Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 21-4; Trawl Catch Share Program, 45706-45708 [2019-18794]

Download as PDF jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS 45706 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 169 / Friday, August 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules 12. Television Broadcasting. This Economic Census category ‘‘comprises establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound.’’ These establishments operate television broadcast studios and facilities for the programming and transmission of programs to the public. These establishments also produce or transmit visual programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in turn broadcast the programs to the public on a predetermined schedule. Programming may originate in their own studio, from an affiliated network, or from external sources. The SBA has created the following small business size standard for such businesses: Those having $38.5 million or less in annual receipts. The 2012 Economic Census reports that 751 firms in this category operated in that year. Of this number, 656 had annual receipts of $25 million or less, 25 had annual receipts between $25 million and $49,999,999, and 70 had annual receipts of $50 million or more. Based on this data we therefore estimate that the majority of commercial television broadcasters are small entities under the applicable SBA size standard. 13. The Commission has estimated the number of licensed commercial television stations to be 1,384. Of this total, 1,264 stations had revenues of $38.5 million or less, according to Commission staff review of the BIA Kelsey Inc. Media Access Pro Television Database (BIA) on February 24, 2017, and therefore these licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. In addition, the Commission has estimated the number of licensed noncommercial educational (NCE) television stations to be 394. The Commission, however, does not compile and otherwise does not have access to information on the revenue of NCE stations that would permit it to determine how many such stations would qualify as small entities. 14. We note, however, that in assessing whether a business concern qualifies as ‘‘small’’ under the above definition, business (control) affiliations must be included. Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates the number of small entities that might be affected by our action, because the revenue figure on which it is based does not include or aggregate revenues from affiliated companies. In addition, another element of the definition of ‘‘small business’’ requires that an entity not be dominant in its field of operation. We are unable at this time to define or quantify the criteria that would establish whether a specific television broadcast station is dominant in its field of operation. Accordingly, the estimate VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Aug 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 of small businesses to which rules may apply does not exclude any television station from the definition of a small business on this basis and is therefore possibly over-inclusive. 15. There are also 417 Class A stations. Given the nature of these services, including their limited ability to cover the same size geographic areas as full power stations thus restricting their ability to generate similar levels of revenue, we will presume that these licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. In addition, there are 1,968 LPTV stations and 3,776 TV translator stations. Given the nature of these services as secondary and in some cases purely a ‘‘fill-in’’ service, we will presume that all of these entities qualify as small entities under the above SBA small business size standard. 16. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements. The Report and Order significantly reduces the reporting and recordkeeping obligations for broadcasters and MVPDs that maintain a public file. The FNPRM seeks to find a method to similarly reduce these burdens for certain broadcasters and cable operators that do not maintain a public file (Excluded Entities). We believe we can lessen the burden on the Excluded Entities by perhaps requiring them to maintain a very narrow public file to post their contact information or to simply post the information on the ‘‘first page’’ of a company website. 17. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities and Significant Alternatives Considered. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four alternatives (among others): ‘‘(1) the establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance and reporting requirements under the rule for such small entities; (3) the use of performance, rather than design standards; and (4) an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities.’’ 18. The majority of the Excluded Entities are small entities. We are considering a variety of possibilities to minimize the economic impact on small entities, as the FNPRM is specifically seeking proposals and information to understand what will be easiest and most convenient for these small entities. For example, small broadcasters and PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 cable operators may already have a website and therefore posting an email address and phone number on the front page of an already existing website might impose a negligible burden. Furthermore, the proposed rules will relieve them of the much more onerous burden of searching for the contact information of several MVPDs and mailing their carriage election notice to the MVPDs via certified mail. 19. Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict with the Proposed Rule. None. Ordering Clauses 20. It is further ordered that, pursuant to the authority found in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 325, 338, 614, 615, and 653 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 325, 338, 534, 535, and 573 this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is adopted. 21. It is further ordered that the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of the Report and Order, including the Initial and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analyses, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Federal Communications Commission. Katura Jackson, Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–18528 Filed 8–29–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 RIN 0648–BI35 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 21–4; Trawl Catch Share Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of availability of fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 21–4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan to the Secretary of SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30AUP1.SGM 30AUP1 jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 169 / Friday, August 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 21–4 would adjust the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Catch Share Program to complete outstanding elements of the program, respond to problems identified after program implementation, and modify outdated regulations. The proposed Amendment would convert bycatch allocations of canary and widow rockfish to set-asides in the at-sea whiting fishery and remove fixed formulas used to determine bycatch amounts of Pacific Ocean Perch, darkblotched rockfish and widow rockfish in the at-sea whiting sectors. Bycatch amounts would instead be determined through the biennial harvest specification process, which would offer more flexible bycatch management for the at-sea sectors. The proposed rule implementing this proposed FMP amendment includes other regulatory changes which would provide increased opportunity to trade individual fishing quota, accumulation limits for catcherprocessor permits, and expand economic data collections. The rule will help to ensure the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery achieves optimum yield, minimize costs of participation, provide fair and equitable access to fishery resources, and avoid adverse economic impacts to fishing communities. DATES: Comments on Amendment 21–4 must be received on or before October 29, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA– NMFS–2019–0106, by any of the following methods; • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20190106, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Barry A. Thom., Regional Administrator, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Aug 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Information relevant to Amendment 21–4, which includes two memos categorically excluding this action from further National Environmental Protection Act review, a regulatory impact review (RIR), and an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (RFA) are available for public review during business hours at the NMFS West Coast Regional Office at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, or by requesting them via phone or the email address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Copies of additional reports referred to in this document may also be obtained from the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Electronic Access FMP Amendment 21–4, background information and documents are available at the Pacific Fishery Management Council website at https:// www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/fisherymanagement-plan/groundfishamendments-in-development/. Additional background documents are available at the NMFS West Coast Region website at https:// www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ fisheries/groundfish/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colin Sayre, phone: 206–526–4656, or email: colin.sayre@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared and NMFS implemented the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and through regulations at 50 CFR parts 600 and 660. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires each regional fishery management council to submit any federal management plan (FMP) or plan amendment to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval by the Secretary of Commerce. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately publish notification that the FMP or amendment is available for public review and comment. This document announces that Amendment 21–4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP is available for public review and comment. NMFS will consider the PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 45707 public input received during the comment period in determining whether to approve, partially approve, or disapprove Amendment 21–4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP. Amendment 21–4 proposes changing the bycatch allocation for canary and widow rockfish to set-asides in the atsea whiting sectors and removing formulas for determining amounts of expected bycatch in the at-sea whiting sectors for three species: Pacific ocean perch (POP), darkblotched rockfish, and widow rockfish. This change would allow the at-sea whiting sector to more efficiently harvest its full allocation through set-aside management of constraining bycatch species. The proposed rule implementing the proposed FMP amendment also includes several follow-on action adjustments to regulations for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Catch Share Program to complete outstanding elements of the program, respond to problems identified after program implementation, and modify outdated regulations. These changes would improve the quota trading system to increase overall fishing quota utilization for the shorebased IFQ sector; ensure fair and equitable access to fishery resources in the event the C/P co-op dissolves; and provide a more complete socio-economic evaluation of Catch Share program performance. Proposed FMP Amendment: At-Sea Whiting Fishery Bycatch Needs and SetAside Management The proposed FMP amendment would adjust how bycatch allocations for darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (POP), canary rockfish, and widow rockfish the at-sea whiting fishery are set and managed. The 2018 final rule implementing Amendment 21–3 (January 8, 2018; 83 FR 757) converted formal ‘‘hard cap’’ bycatch allocations of darkblotched and POP in at-sea whiting sectors to set-asides, which are an off the top deductions of expected bycatch from the annual catch limits (ACL) for the at-sea sectors. The proposed FMP amendment would convert formal bycatch allocations of canary and widow rockfish to set-asides in the at-sea whiting fishery as well as remove existing formulas used to determine set-aside amounts of darkblotched rockfish, POP, and widow rockfish. The Council would instead determine set-aside amounts biennially as part of the Pacific Coast Groundfish harvest specifications. If a sector exceeds its set-aside amount the fishery would not be subject to automatic closure. Instead, NMFS would have the authority to take routine inseason action E:\FR\FM\30AUP1.SGM 30AUP1 45708 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 169 / Friday, August 30, 2019 / Proposed Rules when a set-aside is exceeded to prevent risk of exceeding other key harvest guidelines. Routine inseason actions include temporary area closures, and other temporary effort restrictions that would prevent overfishing of bycatch stocks, but allow the Pacific whiting sectors to harvest their full allocation. The Council recommended these management measures to reduce the risk of the at-sea Pacific whiting sectors not attaining their respective whiting allocations because of fishery closures to limit incidental catch of widow, canary, darkblotched rockfish or POP. The proposed FMP amendment is intended to allow the Council increased flexibility to adjust bycatch limits inseason for the at-sea whiting sectors within annual catch limits and harvest guidelines, address specific needs of the sector in a timely manner, and allow full attainment of at-sea whiting allocations by reducing the risk of automatic closure. account owners would be allowed to cover QP deficits that exceed the annual vessel limit for a given stock. This action would also eliminate the September 1st expiration deadline for QP that have not been transferred from quota share accounts to vessel accounts. These changes would provide shorebased IFQ participants greater flexibility and economic efficiency to fully utilize IFQ issued each year. Proposed Follow-On Action Regulatory Changes The proposed rule implementing Amendment 21–4 also includes the following regulatory changes: C. New Data Collections This action would require new data collections from C/P permit owners and Quota Share permit owners. C/P endorsed permit owners would be required to complete trawl ownership interest forms currently required during annual renewal of Catcher Vessel and Mothership permits. Catcher Vessels, Motherships, and shorebased processors are currently required to respond to this data collection. This requirement is necessary to monitor compliance with accumulation limits. The proposed action would also require Quota Share jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS A. Shorebased IFQ Trawl Sector Quota Trading This action would allow the shorebased individual fishing quota (IFQ) sector to trade unused quota pounds (QP) after the end of a fishing year to cover deficits from the previous fishing year. In covering deficits after the end of the fishing year, vessel VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Aug 29, 2019 Jkt 247001 B. Catcher Processor (C/P) Sector Accumulation Limits This action would set accumulation limits for the Catcher Processor (C/P) coop sector. The proposed rule would limit individuals or entities to owning or controlling a maximum of five C/P endorsed permits. Accumulation limits would become effective only in the event the current cooperative management structure for the at-sea C/P sector dissolves and an IFQ program is implemented. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 permit owners that do not also own, charter or lease a vessel, shorebased processor or first receiver site to submit participation and quota cost/earning information through a subset of the Catch Share Economic Data Collection program. The new economic data collections would allow managers to better evaluate Catch Share program performance. NMFS welcomes comments on the proposed FMP amendment through the end of the comment period. NMFS submitted a proposed rule to implement Amendment 21–4 and associated actions for Secretarial review and approval, and expects to publish and request public review and comment on proposed regulations to implement Amendment 21–4 and associated actions in the near future. For public comments on the proposed rule to be considered in the approval or disapproval decision on Amendment 21–4, those comments must be received by the end of the comment period on the amendment. All comments received by the end of the comment period for the amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 27, 2019. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–18794 Filed 8–29–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\30AUP1.SGM 30AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45706-45708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18794]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

RIN 0648-BI35


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plan; Amendment 21-4; Trawl Catch Share Program

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

ACTION: Announcement of availability of fishery management plan 
amendment; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
submitted Amendment 21-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plan to the Secretary of

[[Page 45707]]

Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 21-4 would adjust the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Catch Share Program to complete 
outstanding elements of the program, respond to problems identified 
after program implementation, and modify outdated regulations. The 
proposed Amendment would convert bycatch allocations of canary and 
widow rockfish to set-asides in the at-sea whiting fishery and remove 
fixed formulas used to determine bycatch amounts of Pacific Ocean 
Perch, darkblotched rockfish and widow rockfish in the at-sea whiting 
sectors. Bycatch amounts would instead be determined through the 
biennial harvest specification process, which would offer more flexible 
bycatch management for the at-sea sectors. The proposed rule 
implementing this proposed FMP amendment includes other regulatory 
changes which would provide increased opportunity to trade individual 
fishing quota, accumulation limits for catcher-processor permits, and 
expand economic data collections. The rule will help to ensure the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery achieves optimum yield, minimize costs 
of participation, provide fair and equitable access to fishery 
resources, and avoid adverse economic impacts to fishing communities.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 21-4 must be received on or before October 
29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2019-0106, by any of the following methods;
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0106, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Barry A. Thom., Regional 
Administrator, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Information relevant to Amendment 21-4, which includes two memos 
categorically excluding this action from further National Environmental 
Protection Act review, a regulatory impact review (RIR), and an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis (RFA) are available for public review 
during business hours at the NMFS West Coast Regional Office at 7600 
Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, or by requesting them via phone 
or the email address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section. Copies of additional reports referred to in this document may 
also be obtained from the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Electronic Access

    FMP Amendment 21-4, background information and documents are 
available at the Pacific Fishery Management Council website at https://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/fishery-management-plan/groundfish-amendments-in-development/. Additional background documents are 
available at the NMFS West Coast Region website at https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colin Sayre, phone: 206-526-4656, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California under 
the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared and NMFS implemented the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and through regulations at 50 CFR parts 600 and 
660.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires each regional fishery management 
council to submit any federal management plan (FMP) or plan amendment 
to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval by 
the Secretary of Commerce. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that 
NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately publish 
notification that the FMP or amendment is available for public review 
and comment. This document announces that Amendment 21-4 to the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish FMP is available for public review and comment. NMFS 
will consider the public input received during the comment period in 
determining whether to approve, partially approve, or disapprove 
Amendment 21-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP. Amendment 21-4 
proposes changing the bycatch allocation for canary and widow rockfish 
to set-asides in the at-sea whiting sectors and removing formulas for 
determining amounts of expected bycatch in the at-sea whiting sectors 
for three species: Pacific ocean perch (POP), darkblotched rockfish, 
and widow rockfish. This change would allow the at-sea whiting sector 
to more efficiently harvest its full allocation through set-aside 
management of constraining bycatch species.
    The proposed rule implementing the proposed FMP amendment also 
includes several follow-on action adjustments to regulations for the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Catch Share Program to complete outstanding 
elements of the program, respond to problems identified after program 
implementation, and modify outdated regulations. These changes would 
improve the quota trading system to increase overall fishing quota 
utilization for the shorebased IFQ sector; ensure fair and equitable 
access to fishery resources in the event the C/P co-op dissolves; and 
provide a more complete socio-economic evaluation of Catch Share 
program performance.

Proposed FMP Amendment: At-Sea Whiting Fishery Bycatch Needs and Set-
Aside Management

    The proposed FMP amendment would adjust how bycatch allocations for 
darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (POP), canary rockfish, and 
widow rockfish the at-sea whiting fishery are set and managed. The 2018 
final rule implementing Amendment 21-3 (January 8, 2018; 83 FR 757) 
converted formal ``hard cap'' bycatch allocations of darkblotched and 
POP in at-sea whiting sectors to set-asides, which are an off the top 
deductions of expected bycatch from the annual catch limits (ACL) for 
the at-sea sectors. The proposed FMP amendment would convert formal 
bycatch allocations of canary and widow rockfish to set-asides in the 
at-sea whiting fishery as well as remove existing formulas used to 
determine set-aside amounts of darkblotched rockfish, POP, and widow 
rockfish. The Council would instead determine set-aside amounts 
biennially as part of the Pacific Coast Groundfish harvest 
specifications. If a sector exceeds its set-aside amount the fishery 
would not be subject to automatic closure. Instead, NMFS would have the 
authority to take routine inseason action

[[Page 45708]]

when a set-aside is exceeded to prevent risk of exceeding other key 
harvest guidelines. Routine inseason actions include temporary area 
closures, and other temporary effort restrictions that would prevent 
overfishing of bycatch stocks, but allow the Pacific whiting sectors to 
harvest their full allocation. The Council recommended these management 
measures to reduce the risk of the at-sea Pacific whiting sectors not 
attaining their respective whiting allocations because of fishery 
closures to limit incidental catch of widow, canary, darkblotched 
rockfish or POP. The proposed FMP amendment is intended to allow the 
Council increased flexibility to adjust bycatch limits inseason for the 
at-sea whiting sectors within annual catch limits and harvest 
guidelines, address specific needs of the sector in a timely manner, 
and allow full attainment of at-sea whiting allocations by reducing the 
risk of automatic closure.

Proposed Follow-On Action Regulatory Changes

    The proposed rule implementing Amendment 21-4 also includes the 
following regulatory changes:
A. Shorebased IFQ Trawl Sector Quota Trading
    This action would allow the shorebased individual fishing quota 
(IFQ) sector to trade unused quota pounds (QP) after the end of a 
fishing year to cover deficits from the previous fishing year. In 
covering deficits after the end of the fishing year, vessel account 
owners would be allowed to cover QP deficits that exceed the annual 
vessel limit for a given stock. This action would also eliminate the 
September 1st expiration deadline for QP that have not been transferred 
from quota share accounts to vessel accounts. These changes would 
provide shorebased IFQ participants greater flexibility and economic 
efficiency to fully utilize IFQ issued each year.
B. Catcher Processor (C/P) Sector Accumulation Limits
    This action would set accumulation limits for the Catcher Processor 
(C/P) co-op sector. The proposed rule would limit individuals or 
entities to owning or controlling a maximum of five C/P endorsed 
permits. Accumulation limits would become effective only in the event 
the current cooperative management structure for the at-sea C/P sector 
dissolves and an IFQ program is implemented.
C. New Data Collections
    This action would require new data collections from C/P permit 
owners and Quota Share permit owners. C/P endorsed permit owners would 
be required to complete trawl ownership interest forms currently 
required during annual renewal of Catcher Vessel and Mothership 
permits. Catcher Vessels, Motherships, and shorebased processors are 
currently required to respond to this data collection. This requirement 
is necessary to monitor compliance with accumulation limits. The 
proposed action would also require Quota Share permit owners that do 
not also own, charter or lease a vessel, shorebased processor or first 
receiver site to submit participation and quota cost/earning 
information through a subset of the Catch Share Economic Data 
Collection program. The new economic data collections would allow 
managers to better evaluate Catch Share program performance.
    NMFS welcomes comments on the proposed FMP amendment through the 
end of the comment period. NMFS submitted a proposed rule to implement 
Amendment 21-4 and associated actions for Secretarial review and 
approval, and expects to publish and request public review and comment 
on proposed regulations to implement Amendment 21-4 and associated 
actions in the near future. For public comments on the proposed rule to 
be considered in the approval or disapproval decision on Amendment 21-
4, those comments must be received by the end of the comment period on 
the amendment. All comments received by the end of the comment period 
for the amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or 
the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision.

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

    Dated: August 27, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18794 Filed 8-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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