Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries, 18230-18233 [2018-08783]

Download as PDF 18230 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations public that safety zone two is being enforced. (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in § 165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated on-scene representative. (2) These safety zones are closed to all vessel traffic, except as may be permitted by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated on-scene representative. (3) The ‘‘on-scene representative’’ of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan to act on his or her behalf. (4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety zones shall contact the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or an on-scene representative to obtain permission to do so. The Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or an on-scene representative may be contacted via VHF Channel 16 or alternatively they may contact the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan via landline at 414–717–7182. Vessel operators given permission to enter or operate in the safety zones must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan, or an on-scene representative. Dated: April 11, 2018. Thomas J. Stuhlreyer, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan. [FR Doc. 2018–08794 Filed 4–25–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 [Docket No. 150121066–5717–02] RIN 0648–XG163 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and AGENCY: Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason Angling category retention limit adjustment. NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit that applies to vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category and the HMS Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally for BFT) should be adjusted for the remainder of 2018, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. NMFS is adjusting the Angling category BFT daily retention limit from the default of one school, large school, or small medium BFT to two school BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip for private vessels with HMS Angling category permits; and to three school BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip for vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally. These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico, where NMFS prohibits targeted fishing for BFT. DATES: Effective April 26, 2018, through December 31, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, (978) 281–9260. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006) and amendments, and in accordance with implementing SUMMARY: regulations. NMFS is required under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest the ICCAT-recommended quota. As a method for limiting fishing mortality on juvenile BFT, ICCAT recommends a tolerance limit on the annual harvest of BFT measuring less than 115 centimeters (cm) (45.3 inches) (straight fork length) to no more than 10 percent by weight of a Contracting Party’s total BFT quota. Any overharvest of such tolerance limit from one year must be subtracted from the tolerance limit applicable in the next year or the year after that. The United States implements this provision by limiting the harvest of school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches curved fork length) as appropriate to not exceed the 10-percent limit. The currently codified baseline U.S. quota is 1,058.9 metric tons (mt) (not including the 25 mt ICCAT allocated to the United States to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline fisheries in the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area). See § 635.27(a). The currently codified Angling category quota is 195.2 mt (108.4 mt for school BFT, 82.3 mt for large school/small medium BFT, and 4.5 mt for large medium/giant BFT). The 2018 BFT fishing year, which is managed on a calendar-year basis and subject to an annual calendar-year quota, began January 1, 2018. The Angling category season opened January 1, 2018, and continues through December 31, 2018. The size classes of BFT are summarized in Table 1. Please note that large school and small medium BFT traditionally have been managed as one size class, as described below, i.e., a limit of one large school/ small medium BFT (measuring 47 to less than 73 inches). Currently, the default Angling category daily retention limit of one school, large school, or small medium BFT applies (§ 635.23(b)(2)). This retention limit applies to HMS Angling and to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels (when fishing recreationally for BFT). rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES TABLE 1—BFT SIZE CLASSES Size class Curved fork length School ....................................................................................................... Large school ............................................................................................. Small medium ........................................................................................... Large medium ........................................................................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:41 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4700 27 47 59 73 to to to to less less less less Sfmt 4700 than than than than 47 59 73 81 inches inches inches inches (68.5 to less than 119 cm). (119 to less than 150 cm). (150 to less than 185 cm). (185 to less than 206 cm). E:\FR\FM\26APR1.SGM 26APR1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 18231 TABLE 1—BFT SIZE CLASSES—Continued Size class Curved fork length Giant ......................................................................................................... Table 2 summarizes the recreational quota, subquotas, landings, and 81 inches or greater (206 cm or greater). retention limit information for 2016 and 2017, by size class. TABLE 2—ANGLING CATEGORY QUOTAS (mt), ESTIMATED LANDINGS (mt), AND DAILY RETENTION LIMITS, 2016–2017 2016 Size class Subquotas and total quota (mt) 2017 Amount of subquotas and total quota used (percent) Landings (mt) Subquotas and total quota (mt) Landings (mt) Amount of subquotas and total quota used (percent) School ...................................................... Large School/Small Medium .................... Trophy: Large Medium/Giant ................... 108.4 82.3 4.5 40.3 96.8 5.9 37 118 131 108.4 82.3 4.5 47.1 84.5 10.2 43 103 227 Total .................................................. 195.2 143 73 195.2 141.8 73 Daily Retention Limits (per Vessel) ......... January 1 through April 22: 1 school, large school, or small medium (default). April 23 through December 31 (81 FR 23438, April 21, 2016): Private boats: 1 school and 1 large school/small medium. Charter/Headboats: 2 school and 1 large school/ small medium. Although the 2017 ICCAT recommendation regarding western BFT management would result in an increase to the baseline U.S. BFT quota (i.e., from 1,058.79 mt to 1,247.86 mt) and subquotas for 2018 (including an expected increase in Angling category quota from 195.2 mt to 232.4 mt, consistent with the annual BFT quota calculation process established in § 635.27(a)), domestic implementation of that recommendation will take place in a separate rulemaking, likely to be finalized in mid-2018. rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES Adjustment of Angling Category Daily Retention Limit Under § 635.23(b)(3), NMFS may increase or decrease the Angling category retention limit for any size class of BFT after considering regulatory determination criteria provided under § 635.27(a)(8). Recreational retention limits may be adjusted separately for specific vessel type, such as private vessels, headboats, or charter vessels. NMFS has considered all of the relevant determination criteria and their applicability to the change in the Angling category retention limit. The criteria and their application are discussed below. NMFS considered the usefulness of information obtained from catches in the particular category for biological VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:41 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 January 1 through April 29: 1 school, large school, or small medium (default). April 30 through December 31 (82 FR 19615, April 28, 2017): Private boats: 2 school and 1 large school/small medium. Charter/Headboats: 3 school and 1 large school/ small medium. sampling and monitoring of the status of the stock (§ 635.27(a)(8)(i)). Biological samples collected from BFT landed by recreational fishermen continue to provide NMFS with valuable parts and data for ongoing scientific studies of BFT age and growth, migration, and reproductive status. Additional opportunity to land BFT would support the collection of a broad range of data for these studies and for stock monitoring purposes. NMFS considered the catches of the Angling category quota to date and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no adjustment is made (§ 635.27(a)(8)(ii)). NMFS anticipates that the full 2018 Angling category quota would not be harvested under the default retention limit. As shown in Table 2, Angling category landings were approximately 73 percent of the 184.3mt annual Angling category quota in both 2016 and 2017, respectively including landings of 37 and 43 percent, respectively, of the available school BFT quota. NMFS also considered the effects of the adjustment on bluefin tuna rebuilding and overfishing and the effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives of the FMP (§ 635.27(a)(8)(v) and (vi)). These retention limits would be consistent with the quotas established and PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 analyzed in the bluefin tuna quota final rule (80 FR 52198, August 28, 2015), and with objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments, and is not expected to negatively impact stock health or to affect the stock in ways not already analyzed in those documents. It is also important that NMFS limit landings to the subquotas both to adhere to the FMP quota allocations and to ensure that landings are as consistent as possible with the pattern of fishing mortality (e.g., fish caught at each age) that was assumed in the latest stock assessment. Another principal consideration in setting the retention limit is the objective of providing opportunities to harvest the full Angling category quota without exceeding it based on the goals of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments, including to achieve optimum yield on a continuing basis and to optimize the ability of all permit categories to harvest their full BFT quota allocations (related to § 635.27(a)(8)(x)). The 2017 school bluefin tuna landings represent 4 percent of the total U.S. quota for 2017, well under the ICCAT recommended 10-percent limit. Landings of school bluefin tuna in 2015 represented 3.7 percent of the total U.S. quota for 2016. Given that the Angling category landings fell short of the E:\FR\FM\26APR1.SGM 26APR1 rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES 18232 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations available quota, that additional quota is anticipated to be available this year as a result of the 2017 ICCAT recommendation, and considering the regulatory criteria above, NMFS has determined that the Angling category retention limit applicable to participants on HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat category permitted vessels should be adjusted upwards from the default level. NMFS has also concluded that implementation of separate limits for private and charter/headboat vessels remains appropriate, recognizing the different nature, socio-economic needs, and recent landings results of the two components of the recreational BFT fishery. For example, charter operators historically have indicated that a multifish retention limit is vital to their ability to attract customers. In addition, Large Pelagics Survey estimates indicate that charter/headboat BFT landings averaged 32 percent of recent recreational landings for 2016 through 2017, with the remaining 68 percent landed by private vessels. Therefore, for private vessels with HMS Angling category permits, this action adjusts the limit upwards to two school BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip (i.e., two BFT measuring 27 to less than 47 inches, and one BFT measuring 47 to less than 73 inches). For vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits, this action adjusts the limit upwards to three school BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip when fishing recreationally for BFT (i.e., three BFT measuring 27 to less than 47 inches, and one BFT measuring 47 to less than 73 inches). These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico, where NMFS prohibits targeted fishing for BFT. Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip, the daily retention limit applies upon landing. For example, whether a private vessel (fishing under the Angling category retention limit) takes a two-day trip or makes two trips in one day, the day/trip limit of two school BFT and one large school/small medium BFT applies and may not be exceeded upon landing. NMFS anticipates that the BFT daily retention limits in this action will result in landings during 2018 that would not exceed the available subquotas. Lower retention limits could result in substantial underharvest of the codified Angling category subquota, and increasing the daily limits further may risk exceeding the available quota, contrary to the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments. NMFS considered input on 2018 recreational limits from the VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:41 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 HMS Advisory Panel at its March 2018 meeting. NMFS is not setting higher school BFT limit for private and charter vessels than the adjustments listed in Table 1 due to the potential risk of exceeding the ICCAT tolerance limit on school BFT and other considerations, such as potential effort shifts to BFT fishing as a result of current recreational retention limits for New England groundfish and striped bass. Monitoring and Reporting NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely through the mandatory landings and catch reports. HMS Charter/Headboat and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Catch Reporting App, or calling (888) 872–8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that additional retention limit adjustments or closures are necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. If needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal Register. In addition, fishermen may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978) 281–9260, or access hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on quota monitoring and inseason adjustments. HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat category permit holders may catch and release (or tag and release) BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs at § 635.26. Anglers are also reminded that all BFT that are released must be handled in a manner that will maximize survival, and without removing the fish from the water, consistent with requirements at § 635.21(a)(1). For additional information on safe handling, see the ‘‘Careful Catch and Release’’ brochure available at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/ outreach-and-education/careful-catchand-release-brochure. Classification The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior notice of, and an opportunity for public comment on, this action for the following reasons: The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in the BFT fishery. Affording prior notice and opportunity for public comment to implement the daily retention limit for the remainder of 2018 at this time is impracticable. Based on available BFT quotas, fishery performance in recent years, and the availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, immediate adjustment to the Angling category BFT daily retention limit from the default levels is warranted to allow fishermen to take advantage of the availability of fish and of quota. NMFS could not have proposed these actions earlier, as it needed to consider and respond to updated data and information from the 2017 Angling category fishery as well as input from the HMS Advisory Panel. If NMFS was to offer a public comment period now, after having appropriately considered that data, it would preclude fishermen from harvesting BFT that are legally available consistent with all of the regulatory criteria, and/or could result in selection of a retention limit inappropriately high or low for the amount of quota available for the period. Fisheries under the Angling category daily retention limit are currently underway and thus prior notice would be contrary to the public interest. Delays in increasing daily recreational BFT retention limit would adversely affect those HMS Angling and Charter/ Headboat category vessels that would otherwise have an opportunity to harvest more than the default retention limit of one school, large school, or small medium BFT per day/trip and may exacerbate the problem of low catch rates and quota rollovers. Analysis of available data shows that adjustment to the BFT daily retention limit from the default level would result in minimal risks of exceeding the ICCAT-allocated quota. NMFS provides notification of retention limit adjustments by publishing the notice in the Federal Register, emailing individuals who have subscribed to the Atlantic HMS News electronic newsletter, and updating the information posted on the Atlantic Tunas Information Line and on hmspermits.noaa.gov. Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment. For these reasons, there also is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to waive the 30day delay in effectiveness. E:\FR\FM\26APR1.SGM 26APR1 18233 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations This action is being taken under § 635.23(b)(3), and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq. Dated: April 23, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries. National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–08783 Filed 4–23–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE for use in developing annual management measures beginning in 2018. These new management measures replace existing measures, which have been in place since 2012, with updated salmon abundance modeling methods that utilize the best available science and address concerns that the existing measures were overly conservative. DATES: This final rule is effective April 25, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at (206) 526–4323. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 171031999–8355–02] RIN 0648–BH40 Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Management Measures To Limit Fishery Impacts on Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: NMFS issues a final rule to approve new fishery management measures to limit incidental catch of endangered Sacramento River winterrun Chinook salmon (SRWC) in fisheries managed under the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as recommended by the Council SUMMARY: Ocean salmon fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California are managed by the Council and NMFS according to the FMP. The FMP includes harvest controls that are used to manage salmon stocks sustainably. The FMP also requires that the Council manage fisheries consistent with ‘‘consultation standards’’ for stocks listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for which NMFS has issued biological opinions. At its November 2017 meeting, the Council adopted a preferred alternative for new management measures to limit fishery impacts to endangered SRWC, including a harvest control rule, to replace measures that have been in place since 2012. The Council developed these new management measures over a two-year period that included discussion at several public meetings, which provided opportunity for public comment. These new management measures include updated salmon abundance modeling methods that utilize the best available science and address concerns that the existing measures were overly conservative. The Council transmitted their recommendation to NMFS on December 6, 2017. NMFS published a proposed rule on February 22, 2018 (83 FR 7650) and accepted comments through March 9, 2018. The rationale for and effects of the rule are described in more detail in the proposed rule. The management measures approved in this final rule are unchanged from the proposed rule and consist of two parts. Part one is the continued use of season and size restrictions that were included in the 2012 management measures (see Table 1, below). Part two is a harvest control rule, recommended by the Council, which uses juvenile survival (i.e., fry to the end of age-two in the ocean) to model a forecast of age-three escapement absent fishing (escapement). The model used is a modification of the approach described in Winship et al. (2014) and is detailed in O’Farrell et al. (2016). The harvest control rule uses a forward-looking forecast rather than the previously used hind-cast methodology. The new harvest control rule sets the maximum allowable age-three impact rate based on the forecast escapement. At escapement above 3,000, the allowable impact rate is fixed at 20 percent. At escapement between 3,000 and 500, the allowable impact rate declines linearly from 20 percent to 10 percent. At escapement between 500 and 0, the allowable impact rate declines linearly from 10 percent to 0 percent, thus providing fishing opportunity at all levels of SRWC abundance. See Figure 1. TABLE 1—FISHING SEASON AND SIZE RESTRICTIONS FOR OCEAN CHINOOK SALMON FISHERIES, SOUTH OF POINT ARENA, CALIFORNIA Fishery Location Shall open no earlier than Shall close no later than Recreational .......... Between Point Arena and Pigeon Point .............................. Between Pigeon Point and the U.S./Mexico border ............ Between Point Arena and the U.S./Mexico border † ........... 1st Saturday in April ............. 1st Saturday in April ............. May 1 .................................... 2nd Sunday in November ..... 1st Sunday in October. September 30 † .................... Commercial ........... Minimum size limit (total length 1) shall be 20 inches. 26 inches. rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES † Exception: Between Point Reyes and Point San Pedro, there may be an October commercial fishery conducted Monday through Friday, but shall end no later than October 15. 1 Total length of salmon means the shortest distance between the tip of the snout or jaw (whichever extends furthest while the mouth is closed) and the tip of the longest lobe of the tail, without resort to any force or mutilation of the salmon other than fanning or swinging the tail (50 CFR 660.402). VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:41 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\26APR1.SGM 26APR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18230-18233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08783]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 150121066-5717-02]
RIN 0648-XG163


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason Angling category retention limit 
adjustment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily 
retention limit that applies to vessels permitted in the Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category and the HMS Charter/Headboat 
category (when fishing recreationally for BFT) should be adjusted for 
the remainder of 2018, based on consideration of the regulatory 
determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. NMFS is 
adjusting the Angling category BFT daily retention limit from the 
default of one school, large school, or small medium BFT to two school 
BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip for 
private vessels with HMS Angling category permits; and to three school 
BFT and one large school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip for 
vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits when fishing recreationally. 
These retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf 
of Mexico, where NMFS prohibits targeted fishing for BFT.

DATES: Effective April 26, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, (978) 
281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by 
persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR 
part 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by 
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories, per the 
allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory 
Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) (71 FR 
58058, October 2, 2006) and amendments, and in accordance with 
implementing regulations. NMFS is required under ATCA and the Magnuson-
Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable 
opportunity to harvest the ICCAT-recommended quota.
    As a method for limiting fishing mortality on juvenile BFT, ICCAT 
recommends a tolerance limit on the annual harvest of BFT measuring 
less than 115 centimeters (cm) (45.3 inches) (straight fork length) to 
no more than 10 percent by weight of a Contracting Party's total BFT 
quota. Any overharvest of such tolerance limit from one year must be 
subtracted from the tolerance limit applicable in the next year or the 
year after that. The United States implements this provision by 
limiting the harvest of school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches 
curved fork length) as appropriate to not exceed the 10-percent limit.
    The currently codified baseline U.S. quota is 1,058.9 metric tons 
(mt) (not including the 25 mt ICCAT allocated to the United States to 
account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline fisheries in the 
Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area). See Sec.  635.27(a). The 
currently codified Angling category quota is 195.2 mt (108.4 mt for 
school BFT, 82.3 mt for large school/small medium BFT, and 4.5 mt for 
large medium/giant BFT).
    The 2018 BFT fishing year, which is managed on a calendar-year 
basis and subject to an annual calendar-year quota, began January 1, 
2018. The Angling category season opened January 1, 2018, and continues 
through December 31, 2018. The size classes of BFT are summarized in 
Table 1. Please note that large school and small medium BFT 
traditionally have been managed as one size class, as described below, 
i.e., a limit of one large school/small medium BFT (measuring 47 to 
less than 73 inches). Currently, the default Angling category daily 
retention limit of one school, large school, or small medium BFT 
applies (Sec.  635.23(b)(2)). This retention limit applies to HMS 
Angling and to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels (when 
fishing recreationally for BFT).

                        Table 1--BFT Size Classes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Size class                       Curved fork length
------------------------------------------------------------------------
School.................................  27 to less than 47 inches (68.5
                                          to less than 119 cm).
Large school...........................  47 to less than 59 inches (119
                                          to less than 150 cm).
Small medium...........................  59 to less than 73 inches (150
                                          to less than 185 cm).
Large medium...........................  73 to less than 81 inches (185
                                          to less than 206 cm).

[[Page 18231]]

 
Giant..................................  81 inches or greater (206 cm or
                                          greater).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 2 summarizes the recreational quota, subquotas, landings, and 
retention limit information for 2016 and 2017, by size class.

                          Table 2--Angling Category Quotas (mt), Estimated Landings (mt), and Daily Retention Limits, 2016-2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               2016                                            2017
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Amount of                                       Amount of
                       Size class                          Subquotas and                   subquotas and   Subquotas and                   subquotas and
                                                            total quota    Landings (mt)    total quota     total quota    Landings (mt)    total quota
                                                               (mt)                       used (percent)       (mt)                       used (percent)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School..................................................           108.4            40.3              37           108.4            47.1              43
Large School/Small Medium...............................            82.3            96.8             118            82.3            84.5             103
Trophy: Large Medium/Giant..............................             4.5             5.9             131             4.5            10.2             227
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................           195.2             143              73           195.2           141.8              73
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Retention Limits (per Vessel).....................  January 1 through April 22: 1 school, large
                                                          school, or small medium (default).
                                                          January 1 through April 29: 1 school, large
                                                          school, or small medium (default).
                                                          April 23 through December 31 (81 FR 23438,
                                                          April 21, 2016):
                                                          April 30 through December 31 (82 FR 19615,
                                                          April 28, 2017):
                                                          Private boats: 1 school and 1 large school/
                                                          small medium.
                                                          Private boats: 2 school and 1 large school/
                                                          small medium.
                                                          Charter/Headboats: 2 school and 1 large school/
                                                          small medium.
                                                          Charter/Headboats: 3 school and 1 large school/
                                                          small medium.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although the 2017 ICCAT recommendation regarding western BFT 
management would result in an increase to the baseline U.S. BFT quota 
(i.e., from 1,058.79 mt to 1,247.86 mt) and subquotas for 2018 
(including an expected increase in Angling category quota from 195.2 mt 
to 232.4 mt, consistent with the annual BFT quota calculation process 
established in Sec.  635.27(a)), domestic implementation of that 
recommendation will take place in a separate rulemaking, likely to be 
finalized in mid-2018.

Adjustment of Angling Category Daily Retention Limit

    Under Sec.  635.23(b)(3), NMFS may increase or decrease the Angling 
category retention limit for any size class of BFT after considering 
regulatory determination criteria provided under Sec.  635.27(a)(8). 
Recreational retention limits may be adjusted separately for specific 
vessel type, such as private vessels, headboats, or charter vessels.
    NMFS has considered all of the relevant determination criteria and 
their applicability to the change in the Angling category retention 
limit. The criteria and their application are discussed below.
    NMFS considered the usefulness of information obtained from catches 
in the particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of 
the status of the stock (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(i)). Biological samples 
collected from BFT landed by recreational fishermen continue to provide 
NMFS with valuable parts and data for ongoing scientific studies of BFT 
age and growth, migration, and reproductive status. Additional 
opportunity to land BFT would support the collection of a broad range 
of data for these studies and for stock monitoring purposes.
    NMFS considered the catches of the Angling category quota to date 
and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no 
adjustment is made (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(ii)). NMFS anticipates that the 
full 2018 Angling category quota would not be harvested under the 
default retention limit. As shown in Table 2, Angling category landings 
were approximately 73 percent of the 184.3-mt annual Angling category 
quota in both 2016 and 2017, respectively including landings of 37 and 
43 percent, respectively, of the available school BFT quota.
    NMFS also considered the effects of the adjustment on bluefin tuna 
rebuilding and overfishing and the effects of the adjustment on 
accomplishing the objectives of the FMP (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(v) and 
(vi)). These retention limits would be consistent with the quotas 
established and analyzed in the bluefin tuna quota final rule (80 FR 
52198, August 28, 2015), and with objectives of the 2006 Consolidated 
HMS FMP and amendments, and is not expected to negatively impact stock 
health or to affect the stock in ways not already analyzed in those 
documents. It is also important that NMFS limit landings to the 
subquotas both to adhere to the FMP quota allocations and to ensure 
that landings are as consistent as possible with the pattern of fishing 
mortality (e.g., fish caught at each age) that was assumed in the 
latest stock assessment.
    Another principal consideration in setting the retention limit is 
the objective of providing opportunities to harvest the full Angling 
category quota without exceeding it based on the goals of the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments, including to achieve optimum yield 
on a continuing basis and to optimize the ability of all permit 
categories to harvest their full BFT quota allocations (related to 
Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(x)).
    The 2017 school bluefin tuna landings represent 4 percent of the 
total U.S. quota for 2017, well under the ICCAT recommended 10-percent 
limit. Landings of school bluefin tuna in 2015 represented 3.7 percent 
of the total U.S. quota for 2016. Given that the Angling category 
landings fell short of the

[[Page 18232]]

available quota, that additional quota is anticipated to be available 
this year as a result of the 2017 ICCAT recommendation, and considering 
the regulatory criteria above, NMFS has determined that the Angling 
category retention limit applicable to participants on HMS Angling and 
HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels should be adjusted 
upwards from the default level. NMFS has also concluded that 
implementation of separate limits for private and charter/headboat 
vessels remains appropriate, recognizing the different nature, socio-
economic needs, and recent landings results of the two components of 
the recreational BFT fishery. For example, charter operators 
historically have indicated that a multi-fish retention limit is vital 
to their ability to attract customers. In addition, Large Pelagics 
Survey estimates indicate that charter/headboat BFT landings averaged 
32 percent of recent recreational landings for 2016 through 2017, with 
the remaining 68 percent landed by private vessels.
    Therefore, for private vessels with HMS Angling category permits, 
this action adjusts the limit upwards to two school BFT and one large 
school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip (i.e., two BFT 
measuring 27 to less than 47 inches, and one BFT measuring 47 to less 
than 73 inches). For vessels with HMS Charter/Headboat permits, this 
action adjusts the limit upwards to three school BFT and one large 
school/small medium BFT per vessel per day/trip when fishing 
recreationally for BFT (i.e., three BFT measuring 27 to less than 47 
inches, and one BFT measuring 47 to less than 73 inches). These 
retention limits are effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of 
Mexico, where NMFS prohibits targeted fishing for BFT. Regardless of 
the duration of a fishing trip, the daily retention limit applies upon 
landing. For example, whether a private vessel (fishing under the 
Angling category retention limit) takes a two-day trip or makes two 
trips in one day, the day/trip limit of two school BFT and one large 
school/small medium BFT applies and may not be exceeded upon landing.
    NMFS anticipates that the BFT daily retention limits in this action 
will result in landings during 2018 that would not exceed the available 
subquotas. Lower retention limits could result in substantial 
underharvest of the codified Angling category subquota, and increasing 
the daily limits further may risk exceeding the available quota, 
contrary to the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and 
amendments. NMFS considered input on 2018 recreational limits from the 
HMS Advisory Panel at its March 2018 meeting. NMFS is not setting 
higher school BFT limit for private and charter vessels than the 
adjustments listed in Table 1 due to the potential risk of exceeding 
the ICCAT tolerance limit on school BFT and other considerations, such 
as potential effort shifts to BFT fishing as a result of current 
recreational retention limits for New England groundfish and striped 
bass.

Monitoring and Reporting

    NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely through the 
mandatory landings and catch reports. HMS Charter/Headboat and Angling 
category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all BFT 
retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of 
each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Catch 
Reporting App, or calling (888) 872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 
a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). Depending on the level of fishing effort and 
catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that additional retention limit 
adjustments or closures are necessary to ensure available quota is not 
exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing 
opportunities in, all geographic areas. If needed, subsequent 
adjustments will be published in the Federal Register. In addition, 
fishermen may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978) 281-
9260, or access hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on quota monitoring 
and inseason adjustments.
    HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat category permit holders may 
catch and release (or tag and release) BFT of all sizes, subject to the 
requirements of the catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs at 
Sec.  635.26. Anglers are also reminded that all BFT that are released 
must be handled in a manner that will maximize survival, and without 
removing the fish from the water, consistent with requirements at Sec.  
635.21(a)(1). For additional information on safe handling, see the 
``Careful Catch and Release'' brochure available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-and-education/careful-catch-and-release-brochure.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that it is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior 
notice of, and an opportunity for public comment on, this action for 
the following reasons:
    The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and 
amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments to respond 
to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds, 
the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in 
the BFT fishery. Affording prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment to implement the daily retention limit for the remainder of 
2018 at this time is impracticable. Based on available BFT quotas, 
fishery performance in recent years, and the availability of BFT on the 
fishing grounds, immediate adjustment to the Angling category BFT daily 
retention limit from the default levels is warranted to allow fishermen 
to take advantage of the availability of fish and of quota. NMFS could 
not have proposed these actions earlier, as it needed to consider and 
respond to updated data and information from the 2017 Angling category 
fishery as well as input from the HMS Advisory Panel. If NMFS was to 
offer a public comment period now, after having appropriately 
considered that data, it would preclude fishermen from harvesting BFT 
that are legally available consistent with all of the regulatory 
criteria, and/or could result in selection of a retention limit 
inappropriately high or low for the amount of quota available for the 
period.
    Fisheries under the Angling category daily retention limit are 
currently underway and thus prior notice would be contrary to the 
public interest. Delays in increasing daily recreational BFT retention 
limit would adversely affect those HMS Angling and Charter/Headboat 
category vessels that would otherwise have an opportunity to harvest 
more than the default retention limit of one school, large school, or 
small medium BFT per day/trip and may exacerbate the problem of low 
catch rates and quota rollovers. Analysis of available data shows that 
adjustment to the BFT daily retention limit from the default level 
would result in minimal risks of exceeding the ICCAT-allocated quota. 
NMFS provides notification of retention limit adjustments by publishing 
the notice in the Federal Register, emailing individuals who have 
subscribed to the Atlantic HMS News electronic newsletter, and updating 
the information posted on the Atlantic Tunas Information Line and on 
hmspermits.noaa.gov. Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment. 
For these reasons, there also is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to 
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness.

[[Page 18233]]

    This action is being taken under Sec.  635.23(b)(3), and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 23, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries. National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08783 Filed 4-23-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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