Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment, 33553-33566 [2021-13293]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 120 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33553-33566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13293]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No.: 210616-0130]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements the measures of the New England Fishery 
Management Council's Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. This action 
protects deep-sea corals from the impacts of commercial fishing gear on 
Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine. These management measures are 
intended to reduce, to the extent practicable, impacts of fishing gear 
on deep-sea corals in New England while balancing the continued 
operations of commercial fisheries.

DATES: Effective July 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The New England Fishery Management Council developed an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for this action that describes the 
measures in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment and other considered 
alternatives and analyzes the impacts of the measures and alternatives. 
Copies of supporting documents used by the New England Fishery 
Management Council, including the EA and Regulatory Impact Review 
(RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (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.
    Copies of the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) and the 
small entity compliance guide are available from Michael Pentony, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298, or 
available on the internet at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 20, 2019, pursuant to section 304(a)(3) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), NMFS approved the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment in its 
entirety as recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. 
The Council developed this action, and the measures described in this 
rule, under the discretionary provisions for deep-sea coral protection 
in section 303(b) of the 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.
    This final rule implements the Amendment, which prohibits the use 
of all bottom-tending gear (with an exception for red crab pots) along 
the outer continental shelf in waters no shallower than 600 m to the 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and prohibits the use of bottom-tending 
mobile gear in two areas in the Gulf of Maine (Mount Desert Rock and 
Outer Schoodic Ridge). In addition, this action creates a dedicated 
habitat research area in Jordan Basin but does not impose any 
additional restrictions on fishing in this area. This action also 
establishes provisions for vessels transiting through these areas and 
adds framework provisions for future modifications to the New England 
Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area measures. The Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requires NMFS to approve, partially approve, or disapprove measures 
proposed by the Council based on whether the measures are consistent 
with fishery management plans (FMP), the Magnuson-Stevens Act and its 
National Standards, and other applicable law.
    NMFS published a Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing its review 
of the Amendment on August 26, 2019 (84 FR 44596). The public comment 
period on the NOA ended on October 25, 2019. Following the Amendment's 
approval in November 2019, NMFS published a proposed rule for this 
action on January 3, 2020, including implementing regulations (85 FR 
285). The public comment period on the proposed rule ended on February 
18, 2020.

Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area

    The Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment establishes a deep-sea coral 
protection area on the outer continental shelf in New England waters. 
It complements 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 FMP (81 FR 90246; 
December 14, 2016) as described in Sec.  648.372. The Georges Bank 
Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area runs along the outer continental shelf 
in waters no shallower than 600 meters (m) and extends to the outer 
limit of the EEZ boundary to the east and north, and south to the 
inter-council boundary as described in Sec.  600.105(a).

[[Page 33554]]

    This area is 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 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 prohibits the use of bottom-tending commercial fishing 
gear 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 protects deep-sea corals from interaction 
with and damage from bottom-tending fishing gear. Red crab pot gear is 
exempt from the prohibition.

Mount Desert Rock Coral Protection Area

    This action designates a coral protection area in an 8-square mile 
(mi\2\) (21-square kilometer (km\2\)) area southwest of Mount Desert 
Rock, a small, rocky island off the eastern Maine coast, about 20 
nautical miles (nmi) (37 km) south of Mount Desert Island, encompassing 
depths of 100-200 m. Vessels are 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 protects corals in this area from fishing impacts from 
these gears. Vessels are still able to fish for lobster in this area 
using trap gear.

Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Area

    This action designates a coral protection area in a 31-mi\2\ (79-
km\2\) area on the Outer Schoodic Ridge, roughly 25 nmi (46 km) 
southeast of Mount Desert Island, encompassing depths of 104-248 m. 
Vessels are 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 
protects corals in this area from fishing impacts from these gears. 
Vessels are still be able to fish for lobster in this area using trap 
gear.

Transiting Provisions

    Vessels are 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 for the 
Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area.

Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area

    This action designates the area around Jordan Basin in the Gulf of 
Maine as a dedicated habitat research area, but it does 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 adds 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 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.

Comments and Responses

    We received six comments on the NOA. Five comments were in support 
of our approval of the amendment, and the sixth comment, from the New 
England Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was a 
statement of no comment on the action. We received 16 comments on the 
proposed rule. Thirteen of these comments were in support of the 
proposed rule, and the remaining three comments were in opposition to 
the rule because the commenters did not believe it went far enough to 
protect deep-sea corals.
    The Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association, Oceana, 
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), the Pew Charitable Trust (Pew), and 
Wild Oceans commented in general support of the action on both the NOA 
and the proposed rule. One individual commented on the NOA in support 
of the rule. The New England Aquarium (NEAq) and seven individuals 
commented in support of the proposed rule. CLF, Pew, and Wild Oceans 
(collectively referred to as ``joint commenters'' below) submitted a 
joint comment also in general support of the action. Supporting this 
joint comment was a comment from Pew including 7,628 signatures. Oceana 
also included a letter with 193 signatures supporting the proposed 
rule. While all of these comments recommended that NMFS approve the 
amendment in full, Oceana, NEAq, and the joint commenters suggested 
that the amendment could have done more to protect deep-sea corals and 
recommended additional actions the Council and NMFS could take to 
support the deep-sea coral protection areas.
    Comment 1: Oceana, NEAq, and one individual commented that the 
amendment leaves some coral habitat vulnerable to damage from fishing 
gear, and the joint commenters noted that this action still allows for 
expansion into coral areas untouched by fishing. NEAq noted that 20 
percent of the suitable deep-sea coral habitat is present in the top 
50-600 m of seafloor and that the Council should add protections to 
that area in a future action. NEAq stated that the 50- to 600-m region 
is designated as essential fish habitat for several species, including 
commercially important species. Two additional individuals commented 
that the Council should ban commercial fishing in the areas and leave 
them open only for subsistence fishing.
    Response: We agree that this action does not protect all deep-sea 
coral habitat in New England waters and allows the possibility of 
future

[[Page 33555]]

expansion of fishing. We note that this action also allows for the 
possibility of further expansion of deep-sea coral protections. The 
Council is not obligated to permanently protect all habitat suitable 
for deep-sea corals. This amendment was developed under the 
discretionary authority granted in section 303(b)(2)(B) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act that provides for protecting deep-sea coral after 
considering long-term sustainable uses of fishery resources. However, 
the Council's recommendation, which substantially protects deep-sea 
coral while allowing fishing to continue in a relatively small portion 
of the area, strikes a balance between continued operation of fisheries 
and deep-sea coral protection in a practical way. NMFS will encourage 
the Council to continue to consider further protections for areas of 
known-coral presence after considering the long-term sustainable uses 
of fishery resources in such areas.
    Comment 2: CLF, Pew, and Wild Oceans jointly requested that NMFS 
require the Council to revisit the management exemption provided to the 
deep-sea red crab fishery. Oceana commented that the Council should 
regularly review the effects of red crab gear on coral and sponge 
habitat to ensure that the Amendment is achieving its goals. If the red 
crab gear is found to be threatening coral and sponge habitats, they 
suggest that revisions to the exemption may be warranted. They also 
requested that NMFS require the Council to consider a prohibition on 
anchoring to provide full protections from gears that can harm corals.
    Response: NMFS does not have the authority to require the Council 
to consider a prohibition on anchoring of red crab gear to protect 
deep-sea corals. NMFS determined that the Council considered and 
complied with all the National Standards and the MSA's requirement to 
consider long-term sustainable uses of the fishery resources. Should 
the Council consider red crab gear prohibitions, NMFS will support the 
Council in the development of subsequent actions to further protect 
deep-sea coral.
    Comment 3: The joint commenters also requested that NMFS require 
fishery managers to expand framework adjustment provisions in New 
England fishery management plans for future modifications to the deep-
sea coral areas and management measures as new data become available.
    Response: This action adds 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 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.
    Comment 4: Oceana and NEAq discouraged the use of a framework to 
allow fishing in these newly protected areas. Oceana encouraged NMFS to 
carefully consider the suite of framework provisions included in the 
Amendment, only approve minor modifications that will strengthen 
conservation measures, and clearly state the qualifying actions 
required to approve framework measures. NEAq insisted that there be a 
full consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders, including 
scientists, fishermen, and non-governmental organizations, among others 
before allowing fishing within these areas.
    Response: While the framework adjustment provisions included in the 
Amendment do allow for changes to coral protection areas and 
restrictions in those areas, NMFS will work with the Council to ensure 
that any framework adjustments are consistent with the goals and 
objectives of the Amendment and that the public is given the ability to 
participate, as with any Council action.
    Comment 5: Both Oceana and the joint commenters requested that NMFS 
notify the Council if new information indicates the presence of corals 
outside of the protection area and instruct the Council to amend 
protections and conserve additional area. In addition, they encouraged 
NMFS to include a directive for the Council to review and revise the 
regulations implemented by the Amendment in the near future to ensure 
they are achieving the Amendment's goals and objectives.
    Response: NMFS staff and members of the Council's Habitat Plan 
Development Team (PDT) actively inform the PDT and the Council of the 
results of new studies and deep-sea explorations and will continue to 
do so moving forward. However, NMFS does not have the authority to 
require the Council to increase protections. NMFS will work with the 
Council and its PDT on future actions to ensure that they consider new 
information that is relevant to the actions, consistent with MSA 
requirements.
    Comment 6: Two individuals expressed concern that the vessel trip 
report (VTR) analysis used to consider financial impacts indicates that 
large and small businesses are facing substantially similar financial 
impacts 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.
    Response: The VTR data analysis indicates that between $6.5-$8.5 
million in gross revenue will be potentially displaced under the 
preferred alternative, although analysis of the vessel monitoring 
system data suggests this revenue number is an overestimate. After 
Council discussions at the Council's coral workshops in March 2017, the 
Council 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 use of the VTR 
data was leading to an overestimate of the potential displacement of 
effort because of the lack of precision in the data. The VTR's provide 
a single geographic location for a given trip. The VTR analysis puts 
uncertainty buffers around that point (in the form of concentric 
circles, representing the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile 
confidence intervals based on statistical analyses of the distance 
between self-reported VTR points and observed hauls based on trip 
characteristics) and attribute the revenue from that trip 
proportionally across the buffer. For trips that occur close to the 
closure, that circle may bleed into the closure area, when, based on 
industry feedback, it is likely that no part of the trip actually 
occurred inside the closure. The industry input from the NEFMC coral 
workshops was that, due to the distribution of target species, the 
trawl fishery is active out to depths of about 500 m, the lobster 
fishery to 550 m, and the red crab fishery to 800 m. For those 
fisheries where it was possible, a comparison of VTR data and Vessel 
Monitoring System data, which provides more granular position data but 
lacks the relevant information on revenue and fishing effort, 
additionally suggest the values from VTR are overestimates in line with 
the workshop input.
    Furthermore, this is an estimate of gross revenue from displaced 
effort, and fishermen could relocate that displaced effort to an area 
outside the closure and still generate revenue. The effort and costs 
associated with obtaining the catch elsewhere is likely to be higher 
than the that associated with any displaced fishing (if it is even 
economically, biologically, or geographically feasible). Otherwise, 
fishermen would presumably be fishing these other locations. 
Nevertheless, the gross revenue displaced can be viewed as a likely 
overestimated upper bound on impacts to the fishery.

[[Page 33556]]

    The commenters did not provide any additional information to 
consider.
    Comment 7: NEAq and two individuals commented that the economic 
benefit provided by deep-sea coral habitat to the ecosystem and the 
nation outweighs the economic impacts of prohibiting fishing in these 
areas. NEAq further commented that, ``Deep-sea corals may provide a 
number of other ecosystem services, including serving as paleoclimatic 
records of past ocean conditions, providing sources of material that 
may be used in the production of novel pharmaceutical compounds, and 
sequestering excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If deep-sea 
corals in the proposed protected area provide just 1 percent of the 
value that NOAA prescribes to shallow-water coral ecosystems, the deep-
sea coral ecosystems protected through this proposed rule may be valued 
at over $42 million annually, or about 6 times the revenue extracted by 
fishing. We urge NMFS to continue studying and exploring deep-sea coral 
communities to understand better and properly evaluate the contribution 
of deep-sea corals to biological diversity, habitat, and human 
health.''
    Response: NOAA continues to conduct research on deep-sea coral. For 
example, after the Council developed this action, in 2019 NOAA's Office 
of Ocean Exploration and Research conducted surveys in both areas and 
documented many previously unknown high-density coral and sponge 
communities, as well as coexisting commercially harvested species. On 
one expedition alone, 26 of the 35 samples collected extended known 
species' habitat ranges, and some may be previously unknown to science. 
Surveys also discovered the deepest high-density community known in the 
Northeast U.S. at 2,700 m (8,750 ft) deep. The NOAA Deep Sea Coral 
Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP) is supporting analysis of this 
new information to inform future decision-making.
    Also in 2019, NOAA's Office of Science and Technology, National 
Systematics Lab, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Dalhousie 
University, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada led a U.S.-Canada 
transboundary expedition. Compared to the deeper New England slope and 
canyons, extremely high coral densities were observed in the Gulf of 
Maine. Remotely operated vehicle surveys documented commercially 
important fish and shellfish in previously unknown deep-sea coral 
gardens. The DSCRTP intends to begin the next New England and Mid-
Atlantic Deep-Sea Coral Initiative starting in 2022, continuing 
fieldwork through 2024, followed by analysis of this data in 2025. This 
information was unavailable to the Council at the time this rule was 
developed. We expect the Council will consider this information and any 
other newly discovered and available information in future deep-sea 
coral actions.
    Further, attempting to balance the value of all coral in areas 
managed through the Deep Sea Coral Amendment against the value of 
fishing in these areas does not provide an accurate view of the 
benefits of this action. The benefits derived from conservation actions 
undertaken in the Deep Sea Coral Amendment stem from the difference 
between no action (status quo) and the alternatives chosen. This is 
primarily the change in coral function and extent before and after this 
action. We expect that this action will preserve coral and promote its 
vitality, which is expected to provide benefits as noted by NEAq. 
However, comparing the total value generated from the stock of deep sea 
coral against the value of past fishing activity provides an inapt 
description of the benefits of this action. A more accurate view is a 
consideration of the net benefits due to increased conservation of deep 
sea coral along with the net benefits maintained by the fishery from 
its potential displacement of effort as compared to status quo.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS 
Assistant Administrator has determined that this Amendment and final 
rule are consistent with the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment, other 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
    The Office of Management and Budget determined this rule to be 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The suite of 
preferred alternatives in this action mitigate a substantial proportion 
of the negative impacts to the commercial fisheries compared to other 
alternatives in the document. However, this comes along with a trade-
off with any conservation benefits associated with deep sea coral 
protection, the value of which are uncertain at this time. As described 
above, the intent of this action is to freeze the footprint of existing 
fishing, and this action was developed through the Council process with 
significant input from the fishing industry. The VTR data analysis 
indicates that between $10-$15 million in gross revenue will be 
potentially displaced under the preferred alternative, although 
analysis of the vessel monitoring system data suggests this revenue 
number is an overestimate.\1\ Furthermore, this is an estimate of gross 
revenue from displaced effort, and fishermen could relocate that 
displaced effort to an area outside the closure and still generate 
revenue. A description of and caveats associated with the impact 
analyses undertaken in support of this action can be found in section 
7.1 of the EA. The discussion in section 7.1 of the EA includes issues 
associated with quantifying the full range of costs and benefits 
associated with the Amendment. The expected effects of each alternative 
relative to the status quo for the fishery-related businesses and 
communities are discussed in sections 7.2-7.4 of the EA, and a 
discussion of the benefits and costs of the preferred alternative can 
be found in section 1.2 of the FRFA.
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    \1\ As discussed later in the preamble, the use of the VTR data 
was leading to an overestimate of the potential displacement of 
effort because of the lack of precision in the data. Furthermore, 
the VTR analysis provides 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.
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    This final rule does not contain policies with federalism or 
``takings'' implications, as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and 
E.O. 12630, respectively.
    This action does not contain any collection-of-information 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 
NMFS has completed a FRFA in support of this action. The FRFA 
incorporates the IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by 
public comments in response to the IRFA (see below), NMFS responses to 
those comments (as described above in the Comments and Responses 
section of this final rule), and a summary of the analyses completed in 
the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment EA in section 11.3. In addition, 
because of the unusual delay between the Council's adoption of the 
Amendment and this final rule, NMFS prepared a standalone FRFA to 
recast analyses from 2014 constant dollars to 2020 constant dollars to 
be more accessible to the general public. A summary of the IRFA was 
published in the proposed rule for this action and is not repeated 
here. A description of why this action was considered, the objectives 
of, and the legal basis for this rule is contained in the Amendment and 
in the preambles to the proposed rule and this final rule, and is not 
repeated here. All of the documents that constitute the FRFA are 
available from NMFS and/or the Council, and a copy

[[Page 33557]]

of the IRFA, RIR, the FRFA, and the EA are available upon request (see 
ADDRESSES). Following are additional elements of the FRFA.

A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public in Response to 
the IRFA, a Summary of the Agency's Assessment of Such Issues, and a 
Statement of Any Changes Made in the Final Rule as a Result of Such 
Comments

    The proposed rule solicited public comment on whether the VTR 
analysis indicates that large and small businesses are facing 
substantially similar 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. Two individuals expressed concern regarding this 
issue but did not provide any additional information to consider. See 
Comment 6 above.
    The proposed rule also solicited public comment on value estimates 
for the benefits associated with deep-sea coral conservation. The NEAq 
and two individuals commented that the economic benefit of the 
ecosystem services that deep-sea coral habitat provides outweighs the 
economic impacts of prohibiting fishing in these areas. NEAq further 
commented that, ``Deep-sea corals may provide a number of other 
ecosystem services, including serving as paleoclimatic records of past 
ocean conditions, providing sources of material that may be used in the 
production of novel pharmaceutical compounds, and sequestering excess 
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If deep-sea corals in the proposed 
protected area provide just 1 percent of the value that NOAA prescribes 
to shallow-water coral ecosystems, the deep-sea coral ecosystems 
protected through this proposed rule may be valued at over $42 million 
annually, or about 6 times the revenue extracted by fishing.'' See 
Comment 7 above. As explained above, NMFS did not make any changes to 
the proposed rule as a result of these comments.

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

    The description and estimate of the number of small entities that 
is available in the proposed rule was presented in 2014 constant 
dollars. However, because of the unusual delay between the Council's 
completion of the Amendment and this final rule, NMFS recast this 
analysis from 2014 constant dollars to 2020 constant dollars to be more 
accessible to the general public.
    The RFA recognizes three kinds of small entities: Small businesses, 
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. Small 
organizations and small governmental jurisdictions are not directly 
regulated by this action. 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 its 
affiliates) and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 
million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. Throughout this 
section, revenue is presented in 2020 dollars, for consistency with the 
remainder of the document, although classification was made using 2017 
dollars, consistent with SBA guidelines. Further, SBA rules of 
affiliation are used to define a business entity. Thus, the following 
analysis is conducted upon unique business interests, which can 
represent multiple vessel-level permits.
    The 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. 
However, based on VTR data, only ~200 of these small businesses had any 
documented fishing activity in the coral protection zone from 2015 to 
2017, annually. Total revenue from estimates used in entity 
classification can be found in Table 1.

                 Table 1--Totals for Revenue Estimates Used for Entity Classification, in $2020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Commercial       For-hire
         Year                   Size             Entity type       Total revenue      revenue         revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015..................  Large Business.....  Commercial Fishing.    $201,865,333    $201,865,333              $0
2016..................  Large Business.....  Commercial Fishing.     214,552,827     214,548,464           4,363
2017..................  Large Business.....  Commercial Fishing.     224,672,712     224,672,712               0
2015..................  Small Business.....  Commercial Fishing.   1,073,834,819   1,072,683,887       1,150,932
2016..................  Small Business.....  Commercial Fishing.   1,177,052,910   1,176,007,530       1,045,380
2017..................  Small Business.....  Commercial Fishing.   1,103,842,263   1,102,971,802         870,461
2015..................  Small Business.....  Recreational For-       111,023,269      55,709,178      55,314,091
                                              hire.
2016..................  Small Business.....  Recreational For-       116,426,502      58,483,088      57,943,414
                                              hire.
2017..................  Small Business.....  Recreational For-       109,749,129      55,131,243      54,617,886
                                              hire.
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    Taking the recast analysis in 2020 constant dollars and public 
comments into consideration, NMFS has identified no additional 
significant alternatives that accomplish statutory objectives and 
minimize any significant economic impacts of the rule on these small 
entities. This is because the recreational for-hire sector is not 
active in the management regions identified in this action, and the 
alternatives considered were developed to take into account impacts on 
entities fishing in these areas. Further, the new size standards for 
for-hire vessels 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.

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

    This action contains no new collection-of-information, reporting, 
or recordkeeping requirements. There are potential economic impacts to 
small entities associated with this rule. Those impacts are described 
in detail in the Final Omnibus Deep Sea Coral Amendment, specifically, 
in the FRFA section 1.2.4.2 and in the analysis of the impacts on human 
communities in section 7.1.3 of the EA, which is still applicable.

[[Page 33558]]

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes

    Throughout the development of this action the Council considered 
public comments on how fisherman would be impacted. On March 13 and 15, 
2017, the Council held workshops in New Bedford, MA, and Portsmouth, 
NH, respectively, 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. Based on 
these discussions at the Council's coral workshops, it was determined 
that the designation of a broad coral protection zone in waters no 
shallower than 600 m causes little change in bottom trawl, trap/pot, 
and gillnet effort, and that the use of the VTR data was leading to an 
overestimate of the potential displacement of effort because of the 
lack of precision in the data. Furthermore, the VTR analysis provides 
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 preferred alternative that this action implements 
is a direct result of input gathered at these workshops. In addition, 
the Council exempted the red crab fishery from these restrictions in 
the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area because it is a small 
fishery that takes place entirely within the protection area, and 
prohibiting the red crab effort from the area would essentially end the 
red crab fishery.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency will publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and will designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency will explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. As part of 
this rulemaking process, a bulletin to permit holders that also serves 
as a small entity compliance guide was prepared. This final rule and 
the guide (i.e., bulletin) will be sent via email to the Greater 
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office scallop email list and are available 
on the website at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/. Hard 
copies of the guide and this final rule will be available upon request 
(see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: June 17, 2021.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is 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.


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 3 to Paragraph (f)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  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.

[[Page 33559]]

    (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.

                                         Table 2 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'

[[Page 33560]]

 
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'
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'

[[Page 33561]]

 
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'
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'

[[Page 33562]]

 
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'
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'

[[Page 33563]]

 
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'
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'

[[Page 33564]]

 
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'
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'

[[Page 33565]]

 
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'
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

[[Page 33566]]

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 3 to Paragraph (b)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  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 4 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. 2021-13293 Filed 6-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P