Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Commercial Management Measures, 46209-46210 [2017-21254]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2017 / Proposed Rules
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
1. The authority citation for part 622
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. In § 622.50, revise paragraph
(b)(3)(ii), and add paragraphs (b)(3)(iii)
and (e) to read as follows:
■
§ 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
46209
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.
■ 3. Amend § 622.55 by:
■ a. Designating the table in paragraph
(b) as Table 1 to paragraph (b);
■ b. Revising paragraph (c)(1);
■ 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);
■ d. In paragraph (e) designating the
table as Table 6 to paragraph (e).
The revision to read as follows:
§ 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.
N 1 ............................................................................................................................................................................
F ...............................................................................................................................................................................
G 2 ............................................................................................................................................................................
H 3 ............................................................................................................................................................................
P 4 ............................................................................................................................................................................
25°52′54″
24°50′42″
24°40′00″
24°34′44″
24°35′00″
West long.
81°37′56″
81°51′18″
82°26′39″
82°35′27″
82°08′00″
1 Coon
Key Light.
Ground Shoals Light.
Shoals Light.
4 Marquesas Keys.
2 New
3 Rebecca
*
*
*
*
*
4. In § 622.73, add paragraph (c) to
read as follows:
■
§ 622.73
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 170630616–7875–01]
RIN 0648–BH00
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery;
Commercial Management Measures
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed
rulemaking; request for comments.
AGENCY:
This advanced notice of
proposed rulemaking provides
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:17 Oct 03, 2017
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
information on a request by the Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council)
to announce deliberations of potential
accumulation limits for Catcher
Processor Permit use or ownership in
the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. The
Council may not count any acquisition
and usage of Catcher Processor permits
and/or usage of Catcher Processor
allocation after the date of June 13,
2017, in any decision setting
accumulation limits. NMFS invites
comments on this document.
DATES: Written comments must be
received by November 3, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the proposed rule identified by
‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2017–0109’’ by either
of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
E:\FR\FM\04OCP1.SGM
04OCP1
46210
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2017 / Proposed Rules
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20170109, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Frank Lockhart, NMFS West Coast
Regional Office, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115.
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Lockhart, NMFS West Coast
Regional Office, telephone: 206–526–
6142, or email: frank.lockhart@
noaa.gov.
The
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) recommended and the
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) implemented the Pacific Coast
groundfish trawl catch share program
(Program) off Washington, Oregon and
California, starting on January 11, 2011.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:17 Oct 03, 2017
Jkt 244001
The Program changed management of
harvest in the trawl fishery from a trip
limit system with cumulative vessel trip
limits to a quota system in which each
quota share could generally be
harvested at any time during an open
season. The Program has increased
fishermen’s flexibility in making
decisions on when and how much quota
to fish.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires
that councils undertake reviews within
5 years after implementation of limited
access privilege programs such as the
Pacific Coast groundfish trawl catch
share program. The Council initiated its
review in 2016, and expects to
recommend changes to the Program in
the coming months.
One of the issues that the Council is
considering is accumulation limits for
the Catcher Processor (CP) sector. In
establishing the initial Program, the
Council addressed accumulation limits
for the ownership or control within the
shoreside IFQ sector and the mothership
sector, but not the CP sector. The
accumulation limits were meant to
prevent consolidation at levels that
could result in an excessive share being
acquired by a single entity. At the June
2017 Council meeting, the Council
began considering whether or not
similar accumulation limits on
ownership or control should be applied
to the CP sector as well, and it
recommended that NMFS announce the
start of these deliberations in the
Federal Register.
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
In advance of a rulemaking on
changes to the Program, this document
announces that the Council may not
count any activities related to
acquisition and usage of CP permits
and/or usage of CP allocation after the
date of June 13, 2017, when establishing
accumulation limits for the CP sector.
This is intended to discourage increased
acquisition and usage of CP permits
and/or usage of CP allocation for the
purpose of economic speculation while
the Council develops and considers
changes to the Program.
This announcement does not commit
the Council or the NMFS to any
particular outcome. The Council may or
may not make use of this date as part
of any deliberations and decisions on
acquisition and usage of CP permits
and/or usage of CP allocation. Fishery
participants are not guaranteed future
participation in the program, regardless
of their entry date or level of
participation in the fishery before or
after June 13, 2017. It is important to
note that continuation of levels of
accumulation that predate June 13, 2017
are not guaranteed. The Council also
may choose to take no further action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 28, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–21254 Filed 10–3–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\04OCP1.SGM
04OCP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46209-46210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21254]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 170630616-7875-01]
RIN 0648-BH00
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Commercial Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This advanced notice of proposed rulemaking provides
information on a request by the Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) to announce deliberations of potential accumulation limits
for Catcher Processor Permit use or ownership in the Pacific Coast
groundfish fishery. The Council may not count any acquisition and usage
of Catcher Processor permits and/or usage of Catcher Processor
allocation after the date of June 13, 2017, in any decision setting
accumulation limits. NMFS invites comments on this document.
DATES: Written comments must be received by November 3, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by
``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0109'' by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
[[Page 46210]]
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0109, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Lockhart, NMFS West
Coast Regional Office, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115.
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart, NMFS West Coast
Regional Office, telephone: 206-526-6142, or email:
frank.lockhart@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) recommended and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
implemented the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl catch share program
(Program) off Washington, Oregon and California, starting on January
11, 2011. The Program changed management of harvest in the trawl
fishery from a trip limit system with cumulative vessel trip limits to
a quota system in which each quota share could generally be harvested
at any time during an open season. The Program has increased
fishermen's flexibility in making decisions on when and how much quota
to fish.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that councils undertake reviews
within 5 years after implementation of limited access privilege
programs such as the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl catch share
program. The Council initiated its review in 2016, and expects to
recommend changes to the Program in the coming months.
One of the issues that the Council is considering is accumulation
limits for the Catcher Processor (CP) sector. In establishing the
initial Program, the Council addressed accumulation limits for the
ownership or control within the shoreside IFQ sector and the mothership
sector, but not the CP sector. The accumulation limits were meant to
prevent consolidation at levels that could result in an excessive share
being acquired by a single entity. At the June 2017 Council meeting,
the Council began considering whether or not similar accumulation
limits on ownership or control should be applied to the CP sector as
well, and it recommended that NMFS announce the start of these
deliberations in the Federal Register.
In advance of a rulemaking on changes to the Program, this document
announces that the Council may not count any activities related to
acquisition and usage of CP permits and/or usage of CP allocation after
the date of June 13, 2017, when establishing accumulation limits for
the CP sector. This is intended to discourage increased acquisition and
usage of CP permits and/or usage of CP allocation for the purpose of
economic speculation while the Council develops and considers changes
to the Program.
This announcement does not commit the Council or the NMFS to any
particular outcome. The Council may or may not make use of this date as
part of any deliberations and decisions on acquisition and usage of CP
permits and/or usage of CP allocation. Fishery participants are not
guaranteed future participation in the program, regardless of their
entry date or level of participation in the fishery before or after
June 13, 2017. It is important to note that continuation of levels of
accumulation that predate June 13, 2017 are not guaranteed. The Council
also may choose to take no further action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 28, 2017.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-21254 Filed 10-3-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
