Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Special Management Zones for 13 New Jersey Artificial Reefs, 6152-6158 [2018-02916]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules
be particularly challenging. Examples of
such barriers follow:
a. FMVSS No. 126 specifies the use of
an automated steering machine that
depends on a vehicle’s steering wheel to
steer vehicles when they are tested for
compliance. NHTSA will need to
determine how to amend the standard to
enable the Agency to conduct stability
control testing in vehicles that lack a
steering wheel. Further, if NHTSA is
going to conduct research to consider
how to change the ‘‘sine with dwell’’
test procedure for FMVSS No. 126 so
that steering wheel angle need not be
measured at the steering wheel in
determining compliance with the
standard, what should that research
include and how should NHTSA
conduct it?
b. If NHTSA is going to conduct
research to develop a performance test
to verify how a vehicle is activating its
service brakes, what should that
research include and how should
NHTSA conduct it? If NHTSA is going
to conduct research to determine
whether there continues to be a safety
need to maintain a human-operable
service brake, what should that research
include and how should NHTSA
conduct it?
22. Are there industry standards,
existing or in development, that may be
suitable for incorporation by reference
by NHTSA in accordance with the
standards provisions of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 and Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–119, ‘‘Federal
Participation in the Development and
Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards
and Conformity Assessment Activities?’’
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority
delegated by 49 CFR 1.95.
Nathaniel Beuse,
Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety
Research.
[FR Doc. 2018–02895 Filed 2–12–18; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No.: 180110024–8024–01]
RIN 0648–BH33
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Special Management Zones for
13 New Jersey Artificial Reefs
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
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Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
comments.
NMFS proposes management
measures to implement special
management zones for 13 New Jersey
artificial reefs under the black sea bass
provisions of the Summer Flounder,
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery
Management Plan. The implementing
regulations for the special management
zones require NMFS to publish
proposed measures to provide an
opportunity for public comment. The
intent of these measures is to reduce
user group conflicts and help maintain
the intended socioeconomic benefits of
the artificial reefs to the maximum
extent practicable.
DATES: Comments must be received by
March 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared a draft
environmental assessment (EA) and an
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) for this action that describe the
proposed measures and other
considered alternatives and analyzes of
the impacts of the proposed measures
and alternatives. Copies of the the draft
EA and the IRFA are available upon
request from Travis Ford, NOAA/NMFS,
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
The special management zone measures
document is also accessible via the
internet at: https://www.greater
atlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
You may submit comments on this
document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–
2017–0150, 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-20170150, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Regional Administrator,
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on
New Jersey Special Management Zones
Designation.’’
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.),
SUMMARY:
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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:
Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst,
978–281–9233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has
requested and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council has recommended
that NMFS designate 13 New Jersey
artificial reef sites, currently permitted
in Federal waters by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, as special
management zones (SMZs) under the
applicable regulations implementing the
Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and
Black Sea Bass Fishery Management
Plan (FMP), 50 CFR 648.148.
The summer flounder, scup, and
black sea bass fisheries are managed
cooperatively under the provisions of
the FMP developed by the Council and
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission, in consultation with the
New England and South Atlantic
Fishery Management Councils. General
regulations governing fisheries of the
Northeastern U.S. also appear at 50 CFR
part 648. States manage these three
species within 3 nautical miles (4.83
km) of their coasts, under the
Commission’s plan for summer
flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The
applicable species-specific Federal
regulations govern vessels and
individual fishermen fishing in Federal
waters of the EEZ, as well as vessels
possessing a summer flounder, scup, or
black sea bass Federal charter/party
vessel permit, regardless of where they
fish.
Special Management Zone Measures
Background
On November 6, 2015, the NJDEP
requested that the Council designate 13
artificial reef sites, currently permitted
in Federal waters by the U.S. Corps of
Engineers, as SMZs under the
regulations implementing the Council’s
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea
Bass FMP. The SMZ request noted that
the NJDEP has received complaints from
rod and reel anglers regarding fouling of
their fishing gear in commercial pots
and lines on ocean reef sites for more
than 20 years. The request also noted
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) Sportfish Restoration Program
(SRP), which was the primary funding
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source of the New Jersey Reef Program,
discontinued its funding of the program
and all reef construction and monitoring
activities until the gear conflicts are
resolved. These gear conflicts are not
consistent with the objectives of the SRP
program, which provides funding for
the building and maintenance of the
artificial reefs. In order to comply with
the goals of the SRP, the FWS is
requiring that state artificial reef
programs be able to limit gear conflicts
by state regulations in state waters or by
SMZs for sites in the EEZ.
The Council process for devising SMZ
management measures is to recommend
measures to NMFS for rulemaking, and
is described in the following section. All
meetings are open to the public and the
materials used during such meetings, as
well as any documents created to
summarize the meeting results, are
public information and typically posted
on the Council’s website
(www.mafmc.org) or are available from
the Council by request.
The SMZ recommendations from the
Council were established under the
FMP’s black sea bass provisions
(§ 648.148). A monitoring committee,
consisting of representatives from the
Council, NMFS Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, and NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, was
formed to review the NJDEP SMZ
request. The FMP’s implementing
regulations require the monitoring
committee to review scientific and other
relevant information to evaluate the
SMZ requests and prepare a written
report, considering the following
criteria:
(1) Fairness and equity;
(2) Promotion of conservation;
(3) Avoidance of excessive shares;
(4) Consistency with the objectives of
Amendment 9 to the FMP, the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other
applicable law;
(5) The natural bottom in and
surrounding potential SMZs; and
(6) Impacts on historical uses.
The Council considered the
Monitoring Committee’s
recommendations and any public
comment in finalizing its
recommendations. The Council
forwarded its final recommendations to
NMFS for review. NMFS is required to
review the Council’s recommendations
to ensure that they are consistent with
the FMP and all applicable laws and
Executive Orders before ultimately
implementing measures for Federal
waters.
The timeline for establishing the
SMZs is summarized here: The NJDEP
requested SMZ status for the artificial
reefs in November 2015; the Council
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and NMFS established a monitoring
committee to review the request in
February 2016; the monitoring
committee provided a report to the
Council evaluating the SMZ request at
its October 5, 2016, meeting in
Galloway, NJ.
Following this meeting, the Council
held three public hearings on the
proposed SMZs (Brooklyn, NY,
November 16, 2016; Toms River, NJ,
November 16, 2016; and Cape May, NJ,
November 17, 2016), and the Council
made final recommendations on the
SMZs at its December 21, 2016, meeting
in Baltimore, Maryland. NMFS
subsequently has reviewed the
Council’s recommendations through the
development of an EA (see ADDRESSES
for how to obtain a copy of the EA) and
this proposed rule.
Proposed SMZ Measures
NMFS is proposing the Council’s
recommended measures that would
apply in the Federal waters of the EEZ
and to all vessels: That all 13 New
Jersey artificial reefs be established as
year-round SMZs. Within the
established areas of the SMZs, all
vessels would only be allowed to
conduct fishing by handline, rod and
reel, or spear fishing (including the
taking of fish by hand).
The boundaries of the proposed SMZs
artificial reef sites encompass 19.71 nm2
(67.6 km2) and are in Federal waters
bounded by the following coordinates
connected by straight lines in the
sequence specified in Tables 1–13
below.
The coordinates of the 13 SMZ reef
areas proposed to be created by this rule
would be codified at 50 CFR
648.148(b)(2). This requires a reorganization of the existing SMZ
regulations in CFR 648.148(b); no
substantive changes are proposed for
those provisions.
TABLE 1—SEA GIRT REEF SITE
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
ME Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
MW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
73°55.52′
73°56.67′
73°57.12′
73°57.57′
73°57.15′
73°55.73′
73°55.52′
TABLE 2—GARDEN STATE NORTH
REEF SITE—Continued
Point
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°37.98′
39°38.05′
74°02.20′
74°00.70′
TABLE 3—GARDEN STATE SOUTH
REEF SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°33.82′
39°33.33′
39°33.33′
39°33.80′
39°33.82′
74°05.75′
74°05.85′
74°07.35′
74°07.20′
74°05.75′
TABLE 4—LITTLE EGG REEF SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°29.00′
39°28.00′
39°28.00′
39°29.00′
39°29.00′
74°10.00′
74°10.00′
74°12.00′
74°12.00′
74°10.00′
TABLE 5—ATLANTIC CITY REEF SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°16.90′
39°13.93′
39°13.30′
39°16.22′
39°16.90′
74°15.28′
74°11.80′
74°12.70′
74°16.18′
74°15.28′
TABLE 6—GREAT EGG REEF SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°15.00′
39°14.00′
39°14.00′
39°15.00′
39°15.00′
74°21.00′
74°21.00′
74°22.00′
74°22.00′
74°21.00′
TABLE 7—OCEAN CITY REEF SITE
Point
W Longitude
40°08.22′
40°07.30′
40°06.13′
40°06.17′
40°07.48′
40°08.63′
40°08.22′
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NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°10.75′
39°09.40′
39°09.82′
39°11.10′
39°10.75′
74°32.35′
74°34.62′
74°34.97′
74°32.85′
74°32.35′
TABLE 8—SHARK RIVER REEF SITE
TABLE 2—GARDEN STATE NORTH
REEF SITE
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
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W Longitude
39°38.05′
39°37.05′
39°37.00′
74°00.70′
74°01.00′
74°02.50′
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Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
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N Latitude
W Longitude
40°07.33′
40°06.20′
40°20.20′
40°07.33′
40°07.33′
73°41.08′
73°41.08′
73°41.80′
73°41.80′
73°41.08′
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TABLE 9—BARNEGAT LIGHT REEF SITE
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
W Longitude
39°45.87′
39°44.62′
39°44.62′
39°45.87′
39°45.87′
74°01.10′
74°01.10′
74°01.95′
74°01.95′
74°01.10′
TABLE 11—DEEPWATER REEF SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
TABLE 10—WILDWOOD REEF SITE
Point
N Latitude
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NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
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38°57.85′
38°56.58′
38°57.55′
38°58.80′
38°57.85′
74°39.70′
74°41.40′
74°42.60′
74°40.90′
74°39.70′
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W Longitude
38°59.00′
38°58.00′
38°58.00′
38°59.00′
38°59.00′
74°10.50′
74°10.50′
74°11.50′
74°11.50′
74°10.50′
TABLE 12—CAPE MAY REEF SITE
W Longitude
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N Latitude
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
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W Longitude
38°53.45′
38°50.07′
38°50.67′
38°53.97′
38°53.45′
74°39.43′
74°42.25′
74°43.25′
74°40.62′
74°39.43′
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TABLE 13—TOWNSEND INLET REEF
SITE
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°06.70′
39°06.25′
39°06.25′
39°06.70′
39°06.70′
74°36.00′
74°36.00′
74°37.50′
74°37.50′
74°36.00′
Figure 1. shows the location of the 13
proposed artificial reef sites off the coast
of New Jersey.
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Regulatory Corrections Under Regional
Administrator Authority
This proposed rule includes a
revision to the regulatory text to address
text that is unnecessary, outdated,
unclear, or NMFS could otherwise
improve. NMFS proposes this changes
consistent with section 305(d) of the
MSA which provides that the Secretary
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of Commerce may promulgate
regulations necessary to ensure that
amendments to an FMP are carried out
in accordance with the FMP and the
MSA. The revision, at § 648.148(a),
would clarify the Council may prohibit
or restrain the use of specific types of
fishing gear that are not compatible with
the purpose of the artificial reef or fish
attraction device or other habitat
modification within the SMZ.
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Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the
Assistant Administrator has determined
that this proposed rule is consistent
with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and
Black Sea Bass FMP, other provisions of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other
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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.
NMFS prepared an IRFA, as required
by section 603 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), which is included
in the EA and supplemented by
information contained in the preamble
to this proposed rule. The IRFA
describes the economic impact this
proposed rule, if adopted, would have
on small entities. A summary of the
IRFA follows. A copy of this analysis is
available from the Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office (see
ADDRESSES).
Description of the Reasons Why Action
by the Agency Is Being Considered
NJDEP requested and the Council
recommended that 13 New Jersey
artificial reef sites, currently permitted
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
the EEZ, be designated as SMZs to limit
recreational/commercial gear conflicts
on the artificial reefs, and to maintain
FWS SRP funding for the building,
monitoring, and maintenance of the
artificial reefs.
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Statement of the Objectives of and the
Legal Basis for This Proposed Rule
The action in this proposed rule
would prohibit certain types fishing in
the proposed SMZs. This would reduce
current and/or future potential for
recreational/commercial gear conflicts
on the 13 New Jersey artificial reefs in
order to maintain access to the reefs for
recreational fishing. This action is
proposed under the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Description of an Estimate of the
Number of Small Entities To Which the
Proposed Rule Would Apply
The Small Business Administration
(SBA) defines a small commercial
finfishing or shellfishing business as a
firm with annual receipts (gross
revenue) of up to $11.0 million. A small
for-hire recreational fishing business is
defined as a firm with receipts of up to
$7.5 million.
This rule would apply to all Federal
permit holders except recreational forhire permit holders and commercial
permit holders using hand gear or dive
gear. While virtually all commercial
fishing permit holders employing gear
other than pot/trap gear would
technically be regulated if the artificial
reefs are granted SMZ status, the vast
majority of the commercial fishing effort
on these artificial reefs comes from the
pot/trap gear sector. Therefore, only pot/
trap gear vessel trips are considered in
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this analysis. Hand gear and dive gear
activities would continue to be allowed
under SMZ designation, and vessels
using other mobile gears and fixed gears
stay clear of the reef site areas to avoid
bottom hang-ups with reef materials.
Additionally, not all business entities
that hold Federal fishing permits fish in
the areas identified as potential SMZs.
Those who actively participate (i.e.,
catch and land fish in and from at least
one of the areas) in the areas identified
as potential SMZs would be the group
of business entities that are directly
impacted by the regulations.
During 2013, 2014, and 2015: 24
Vessels reported landings of fish caught
at the reef sites in all 3 of those years;
10 vessels reported landings of fish
caught at the reef sites in 2 of the 3
years; and 18 vessels reported landings
of fish caught at the reef sites in only 1
of the 3 years. A total of 52 unique
commercial vessels reported landings of
catch estimated to be from within the
coordinates of the 13 reef sites from
2013–2015.
Based on the ownership data
classification process described above,
the 52 directly affected participating
commercial fishing vessels were owned
by 45 unique fishing business entities.
All revenue earned by these businesses
was derived from finfishing or
shellfishing, and no revenue was earned
from for-hire recreational fishing. Thus,
all 45 of the potentially affected
businesses are classified as commercial
fishing business entities.
Average annual gross revenue
estimates calculated from 2013–2015
Northeast region dealer data indicate
that only one of the potentially affected
business entities under the preferred
alternative would be considered large
according to the SBA size standards. In
other words, one business, classified as
a commercial fishing business, averaged
more than $11 million annually in gross
revenues from all of its fishing activities
during 2013–2015. Therefore, 44 of the
45 potentially affected business entities
are considered small and one business
entity is considered large.
Description of the Projected Reporting,
Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance
Requirements of the Proposed Rule
This action does not introduce any
new reporting, recordkeeping, or other
compliance requirements.
Federal Rules Which May Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict With This Proposed
Rule
This proposed action will not
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any
other Federal rules.
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Description of Significant Alternatives
to the Proposed Action Which
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of
Applicable Statutes and Which
Minimize Any Significant Economic
Impact on Small Entities
The Council only considered the
proposed action (Alternative 2) and the
No Action alternative (Alternative 1).
However, NMFS also considered a
slightly less restrictive alternative after
receiving the Council’s recommendation
(Alternative 3). Under the No Action
alternative, vessels would still be able to
fish with pot/trap gear on the 13
artificial reef sites. Alternative 3 would
designate 11 of the 13 artificial reefs as
SMZs (excludes Shark River and
Wildwood); 41 unique fishing business
entities were estimated to have landings
within the coordinates of the 11 reef
sites from 2013–2015. The Shark River
and Wildwood reef site were excluded
under this alternative because these
sites had higher percentage of
commercial effort when compared to the
percentage of recreational effort. One of
the potentially affected business entities
under this alternative would be
considered large (the same entity
identified as large under the preferred
alternative).
Table 14 compares the number of
potentially affected business entities by
percent of total average annual gross
revenue landed within the actual
latitude and longitude coordinates of
the two alternatives. Under both the
preferred alternative and the Alternative
3, all commercial fishing businesses
categorized as small in this assessment
obtained less than 5 percent of their
total average annual gross revenues from
landings within the coordinates of the
reef sites. The only business entity
defined as large for this assessment
earned less than 0.5 percent of its total
average annual gross revenues from
landings at the reef sites.
Alternative 2 was selected as the
preferred alternative because it would
reduce gear conflicts on all 13 of the
artificial reefs. For Alternatives 1 and 3,
gear conflicts would remain on all reefs
not designated as SMZs. Alternative 2
would result in slight positive economic
impacts to the recreational fleet and
likely have slight negative to negligible
economic effects on the commercial
fishery compared to the No Action
alternative. Further, under Alternative
2, the program to maintain the artificial
reefs would not be in jeopardy of losing
its USFWS funding.
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TABLE 14—NUMBER OF POTENTIAL BUSINESS ENTITIES AFFECTED BY PERCENT OF TOTAL AVERAGE ANNUAL GROSS
REVENUE LANDED WITHIN THE COORDINATES OF THE REEF SITES
Percent of total average annual gross revenue
(2013–2016)
<0.5%
0.5% to 1.0%
1.0% to 5.0%
>5.0%
Proposed Action
Commercial Fishing (Small) .............................................................................
Commercial Fishing (Large) ............................................................................
35
1
2
0
7
0
0
0
32
1
2
0
6
0
0
0
Alternative
Commercial Fishing (Small) .............................................................................
Commercial Fishing (Large) ............................................................................
List of Subjects 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and
reporting requirements.
Dated: February 8, 2018.
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 proposed
to be amended as follows:
PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE
NORTHEAST UNITED STATES
Point
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
1
2
3
4
5
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. In § 648.148, revise paragraphs (a)
introductory text and (b) to read as
follows:
■
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§ 648.148
(a) General. The recipient of a U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers permit for an
artificial reef, fish attraction device, or
other modification of habitat for
purposes of fishing may request that an
area surrounding and including the site
be designated by the MAFMC as a
special management zone (SMZ). The
MAFMC may prohibit or restrain the
use of specific types of fishing gear that
are not compatible with the purpose of
the artificial reef or fish attraction
device or other habitat modification
within the SMZ. The establishment of
an SMZ will be effected by a regulatory
amendment, pursuant to the following
procedure: An SMZ monitoring team
comprised of members of staff from the
MAFMC, NMFS Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, and NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center will
evaluate the request in the form of a
written report.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Approved/Established SMZs—(1)
Delaware Special Management Zone
Areas. Special management zones are
16:06 Feb 12, 2018
Jkt 244001
.........
.........
.........
.........
.........
Corner
N Latitude
9SE
9SW
9NW
9NE
9SE
38°39.972′
38°40.05′
38°40.848′
38°40.8′
38°39.972′
74°59.298′
75°0.702′
75°0.402′
74°58.902′
74°59.298′
Point
1
2
3
4
5
.........
.........
.........
.........
.........
Corner
N Latitude
W Longitude
10SE
10SW
10NW
10NE
10SE
38°36.198′
38°36.294′
38°37.098′
38°37.002′
38°36.198′
74°55.674′
74°57.15′
74°56.802′
74°55.374′
74°55.674′
(iii) Delaware artificial reef #11.
Point
1
2
3
4
5
.........
.........
.........
.........
.........
Corner
N Latitude
W Longitude
11SE
11SW
11NW
11NE
11SE
38°39.882′
38°40.002′
38°40.848′
38°40.752′
38°39.882′
74°43.05′
74°44.802′
74°44.502′
74°42.75′
74°43.05′
(iv) Delaware artificial reef #13.
Point
1
2
3
4
5
.........
.........
.........
.........
.........
Corner
N Latitude
W Longitude
13SE
13SW
13NW
13NE
13SE
38°30.138′
38°30.222′
38°31.614′
38°31.734′
38°30.138′
74°30.582′
74°31.5′
74°30.864′
74°30.018′
74°30.582′
(2) New Jersey Special Management
Zone Areas. Special management zones
PO 00000
are established for New Jersey artificial
reef permit areas, in the area of the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone. From January
1 through December 31 of each year, no
person may fish in the New Jersey
Special Management Zones except by
handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing
(including the taking of fish by hand).
The New Jersey Special Management
Zones are defined by rhumb lines
connecting the following coordinates in
the order stated:
(i) Sea Girt Reef Site.
W Longitude
(ii) Delaware artificial reef #10.
Special management zones.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
established for Delaware artificial reef
permit areas #9, 10, 11, and 13, in the
area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone. From January 1 through December
31 of each year, no person may fish in
the Delaware Special Management
Zones except by handline, rod and reel,
or spear fishing (including the taking of
fish by hand). The Delaware Special
Management Zones are defined by
rhumb lines connecting the following
coordinates in the order stated:
(i) Delaware artificial reef #9.
Frm 00022
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Point
NE Corner .........
ME Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
MW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
40°08.22′
40°07.30′
40°06.13′
40°06.17′
40°07.48′
40°08.63′
40°08.22′
73°55.52′
73°56.67′
73°57.12′
73°57.57′
73°57.15′
73°55.73′
73°55.52′
(ii) Garden State North Reef Site.
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°38.05′
39°37.05′
39°37.00′
39°37.98′
39°38.05′
74°00.70′
74°01.00′
74°02.50′
74°02.20′
74°00.70′
(iii) Garden State South Reef Site.
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°33.82′
39°33.33′
39°33.33′
39°33.80′
39°33.82′
74°05.75′
74°05.85′
74°07.35′
74°07.20′
74°05.75′
(iv) Little Egg Reef Site.
Point
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
E:\FR\FM\13FEP1.SGM
13FEP1
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°29.00′
39°28.00′
39°28.00′
39°29.00′
39°29.00′
74°10.00′
74°10.00′
74°12.00′
74°12.00′
74°10.00′
6158
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules
(v) Atlantic City Reef Site.
Point
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
W Longitude
39°16.90′
39°13.93′
39°13.30′
39°16.22′
39°16.90′
74°15.28′
74°11.80′
74°12.70′
74°16.18′
74°15.28′
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
Point
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
W Longitude
39°15.00′
39°14.00′
39°14.00′
39°15.00′
39°15.00′
74°21.00′
74°21.00′
74°22.00′
74°22.00′
74°21.00′
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
40°07.33′
40°06.20′
40°20.20′
40°07.33′
40°07.33′
73°41.08′
73°41.08′
73°41.80′
73°41.80′
73°41.08′
N Latitude
NE Corner .........
SE Corner .........
SW Corner ........
NW Corner ........
NE Corner .........
39°45.87′
39°44.62′
39°44.62′
39°45.87′
39°45.87′
74°01.10′
74°01.10′
74°01.95′
74°01.95′
74°01.10′
39°10.75′
39°09.40′
39°09.82′
39°11.10′
39°10.75′
74°32.35′
74°34.62′
74°34.97′
74°32.85′
74° 32.35′
Point
W Longitude
NE Corner ..........
SE Corner ..........
SW Corner .........
NW Corner .........
NE Corner ..........
N Latitude
W Longitude
38°59.00′
38°58.00′
38°58.00′
38°59.00′
38°59.00′
74°10.50′
74°10.50′
74°11.50′
74°11.50′
74°10.50′
(xii) Cape May Reef Site.
Point
NE Corner ..........
SE Corner ..........
SW Corner .........
NW Corner .........
NE Corner ..........
N Latitude
W Longitude
38°53.45′
38°50.07′
38°50.67′
38°53.97′
38°53.45′
74°39.43′
74°42.25′
74°43.25′
74°40.62′
74°39.43′
(xiii) Townsend Inlet Reef Site.
N Latitude
NE Corner ..........
SE Corner ..........
SW Corner .........
NW Corner .........
NE Corner ..........
Point
W Longitude
(x) Wildwood Reef Site.
(vii) Ocean City Reef Site.
Point
W Longitude
(ix) Barnegat Light Reef Site.
(vi) Great Egg Reef Site.
Point
N Latitude
38°57.85′
38°56.58′
38°57.55′
38°58.80′
38°57.85′
74°39.70′
74°41.40′
74°42.60′
74°40.90′
74°39.70′
Point
W Longitude
NE Corner ..........
SE Corner ..........
SW Corner .........
NW Corner .........
NE Corner ..........
N Latitude
W Longitude
39°06.70′
39°06.25′
39°06.25′
39°06.70′
39°06.70′
74°36.00′
74°36.00′
74°37.50′
74°37.50′
74°36.00′
[FR Doc. 2018–02916 Filed 2–12–18; 8:45 am]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
(viii) Shark River Reef Site.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:06 Feb 12, 2018
Jkt 244001
(xi) Deepwater Reef Site.
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\13FEP1.SGM
13FEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6152-6158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02916]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No.: 180110024-8024-01]
RIN 0648-BH33
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Special Management
Zones for 13 New Jersey Artificial Reefs
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes management measures to implement special
management zones for 13 New Jersey artificial reefs under the black sea
bass provisions of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Fishery Management Plan. The implementing regulations for the special
management zones require NMFS to publish proposed measures to provide
an opportunity for public comment. The intent of these measures is to
reduce user group conflicts and help maintain the intended
socioeconomic benefits of the artificial reefs to the maximum extent
practicable.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) and an
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) for this action that
describe the proposed measures and other considered alternatives and
analyzes of the impacts of the proposed measures and alternatives.
Copies of the the draft EA and the IRFA are available upon request from
Travis Ford, NOAA/NMFS, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. The special management zone
measures document is also accessible via the internet at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2017-0150, 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-2017-0150, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on New Jersey
Special Management Zones Designation.''
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: Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst,
978-281-9233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has
requested and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has
recommended that NMFS designate 13 New Jersey artificial reef sites,
currently permitted in Federal waters by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, as special management zones (SMZs) under the applicable
regulations implementing the Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black
Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), 50 CFR 648.148.
The summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries are managed
cooperatively under the provisions of the FMP developed by the Council
and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, in consultation
with the New England and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
General regulations governing fisheries of the Northeastern U.S. also
appear at 50 CFR part 648. States manage these three species within 3
nautical miles (4.83 km) of their coasts, under the Commission's plan
for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The applicable species-
specific Federal regulations govern vessels and individual fishermen
fishing in Federal waters of the EEZ, as well as vessels possessing a
summer flounder, scup, or black sea bass Federal charter/party vessel
permit, regardless of where they fish.
Special Management Zone Measures Background
On November 6, 2015, the NJDEP requested that the Council designate
13 artificial reef sites, currently permitted in Federal waters by the
U.S. Corps of Engineers, as SMZs under the regulations implementing the
Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP. The SMZ
request noted that the NJDEP has received complaints from rod and reel
anglers regarding fouling of their fishing gear in commercial pots and
lines on ocean reef sites for more than 20 years. The request also
noted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Sportfish
Restoration Program (SRP), which was the primary funding
[[Page 6153]]
source of the New Jersey Reef Program, discontinued its funding of the
program and all reef construction and monitoring activities until the
gear conflicts are resolved. These gear conflicts are not consistent
with the objectives of the SRP program, which provides funding for the
building and maintenance of the artificial reefs. In order to comply
with the goals of the SRP, the FWS is requiring that state artificial
reef programs be able to limit gear conflicts by state regulations in
state waters or by SMZs for sites in the EEZ.
The Council process for devising SMZ management measures is to
recommend measures to NMFS for rulemaking, and is described in the
following section. All meetings are open to the public and the
materials used during such meetings, as well as any documents created
to summarize the meeting results, are public information and typically
posted on the Council's website (www.mafmc.org) or are available from
the Council by request.
The SMZ recommendations from the Council were established under the
FMP's black sea bass provisions (Sec. 648.148). A monitoring
committee, consisting of representatives from the Council, NMFS Greater
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and NMFS Northeast Fisheries
Science Center, was formed to review the NJDEP SMZ request. The FMP's
implementing regulations require the monitoring committee to review
scientific and other relevant information to evaluate the SMZ requests
and prepare a written report, considering the following criteria:
(1) Fairness and equity;
(2) Promotion of conservation;
(3) Avoidance of excessive shares;
(4) Consistency with the objectives of Amendment 9 to the FMP, the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law;
(5) The natural bottom in and surrounding potential SMZs; and
(6) Impacts on historical uses.
The Council considered the Monitoring Committee's recommendations
and any public comment in finalizing its recommendations. The Council
forwarded its final recommendations to NMFS for review. NMFS is
required to review the Council's recommendations to ensure that they
are consistent with the FMP and all applicable laws and Executive
Orders before ultimately implementing measures for Federal waters.
The timeline for establishing the SMZs is summarized here: The
NJDEP requested SMZ status for the artificial reefs in November 2015;
the Council and NMFS established a monitoring committee to review the
request in February 2016; the monitoring committee provided a report to
the Council evaluating the SMZ request at its October 5, 2016, meeting
in Galloway, NJ.
Following this meeting, the Council held three public hearings on
the proposed SMZs (Brooklyn, NY, November 16, 2016; Toms River, NJ,
November 16, 2016; and Cape May, NJ, November 17, 2016), and the
Council made final recommendations on the SMZs at its December 21,
2016, meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. NMFS subsequently has reviewed
the Council's recommendations through the development of an EA (see
ADDRESSES for how to obtain a copy of the EA) and this proposed rule.
Proposed SMZ Measures
NMFS is proposing the Council's recommended measures that would
apply in the Federal waters of the EEZ and to all vessels: That all 13
New Jersey artificial reefs be established as year-round SMZs. Within
the established areas of the SMZs, all vessels would only be allowed to
conduct fishing by handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing (including
the taking of fish by hand).
The boundaries of the proposed SMZs artificial reef sites encompass
19.71 nm\2\ (67.6 km\2\) and are in Federal waters bounded by the
following coordinates connected by straight lines in the sequence
specified in Tables 1-13 below.
The coordinates of the 13 SMZ reef areas proposed to be created by
this rule would be codified at 50 CFR 648.148(b)(2). This requires a
re-organization of the existing SMZ regulations in CFR 648.148(b); no
substantive changes are proposed for those provisions.
Table 1--Sea Girt Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]08.22' 73[deg]55.52'
ME Corner....................... 40[deg]07.30' 73[deg]56.67'
SE Corner....................... 40[deg]06.13' 73[deg]57.12'
SW Corner....................... 40[deg]06.17' 73[deg]57.57'
MW Corner....................... 40[deg]07.48' 73[deg]57.15'
NW Corner....................... 40[deg]08.63' 73[deg]55.73'
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]08.22' 73[deg]55.52'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--Garden State North Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]38.05' 74[deg]00.70'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]37.05' 74[deg]01.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]37.00' 74[deg]02.50'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]37.98' 74[deg]02.20'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]38.05' 74[deg]00.70'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 3--Garden State South Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.82' 74[deg]05.75'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.33' 74[deg]05.85'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]33.33' 74[deg]07.35'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]33.80' 74[deg]07.20'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.82' 74[deg]05.75'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4--Little Egg Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]10.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]28.00' 74[deg]10.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]28.00' 74[deg]12.00'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]12.00'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]10.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5--Atlantic City Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]16.90' 74[deg]15.28'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]13.93' 74[deg]11.80'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]13.30' 74[deg]12.70'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]16.22' 74[deg]16.18'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]16.90' 74[deg]15.28'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6--Great Egg Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]21.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]14.00' 74[deg]21.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]14.00' 74[deg]22.00'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]22.00'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]21.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7--Ocean City Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]10.75' 74[deg]32.35'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]09.40' 74[deg]34.62'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]09.82' 74[deg]34.97'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]11.10' 74[deg]32.85'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]10.75' 74[deg]32.35'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 8--Shark River Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.08'
SE Corner....................... 40[deg]06.20' 73[deg]41.08'
SW Corner....................... 40[deg]20.20' 73[deg]41.80'
NW Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.80'
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.08'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 6154]]
Table 9--Barnegat Light Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.10'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]44.62' 74[deg]01.10'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]44.62' 74[deg]01.95'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.95'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.10'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 10--Wildwood Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]57.85' 74[deg]39.70'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]56.58' 74[deg]41.40'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]57.55' 74[deg]42.60'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]58.80' 74[deg]40.90'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]57.85' 74[deg]39.70'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 11--Deepwater Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]10.50'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]58.00' 74[deg]10.50'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]58.00' 74[deg]11.50'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]11.50'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]10.50'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 12--Cape May Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]53.45' 74[deg]39.43'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]50.07' 74[deg]42.25'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]50.67' 74[deg]43.25'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]53.97' 74[deg]40.62'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]53.45' 74[deg]39.43'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 13--Townsend Inlet Reef Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]36.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.25' 74[deg]36.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]06.25' 74[deg]37.50'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]37.50'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]36.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 1. shows the location of the 13 proposed artificial reef
sites off the coast of New Jersey.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[[Page 6155]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13FE18.007
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
Regulatory Corrections Under Regional Administrator Authority
This proposed rule includes a revision to the regulatory text to
address text that is unnecessary, outdated, unclear, or NMFS could
otherwise improve. NMFS proposes this changes consistent with section
305(d) of the MSA which provides that the Secretary of Commerce may
promulgate regulations necessary to ensure that amendments to an FMP
are carried out in accordance with the FMP and the MSA. The revision,
at Sec. 648.148(a), would clarify the Council may prohibit or restrain
the use of specific types of fishing gear that are not compatible with
the purpose of the artificial reef or fish attraction device or other
habitat modification within the SMZ.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the Assistant Administrator has
determined that this proposed rule is consistent with the Summer
Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP, other provisions of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other
[[Page 6156]]
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.
NMFS prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), which is included in the EA and supplemented by
information contained in the preamble to this proposed rule. The IRFA
describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would
have on small entities. A summary of the IRFA follows. A copy of this
analysis is available from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries
Office (see ADDRESSES).
Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered
NJDEP requested and the Council recommended that 13 New Jersey
artificial reef sites, currently permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in the EEZ, be designated as SMZs to limit recreational/
commercial gear conflicts on the artificial reefs, and to maintain FWS
SRP funding for the building, monitoring, and maintenance of the
artificial reefs.
Statement of the Objectives of and the Legal Basis for This Proposed
Rule
The action in this proposed rule would prohibit certain types
fishing in the proposed SMZs. This would reduce current and/or future
potential for recreational/commercial gear conflicts on the 13 New
Jersey artificial reefs in order to maintain access to the reefs for
recreational fishing. This action is proposed under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Description of an Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which the
Proposed Rule Would Apply
The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small commercial
finfishing or shellfishing business as a firm with annual receipts
(gross revenue) of up to $11.0 million. A small for-hire recreational
fishing business is defined as a firm with receipts of up to $7.5
million.
This rule would apply to all Federal permit holders except
recreational for-hire permit holders and commercial permit holders
using hand gear or dive gear. While virtually all commercial fishing
permit holders employing gear other than pot/trap gear would
technically be regulated if the artificial reefs are granted SMZ
status, the vast majority of the commercial fishing effort on these
artificial reefs comes from the pot/trap gear sector. Therefore, only
pot/trap gear vessel trips are considered in this analysis. Hand gear
and dive gear activities would continue to be allowed under SMZ
designation, and vessels using other mobile gears and fixed gears stay
clear of the reef site areas to avoid bottom hang-ups with reef
materials. Additionally, not all business entities that hold Federal
fishing permits fish in the areas identified as potential SMZs. Those
who actively participate (i.e., catch and land fish in and from at
least one of the areas) in the areas identified as potential SMZs would
be the group of business entities that are directly impacted by the
regulations.
During 2013, 2014, and 2015: 24 Vessels reported landings of fish
caught at the reef sites in all 3 of those years; 10 vessels reported
landings of fish caught at the reef sites in 2 of the 3 years; and 18
vessels reported landings of fish caught at the reef sites in only 1 of
the 3 years. A total of 52 unique commercial vessels reported landings
of catch estimated to be from within the coordinates of the 13 reef
sites from 2013-2015.
Based on the ownership data classification process described above,
the 52 directly affected participating commercial fishing vessels were
owned by 45 unique fishing business entities. All revenue earned by
these businesses was derived from finfishing or shellfishing, and no
revenue was earned from for-hire recreational fishing. Thus, all 45 of
the potentially affected businesses are classified as commercial
fishing business entities.
Average annual gross revenue estimates calculated from 2013-2015
Northeast region dealer data indicate that only one of the potentially
affected business entities under the preferred alternative would be
considered large according to the SBA size standards. In other words,
one business, classified as a commercial fishing business, averaged
more than $11 million annually in gross revenues from all of its
fishing activities during 2013-2015. Therefore, 44 of the 45
potentially affected business entities are considered small and one
business entity is considered large.
Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other
Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule
This action does not introduce any new reporting, recordkeeping, or
other compliance requirements.
Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With This
Proposed Rule
This proposed action will not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with
any other Federal rules.
Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and Which
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities
The Council only considered the proposed action (Alternative 2) and
the No Action alternative (Alternative 1). However, NMFS also
considered a slightly less restrictive alternative after receiving the
Council's recommendation (Alternative 3). Under the No Action
alternative, vessels would still be able to fish with pot/trap gear on
the 13 artificial reef sites. Alternative 3 would designate 11 of the
13 artificial reefs as SMZs (excludes Shark River and Wildwood); 41
unique fishing business entities were estimated to have landings within
the coordinates of the 11 reef sites from 2013-2015. The Shark River
and Wildwood reef site were excluded under this alternative because
these sites had higher percentage of commercial effort when compared to
the percentage of recreational effort. One of the potentially affected
business entities under this alternative would be considered large (the
same entity identified as large under the preferred alternative).
Table 14 compares the number of potentially affected business
entities by percent of total average annual gross revenue landed within
the actual latitude and longitude coordinates of the two alternatives.
Under both the preferred alternative and the Alternative 3, all
commercial fishing businesses categorized as small in this assessment
obtained less than 5 percent of their total average annual gross
revenues from landings within the coordinates of the reef sites. The
only business entity defined as large for this assessment earned less
than 0.5 percent of its total average annual gross revenues from
landings at the reef sites.
Alternative 2 was selected as the preferred alternative because it
would reduce gear conflicts on all 13 of the artificial reefs. For
Alternatives 1 and 3, gear conflicts would remain on all reefs not
designated as SMZs. Alternative 2 would result in slight positive
economic impacts to the recreational fleet and likely have slight
negative to negligible economic effects on the commercial fishery
compared to the No Action alternative. Further, under Alternative 2,
the program to maintain the artificial reefs would not be in jeopardy
of losing its USFWS funding.
[[Page 6157]]
Table 14--Number of Potential Business Entities Affected by Percent of Total Average Annual Gross Revenue
Landed Within the Coordinates of the Reef Sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of total average annual gross revenue (2013-2016)
---------------------------------------------------------------
<0.5% 0.5% to 1.0% 1.0% to 5.0% >5.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Action
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Fishing (Small)...................... 35 2 7 0
Commercial Fishing (Large)...................... 1 0 0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Fishing (Small)...................... 32 2 6 0
Commercial Fishing (Large)...................... 1 0 0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Subjects 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Dated: February 8, 2018.
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
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEAST 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 Sec. 648.148, revise paragraphs (a) introductory text and (b) to
read as follows:
Sec. 648.148 Special management zones.
(a) General. The recipient of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit
for an artificial reef, fish attraction device, or other modification
of habitat for purposes of fishing may request that an area surrounding
and including the site be designated by the MAFMC as a special
management zone (SMZ). The MAFMC may prohibit or restrain the use of
specific types of fishing gear that are not compatible with the purpose
of the artificial reef or fish attraction device or other habitat
modification within the SMZ. The establishment of an SMZ will be
effected by a regulatory amendment, pursuant to the following
procedure: An SMZ monitoring team comprised of members of staff from
the MAFMC, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center will evaluate the request in the
form of a written report.
* * * * *
(b) Approved/Established SMZs--(1) Delaware Special Management Zone
Areas. Special management zones are established for Delaware artificial
reef permit areas #9, 10, 11, and 13, in the area of the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone. From January 1 through December 31 of each year, no
person may fish in the Delaware Special Management Zones except by
handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing (including the taking of fish
by hand). The Delaware Special Management Zones are defined by rhumb
lines connecting the following coordinates in the order stated:
(i) Delaware artificial reef #9.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Corner N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ 9SE 38[deg]39.972 74[deg]59.298'
'
2............................ 9SW 38[deg]40.05' 75[deg]0.702'
3............................ 9NW 38[deg]40.848 75[deg]0.402'
'
4............................ 9NE 38[deg]40.8' 74[deg]58.902'
5............................ 9SE 38[deg]39.972 74[deg]59.298'
'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) Delaware artificial reef #10.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Corner N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ 10SE 38[deg]36.198 74[deg]55.674'
'
2............................ 10SW 38[deg]36.294 74[deg]57.15'
'
3............................ 10NW 38[deg]37.098 74[deg]56.802'
'
4............................ 10NE 38[deg]37.002 74[deg]55.374'
'
5............................ 10SE 38[deg]36.198 74[deg]55.674'
'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iii) Delaware artificial reef #11.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Corner N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ 11SE 38[deg]39.882 74[deg]43.05'
'
2............................ 11SW 38[deg]40.002 74[deg]44.802'
'
3............................ 11NW 38[deg]40.848 74[deg]44.502'
'
4............................ 11NE 38[deg]40.752 74[deg]42.75'
'
5............................ 11SE 38[deg]39.882 74[deg]43.05'
'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iv) Delaware artificial reef #13.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Corner N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ 13SE 38[deg]30.138 74[deg]30.582'
'
2............................ 13SW 38[deg]30.222 74[deg]31.5'
'
3............................ 13NW 38[deg]31.614 74[deg]30.864'
'
4............................ 13NE 38[deg]31.734 74[deg]30.018'
'
5............................ 13SE 38[deg]30.138 74[deg]30.582'
'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) New Jersey Special Management Zone Areas. Special management
zones are established for New Jersey artificial reef permit areas, in
the area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. From January 1 through
December 31 of each year, no person may fish in the New Jersey Special
Management Zones except by handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing
(including the taking of fish by hand). The New Jersey Special
Management Zones are defined by rhumb lines connecting the following
coordinates in the order stated:
(i) Sea Girt Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]08.22' 73[deg]55.52'
ME Corner....................... 40[deg]07.30' 73[deg]56.67'
SE Corner....................... 40[deg]06.13' 73[deg]57.12'
SW Corner....................... 40[deg]06.17' 73[deg]57.57'
MW Corner....................... 40[deg]07.48' 73[deg]57.15'
NW Corner....................... 40[deg]08.63' 73[deg]55.73'
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]08.22' 73[deg]55.52'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) Garden State North Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]38.05' 74[deg]00.70'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]37.05' 74[deg]01.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]37.00' 74[deg]02.50'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]37.98' 74[deg]02.20'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]38.05' 74[deg]00.70'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iii) Garden State South Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.82' 74[deg]05.75'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.33' 74[deg]05.85'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]33.33' 74[deg]07.35'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]33.80' 74[deg]07.20'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]33.82' 74[deg]05.75'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iv) Little Egg Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]10.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]28.00' 74[deg]10.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]28.00' 74[deg]12.00'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]12.00'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]29.00' 74[deg]10.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 6158]]
(v) Atlantic City Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]16.90' 74[deg]15.28'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]13.93' 74[deg]11.80'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]13.30' 74[deg]12.70'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]16.22' 74[deg]16.18'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]16.90' 74[deg]15.28'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(vi) Great Egg Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]21.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]14.00' 74[deg]21.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]14.00' 74[deg]22.00'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]22.00'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]15.00' 74[deg]21.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(vii) Ocean City Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]10.75' 74[deg]32.35'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]09.40' 74[deg]34.62'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]09.82' 74[deg]34.97'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]11.10' 74[deg]32.85'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]10.75' 74[deg] 32.35'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(viii) Shark River Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.08'
SE Corner....................... 40[deg]06.20' 73[deg]41.08'
SW Corner....................... 40[deg]20.20' 73[deg]41.80'
NW Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.80'
NE Corner....................... 40[deg]07.33' 73[deg]41.08'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ix) Barnegat Light Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.10'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]44.62' 74[deg]01.10'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]44.62' 74[deg]01.95'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.95'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]45.87' 74[deg]01.10'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(x) Wildwood Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]57.85' 74[deg]39.70'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]56.58' 74[deg]41.40'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]57.55' 74[deg]42.60'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]58.80' 74[deg]40.90'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]57.85' 74[deg]39.70'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(xi) Deepwater Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]10.50'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]58.00' 74[deg]10.50'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]58.00' 74[deg]11.50'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]11.50'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]59.00' 74[deg]10.50'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(xii) Cape May Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]53.45' 74[deg]39.43'
SE Corner....................... 38[deg]50.07' 74[deg]42.25'
SW Corner....................... 38[deg]50.67' 74[deg]43.25'
NW Corner....................... 38[deg]53.97' 74[deg]40.62'
NE Corner....................... 38[deg]53.45' 74[deg]39.43'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(xiii) Townsend Inlet Reef Site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point N Latitude W Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]36.00'
SE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.25' 74[deg]36.00'
SW Corner....................... 39[deg]06.25' 74[deg]37.50'
NW Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]37.50'
NE Corner....................... 39[deg]06.70' 74[deg]36.00'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2018-02916 Filed 2-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
