Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment, 285-296 [2019-28424]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 285-296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28424]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No.: 191220-012]
RIN 0648-BH67


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Deep-Sea 
Coral Amendment

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 to approve and implement the measures of the New 
England Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. 
This action would protect deep-sea corals from the impacts of 
commercial fishing gear on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. These 
proposed management measures are intended to reduce, to the extent 
practicable, impacts of fishing gear on deep-sea corals in New England 
while balancing their costs to commercial fisheries.

DATES: Public comments must be received by February 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The New England Fishery Management Council has prepared a 
draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for this action that describes the 
proposed measures in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment and other 
considered alternatives and analyzes the impacts of the proposed 
measures and alternatives. The Council submitted a draft of the 
amendment to NMFS that includes the draft EA, a description of the 
Council's preferred alternatives, the Council's rationale for selecting 
each alternative, and a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA). Copies of supporting documents 
used by the New England Fishery Management Council, including the EA 
and RIR/IRFA, are available from: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, 
MA 01950 and accessible via the internet in documents available at: 
https://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-deep-sea-coral-amendment.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0092, by 
either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to

[[Page 286]]

www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0092, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to NMFS, Greater Atlantic 
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Omnibus Deep-Sea 
Coral Amendment.''
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The coral protection zones included in this amendment were 
initially developed during 2010 and 2011 as part of the Council's 
Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 (OHA2), finalized April 9, 
2018 (83 FR 15240; April 9, 2018). In September 2012, the Council split 
the coral protection zones and associated management measures out of 
OHA2 into a separate omnibus amendment. On March 13 and 15, 2017, the 
Council held workshops in New Bedford, MA, and Portsmouth, NH, to 
discuss the coral zone boundaries, considering the canyon and slope 
zones on Georges Bank (broad zone) at the first meeting, and the 
offshore Gulf of Maine zones at the second. On April 18, 2017, the 
Council chose preferred alternatives for the coral zones to go out to 
public hearing. The Council held public hearings throughout New England 
in May of 2017, and revisited its preferred alternatives at its June 
2017 meeting. These meetings were noticed in the Federal Register (82 
FR 21809; May 10, 2017) and advertised on the Council's website and at 
meetings of the Council's Habitat Committee and the full Council. Many 
small entities were in attendance and commented at each hearing. Based 
on the attendance sheets, over 150 people attended the hearings, many 
of which either were or were representing small entities. Testimony was 
given by approximately 50 individuals, with individuals sometimes 
providing comments at more than one hearing. On June 22, 2017, the 
Council took final action on the Gulf of Maine portions of the 
amendment, but did not select final preferred alternatives for the 
broad coral protection zone on Georges Bank. Instead, the Council added 
a new alternative for analysis that was suggested during the public 
hearings. Finally, on January 30, 2018, the Council selected a final 
preferred alternative for the broad coral protection zone on Georges 
Bank and adopted the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment.
    The Council submitted the Amendment to NMFS for initial review on 
December 21, 2018. The Council submitted a revised draft of the 
Amendment on June 25, 2019, for final review by NMFS, acting on behalf 
of the Secretary of Commerce.
    The Council developed this action, and the measures described in 
this proposed rule, under the discretionary provisions for deep-sea 
coral protection in section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This provision 
gives the Regional Fishery Management Councils the authority to:
    (A) Designate zones where, and periods when, fishing shall be 
limited, or shall not be permitted, or shall be permitted only by 
specified types of fishing vessels or with specified types and 
quantities of fishing gear; and
    (B) Designate such zones in areas where deep-sea corals are 
identified under section 408 (this section describes the deep-sea coral 
research and technology program), to protect deep-sea corals from 
physical damage from fishing gear or to prevent loss or damage to such 
fishing gear from interactions with deep-sea corals, after considering 
long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources in such areas.
    Deep-sea corals can build reef-like structures or occur as 
thickets, isolated colonies, or solitary individuals, and often are 
significant components of deep-sea ecosystems, providing habitat 
(substrate, refuge) for a diversity of other organisms, including many 
economically important fish and invertebrate species. All corals are 
vulnerable to fishing gear impacts, but the degrees of susceptibility 
and the rates of recovery vary, depending both on coral biology and on 
spatial overlap between corals and fishing grounds, which influences 
the likelihood of gear interactions. Deep corals can be found from near 
the surface to 6,000 m depth, but most commonly occur between 50-1,000 
m on hard substrate. Deep-sea coral habitats have been noted to have 
higher associated concentrations of fish than surrounding areas and are 
believed to serve as nursery grounds and provide habitat for many 
species of fish and invertebrates at various life stages, including 
commercially important fish species. Consistent with these provisions, 
the Council proposed the measures in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral 
Amendment to identify and protect concentrations of corals in select 
areas and restrict the expansion of fishing effort into areas where 
corals are likely to be present while taking into account long-term 
sustainable uses of fishery resources in the areas and the costs to 
commercial fisheries.

Proposed Measures

Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    The Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment would establish deep-sea coral 
protection areas on the outer continental shelf in New England waters. 
It would complement the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection 
Area established by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in 
Amendment 16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) (81 FR 90246; December 14, 2016) as described in 
Sec.  648.372. The area would run along the outer continental shelf in 
waters no shallower than 600 meters and extend to the outer limit of 
U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary to the east and north, and 
south to the intercouncil boundary as described in Sec.  600.105(a).
    The Council proposed this coral protection area to prevent the 
expansion of fishing effort into deep-water coral areas, while limiting 
impacts on current fishing operations. This area would be designated 
with the landward boundary drawn between the 600-m contour as a hard 
landward boundary and the 650-m contour as a hard seaward boundary. In 
some areas the boundary crosses the 650-m contour to draw this line as 
straight as possible; however, the boundary was constrained on its 
shallow side by the 600-m contour. From the landward boundary, the 
boundaries would extend along the northern and southern boundaries of 
the New England Council's management region and to the edge of the EEZ 
as the eastward boundary.

Gear Restrictions in the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    This action would prohibit the use of bottom-tending commercial 
fishing gear

[[Page 287]]

within the designated Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area, 
including: Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-tending beam trawls; 
hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; bottom-tending seines; bottom 
longlines; pots and traps; and sink or anchored gillnets. The 
prohibition on these gears would protect deep-sea corals from 
interaction with and damage from bottom-tending fishing gear. Red crab 
pot gear would be exempt from the prohibition.

Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area

    This action would designate a coral protection area in an 8-mi\2\ 
(21-km\2\) area southwest of Mount Desert Rock, a small, rocky island 
off the eastern Maine coast, about 20 nm (37 km) south of Mount Desert 
Island, encompassing depths of 100-200 m. Corals have been documented 
in this area from historic data dating back to the 19th century from 
both fisheries bycatch and naturalist surveys and from recent deep-sea 
coral oriented cruises within the New England region in 2000s. Vessels 
would be prohibited from fishing with bottom-tending mobile gear within 
the Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area. Bottom-tending mobile gear 
includes but is not limited to: Bottom-tending otter trawls; bottom-
tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; and 
seines (with the exception of a purse seine). This would protect corals 
in this area from fishing impacts from these gears. Vessels would still 
be able to fish for lobster in this area using trap gear.

Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area

    This action would designate a coral protection area in a 31-mi\2\ 
(79-km\2\) area on the Outer Schoodic Ridge, roughly 25 nm (46 km) 
southeast of Mount Desert Island, encompassing depths of 104-248 m. 
Corals have been documented in both historic and recent data. Vessels 
would be prohibited from fishing with bottom-tending mobile gear within 
the Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area. Bottom-tending mobile 
gear includes but is not limited to: Bottom-tending otter trawls; 
bottom-tending beam trawls; hydraulic dredges; non-hydraulic dredges; 
and seines (with the exception of a purse seine). This would protect 
corals in this area from fishing impacts from these gears. Vessels 
would still be able to fish for lobster in this area using trap gear.

Transiting Provisions

    Vessels would be allowed to transit the Georges Bank, Mount Desert 
Rock, and Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Areas provided the 
vessels bring bottom-tending fishing gear onboard the vessel, and reel 
bottom-tending trawl gear onto the net reel. These transiting 
provisions are consistent with those established by the Mid-Atlantic 
Council in Amendment 16 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 
FMP. The Mid-Atlantic Council proposed these slightly less restrictive 
transiting provisions because the majority of transiting will be 
through the very narrow canyon heads (i.e., the narrow tips of the 
canyons that extend landward of the broad coral zone landward 
boundary). The Mid-Atlantic Council determined that the normal gear 
stowage requirements and requirements that gear be unavailable for 
immediate use (at 50 CFR 648.2) would be too burdensome for commercial 
vessels within the narrow areas of the coral protection areas.

Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area

    This action would designate the area around Jordan Basin in the 
Gulf of Maine as a dedicated habitat research area, but it would not 
impose any additional restrictions on fishing in this area. The purpose 
of this designation is to encourage further exploration of coral 
habitats at the site, and to encourage research on fishing gear impacts 
on these habitats.

Framework Adjustments

    This action would add framework adjustment provisions to facilitate 
future modifications to the New England Deep-Sea Coral Protection 
Areas. The new measures that may be changed using a framework 
adjustment would include adding, revising, or removing coral areas; 
changing fishing restrictions in coral areas; and developing new, or 
changing existing, coral area fishery access or exploratory fishing 
programs.

Letters of Acknowledgement for Vessels Conducting Scientific Research

    The Council requested that researchers seek a Letter of 
Acknowledgement (LOA) from NMFS before conducting research in these 
areas. Scientific research on a scientific research vessel is not 
considered fishing and is therefore exempt from the requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, Sec. 3, 50 CFR 600.10 and 
600.512). NMFS cannot require that scientific research institutions 
request an LOA when conducting scientific research at sea on a 
scientific research vessel, but we will encourage researchers to do so, 
consistent with regulations implementing the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
provisions at 50 CFR 600.512.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has preliminarily determined that this 
Amendment and proposed rule are consistent with the Omnibus Deep-Sea 
Coral Amendment, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and 
other applicable law, subject to further consideration after public 
comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Council prepared an IRFA, as required by section 603 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic 
impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A 
summary of the analysis follows. The IRFA is incorporated into the 
Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment--June 25, 2019, section 11.3. A 
copy of this analysis is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES) or 
via online at https://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-deep-sea-coral-amendment.

Description of the Reasons Why Action by the Agency Is Being Considered 
and Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, This Proposed 
Rule

    This action proposes to implement measures to protect deep-sea 
corals from fishing gear. The background section of the preamble to 
this proposed rule includes a complete description of the reasons why 
this action is being considered, and the objectives of and legal basis 
for this action.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements of the Proposed Rule

    This action contains no new collection-of-information, reporting, 
or recordkeeping requirements. There would be economic impacts to small 
entities associated with this proposed rule. Those impacts are 
described in detail in the Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment, 
specifically, in the IRFA section 11.3.3.1 and in the analysis of the 
impacts on human communities in section 7.1.3.

Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap or Conflict With This 
Proposed Rule

    Parts of the proposed action overlap spatially with the Northeast 
Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, defined by Presidential 
Proclamation 9496 of September 15, 2016 (81 FR 65159). However, this

[[Page 288]]

action is being proposed under the Council's discretionary authority 
granted in section 303(b)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act which is 
separate from the authority granted to the President in 320301 of title 
54, United States Code, which the Monument was originally designated 
under. In addition, this action would protect deep-sea corals from the 
impacts of fishing gear across a much larger area. The proposed action 
does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which This 
Proposed Rule Would Apply

    On July 18, 2019, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an 
interim final rule (84 FR 34261) effective August 19, 2019, that 
adjusted the monetary-based industry size standards (i.e., receipts- 
and assets-based) for inflation for many industries. For fisheries for-
hire businesses and marinas, the rule changes the small business size 
standard from $7.5 million in annual gross receipts to $8 million. See 
84 Fed Reg at 34273 (adjusting NAICS 487990 (Scenic and Sightseeing 
Transportation, Other) and 713930 (Marinas)).
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and prior to SBA's July 
18, 2019 interim final rule, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 
was developed for this action using SBA's former size standards. NMFS 
has reviewed the analyses prepared for this action in light of the new 
size standards. Under the former, SBA size standards, all entities 
subject to this action were considered small entities, and they all 
would continue to be considered small under the new standards.
    Taking this change and public comment into consideration, NMFS has 
identified no additional significant alternatives that accomplish 
statutory objectives and minimize any significant economic impacts of 
the proposed rule on small entities. This is because the recreational 
for-hire sector is not active in the management regions identified in 
this action.
    Further, the new size standards do not affect the decision to 
prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis as opposed to a 
certification for this action. This is because all for-hire entities in 
the region are already classified as small businesses.
    For RFA purposes, NMFS has 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 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. For-hire businesses are categorized as a small business if 
combined annual receipts do not exceed $7.5 million. The Omnibus Deep-
Sea Coral Amendment regulates all fishermen with Federal permits 
allowing the holder to fish in the Federal waters off Southern New 
England, Georges Bank, and the Gulf of Maine. In 2017, this represents 
10 large commercial fishing businesses, 3,832 small commercial fishing 
businesses and 351 recreational for-hire businesses, all of the latter 
being categorized as small businesses.

Description of Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Action Which 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statues and Which 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities

    The Council considered an alternative for the Georges Bank Coral 
Protection Area that would have had less economic impact on small 
businesses. This alternative would have prohibited the use of bottom-
tending commercial fishing gear (with the exception of red crab gear) 
in waters deeper than 900 m. The impacts on small entities would have 
been neutral under this alternative because no fishing activity with 
bottom-tending gears is known to occur at these depths. There would be 
slight negative impacts on small entities if the proposed measures 
outlined in the preamble are implemented. Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) 
analysis indicates that large and small businesses are not facing 
substantially different impact levels overall, although the most highly 
exposed small businesses generate a larger fraction of their overall 
revenue from areas within the preferred alternative when compared to 
large businesses. This analysis indicates that between $6.5-$8.5 
million in gross revenue will be potentially displaced under the 
preferred alternatives, although VTR data suggests this revenue number 
is an overestimate. The major caveat to this analysis is the lack of 
information for the inshore lobster fishery, and the complete lack (and 
thus uncertainty) of value estimates for the benefits associated with 
deep-sea coral conservation, although it is known that deep-sea corals 
can provide habitat (substrate, refuge) for a diversity of other 
organisms, including many economically important fish and invertebrate 
species. The largest revenue estimates are attributed to lobster, Jonah 
and red crab, silver hake, longfin squid, and sea scallop. However, 
based on discussions at the Council's coral workshops in March 2017, it 
was determined that the designation of a broad coral protection zone in 
waters no shallower than 600 m would cause little change in bottom 
trawl, trap/pot, and gillnet effort, and that the VTR data were 
overestimating the potential displacement of effort because of the lack 
of precision in the data. Furthermore, this is an estimate of gross 
revenue of displaced effort, and fishermen could relocate that 
displaced effort to an area outside the closure and still generate 
revenue. The red crab fishery would be exempt from these restrictions 
in the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area because it is a 
small fishery that takes place entirely within the proposed zone, and 
prohibiting the red crab effort from the area would essentially end the 
red crab fishery. To better understand these issues, NMFS seeks public 
comment on the VTR analysis (described in section 7.1.3.1 of the Final 
Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment), specifically regarding the revenue 
number generated by the analysis and the lack of information for the 
inshore lobster fishery. In addition, NMFS seeks comment on value 
estimates for the benefits associated with deep-sea coral conservation.
    The proposed Georges Bank measures protect more known coral habitat 
and habitat suitable for corals compared with the 900-m alternative. 
The proposed action would protect 525 known coral records compared with 
422 known records for the 900-m alternative (24-percent increase). In 
addition, the proposed alternative would protect 3,587 km\2\ area 
highly likely to be suitable habitat for soft corals compared with 
2,821 km\2\ for the 900-m alternative (27-percent increase).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: December 30, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

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


[[Page 289]]


0
2. In Sec.  648.14, add paragraphs (b)(13) through (15) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (13) Fish with bottom-tending gear within the Georges Bank Deep-Sea 
Coral Protection Area described at Sec.  648.373(a)(2), unless 
transiting pursuant to Sec.  648.373(d), or fishing red crab trap gear 
in accordance with Sec.  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes, but is 
not limited to, bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam 
trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending 
seines, bottom longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gill 
nets.
    (14) Fish with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Mount Desert 
Rock Coral Protection Area described at Sec.  648.373(b), unless 
transiting pursuant to Sec.  648.373(d). Bottom-tending mobile gear 
includes, but is not limited, to otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic 
dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a 
purse seine).
    (15) Fish with bottom-tending mobile gear within the Outer Schoodic 
Ridge Coral Protection Area described at Sec.  648.373(c), unless 
transiting pursuant to Sec.  648.373(d). Bottom-tending mobile gear 
includes, but is not limited to, otter trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic 
dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the exception of a 
purse seine).
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  648.371 revise paragraph (d) and add paragraph (f) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  648.371  Dedicated Habitat Research Areas.

* * * * *
    (d) Transiting. Unless otherwise restricted or specified in this 
paragraph (d), a vessel may transit the Dedicated Habitat Research 
Areas of this section provided that its prohibited gear is stowed and 
not available for immediate use as defined in Sec.  648.2.
* * * * *
    (f) Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area. (1) The Jordan 
Basin DHRA is defined by the following coordinates, connected in the 
order listed by straight lines:

                        Table 1 to Paragraph (f)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                    Longitude           Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DHRA1...........................  -67[deg]51.38'      43[deg]27.47'
DHRA2...........................  -67[deg]47.38'      43[deg]27.46'
DHRA3...........................  -67[deg]47.18'      43[deg]16.92'
DHRA4...........................  -67[deg]51.05'      43[deg]17.05'
DHRA1...........................  -67[deg]51.38'      43[deg]27.47'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Fishing vessels, regardless of gear type, may fish within the 
Jordan Basin DHRA.
* * * * *
0
4. Add Sec.  648.373 to read as follows:


Sec.  648.373  New England Deep-Sea Coral Protection Areas.

    (a) Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area. (1) No vessel may 
fish with bottom-tending gear within the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral 
Protection Area described in this section, unless transiting pursuant 
to paragraph (d) of this section or fishing red crab trap gear in 
accordance with Sec.  648.264. Bottom-tending gear includes, but is not 
limited to, bottom-tending otter trawls, bottom-tending beam trawls, 
hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, bottom-tending seines, bottom 
longlines, pots and traps, and sink or anchored gillnets.
    (2) The Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area is bound on the 
west by the New England/Mid-Atlantic Inter-council Boundary line 
(detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section); bound on the north 
by a simplified line (detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section) 
following the 600m depth contour along the southern flank of Georges 
Bank; and bound on the east and south by the U.S.-Canada Maritime 
Boundary and the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone 
(detailed in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section).
    (i) The western boundary is defined by the following coordinates, 
connected in the order listed, south to north, by straight lines:

                     Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(2)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                 Longitude         Latitude       Note
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  -68[deg]47.62'   38[deg]2.21'       (\1\)
2............................  -68[deg]49.99'   38[deg]4.84'
3............................  -68[deg]57.35'   38[deg]13.00'
4............................  -69[deg]4.73'    38[deg]21.15'
5............................  -69[deg]12.13'   38[deg]29.29'
6............................  -69[deg]19.57'   38[deg]37.42'
7............................  -69[deg]27.03'   38[deg]45.54'
8............................  -69[deg]34.53'   38[deg]53.66'
9............................  -69[deg]42.05'   39[deg]1.77'
10...........................  -69[deg]49.60'   39[deg]9.86'
11...........................  -69[deg]57.18'   39[deg]17.96'
12...........................  -70[deg]4.78'    39[deg]26.04'
13...........................  -70[deg]12.42'   39[deg]34.11'
14...........................  -70[deg]20.09'   39[deg]42.18'
15...........................  -70[deg]27.78'   39[deg]50.24'
16...........................  -70[deg]31.64'   39[deg]54.26'
17...........................  -70[deg]32.09'   39[deg]54.72'      (\2\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
(\1\) POINT 1 represents the outer limit of the US EEZ.
(\2\) POINT 17 represents where the western and northern boundaries
  meet.

    (ii) The northern (nearshore) boundary is defined by the following 
coordinates, connected in the order listed, west to east, by straight 
lines.

[[Page 290]]



                     Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(2)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Point                 Longitude         Latitude       Note
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17...........................  -70[deg]32.09'   39[deg]54.72'      (\3\)
18...........................  -70[deg]29.83'   39[deg]59.78'
19...........................  -70[deg]28.72'   39[deg]54.41'
20...........................  -70[deg]27.52'   39[deg]53.44'
21...........................  -70[deg]26.05'   39[deg]53.13'
22...........................  -70[deg]23.81'   39[deg]53.13'
23...........................  -70[deg]22.44'   39[deg]53.72'
24...........................  -70[deg]21.97'   39[deg]54.94'
25...........................  -70[deg]20.12'   39[deg]53.97'
26...........................  -70[deg]16.98'   39[deg]53.60'
27...........................  -70[deg]17.35'   39[deg]54.55'
28...........................  -70[deg]16.99'   39[deg]54.77'
29...........................  -70[deg]17.55'   39[deg]57.01'
30...........................  -70[deg]16.69'   39[deg]57.06'
31...........................  -70[deg]14.54'   39[deg]57.75'
32...........................  -70[deg]13.64'   39[deg]58.44'
33...........................  -70[deg]12.58'   39[deg]58.82'
34...........................  -70[deg]12.16'   39[deg]58.32'
35...........................  -70[deg]13.85'   39[deg]56.68'
36...........................  -70[deg]14.29'   39[deg]56.56'
37...........................  -70[deg]12.51'   39[deg]55.18'
38...........................  -70[deg]11.17'   39[deg]55.2'
39...........................  -70[deg]11.19'   39[deg]54.34'
40...........................  -70[deg]10.33'   39[deg]53.64'
41...........................  -70[deg]7.98'    39[deg]54.17'
42...........................  -70[deg]6.99'    39[deg]54.94'
43...........................  -70[deg]6.56'    39[deg]53.85'
44...........................  -70[deg]4.99'    39[deg]53.24'
45...........................  -70[deg]02.97'   39[deg]52.62'
46...........................  -70[deg]02.70'   39[deg]53.66'
47...........................  -70[deg]01.24'   39[deg]54.69'
48...........................  -70[deg]00.34'   39[deg]53.26'
49...........................  -69[deg]59.41'   39[deg]52.49'
50...........................  -69[deg]57.88'   39[deg]52.61'
51...........................  -69[deg]57.05'   39[deg]53.05'
52...........................  -69[deg]56.35'   39[deg]53.59'
53...........................  -69[deg]56.11'   39[deg]54.94'
54...........................  -69[deg]55.76'   39[deg]55.08'
55...........................  -69[deg]54.62'   39[deg]53.23'
56...........................  -69[deg]53.02'   39[deg]54.29'
57...........................  -69[deg]52.21'   39[deg]54.39'
58...........................  -69[deg]52.34'   39[deg]53.64'
59...........................  -69[deg]50.97'   39[deg]53.36'
60...........................  -69[deg]50.65'   39[deg]53.73'
61...........................  -69[deg]49.45'   39[deg]52.85'
62...........................  -69[deg]49.63'   39[deg]52.32'
63...........................  -69[deg]48.88'   39[deg]52.96'
64...........................  -69[deg]47.91'   39[deg]52.54'
65...........................  -69[deg]48.06'   39[deg]51.85'
66...........................  -69[deg]42.35'   39[deg]52.03'
67...........................  -69[deg]42.19'   39[deg]52.68'
68...........................  -69[deg]41.32'   39[deg]52.27'
69...........................  -69[deg]39.66'   39[deg]52.33'
70...........................  -69[deg]40.03'   39[deg]53.03'
71...........................  -69[deg]39.34'   39[deg]53.81'
72...........................  -69[deg]38.51'   39[deg]53.04'
73...........................  -69[deg]38.11'   39[deg]53.27'
74...........................  -69[deg]37.59'   39[deg]52.38'
75...........................  -69[deg]36.93'   39[deg]51.89'
76...........................  -69[deg]36.99'   39[deg]53.42'
77...........................  -69[deg]37.44'   39[deg]53.85'
78...........................  -69[deg]37.02'   39[deg]54.34'
79...........................  -69[deg]37.52'   39[deg]55.59'
80...........................  -69[deg]37.01'   39[deg]57.70'
81...........................  -69[deg]36.71'   39[deg]56.34'
82...........................  -69[deg]36.27'   39[deg]55.53'
83...........................  -69[deg]34.57'   39[deg]54.60'
84...........................  -69[deg]33.63'   39[deg]52.98'
85...........................  -69[deg]32.47'   39[deg]52.93'
86...........................  -69[deg]31.87'   39[deg]53.95'
87...........................  -69[deg]30.29'   39[deg]53.10'
88...........................  -69[deg]29.48'   39[deg]53.43'

[[Page 291]]

 
89...........................  -69[deg]28.95'   39[deg]54.14'
90...........................  -69[deg]27.35'   39[deg]54.43'
91...........................  -69[deg]27.56'   39[deg]53.86'
92...........................  -69[deg]26.77'   39[deg]53.38'
93...........................  -69[deg]26.07'   39[deg]53.97'
94...........................  -69[deg]25.88'   39[deg]53.50'
95...........................  -69[deg]24.94'   39[deg]53.79'
96...........................  -69[deg]24.47'   39[deg]53.50'
97...........................  -69[deg]23.95'   39[deg]54.81'
98...........................  -69[deg]23.32'   39[deg]54.05'
99...........................  -69[deg]21.95'   39[deg]54.09'
100..........................  -69[deg]21.07'   39[deg]54.38'
101..........................  -69[deg]20.72'   39[deg]54.97'
102..........................  -69[deg]19.83'   39[deg]54.78'
103..........................  -69[deg]19.16'   39[deg]55.00'
104..........................  -69[deg]18.60'   39[deg]56.03'
105..........................  -69[deg]18.28'   39[deg]55.46'
106..........................  -69[deg]17.12'   39[deg]55.53'
107..........................  -69[deg]16.92'   39[deg]56.20'
108..........................  -69[deg]16.27'   39[deg]55.87'
109..........................  -69[deg]15.58'   39[deg]56.29'
110..........................  -69[deg]14.44'   39[deg]57.54'
111..........................  -69[deg]13.82'   39[deg]57.37'
112..........................  -69[deg]13.47'   39[deg]58.01'
113..........................  -69[deg]12.44'   39[deg]56.95'
114..........................  -69[deg]12.06'   39[deg]57.69'
115..........................  -69[deg]11.10'   39[deg]56.69'
116..........................  -69[deg]10.92'   39[deg]57.04'
117..........................  -69[deg]10.86'   39[deg]58.26'
118..........................  -69[deg]10.40'   39[deg]58.14'
119..........................  -69[deg]10.07'   39[deg]59.85'
120..........................  -69[deg]08.70'   39[deg]59.01'
121..........................  -69[deg]07.72'   39[deg]59.00'
122..........................  -69[deg]07.97'   39[deg]58.50'
123..........................  -69[deg]07.00'   39[deg]57.74'
124..........................  -69[deg]06.31'   39[deg]57.59'
125..........................  -69[deg]05.31'   39[deg]58.82'
126..........................  -69[deg]04.61'   39[deg]58.14'
127..........................  -69[deg]04.44'   39[deg]58.88'
128..........................  -69[deg]03.89'   39[deg]58.95'
129..........................  -69[deg]04.27'   40[deg]00.04'
130..........................  -69[deg]03.33'   40[deg]00.15'
131..........................  -69[deg]03.04'   40[deg]00.45'
132..........................  -69[deg]03.43'   40[deg]02.96'
133..........................  -69[deg]02.67'   40[deg]04.10'
134..........................  -69[deg]03.34'   40[deg]05.17'
135..........................  -69[deg]02.91'   40[deg]05.86'
136..........................  -69[deg]02.12'   40[deg]04.15'
137..........................  -69[deg]01.85'   40[deg]02.32'
138..........................  -69[deg]01.28'   40[deg]01.87'
139..........................  -69[deg]00.75'   40[deg]01.92'
140..........................  -68[deg]59.76'   40[deg]00.83'
141..........................  -68[deg]59.08'   40[deg]01.51'
142..........................  -68[deg]58.63'   40[deg]00.89'
143..........................  -68[deg]57.67'   40[deg]00.45'
144..........................  -68[deg]56.65'   40[deg]00.44'
145..........................  -68[deg]56.3'    40[deg]00.92'
146..........................  -68[deg]55.27'   40[deg]00.56'
147..........................  -68[deg]55.34'   40[deg]01.22'
148..........................  -68[deg]53.97'   40[deg]01.40'
149..........................  -68[deg]53.58'   40[deg]00.82'
150..........................  -68[deg]53.14'   40[deg]01.24'
151..........................  -68[deg]52.73'   40[deg]00.99'
152..........................  -68[deg]51.53'   40[deg]02.81'
153..........................  -68[deg]50.76'   40[deg]03.08'
154..........................  -68[deg]50.10'   40[deg]03.77'
155..........................  -68[deg]50.40'   40[deg]04.73'
156..........................  -68[deg]48.94'   40[deg]04.35'
157..........................  -68[deg]49.05'   40[deg]05.84'
158..........................  -68[deg]48.11'   40[deg]05.05'
159..........................  -68[deg]47.58'   40[deg]03.99'
160..........................  -68[deg]47.90'   40[deg]03.25'

[[Page 292]]

 
161..........................  -68[deg]47.71'   40[deg]02.93'
162..........................  -68[deg]46.96'   40[deg]03.36'
163..........................  -68[deg]46.51'   40[deg]04.02'
164..........................  -68[deg]46.21'   40[deg]03.41'
165..........................  -68[deg]45.61'   40[deg]03.36'
166..........................  -68[deg]45.44'   40[deg]03.86'
167..........................  -68[deg]45.08'   40[deg]03.60'
168..........................  -68[deg]45.11'   40[deg]04.24'
169..........................  -68[deg]44.63'   40[deg]04.06'
170..........................  -68[deg]44.12'   40[deg]04.58'
171..........................  -68[deg]43.78'   40[deg]02.68'
172..........................  -68[deg]42.97'   40[deg]03.02'
173..........................  -68[deg]42.28'   40[deg]01.90'
174..........................  -68[deg]41.01'   40[deg]02.72'
175..........................  -68[deg]41.16'   40[deg]03.54'
176..........................  -68[deg]41.50'   40[deg]04.04'
177..........................  -68[deg]41.06'   40[deg]04.02'
178..........................  -68[deg]40.15'   40[deg]05.30'
179..........................  -68[deg]39.31'   40[deg]04.19'
180..........................  -68[deg]38.69'   40[deg]04.57'
181..........................  -68[deg]37.78'   40[deg]03.47'
182..........................  -68[deg]37.07'   40[deg]04.08'
183..........................  -68[deg]36.76'   40[deg]03.68'
184..........................  -68[deg]36.36'   40[deg]04.02'
185..........................  -68[deg]36.55'   40[deg]04.82'
186..........................  -68[deg]35.91'   40[deg]05.56'
187..........................  -68[deg]35.16'   40[deg]04.83'
188..........................  -68[deg]33.63'   40[deg]04.04'
189..........................  -68[deg]32.76'   40[deg]04.76'
190..........................  -68[deg]32.44'   40[deg]05.91'
191..........................  -68[deg]31.58'   40[deg]05.48'
192..........................  -68[deg]30.88'   40[deg]05.81'
193..........................  -68[deg]30.89'   40[deg]06.29'
194..........................  -68[deg]30.29'   40[deg]06.40'
195..........................  -68[deg]31.11'   40[deg]06.95'
196..........................  -68[deg]30.46'   40[deg]07.60'
197..........................  -68[deg]30.46'   40[deg]08.19'
198..........................  -68[deg]29.29'   40[deg]08.05'
199..........................  -68[deg]29.48'   40[deg]09.55'
200..........................  -68[deg]30.08'   40[deg]11.48'
201..........................  -68[deg]28.16'   40[deg]10.69'
202..........................  -68[deg]27.41'   40[deg]10.95'
203..........................  -68[deg]27.66'   40[deg]10.26'
204..........................  -68[deg]26.67'   40[deg]09.09'
205..........................  -68[deg]26.81'   40[deg]07.63'
206..........................  -68[deg]25.20'   40[deg]06.46'
207..........................  -68[deg]24.46'   40[deg]06.12'
208..........................  -68[deg]24.07'   40[deg]07.70'
209..........................  -68[deg]23.39'   40[deg]07.29'
210..........................  -68[deg]22.17'   40[deg]07.15'
211..........................  -68[deg]21.86'   40[deg]08.26'
212..........................  -68[deg]22.03'   40[deg]08.77'
213..........................  -68[deg]21.58'   40[deg]08.86'
214..........................  -68[deg]20.52'   40[deg]09.57'
215..........................  -68[deg]19.88'   40[deg]09.36'
216..........................  -68[deg]19.14'   40[deg]10.44'
217..........................  -68[deg]18.51'   40[deg]10.02'
218..........................  -68[deg]17.72'   40[deg]09.64'
219..........................  -68[deg]17.76'   40[deg]10.66'
220..........................  -68[deg]16.86'   40[deg]10.68'
221..........................  -68[deg]16.78'   40[deg]11.65'
222..........................  -68[deg]16.70'   40[deg]12.27'
223..........................  -68[deg]16.81'   40[deg]13.24'
224..........................  -68[deg]16.29'   40[deg]14.68'
225..........................  -68[deg]14.75'   40[deg]13.04'
226..........................  -68[deg]14.00'   40[deg]12.79'
227..........................  -68[deg]13.88'   40[deg]12.21'
228..........................  -68[deg]13.14'   40[deg]11.49'
229..........................  -68[deg]13.30'   40[deg]12.07'
230..........................  -68[deg]12.84'   40[deg]12.48'
231..........................  -68[deg]12.54'   40[deg]13.08'
232..........................  -68[deg]12.20'   40[deg]12.80'

[[Page 293]]

 
233..........................  -68[deg]11.51'   40[deg]13.48'
234..........................  -68[deg]10.65'   40[deg]12.05'
235..........................  -68[deg]10.05'   40[deg]13.00'
236..........................  -68[deg]08.65'   40[deg]12.16'
237..........................  -68[deg]08.33'   40[deg]13.06'
238..........................  -68[deg]08.60'   40[deg]14.17'
239..........................  -68[deg]08.15'   40[deg]15.30'
240..........................  -68[deg]08.33'   40[deg]15.56'
241..........................  -68[deg]09.02'   40[deg]16.17'
242..........................  -68[deg]08.73'   40[deg]16.56'
243..........................  -68[deg]09.02'   40[deg]17.94'
244..........................  -68[deg]08.82'   40[deg]18.63'
245..........................  -68[deg]09.14'   40[deg]21.96'
246..........................  -68[deg]09.19'   40[deg]22.96'
247..........................  -68[deg]07.89'   40[deg]24.16'
248..........................  -68[deg]08.53'   40[deg]22.91'
249..........................  -68[deg]08.36'   40[deg]21.85'
250..........................  -68[deg]07.94'   40[deg]20.88'
251..........................  -68[deg]07.22'   40[deg]19.75'
252..........................  -68[deg]06.28'   40[deg]17.81'
253..........................  -68[deg]05.00'   40[deg]16.41'
254..........................  -68[deg]03.61'   40[deg]17.70'
255..........................  -68[deg]03.27'   40[deg]15.88'
256..........................  -68[deg]02.93'   40[deg]15.07'
257..........................  -68[deg]01.95'   40[deg]14.69'
258..........................  -68[deg]00.78'   40[deg]15.22'
259..........................  -68[deg]00.67'   40[deg]15.85'
260..........................  -67[deg]59.14'   40[deg]14.75'
261..........................  -67[deg]58.80'   40[deg]15.83'
262..........................  -67[deg]58.28'   40[deg]15.58'
263..........................  -67[deg]57.85'   40[deg]16.63'
264..........................  -67[deg]57.58'   40[deg]17.38'
265..........................  -67[deg]56.51'   40[deg]16.19'
266..........................  -67[deg]55.99'   40[deg]16.45'
267..........................  -67[deg]55.23'   40[deg]14.90'
268..........................  -67[deg]54.31'   40[deg]16.24'
269..........................  -67[deg]53.88'   40[deg]17.41'
270..........................  -67[deg]52.96'   40[deg]16.95'
271..........................  -67[deg]52.29'   40[deg]17.18'
272..........................  -67[deg]52.46'   40[deg]19.25'
273..........................  -67[deg]52.26'   40[deg]19.59'
274..........................  -67[deg]52.88'   40[deg]20.05'
275..........................  -67[deg]52.54'   40[deg]20.86'
276..........................  -67[deg]53.31'   40[deg]21.24'
277..........................  -67[deg]53.07'   40[deg]22.08'
278..........................  -67[deg]51.62'   40[deg]21.24'
279..........................  -67[deg]51.26'   40[deg]20.48'
280..........................  -67[deg]49.97'   40[deg]18.81'
281..........................  -67[deg]49.29'   40[deg]18.78'
282..........................  -67[deg]49.49'   40[deg]18.49'
283..........................  -67[deg]49.40'   40[deg]18.13'
284..........................  -67[deg]49.12'   40[deg]18.09'
285..........................  -67[deg]47.94'   40[deg]15.79'
286..........................  -67[deg]46.47'   40[deg]16.00'
287..........................  -67[deg]46.23'   40[deg]16.37'
288..........................  -67[deg]45.61'   40[deg]16.18'
289..........................  -67[deg]45.80'   40[deg]16.54'
290..........................  -67[deg]45.66'   40[deg]17.53'
291..........................  -67[deg]45.34'   40[deg]18.75'
292..........................  -67[deg]44.52'   40[deg]18.25'
293..........................  -67[deg]44.13'   40[deg]18.39'
294..........................  -67[deg]43.50'   40[deg]18.84'
295..........................  -67[deg]43.42'   40[deg]18.00'
296..........................  -67[deg]42.81'   40[deg]18.27'
297..........................  -67[deg]42.61'   40[deg]17.62'
298..........................  -67[deg]41.69'   40[deg]17.88'
299..........................  -67[deg]41.81'   40[deg]19.20'
300..........................  -67[deg]42.61'   40[deg]20.29'
301..........................  -67[deg]39.96'   40[deg]22.27'
302..........................  -67[deg]40.38'   40[deg]24.07'
303..........................  -67[deg]39.92'   40[deg]25.32'
304..........................  -67[deg]39.77'   40[deg]24.13'

[[Page 294]]

 
305..........................  -67[deg]39.64'   40[deg]23.12'
306..........................  -67[deg]39.20'   40[deg]21.31'
307..........................  -67[deg]39.88'   40[deg]20.41'
308..........................  -67[deg]39.06'   40[deg]19.39'
309..........................  -67[deg]37.75'   40[deg]18.86'
310..........................  -67[deg]37.54'   40[deg]19.41'
311..........................  -67[deg]36.18'   40[deg]19.12'
312..........................  -67[deg]35.49'   40[deg]20.23'
313..........................  -67[deg]34.74'   40[deg]19.65'
314..........................  -67[deg]34.16'   40[deg]21.13'
315..........................  -67[deg]33.06'   40[deg]20.46'
316..........................  -67[deg]32.36'   40[deg]21.41'
317..........................  -67[deg]31.99'   40[deg]20.77'
318..........................  -67[deg]30.93'   40[deg]20.91'
319..........................  -67[deg]30.69'   40[deg]20.52'
320..........................  -67[deg]30.02'   40[deg]21.66'
321..........................  -67[deg]29.38'   40[deg]21.09'
322..........................  -67[deg]28.94'   40[deg]21.57'
323..........................  -67[deg]28.35'   40[deg]22.81'
324..........................  -67[deg]27.79'   40[deg]22.19'
325..........................  -67[deg]26.75'   40[deg]21.57'
326..........................  -67[deg]25.66'   40[deg]22.31'
327..........................  -67[deg]25.43'   40[deg]22.61'
328..........................  -67[deg]25.30'   40[deg]23.42'
329..........................  -67[deg]25.36'   40[deg]24.34'
330..........................  -67[deg]25.16'   40[deg]24.64'
331..........................  -67[deg]25.53'   40[deg]24.93'
332..........................  -67[deg]24.73'   40[deg]25.43'
333..........................  -67[deg]24.13'   40[deg]27.58'
334..........................  -67[deg]23.69'   40[deg]24.23'
335..........................  -67[deg]22.74'   40[deg]23.27'
336..........................  -67[deg]21.70'   40[deg]23.12'
337..........................  -67[deg]21.33'   40[deg]23.77'
338..........................  -67[deg]20.68'   40[deg]23.40'
339..........................  -67[deg]20.05'   40[deg]24.39'
340..........................  -67[deg]19.11'   40[deg]23.85'
341..........................  -67[deg]18.75'   40[deg]25.17'
342..........................  -67[deg]18.09'   40[deg]24.77'
343..........................  -67[deg]17.32'   40[deg]25.14'
344..........................  -67[deg]17.33'   40[deg]25.59'
345..........................  -67[deg]16.37'   40[deg]25.50'
346..........................  -67[deg]15.62'   40[deg]25.40'
347..........................  -67[deg]15.19'   40[deg]25.64'
348..........................  -67[deg]14.76'   40[deg]26.24'
349..........................  -67[deg]14.99'   40[deg]26.93'
350..........................  -67[deg]13.99'   40[deg]26.63'
351..........................  -67[deg]13.29'   40[deg]27.31'
352..........................  -67[deg]12.58'   40[deg]26.87'
353..........................  -67[deg]12.77'   40[deg]27.74'
354..........................  -67[deg]12.23'   40[deg]28.01'
355..........................  -67[deg]12.05'   40[deg]27.56'
356..........................  -67[deg]11.37'   40[deg]27.75'
357..........................  -67[deg]10.84'   40[deg]27.12'
358..........................  -67[deg]10.19'   40[deg]27.14'
359..........................  -67[deg]09.05'   40[deg]28.84'
360..........................  -67[deg]07.83'   40[deg]28.25'
361..........................  -67[deg]07.55'   40[deg]28.65'
362..........................  -67[deg]07.58'   40[deg]29.49'
363..........................  -67[deg]05.80'   40[deg]28.71'
364..........................  -67[deg]04.83'   40[deg]29.41'
365..........................  -67[deg]04.52'   40[deg]29.86'
366..........................  -67[deg]03.56'   40[deg]29.83'
367..........................  -67[deg]03.27'   40[deg]31.27'
368..........................  -67[deg]01.67'   40[deg]30.25'
369..........................  -67[deg]00.06'   40[deg]31.03'
370..........................  -66[deg]59.48'   40[deg]31.63'
371..........................  -67[deg]00.01'   40[deg]32.61'
372..........................  -66[deg]59.56'   40[deg]32.78'
373..........................  -67[deg]00.34'   40[deg]34.03'
374..........................  -67[deg]01.15'   40[deg]34.92'
375..........................  -67[deg]01.25'   40[deg]36.83'
376..........................  -66[deg]59.94'   40[deg]35.55'

[[Page 295]]

 
377..........................  -66[deg]59.40'   40[deg]35.40'
378..........................  -66[deg]58.89'   40[deg]35.52'
379..........................  -66[deg]58.73'   40[deg]34.91'
380..........................  -66[deg]58.44'   40[deg]34.94'
381..........................  -66[deg]58.13'   40[deg]35.50'
382..........................  -66[deg]57.52'   40[deg]34.93'
383..........................  -66[deg]57.43'   40[deg]35.42'
384..........................  -66[deg]56.72'   40[deg]35.16'
385..........................  -66[deg]56.44'   40[deg]35.81'
386..........................  -66[deg]56.09'   40[deg]35.36'
387..........................  -66[deg]55.56'   40[deg]35.65'
388..........................  -66[deg]55.61'   40[deg]34.90'
389..........................  -66[deg]54.85'   40[deg]34.42'
390..........................  -66[deg]54.68'   40[deg]35.40'
391..........................  -66[deg]52.45'   40[deg]36.18'
392..........................  -66[deg]52.51'   40[deg]36.80'
393..........................  -66[deg]51.93'   40[deg]36.82'
394..........................  -66[deg]51.88'   40[deg]37.40'
395..........................  -66[deg]51.38'   40[deg]37.30'
396..........................  -66[deg]51.44'   40[deg]37.81'
397..........................  -66[deg]50.36'   40[deg]37.77'
398..........................  -66[deg]50.78'   40[deg]38.81'
399..........................  -66[deg]49.27'   40[deg]38.41'
400..........................  -66[deg]48.84'   40[deg]38.70'
401..........................  -66[deg]49.25'   40[deg]39.85'
402..........................  -66[deg]47.92'   40[deg]39.57'
403..........................  -66[deg]47.83'   40[deg]39.82'
404..........................  -66[deg]47.79'   40[deg]40.82'
405..........................  -66[deg]46.91'   40[deg]40.33'
406..........................  -66[deg]46.02'   40[deg]40.07'
407..........................  -66[deg]45.89'   40[deg]41.47'
408..........................  -66[deg]44.79'   40[deg]41.19'
409..........................  -66[deg]44.30'   40[deg]41.37'
410..........................  -66[deg]44.17'   40[deg]42.32'
411..........................  -66[deg]43.43'   40[deg]42.42'
412..........................  -66[deg]42.39'   40[deg]42.67'
413..........................  -66[deg]42.87'   40[deg]44.75'
414..........................  -66[deg]42.49'   40[deg]45.21'
415..........................  -66[deg]42.67'   40[deg]45.83'
416..........................  -66[deg]43.02'   40[deg]46.23'
417..........................  -66[deg]41.12'   40[deg]45.96'
418..........................  -66[deg]40.98'   40[deg]45.61'
419..........................  -66[deg]40.63'   40[deg]45.35'
420..........................  -66[deg]39.37'   40[deg]45.98'
421..........................  -66[deg]39.74'   40[deg]46.65'
422..........................  -66[deg]39.99'   40[deg]46.93'
423..........................  -66[deg]39.23'   40[deg]46.97'
424..........................  -66[deg]38.17'   40[deg]47.99'
425..........................  -66[deg]37.69'   40[deg]47.13'
426..........................  -66[deg]36.94'   40[deg]47.36'
427..........................  -66[deg]37.05'   40[deg]47.83'
428..........................  -66[deg]36.49'   40[deg]47.87'
429..........................  -66[deg]36.12'   40[deg]48.59'
430..........................  -66[deg]35.63'   40[deg]48.13'
431..........................  -66[deg]35.30'   40[deg]48.35'
432..........................  -66[deg]35.35'   40[deg]49.96'
433..........................  -66[deg]34.96'   40[deg]50.30'
434..........................  -66[deg]34.50'   40[deg]50.33'
435..........................  -66[deg]34.26'   40[deg]50.91'
436..........................  -66[deg]34.76'   40[deg]51.34'
437..........................  -66[deg]33.57'   40[deg]51.38'
438..........................  -66[deg]34.29'   40[deg]52.10'
439..........................  -66[deg]33.55'   40[deg]52.16'
440..........................  -66[deg]33.32'   40[deg]52.70'
441..........................  -66[deg]32.88'   40[deg]52.69'
442..........................  -66[deg]32.62'   40[deg]51.96'
443..........................  -66[deg]32.01'   40[deg]51.53'
444..........................  -66[deg]30.28'   40[deg]53.07'
445..........................  -66[deg]30.69'   40[deg]53.61'
446..........................  -66[deg]30.15'   40[deg]53.84'
447..........................  -66[deg]30.14'   40[deg]54.17'
448..........................  -66[deg]30.67'   40[deg]54.62'

[[Page 296]]

 
449..........................  -66[deg]28.81'   40[deg]54.47'
450..........................  -66[deg]28.84'   40[deg]55.04'
451..........................  -66[deg]28.16'   40[deg]55.03'
452..........................  -66[deg]27.30'   40[deg]55.99'
453..........................  -66[deg]25.16'   40[deg]58.14'
454..........................  -66[deg]24.11'   40[deg]59.64'
455..........................  -66[deg]24.37'   41[deg]00.32'
456..........................  -66[deg]23.57'   41[deg]00.33'
457..........................  -66[deg]22.61'   41[deg]01.68'
458..........................  -66[deg]23.05'   41[deg]02.64'
459..........................  -66[deg]24.77'   41[deg]03.86'
460..........................  -66[deg]24.03'   41[deg]04.11'
461..........................  -66[deg]24.60'   41[deg]04.95'
462..........................  -66[deg]22.60'   41[deg]04.23'
463..........................  -66[deg]21.17'   41[deg]04.35'
464..........................  -66[deg]21.11'   41[deg]05.02'
465..........................  -66[deg]19.77'   41[deg]04.45'
466..........................  -66[deg]18.07'   41[deg]06.00'
467..........................  -66[deg]18.24'   41[deg]07.82'
468..........................  -66[deg]17.07'   41[deg]08.68'
469..........................  -66[deg]16.90'   41[deg]08.93'
470..........................  -66[deg]16.86'   41[deg]08.98'      (\4\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
(\3\) POINT 17 represents where the western and northern boundaries
  meet.
(\4\) POINT 470 represents the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary.

    (iii) The eastern and southern boundary (from Point 470) follows 
the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary southeasterly to its intersection 
with the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The boundary 
then follows the outer limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone 
southwesterly back to its origin at POINT 01.
    (b) Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area. (1) No vessel may fish 
with bottom-tending mobile gear, as defined in Sec.  648.2, within the 
Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area described in this section, 
unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section. Bottom-
tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited to, otter trawls, beam 
trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and seines (with the 
exception of a purse seine).
    (2) The Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area is defined by the 
following coordinates, connected in the order listed by straight lines:

                        Table 1 to Paragraph (b)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                    Longitude           Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MDR1............................  -68[deg]13.16'      43[deg]56.99'
MDR2............................  -68[deg]12.00'      43[deg]57.00'
MDR3............................  -68[deg]11.45'      43[deg]56.17'
MDR4............................  -68[deg]12.21'      43[deg]52.62'
MDR5............................  -68[deg]14.32'      43[deg]52.11'
MDR1............................  -68[deg]13.16'      43[deg]56.99'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area. (1) No vessel may 
fish with bottom-tending mobile gear, as defined in Sec.  648.2, within 
the Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area described in this 
section, unless transiting pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section. 
Bottom-tending mobile gear includes, but is not limited to, otter 
trawls, beam trawls, hydraulic dredges, non-hydraulic dredges, and 
seines (with the exception of a purse seine).
    (2) The Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area is defined by 
the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by straight 
lines:

                       Table 1 to Paragraph (c)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Point                    Longitude           Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSR1............................  -67[deg]35.60'      44[deg]13.49'
OSR2............................  -67[deg]33.10'      44[deg]12.56'
OSR3............................  -67[deg]39.70'      44[deg]02.48'
OSR4............................  -67[deg]42.29'      44[deg]03.48'
OSR1............................  -67[deg]35.60'      44[deg]13.49'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Transiting. Vessels may transit the New England Deep-Sea Coral 
Management Areas defined in this section, provided bottom-tending trawl 
nets are out of the water and stowed on the reel and any other fishing 
gear that is prohibited in these areas is onboard, out of the water, 
and not deployed. Fishing gear is not required to meet the definition 
of ``not available for immediate use'' in Sec.  648.2, when a vessel 
transits the New England Deep-Sea Coral Management Areas.
    (e) Framework adjustments. The Council may at any time initiate a 
framework adjustment to add or adjust management measures within the 
New England Deep-Sea Coral Management Areas if it finds that action is 
necessary to meet or be consistent with the goals and objectives of 
those areas. The Council shall develop and analyze appropriate 
management actions over the span of at least two Council meetings. The 
Council shall provide the public with advance notice of the 
availability of both the proposals and the analyses, and opportunity to 
comment on them prior to and at the second Council meeting. Measures 
that may be changed or implemented through framework action include:
    (1) Adding, revising, or removing coral areas;
    (2) Changing fishing restrictions in coral areas; and
    (3) Developing new, or changing existing, coral area fishery access 
or exploratory fishing programs.

[FR Doc. 2019-28424 Filed 1-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P