Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Groundfish Bottom Trawl and Midwater Trawl Gear in the Trawl Rationalization Program, 45396-45410 [2018-19343]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45396-45410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19343]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 180207141-8783-01]
RIN 0648-BH74


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Groundfish Bottom Trawl and Midwater 
Trawl Gear in the Trawl Rationalization Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes revising Federal regulations that restrict the 
use and configuration of bottom and midwater trawl gear for vessels 
fishing under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl 
Rationalization Program. The gear restrictions were originally 
implemented to limit discarding and protect overfished rockfish 
species. These restrictions are no longer necessary because of changes 
to the fishery, including implementation of the Trawl Rationalization 
Program in 2011, and improved status of a number of overfished rockfish 
stocks. By eliminating these regulations, the proposed action could 
increase flexibility in how vessels can use and configure gear to 
increase access to target stocks and efficiency of fishing practices, 
while still limiting the catch of target and non-target discards to 
meet the conservation objectives of the Trawl Rationalization Program.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before 
October 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0081, by 
any of the following methods:
     Online Submission: Go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal 
at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0081, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Barry Thom, Regional 
Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
    NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other 
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the 
comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post the comments 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 is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Electronic copies of supporting documents referenced in this 
proposed rule, including the Environmental Assessment (EA) and 
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RFA), 
are available from www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS West Coast 
Region Groundfish Fisheries website at https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Palmigiano, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 206-526-4491, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Summary of the Proposed Regulations
    A. Proposed Regulations for Net Configuration
    1. Eliminate Minimum Mesh Size Restriction
    2. Revise the Definition of Mesh Size
    3. Eliminate the Prohibition on Double-walled Codends
    4. Eliminate Restrictions on the Use of Chafing Gear
    5. Summary of Potential Impacts From Proposed Regulations for 
Net Configuration
    B. Eliminate the Requirement to Use Selective Flatfish Trawl 
Shoreward of the RCA and North of 42 N. Latitude
    C. Proposed Regulations for Vessel Operations
    1. Eliminate the Prohibition on Multiple Types of Groundfish 
Trawl Gears Carried and Fished on the Same Trip
    2. Eliminate the Prohibition on Bringing a New Haul Onboard 
Before All Catch From the Previous Haul Is Stowed
    3. Eliminate the Prohibition on Fishing in Multiple IFQ 
Management Areas on the Same Tow
    4. Summary of Potential Impacts From Proposed Regulations for 
Some Vessel Operations
III. Classification
IV. Description of Regulated Entities
V. Description of the Proposed Regulations
VI. Collection of Information Requirements

I. Background

    Prior to 2011, the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery was primarily 
managed with trip and landing limits and area closures and monitoring 
was limited (e.g., less than 25 percent of groundfish bottom and 
midwater trawl trip landings were subject to at-sea observer coverage). 
During that time, NMFS implemented trawl gear restrictions to both 
reduce groundfish and non-groundfish bycatch and discards, as well as 
limit access to overfished rockfish habitat. Restrictions included: (1) 
Minimum mesh size requirements; (2) requirements for chafing gear and 
cod-ends; (3) the trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA), which 
prohibits the use of groundfish bottom trawl gear between certain

[[Page 45397]]

fathom lines defined in regulation at Sec. Sec.  660.71 through 660.74; 
and, (4) a requirement that vessels use selective flatfish trawl, a 
type of small footrope trawl gear, shoreward of the trawl RCA and north 
of 40[deg]10' North (N) latitude.
    In 2011, NMFS implemented Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), which established the 
Trawl Rationalization Program. The Trawl Rationalization Program, a 
type of catch share program, replaced trip and landing limits with 
fixed allocations for limited entry trawl participants, through an 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) management system. To allow managers to 
accurately account for catch against IFQ, the program increased at-sea 
and shoreside monitoring to 100 percent of trips and landings for 
groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels. This management system, 
which increased individual vessel accountability, successfully reduced 
bycatch of target and non-target rockfish in the trawl fishery. Since 
implementation of the Trawl Rationalization Program, five of the seven 
previously overfished rockfish species are now rebuilt.
    Building on the successes of the Trawl Rationalization Program at 
reducing discards, NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) began working with industry members on several fishery 
management actions, known as Program Improvements or Enhancements (PIE) 
trailing actions. The PIE trailing actions included identifying 
regulations that limit the use and configuration of groundfish bottom 
and midwater trawl gears, and may no longer be necessary because the 
Trawl Rationalization Program effectively limits target and non-target 
species bycatch.
    In March 2011, groundfish industry members, through the Council's 
Groundfish Advisory Sub-Panel (GAP), requested that the Council 
eliminate and revise various regulations related to mesh size and 
requirements to use four-seam trawl shoreward of the trawl RCA. To 
address the GAP's recommendations, the Council formed an ad hoc 
committee to identify specific regulations that, if revised or 
eliminated, would allow fishermen to increase the efficiency of their 
fishing strategy as the Council had intended when they recommended 
implementation of the Trawl Rationalization Program. The Council 
authorized the appointment of the new ad hoc committee, the Trawl 
Rationalization Regulatory Evaluation Committee (TRREC), at its April 
2011 meeting.
    The TRREC held a meeting during the summer of 2011. At the 
Council's November meeting that year, the TRREC recommended the Council 
consider, as part of the PIE trailing actions, revising regulations to: 
(1) Allow multiple gear (trawl gears and fixed gear) use and possession 
seaward and shoreward of the trawl RCA; (2) remove restrictions on 
chafing gear for midwater trawl gear; and, (3) eliminate codend, mesh 
size, and selective flatfish trawl gear requirements and restrictions. 
The TRREC prioritized these three measures over others, but also 
recommended the Council consider revising additional regulations they 
felt were unnecessary and costly, including the prohibition on fishing 
more than one individual fishing quota (IFQ) management area and the 
definitions of large and small footropes.
    In March 2012, the Council adopted preliminary preferred 
alternatives for most of the gear measures under the PIE trailing 
actions; adopted its preferred alternative for chafing gear 
requirements for midwater trawl gear and put this action on a fast 
track for implementation; and, authorized a one-day public workshop of 
the Council's Enforcement Consultants (EC), GAP, and Groundfish 
Management Team (GMT) to discuss and make recommendations on the 
remaining gear related measures. Further discussion on gear measures 
were delayed until results of the gear workshop were presented to the 
Council.
    The purpose of the gear workshop, which took place August 29-30, 
2012, in Portland, Oregon, included scoping of various gear restriction 
measures that had been recommended to the Council by the TRREC and 
providing recommendations for how the Council can move forward. The 
gear workshop report was presented to the Council at its November 2012 
meeting and made similar recommendations to those in the TRREC report, 
including (1) allowing the use of multiple gears (trawl and fixed gear) 
on the same trip; (2) a reduction in the minimum mesh size for 
groundfish bottom trawl gear; (3) eliminating the selective flatfish 
trawl gear requirement; and (4) allowing vessels in the IFQ Program to 
move fixed gear across management lines. Additionally, the report 
included a recommendation to allow year-round use of midwater gear 
within and outside the trawl RCA north of 40[deg]10' North (N) 
latitude.
    The Council next took action on these measures in September 2015. 
At the time, the Council adopted the purpose and need statement, a 
rulemaking schedule, and the range of alternatives, along with some 
additional alternatives and measures suggested by the GAP. These new 
measures included changing how mesh size is defined so that regulations 
would allow for the enforcement of both knotted and knotless webbing; 
allowing vessels fishing under the Shorebased IFQ Program to fish 
across IFQ management lines; allowing whiting fishing with any type of 
trawl gear; allowing a tow to be brought onboard before previous catch 
is stowed; and, the option to further review and revise additional 
requirements in regulations at Sec.  660.130 which provides trawl gear 
requirements and restrictions. After Council and NMFS staff reviewed 
that section of the regulations, further measures were added to the 
list of potential gear changes, including eliminating codend 
restrictions. Several other possible measures were not forwarded at the 
time due to potential for delays in implementation. The Council 
scheduled final action on the suite of measures for March 2016.
    On March 3, 2016 (81 FR 11189), NMFS published a notice of intent 
(NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider 
revisions to the regulations for groundfish bottom and midwater trawl 
gear used by vessels under the Trawl Rationalization Program. The 
Council conducted an additional scoping during its March 2016 meeting 
to gather public comments on the proposed regulations. Based on 
discussions at the meetings and public comments on the NOI, the Council 
selected their final preferred alternatives for all of the proposed 
measures at its March 2016 meeting, except the restriction on fishing 
across IFQ management lines. The Council delayed its decision on 
management lines, and selected its final preferred alternative at the 
June 2016 Council meeting. Detailed information, including the 
supporting documentation the Council considered at each meeting, is 
available at the Council's website, www.pcouncil.org.
    After the Council selected final recommendations on the proposed 
measures in March and June 2016, NMFS completed extensive analyses on 
the measures, including an Endangered Species Act section 7 
consultation on the impacts of the PCGFMP on listed salmon stocks. 
These analyses supported NMFS' determination that the impacts of 
implementing the proposed measures would likely not be significant and, 
therefore, there was no need to complete an EIS. Instead NMFS completed 
an integrated analysis that included an EA. On June 8, 2018, NMFS 
published a notice to withdraw preparation of the EIS (83 FR 26640). A

[[Page 45398]]

copy of the draft EA and supporting documents are available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES).

II. Summary of the Proposed Regulations

    If implemented, the proposed regulations would provide flexibility 
to groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels fishing under the Trawl 
Rationalization Program in how they may use and configure their gear, 
and operate on fishing trips. This flexibility is expected to foster 
innovation and allow for more optimal harvest operations for the 
groundfish fleet.
    The Council deemed the proposed regulations consistent with and 
necessary to implement this action in an August 14, 2018, letter from 
Council Executive Director, Chuck Tracy, to Regional Administrator 
Barry Thom. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), NMFS is required to publish 
proposed rules for comment after preliminarily determining whether they 
are consistent with applicable law. We are seeking comment on the 
proposed regulations in this action and whether they are consistent 
with the PCGFMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and its National Standards, 
and other applicable law.
    The discussion in this proposed rule and in the EA/RIR/RFA (See 
ADDRESSES) groups several related measures to reduce redundancy and to 
consider the collective impacts of similar proposed regulations. 
Through this action, the Council proposes to:
     Adjust a suite of restrictions related to how nets are 
configured, including eliminating minimum mesh size restrictions, 
changing the definition of mesh size, removing chafing gear placement 
restrictions, and removing restrictions on using double-walled codends 
from groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels fishing under the 
Trawl Rationalization Program;
     Remove the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl 
gear north of 40[deg] 10' N lat. and shoreward of the trawl RCA;
     Adjust a number of provisions related to vessel operations 
on a single fishing trip, including allowing vessels that fish in the 
Shorebased IFQ Program under the Trawl Rationalization Program to carry 
and fish groundfish bottom and midwater trawl gears on the same trip, 
fish across IFQ management lines, and bring a new haul on deck before 
the catch from a previous haul is stowed.

A. Proposed Regulations for Net Configurations

    This section discusses the proposed regulations that would remove 
some minimum mesh size restrictions, revise the definition of mesh 
size, remove chafing gear placement restrictions, and remove the 
prohibition on using double-walled codends for groundfish bottom and 
midwater trawl vessels fishing under the Trawl Rationalization Program. 
These measures all relate to net configuration, and all affect the mesh 
size for trawl nets. Because changing any of these restrictions could 
result in similar impacts, the analysis supporting this proposed rule 
considers both the individual and collective impacts of all of the 
measures. Below is a short description of each of the proposed 
regulations followed by a summary of the potential impacts of each of 
these measures combined.
1. Eliminate Minimum Mesh Size Restriction
    Mesh size is the opening between opposing knots in a fishing net, 
and minimum mesh size is the smallest distance allowed from the inside 
of one knot to the inside of the opposing knot. Currently, vessels 
fishing with groundfish trawl gear, including chafing gear, must use 
nets with a minimum mesh size greater than or equal to 4.5 inches (11.4 
cm) for bottom trawl, and greater than or equal to 3.0 inches (7.6 cm) 
for midwater trawl gears. These regulations were first implemented in 
the 1990s to reduce fishing mortality for smaller fish, thus increasing 
survival to maturity. Increasing size selectivity through minimum mesh 
size restrictions was also expected to reduce bycatch of non-target 
species.
    Midwater trawl gear must be constructed so that the first 20 feet 
(6.51 m) immediately behind the footrope or head-rope is constructed 
with bare ropes or mesh with a minimum size of 16 inches (40.64 cm). 
Also implemented in the 1990s, this restriction makes midwater trawl 
gear impractical or ineffective at capturing fish when in contact with 
the seafloor, which ensures that vessels do not make bottom contact 
with midwater trawl gear.
    This action would remove both the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) minimum mesh 
size requirement for groundfish bottom trawl gear and the 3.0 in (7.6 
cm) minimum mesh size requirement for midwater trawl. The Council did 
not recommend revising the current restriction on the minimum mesh size 
restriction for the first 20 feet (6.51 m) behind the footrope or head-
rope for midwater trawl gears. This requirement is essential to the 
definition of midwater trawl gear.
    Under the proposed regulations, it is not anticipated that 
groundfish bottom or midwater trawl vessel operators would 
significantly reduce their mesh size, throughout their codend, 
intermediate, and/or body of the trawl to create less selective fishing 
gear because this may increase the catch of undersized IFQ species or 
other unwanted species, decrease the efficiency of the trawl, and 
increase fuel consumption. Some groundfish bottom trawlers may use 
smaller meshes closer to the 3.0 in (7.6 cm) minimum allowed for 
midwater trawl to reduce gilling of species like widow rockfish and 
yellowtail rockfish. But there does not currently appear to be a need 
for midwater trawl vessel operators to reduce their minimum mesh size 
through their trawl gear lower than the requirement, even though they 
would be allowed to do so under the proposed regulatory changes, 
because the current 3.0 in (7.6 cm) minimum mesh size requirement is 
sufficient for preventing excessive gilling of midwater species (e.g., 
widow and yellowtail rockfish) while maintaining high catch rates.
    The proposed regulations would likely provide vessel operators with 
the flexibility to configure their gear to enable efficient catch of 
target species, including the strategic use of smaller mesh sizes to 
facilitate the use or construction of excluder devices (e.g., flexible 
grates), the use of smaller meshes to herd or guide fish through the 
net and reduce gilling, and to reinforce the net where the excluder or 
guiding panels are attached to reduce wear on the net meshes.
2. Revise the Definition of Mesh Size
    In addition to revising minimum mesh size restrictions for bottom 
and midwater trawl gear, this action updates the definition for 
measuring minimum mesh size to include knotless nets, as well as 
redefining the approach for measuring mesh size as the opening between 
opposing corners. These changes to the definition for mesh size are 
necessary because most vessels today use knotless trawl gear. Revising 
the definition of mesh size would allow NMFS Office of Law Enforcement 
(OLE) to enforce current mesh size requirements for nets that do not 
have knots. Additionally, removing the minimum mesh size requirements 
would reduce minor enforcement violations that occur when net shrinkage 
reduces mesh size below legal limits.
    Even if the minimum mesh size requirement is eliminated, as 
discussed

[[Page 45399]]

under Section A.1. above, this revision to the definition of mesh size 
would still be necessary because vessels using midwater trawl nets will 
still be required to adhere to minimum mesh size requirements for the 
first 20 feet (6.51 m) behind the footrope or head-rope.
3. Eliminate the Prohibition on Double-Walled Codends
    The current groundfish regulations prohibit double-walled codends 
on any trawl gear, and prohibits vessel operators from outfitting nets 
with chafing gear to effectively create a double-walled codend. Double-
walled codend is defined in regulation as a codend constructed of two 
walls or layers of webbing. The prohibition was originally implemented 
in 1992 to prevent vessel operators from using double-walled codends to 
effectively reduce their mesh size below the minimum size requirements, 
which would have prevented undersized species from escaping the net, 
and resulted in more discards.
    The Council recommended and NMFS proposes eliminating the 
restrictions that prohibit groundfish bottom and midwater trawl vessels 
from using double-walled codends. This proposed regulations could 
provide flexibility necessary to reinforce webbing in certain areas of 
the trawl net that could facilitate escapement of fish through escape 
panels (e.g., reinforced webbing to attach ramps, funnels, or other 
selective devices to codend or intermediate meshes) and to prevent 
abrasion of the net from various trawl components, such as restraining 
straps. This revision could also result in escapement of smaller fish 
by reducing the effective mesh size of the codend and herd fish through 
the net, and increase net protection by ``armoring'' the trawl.
4. Eliminate Restrictions on the Use of Chafing Gear
    The November 2011 TRREC report also suggested eliminating 
restrictions on the use of chafing gear. The groundfish regulations 
define chafing gear as a webbing or other material that attaches to the 
codend to protect trawl nets from wear and damage from bottom contact 
and contact with the vessels during net retrieval. Regulations 
implemented in the 1990s required chafing gear with large meshes be 
fastened to allow escapement of small fish through mesh openings (57 FR 
12212, April 9, 1992). These regulations were intended to prevent 
vessel operators from using chafing gear to create double-walled 
codends or effectively reducing the mesh size below the minimum mesh 
size restrictions. Over the past 30 years, NMFS implemented several 
proposed regulations to expand the use of chafing gear to protect trawl 
nets to better align with regulations off Alaska.
    The current regulations allow vessels to configure chafing gear to 
encircle no more than 50 percent of a bottom trawl net's circumference. 
Chafing gear on bottom trawls may be used only on the last 50 meshes, 
issued from the terminal (closed) end of the codend. Only the front 
edge (edge closest to the open end of the codend) and sides of each 
section of chafing gear may be attached to the codend. With the 
exception of the corners, the terminal edge (edge closest to the closed 
end of the codend) of each section of chafing gear must not be attached 
to the net. Chafing gear must be attached outside any riblines and 
restraining straps.
    For midwater trawl, current regulations allow that chafing gear may 
cover the bottom and sides of the codend in either one or more 
sections. Only the front edge (edge closest to the open end of the 
codend) and sides of each section of chafing gear may be attached to 
the codend; except at the corners, the terminal edge (edge closest to 
the closed end of the codend) of each section of chafing gear must not 
be attached to the net. Chafing gear is not permitted on the top codend 
panel on midwater trawl gear except for a band of mesh (a ``skirt'') 
may encircle the net under or over transfer cables, lifting or 
splitting straps (chokers), riblines, and restraining straps, but must 
be the same mesh size and coincide knot-to-knot with the net to which 
it is attached and be no wider than 16 meshes.
    NMFS proposes removing all restrictions in regulations on the use 
of chafing gear for groundfish bottom trawl and midwater trawl gear. 
Removing these restrictions would allow vessel operator flexibility in 
how they use chafing gear to protect nets and codends and how they fish 
relative to the seafloor. It is anticipated that under the proposed 
regulations, vessel operators would use chafing gear strategically to 
provide protection in areas where the net can be susceptible to wear. 
This will allow vessels to extend the life of their nets and ultimately 
reduce operational costs.
    It is not anticipated that vessel operators would attach large 
sections of chafing gear to these additional sections for added net 
protection, because doing so would increase the drag on the net, which 
could increase fuel consumption and reduce fishing efficiency. In 
addition, it would likely provide no additional protection from bottom 
contact, because the top of the net and tapered portion of the net in 
front of the codend rarely contact the seabed. Wear patterns on 
midwater trawl nets indicate that when bottom contact occurs, it 
typically occurs at the very end of the codend, which can already be 
protected by chafing gear under the current regulations. The ability of 
vessels to fish in more rocky habitat has more to do with the size of 
the footrope than the chafing gear protections, and vessels operators 
would still be required to abide by the small footrope requirement 
shoreward of the trawl RCA. Therefore, limiting their ability to fish 
in high relief areas regardless of chafing gear requirements.
    This change is not expected to result in increased catch of 
undersized or non-target fish. Attaching more chafing gear than 
necessary to protect the net could also limit the flow within the net, 
which is needed to allow for adequate escapement of undersized fish, if 
meshes are blocked. Researchers have also shown there is no detectable 
difference in selectivity between codends with and without top-side 
chafing gear if the chafing gear consists of larger meshes than the 
codend mesh size (e.g., 2 times larger) and if the chafing gear is 
attached to the codend loosely (i.e., to allow space between the top-
side chafing gear and the codend meshes). For those species that escape 
through the top meshes of codends and intermediates, properly hung top-
side chafing gear with large meshes may not block or mask codend meshes 
and therefore may not measurably impede escapement.
    This change is not expected to substantially alter gear contact 
with the bottom. Numerous disincentives already exist for midwater 
vessel operators to fish close to the substrate. These disincentives 
include: (a) Risk of damage to the net from snagging or hanging on hard 
bottom would not be lessened by increases in chafing gear coverage; (b) 
reduced gear efficiency and increased operating costs when bottom 
contact occurs; and (c) bare footropes, sweeps, and 16 in (40.64 cm) 
mesh size restriction for the first 20 ft (6.1 m) on the front of the 
net make the gear impractical or ineffective for fishing hard on the 
bottom (soft or hard bottom).
5. Summary of Potential Impacts From Proposed Regulations for Net 
Configuration
    Eliminating restrictions on groundfish bottom and midwater trawl 
net configuration would allow vessels to experiment with different mesh 
sizes,

[[Page 45400]]

chafing gear placement, and use of double-walled codends. Each of these 
proposed regulations individually, and collectively, could result in 
potential negative impacts to the physical and biological environments. 
However, in most instances, these impacts are mitigated through 
incentives and disincentives built into the Trawl Rationalization 
Program. Additionally, many of the proposed regulations would have a 
positive impact on harvesters, processors, and the communities they 
support.
    Proposed regulations which could result in a reduction in mesh 
sizes used and increased net protections could increase bottom trawl 
effort targeting semi-pelagic rockfish species or longspine thornyhead, 
and therefore result in some redistribution of effort or a shift of 
effort to deeper waters. These shifts in effort are not anticipated to 
result in additional impacts to the physical environment beyond what 
already occurs under the current regulations. The proposed regulations 
do not open any new areas to trawling. Any redistribution of effort 
would not be expected to impact any new habitats which are not already 
fished with trawl gear. Other restrictions on net configurations, such 
as the small-footrope requirement shoreward of the trawl RCA, haven 
been shown to be very effective in limiting effort in high relief 
areas. Vessel operators would still be at risk of damage to their nets 
and hang-ups from entering into high relief habitats, even with the 
ability to provide additional chafing gear or codend protections, which 
do not provide any protection to the ropes.
    Increasing net protections which result in extensively armoring the 
trawl and reducing mesh sizes is also unlikely for many reasons, 
including: (a) Increased drag and decreased flow; (b) increased expense 
while hauling due to increased fuel consumption; (c) increased expense 
to purchase smaller mesh, additional chafing gear, and double-walled 
nets; and (d) increased retention of undersized and unmarketable fish. 
It is important to note that increased drag may not only increase fuel 
consumption, but also may reduce fishing efficiency, such as reducing 
door spread of the trawl net.
    If vessels make mesh size, chafing gear, or double-walled codend 
changes throughout the codend and/or intermediate net in a manner that 
reduces trawl gear selectivity, then catches of undersized or unwanted 
groundfish could increase. However, the Trawl Rationalization Program 
creates a strong disincentive for vessel operators to avoid the catch 
of undersized, unmarketable groundfish. Catching more small fish is not 
economically advantageous to vessel operators. Although most undersized 
fish are unmarketable, vessels operators must still account for the 
catching of undersized fish with individual quota pounds. Vessel 
operators must debit each pound of unmarketable, undersized fish caught 
from their total allocation for that species, which means they must 
forgo the opportunity to use their allocation for marketable catch. For 
this reason, catching unmarketable, undersized fish has the potential 
to reduce vessel revenue, as well as add sorting time (workload), for 
the vessel's crew and processor's employees.
    Revisions to the restrictions on net configurations could have a 
positive impact on harvesters by allowing vessel operators to configure 
their nets in the most efficient way possible, including the 
opportunity to experiment with excluders and various combinations of 
mesh size and mesh shape (square or T-90 mesh) that could reduce 
bycatch while simultaneously improving the sustainability of the 
fishery and increasing the likelihood of attainment. Vessel operators 
have repeatedly testified to the Council that they desire more 
flexibility to experiment with trawl gear to reduce catch of unwanted 
species and increase catch of marketable fish. This may ultimately 
result in improved quality and consistency of product to first 
receivers and processors over time. Vessel operators would also benefit 
from the reduced complexity of the regulations by removing additional 
restrictions that they were subject to previously. This could save time 
and effort for vessel operators and ultimately reduce operational costs 
as vessel operators would no longer need to ensure compliance with 
these regulations.
    Eliminating restrictions on mesh size will also likely reduce 
enforcement costs. Although enforcement of the remaining mesh size 
restriction on midwater trawl gear would still be required, enforcement 
of the other restrictions would be removed.

B. Eliminate the Requirement To Use Selective Flatfish Trawl Shoreward 
of the RCA and North of 42 N Latitude

    Selective flatfish trawl is a type of small footrope trawl 
developed to maintain a nearshore flatfish trawl fishery while reducing 
the non-target catch of canary rockfish and other overfished rockfish 
species. The selective flatfish trawl features a headrope set back from 
a flattened net body to capture low-swimming flatfish while allowing 
rockfish, particularly canary rockfish, to escape over the upper edge 
of the trawl net. Along with the elimination of the codend, chafing 
gear, and mesh size provisions, the 2011 TRREC report suggested the 
Council consider eliminating the selective flatfish trawl gear 
requirement and replace them with a small footrope requirement, as well 
as revising the definition of selective flatfish trawl to allow for 
four-seam nets. Similar to the adjustments discussed above in Section 
A., the TRREC pointed to the Trawl Rationalization Program to support 
this regulatory change.
    The current regulations define selective flatfish trawl as a two-
seamed net with no more than two riblines, excluding the codend. The 
breastline may not be longer than 3 feet (0.92 m). There may be no 
floats along the center third of the headrope or attached to the top 
panel except on the riblines. The footrope must be less than 105 feet 
(32.26 m). The headrope must be no less than 30 percent longer than the 
footrope. The headrope is issued along the length of the headrope from 
the outside edge to the opposite outside edge.
    Since 2005, the groundfish regulations have required the use of 
selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 
40[deg]10' N latitude. The regulations further prohibit vessels fishing 
north of 40[deg]10' N latitude from having small footrope trawl gear on 
board, other than selective flatfish trawl gear, while fishing 
shoreward of the trawl RCA. Vessels are allowed, but not required, to 
use selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA south of 
40[deg]10' N latitude, and seaward of the trawl RCA coastwide.
    This rule proposes revising the definition of selective flatfish 
trawl gear to allow either a two-seam or a four-seam net with up to 
four riblines, while retaining all the other existing restrictions 
related to the configuration of this gear. In addition, the Council 
proposed eliminating the requirement that vessels use selective 
flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude. Instead, groundfish bottom trawl vessels would be allowed to 
use any small footrope trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA north and 
south of 40[deg]10' N latitude. Large footrope trawl gear would still 
be prohibited in this area.
    Revising the definition of selective flatfish trawl to allow for a 
four-seam net could potentially provide for better flow and improved 
selectivity compared to a two-seam net. A four-seam net has more open 
meshes for smaller fish to escape. In addition, studies have

[[Page 45401]]

demonstrated that improved flow within nets improves fishing 
efficiency, which may increase catch of marketable target and non-
target groundfish (e.g., widow rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, and 
Pacific cod), and reduce bycatch of small or unmarketable groundfish 
(e.g., undersized redstripe rockfish, rosethorn rockfish, sand dabs).
    Eliminating the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl gear 
north of 40[deg]10' N. latitude could result in a shift in bottom trawl 
effort shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 40[deg]10' N. latitude and 
increased catch of selected pelagic or semi-pelagic groundfish species 
(e.g., widow and canary rockfish) over the continental shelf. The shift 
in fishing effort away from the area seaward of the trawl RCA, is most 
likely to occur prior to May 15th when midwater trawling is prohibited. 
Any increased catch would be expected to remain within the current 
annual catch limits for target and non-target groundfish, and non-
groundfish stocks. Furthermore, increased efficiency (e.g., more open 
meshes due to use of four-seam trawl, improved flow, catch of larger 
rockfish and roundfish, and improved function of selective devices) may 
lead to some reduction in overall bottom trawling effort, an increase 
catch of larger marketable fish, and a decrease catch of small unwanted 
species.
    During development of the proposed action for the 2017 Salmon 
Biological Opinion, the Council considered several analyses that 
discussed the potential impacts that the future fishery, including 
possible impacts from the elimination of the selective flatfish trawl 
gear requirement, may have on the incidental take of Chinook salmon in 
the Pacific Coast's groundfish trawl fishery. NMFS presented an 
analysis at the April 2017 Council meeting, under the 2017 Salmon 
Biological Opinion agenda item, that suggested that removal of this 
requirement could dramatically increase the incidental take of Chinook 
salmon north of 40[deg]10' N. latitude. At the time, the data that were 
used suggested this gear requirement is driving the differences in 
bycatch rates. However, that analysis acknowledged numerous caveats 
associated with comparing bycatch rates between different periods of 
time (i.e. now vs. 20 years ago) and uncertainty as to how this 
information could be applied to today's fishery.
    To gather data about the potential impacts of changing the existing 
selective flatfish trawl gear requirement for today's fishery, NMFS 
issued two EFPs for the 2017 and 2018 groundfish fishing years that, 
among other measures, exempted vessels from the selective flatfish 
trawl gear requirement. At its March 2017 and March 2018 meetings, 
during development of the 2017 and 2018 Trawl Gear EFPs, the Council 
twice considered and rejected including the area shoreward of the trawl 
RCA between 42[deg] N latitude and 40[deg]10' N latitude in the 
exemption to the selective flatfish trawl gear requirement due to 
concerns over potential impacts to Chinook salmon. NMFS ultimately 
permitted more than 40 vessels to participate in the two EFPs. These 
vessels have completed more than 200 EFP trips. Based on the analysis 
of this new information, changes that have occurred within the fishery 
over the past several year, and the analysis in the December 2017 
biological opinion, NMFS has determined that Chinook salmon bycatch is 
unlikely to increase in the area north of 42[deg] N latitude (the 
southern boundary of the 2017 and 2018 Trawl Gear EFPs) on a scale 
shown in the report NMFS presented April 2017.
    Potential impacts to Chinook salmon in the area between 42[deg] N 
latitude and 40[deg]10' N latitude are less certain. The December 2017 
biological opinion on salmon bycatch in the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery discussed that significant uncertainty exists in the magnitude 
of impacts, especially the species-level impacts, for fisheries in 
locations or time periods outside the available data. Areas south of 
42[deg] N latitude, particularly between January and early May (outside 
the Pacific primary whiting season), have particularly limited 
information because most fishing tends to take place north of 42[deg] N 
latitude due to other restrictions (i.e. federal prohibition on whiting 
processing south of 42[deg] N lat.).
    In addition to concerns about the uncertainty in Chinook salmon 
bycatch in the groundfish fishery in the area between 42[deg] N. 
latitude and 40[deg]10' N latitude, NMFS has made the preliminary 
determination that the proposed changes to the selective flatfish trawl 
gear requirement shoreward of the trawl RCA between 42[deg] N latitude 
and 40[deg]10' N latitude may be out of compliance with the terms and 
conditions of the December 2017 Salmon Incidental Take Statement. Term 
and Condition 4b requires that ``prior to allowing additional non-
whiting trawling south 42[deg] N latitude, NMFS will implement one or 
more EFPs designed to collect information about Chinook and coho 
bycatch levels and stock composition from fishing in those areas or at 
those times for a minimum of three years.''
    Based on these concerns and the information presented at the 
Council meetings and while developing this rule, NMFS is specifically 
asking for public comment on the elimination of the requirement to use 
selective flatfish trawl gear in the area between 42[deg] N latitude 
and 40[deg]10' N latitude.

C. Proposed Regulations for Vessel Operations

    This section discusses the three proposed regulations that relate 
to vessel operations on a single fishing trip, including allowing 
vessels that fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program under the Trawl 
Rationalization Program to carry and fish groundfish bottom and 
midwater trawl gears on the same trip, fish across IFQ management 
lines, and bring a new haul on deck before the catch from a previous 
haul is stowed. These three measures are discussed together because 
they could have similar impacts on vessel operations and catch 
accounting. Below is a short description of each of the proposed 
regulations followed by a summary of the potential impacts of each of 
these measures combined.
1. Eliminate the Prohibition on Multiple Types of Groundfish Trawl 
Gears Carried and Fished on the Same Trip
    The GMT suggested the use of multiple fishing gears on a single 
trip under the Shorebased IFQ Program to the Council at its November 
2011 meeting. The current restrictions on the use of multiple fishing 
gears during a single trip under the IFQ Program are complex, with 
different sections of the regulations allowing vessels to carry 
different gear combinations in different parts of the EEZ. For example, 
the regulations prohibit vessels from using multiple types of bottom 
trawl gear during a single trip when fishing seaward or shoreward of 
the trawl RCA south of 40[deg]10' N latitude. However, the regulations 
do not include a similar prohibition for the area north of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude, where vessels may fish with multiple types of trawl gear 
seaward of the trawl RCA. The GMT suggested that simplifying the 
regulations to allow vessels to carry and fish with multiple types of 
gear on the same trip could improve economic efficiency and improve 
safety at sea by reducing the number of trips and days at sea.
    Regulations define the following trawl gear types: Large footrope 
trawl, small footrope trawl, selective flatfish trawl, and midwater 
trawl. North of 40[deg]10' N latitude, a vessel may not have both 
groundfish trawl gear and non-groundfish trawl gear on board 
simultaneously, or have multiple trawl gear types (groundfish bottom or 
midwater trawl gear) on board

[[Page 45402]]

simultaneously. A vessel may, however, have more than one type of 
limited entry bottom trawl gear on board (selective flatfish trawl or 
small footrope trawl gear), either simultaneously or successively, 
during a trip limit period, with one exception. Only a selective 
flatfish trawl is allowed onboard when fishing shoreward of the trawl 
RCA (Sec.  660.130(c)(2)). Finally, a vessel may have more than one 
type of midwater groundfish trawl gear on board, either simultaneously 
or successively, during a cumulative period. South of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude, a vessel may not have both groundfish trawl gear and non-
groundfish trawl gear on board simultaneously, may not have both bottom 
trawl gear and midwater trawl gear on board simultaneously, and may not 
have small footrope trawl gear and any other type of bottom trawl gear 
on board simultaneously.
    Limited entry trawl vessels were allowed to fish with multiple 
trawl gears during the same trip prior to the development of the trawl 
RCA. To ensure that bottom trawl gear was not used within trawl RCA, a 
new regulation was published in 2003 to allow no more than one type of 
trawl gear on board during a single fishing trip (68 FR 907, January 7, 
2003). Regulations requiring vessel monitoring systems (VMS), paired 
with vessel declarations, became effective on January 1, 2004, to 
ensure adequate monitoring and to enforce these new gear-specific area 
restrictions (68 FR 62375, November 4, 2003). Additional monitoring 
requirements implemented through the Trawl Rationalization Program and 
changes to when a declaration can be made, proposed through this rule, 
have made the prohibition unnecessary to achieve its original purpose.
    The Council recommended and NMFS proposes eliminating the 
prohibition on vessels carrying both groundfish bottom trawl gear and 
midwater trawl gear onboard simultaneously while fishing under the 
Shorebased IFQ Program north of 40[deg]10' N latitude, or south of 
40[deg]10' N latitude. Additionally, the rule proposes eliminating the 
prohibition on having bottom trawl gear, other than selective flatfish 
trawl gear, on board shoreward of the RCA and north of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude. Instead, vessels would be allowed to have any type of bottom 
trawl (small/large footrope or selective flatfish trawl) and midwater 
trawl gear on board simultaneously and would be allowed to fish any of 
these trawl gears during a single trip as long as the appropriate 
declaration is made when gears are changed. Vessels would be required 
to keep and land all catch separately by gear type, and catch would be 
reported on electronic fish tickets by gear type. This rule would not 
adjust the current provision that requires vessels to stow any gear not 
authorized for use in the area when transiting through a groundfish 
conservation area. For species managed with trip limits, crossover 
provisions, and gear-specific trip limits, all current regulations 
would remain in effect.
    This rule would also modify recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements for vessels fishing in the Shorebased IFQ Program who 
choose to use more than one type of groundfish trawl gear on the same 
trip. These vessels would be required to make a new gear declaration 
from sea to indicate that they have chosen to fish with a new gear type 
(i.e., groundfish bottom trawl vs. midwater trawl). Currently, the 
regulations only allow vessels to declare one type of trawl gear at a 
time when fishing in the Trawl Rationalization Program. Vessel 
operators must declare a gear type for a trip prior to leaving port. 
Therefore, under the current regulations, after a vessel operator has 
submitted a gear declaration report to NMFS, the vessel cannot change 
activities, including fishing with any gear other than the gear type 
that the vessel declared at the start of the trip, until the vessel 
returns to port and offloads all fish. The proposed regulations would 
allow vessels operators in the Shorebased IFQ Program who choose to use 
multiple groundfish trawl gears on the same trip to adjust their trip 
declarations from sea. Vessel operators would need to make a 
declaration any time they switched to a gear other than the gear that 
was declared at the start of the fishing trip, to continued enforcement 
of closed areas, but they would not be required to return to port to 
make the new declaration.
    Allowing the use of multiple IFQ trawl gears on the same trip could 
potentially reduce the time at sea, further reducing daily fuel and 
observer coverage costs. It would also allow greater flexibility for 
harvesters while at sea when choosing how best to use quota pounds. For 
instance, vessels could choose to avoid using bottom trawl gear when 
that gear might result in high catch of prohibited species. Instead 
they could switch their gear type, and fishing strategy, to target non-
whiting midwater species complexes in the same area, which may have 
reduced interactions with prohibited species, by changing to another 
trawl gear type. Alternatively, a vessel could choose to target more 
abundant bottom trawl species on the same trip if it finds targeting 
non-whiting midwater species to be less profitable or carry increased 
risk of encountering non-target catch.
    Allowing groundfish bottom and midwater trawl gear to be fished on 
the same trip could have some limited indirect effects on stock 
assessments for target and non-target species. Because it is impossible 
for observers and vessels using electronic monitoring to monitor the 
hold once the catch is stored, there is the potential that removing the 
prohibition on multiple types of trawl gear could reduce the quality of 
stock assessments and economic analysis to some extent if the catch 
mingles and is recorded incorrectly.
2. Eliminate the Prohibition on Bringing a New Haul Onboard Before All 
Catch From the Previous Haul Is Stowed
    The proposed elimination of the prohibition on bringing a new haul 
on board before all catch from a previous haul had been stowed first 
came to the Council from the GAP at the Council's November 2015 during 
discussions of the range of alternatives for the trawl gear changes 
package. Under current regulations, vessels fishing in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program are prohibited from bringing a new haul on board the deck 
until all catch from the previous haul has been stowed. Catch cannot be 
stowed until all protocols under the Electronic Monitoring Program or 
the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP) have been completed. 
Additionally, the regulations require vessels to stow all catch from a 
haul before the new haul is brought onboard. These requirements were 
added to the regulations in 2011, through implementation of the Trawl 
Rationalization Program, to aid observers in carrying out their duties.
    This rule proposes eliminating the existing prohibition on bringing 
a haul on board before the previous haul has been stowed, and the 
requirement to stow all catch before catch from a new haul is brought 
on board. However, vessels would be required to keep separate catch 
from separate hauls until the observer could complete the haul-specific 
collection of catch for sampling. Vessels fishing with electronic 
monitoring would be required to keep catch from different hauls 
separate on deck until fully documented according to protocols 
established in the specific vessel's monitoring plan. All vessels would 
still be required to land any catch that was caught using different 
gears separated by gear type.
    Eliminating this prohibition could provide some limited benefit to 
the vessels. Completely sorting and stowing

[[Page 45403]]

catch from a haul in the trawl fishery can take several hours. There 
have been some instances when the onboard observer may not require all 
catch to be removed from deck and stowed to successfully complete 
sampling duties. As long as catch from different hauls does not mingle, 
the vessel operator could bring a second haul onboard while the 
observer is completing their duties.
    Eliminating the prohibition on bringing a new haul on board could 
have some potential negative effects on observers if this causes vessel 
operators to pressure observers to complete their duties more quickly 
so a new haul could be brought onboard. Degraded observer data could 
result in indirect impacts on stocks if stock data is affected. The 
current regulations require that the observers are provided reasonable 
assistance to complete all duties, including providing adequate time 
and space to do so. These regulations would still be enforced if the 
prohibition on bringing a new haul onboard is eliminated.
3. Eliminate the Prohibition on Fishing in Multiple IFQ Management 
Areas on the Same Tow
    There are currently four IFQ management areas in the regulations 
that are based on the stock information for select species, harvest 
allocations, and the corresponding quota shares for species. The IFQ 
management areas include:

 The area between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N 
latitude
 The area between 40[deg]10' N latitude and 36[deg] N latitude
 The area between 36[deg] N latitude and 34[deg]27' N latitude
 The area between 34[deg]27' N latitude and the U.S./Mexico 
border.

    The Council created these areas as part of the Trawl 
Rationalization Program to allow for different management measures for 
species or species groups in different IFQ management areas. Several 
IFQ species are tracked either as a single species with different quota 
share by area, or as a single species in one area and as a component of 
an assemblage in another area (e.g., minor shelf or slope complex north 
or south of 40[deg]10' N latitude). To address differences in 
management measures for species or species complexes among IFQ 
management areas, vessels have been prohibited from fishing in 
different IFQ management areas during the same fishing trip.
    As mentioned previously, the Council held a workshop in Portland, 
Oregon on August 29 and 30, 2012. The result of that workshop was a 
list of recommendations to the Council at its November 2012 meeting. 
One of those recommendations included the elimination of the 
prohibition on fishing across management lines for vessels fishing 
under the Shorebased IFQ Program. Instead, participants suggested 
allowing vessels to move across IFQ management lines on a single tow.
    This rule proposes eliminating the prohibition on fishing in 
multiple IFQ management areas on the same trip for vessels fishing in 
the Shorebased IFQ Program. These vessels would be allowed to fish in 
multiple IFQ management areas on the same trip and the same haul. If 
retaining catch from multiple IFQ management areas, catch would not 
need to be sorted by area. Catch from multiple IFQ management areas 
would be recorded on the same ticket.
    Based on recommendations from industry, this rule also proposes to 
allow vessels to fish across management lines in the same tow. Catch 
from vessels fishing across management lines would be assigned to an 
area and quota pounds would be deducted from vessel accounts based on 
the proportion of hauls in a given management area. For example, if six 
hauls were taken in one IFQ management area, and two hauls were taken 
in another management area, the total catch would be apportioned to 
management areas by a 6 to 2 ratio.
    The proposed regulations would improve flexibility for vessels when 
selecting their harvest strategies to best utilize their available IFQ. 
Vessels that operate near a management line would most likely benefit 
the most from reduced operational costs by not having to haul back gear 
and reset to start a new haul on the other side of the management area 
boundary line. Vessel towing across lines could reduce the number of 
hauls and therefore fuel costs and time at sea.
    The proposed regulations do increase the catch accounting 
complexity and could potentially reduce the accuracy of catch 
reporting. NMFS would need to accurately track the number of hauls in a 
given area and apply this estimation to total catch landing weight to 
determine the pro-rata assignment. Additionally, the combination of 
allowing multiple trawl gears onboard and fishing in multiple 
management areas creates more complexity to managers in assigning 
catches.
4. Summary of Potential Impacts From Proposed Regulations for Some 
Vessel Operations
    The proposed regulations would change how vessels in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program may operate as they would be allowed to tow across IFQ 
management areas, carry and fish with groundfish bottom and midwater 
trawl gear, and bring a new haul on board before the previous haul has 
been stowed. The effect of eliminating these prohibitions is most 
directly felt by harvesters who would have more flexibility in how they 
operate their vessels. The proposed regulations are unlikely to 
increase fishing effort (i.e. number of trips) or cause a significant 
shift in fishing behavior. However, vessels may change where they fish, 
and would be expected to be more efficient in their fishing practices, 
which could ultimately increase effort (i.e. catch/hour). These impacts 
are expected to be minimal as most vessels will likely not choose to 
carry and fish multiple gears on every trip. Additional impacts to the 
physical environment caused by the proposed regulations are not 
anticipated because these provisions do not open any new areas to 
fishing, and vessels will still be required to abide by all groundfish 
conservation areas. Direct impacts to the biological environment are 
not expected from these measures. Vessels in the Shorebased IFQ Program 
are required to cover all catch with quota pounds. Net configurations 
would not be affected by these proposed regulations.
    Vessel operators are expected to use the flexibility to create an 
efficient fishing strategy that best limits bycatch of non-target and 
protected species while still maximizing catch of their target species. 
Vessels would maximize attainment of IFQ by carrying and fishing with 
both midwater and groundfish bottom trawl gear on the same trip. 
According to vessel operators, trawl vessels average between 10 and 20 
days spent annually traveling back and forth to port to change gear 
types. If vessels in the Shorebased IFQ Program had less restrictions 
on how they operate their vessels, including carrying multiple types of 
trawl gear onboard, vessel operators may be able to eliminate most days 
spent traveling back and forth to port to change gears resulting in 
financial savings. For example, the mean fixed operational costs for 
non-whiting trawl vessels in the Trawl Rationalization Program is just 
over $5,000 per day. If these vessels were to eliminate 10-20 days 
which had been previously used to transit back and forth to port, then 
that would be a savings of between $50,000 and $100,000 per vessel per 
year.
    Vessel operators would also likely create efficiencies and save 
money if fishing near an IFQ management line. A vessel operator would 
not have to haul

[[Page 45404]]

back gear and reset to start a new haul in a new management area. 
Vessel towing across IFQ management lines could reduce the number of 
hauls and therefore the amount of fuel spent trawling and maneuvering 
the vessel to optimize harvest, potentially increasing attainment for 
the few vessels that are currently hampered by their inability to cross 
management lines.
    Eliminating regulations that manage vessel operations could also 
have some potential negative impacts to processors, observers, and 
managers. Due to the complexity of the sorting options for vessels 
fishing across IFQ management lines, processors could have difficulty 
handling deliveries, as the number of hauls in each area would need to 
be tracked and reported on fish tickets. Additional catch accounting 
complexity would also result from needing to track the number of hauls 
by management area. Vessels using multiple groundfish trawl gears on a 
single trip would need to keep all catch separated by gear type. 
However, as there are no monitors or cameras below deck, it would be 
impossible for shoreside monitors, first receivers, vessel operators, 
or observers to ensure that catch has been kept separate.
    A vessel observer's ability to process samples would be the 
limiting factor for increased efficiency on vessels where an operator 
would like to bring a new haul onboard before the previous haul has 
been stowed. Catch from hauls caught by the same gear could not be 
mixed until the observer had taken all the necessary samples. 
Therefore, additional pressure on the observer to do their work quickly 
may result. This pressure could cause mistakes and ultimately degrade 
data quality. Maintaining restrictions on pressuring observers or catch 
monitors would ensure continued accurate monitoring and reporting of 
catch, and help maintain quality catch at sea and landing data used to 
manage the fishery in season and for stock assessments used to develop 
catch limits and harvest guidelines.

III. Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has made a preliminary determination that 
this proposed rule is consistent with the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP, 
other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. 
In making the final determination, NMFS will consider the data, views, 
and comments received during the public comment period. NMFS also 
prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for this action. Copies of 
the draft EA and other supporting documentation is available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES) or visit NMFS's website at https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/rules_regulations/trawl_regulations_compliance_guides.html.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this 
proposed rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    This proposed rule does not contain policies with Federalism or 
``takings'' implications as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    The proposed regulations for groundfish bottom trawl and midwater 
trawl gear would directly affect vessels fishing under the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl Rationalization Program. Eliminating 
restrictions on mesh size, chafing gear, and codend will allow vessels 
to experiment with different mesh sizes and net coverings, which could 
help reduce fishing operational costs and days on sea. Removing the 
requirement to use selective flatfish trawl gear and revising the 
definition to allow for four-seam nets will allow vessel operators to 
target recently rebuilt overfished stocks, such as widow and yellowtail 
rockfishes. Allowing vessels that fish in the Shorebased IFQ Program, a 
component of the Trawl Rationalization Program, to carry and fish with 
multiple groundfish trawl gears, fish across management lines, and 
bring a new haul onboard the vessel before the previous haul is stowed 
could help improve the efficiency of fishing practices. Vessels would 
not be required to return to port to change gears or haul back to move 
and reset on the other side of an IFQ management line. Vessels could 
spend less time at sea, which would reduce fuel and observer costs. Our 
analysis of the likely economic impacts of this action predicts that 
these regulatory changes will have positive impacts on fishing vessels, 
seafood processors, and fishing communities.

IV. Description of Regulated Entities

    For the purposes of our Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, 
the proposed action is expected to affect entities that both process 
and harvest groundfish under the Trawl Rationalization Program. The 
U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) established criteria for business 
in the fishery sector to qualify as small entities. Under that 
standard, two small processing entities, each of which owns one 
groundfish permit, would be regulated by the proposed rule. Seven large 
entities, which own 30 groundfish permits, would be regulated by the 
proposed rule.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide. The determination as to whether the 
entity is large or small is based on the average annual revenue for the 
3 years from 2013 through 2015. Limited entry groundfish vessels are 
required to self-report size across all affiliated entities. Of the 
businesses who earn the majority of their revenue from commercial 
fishing, one self-reported as large. This entity owns four groundfish 
permits. The remaining 117 entities primarily involved in seafood 
harvest self-identified as small, and own 139 permits.
    A total of 113 vessels harvested groundfish in the Trawl 
Rationalization at some point and would potentially benefit from some 
or all of the flexibility offered in the proposed rule. However, this 
number of entities represents the maximum number of affected entities. 
Not all permit owners choose to fish each season, therefore, not all 
113 vessels would benefit from this action each year. Only those 
vessels which are active vessels are the most likely to benefit and be 
directly impacted by regulations.

V. Description of the Proposed Regulations

    The proposed regulations would eliminate and revise regulations 
that govern the use and configuration of groundfish bottom and midwater 
trawl gear fished under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl 
Rationalization Program. The specific revisions would eliminate the 
minimum mesh size requirement for groundfish bottom trawl and midwater 
trawl gear; the prohibition on the use of double-walled cod-ends; 
restrictions on where and how chafing gear can be attached to the trawl 
net; the requirement to use

[[Page 45405]]

selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA; the 
prohibition on carrying and using multiple types of groundfish trawl 
gear (bottom trawl and midwater trawl) on the same trip; the 
prohibition on fishing across individual fishing quota management lines 
on the same haul; and the prohibition on bringing a new haul onboard 
before all catch from the previous haul has been stowed.

VI. Collection of Information Requirements

    This action contains a change to an information collection 
requirement, which has been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0648-0573: Expanded Vessel 
Monitoring System Requirement for the Pacific Groundfish Fishery. The 
proposed regulatory change, which is described above in section C.1 of 
the preamble, would allow vessel operators who fish in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program to make a new declaration from sea when a new gear fished 
on a trip. This revision would remove the requirement that vessels 
return to port to make a new declaration. The numbers of declaration 
reports the vessel operator is required to submit to NMFS would not 
change under this request. Therefore, no small entity would be subject 
to additional reporting requirements.
    Overall, the proposed regulations are expected to have a positive 
economic effect on small entities. The elimination of these regulations 
would alleviate some restrictions on how vessels fishing in the Trawl 
Rationalization may use and configure their gear. Eliminating 
regulations that may be constraining on industry members and are no 
longer needed due to the new management system is likely to generate 
additional groundfish gross revenues as vessels are able to obtain more 
of their quota and reducing their fishing operational costs. Allowing 
vessels more flexibility to configure their gear will also allow vessel 
operators to innovate and adapt to an ever changing environment.
    This action is not expected to have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. The effects on the regulated 
small entities identified in this analysis are expected to be positive. 
Under the proposed action, small entities would not be placed at a 
competitive disadvantage relative to large entities, and the 
regulations would not reduce the profits for any small entities. As a 
result, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, and 
none has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.

    Dated: August 31, 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 660 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  660.11, amend the definition of ``Fishing gear'' by 
revising paragraphs (7) and (11)(iii)(B) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.11  General definitions.

* * * * *
    Fishing gear includes the following types of gear and equipment:
* * * * *
    (7) Mesh size means the opening between opposing knots, or opposing 
corners for knotless webbing. Minimum mesh size means the smallest 
distance allowed between the inside of one knot or corner to the inside 
of the opposing knot or corner, regardless of twine size.
* * * * *
    (11) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (B) Chafing gear means webbing or other material that is attached 
to the trawl net to protect the net from wear and abrasions either when 
fishing or hauling on deck.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  660.13, revise paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.13  Recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (d) Declaration reporting requirements--When the operator of a 
vessel registers a VMS unit with NMFS OLE, the vessel operator must 
provide NMFS with a declaration report as specified at paragraph 
(d)(4)(iv) of this section. The operator of any vessel that has already 
registered a VMS unit with NMFS OLE but has not yet made a declaration, 
as specified at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, must provide NMFS 
with a declaration report upon request from NMFS OLE.
    (1) Declaration reports for vessels registered to limited entry 
permits. The operator of any vessel registered to a limited entry 
permit must provide NMFS OLE with a declaration report, as specified at 
paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before the vessel leaves port on 
a trip in which the vessel is used to fish in U.S. ocean waters between 
0 and 200 nm offshore of Washington, Oregon, or California.
    (i) Limited entry trawl vessels fishing in the Shorebased IFQ 
Program must provide NMFS OLE with a new declaration report each time a 
different groundfish trawl gear (bottom or midwater only) is fished. 
The declaration may be made from sea and must be made to NMFS before a 
different type (bottom or midwater only) of groundfish trawl gear is 
fished.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (2) Declaration reports for all vessels using non-groundfish trawl 
gear. The operator of any vessel that is not registered to a limited 
entry permit and which uses non-groundfish trawl gear to fish in the 
EEZ (3-200 nm offshore), must provide NMFS OLE with a declaration 
report, as specified at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before 
the vessel leaves port to fish in the EEZ.
    (3) Declaration reports for open access vessels using non trawl 
gear (all types of open access gear other than non-groundfish trawl 
gear). The operator of any vessel that is not registered to a limited 
entry permit, must provide NMFS with a declaration report, as specified 
at paragraph (d)(4)(iv) of this section, before the vessel leaves port 
on a trip in which the vessel is used to take and retain or possess 
groundfish in the EEZ or land groundfish taken in the EEZ.
    (4) Declaration reports. (i) The operator of a vessel specified in 
paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(3) of this section must provide a 
declaration report to NMFS OLE prior to leaving port on the first trip 
in which the vessel meets the requirement specified at Sec.  660.14(b) 
to have a VMS.
    (ii) A declaration report will be valid until another declaration 
report revising the existing gear or fishery declaration is received by 
NMFS OLE. The vessel operator must send a new declaration report when:
    (A) A gear type that is different from the gear type most recently 
declared for the vessel will be used, or
    (B) A vessel will fish in a fishery other than the fishery most 
recently declared.
    (iii) During the period of time that a vessel has a valid 
declaration report on file with NMFS OLE, it cannot fish with a gear 
other than a gear type declared by the vessel or fish in a fishery 
other than the fishery most recently declared.
    (iv) Declaration reports will include: The vessel name and/or 
identification number, the gear type, and the fishery

[[Page 45406]]

(as defined in paragraph (d)(4)(iv)(A) of this section).
    (A) One of the following gear types or sectors must be declared:
    (1) Limited entry fixed gear, not including Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (2) Limited entry groundfish non-trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (3) Limited entry midwater trawl, non-whiting Shorebased IFQ 
Program,
    (4) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting Shorebased IFQ 
Program,
    (5) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting catcher/processor 
sector,
    (6) Limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting mothership sector 
(catcher vessel or mothership),
    (7) Limited entry bottom trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program, not 
including demersal trawl,
    (8) Limited entry demersal trawl, Shorebased IFQ Program,
    (B) [Reserved]
    (v) Upon receipt of a declaration report, NMFS will provide a 
confirmation code or receipt to confirm that a valid declaration report 
was received for the vessel. Vessel owners or operators are responsible 
for retaining the confirmation code or receipt to verify that a valid 
declaration report was filed.
0
4. In Sec.  660.25, revise paragraph (b)(4)(vii)(C) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.25  Permits.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vii) * * *
    (C) Limited entry MS permits and limited entry permits with an MS/
CV or a C/P endorsement. Limited entry MS permits and limited entry 
permits with an MS/CV or a C/P endorsement may be registered to another 
vessel up to two times during the calendar year as long as the second 
change in vessel registration is back to the original vessel. The 
original vessel is either the vessel registered to the permit as of 
January 1, or if no vessel is registered to the permit as of January 1, 
the original vessel is the first vessel to which the permit is 
registered after January 1. After the original vessel has been 
established, the first change in vessel registration would be to 
another vessel, but any second change in vessel registration must be 
back to the original vessel. For an MS/CV-endorsed permit on the second 
change in vessel registration back to the original vessel, that vessel 
must be used to fish exclusively in the MS Coop Program described Sec.  
660.150 for the remainder of the calendar year, and declare in to the 
limited entry mid water trawl, Pacific whiting mothership sector as 
specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv).
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  660.60, revise paragraphs (h)(7) introductory text, 
(h)(7)(i) introductory text, (h)(7)(ii)(A), (h)(7)(ii)(B)(1) 
introductory text, and (h)(7)(ii)(B)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.60   Specifications and management measures.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (7) Crossover provisions. Crossover provisions apply to three 
activities: Fishing on different sides of a management line, fishing in 
both the limited entry and open access fisheries, or fishing in both 
the Shorebased IFQ Program and the limited entry fixed gear fishery. 
Fishery-specific crossover provisions can be found in subparts D 
through F of this part.
    (i) Fishing in management areas with different trip limits. Trip 
limits for a species or a species group may differ in different 
management areas along the coast. The following crossover provisions 
apply to vessels fishing in different geographical areas that have 
different cumulative or ``per trip'' trip limits for the same species 
or species group, with the following exceptions. Such crossover 
provisions do not apply to: IFQ species (defined at Sec.  660.140(c), 
subpart D) for vessels that are declared into the Shorebased IFQ 
Program (see Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), for valid Shorebased IFQ 
Program declarations); species that are subject only to daily trip 
limits; or to trip limits for black rockfish off Washington, as 
described at Sec. Sec.  660.230(e) and 660.330(e).
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Fishing in limited entry and open access fisheries with 
different trip limits. Open access trip limits apply to any fishing 
conducted with open access gear, even if the vessel has a valid limited 
entry permit with an endorsement for another type of gear. Except such 
provisions do not apply to IFQ species (defined at Sec.  660.140(c), 
subpart D) for vessels that are declared into the Shorebased IFQ 
Program (see Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A) for valid Shorebased IFQ Program 
declarations). A vessel that fishes in both the open access and limited 
entry fisheries is not entitled to two separate trip limits for the 
same species. If a vessel has a limited entry permit registered to it 
at any time during the trip limit period and uses open access gear, but 
the open access limit is smaller than the limited entry limit, the open 
access limit may not be exceeded and counts toward the limited entry 
limit. If a vessel has a limited entry permit registered to it at any 
time during the trip limit period and uses open access gear, but the 
open access limit is larger than the limited entry limit, the smaller 
limited entry limit applies, even if taken entirely with open access 
gear.
    (B) * * * (1) Vessel registered to a limited entry trawl permit. To 
fish with open access gear, defined at Sec.  660.11, a vessel 
registered to a limited entry trawl permit must make the appropriate 
fishery declaration, as specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A). In 
addition, a vessel registered to a limited entry trawl permit must 
remove the permit from their vessel, as specified at Sec.  
660.25(b)(4)(vi), unless the vessel will be fishing in the open access 
fishery under one of the following declarations specified at Sec.  
660.13(d):
* * * * *
    (2) Vessel registered to a limited entry fixed gear permit(s). To 
fish with open access gear, defined at Sec.  660.11, subpart C, a 
vessel registered to a limit entry fixed gear permit must make the 
appropriate open access declaration, as specified at Sec.  
660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A). Vessels registered to a sablefish-endorsed 
permit(s) fishing in the sablefish primary season (described at Sec.  
660.231, subpart E) may only fish with the gear(s) endorsed on their 
sablefish-endorsed permit(s) against those limits.
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  660.112, revise paragraphs (b)(1)(vii), (b)(1)(xi), 
(b)(1)(xii)(A), (c)(4), and (e)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.112  Trawl fishery--prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vii) For vessels fishing with multiple trawl gear types on a 
single trip, fail to keep catch from different trawl gears separate and 
land the catch separately by gear type.
* * * * *
    (xi) Mix catch from different hauls before all sampling and 
monitoring requirements for the hauls have been met.
    (xii) * * *
    (A) A vessel that is 75-ft (23-m) or less LOA that harvests Pacific 
whiting and, in addition to heading and gutting, cuts the tail off and 
freezes the whiting, is not considered to be a C/P vessel nor is it 
considered to be processing fish, and
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) Catch, take, or harvest fish in the MS Coop Program with a 
vessel that does not have a valid VMS declaration for limited entry 
midwater trawl, Pacific

[[Page 45407]]

whiting mothership sector, as specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A), 
subpart C.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (4) Fish in the C/P Coop Program with a vessel that does not have a 
valid VMS declaration for limited entry midwater trawl, Pacific whiting 
catcher/processor sector, as specified at Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A).
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec.  660.113 revise paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.113   Trawl fishery--recordkeeping and reporting.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Gear switching declaration. Any person with a limited entry 
trawl permit participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program using 
groundfish non-trawl gear (i.e., gear switching) must submit a valid 
gear declaration reporting such participation as specified in Sec.  
660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A).
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec.  660.130:
0
a. Remove paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3)(iii);
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) as (b)(1) and (b)(2), 
respectively;
0
c. Revise the newly redesignated paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A) and (b)(2);
0
d. Revise paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3)(ii), (c)(4)(i)(A), 
(c)(4)(i)(B), (c)(4)(i)(D) and (E), (c)(4)(ii)(A) and (B), (d)(2)(ii), 
(e) introductory text, (e)(4)(ii), and (e)(4)(iv).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  660.130  Trawl fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Selective flatfish trawl gear. Selective flatfish trawl gear is 
a type of small footrope trawl gear. The selective flatfish trawl net 
must be either a two-seamed or four-seamed net with no more than four 
riblines, excluding the codend. The breastline may not be longer than 3 
ft (0.92 m) in length. There may be no floats along the center third of 
the headrope or attached to the top panel except on the riblines. The 
footrope must be less than 105 ft (32.26 m) in length. The headrope 
must be not less than 30 percent longer than the footrope. The headrope 
shall be measured along the length of the headrope from the outside 
edge to the opposite outside edge. An explanatory diagram of a 
selective flatfish trawl net is provided as Figure 1 of part 660, 
subpart D.
* * * * *
    (2) Midwater (pelagic or off-bottom) trawl gear. Midwater trawl 
gear must have unprotected footropes at the trawl mouth, and must not 
have rollers, bobbins, tires, wheels, rubber discs, or any similar 
device anywhere on any part of the net. The footrope of midwater gear 
may not be enlarged by encircling it with chains or by any other means. 
Ropes or lines running parallel to the footrope of midwater trawl gear 
must be bare and may not be suspended with chains or any other 
materials. Sweep lines, including the bottom leg of the bridle, must be 
bare. For at least 20 ft (6.15 m) immediately behind the footrope or 
headrope, bare ropes or mesh of 16-inch (40.6-cm) minimum mesh size 
must completely encircle the net.
    (c) * * *
    (1) Fishing with large footrope trawl gear. It is unlawful for any 
vessel using large footrope gear to fish for groundfish shoreward of 
the RCAs defined at paragraph (e)(4) of this section and at Sec. Sec.  
660.70 through 660.74, subpart C. The use of large footrope gear is 
allowed seaward of the RCAs coastwide.
    (2) Fishing with small footrope trawl gear. The use of small 
footrope bottom trawl gear is allowed in all areas where bottom 
trawling is allowed.
    (i) Fishing with selective flatfish trawl gear. The use of 
selective flatfish trawl gear, a type of small footrope trawl gear, is 
allowed in all areas where bottom trawling is allowed.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) * * *
    (ii) South of 40[deg]10' N latitude, midwater groundfish trawl gear 
is prohibited within and shoreward of the RCA boundaries (see Sec.  
660.130(e)(4)(i)) and allowed seaward of the RCA boundaries.
    (4) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) A vessel may not have both groundfish trawl gear and non-
groundfish trawl gear onboard simultaneously.
    (B) If a vessel fishes exclusively with large or small footrope 
trawl gear during an entire cumulative limit period, the vessel is 
subject to the cumulative limits for that gear.
* * * * *
    (D) If more than one type of groundfish bottom trawl gear 
(selective flatfish, large footrope, or small footrope) is on board, 
either simultaneously or successively, at any time during a cumulative 
limit period, then the most restrictive cumulative limit associated 
with the groundfish bottom trawl gear on board during that cumulative 
limit period applies for the entire cumulative limit period.
    (E) If a vessel fishes both north and south of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude with any type of small or large footrope gear onboard the 
vessel at any time during the cumulative limit period, the most 
restrictive trip limit associated with the gear on board applies for 
that trip and will count toward the cumulative limit for that gear (See 
crossover provisions at Sec.  660.60(h)(7)).
    (ii) * * *
    (A) A vessel may not have both groundfish trawl gear and non-
groundfish trawl gear onboard simultaneously.
    (B) If a vessel fishes both north and south of 40[deg]10' N 
latitude with any type of small or large footrope gear onboard the 
vessel at any time during the cumulative limit period, the most 
restrictive cumulative limit associated with the gear on board would 
apply for that trip and all catch would be counted toward that 
cumulative limit (See crossover provisions at Sec.  660.60(h)(7)).
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Catcher vessels. All catch must be sorted by the gear types 
declared in accordance with Sec.  660.13(d), and to the species groups 
specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section for vessels with limited 
entry permits, except those vessels retaining all catch during a 
Shorebased IFQ trip (i.e., maximized retention trips). The catch must 
not be discarded from the vessel and the vessel must not mix catch from 
hauls until the observer has sampled the catch. Catch separated by 
trawl gear type must be landed separately by trawl gear type. 
Prohibited species must be sorted according to the following species 
groups: Dungeness crab, Pacific halibut, Chinook salmon, other salmon. 
Non-groundfish species must be sorted as required by the state of 
landing.
* * * * *
    (e) Groundfish conservation areas (GCAs) applicable to trawl 
vessels. A GCA, a type of closed area, is a geographic area defined by 
coordinates expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. The 
latitude and longitude coordinates of the GCA boundaries are specified 
at Sec. Sec.  660.70 through 660.74. If a vessel is fishing within a 
GCA listed in this paragraph (e) using trawl gear authorized for use 
within a GCA, all prohibited gear: must be stowed below deck; or, if 
the gear cannot readily be moved, must be stowed in a secured and 
covered manner detached from all towing lines so that it is rendered 
unusable for fishing; or, if remaining on deck uncovered, must be 
stowed disconnected from the trawl doors with the trawl doors hung from 
their

[[Page 45408]]

stanchions. The following GCAs apply to vessels participating in the 
limited entry trawl fishery. Additional closed areas that specifically 
apply to vessels using midwater groundfish trawl gear are described at 
Sec.  660.131(c).
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) Trawl vessels may transit through an applicable GCA, with or 
without groundfish on board, provided all prohibited groundfish trawl 
gear: Is stowed below deck; or, if the gear cannot readily be moved, is 
stowed in a secured and covered manner detached from all towing lines 
so that it is rendered unusable for fishing; or, if remaining on deck 
uncovered, is stowed disconnected from the trawl doors with the trawl 
doors hung from their stanchions. These restrictions do not apply to 
vessels allowed to fish within the trawl RCA under paragraph (e)(4)(i) 
of this section.
* * * * *
    (iv) If a vessel fishes in the trawl RCA using midwater trawl gear, 
it may also fish outside the trawl RCA with groundfish bottom trawl 
gear on the same trip. Nothing in these Federal regulations supersedes 
any state regulations that may prohibit trawling shoreward of the 
fishery management area (3-200 nm).
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec.  660.140, remove paragraphs (c)(1) and (h)(2)(viii)(I), and 
redesignate paragraph (c)(2) as (c)(1), revise newly redesignated 
paragraph (c)(1), and reserve paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.140  Shorebased IFQ Program.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) IFQ management areas. IFQ management areas are as follows:
    (i) Between the US/Canada border and 40[deg]10' N lat.,
    (ii) Between 40[deg]10' N lat. and 36[deg] N lat.,
    (iii) Between 36[deg] N lat. and 34[deg]27' N lat., and
    (iv) Between 34[deg]27' N lat. and the US/Mexico border.
    (2) [Reserved]
* * * * *
0
10. Table 1 (North) and Table 1 (South) to part 660, subpart D are 
revised to read as follows:

[[Page 45409]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP07SE18.004


[[Page 45410]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP07SE18.005

0
11. In Sec.  660.333, revise paragraphs (b)(1), (c)(1), and (d)(1) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  660.333   Open access non-groundfish trawl fishery--management 
measures

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for ridgeback 
prawn'' under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(10), regardless of whether it 
is registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit; and
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for California 
halibut'' under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(11), regardless of whether it 
is registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit;
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) It is declared ``non-groundfish trawl gear for sea cucumber'' 
under Sec.  660.13(d)(4)(iv)(A)(12), regardless of whether it is 
registered to a Federal limited entry trawl-endorsed permit;
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-19343 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P