Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch Framework Adjustment, 15511-15513 [2018-07373]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
the cover, the mesh netting shall be
tightly wrapped around the entire raft
such that no loose netting hangs below
the FAD when deployed.
(2) Subsurface. Any netting used in
the subsurface structure of the FAD
must be tightly tied into bundles
(‘‘sausages’’).
[FR Doc. 2018–07387 Filed 4–10–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 150309236–8327–02]
RIN 0648–BE65
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council; Omnibus
Acceptable Biological Catch
Framework Adjustment
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This action implements an
Omnibus Framework Adjustment to the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council’s acceptable biological catch
setting process, allows for adoption of
peer-reviewed scientific information
more quickly, and clarifies language in
the Council’s catch control rules. This
action is necessary to provide an
additional approach in catch setting that
will help bring stability to quotas,
ensure the best available scientific
information is more readily available,
and clarify existing control rule
language. The intended effect of this
action is to inform the public of these
changes to the Council’s catch setting
control rules and process.
DATES: This rule is effective May 11,
2018.
SUMMARY:
Copies of the Council’s
Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch
Framework Adjustment and the
accompanying environmental
assessment (EA) are available on request
from: Michael Pentony, Regional
Administrator, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Wilkinson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (301) 427–8561.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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ADDRESSES:
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Background
The Council is required to set annual
catch limits (ACLs) that do not exceed
the acceptable biological catch (ABC)
recommendation of its Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC) to prevent
overfishing. ABCs represent an upper
limit for the Council to use when setting
catch limits. The 2011 ACL Omnibus
Amendment final rule (76 FR 60606;
September 29, 2011), put in place the
Council’s risk policy that provides
guidance to the SSC on the Council’s
tolerance for overfishing risk. The
policy also outlines risk tolerance for
ensuring stocks under rebuilding plans
achieve fishing mortality objectives.
The Council’s risk policy for setting
ABCs states that for a typical species
whose stock size is equal to or greater
than a biomass target associated with
maximum sustainable yield (BMSY), the
acceptable probability of overfishing is
40 percent, i.e., if the fishery catches the
ABC then there is a 60-percent
probability of not overfishing. If the SSC
determines that a species has an
atypical life history, the Council
requires at least a 65-percent chance of
not overfishing to create a larger buffer
when biomass is at or above BMSY. The
SSC determines whether a stock is
typical or atypical each time an ABC is
recommended.
For both typical and atypical species,
the Council has specified that as stock
size biomass (B) falls below the target
BMSY, the probability of overfishing
decreases, until the probability of
overfishing hits zero when the stock is
at 10 percent of the target BMSY. For a
stock under a rebuilding plan, the
probability of not exceeding the fishing
mortality rate (F) within the specified
timeframe must be at least 50 percent,
unless this probability threshold is
modified through a stock rebuilding
plan.
The fishery management plans (FMPs)
managed by the Council all have
provisions for setting specifications for
multiple years (five years for dogfish
and three years for all other species).
Approved Measures
Overfishing Probability Averaging
When the SSC accepts assessment
fishing mortality reference points, the
average probability of overfishing (or
achieving the target fishing mortality for
rebuilding stocks) may be used
consistent with the existing risk policy
requirements. The constant, multi-year
ABCs that would result must continue
to meet the Council’s risk policy goals,
with the probability of overfishing not
to exceed 50 percent in any given year.
For stocks in a rebuilding plan, the
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
15511
probability of achieving the rebuilding
fishery mortality must meet the risk
policy objectives when constant, multiyear ABCs are recommended by the
SSC.
Averaged ABCs could be set at a
constant level for up to five years for
spiny dogfish and up to three years for
all other species managed by the
Council. The SSC may provide both
variable, year-to-year and constant
multi-year recommendations based on
the average overfishing probability
approach for the Council to consider.
The SSC will continue to review fishery
performance each year during multiyear specifications, regardless of which
multi-year approach is used to
determine ABCs. The multi-year
averaging of ABCs will not apply to
stocks that do not have a quantitative
assessment to derive ABCs, or to stocks
with an assessment that lacks
information on the risk of overfishing.
ABC Control Rule Assessment Level
Designations
In conjunction with this action, the
Council developed and we approved
some clarifying language describing its
ABC control rule assessment level
designations. These revisions are minor
and intended to clarify the various
components of the assessment levels
used in the ABC control rules.
Approved Biological Status Criteria
This action provides notice of the
administrative process the Council will
use for incorporating the best scientific
information available in the
development of ABCs for the Atlantic
Bluefish, Tilefish, and Atlantic
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMPs.
All other Mid-Atlantic FMPs already
use this process. The best available
science requirements dictate that the
SSC use the accepted assessment
information to set quotas under National
Standard 2. The Council’s SSC will
utilize peer-reviewed biological
reference points (overfishing level,
biomass thresholds, etc.) and periodic
updates to stock status determination
criteria (i.e., biomass and fishing
mortality reference points) to define
ABCs, consistent with the Council’s
other FMPs and National Standards 1
and 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). This change in
Council operations improves
management efficiency by automatically
incorporating new peer-reviewed status
determination criteria instead of
requiring a separate management action
to adopt them within these three FMPs.
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15512
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Comments and Responses
We received one comment on the
proposed rule from the public. The
commenter suggested clarifying
language in the preamble of the
proposed rule notice, describing the
measures. We clarified the description
of the measures in the preamble of this
final rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes from the
proposed to final rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS
Assistant Administrator has determined
that the management measures
implemented in this final rule are
necessary for the conservation and
management of the Council’s FMPs, and
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, and other applicable law.
This final rule has been determined to
not be significant for purposes of
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of
the Department of Commerce certified
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration during
the proposed rule stage that this rule
would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The factual basis for the
certification was published in the
proposed rule and is not repeated here.
No comments were received regarding
this certification, and the initial
certification remains unchanged. As a
result, a final regulatory flexibility
analysis is not required and none has
been prepared.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 5, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
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For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended
as follows:
PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. Section 648.20 is revised to read as
follows:
■
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14:51 Apr 10, 2018
Jkt 244001
§ 648.20 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)
control rules.
The SSC shall review the following
criteria, and any additional relevant
information, to assign managed stocks to
one of four types of control rules based
on the species’ assessments and its
treatment of uncertainty when
developing ABC recommendations. The
SSC shall review the ABC control rule
assignment for stocks each time an ABC
is recommended. ABCs may be
recommended for up to three years for
all stocks, with the exception of five
years for spiny dogfish. The SCC may
specify constant, multi-year ABCs,
derived from the average of ABCs (or
average risk of overfishing) if the
average probability of overfishing
remains between zero and 40 percent,
and does not exceed a 50-percent
probability in any given year. The
average ABCs may remain constant for
up to three years for all stocks, with the
exception of five years for spiny dogfish.
The SSC may deviate from the control
rule methods and recommend an ABC
that differs from the result of the ABC
control rule application; however, any
such deviation must include the
following: A description of why the
deviation is warranted; description of
the methods used to derive the
alternative ABC; and an explanation of
how the deviation is consistent with
National Standard 2. The four types of
ABC control rules are described below.
(a) ABC control rule for a stock with
an OFL probability distribution that is
analytically-derived and accepted by
the SSC. (1) The SSC determines that
the assessment OFL and the
assessment’s treatment of uncertainty
are acceptable, based on the following:
(i) All important sources of scientific
uncertainty are captured in the stock
assessment model;
(ii) The probability distribution of the
OFL is calculated within the stock
assessment and adequately describes the
OFL uncertainty;
(iii) The stock assessment model
structure and treatment of the data prior
to use in the model include relevant
details of the biology of the stock,
fisheries that exploit the stock, and data
collection methods;
(iv) The stock assessment provides the
following estimates: Fishing mortality
rate (F) at MSY or an acceptable proxy
maximum fishing mortality threshold
(MFMT) to define OFL, biomass,
biological reference points, stock status,
OFL, and the respective uncertainties
associated with each value; and
(v) No substantial retrospective
patterns exist in the stock assessment
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
estimates of fishing mortality, biomass,
and recruitment.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an
accepted OFL probability distribution
that is analytically-derived will be
determined by applying the acceptable
probability of overfishing from the
MAFMC’s risk policy found in
§ 648.21(a) through (d) to the probability
distribution of the OFL.
(b) ABC control rule for a stock with
an OFL probability distribution that is
modified by the assessment team and
accepted by the SSC. (1) The SSC
determines the assessment OFL is
acceptable and the SSC accepts the
assessment team’s modifications to the
analytically-derived OFL probability
distribution, based on the following:
(i) Key features of the stock biology,
the fisheries that exploit it, and/or the
data collection methods for stock
information are missing from, or poorly
estimated in, the stock assessment;
(ii) The stock assessment provides
reference points (which may be
proxies), stock status, and uncertainties
associated with each; however, the
uncertainty is not fully promulgated
through the stock assessment model
and/or some important sources of
uncertainty may be lacking;
(iii) The stock assessment provides
estimates of the precision of biomass,
fishing mortality, and reference points;
(iv) The accuracy of the minimum
fishing mortality threshold and
projected future biomass is estimated in
the stock assessment using ad hoc
methods; and
(v) The modified OFL probability
distribution provided by the assessment
team acceptably addresses the
uncertainty of the assessment.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL
probability distribution that is modified
by the assessment team and accepted by
the SSC will be determined by applying
the acceptable probability of overfishing
from the MAFMC’s risk policy found in
§ 648.21(a) through (d) to the probability
distribution of the OFL as modified by
the assessment team.
(c) ABC control rule for a stock with
an OFL probability distribution that is
modified by the SSC. (1) The SSC
determines the assessment OFL is
acceptable but the SSC derives the
appropriate uncertainty for OFL based
on meta-analysis and other
considerations. This requires the SSC to
determine that the stock assessment
does not contain an estimated
probability distribution of OFL or the
OFL probability distribution in the stock
assessment is judged by the SSC to not
adequately reflect uncertainty in the
OFL estimate.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL
probability distribution that is modified
by the SSC will be determined by either:
(i) Applying the acceptable
probability of overfishing from the
MAFMC’s risk policy found in
§ 648.21(a) through (d) to the SSCadjusted OFL probability distribution.
The SSC will use default assignments of
uncertainty in the adjusted OFL
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Jkt 244001
probability distribution based on
literature review and valuation of
control rule performance; or,
(ii) If the SSC cannot develop an OFL
probability distribution, a default
control rule of 75 percent of the FMSY
value will be applied to derive ABC.
(d) ABC control rule for when an OFL
cannot be specified. (1) The SSC
determines that the OFL cannot be
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
15513
specified given the available
information.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL
that cannot be specified will be
determined by using control rules based
on biomass and catch history and
application of the MAFMC’s risk policy
found in § 648.21(a) through (d).
[FR Doc. 2018–07373 Filed 4–10–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15511-15513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07373]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 150309236-8327-02]
RIN 0648-BE65
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council; Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch Framework
Adjustment
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action implements an Omnibus Framework Adjustment to the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's acceptable biological catch
setting process, allows for adoption of peer-reviewed scientific
information more quickly, and clarifies language in the Council's catch
control rules. This action is necessary to provide an additional
approach in catch setting that will help bring stability to quotas,
ensure the best available scientific information is more readily
available, and clarify existing control rule language. The intended
effect of this action is to inform the public of these changes to the
Council's catch setting control rules and process.
DATES: This rule is effective May 11, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Council's Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch
Framework Adjustment and the accompanying environmental assessment (EA)
are available on request from: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Wilkinson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (301) 427-8561.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Council is required to set annual catch limits (ACLs) that do
not exceed the acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendation of its
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to prevent overfishing. ABCs
represent an upper limit for the Council to use when setting catch
limits. The 2011 ACL Omnibus Amendment final rule (76 FR 60606;
September 29, 2011), put in place the Council's risk policy that
provides guidance to the SSC on the Council's tolerance for overfishing
risk. The policy also outlines risk tolerance for ensuring stocks under
rebuilding plans achieve fishing mortality objectives.
The Council's risk policy for setting ABCs states that for a
typical species whose stock size is equal to or greater than a biomass
target associated with maximum sustainable yield (BMSY), the
acceptable probability of overfishing is 40 percent, i.e., if the
fishery catches the ABC then there is a 60-percent probability of not
overfishing. If the SSC determines that a species has an atypical life
history, the Council requires at least a 65-percent chance of not
overfishing to create a larger buffer when biomass is at or above
BMSY. The SSC determines whether a stock is typical or
atypical each time an ABC is recommended.
For both typical and atypical species, the Council has specified
that as stock size biomass (B) falls below the target BMSY,
the probability of overfishing decreases, until the probability of
overfishing hits zero when the stock is at 10 percent of the target
BMSY. For a stock under a rebuilding plan, the probability
of not exceeding the fishing mortality rate (F) within the specified
timeframe must be at least 50 percent, unless this probability
threshold is modified through a stock rebuilding plan.
The fishery management plans (FMPs) managed by the Council all have
provisions for setting specifications for multiple years (five years
for dogfish and three years for all other species).
Approved Measures
Overfishing Probability Averaging
When the SSC accepts assessment fishing mortality reference points,
the average probability of overfishing (or achieving the target fishing
mortality for rebuilding stocks) may be used consistent with the
existing risk policy requirements. The constant, multi-year ABCs that
would result must continue to meet the Council's risk policy goals,
with the probability of overfishing not to exceed 50 percent in any
given year. For stocks in a rebuilding plan, the probability of
achieving the rebuilding fishery mortality must meet the risk policy
objectives when constant, multi-year ABCs are recommended by the SSC.
Averaged ABCs could be set at a constant level for up to five years
for spiny dogfish and up to three years for all other species managed
by the Council. The SSC may provide both variable, year-to-year and
constant multi-year recommendations based on the average overfishing
probability approach for the Council to consider. The SSC will continue
to review fishery performance each year during multi-year
specifications, regardless of which multi-year approach is used to
determine ABCs. The multi-year averaging of ABCs will not apply to
stocks that do not have a quantitative assessment to derive ABCs, or to
stocks with an assessment that lacks information on the risk of
overfishing.
ABC Control Rule Assessment Level Designations
In conjunction with this action, the Council developed and we
approved some clarifying language describing its ABC control rule
assessment level designations. These revisions are minor and intended
to clarify the various components of the assessment levels used in the
ABC control rules.
Approved Biological Status Criteria
This action provides notice of the administrative process the
Council will use for incorporating the best scientific information
available in the development of ABCs for the Atlantic Bluefish,
Tilefish, and Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMPs. All other
Mid-Atlantic FMPs already use this process. The best available science
requirements dictate that the SSC use the accepted assessment
information to set quotas under National Standard 2. The Council's SSC
will utilize peer-reviewed biological reference points (overfishing
level, biomass thresholds, etc.) and periodic updates to stock status
determination criteria (i.e., biomass and fishing mortality reference
points) to define ABCs, consistent with the Council's other FMPs and
National Standards 1 and 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This change in Council
operations improves management efficiency by automatically
incorporating new peer-reviewed status determination criteria instead
of requiring a separate management action to adopt them within these
three FMPs.
[[Page 15512]]
Comments and Responses
We received one comment on the proposed rule from the public. The
commenter suggested clarifying language in the preamble of the proposed
rule notice, describing the measures. We clarified the description of
the measures in the preamble of this final rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes from the proposed to final rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the management
measures implemented in this final rule are necessary for the
conservation and management of the Council's FMPs, and consistent with
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
This final rule has been determined to not be significant for
purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this rule would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the
proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received
regarding this certification, and the initial certification remains
unchanged. As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not
required and none has been prepared.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 5, 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 amended
as follows:
PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. Section 648.20 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 648.20 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Acceptable
Biological Catch (ABC) control rules.
The SSC shall review the following criteria, and any additional
relevant information, to assign managed stocks to one of four types of
control rules based on the species' assessments and its treatment of
uncertainty when developing ABC recommendations. The SSC shall review
the ABC control rule assignment for stocks each time an ABC is
recommended. ABCs may be recommended for up to three years for all
stocks, with the exception of five years for spiny dogfish. The SCC may
specify constant, multi-year ABCs, derived from the average of ABCs (or
average risk of overfishing) if the average probability of overfishing
remains between zero and 40 percent, and does not exceed a 50-percent
probability in any given year. The average ABCs may remain constant for
up to three years for all stocks, with the exception of five years for
spiny dogfish. The SSC may deviate from the control rule methods and
recommend an ABC that differs from the result of the ABC control rule
application; however, any such deviation must include the following: A
description of why the deviation is warranted; description of the
methods used to derive the alternative ABC; and an explanation of how
the deviation is consistent with National Standard 2. The four types of
ABC control rules are described below.
(a) ABC control rule for a stock with an OFL probability
distribution that is analytically-derived and accepted by the SSC. (1)
The SSC determines that the assessment OFL and the assessment's
treatment of uncertainty are acceptable, based on the following:
(i) All important sources of scientific uncertainty are captured in
the stock assessment model;
(ii) The probability distribution of the OFL is calculated within
the stock assessment and adequately describes the OFL uncertainty;
(iii) The stock assessment model structure and treatment of the
data prior to use in the model include relevant details of the biology
of the stock, fisheries that exploit the stock, and data collection
methods;
(iv) The stock assessment provides the following estimates: Fishing
mortality rate (F) at MSY or an acceptable proxy maximum fishing
mortality threshold (MFMT) to define OFL, biomass, biological reference
points, stock status, OFL, and the respective uncertainties associated
with each value; and
(v) No substantial retrospective patterns exist in the stock
assessment estimates of fishing mortality, biomass, and recruitment.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an accepted OFL probability distribution
that is analytically-derived will be determined by applying the
acceptable probability of overfishing from the MAFMC's risk policy
found in Sec. 648.21(a) through (d) to the probability distribution of
the OFL.
(b) ABC control rule for a stock with an OFL probability
distribution that is modified by the assessment team and accepted by
the SSC. (1) The SSC determines the assessment OFL is acceptable and
the SSC accepts the assessment team's modifications to the
analytically-derived OFL probability distribution, based on the
following:
(i) Key features of the stock biology, the fisheries that exploit
it, and/or the data collection methods for stock information are
missing from, or poorly estimated in, the stock assessment;
(ii) The stock assessment provides reference points (which may be
proxies), stock status, and uncertainties associated with each;
however, the uncertainty is not fully promulgated through the stock
assessment model and/or some important sources of uncertainty may be
lacking;
(iii) The stock assessment provides estimates of the precision of
biomass, fishing mortality, and reference points;
(iv) The accuracy of the minimum fishing mortality threshold and
projected future biomass is estimated in the stock assessment using ad
hoc methods; and
(v) The modified OFL probability distribution provided by the
assessment team acceptably addresses the uncertainty of the assessment.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL probability distribution that is
modified by the assessment team and accepted by the SSC will be
determined by applying the acceptable probability of overfishing from
the MAFMC's risk policy found in Sec. 648.21(a) through (d) to the
probability distribution of the OFL as modified by the assessment team.
(c) ABC control rule for a stock with an OFL probability
distribution that is modified by the SSC. (1) The SSC determines the
assessment OFL is acceptable but the SSC derives the appropriate
uncertainty for OFL based on meta-analysis and other considerations.
This requires the SSC to determine that the stock assessment does not
contain an estimated probability distribution of OFL or the OFL
probability distribution in the stock assessment is judged by the SSC
to not adequately reflect uncertainty in the OFL estimate.
[[Page 15513]]
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL probability distribution that is
modified by the SSC will be determined by either:
(i) Applying the acceptable probability of overfishing from the
MAFMC's risk policy found in Sec. 648.21(a) through (d) to the SSC-
adjusted OFL probability distribution. The SSC will use default
assignments of uncertainty in the adjusted OFL probability distribution
based on literature review and valuation of control rule performance;
or,
(ii) If the SSC cannot develop an OFL probability distribution, a
default control rule of 75 percent of the FMSY value will be
applied to derive ABC.
(d) ABC control rule for when an OFL cannot be specified. (1) The
SSC determines that the OFL cannot be specified given the available
information.
(2) An ABC for stocks with an OFL that cannot be specified will be
determined by using control rules based on biomass and catch history
and application of the MAFMC's risk policy found in Sec. 648.21(a)
through (d).
[FR Doc. 2018-07373 Filed 4-10-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P