stock. The West Florida 
stock is completely within the jurisdiction of the Gulf Council and the 
Georgia through North Carolina stock is completely within the 
jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Council. The Florida Keys/East 
Florida stock crosses the two Councils' jurisdictional boundary, with a 
small portion of the stock extending into the Gulf Council's 
jurisdiction off the west coast of Florida. Based on SEDAR 37 and the 
Gulf and South Atlantic Councils' Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC) recommendations, NMFS determined that the West Florida stock is 
not overfished or undergoing overfishing, the Florida Keys/East Florida 
stock is overfished and experiencing overfishing, and the status of the 
Georgia through North Carolina stock is unknown. NMFS notified the Gulf 
and South Atlantic Councils of these stock status determinations via 
letter on February 17, 2015.
    Because only a small portion of the Florida Keys/East Florida stock 
extends into the Gulf Council's jurisdiction off south Florida, the 
Gulf Council's SSC recommended that the South Atlantic Council's SSC 
take the lead in setting the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable 
biological catch (ABC) for the Florida Keys/East Florida stock. The 
Gulf Council's SSC reviewed and provided recommendations on the west 
Florida shelf (Gulf) portion of the stock assessment.

Management Measures Contained in This Proposed Rule

    If implemented, this proposed rule would: Revise the hogfish FMU 
managed by the FMP to the West Florida hogfish stock, which includes 
hogfish in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ), except south of a 
line extending due west from 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of 
Florida; specify the ACL for the West Florida hogfish stock; increase 
the minimum size limit for the West Florida stock; and remove the 
powerhead exception for harvest of hogfish in the Gulf reef fish 
stressed area.

Fishery Management Unit

    The South Atlantic Council developed and submitted for review by 
the Secretary of Commerce a rebuilding plan for the Florida Keys/East 
Florida stock through Amendment 37 to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper 
Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 37). A small portion of 
the Florida Keys/East Florida stock, as defined by the SEDAR 37, 
extends into Gulf waters in the Gulf Council's jurisdiction in south 
Florida. Therefore, in Amendment 43 and this proposed rule, the Gulf 
Council would revise the hogfish FMU in the Gulf to be the West Florida 
stock, and would define the geographic range of this stock consistent 
with the South Atlantic Council's proposed boundary between the Florida 
Keys/East Florida and West Florida hogfish stocks in Amendment 37. This 
boundary would be a line extending west along 25[deg]09' N. lat. to the 
outer boundary of the EEZ, which is just south of Cape Sable, Florida, 
on the west coast of Florida. The Gulf Council would manage hogfish 
(the West Florida stock) in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. 
lat. off the west coast of Florida. The South Atlantic Council would 
manage hogfish (the Florida Keys/East Florida stock) in the Gulf EEZ 
south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of Florida, and in the 
South Atlantic EEZ to the state border of Florida and Georgia. This 
boundary is south of the line used in SEDAR 37, which defined the West 
Florida stock as north of the Monroe and Collier County, Florida, 
boundary line. Therefore, it is possible that some fish that are part 
of the Florida Keys/East Florida stock will be harvested under the 
regulations set by the Gulf Council. However, the majority of hogfish 
landings in Monroe County occur in the Florida Keys, and the proposed 
boundary is far enough north of the Florida Keys that fishing trips 
originating in the Florida Keys rarely travel north of the boundary, 
and far enough south of Naples and Marco Island, Florida, that fishing 
trips originating from these locations rarely travel south of the 
boundary. In addition, the boundary line proposed by the Gulf and South 
Atlantic Councils is currently used by the FWC as a regulatory boundary 
for certain state-managed species. Using a pre-existing management 
boundary will increase enforceability and help fishermen by simplifying 
regulations across adjacent management jurisdictions.
    In accordance with section 304(f) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
Gulf Council requested that the Secretary of Commerce designate the 
South Atlantic Council as the responsible Council for management of the 
Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock in Gulf Federal waters south of 
25[deg]09' N. lat. near Cape Sable on the west coast of Florida. If the 
Gulf Council's request is approved, the Gulf Council would continue to 
manage hogfish in Federal waters in the Gulf, except in Federal waters 
south of this boundary. Therefore, the South Atlantic Council, and not 
the Gulf Council, would establish the management measures for the 
entire range of the Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock, including 
in Federal waters south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. near Cape Sable in the 
Gulf. Commercial and recreational for-hire vessels fishing for hogfish 
in Gulf Federal waters, i.e., north and west of the jurisdictional 
boundary between the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils (approximately at 
the Florida Keys), as defined at 50 CFR 600.105(c), would still be 
required to have the appropriate Federal Gulf reef fish permits, and

[[Page 84540]]

vessels fishing for hogfish in South Atlantic Federal waters, i.e., 
south and east of the jurisdictional boundary, would still be required 
to have the appropriate Federal South Atlantic snapper-grouper permits. 
Those permit holders would still be required to follow the sale and 
reporting requirements associated with the respective permits.
    NMFS specifically seeks public comment regarding the revised stock 
boundaries and the manner in which the Councils would have jurisdiction 
over these stocks if both Amendment 37 for the South Atlantic Council 
and Amendment 43 for the Gulf Council are approved and implemented. 
NMFS published notices of availability, seeking comments on Amendment 
37 and Amendment 43, on October 7, 2016, and November 4, 2016, 
respectively (81 FR 69774 and 81 FR 76908).

Annual Catch Limit

    The current stock ACL and annual catch target (ACT) for Gulf 
hogfish were established based on 1999-2008 landings. The ACL and ACT 
were set using the Gulf Council's ABC control rule for stocks that have 
not been assessed, but are stable over time, or are unlikely to undergo 
overfishing at current average levels. The SEDAR 37 projections 
produced annual yields for OFL and ABC for the West Florida hogfish 
stock for the 2016 through 2026 fishing years are based on an 
overfishing threshold of the fishing morality rate (F) at 30 percent 
spawning potential ratio (F30SPR). 
However, because of increasing uncertainty with long-range projections, 
the Gulf Council's SSC only provided OFL and ABC recommendations for 
the West Florida hogfish stock for the first 3 years, 2016 through 
2018. The 2016-2018 OFLs were 257,100 lb (116,619 kg), 229,400 lb 
(104,054 kg), and 211,000 lb (95,708 kg), round weight, respectively, 
and the 2016-2018 ABCs were 240,400 lb (109,044 kg), 216,800 lb (98,339 
kg), and 200,800 lb (91,081 kg), round weight, respectively. The Gulf 
Council's SSC also made constant catch OFL and ABC recommendations 
based on the averages of the 2016-2018 OFLs and ABCs of 232,000 lb 
(105,233 kg), and 219,000 lb (99,337 kg), round weight, respectively. 
For 2019, and subsequent years, the SSC recommended an OFL and ABC set 
at the equilibrium yield of 161,900 lb (73,028 kg), and 159,300 lb 
(72,257 kg), round weight, respectively.
    The proposed rule would set the ACL for the West Florida hogfish 
stock at 219,000 lb (99,337 kg), round weight, for the 2017 and 2018 
fishing years and is based on the Gulf Council's SSC ABC 
recommendations that averaged the 2016 through 2018 ABC yield streams. 
In 2019, and subsequent fishing years, the stock ACL would be set at 
the equilibrium ABC of 159,300 lb (72,257 kg), round weight. The 
Council decided to discontinue the designation of an ACT, because it is 
not used in the current AMs or for other management purposes.

Minimum Size Limit

    Although the West Florida hogfish stock is not overfished or 
undergoing overfishing, the stock could be subject to seasonal closures 
if landings exceed the stock ACL and AMs are triggered. The Gulf 
Council's Reef Fish Advisory Panel recommended increasing the minimum 
size limit in Federal waters from 12 inches (30.5 cm), fork length 
(FL), to 14 inches (35.6 cm), FL, to reduce the directed harvest rate 
and reduce the probability of exceeding the ACL. This minimum size 
limit increase was also supported in public testimony by fishermen. The 
minimum size limit increase is projected to reduce the recreational 
harvest rate by 10 to 35 percent and reduce the commercial harvest rate 
by 6 to 28 percent, depending upon time of year and type of fishing. 
This action has an additional benefit of allowing hogfish to grow 
larger and have an additional spawning opportunity before being 
susceptible to harvest.

Powerhead Exemption

    Currently, as described at 50 CFR 622.35(a), a regulatory exemption 
allows for the harvest of hogfish using powerheads in the reef fish 
stressed area. The powerhead exemption is a regulatory holdover from 
when hogfish were listed in the regulations as a ``species in the 
fishery but not in the reef fish fishery management unit.'' Amendment 
15 to the FMP (62 FR 67714, December 30, 1997) removed 25 reef fish 
species and left 4 species (hogfish, queen triggerfish, sand perch, and 
dwarf sand perch) in the category of ``species in the fishery but not 
the management unit.'' Amendment 15 to the FMP also included a 
provision that reinstated the allowance of powerheads in the reef fish 
stressed area to harvest these four reef fish species. In 1999, 
Amendment 16B to the FMP (64 FR 57403, October 10, 1999) removed the 
distinction between reef fish species in the management unit and those 
in the fishery but not in the management unit and also removed queen 
triggerfish from the FMU. Even though the ``species in the fishery but 
not the management unit'' category no longer existed, the other three 
species from this category continued to be listed as exempt from 
powerhead prohibition. Sand perch and dwarf sand perch were removed 
from the FMP in 2011, through the Gulf Council's Generic ACL/AM 
Amendment (76 FR 82043, December 29, 2011), leaving only hogfish 
subject to the powerhead exemption.
    This proposed rule would remove the provision that exempts hogfish 
from the prohibition on the use of powerheads to take Gulf reef fish in 
the Gulf reef fish stressed area. By removing the powerhead exemption 
for hogfish, hogfish would be subject to the same regulations for Gulf 
reef fish in the stressed area as other species in the reef fish FMU. 
The stressed area begins at the shoreward boundary of Federal waters 
and generally follows the 10-fathom contour from the Dry Tortugas to 
Sanibel Island, Florida; the 20-fathom contour to Tarpon Springs, 
Florida; the 10-fathom contour to Cape San Blas, Florida; the 25-fathom 
contour to south of Mobile Bay, Alabama; the 13-fathom contour to Ship 
Island, Mississippi; the 10-fathom contour off Louisiana; and the 30-
fathom contour off Texas. The original FMP established the stressed 
area for purposes of preventing the localized depletion of reef fish 
stocks in nearshore waters, and to reduce the potential for gear 
conflicts (49 FR 39548, October 9, 1984). The coordinates for the reef 
fish stressed area are provided in 50 CFR part 622, Table 2 in Appendix 
B.

Management Measures Contained in Amendment 43 But Not Codified Through 
This Proposed Rule

    Amendment 43 would also specify hogfish status determination 
criteria (SDC) for the hogfish West Florida stock. The minimum stock 
size threshold (MSST) and maximum fishing mortality threshold (MFMT) 
are used to determine if a stock is overfished or undergoing 
overfishing, respectively. If the stock biomass falls below the MSST, 
then the stock is considered overfished and the Gulf Council would then 
need to develop a rebuilding plan capable of returning the stock to a 
level that allows the stock to produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY) 
on a continuing basis. If fishing mortality exceeds the MFMT, a stock 
is considered to be undergoing overfishing because this level of 
fishing mortality, if continued, would reduce the stock biomass to an 
overfished condition.
    Currently, the only SDC implemented for Gulf hogfish is the 
overfishing threshold, or MFMT. This threshold was approved by NMFS 
through the Gulf Council's Sustainable Fisheries Act Generic Amendment 
on November 17, 1999. The overfished threshold, or

[[Page 84541]]

MSST, and MSY in the Sustainable Fisheries Act Generic Amendment were 
disapproved because these values were not biomass based.
    In setting SDC in Amendment 43, the Council selected the spawning 
potential ratio (SPR) as the basis for an MSY proxy. The SPR is 
calculated as the average number of eggs per fish over its lifetime 
when the stock is fished compared to the average number of eggs per 
fish over its lifetime when the stock is not fished. The SPR assumes 
that a certain amount of fish must survive and spawn in order to 
replenish the stock. Analyses of stocks with various life histories 
suggest that, in general, SPR levels of 30 to 40 percent are most 
commonly associated with MSY. Amendment 43 proposes to use the 
equilibrium yield from fishing at FF30SPR 
as a proxy for MSY. This proxy is consistent to that used in SEDAR 37 
and is consistent with the MSY proxy commonly used for reef fish 
species.
    Both the proposed hogfish MFMT and MSST are based on this MSY 
proxy. The current MFMT value of FF30SPR 
for hogfish is already consistent with the MSY proxy and is not being 
changed in Amendment 43. To be consistent with the MSY proxy, the MSST 
needs to be equal to or reduced from the spawning stock biomass (SSB) 
capable of producing an equilibrium yield when fished at 
FF30SPR 
(SSBF30SPR). The closer the MSST value is 
to SSBF30SPR, the more likely a stock 
could be mistakenly declared overfished due to year-to-year 
fluctuations in SSB resulting in an unneeded rebuilding plan. However, 
if MSST is set too low, then rebuilding the stock equilibrium levels 
could take longer because the difference between 
SSBF30SPR and MSST is larger. Therefore, 
in Amendment 43, the Gulf Council determined that setting the MSST at 
75 percent of SSBF30SPR balanced the 
likelihood of declaring the stock as overfished as a result of natural 
variations in stock size with being able to allow the stock to recover 
quickly from an overfished state.

Additional Proposed Changes to Codified Text Not in Amendment 43

    In 2013, NMFS reorganized the regulations in 50 CFR part 622 to 
improve the organization of the regulations and make them easier to use 
(78 FR 57534, September 19, 2013). However, during that reorganization, 
a regulatory reference in the definition of ``charter vessel'' in Sec.  
622.2, was inadvertently not updated as needed. The current charter 
vessel definition includes a reference to Sec.  622.4(a)(2) as the 
provision that specifies the required commercial permits under the 
various fishery management plans. Although Sec.  622.4(a)(2) addressed 
all of the required commercial permits before the 2013 reorganization, 
that provision now refers to operator permits. The reorganization of 
the regulations removed the various commercial permit provisions from 
Sec.  622.4 and placed them in the appropriate subparts throughout part 
622. This proposed rule would update the regulatory reference in the 
definition of charter vessel in Sec.  622.2 to refer to commercial 
permits ``as required under this part''. This update in language would 
make the regulatory reference in the definition of charter vessel 
consistent with the current regulatory definition for headboat in Sec.  
622.2.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with Amendment 43, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, and other applicable laws, subject to further consideration after 
public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) for 
this proposed rule, as required by section 603 of the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 
603. The IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if 
adopted, would have on small entities. A description of the action, why 
it is being considered, the objectives of, and legal basis for this 
action are contained at the beginning of this section in the preamble 
and in the SUMMARY section of the preamble. A copy of the full analysis 
is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the statutory basis for this 
proposed rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal 
rules have been identified. In addition, no new reporting or record-
keeping requirements are introduced by this proposed rule.
    This proposed rule would directly affect all vessels with a Gulf 
Federal commercial reef fish permit that harvest hogfish. A Federal 
commercial reef fish permit is required for commercial vessels to 
harvest reef fish species, including hogfish, in the Gulf EEZ. Over the 
period 2010 through 2014, the number of vessels with recorded 
commercial harvests of hogfish in the Gulf EEZ ranged from 55 in 2010 
to 75 in 2014, or an average of 61 vessels per year, based on mandatory 
Federal logbook data. The average annual revenue per vessel from the 
harvest of all finfish species during this period by these vessels was 
approximately $35,600 (this estimate and all subsequent monetary 
estimates in this analysis are in 2014 dollars), of which approximately 
$2,200 was derived from the harvest of hogfish.
    NMFS has not identified any other small entities that might be 
directly affected by this proposed rule. Although recreational anglers 
would be directly affected by the actions in this proposed rule, 
recreational anglers are not small entities under the RFA. The actions 
in this proposed rule would not directly apply to or change the 
operation of the charter vessel and headboat (for-hire) component of 
the recreational sector or the service this component provides, which 
is providing a platform to fish for and retain those fish which are 
caught and within legal allowances. Although angler demand for for-hire 
services could be affected by the management changes in this proposed 
rule, the resultant effects on for-hire businesses would be indirect 
consequences of this proposed rule.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing. A business primarily engaged in 
commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) 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 not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations 
worldwide. All commercial fishing vessels expected to be directly 
affected by this proposed rule are believed to be small business 
entities.
    This proposed rule contains four actions pertaining to the 
management of the West Florida hogfish stock in the Gulf: Defining the 
hogfish FMU, establishing the stock ACL, setting the minimum size 
limit, and prohibiting the harvest of hogfish with powerheads in the 
reef fish stressed area. Two of these actions, defining the FMU and 
prohibiting the use of powerheads, would not be expected to have any 
direct economic effects on any small entities.
    Defining the FMU is an administrative action that forms the 
platform from which subsequent harvest regulations, such as the ACL and 
minimum size limit, are based. Although direct economic effects may 
accrue due to the imposition and change of these harvest regulations, 
these effects would be indirect consequences of defining the

[[Page 84542]]

FMU. Indirect effects are outside the scope of the RFA.
    Prohibiting the use of powerheads would not be expected to directly 
affect any small entities because powerheads are not expected to be a 
gear used to harvest hogfish. The use of powerheads for the harvest of 
other reef fish species in these areas is currently prohibited and, 
because of the small size of hogfish, powerheads would be expected to 
result in excessive damage to the fish and adversely affect its market 
quality. Thus, it is not expected that any hogfish in the reef fish 
stressed area are commercially harvested using powerheads, and the 
proposed prohibition would not be expected to reduce revenue to any 
commercial fishermen.
    The proposed changes in the West Florida hogfish stock ACL and 
minimum size limit have independent and interactive effects. The 
proposed West Florida hogfish stock ACL would be expected to result in 
an increase in total (all vessels) commercial fishing revenue for 2016 
through 2018 fishing years by approximately $8,900 per year, followed 
by a decrease in revenue of approximately $39,300 in 2019, and 
thereafter until the stock ACL (or other management aspect) is changed. 
The proposed minimum size limit would be expected to reduce commercial 
harvest by 17 percent, resulting in a decrease in commercial revenue 
each year if vessels are unable to compensate for the increased minimum 
size limit. Independent of the proposed West Florida hogfish stock ACL, 
the proposed minimum size limit would be expected to result in a 
decrease in total (all vessels) commercial revenue of approximately 
$28,500 per year.
    In combination, the proposed revisions to the West Florida hogfish 
stock ACL and minimum size limit would be expected to result in a 
decrease in total (all vessels) commercial revenue of approximately 
$21,100 per year for 2016 through 2018 and approximately $61,100 in 
2019 and each year thereafter until the stock ACL (or other management 
aspect) is changed. As previously stated, these projected reductions 
assume an inability of fishermen to benefit from the full proposed 
increase in the ACL due to the proposed increase in the minimum size 
limit, as well as compensate for the effects of the larger minimum size 
limit on their normal harvests (i.e., pre-ACL increase). Averaged 
across the number of small business entities expected to be directly 
affected by this proposed action (55-75 entities, or an average of 61 
entities per year), the expected reduction in revenue each year for 
2016 through 2018 would range from $282 (75 entities) to $384 (55 
entities) per year, or an average of $347 (61 entities). For 2019, and 
thereafter, the expected average reduction would range from $814 (75 
entities) to $1,111 (55 entities) per year, or an average of $1,001 (61 
entities).
    Compared to the average annual revenue per vessel from all 
commercial fishing (approximately $35,600), the expected reduction in 
revenue per year as a result of the proposed West Florida hogfish stock 
ACL and minimum size limit would average approximately one percent of 
average annual total revenue for 2016 through 2018. For 2019, and 
thereafter, the average expected reduction in annual revenue would be 
approximately three percent of average annual total revenue.
    In conjunction with the proposed ACL for the West Florida stock, 
this proposed rule would eliminate the ACT (i.e., an ACT would not be 
defined). Although this would eliminate the current West Florida 
hogfish ACT, the hogfish ACT is not currently used as a fishing 
restraint and does not affect the harvest of hogfish, or associated 
revenue, in the Gulf. As a result, not defining an ACT would not be 
expected to have any economic effects on any small entities.
    In addition to the four actions that pertain to the management of 
hogfish in the Gulf, this proposed rule would make a minor revision to 
the definition of a charter vessel. A regulatory reference within the 
definition of charter vessel was inadvertently not updated when the 
regulations at 50 CFR part 622 were reorganized in 2013 (78 FR 57534, 
September 19, 2013). This revision would be editorial in nature and 
would not be expected to have any direct effect on any small entities.
    Because the proposed actions to define the Gulf hogfish FMU, 
specify the SDC for the West Florida hogfish stock, prohibit the use of 
powerheads to harvest hogfish in the reef fish stressed area, and 
revise the definition of charter vessel would not be expected to have 
any direct adverse economic effects on any small entities, the issue of 
significant alternatives is not relevant.
    Four alternatives, including no action, were considered for the 
action to set the West Florida hogfish stock ACL. Each of these 
alternatives included options to set the West Florida hogfish ACT, and 
the option selected by the Gulf Council was to not define an ACT. As 
previously discussed, the current ACT does not restrict harvest. Thus, 
not defining an ACT would not be expected to have any direct economic 
effects, and the issue of significant alternatives (or options) is not 
relevant.
    The first alternative (no action) to the proposed ACL for the West 
Florida hogfish stock would have resulted in less revenue to commercial 
fishermen in 2016 through 2018, and more revenue in 2019, and 
thereafter than the proposed change. Cumulatively (2016 through 2019 
and thereafter), this alternative would have resulted in more 
commercial fishing revenue than the proposed ACL. However, this 
alternative was not selected by the Gulf Council because it would not 
enable the increase in stock ACL for the West Florida hogfish stock 
resulting from SEDAR 37. Under the proposed rule, the ACL in 2019 will 
be substantially reduced from the 2017 and 2018 ACL if a new hogfish 
assessment is not completed. This may suggest the ``no action'' ACL 
would be preferable to the proposed ACL. However, retaining the ``no 
action'' ACL in 2019 and beyond would have been inconsistent with the 
ABC recommendations provided by the Council's SSC. In addition, the 
Council expects a new assessment to be completed in sufficient time to 
avoid the scheduled reduction to the ACL beginning in the 2019 fishing 
year.
    The second alternative to the proposed ACL for the West Florida 
hogfish stock would set the ACL higher in 2016 and reduce it 
thereafter, until it reached the lowest level in 2019. This alternative 
would be expected to result in increased commercial fishing revenue in 
2016, decreased revenue in 2017 and 2018, and the same revenue in 2019, 
and thereafter compared to the proposed ACL. This alternative was not 
adopted by the Gulf Council because it would require successive 
reductions in the ACL in 2017 and 2018 (after the initial increase in 
2016), in addition to the reduction in 2019, common to both this 
alternative and the proposed ACL. The Gulf Council determined that 
employing a constant ACL for the 2016 through 2018 fishing years would 
result in greater economic stability for affected fishermen and 
associated businesses.
    Finally, the fourth alternative to the proposed ACL for the West 
Florida hogfish stock would set the ACL at the lowest level, resulting 
in less revenue in 2016 through 2018, and the same revenue in 2019, and 
thereafter compared to the proposed ACL. This alternative was not 
selected because it would unnecessarily limit hogfish harvest and cause 
greater economic losses than the proposed ACL.
    Four alternatives, including no action, were considered for the 
action to change the hogfish minimum size limit. The Gulf Council 
determined that slowing

[[Page 84543]]

the hogfish directed harvest rate was prudent to reduce the likelihood 
that the ACL is exceeded, thus triggering AMs. Exceeding the ACL may 
require an AM closure in the following year, and the Gulf Council 
determined that a closure is more economically harmful than reducing 
the harvest rate to help ensure a longer open season. Therefore, to 
reduce the harvest rate, the Gulf Council is proposing to increase the 
hogfish minimum size limit.
    The first alternative (no action) to the proposed minimum size 
limit would not change the minimum size limit, would not reduce the 
harvest rate, and would not achieve the Gulf Council's objective. Two 
other minimum size limits were considered in Amendment 43, each of 
which are higher than the current and proposed size limits. Because 
these alternatives would result in a higher minimum size limit than the 
Council's preferred alternative, each would be expected to result in 
greater reductions in hogfish harvest and associated revenue. These 
alternatives were not adopted because the Gulf Council concluded that 
the resultant reductions in the hogfish harvest rate would be greater 
than necessary, and would result in excessive adverse economic effects 
on fishermen and associated businesses.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Commercial, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, Hogfish, 
Recreational, South Atlantic.

    Dated: November 16, 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 622 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.1, revise the Table 1 entry for ``FMP for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico'', and add footnote 7 to Table 1 to 
read as follows:


Sec.  622.1  Purpose and scope.

* * * * *

        Table 1 to Sec.   622.1--FMPs Implemented Under Part 622
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Responsible
            FMP title             fishery management    Geographic area
                                      council(s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
FMP for the Reef Fish Resources   GMFMC.............  Gulf.1 3 4 7
 of the Gulf of Mexico.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulated area includes adjoining state waters for purposes of data
  collection and quota monitoring.
* * * * * * *
\3\ Regulated area includes adjoining state waters for Gulf red snapper
  harvested or possessed by a person aboard a vessel for which a Gulf
  red snapper IFQ vessel account has been established or possessed by a
  dealer with a Gulf IFQ dealer endorsement.
\4\ Regulated area includes adjoining state waters for Gulf groupers and
  tilefishes harvested or possessed by a person aboard a vessel for
  which an IFQ vessel account for Gulf groupers and tilefishes has been
  established or possessed by a dealer with a Gulf IFQ dealer
  endorsement.
* * * * * * *
\7\ Hogfish are managed by the FMP in the Gulf EEZ except south of
  25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of Florida. Hogfish in the
  remainder of the Gulf EEZ south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west
  coast of Florida are managed under the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper
  Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

0
3. In Sec.  622.2, revise the first two sentences in the definition of 
Charter vessel to read as follows:


Sec.  622.2   Definitions and acronyms.

* * * * *
    Charter vessel means a vessel less than 100 gross tons (90.8 mt) 
that is subject to the requirements of the USCG to carry six or fewer 
passengers for hire and that engages in charter fishing at any time 
during the calendar year. A charter vessel with a commercial permit, as 
required under this part, is considered to be operating as a charter 
vessel when it carries a passenger who pays a fee or when there are 
more than three persons aboard, including operator and crew, except for 
a charter vessel with a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish or 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper. * * *
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  622.34, add paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.34   Seasonal and area closures designed to protect Gulf reef 
fish.

* * * * *
    (g) Recreational sector for hogfish in the Gulf EEZ south of 
25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of Florida. See Sec.  
622.183(b)(4) for the applicable seasonal closures.
0
5. In Sec.  622.35, revise paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.35   Gear restricted areas.

    (a) * * *
    (1) A powerhead may not be used in the stressed area to take Gulf 
reef fish. Possession of a powerhead and a mutilated Gulf reef fish in 
the stressed area or after having fished in the stressed area 
constitutes prima facie evidence that such reef fish was taken with a 
powerhead in the stressed area.
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  622.37, revise paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.37   Size limits.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off 
the west coast of Florida--14 inches (40.6 cm), fork length. See Sec.  
622.185(c)(3)(ii) for the hogfish size limit in the Gulf EEZ south of 
25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of Florida.
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec.  622.38, revise paragraph (b)(7) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.38   Bag and possession limits.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

[[Page 84544]]

    (7) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off 
the west coast of Florida--5. See Sec.  622.187(b)(3)(ii) for the 
hogfish bag and possession limits in the Gulf EEZ south of 25[deg]09' 
N. lat. off the west coast of Florida.
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  622.41, revise paragraph (p) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.41  Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), 
and accountability measures (AMs).

* * * * *
    (p) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off 
the west coast of Florida. If the sum of the commercial and 
recreational landings, as estimated by the SRD, exceeds the stock ACL, 
then during the following fishing year, if the sum of commercial and 
recreational landings reaches or is projected to reach the stock ACL, 
the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register 
to close the commercial and recreational sectors for the remainder of 
that fishing year. For the 2016 through 2018 fishing years, the stock 
ACL for hogfish in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off 
the west coast of Florida is 219,000 lb (99,337 kg), round weight. For 
the 2019 and subsequent fishing years, the stock ACL for hogfish in the 
Gulf EEZ except south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of 
Florida is 159,300 lb (72,257 kg), round weight. See Sec.  
622.193(u)(2) for the ACLs, ACT, and AMs for hogfish in the Gulf EEZ 
south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the west coast of Florida.
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec.  622.43, add paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.43   Commercial trip limits.

* * * * *
    (c) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ south of 25[deg]09' N. lat. off the 
west coast of Florida--see Sec.  622.191(a)(12) for the applicable 
commercial trip limit.
[FR Doc. 2016-28173 Filed 11-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P