Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 17B, 46205-46209 [2017-21039]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46205-46209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21039]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 170823802-7802-01]
RIN 0648-BG82


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 17B

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 regulations to implement Amendment 17B to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
U.S. Waters, (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico 
(Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would 
allow for the creation of a Federal Gulf shrimp reserve pool permit 
when certain conditions are met, and would allow non-federally 
permitted Gulf shrimp vessels to transit through the Gulf exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). Amendment 17B would also define the aggregate 
maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and aggregate optimum yield (OY), and 
determine a minimum number of commercial vessel moratorium permits in 
the fishery. This proposed rule also would make technical corrections 
to the regulations that would revise the coordinates for the Tortugas 
shrimp sanctuary in the Gulf, and correct the provisions regarding the 
harvest and possession of wild live rock in Gulf Federal waters. The 
purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 17B is to protect federally 
managed Gulf shrimp stocks while maintaining catch efficiency, economic 
efficiency, and stability in the fishery.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0040'' 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-2017-0040, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 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 17B, which includes an environmental 
assessment, 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/shrimp/2017/am17b/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, telephone: 727-824-5305, 
or email: Frank.Helies@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The shrimp fishery in the Gulf is managed 
under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and implemented 
through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).
    This document also proposes to designate the unidentified tables in 
Sec.  622.55 to bring the section into compliance with the requirements 
of 1 CFR 8.1 and 8.2 and with the Office of the Federal Register's 
Document Drafting Handbook (https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/write/handbook/ddh.pdf) section 7.4.

Background

    From 2003 to 2006, the Gulf shrimp fishery experienced significant 
economic losses, primarily as a result of high fuel costs and reduced 
prices caused by competition with imports. These economic losses 
contributed to a reduction in the number of vessels in the fishery, and 
consequently, a reduction of commercial effort. During that time, 
commercial vessels in the Gulf shrimp fishery were required to have an 
open-access permit. In 2006, to prevent overcapitalizing the fishery 
when it became profitable again, the Council established a 10-year 
freeze on the issuance of new shrimp permits and created a limited 
access Federal Gulf shrimp moratorium permit (moratorium permit) (71 FR 
56039, September 26, 2006). In 2016, the Council extended the duration 
of the Gulf shrimp moratorium permit program for another 10 years in 
Amendment 17A to the FMP (81 FR 47733, July 22, 2016).
    During the development of Amendment 17A, the Council identified 
several other issues with the Gulf shrimp fishery that it wanted 
addressed. First, MSY and OY (equal to MSY), are defined individually 
for the three penaeid shrimp species and for royal red shrimp. Second, 
the number of moratorium permits has continued to decline and the 
Council is concerned that the decline in total permits will continue 
indefinitely. Finally, transit through Federal waters (Gulf EEZ) with 
shrimp on board currently requires a moratorium permit, which limits 
the

[[Page 46206]]

ability of a state-registered vessel to navigate in certain areas of 
the Gulf while engaged in shrimping. Amendment 17B was developed to 
address these issues through revisions to management reference points 
and the Gulf shrimp permit program while maintaining catch efficiency, 
economic efficiency, and stability in the fishery.

Management Measures Codified Through in This Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule would allow for the creation of a Federal Gulf 
shrimp reserve pool permit when certain conditions are met and would 
allow non-federally permitted Gulf shrimp vessels to transit through 
the Gulf EEZ.

Federal Gulf Shrimp Reserve Pool Permit

    Currently, moratorium permits are valid for 1 year and are required 
to be renewed annually. If the permit is not renewed within 1 year of 
its expiration date, the permit is no longer renewable and is 
terminated. A terminated permit cannot be reissued by NMFS and is lost 
to the fishery.
    As of December 31, 2016, there were 1,441 moratorium permits that 
were valid or renewable. Since the start of the permit moratorium, a 
total of 493 moratorium permits have been terminated. As described in 
Amendment 17B, when the number of valid or renewable moratorium permits 
reaches 1,072, then any moratorium permits that are not renewed within 
1 year of expiration would be converted to a Gulf shrimp reserve pool 
permit. This number is based on the predicted number of active 
permitted vessels needed to attain aggregate OY in the offshore 
fishery. As explained further below, the aggregate OY accounts for 
relatively high catch per unit effort (CPUE) and landings while 
reducing the risk of exceeding sea turtle and juvenile red snapper 
bycatch.
    As described in Amendment 17B, the Council estimates that it could 
take up to 24 years to reach the threshold value of 1,072 valid or 
renewable moratorium permits. Therefore, any Gulf shrimp reserve pool 
permit that is created would not be issued until eligibility 
requirements are developed by the Council and implemented through 
subsequent rulemaking. Depending on such future Council action on 
eligibility requirements, Gulf shrimp reserve pool permits could be 
used as a method to allow new entrants into the fishery or to allow 
persons who previously held a moratorium permit to re-enter the 
fishery.

Transit Provisions for Shrimp Vessels Without a Federal Permit

    Currently, to possess Gulf shrimp in the Gulf EEZ, a vessel must 
have been issued a moratorium permit. In the Gulf, there are some areas 
where state-only licensed shrimpers would like to transit with shrimp 
on board from state waters through Federal waters to return to state 
waters and port. However, because these state-licensed shrimping 
vessels do not possess a moratorium permit, they cannot legally transit 
through the Gulf EEZ while possessing shrimp. This results in some of 
these vessels spending increased time at sea and incurring additional 
fuel costs because of longer transit times.
    The proposed rule would allow a vessel possessing Gulf shrimp to 
transit the Gulf EEZ without a valid moratorium permit if fishing gear 
is appropriately stowed. Transit would be defined as non-stop 
progression through the area; fishing gear appropriately stowed would 
mean trawl doors and nets must be out of the water and the bag straps 
must be removed from the net. This transit exemption is expected to 
reduce the time at sea required for some shrimpers, while allowing 
enforcement to easily determine that the gear is not being used for 
fishing.

Measures Contained in Amendment 17B but Not Codified Through This 
Proposed Rule

    Amendment 17B would specify the aggregate MSY and aggregate OY for 
the Federal Gulf shrimp fishery, and determine a minimum number of 
moratorium permits in the fishery.

Aggregate MSY and OY

    After extending the duration of the Gulf shrimp moratorium permit 
program for another 10 years, and recognizing that the moratorium 
results in a passive loss of permits from the fishery, the Council 
decided to determine an appropriate minimum number of moratorium 
permits. To facilitate this determination, the Council decided to 
establish an aggregate MSY and OY for the Federal Gulf shrimp fishery. 
In Amendment 15 to the FMP, the Council established species specific 
MSYs and OYs for penaeid shrimp (80 FR 74711, November 30, 2015). MSY 
and OY were established for royal red shrimp in the original FMP (46 FR 
27489, May 20, 1981). Additionally, Amendment 13 to the FMP revised the 
MSY and OY for royal red shrimp (71 FR 56039, September 26, 2006). 
However, the shrimp permit is not species specific and an aggregate MSY 
and OY for all federally managed shrimp species (penaeid and royal red) 
can be used as references points for the shrimp fishery as whole.
    In March 2016, the Council convened a working group to determine 
the appropriate aggregate MSY and aggregate OY for the Gulf shrimp 
fishery in Federal waters. To determine the aggregate MSY, the working 
group used the same general approach established by a 2006 working 
group, but included the most recent years of catch and effort data 
through 2014. The working group also determined that there were four 
important factors to consider when establishing aggregate OY: Landings, 
CPUE, sea turtle bycatch threshold, and juvenile red snapper bycatch. 
The working group concluded that the predicted effort and associated 
landings in 2009 balanced all of these criteria relative to observed 
levels in other years.
    Amendment 17B proposes using the method developed by the working 
group to establish aggregate MSY for the Federal Gulf shrimp fishery at 
112,531,374 lb (51,043,373 kg), tail weight. Amendment 17B also would 
establish aggregate OY for the Gulf shrimp fishery equal to 85,761,596 
lb (38,900,806 kg), tail weight, which is the aggregate MSY reduced for 
the ecological, social, and economic factors described above.

Minimum Threshold Number of Gulf Shrimp Moratorium Permits

    As noted above, as of December 31, 2016, there were 1,441 
moratorium permits that were valid or renewable, and, at the current 
rate of termination, the minimum threshold number of permits selected 
by the Council, 1,072 permits, will be reached in 24 years. This 
minimum threshold number of valid or renewable moratorium permits is 
based on the predicted number of active permitted vessels needed to 
achieve aggregate OY in the offshore fishery. Aggregate OY accounts for 
relatively high CPUE and landings, while reducing the risk of exceeding 
sea turtle and juvenile red snapper bycatch. Neither this proposed rule 
nor Amendment 17B actively removes any moratorium permits. The minimum 
threshold is only for purposes of monitoring changes in fishery 
participation and determining whether additional management measures 
should be established.
    As specified in Amendment 17B, when the number of moratorium 
permits declines to 1,175, the Council would form a panel to review 
details of the reserve permit pool and other options for management. 
The Council's Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) suggested

[[Page 46207]]

the review panel should meet when 1,300 valid and renewable permits 
remain, but the Council determined that the review panel should meet 
when the number of permits was closer to the threshold number of 1,072 
permits. The panel would consist of the Council's Shrimp AP members, 
Science and Statistical Committee members, NMFS, and Council staff. 
This panel could make recommendations about how to utilize a Gulf 
shrimp vessel permit reserve pool. The development of additional 
details for the pool permits will occur through a plan amendment or 
framework action, as appropriate, at a later date, when additional 
available information about the status of the Gulf shrimp fishery may 
be available.

Measures in This Proposed Rule Not Contained in Amendment 17B

    In addition to the measures described in Amendment 17B, this 
proposed rule would revise the coordinates for the Tortugas shrimp 
sanctuary in the Gulf that were established in the original Shrimp FMP; 
and clarify the regulations for the harvest and possession of wild live 
rock in Gulf Federal waters, as established in the FMP for Coral and 
Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Coral FMP).
    The original FMP established the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary on May 
20, 1981, which was implemented with cooperation from of the state of 
Florida (46 FR 27489, May 20, 1981), and which is currently defined at 
50 CFR 622.55(c)(1). Since that time, there have been numerous advances 
in geographical positioning systems that describe the physical 
locations (such as lights) used to define the boundary of the Tortugas 
shrimp sanctuary. NMFS and the state of Florida have determined that 
several positions for the points defining the boundary of the sanctuary 
are no longer consistent with the most recent published coordinates in 
Federal navigation references and current positioning systems, such as 
Global Positioning Systems. For example, Point N (Coon Key Light) is 
currently described as being located at 25[deg]52'9'' North Latitude 
and 81[deg]37'9'' West Longitude. However, using current technology 
that is reflected in recently U.S navigational publications, NMFS and 
the state of Florida have noted that this point is actually located at 
25[deg]52'54'' North Latitude and 81[deg]37'56'' West Longitude. 
Therefore, this proposed rule would revise the positions for Points N, 
F, G, H, and P to reflect current technology, for consistency with the 
current U.S. Coast Guard Light List, the U.S. Coast Pilot, and the 
state of Florida, and for consistency in units of position. For 
consistency, the state of Florida is also updating these positions. 
Only these technical corrections for the coordinates would be made to 
the language of the regulations; this proposed rule would not make any 
substantive changes in the regulations specific to the management 
measures for the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary.
    This proposed rule also would revise the prohibited species 
regulations for wild live rock, as established in the Coral FMP. In 
1994, the final rule implementing Amendment 2 to the Coral FMP 
established a prohibition on the harvest and possession of wild live 
rock in the Gulf EEZ to begin on January 1, 1997 (59 FR 66776, December 
28, 1994). The following year, the final rule implementing Amendment 3 
to the Coral FMP established an annual quota for wild live rock from 
the Gulf EEZ to apply before the prohibition would take effect (60 FR 
56533, November 9, 1995). The prohibition on harvest beginning in 1997, 
and the quota were originally codified at 50 CFR 638.26(c) and (d), and 
the quota provision included prohibitions on harvest and possession and 
on sale and purchase when a quota closure occurs. When NMFS reorganized 
the 50 CFR part 622 regulations in 1996, the prohibition on harvest and 
possession and the quota provisions were moved to 50 CFR 622.42(b)(2) 
and 622.43(a)(2)(ii) (61 FR 34930, July 3, 1996). In 1999, NMFS issued 
a final rule for a Technical Amendment to its regulations in 50 CFR 
part 622 in order to revise a variety of regulations for clarity, 
consistency in terms, and the removal of outdated regulations (64 FR 
59125, November 2, 1999). Because the harvest of wild live rock in the 
Gulf was discontinued at the end of 1996, the final rule for the 
Technical Amendment removed several provisions related to harvest, 
including the quota and the associated prohibitions on harvest and 
possession and on sale and purchase, when a quota closure occurs. That 
final rule also added a general restriction on sale and purchase of 
wild live rock from the Gulf EEZ, which remains in effect today. 
However, NMFS recently became aware that the rule inadvertently failed 
to also add the general restriction on the harvest and possession of 
wild live rock in or from the Gulf EEZ. In this proposed rule, NMFS 
corrects this error by adding the Gulf EEZ wild live rock prohibition 
at 622.73(c).

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 17B, the FMP, other provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further 
consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the legal basis for this proposed 
rule. No duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have 
been identified. In addition, no new reporting and record-keeping 
requirements are introduced by this proposed rule. Accordingly, the 
Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply to this proposed rule. A 
description of this proposed rule, why it is being considered, and the 
purposes of this proposed rule are contained in the preamble and in the 
SUMMARY section of the preamble. The objectives of this proposed rule 
are to establish the appropriate metrics to manage the shrimp fishery, 
maintain increases in catch efficiency, maintain landings at or near 
aggregate OY, promote economic efficiency and stability in the fishery, 
provide flexibility for state registered shrimp vessels, protect 
federally managed Gulf shrimp stocks, correct coordinates for the 
Tortugas sanctuary in the Federal regulations so they are consistent 
with published coordinates in Federal navigation references and current 
positioning systems, and correct the regulations to clarify that 
harvest and possession of wild live rock in or from the Gulf EEZ is 
prohibited.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) that this rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
A description of the factual basis for this determination follows. 
Estimates in the factual basis are based on 2011-2014 data, and all 
monetary estimates are in 2014 dollars, consistent with the data and 
estimates in Amendment 17B.
    This proposed rule, if implemented, would establish an aggregate 
MSY of 112,531,374 lb (51,043,373 kg), tail weight, and an aggregate OY 
of 85,761,596 lb (38,900,806 kg), tail weight, for the Federal Gulf 
shrimp fishery; establish a minimum threshold of 1,072 Gulf shrimp 
moratorium permits; establish how the Council will respond if and when 
the minimum threshold is reached; and allow shrimp vessels without 
Federal permits to transit through Federal waters in the Gulf when they 
have shrimp on board. This proposed rule also would make technical 
corrections to the regulations

[[Page 46208]]

that would revise the coordinates for the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary in 
the Gulf and clarify the provisions regarding the harvest and 
possession of wild live rock in Gulf Federal waters.
    The action to revise the coordinates for the Tortugas shrimp 
sanctuary in the Gulf is purely administrative in nature and thus would 
not directly regulate or affect any entities. In addition, the action 
to correct the regulations for wild live rock in Gulf Federal waters 
adds the previously established prohibition on the harvest and 
possession, consistent with the regulations implemented as a result of 
Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 to the Coral FMP. Currently, because the 
sale of wild live rock is prohibited under the existing regulations, 
harvest of wild live rock for commercial purposes, and thus by business 
entities, is prohibited. As such, any harvest that may be occurring as 
a result of uncertainty regarding the current regulations would be by 
individuals who are retaining wild live rock for personal use. However, 
individuals engaged in such activities are not considered entities 
under the RFA.
    This proposed rule is expected to directly regulate businesses that 
possess Federal Gulf shrimp moratorium permits as well as shrimp 
vessels that do not possess these permits but transit through Federal 
waters. As of January 1, 2017, there were 1,440 vessels with valid or 
renewable Gulf shrimp moratorium permits. Although some vessels are 
thought to be owned by businesses with the same or very similar 
individual owners, ownership data regarding the businesses that possess 
these permits is incomplete, and thus it is not currently feasible to 
accurately determine affiliations between vessels and the businesses 
that own them. NMFS is making changes to its permit application forms 
so that such determinations can be accurately made for future 
regulatory actions in this fishery. Also, NMFS does not possess data 
that would indicate how many vessels without Federal permits could 
harvest shrimp in the Gulf and choose to transit through Federal 
waters. However, available landings data in recent years indicate that 
as many as 3,800 vessels without Federal permits harvested shrimp in 
the Gulf. NMFS does not possess any ownership data for these vessels. 
Thus, it is not currently feasible to accurately determine the number 
of individual businesses these 3,800 vessels represent. While it will 
result in an overestimate of the actual number of businesses directly 
regulated by this proposed rule, for the purposes of this analysis, it 
is assumed that each vessel is independently owned by a single 
business. Therefore, this proposed rule would be expected to directly 
regulate 5,240 businesses.
    For vessels with Gulf shrimp moratorium permits, annual gross 
revenue was about $381,000 on average from 2011 through 2014, of which 
approximately $343,000 came from commercial fishing operations. Net 
revenue for these vessels was about $43,000, while net revenue from 
commercial fishing operations was approximately $8,300. For vessels 
without Gulf shrimp moratorium permits, annual gross revenue was about 
$85,000 on average in 2012, of which approximately $64,000 came from 
commercial fishing operations. Net revenue was about $16,000, while net 
revenue from commercial fishing operations was approximately -$5,000. 
From 2011 through 2014, the greatest average annual gross revenue 
earned by a single vessel (business) was approximately $1.85 million.
    On December 29, 2015, NMFS issued a final rule establishing a small 
business size standard of $11 million in annual gross receipts 
(revenue) for all businesses primarily engaged in the commercial 
fishing industry (NAICS code 11411) for RFA compliance purposes only 
(80 FR 81194, December 29, 2015). In addition to this gross revenue 
standard, a business primarily involved in commercial fishing is 
classified as a small business if it is independently owned and 
operated, and is not dominant in its field of operations (including its 
affiliates).
    Based on the information above, all businesses directly regulated 
by this proposed rule are determined to be small businesses for the 
purpose of this analysis. Therefore, it is determined that this 
proposed rule will affect a substantial number of small businesses.
    Aggregate MSY is a biological reference point. In general, 
establishing biological and other reference points in fisheries does 
not directly regulate any entities and therefore is not expected to 
alter domestic prices, landings, or the harvesting behavior of vessels. 
As such, the action to establish aggregate MSY is not expected to 
directly affect any small entities in the Gulf shrimp fishery. 
Similarly, aggregate OY specifies the level of harvest that is expected 
to maximize net benefits to the Nation. Though not purely biological, 
aggregate OY is also a reference point. Thus, the action to establish 
aggregate OY does not directly regulate any entities and would also not 
be expected to alter domestic prices, landings, or the harvesting 
behavior of vessels in the Gulf shrimp fishery. As such, the action to 
establish aggregate OY is not expected to directly affect any small 
entities.
    The action to establish a minimum number of 1,072 Gulf shrimp 
moratorium permits would not actively remove Gulf shrimp moratorium 
permits from the Federal fishery. Rather, it would continue to allow a 
passive reduction in the number of valid or renewable Gulf shrimp 
moratorium permits, as permits terminate due to not being renewed in a 
timely manner, until the minimum number is reached. As a result, this 
action is not expected to directly regulate or affect any small 
entities.
    The action to establish the Council's response when the number of 
valid and renewable permits reaches or approaches the minimum number of 
permits is also administrative, or procedural, in nature. If the number 
of valid and renewable permits reaches the minimum number, any permits 
that are not renewed within 1 year of the expiration date on the permit 
will go into a reserve pool. However, these reserve pool permits will 
not be issued, and therefore cannot be used to harvest shrimp in 
Federal waters, until eligibility requirements are established. This 
action also establishes a requirement for the Council to convene a 
review panel once the number of valid and renewable permits reaches 
1,175. This action would not be expected to alter domestic shrimp 
prices, landings, or the harvesting behavior of shrimp vessels in the 
Gulf, and therefore is also not expected to directly affect any small 
entities.
    The action to allow vessels without a Gulf shrimp moratorium permit 
to possess shrimp when transiting through Federal waters if the gear is 
appropriately stowed would be expected to directly affect these 
vessels. Specifically, under current regulations, these vessels are not 
allowed to transit through Federal waters and instead must often take a 
longer route between their home ports and where they harvest shrimp, 
resulting in longer transiting times and distances, and therefore 
higher fuel expenses. Although quantitative estimates of these 
additional fuel expenses are not available, this action would be 
expected to reduce fuel expenses for these vessels, which would result 
in direct but positive economic effects on these small entities.
    Based on the information above, a reduction in profits for a 
substantial number of small entities is not expected as a result of 
this proposed rule. Thus, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not required and none has been prepared.

[[Page 46209]]

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Commercial, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf, Permits, Shrimp.

    Dated: September 27, 2017.
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, 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.  622.50, revise paragraph (b)(3)(ii), and add paragraphs 
(b)(3)(iii) and (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.50  Permits, permit moratorium, and endorsements.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) Except as provided for in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this 
section, a commercial vessel moratorium permit for Gulf shrimp that is 
not renewed will be terminated and will not be reissued during the 
moratorium. A permit is considered to be not renewed when an 
application for renewal, as required, is not received by the RA within 
1 year of the expiration date of the permit.
    (iii) When NMFS has determined that the number of commercial vessel 
moratorium permits for Gulf shrimp has reached the threshold number of 
permits as described in the FMP, then a commercial vessel moratorium 
permit for Gulf shrimp that is not renewed will be converted to a Gulf 
shrimp reserve pool permit and held by NMFS for possible reissuance. 
Gulf shrimp reserve pool permits will not be issued until eligibility 
requirements are developed and implemented through subsequent 
rulemaking.
* * * * *
    (e) Gulf shrimp transit provision. A vessel that does not have a 
valid Gulf shrimp moratorium permit, as described in paragraphs (a) and 
(b) of this section, may possess Gulf shrimp when in transit in the 
Gulf EEZ provided that the shrimp fishing gear is appropriately stowed. 
For the purposes of this paragraph, transit means non-stop progression 
through the Gulf EEZ. Fishing gear appropriately stowed means trawl 
doors and nets must be out of the water and the bag straps must be 
removed from the net.
0
3. Amend Sec.  622.55 by:
0
a. Designating the table in paragraph (b) as Table 1 to paragraph (b);
0
b. Revising paragraph (c)(1);
0
c. Designating the table after paragraph (d)(2) as Table 3 to paragraph 
(d), the table after paragraph (d)(3) as Table 4 to paragraph (d), and 
the table after paragraph (d)(4) as Table 5 to paragraph (d);
0
d. In paragraph (e) designating the table as Table 6 to paragraph (e).
    The revision to read as follows:


Sec.  622.55  Closed area.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) The Tortugas shrimp sanctuary is closed to trawling. The 
Tortugas shrimp sanctuary is that part of the EEZ off Florida shoreward 
of rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points:

                       Table 1 to Paragraph (c)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
N \1\...................................  25[deg]52'54''  81[deg]37'56''
F.......................................  24[deg]50'42''  81[deg]51'18''
G \2\...................................  24[deg]40'00''  82[deg]26'39''
H \3\...................................  24[deg]34'44''  82[deg]35'27''
P \4\...................................  24[deg]35'00''  82[deg]08'00''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Coon Key Light.
\2\ New Ground Shoals Light.
\3\ Rebecca Shoals Light.
\4\ Marquesas Keys.

* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  622.73, add paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  622.73  Prohibited species.

* * * * *
    (c) Wild live rock may not be harvested or possessed in or from the 
Gulf EEZ.

[FR Doc. 2017-21039 Filed 10-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P