Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 9, 65740-65749 [2020-21298]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 201 (Friday, October 16, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65740-65749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21298]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 622 and 635

[Docket No. 200922-0254]
RIN 0648-BI61


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of 
Mexico; Amendment 9

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS implements management measures described in Amendment 9 
to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coral and Coral Reefs of 
the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 9) and an associated framework action to 
the FMP, as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 
(Council). This final rule establishes new habitat areas of particular 
concern (HAPCs), some of which include a prohibition of the deployment 
of bottom-tending gear, and modifies fishing regulations for the other 
existing HAPCs in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Additionally, this final 
rule implements complementary management measures for Atlantic highly 
migratory species (HMS) in the Gulf. The purpose of this final rule is 
to protect coral essential fish habitat (EFH) in the Gulf.

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 9 and the framework action 
may be obtained from www.regulations.gov or the Southeast Regional 
Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-9-coral-habitat-areas-considered-management-gulf-mexico. Amendment 9 
includes a final environmental impact statement (EIS), fishery impact 
statement, regulatory impact review, and a Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA) analysis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; email: 
[email protected]. Karyl Brewster-Geisz, NMFS Highly Migratory 
Species Division, telephone: 301-427-8503; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage coral and coral 
reef

[[Page 65741]]

resources in the Gulf under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the 
Council and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 
622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS manages Atlantic HMS 
under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments, under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act. The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP is implemented 
by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    On December 18, 2017, NMFS published a notice of intent to prepare 
a draft EIS for Amendment 9 in the Federal Register and requested 
public comment (82 FR 60003, December 18, 2017). On September 26, 2019, 
NMFS published a notice of availability for Amendment 9 and an 
associated framework action to the FMP, and requested public comment 
(84 FR 50814, September 26, 2019). On December 20, 2019, the Secretary 
of Commerce approved Amendment 9 and the framework action under section 
304(a)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. On November 15, 2019, NMFS 
published a proposed rule for Amendment 9 and the associated framework 
action, and requested public comment (84 FR 62491, November 15, 2019). 
The proposed rule and Amendment 9 outline the rationale for the actions 
contained in this final rule. A summary of the management measures 
described in Amendment 9 and the associated framework action, and 
implemented by this final rule is provided below.

Management Measure Contained in This Final Rule

    This final rule establishes 13 new HAPCs in the Gulf in which the 
deployment of certain bottom-tending gear is prohibited. The rule also 
prohibits the deployment of dredge fishing gear in existing Gulf HAPCs 
that are managed with fishing regulations. Further, this rule modifies 
the restrictions in the existing HAPCs that prohibit fishing with 
specific gear types to prohibit the deployment of those gear. NMFS is 
establishing these areas and fishing regulations to further protect 
coral EFH in the Gulf.

HAPCs With Fishing Regulations

    This final rule establishes 13 coral HAPCs in which the deployment 
of specified bottom-tending gear is prohibited. For purpose of the 
prohibition, fishing gear is ``deployed'' if any part of the gear is in 
contact with the water. The 13 HAPCs are called West Florida Wall, 
Alabama Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef (combined area), 
Mississippi Canyon 118, Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826, Viosca 
Knoll 862/906, AT 047, AT 357, Green Canyon 852, Southern Bank, Harte 
Bank, and Pulley Ridge South Portion A. Pulley Ridge South Portion A is 
adjacent to the established Pulley Ridge South HAPC.
    For these areas, excluding Pulley Ridge South Portion A, 
prohibitions on the following activities apply year-round: Deployment 
of bottom longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, 
dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels. The buoy 
gear defined in 50 CFR 622.2 is not the same as HMS buoy gear defined 
in 50 CFR 635.2. HMS buoy gear is not a bottom-tending gear.
    Within the Viosca Knoll 862/906 area, the gear deployment 
prohibitions do not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red 
shrimp endorsement, as specified in 50 CFR 622.50(c), while fishing for 
royal red shrimp. The areas around this HAPC are used to fish for royal 
red shrimp. Fishing for royal red shrimp occurs in deep waters and 
requires several miles of continuous forward vessel movement to lift 
the nets up in the water column to the vessel. Therefore, requiring 
that these nets be out of the water would effectively prevent the use 
of an area much larger than the HAPC. The exemption allows royal red 
shrimp fishermen to continue the historic practice of lifting the nets 
off the bottom but keeping them in the water as they travel through 
this area while still protecting corals.
    Within the Pulley Ridge South Portion A area, the following 
prohibitions apply year-round: Deployment of a bottom trawl, buoy gear 
as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring 
by fishing vessels. Pulley Ridge South Portion A does not include a 
restriction on the deployment of bottom longline gear to allow fishing 
that has historically occurred in this area to continue. This final 
rule does not change any other boundaries or regulations within the 
existing Pulley Ridge HAPC.
    The Council concluded that the exception for royal red shrimp 
fishing in the Viosca Knoll 862/906 area and for bottom longline 
fishing in the proposed Pulley Ridge South Portion A area is unlikely 
to adversely affect the habitat. Both types of fishing have occurred in 
the respective areas for over a decade without causing significant 
harm.

Dredge Fishing Prohibition

    Previous to this final rule, only some HAPCs in the Gulf had 
fishing regulations that prohibited dredge fishing within the 
designated areas. This final rule prohibits the deployment of dredge 
fishing gear in all HAPCs in the Gulf with associated fishing 
regulations. Dredge fishing is most commonly used to harvest shellfish 
and is not known to occur in the Gulf. Therefore, this management 
measure will not restrict any known fishing activity in the Gulf, but 
increases the consistency of management measures across HAPCs with 
fishing regulations.

Fishing Restrictions in Established HAPCs

    This rule modifies restrictions associated with bottom-tending 
fishing gear in the HAPCs established prior to this final rule. 
Previously, the regulations at 50 CFR 622.74 prohibited ``fishing'' in 
these HAPCs with bottom-tending gear with specific types of gear 
prohibitions varying by HAPC. As explained in the proposed rule, the 
Council determined that it was more appropriate to prohibit the 
``deployment'' of bottom-tending gear. Therefore, this rule changes the 
prohibition for the HAPCs listed in 50 CFR 622.74, other than the 
Tortugas marine reserves HAPC, to prevent the deployment of the bottom-
tending gear to be consistent with the prohibition in the HAPCs 
implemented by this final rule. The Tortugas marine reserves HAPC 
already has a broader prohibition on all fishing and anchoring by 
fishing vessels.

HMS Fisheries in the Gulf

    This final rule modifies regulations at 50 CFR 635.21 for Atlantic 
HMS fisheries that operate in the Gulf to complement the fishing vessel 
anchoring and gear deployment prohibitions in 50 CFR 622.74.

Management Measure Contained in Amendment 9 But Not Codified Through 
This Final Rule

    Amendment 9 also establishes eight HAPCs with no associated fishing 
regulations. The Council determined that specific fishing regulations 
in these eight HAPCs are unnecessary because there is no known fishing 
activity that occurs within them, partly because the areas are located 
in very deep water (greater than 984 ft or 300 m). The HAPCs without 
fishing regulations in Amendment 9 are South John Reed, Garden Banks 
299, Garden Banks 535, Green Canyon 140 and 272 (combined), Green 
Canyon 234, Green Canyon 354, Mississippi Canyon 751, and

[[Page 65742]]

Mississippi Canyon 885. Although fishing impacts were not identified as 
a concern in these eight areas, establishing these HAPCs informs the 
public that the Council considers these areas to be of particular 
importance and could help guide NMFS' review of non-fishing impacts 
during EFH consultations.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 12,055 comments on the notice of availability for 
Amendment 9 and proposed rule. Of those, 12,035 were in support of 
Amendment 9 with no further recommendations. Eight comments were in 
support of Amendment 9 and establishing HAPCs, but stated that 
Amendment 9 did not do enough to protect deep-sea coral or EFH. Five 
comments were in opposition to establishing some or all of the proposed 
HAPCs. Two comments were not relevant to Amendment 9 or the proposed 
rule. Comments specific to Amendment 9 and the proposed rule are 
grouped as appropriate and summarized below, followed by NMFS' 
responses.
    Comment 1: Amendment 9 does not fully implement the NOAA Strategic 
Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems to conserve deep-sea 
coral and sponge habitat. The Council and NMFS should create a 
precautionary management area in the Gulf similar to those established 
by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils by 
using the discretionary authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to limit 
expansion of bottom-tending fishing gear in the Gulf to existing areas 
fished by those gear to better protect coral EFH.
    Response: The Council did not prepare Amendment 9 to implement the 
NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems. 
Nevertheless, the purpose of Amendment 9 is to protect coral species 
and habitat under Federal management in the Gulf, and does accomplish 
some of the goals and objectives of the plan. While the NOAA Strategic 
Plan outlines several authorities available to the Council, it is not 
prescriptive in how the Council should protect deep-sea coral 
resources. Unlike the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils, the Gulf Council manages corals in Federal waters of the Gulf 
directly through the Coral FMP and the Council defined coral EFH as all 
areas where managed corals exist. Because corals are already managed 
under the Coral FMP and protected through the existing EFH designation, 
the Council did not consider designating deep-sea coral areas under 
section 303(b)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act because this would be 
duplicative. However, the Council is currently considering beginning 
work on a new amendment to the Coral FMP that would review additional 
areas for designation as coral HAPCs.
    Comment 2: The Council should use its statutory authority to engage 
in the oversight, permitting, and evaluation of non-fishing activities 
in the Gulf, such as, to restrict shipping traffic within HAPCs, and 
develop policies related to non-fishing activities to reduce negative 
impacts to coral habitats in the Gulf.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. While the Magnuson-Stevens Act does allow 
for the Council to comment on any Federal or state activity authorized, 
funded, or undertaken that may affect the habitat under the Council's 
authority, the Magnuson-Stevens Act does not authorize the Council to 
regulate non-fishing activities or engage in the permitting of non-
fishing activities. HAPCs are a subset of EFH, and while the 
designation does not confer any additional specific protections to 
designated areas, it can be used to focus attention when NMFS conducts 
required consultations on non-fishing activities that may adversely 
affect this habitat.
    Comment 3: Fishing with bottom-tending gear should be further 
restricted or prohibited in all HAPCs established in Amendment 9.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that it is necessary or appropriate to 
further restrict fishing in the HAPCs established in Amendment 9. As 
part of the development of Amendment 9, the Council received input and 
recommendations from several advisory panels, including the Council's 
Special Coral Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Coral 
Advisory Panel (AP), the Shrimp AP, Reef Fish AP, Spiny Lobster AP, and 
Law Enforcement Technical Committee, as well as royal red shrimp 
fishermen and bottom longline fishermen. The Council reviewed habitat 
information, current fishing activity location information, and 
feedback from interested members of the fishing industry, the oil and 
gas industries, non-profit and academic organizations, and the general 
public during public Council meetings. Based on all of this 
information, the Council identified several areas in which the Council 
determined that it was appropriate to prohibit the use bottom-tending 
gear. These areas have a known abundance of coral, extensive coral 
fields, or species richness or diversity indices that differed from 
areas in a similar geographic location. However, the Council also 
determined that in two of these areas, Pulley Ridge South Portion A and 
Viosca Knoll 862/906, historic fishing practices that have not caused 
substantial harm to coral habitat should be allowed to continue. 
Therefore, there is no prohibition on the use of bottom longline gear 
in Pulley Ridge South Portion A and the prohibition in Viosca Knoll 
862/906 does not apply to fishing vessels issued a Gulf royal red 
shrimp endorsement, as specified in Sec.  622.50(c), while the vessel 
is fishing for royal red shrimp.
    The Council also identified eight deep-water areas for designation 
as HAPCs without associated fishing regulations. These eight areas have 
substantial coral communities or contain corals that are rare, but are 
in depths that are unlikely to have fishing with bottom-tending gear.
    Additionally, although Amendment 9 included restrictions on 
``fishing'' with bottom-tending gear, the Council subsequently 
determined that the because of the broad definition of ``fishing'' in 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act the restriction could be interpreted to 
prohibit activities that did not involve having the gear in the water. 
Therefore, the Council developed a framework action to modify the 
prohibition on ``fishing with bottom-tending gear'' to a prohibition on 
the ``deployment of bottom-tending gear.'' This applies to the 
previously established HAPCs in 50 CFR 622.74, except the Tortugas 
marine reserves HAPC, and to those established through Amendment 9. 
Fishing gear is deployed if the gear is in contact with the water.
    Comment 4: No additional HAPCs should be established in the Gulf. 
Bottom-tending gear is not used over coral areas, therefore designating 
additional HAPCs with or without fishing regulations is unnecessary.
    Response: The Council has a responsibility to minimize, to the 
extent practicable, impacts to EFH from fishing gear. The Council 
determined, and NMFS agrees, that the areas established through 
Amendment 9 have corals in sufficient number or diversity to warrant 
designation as HAPCs, which are a subset of EFH. While the available 
data indicates that there is likely little use of bottom-tending gear 
in most of these areas, the HAPC designation ensures fishing with 
bottom-tending gear in these areas will not occur in the future.
    Comment 5: The HAPCs in Amendment 9 will negatively impact fishing 
for tilefish and deep-water grouper, which occurs over sand and mud 
bottoms.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. The HAPCs implemented in this final rule

[[Page 65743]]

are areas with confirmed coral reef features and there will not be any 
impacts to fishing for Gulf reef fish species over sand and mud 
bottoms.
    Comment 6: No new regulations should be implemented that restrict 
areas where bottom longline gear has traditionally been used in the 
Gulf, including the Pulley Ridge area. Specifically, in the Pulley 
Ridge area, bottom longlines have been shown not to damage the coral 
bottom.
    Response: The Council determined, and NMFS agrees, that it is 
appropriate to restrict the use of bottom-tending gear, including 
bottom longline, in several of the new HAPCs because scientific studies 
have documented impacts to deep sea corals from fishing gear. These 
HAPCs and restrictions were selected after several workshops with 
scientists and fishermen. As part of this process, the Council 
recognized both the coral and habitat present in Pulley Ridge, and 
historic use of that area by bottom longline fishermen. Therefore, the 
new Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC does not include a prohibition on 
the use of bottom longlines. Allowing this historic fishing activity to 
continue in this area balances resource use and protection, and avoids 
potential displacement of fishing activity to other coral areas.
    Comment 7: There is insufficient information provided in Amendment 
9 to show that the Gulf royal red shrimp stock will not be 
significantly harmed. In addition, Amendment 9 does not provide enough 
information about the current number of royal red shrimp endorsements.
    Response: Amendment 9 addresses the habitat of those corals 
included in the Coral FMP. Amendment 9 contains some information about 
other species, including royal red shrimp, because Amendment 9 includes 
restrictions on bottom-tending gear used to harvest those species. 
Amendment 9 also includes an exception to the gear restrictions in one 
area for those vessels with a royal red shrimp endorsement that are 
fishing for royal red shrimp. However, Amendment 9 does not include any 
other management measures related to the harvest of royal red shrimp. 
NMFS does not expect the establishment of the HAPCs to negatively 
impact the royal red shrimp stock, but it may provide benefits by 
protecting habitat adjacent to some areas in which this species is 
harvested.
    With respect to the number of vessels with royal red shrimp 
endorsements, Amendment 9 explained that any vessel issued a Federal 
commercial Gulf shrimp moratorium permit (Gulf shrimp permit) is 
eligible for a royal red shrimp endorsement. The number of vessels 
issued a royal red endorsement can change over time and where Amendment 
9 provides information about the number of endorsement holders, it 
includes the date that information was obtained.
    Comment 8: The HAPC areas are too small to prevent the fishing 
community from destroying corals and coral habitat in the Gulf.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. Amendment 9 and this final rule establish 
13 new HAPCs in which the deployment of certain bottom-tending gear is 
prohibited. The HAPC designation acknowledges that corals are present 
in sufficient number or diversity to provide important ecological 
functions, are sensitive to human-induced degradation, or are rare. As 
stated in the response to Comment 3, the Council selected these areas 
based on input and recommendations from the Council's Coral SSC, which 
included coral scientists, various Council advisory panels, as well as 
shrimp and bottom longline fishermen. The Council determined, and NMFS 
agrees, that the sizes of the HAPCs established in Amendment 9 will 
sufficiently protect the corals in those areas from interactions with 
fishing gear without unnecessarily restricting fishing activity that 
requires the use of bottom-tending gears. The Council may consider 
additional areas to designate as HAPCs in a future amendment to the 
FMP.
    Comment 9: In Amendment 9, NMFS failed to consider that the 
designation of HAPCs has significant potential to impact non-fishing 
industries and activities within the Gulf. NMFS has not adequately 
addressed compliance with Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, and Amendment 9 
should account for potential economic impacts beyond the restrictions 
proposed on the fishing industry.
    Response: As stated in Amendment 9, an HAPC designation itself does 
not confer any additional specific protections to designated areas or 
impose any restrictions on industries because the areas considered for 
HAPC designation are already identified as EFH. Although designating 
HAPCs can be used to focus attention on those areas when NMFS consults 
with other Federal agencies on proposed actions that may adversely 
affect EFH, these consultations do not impose any restrictions on non-
fishing activities. A consultation may result in recommendations that 
can be taken by the other Federal agency to conserve this habitat. 
However, any future recommendations would depend on the proposed 
Federal action. The other Federal agency, not NMFS, would decide 
whether to implement those recommendations. Therefore, neither the EIS 
nor the Regulatory Impact Review, which serves as the basis for 
determining whether the regulations are a significant regulatory action 
under the E.O. 12866, discuss the economic impacts related to non-
fishing activities or conduct a cost-benefit analysis related to these 
activities.
    Comment 10: Creating new restrictions on the use of bottom longline 
gear will cause great economic harm to small family grouper fishing 
businesses, local fish house producers, and the local fishing 
communities. Restricting the bottom longline fishery in the Gulf that 
targets grouper will also reduce the species' availability to the 
American consumer.
    Response: NMFS recognizes the final rule may cause negative 
economic effects to small entities. However, available data indicates 
that only a minority of the total longline vessels in the Gulf will 
likely be affected by the implementation of the fishing restrictions in 
this final rule. The use of bottom longlines are not prohibited in the 
Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC, which is the HAPC where the highest 
number of bottom longline vessels (11) have operated. Because the 
fishing regulations in this rule apply to bottom longline vessels, 
except in Pulley Ridge South Portion A, analysis in Amendment 9 states 
the number of these vessels expected to be affected throughout the 
Gulf, excluding Pulley Ridge South Portion A, is approximately 13. 
Further, it is possible that some of these vessels fished in the areas 
of multiple HAPCs. As analyzed in Amendment 9, these 13 bottom longline 
vessels represented approximately 2 percent of the average number of 
federally permitted vessels that caught reef fish in the Gulf from 
2010-2016.
    NMFS does not agree that establishing bottom longline regulations 
in the new HAPCs will reduce the availability of grouper to the 
American consumer. Those impacted vessels will continue to be able to 
fish with bottom longline gear in adjacent or nearby areas, thereby 
reducing the economic effects of this final rule on harvesters, 
shoreside support businesses, and fishing communities.
    Comment 11: Table 4.3.2.1 in Amendment 9 indicates a range of 23 to 
179 different vessels will be impacted by establishing the HAPCs in 
Amendment 9, but it is not clear what percentage of the fishery this 
range represents.
    Response: The referenced table in Amendment 9 lists the number of

[[Page 65744]]

unique vessels with Federal permits for commercial Gulf reef fish, HMS 
commercial sharks, and Gulf shrimp vessels, identified by the onboard 
vessel monitoring system and electronic logbook (ELB) in the new 
northeastern Gulf HAPCs for each of those alternatives and options 
analyzed. The number of unique vessels varied by preferred option 
selected by the Council and by tracking system attached to the vessel. 
A vessel with a commercial permit for Gulf reef fish or HMS sharks must 
have an operational VMS on board, and approximately one-third of 
vessels with a commercial permit for Gulf shrimp have an ELB, which 
fishermen must use to report. In Table 4.3.2.1, VMS data and unique 
vessels are for the years 2007-2015, and ELB data and unique vessels 
are for the years 2004-2013. The range of vessels potentially affected 
by the Council's preferred options varied by location and permit type 
from 12 and 83. Additionally, because the number of unique vessels in 
the table did not apply across different options considered by the 
Council, the same vessel may have been counted under multiple options. 
Finally, the range of unique vessels listed in Table 4.3.2.1 represent 
small percentages of the federally permitted vessels in the respective 
Gulf commercial fisheries.
    Comment 12: The Small Business Administration (SBA) should approve 
this final rule.
    Response: As discussed in the Classification section of this final 
rule, the Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA during the 
proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. A statement 
providing the factual basis for this certification was also provided to 
the SBA. No comments were received from the SBA in response.
    NMFS revised the factual basis for the certification in this final 
rule to include data that was inadvertently omitted from the proposed 
rule. This data pertains to commercial fishing vessels that use bandit 
gear, which would be affected by the prohibition on bottom anchoring 
implemented by this final rule. This additional data does not affect 
NMFS' determination that this rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and the 
revised factual basis will be provided to the SBA.
    Comment 13: The notice of availability for Amendment 9 referenced a 
paragraph in the CFR that does not exist.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges that the notice of availability 
published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2019, cited an 
incorrect CFR reference on page 50815 in the left column (84 FR 50814). 
The notice of availability stated that HAPCs are a subset of EFH that 
meet specified criteria identified at 50 CFR 600.818(a)(8). The correct 
citation is 50 CFR 600.815(a)(8) and was stated correctly in the 
proposed rule for Amendment 9 that published in the Federal Register on 
November 15, 2019 (84 FR 62492).

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS 
Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is 
consistent with Amendment 9, the FMP, the 2006 Consolidated FMP for 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866. This final rule is not an Executive 
Order 13771 regulatory action because this final rule is not 
significant under Executive Order 12866.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the 
proposed rule. However, NMFS inadvertently omitted data pertaining to 
commercial fishing vessels that use bandit gear, which would be 
affected by the prohibition on bottom anchoring implemented by this 
final rule. A revised factual basis for the determination of no 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
that includes the missing bandit rig data is included below. Three 
public comments related to socio-economic implications and potential 
impacts on small businesses were received and are addressed in the 
responses to Comment 9 through Comment 12 in the Comments and Responses 
section of this final rule. None of the public comments that were 
received in response to the proposed rule specifically addressed the 
certification and NMFS has not received any new information that would 
affect its determination that this rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. As a result, 
a final regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was 
prepared.
    A description of the final rule, why it is being implemented, and 
the objectives of, and legal basis for this final rule are contained in 
the preamble of this final rule at the beginning of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section and in the SUMMARY section. The Magnuson-Stevens 
Act provides the statutory basis for this final rule. No duplicative, 
overlapping, or conflicting Federal rules have been identified.
    This final rule designates several areas in the Gulf as HAPCs and 
establishes or modifies fishing regulations in the new and existing 
HAPCs. In some of the new HAPCs, the deployment of specific bottom-
tending gear will be prohibited. This final rule will also change the 
prohibition in the existing HAPCs with fishing regulations to a 
prohibition on the deployment of the gear as opposed to fishing with 
the gear. As a result, this final rule will directly affect federally 
permitted commercial fishermen fishing for reef fish, shrimp, or 
sharks. Recreational anglers fishing in the designated HAPCs will also 
be directly affected by this final rule, but anglers are not considered 
business entities under the RFA. Recreational charter vessels and 
headboats will also be affected by this action but only in an indirect 
way. Thus, only the effects on federally permitted commercial fishing 
vessels harvesting reef fish, shrimp, and shark will be discussed. For 
RFA purposes only, 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 (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a small business 
if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field 
of operation (including affiliates), and has combined annual receipts 
not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations 
worldwide.
    To determine whether a substantial number of small entities will be 
affected by the final rule, NMFS first describes the characteristics of 
the Federal commercial reef fish, shrimp, and shark fisheries that 
operate in the Gulf. NMFS then describes the data available to 
determine the number of small entities that operate in the new HAPCs 
and applies these data to each new HAPC or groups of HAPCs.
    With respect to the Gulf reef fish fishery, as of July 14, 2018, 
there were 841 vessels with valid or renewable Federal Gulf reef fish 
commercial vessel permits. From 2010 through 2016, an average of 554 
federally permitted

[[Page 65745]]

commercial reef fish vessels per year landed any reef fish species in 
the Gulf. These vessels, combined, averaged 6,608 trips per year in the 
Gulf on which reef fish were landed and 810 other trips. The average 
annual total dockside revenue (2016 dollars) for these vessels combined 
was approximately $52.13 million from reef fish, approximately $1.32 
million from other species co-harvested with reef fish (on the same 
trips), and approximately $1.54 million from other trips by these 
vessels in the Gulf on which no reef fish were harvested or where 
fishing occurred in other areas. Total average annual revenue from all 
species harvested by these vessels in the Gulf or other areas was 
approximately $54.95 million, or approximately $99,000 per vessel. 
These vessels generated approximately 95 percent of their total 
revenues from reef fish. Commercial reef fish vessels used a variety of 
gears in harvesting reef fish. For the period 2010-2016, an average of 
68 vessels used longlines and generated revenues of approximately 
$250,000 per vessel; 267 vessels used bandit gear generating 
approximately $109,000 in revenue per vessel; 273 vessels used hook-
and-line gear, generating approximately $27,000 in revenue per vessel; 
47 vessels used diving gear, generating approximately $13,000 in 
revenue per vessel; and, 6 vessels used other gears, generating 
approximately $40,000 in revenue per vessel. Therefore, all federally 
permitted commercial vessels fishing for reef fish are assumed to be 
small entities.
    In the Gulf shrimp fishery, brown and white shrimp are the dominant 
shrimp species in terms of landings, ex-vessel revenues, and number of 
participating vessels. For the period 2010-2016, an annual average of 
3,552 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134 kg) of 
brown shrimp with an ex-vessel value of about $206 million; an annual 
average of 3,914 vessels landed approximately 61 million lb (27,669,134 
kg) of white shrimp valued at about $210 million; an annual average of 
175 vessels landed pink shrimp valued at about $18 million; and, an 
annual average of 8 vessels landed approximately 154,000 lb (69,853 kg) 
of royal red shrimp valued at about $964,000. Not all vessels that 
landed Gulf shrimp are federally permitted, and not all federally 
permitted vessels landed shrimp. In 2014, for example, only 74 percent 
of federally permitted vessels landed shrimp. As of July 14, 2018, 
there were 1,422 valid or renewable Gulf shrimp commercial permits and 
305 valid Gulf royal red shrimp endorsements. The latest data on the 
economics and financial conditions of the Gulf shrimp fishery are for 
2014. Data for later years are still being processed and compiled by 
NMFS. Between 2011 and 2014, the average gross revenue from fishing 
operations of federally permitted shrimp vessels was approximately 
$343,000, but net revenue from operations was only about $8,300. These 
estimates best approximate expected financial and economic conditions 
for these vessels in the foreseeable future. Therefore, all federally 
permitted commercial vessels fishing for shrimp are assumed to be small 
entities.
    The HMS shark fishery is the fishery that most likely will be 
affected by the final rule. To commercially fish for sharks, fishermen 
need to possess a Federal shark directed or incidental permit, or 
smoothhound shark permit. Shark directed and incidental permits are 
currently limited access permits, while the smoothhound shark permit is 
an open access permit. As of September 12, 2018, there were 220 and 267 
valid or renewable shark directed and incidental permits, respectively, 
and 164 valid or renewable smoothhound shark permits. Vessels can 
possess shark permits in addition to commercial reef fish or shrimp 
permits. In 2017, there were 18 vessels with limited access permits 
that were actively fishing for sharks in the Gulf. Of the 18 vessels, 
11 possessed both a shark limited access permit and a commercial reef 
or shrimp permit, while 7 possessed only a shark limited access permit. 
These vessels, combined, generated $4.7 million of revenue from HMS. 
When tracked back to 2013, these vessels generated an average revenue 
of $4.8 million per year, indicating a close match between their 2017 
revenue and 2013-2017 average revenue. The 2013-2017 average revenue 
per vessel was approximately $267,000. Therefore, all federally 
permitted commercial vessels fishing for sharks are assumed to be small 
entities.
    As stated earlier in the preamble, this final rule will establish 
13 HAPCs in which the deployment of specific bottom-tending gear will 
be prohibited. Unless otherwise noted, the following prohibitions will 
apply to each of the 13 HAPCs: Deployment of bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear as defined in 50 CFR 622.2, dredge, pot, or trap, and 
bottom anchoring by fishing vessels.
    The available data allows NMFS to estimate the number of federally 
permitted reef fish, shrimp, and shark vessels potentially affected by 
the final rule. Information on fishing activities in the proposed HAPCs 
is based on the electronic logbook (ELB) program for commercial shrimp 
vessels, the vessel monitoring system (VMS) for commercial reef fish 
vessels, and shark bottom longline observer program (SBLOP) for shark 
vessels. Available ELB data are for the years 2004-2013, VMS data are 
for the years 2007-2015, and SBLOP data are for the years 2008-2016.
    ELB data are collected from approximately one-third of the 
federally permitted shrimp vessels, while VMS data collection is 
required of all federally permitted reef fish vessels. Vessels that 
were included in the SBLOP are also in the VMS data set because these 
vessels have both shark and commercial reef fish permits. The VMS and 
ELB data sets provide data points and number of fishing vessels by 
area, while the SBLOP data provides some information on the number of 
fishing sets by shark vessels. Although VMS data are collected from all 
reef fish vessels, the points refer to the number of times the 
electronic system detects the vessel in a specific area, but it does 
not distinguish between fishing and non-fishing activity. In contrast, 
ELB data points are collected from approximately one-third of permitted 
shrimp vessels but this occurs every 10 minutes, which allows NMFS to 
determine likely fishing activity from non-fishing activity based on 
vessel speed. Therefore, the ELB data points in this analysis are those 
that NMFS has determined to represent active shrimp fishing.
    Because the VMS, ELB, and SBLOP data sources do not provide 
information on the number of trips or fishing intensity per vessel, it 
is not possible to estimate the revenue and profit effects of the final 
rule. Therefore, the extent of economic impacts is based on the number 
of vessels potentially affected by the final rule. In the following 
discussion, data points and vessels are expressed as annual averages 
for each of the 13 new HAPCs. In addition, only VMS information from 
reef fish vessels that use bottom longline or bandit gear is reported 
as only these vessels would likely be affected by the final rule.
    In the Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC, ELB data indicate one 
data point corresponding to one shrimp vessel. VMS data indicate 639 
data points corresponding to 11 bottom longline vessels and 276 data 
points corresponding to 7 bandit rig vessels. However, to allow fishing 
that has historically occurred to continue, the regulations implemented 
by this final rule will not prohibit the deployment of bottom 
longlines. Therefore, longline vessels will not be affected by the gear 
prohibitions in this area. SBLOP

[[Page 65746]]

recorded only two fishing sets by shark longline vessels, which are 
included in the VMS data set. Based on the above information, the gear 
prohibitions in this area will not affect a substantial number of small 
entities.
    For the West Florida Wall HAPC, which is located in the 
southeastern Gulf, ELB did not record any data point or shrimp vessel 
fishing in the area. VMS recorded one data point corresponding to one 
bottom longline vessel and one data point corresponding to one bandit 
rig vessel. SBLOP data indicate very low shark fishing effort in the 
area. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in this area will not affect a 
substantial number of small entities.
    Six new HAPCs will be established in the northeastern Gulf: Alabama 
Alps Reef, L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, Mississippi Canyon 118, 
Roughtongue Reef, Viosca Knoll 826, and Viosca Knoll 862/906. For 
Alabama Alps Reef, ELB recorded 1 data point corresponding to 1 vessel 
and VMS recorded 7 data points corresponding to 1 bottom longline 
vessel, and 221 data points corresponding to 11 bandit rig vessels. For 
L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, ELB recorded 2 data points and 1 vessel 
while VMS recorded 42 data points corresponding to 3 bottom longline 
vessels, and 1,209 data points corresponding to 24 bandit rig vessels. 
For Mississippi Canyon 118, ELB recorded four data points and one 
vessel while VMS recorded four data points corresponding to one bottom 
longline vessel and one data point corresponding to one bandit rig 
vessel. For Roughtongue Reef, ELB recorded 1 data point and 1 vessel 
while VMS recorded 40 data points corresponding to 3 bottom longline 
vessels and 1,208 data points corresponding to 24 bandit rig vessels. 
For Viosca Knoll 826, ELB recorded one data point and one vessel while 
VMS recorded one data point corresponding to one bottom longline vessel 
and three data points corresponding to one bandit rig vessel. For 
Viosca Knoll 862/906, ELB recorded 168 data points and 2 vessels while 
VMS recorded 8 data points corresponding to 2 bottom longline vessels 
and 13 data points corresponding to 2 bandit rig vessels. NMFS notes 
that shrimp vessels fishing in Viosca Knoll 862/906 are mainly those 
fishing for royal red shrimp. Vessels with a royal red shrimp 
endorsement fishing for this species in this area are exempt from the 
prohibition on bottom-tending gear and will not be affected by this 
final rule. SBLOP reported only two sets by two shark fishing vessels 
for L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef, and none for the other areas. 
Because of the general location of this group of HAPCs, it is likely 
that certain vessels could be fishing in multiple HAPCs within this 
group in any given year. It is also possible that a vessel would fish 
in different HAPCs from year to year. Thus, the total number of vessels 
affected by the prohibitions applicable in this group of HAPCs would be 
less than the sum of vessels fishing in each HAPC as noted above. 
Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these six areas will not affect a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This final rule will establish three new HAPCs in the northwestern 
Gulf: AT 047, AT 357, and Green Canyon 852. Both ELB and VMS recorded 
very few data points and vessels fishing in each of these three areas. 
ELB recorded at most one data point and one vessel for each of these 
three areas while VMS recorded at most one data point and one bottom 
longline vessel in each of the AT 047 and AT 357 HAPCs and none for 
Green Canyon 852. There were no bandit rig vessels recorded in these 
areas. In addition, no shark fishing sets were observed in these areas. 
Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these three areas will not affect a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This final rule will establish two new HAPCs in the southwestern 
Gulf: Harte Bank and Southern Bank. For Harte Bank, ELB recorded at 
most one data point and one vessel while VMS recorded two data points 
corresponding to one bottom longline vessel and four data points 
corresponding to one bandit rig vessel. For Southern Bank, ELB recorded 
one data point and one vessel while VMS recorded no data points for 
bottom longline vessels and one point for one bandit rig vessel. In 
addition, no bottom longlining for sharks was observed in these two 
areas. Therefore, the gear prohibitions in these two areas will not 
affect a substantial number of small entities.
    The action to change the prohibition in the existing HAPCs with 
fishing regulations to a prohibition on the ``deployment'' of bottom-
tending gear, as opposed to a prohibition on ``fishing'' with the 
bottom-tending gear, will have no effects on the revenues of fishing 
vessels. These vessels do not currently derive any revenues from 
fishing with bottom-tending gear in any existing HAPCs with fishing 
regulations. This final rule will make fishing regulations in existing 
HAPCs consistent with the regulations in the new HAPCs, and therefore 
will lessen confusion on the part of fishermen as well as simplify 
enforcement.
    Amendment 9 will also establish eight new deep-water HAPCs without 
fishing regulations, which will have no accompanying economic effects 
on small entities. The effects of prohibiting the deployment of dredge 
fishing gear in all HAPCs that have fishing regulations are included in 
the discussion of effects for each HAPC. This prohibition will not 
impact any small entities as there is no known dredge fishing in any 
existing or proposed HAPCs.
    In summary, there are three Federal fisheries that operate in the 
HAPCs implemented by this final rule, and although all of the 
commercially permitted reef fish, shrimp, and shark vessels are small 
entities, based on available data, only a small number of vessels are 
estimated to have fished with bottom-tending gear in each of the HAPCs, 
and all HAPCs combined. Therefore, this final rule will not affect a 
substantial number of small entities.
    The information provided above supports a determination that this 
final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 622

    Coral, Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico.

50 CFR Part 635

    Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, Foreign relations, Imports, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties.

    Dated: September 22, 2020.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 622 and 635 
are amended as follows:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH 
ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. Section 622.74 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  622.74  Area closures to protect Gulf corals.

    For the purposes of this section, fishing gear is deployed if any 
part of the gear is in contact with the water.

[[Page 65747]]

    (a) Florida Middle Grounds HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap is prohibited year-round in the area 
bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 1 to Paragraph (a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  28[deg]42.500'  84[deg]24.800'
B.......................................  28[deg]42.500'  84[deg]16.300'
C.......................................  28[deg]11.000'  84[deg]00.000'
D.......................................  28[deg]11.000'  84[deg]07.000'
E.......................................  28[deg]26.600'  84[deg]24.800'
A.......................................  28[deg]42.500'  84[deg]24.800'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Tortugas marine reserves HAPC. Fishing for any species and 
bottom anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the 
areas of the HAPC.
    (1) EEZ portion of Tortugas North HAPC. The area is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order: From point A at 
24[deg]40.000' N lat., 83[deg]06.000' W long. to point B at 
24[deg]46.000' N lat., 83[deg]06.000' W long. to point C at 
24[deg]46.000' N lat., 83[deg]00.000' W long.; then along the line 
denoting the seaward limit of Florida state waters, as shown on the 
current edition of NOAA chart 11434, to point A at 24[deg]40.000' N 
lat., 83[deg]06.000' W long.
    (2) Tortugas South HAPC. The area is bounded by rhumb lines 
connecting the following points in order:

                       Table 2 to Paragraph (b)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  24[deg]33.000'  83[deg]09.000'
B.......................................  24[deg]33.000'  83[deg]05.000'
C.......................................  24[deg]18.000'  83[deg]05.000'
D.......................................  24[deg]18.000'  83[deg]09.000'
A.......................................  24[deg]33.000'  83[deg]09.000'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Pulley Ridge South HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by 
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC 
bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 3 to Paragraph (c)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  24[deg]58.300'  83[deg]38.550'
B.......................................  24[deg]58.300'  83[deg]37.000'
C.......................................  24[deg]41.183'  83[deg]37.000'
D.......................................  24[deg]40.000'  83[deg]41.367'
E.......................................  24[deg]43.917'  83[deg]47.250'
A.......................................  24[deg]58.300'  83[deg]38.550'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Pulley Ridge South Portion A HAPC. Deployment of a bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 4 to Paragraph (d)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  24[deg]40.000'  83[deg]41.366'
B.......................................  24[deg]39.666'  83[deg]42.648'
C.......................................  24[deg]47.555'  83[deg]55.240'
D.......................................  24[deg]57.065'  83[deg]48.405'
E.......................................  24[deg]52.859'  83[deg]41.841'
F.......................................  24[deg]43.917'  83[deg]47.250'
A.......................................  24[deg]40.000'  83[deg]41.366'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) West Florida Wall HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 5 to Paragraph (e)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  26[deg]28.835'  84[deg]47.955'
B.......................................  26[deg]28.816'  84[deg]46.754'
C.......................................  26[deg]10.471'  84[deg]42.076'
D.......................................  26[deg]10.528'  84[deg]44.577'
E.......................................  26[deg]25.028'  84[deg]47.986'
F.......................................  26[deg]25.100'  84[deg]47.980'
A.......................................  26[deg]28.835'  84[deg]47.955'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) Alabama Alps Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 6 to Paragraph (f)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  29[deg]16.160'  88[deg]20.525'
B.......................................  29[deg]15.427'  88[deg]18.990'
C.......................................  29[deg]13.380'  88[deg]19.051'
D.......................................  29[deg]14.140'  88[deg]20.533'
A.......................................  29[deg]16.160'  88[deg]20.525'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (g) L & W Pinnacles and Scamp Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom 
longline, bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom 
anchoring by fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of 
the HAPC bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in 
order:

                        Table 7 to Paragraph (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  29[deg]18.595'  87[deg]48.757'
B.......................................  29[deg]18.484'  87[deg]50.688'
C.......................................  29[deg]19.754'  87[deg]52.484'
D.......................................  29[deg]20.401'  87[deg]51.449'
E.......................................  29[deg]20.095'  87[deg]50.933'
F.......................................  29[deg]20.832'  87[deg]46.631'
G.......................................  29[deg]21.473'  87[deg]46.326'
H.......................................  29[deg]21.314'  87[deg]45.535'
I.......................................  29[deg]22.518'  87[deg]43.465'
J.......................................  29[deg]21.144'  87[deg]42.632'
K.......................................  29[deg]19.269'  87[deg]45.525'
A.......................................  29[deg]18.595'  87[deg]48.757'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (h) Mississippi Canyon 118 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by 
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC 
bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 8 to Paragraph (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  28[deg]53.183'  88[deg]30.789'
B.......................................  28[deg]53.216'  88[deg]27.819'
C.......................................  28[deg]50.602'  88[deg]27.782'
D.......................................  28[deg]48.944'  88[deg]27.759'
E.......................................  28[deg]48.962'  88[deg]30.727'
A.......................................  28[deg]53.183'  88[deg]30.789'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (i) Roughtongue Reef HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 9 to Paragraph (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  29[deg]27.596'  87[deg]37.527'
B.......................................  29[deg]27.621'  87[deg]31.552'
C.......................................  29[deg]25.007'  87[deg]31.539'
D.......................................  29[deg]24.981'  87[deg]37.510'
A.......................................  29[deg]27.596'  87[deg]37.527'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (j) Viosca Knoll 826 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 10 to Paragraph (j)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  29[deg]10.920'  88[deg]03.509'
B.......................................  29[deg]10.877'  87[deg]59.460'
C.......................................  29[deg]07.974'  87[deg]59.448'

[[Page 65748]]

 
D.......................................  29[deg]08.017'  88[deg]03.532'
A.......................................  29[deg]10.920'  88[deg]03.509'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (k) Viosca Knoll 862/906 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by 
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the area of the HAPC. This 
prohibition does not apply to a fishing vessel issued a Gulf royal red 
shrimp endorsement, as specified in Sec.  622.50(c), while the vessel 
is fishing for royal red shrimp. The HAPC is bounded by rhumb lines 
connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 11 to Paragraph (k)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  29[deg]07.640'  88[deg]23.608'
B.......................................  29[deg]07.603'  88[deg]20.590'
C.......................................  29[deg]03.749'  88[deg]20.554'
D.......................................  29[deg]03.734'  88[deg]22.016'
E.......................................  29[deg]02.367'  88[deg]21.998'
F.......................................  29[deg]02.281'  88[deg]24.972'
G.......................................  29[deg]07.568'  88[deg]25.044'
H.......................................  29[deg]07.592'  88[deg]25.044'
I.......................................  29[deg]07.676'  88[deg]25.045'
A.......................................  29[deg]07.640'  88[deg]23.608'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (l) McGrail Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 12 to Paragraph (l)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]59.100'  92[deg]37.320'
B.......................................  27[deg]59.100'  92[deg]32.290'
C.......................................  27[deg]55.925'  92[deg]32.290'
D.......................................  27[deg]55.925'  92[deg]37.320'
A.......................................  27[deg]59.100'  92[deg]37.320'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (m) AT 047 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, 
buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap and bottom anchoring by fishing vessels 
are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by rhumb lines 
connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 13 to Paragraph (m)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]54.426'  89[deg]49.404'
B.......................................  27[deg]54.486'  89[deg]46.464'
C.......................................  27[deg]51.874'  89[deg]46.397'
D.......................................  27[deg]51.814'  89[deg]49.336'
A.......................................  27[deg]54.426'  89[deg]49.404'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (n) AT 357 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, 
buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 14 to Paragraph (n)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]36.259'  89[deg]43.068'
B.......................................  27[deg]36.315'  89[deg]40.136'
C.......................................  27[deg]33.703'  89[deg]40.073'
D.......................................  27[deg]33.646'  89[deg]43.004'
A.......................................  27[deg]36.259'  89[deg]43.068'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (o) Green Canyon 852 HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 15 to Paragraph (o)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]08.354'  91[deg]08.929'
B.......................................  27[deg]05.740'  91[deg]08.963'
C.......................................  27[deg]05.762'  91[deg]10.610'
D.......................................  27[deg]08.376'  91[deg]10.567'
A.......................................  27[deg]08.354'  91[deg]08.929'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (p) West Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by 
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded 
by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 16 to Paragraph (p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]55.380'  93[deg]53.160'
B.......................................  27[deg]55.380'  93[deg]46.767'
C.......................................  27[deg]49.050'  93[deg]46.767'
D.......................................  27[deg]49.050'  93[deg]53.160'
A.......................................  27[deg]55.380'  93[deg]53.160'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (q) East Flower Garden Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, 
bottom trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by 
fishing vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded 
by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 17 to Paragraph (q)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]59.240'  93[deg]38.970'
B.......................................  27[deg]59.240'  93[deg]34.058'
C.......................................  27[deg]52.608'  93[deg]34.058'
D.......................................  27[deg]52.608'  93[deg]38.970'
A.......................................  27[deg]59.240'  93[deg]38.970'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (r) Stetson Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 18 to Paragraph (r)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  28[deg]10.638'  94[deg]18.608'
B.......................................  28[deg]10.638'  94[deg]17.105'
C.......................................  28[deg]09.310'  94[deg]17.105'
D.......................................  28[deg]09.310'  94[deg]18.608'
A.......................................  28[deg]10.638'  94[deg]18.608'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (s) Harte Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom trawl, 
buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 19 to Paragraph (s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  26[deg]40.826'  96[deg]36.590'
B.......................................  26[deg]40.789'  96[deg]32.220'
C.......................................  26[deg]37.992'  96[deg]32.308'
D.......................................  26[deg]38.043'  96[deg]36.636'
A.......................................  26[deg]40.826'  96[deg]36.590'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (t) Southern Bank HAPC. Deployment of a bottom longline, bottom 
trawl, buoy gear, dredge, pot, or trap, and bottom anchoring by fishing 
vessels are prohibited year-round in the HAPC, which is bounded by 
rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:

                        Table 20 to Paragraph (t)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Point                     North lat.      West long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.......................................  27[deg]26.923'  96[deg]31.902'
B.......................................  27[deg]26.989'  96[deg]30.881'
C.......................................  27[deg]25.958'  96[deg]31.134'
D.......................................  27[deg]25.958'  96[deg]31.892'
A.......................................  27[deg]26.923'  96[deg]31.902'
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 65749]]

PART 635--ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

0
3. The authority citation for part 635 continues to read as follows:

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


0
4. In Sec.  635.21, revise paragraph (a)(3)(i) and add paragraph 
(a)(3)(v) to read as follows:


Sec.  635.21  Gear operation and deployment restrictions.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) No person may fish for, catch, possess, or retain any Atlantic 
HMS or anchor a fishing vessel that has been issued a permit or is 
required to be permitted under this part, in the areas and seasons 
designated at Sec.  622.34(a)(3) of this chapter.
* * * * *
    (v) Within the areas of the Gulf coral HAPCs designated at Sec.  
622.74 of this chapter, no person may bottom anchor a fishing vessel or 
deploy fishing gear that may not be deployed pursuant to Sec.  622.74 
of this chapter. For purposes of this provision, fishing gear is 
deployed if any part of the gear is in contact with the water.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-21298 Filed 10-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P