Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 66, 35755-35766 [2024-09569]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations plans/northeast-multispecies or https:// www.regulations.gov. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Liz Sullivan, Fishery Policy Analyst, phone: 978–282–8493; email: Liz.Sullivan@ noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 240429–0120] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RIN 0648–BM71 Summary of Approved Measures Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 66 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: This action approves and implements Framework Adjustment 66 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This rule sets catch limits for 8 of the 20 multispecies stocks, modifies the accountability measure (AM) implementation catch threshold for Atlantic halibut, and makes a temporary modification to the AM implementation catch threshold for the scallop fishery for Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and to achieve the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan. The measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available. DATES: Effective May 2, 2024. ADDRESSES: Copies of Framework Adjustment 66, including the draft Environmental Assessment, the Regulatory Impact Review, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis prepared by the New England Fishery Management Council in support of this action, are available from Dr. Cate O’Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. The supporting documents are also accessible via the internet at: https://www.nefmc.org/managementkhammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) adopted Framework Adjustment 66 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP on December 7, 2023. The Council submitted Framework 66, including an environmental assessment (EA), for NMFS approval on February 16, 2024. NMFS published a proposed rule for Framework 66 on March 22, 2024 (89 FR 20412), with a 15-day comment period that closed on April 8, 2024. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office’s Regional Administrator (Regional Administrator) approves, disapproves, or partially approves measures that the Council proposes, based on consistency with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. NMFS reviews recommended specifications and proposed measures for consistency with the fishery management plan, plan amendments, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law, and publishes proposed regulations, solicits public comment, and promulgates final regulations. Based on information provided in the EA and considered during the preparation of this action, and after consideration of comments, NMFS has approved all of the measures in Framework 66 recommended by the Council, as described below. The measures implemented in this final rule: • Set shared U.S./Canada quotas for GB yellowtail flounder and eastern GB cod and haddock for fishing years 2024 and 2025; • Set specifications, including catch limits for eight groundfish stocks: redfish, northern windowpane flounder, and southern windowpane flounder for fishing years 2024–2026; and GB cod, GB haddock, Gulf of Maine (GOM) 35755 haddock, GB yellowtail flounder, and white hake for fishing years 2024–2025; • Make a minor adjustment to the subcomponent quotas for GOM cod and adjust the amount set aside for Canadian catch for Atlantic halibut; • Remove the management uncertainty buffer for sectors for GOM haddock and white hake if the at-sea monitoring (ASM) target coverage level is set at 90 percent or greater for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years; • Modify the catch threshold for implementing the Atlantic halibut accountability measures (AM); and • Temporarily modify the catch threshold for implementing the scallop fishery’s AM for GB yellowtail flounder. This action also makes minor, clarifying regulatory changes that are not part of Framework 66, but are implemented under section 305(d) authority in the Magnuson-Stevens Act to make changes necessary to carry out the FMP. NMFS is making these changes in conjunction with the Framework 66 proposed measures for expediency purposes. These changes are described below under the heading, Minor, Clarifying Regulatory Changes under Secretarial Authority. Fishing Years 2024 and 2025 Shared U.S./Canada Quotas Management of Transboundary Georges Bank Stocks As described in the proposed rule, eastern GB cod, eastern GB haddock, and GB yellowtail flounder are jointly managed with Canada under the United States/Canada Resource Sharing Understanding. This action adopts shared U.S./Canada quotas for these stocks for fishing year 2024 based on 2023 assessments and the recommendations of the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC) and consistent with the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations. Framework 66 sets the same shared quotas for a second year (i.e., for fishing year 2025) as placeholders, with the expectation that those quotas will be reviewed annually and new recommendations will be received from the TMGC. The 2024 and 2025 shared U.S./Canada quotas, and each country’s allocation, are listed in table 1. TABLE 1—2024 AND 2025 FISHING YEARS U.S./CANADA QUOTAS (metric tons (mt), live weight) AND PERCENT OF QUOTA ALLOCATED TO EACH COUNTRY Quota Eastern GB cod Eastern GB haddock Total Shared Quota ......................................................... U.S. Quota ....................................................................... 520 ..................................... 151 (29 percent) ................ 10,000 ................................ 3,100 (31 percent) ............. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 GB yellowtail flounder 168. 71 (42 percent). 35756 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 1—2024 AND 2025 FISHING YEARS U.S./CANADA QUOTAS (metric tons (mt), live weight) AND PERCENT OF QUOTA ALLOCATED TO EACH COUNTRY—Continued Quota Eastern GB cod Eastern GB haddock Canadian Quota .............................................................. 369 (71 percent) ................ 6,900 (69 percent) ............. The regulations implementing the U.S./Canada Resource Sharing Understanding at 50 CFR 648.85(a) require deducting any overages of the U.S. quota for eastern GB cod, eastern GB haddock, or GB yellowtail flounder from the U.S. quota in the following fishing year. If catch information for the 2023 fishing year indicates that the U.S. fishery exceeded its quota for any of the shared stocks, NMFS will reduce the respective U.S. quotas for the 2024 fishing year in a future management action, as close to May 1, 2024, as possible. If any fishery that is allocated a portion of the U.S. quota exceeds its allocation and causes an overage of the overall U.S. quota, the overage reduction would be applied only to that fishery’s allocation in the following fishing year. This ensures that catch by one component of the overall fishery does not negatively affect another component of the overall fishery. Catch Limits for Fishing Years 2024– 2026 Summary of the Catch Limits This rule adopts catch limits for redfish, northern windowpane flounder, and southern windowpane flounder for the 2024–2026 fishing years, based on stock assessments completed in 2023, and catch limits for GB cod, GB haddock, GOM haddock, GB yellowtail flounder, and white hake for fishing years 2024–2025. Framework 65 (86 FR 40353, July 28, 2021) previously set 2024–2025 quotas for the remaining groundfish stocks, other than GOM cod, based on assessments conducted in 2022, and those remain in place. Framework 63 (87 FR 42375, July 15, 2022) previously set the 2024 quota for GOM cod, based on an assessment conducted in 2021, and that also remains in place. The catch limits implemented in this action, including overfishing limits (OFL), acceptable biological catches (ABC), and annual catch limits (ACL), are listed in tables 2 through 10. A summary of how these catch limits were developed, including the distribution to the various fishery components, was provided in the proposed rule and in appendix II (Calculation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Limits, FY 2024–FY 2026) to the EA, and is not repeated here. The sector and common pool sub-ACLs implemented in this action are based on fishing year 2024 potential sector contributions (PSC) and preliminary fishing year 2024 sector rosters. Management Uncertainty Buffer for Sectors NMFS approves the measure in Framework 66 that removes the management uncertainty buffer for the GB yellowtail flounder 97 (58 percent). sector sub-ACL for GOM haddock and white hake if the ASM coverage target is 90 percent or higher. This measure remains in place for the next 2 fishing years unless the Council adopts, and NMFS approves and implements, new specifications for fishing year 2025 based on updated assessments. Amendment 23 (87 FR 75852, December 9, 2022) implemented a measure to remove the management uncertainty buffer for the sector subACL for each allocated groundfish stock in years that the ASM coverage target is set at 100 percent, unless otherwise warranted. On February 20, 2024, the Regional Administrator announced the preliminary ASM coverage target of 100 percent and nothing has changed since that announcement to require a lower ASM coverage target. Therefore, in this action, NMFS is removing the management uncertainty buffer for each allocated stock for all sectors for the entirety of the 2024 fishing year. If the Regional Administrator makes a final determination with a lower ASM coverage target, the sectors’ buffers will not be reinstated. Because the removal of the buffer is dependent on the annual determination of the ASM coverage target and consideration of its merit, the determination regarding the buffer in fishing year 2025 would be made in a future action. TABLE 2—FISHING YEARS 2024–2026 OVERFISHING LIMITS AND ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCHES [mt, live weight] 2024 Stock khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES OFL GB Cod .................................................... GOM Cod ................................................. GB Haddock ............................................. GOM Haddock ......................................... GB Yellowtail Flounder ............................ SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder .................... CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ................... American Plaice ....................................... Witch Flounder ......................................... GB Winter Flounder ................................. GOM Winter Flounder .............................. SNE/MA Winter Flounder ........................ Redfish ..................................................... White Hake .............................................. Pollock ...................................................... N Windowpane Flounder ......................... S Windowpane Flounder ......................... Ocean Pout .............................................. Atlantic Halibut ......................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 U.S. ABC UNK 980 17,768 2,651 UNK 89 1,279 7,091 UNK 2,153 1,072 1,425 11,041 2,607 18,208 UNK 284 125 UNK PO 00000 Frm 00072 535 551 7,058 2,406 71 40 992 5,520 1,256 1,549 804 627 8,307 1,934 13,940 136 213 87 78 Fmt 4700 Percent change from 2023 3 0 ¥41 ¥4 ¥33 0 ¥11 ¥3 0 ¥9 0 0 ¥17 5 ¥7 ¥15 ¥45 0 ¥9 Sfmt 4700 2025 2026 OFL U.S. ABC OFL U.S. ABC UNK .................... 15,096 2,549 UNK 345 1,184 6,763 UNK 2,100 1,072 1,536 10,982 2,591 17,384 UNK 284 125 UNK .................... .................... 5,382 2,312 71 40 915 5,270 1,256 1,490 804 627 8,273 1,921 13,294 136 213 87 78 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 11,177 .................... .................... UNK 284 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 8,418 .................... .................... 136 213 .................... .................... E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 35757 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 2—FISHING YEARS 2024–2026 OVERFISHING LIMITS AND ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCHES—Continued [mt, live weight] 2024 Stock OFL Atlantic Wolffish ....................................... U.S. ABC 124 Percent change from 2023 93 2025 OFL 0 2026 U.S. ABC 124 93 OFL U.S. ABC .................... .................... UNK = Unknown; CC = Cape Cod; SNE/MA = Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic. Note: An empty cell indicates no OFL/ABC is adopted for that year. These catch limits would be set in a future action. TABLE 3—CATCH LIMITS FOR THE 2024 FISHING YEAR [mt, live weight] Stock GB Cod ................... GOM Cod ................ GB Haddock ............ GOM Haddock ........ GB Yellowtail Flounder ........................ SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ............... CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ............... American Plaice ...... Witch Flounder ........ GB Winter Flounder GOM Winter Flounder ........................ SNE/MA Winter Flounder ............... Redfish .................... White Hake .............. Pollock ..................... N Windowpane Flounder ............... S Windowpane Flounder ............... Ocean Pout ............. Atlantic Halibut ........ Atlantic Wolffish ....... Total ACL Groundfish sub-ACL Sector sub-ACL Common pool sub-ACL A to H A+B+C A B Midwater trawl fishery Recreational sub-ACL Scallop fishery Smallmesh fisheries State waters subcomponent Other subcomponent G H C D E F 534 536 7,040 2,346 406 488 6,909 2,268 395 286 6,756 1,479 11 10 153 31 ........................ 192 ........................ 759 .................. .................. 131 22 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 43 48 0 48 86 0 0 8.0 70 58 55 3.3 ........................ .................. 11.0 1.3 0 0 40 35 27 7.6 ........................ .................. 2.7 .................. 0.2 2.0 990 5,513 1,254 1,548 921 5,457 1,204 1,532 881 5,315 1,163 1,488 39 142 41 44 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 30 28 19 0 40 28 31 16 800 635 556 79 ........................ .................. .................. .................. 153 12.1 624 8,303 1,933 13,934 461 8,303 1,923 12,818 408 8,226 1,905 12,696 53 77 18 122 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 19 0 0 627 144 0 10 488 127 94 na 94 ........................ .................. 27 .................. 0.0 6.8 205 83 75 87 30 49 58 87 na na na na 30 49 58 87 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. 71 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 6.4 0 16 0 98 34 1.2 0 na: not allocated to sectors. TABLE 4—CATCH LIMITS FOR THE 2025 FISHING YEAR * [mt, live weight] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Stock GB Haddock ............ GOM Haddock ........ GB Yellowtail Flounder ........................ SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ............... CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ............... American Plaice ...... Witch Flounder ........ GB Winter Flounder GOM Winter Flounder ........................ SNE/MA Winter Flounder ............... Redfish .................... White Hake .............. Pollock ..................... N Windowpane Flounder ............... S Windowpane Flounder ............... VerDate Sep<11>2014 Total ACL Groundfish sub-ACL Sector sub-ACL Common pool sub-ACL Recreational sub-ACL Midwater trawl fishery Scallop fishery Smallmesh fisheries State waters subcomponent Other subcomponent A to H A+B+C A B C D E F G H 5,111 2,183 5,011 2,108 4,894 1,350 117 29 ........................ 729 100 22 .................. .................. .................. .................. 0 46 0 8 69 56 53 3.3 ........................ .................. 11 1.3 0 0 38 33 26 7.6 ........................ .................. 2.7 .................. 0.2 2.0 873 5,009 1,196 1,446 808 4,956 1,146 1,431 772 4,821 1,105 1,389 36 136 41 42 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 28 26 19 0 37 26 31 15 772 607 528 79 ........................ .................. .................. .................. 153 12.1 604 7,859 1,826 12,683 441 7,859 1,816 11,619 388 7,783 1,798 11,503 53 77 18 117 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. 19 0 0 598 144 0 10 465 127 94 na 94 ........................ .................. 27 .................. 0.0 6.8 205 30 na 30 ........................ .................. 71 .................. 6.4 98 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 35758 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 4—CATCH LIMITS FOR THE 2025 FISHING YEAR *—Continued [mt, live weight] Stock Total ACL Groundfish sub-ACL Sector sub-ACL Common pool sub-ACL Recreational sub-ACL Midwater trawl fishery Scallop fishery Smallmesh fisheries State waters subcomponent Other subcomponent A to H A+B+C A B C D E F G H ........................ ........................ ........................ .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Ocean Pout ............. Atlantic Halibut ........ Atlantic Wolffish ....... 83 75 87 49 58 87 na na na 49 58 87 0 16 0 34 1.2 0 Smallmesh fisheries State waters subcomponent Other subcomponent G H na: not allocated to sectors. * Northeast multispecies stocks not included in table 4 do not have catch limits approved or proposed for fishing year 2025. TABLE 5—CATCH LIMITS FOR THE 2026 FISHING YEAR * [mt, live weight] Stock Redfish .................... N Windowpane Flounder ............... S Windowpane Flounder ............... Total ACL Groundfish sub-ACL Sector sub-ACL Common pool sub-ACL A to H A+B+C A B Midwater trawl fishery Recreational sub-ACL Scallop fishery C D E F 7,997 7,997 7,919 78 ........................ .................. .................. .................. 0 0 127 94 na 94 ........................ .................. 27 .................. 0.0 7 205 30 na 30 ........................ .................. 71 .................. 6 98 na: not allocated to sectors. * Northeast multispecies stocks not included in table 5 do not have catch limits approved or proposed for fishing year 2026. TABLE 6—FISHING YEARS 2024–2026 COMMON POOL TRIMESTER TACS [mt, live weight] 2024 2025 2026 Stock Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 3.1 4.8 41.3 8.2 0.6 1.6 22.5 105.3 22.3 3.5 29.2 19.3 6.8 34.2 3.8 3.2 50.5 7.9 1.0 2.1 10.2 11.4 8.1 10.6 29.9 23.9 5.6 42.8 4.3 1.8 61.2 14.3 1.7 3.9 6.7 25.6 10.2 29.9 19.7 33.9 5.6 45.2 .................... .................... 31.5 7.9 0.6 1.6 20.7 100.5 22.3 3.4 29.2 19.2 6.8 32.6 .................... .................... 38.5 7.6 1.0 2.1 9.4 10.9 8.1 10.2 29.9 23.8 5.5 40.8 .................... .................... 46.7 13.8 1.7 3.9 6.2 24.4 10.2 28.8 19.7 33.7 5.5 43.1 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 19.5 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 24.2 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 34.4 .................... .................... GB Cod .................................... GOM Cod ................................. GB Haddock ............................ GOM Haddock ......................... GB Yellowtail Flounder ............ SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ... CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder .. American Plaice ....................... Witch Flounder ......................... GB Winter Flounder ................. GOM Winter Flounder ............. Redfish ..................................... White Hake .............................. Pollock ..................................... TABLE 7—COMMON POOL INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS FOR THE 2024–2026 FISHING YEARS [mt, live weight] Percentage of common pool sub-ACL Stock khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES GB Cod .......................................................................................................... GOM Cod ....................................................................................................... GB Yellowtail Flounder .................................................................................. CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ........................................................................ American Plaice ............................................................................................. Witch Flounder ............................................................................................... SNE/MA Winter Flounder .............................................................................. 2024 1.68 1 2 1 5 5 1 0.19 0.10 0.07 0.39 7.12 2.03 0.53 2025 2026 ........................ ........................ 0.07 0.36 6.79 2.03 0.53 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ TABLE 8—PERCENTAGE OF INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Regular B DAS program (percent) Stock GB Cod ........................................................................................................................................................ GOM Cod ..................................................................................................................................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 60 100 02MYR1 Eastern U.S./CA haddock SAP (percent) 40 n/a 35759 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 8—PERCENTAGE OF INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM— Continued Regular B DAS program (percent) Stock GB Yellowtail Flounder ................................................................................................................................ CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ...................................................................................................................... American Plaice ........................................................................................................................................... Witch Flounder ............................................................................................................................................. SNE/MA Winter Flounder ............................................................................................................................ Eastern U.S./CA haddock SAP (percent) 50 100 100 100 100 50 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a: not applicable. TABLE 9—FISHING YEARS 2024–2026 INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS FOR EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM [mt, live weight] Regular B DAS program Eastern U.S./Canada haddock SAP Stock 2024 GB Cod .................................................... GOM Cod ................................................. GB Yellowtail Flounder ............................ CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ................... American Plaice ....................................... Witch Flounder ......................................... SNE/MA Winter Flounder ........................ 0.11 0.10 0.03 0.39 7.12 2.03 0.53 2025 2026 2024 ........................ ........................ 0.03 0.36 6.79 2.03 0.53 ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ 0.08 n/a 0.03 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2025 2026 ........................ n/a 0.03 n/a n/a n/a n/a ........................ n/a ........................ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a: not applicable. TABLE 10—FISHING YEARS 2024–2026 REGULAR B DAS PROGRAM QUARTERLY INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS [mt, live weight] 2024 Stock GB Cod ............. GOM Cod .......... GB Yellowtail Flounder ......... CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ......... American Plaice Witch Flounder .. SNE/MA Winter Flounder ......... 1st Quarter (13%) 2nd Quarter (29%) 2025 3rd Quarter (29%) khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES 1st Quarter (13%) 2nd Quarter (29%) 3rd Quarter (29%) 4th Quarter (29%) 1st Quarter (13%) 2nd Quarter (29%) 3rd Quarter (29%) 4th Quarter (29%) 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 ................ ................ ................ ................ 0.05 0.92 0.26 0.11 2.06 0.59 0.11 2.06 0.59 0.11 2.06 0.59 0.05 0.88 0.26 0.11 1.97 0.59 0.11 1.97 0.59 0.11 1.97 0.59 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ 0.07 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.07 0.15 0.15 0.15 ................ ................ ................ ................ Sector Annual Catch Entitlements (ACE) On April 5, 2024, NMFS allocated stocks to each sector, based on the fishing year 2024 catch limits set by prior frameworks (89 FR 23941, April 5, 2024). This rule updates the ACE allocated to sectors based on the catch limits approved in Framework 66, fishing year 2024 PSC, and preliminary fishing year 2024 sector rosters. NMFS calculates a sector’s allocation for each stock by summing its members’ PSC for the stock and then multiplying that total VerDate Sep<11>2014 4th Quarter (29%) 2026 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 percentage by the commercial sub-ACL for that stock. The process for allocating ACE to sectors is further described in the rule allocating ACE to sectors for fishing year 2024 and is not repeated here (see 89 FR 23941, April 5, 2024). Table 11 shows the cumulative PSC by stock for each sector for fishing year 2024. Tables 12 and 13 show the ACEs allocated to each sector for fishing year 2024, in pounds (lb) and mt, respectively. The common pool subACLs are included in tables 11 through 13 for comparison. All permits enrolled PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 in a sector, and the vessels associated with those permits, have until April 30, 2024, to withdraw from a sector and fish in the common pool for the 2024 fishing year. In addition, all permits that change ownership after the roster deadline of March 13, 2024, may join a sector through April 30, 2024. NMFS will publish final sector and common pool sub-ACLs based on final 2024 rosters as soon as practicable after the start of the 2024 fishing year. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES 35760 VerDate Sep<11>2014 Jkt 262001 .e .,,] PO 00000 .,, .,, ~ El :. 8 Fixed Gear Sector 59 10.66368130 0.69697957 1.73925106 0.19342970 1.33811259 Maine Coast Community Sector 106 2.14346576 15.77574417 3.28033123 12.14315523 1.94946572 z j B B -5 -g .§ "' El i :. 0 <.) "'it ~§ ;,. = "'.: <.) "' I . ~ :. 6 ! 0.20776918 1.80040167 2.52115190 6.24764686 i z "' . ~ ~: 81 ~ £ . .Ii $ I,, ii :. 6 .iiHI I,, .,,;a Ji iil -5 ~ 1~ ~ ~ ~~ 8.: i1 r;!"' 0.69211258 1.41865619 2.25552402 2.03553546 0.96475271 0.55322185 0.98718417 2.69363866 15.57467423 12.30874340 0.80738762 7.86986961 2.23258492 9.19242287 13.81106273 12.67065727 ~ ~ ~ "' Frm 00076 Fmt 4700 Maine Permit Bank 11 0.13439158 1.16146439 0.04453277 1.12519137 0.01387770 0.03207071 0.31964833 1.16764302 0.72914170 0.00021875 0.42733162 0.01820600 0.82280520 1.65671908 1.69628627 Mooncusser Sector 48 12.02921920 6.25777157 3.84823447 3.69074677 1.23201147 0.86256446 3.02845586 0.86052723 1.81794552 0.95245393 2.85202511 2.48746222 4.75054253 10.67782404 10.53593863 NEFS2 134 9.49872888 27.03357997 14.42403106 25.27417443 3.91163986 6.84782846 27.91222741 15.67097593 20.79218577 4.45167800 27.91508790 5.66793541 21.97944839 13.34211300 18.13675481 NEFS4 58 8.63064256 11.18021805 6.05566788 8.86146971 2.17847227 2.28497979 6.42213790 9.43836833 8.82303299 0.69996269 7.42431329 1.03538340 6.69552217 8.27302876 7.26648727 NEFS5 18 0.45848210 0.32875539 0.45599711 0.11135826 0.74730041 15.06499951 0.92544848 0.29012444 0.46535873 0.19884758 0.84381463 9.55163414 0.01340476 0.06758295 0.06684655 Sfmt 4725 NEFS6 3 0.53277963 0.16897341 0.55629310 0.15125674 0.06623359 0.00032970 0.02492228 0.88199052 0.47903664 0.08026315 0.07106409 0.01437459 1.11265001 0.52914348 0.31850611 NEFS8 107 32.14429894 6.47349254 39.69437836 19.01532607 41.10369352 17.89837197 18.46919615 21.30707462 20.59414302 56.89277908 6.45104508 39.87083431 26.35138368 19.18519781 18.73824650 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM NEFS IO 23 0.36099982 1.80011246 0.11620637 1.06678057 0.00106541 0.56787338 3.22717458 0.44936350 0.95408609 0.01076846 7.06053027 0.54528800 0.01774808 0.05484715 0.08997485 NEFS 11 42 0.39886389 11.36750608 0.03379870 2.73739463 0.00147257 0.01232212 2.28957044 1.51568258 1.54445775 0.00310767 2.00546790 0.02573992 1.86957788 4.01717963 8.77006607 NEFS 12 25 0.66695944 3.70211898 0.15518034 1.33202724 0.00051982 0.03715834 9.30680020 1.54946832 1.79775784 0.00058497 12.24691996 0.33391380 0.54739034 0.89356742 1.39219765 NEFS 13 65 11.00132100 0.56476011 16.41446401 0.88555368 34.45892048 23.09421386 7.31716540 7.59921581 7.70632237 19.12551115 2.08860917 16.34008330 1.80768009 1.33448880 1.35854205 4 0.00082696 1.15165725 0.00003421 0.03236683 0.00002041 0.00001803 0.02192453 0.02856511 0.00617882 0.00000326 0.06080509 0.00003694 0.01942367 0.08147906 0.11143280 59 6.59488586 6.97935052 8.49027525 16.80493455 6.25856384 5.46705969 4.82490089 16.51623947 13.41249257 10.92899272 4.02657897 5.54519351 18.46133885 20.22470442 11.80101981 20 1.75601730 1.68695288 2.35874044 4.19777672 0.93533973 1.71793597 2.56396440 2.81484093 2.78750859 0.63465289 3.06112792 2.50774026 4.79387649 3.44070357 3.23580284 3 0.08038283 0.18792499 0.00389341 0.25359846 0.00000000 0.48368689 0.80290989 0.90262401 0.81756929 0.00000000 0.58666734 0.78545860 0.03544103 0.43984416 0.11493299 Common Pool 479 2.90405294 3.48263768 2.32869024 2.12345904 5.80329061 22.89966603 4.49550472 2.74050939 3.54538270 2.95726407 12.97320661 12.07337797 0.97612211 0.98332978 1.00266889 Sector Total 785 97.10 96.52 97.67 97.88 94.20 77.10 95.50 97.26 96.45 97.04 87.03 87.93 99.02 99.02 99.00 New Hampshire Permit Bank Sustainable Harvest Sector I Sustainable Harvest Sector2 02MYR1 ER02MY24.349</GPH> •. B Sustainable Harvest Sector 3 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 16:20 May 01, 2024 Table 11 -- Cumulative PSC (percentage) each sector is receiving by stock for fishing year 2024 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 Sector Name ...,i 1.., 0 0 u u Jkt 262001 ~ Fixed Gear Sector PO 00000 Maine Coast Community Sector Maine Permit Bank Mooncusser Sector Frm 00077 NEFS2 NEFS4 Fmt 4700 NEFS 5 NEFS6 Sfmt 4725 NEFS 8 NEFS 10 NEFS 11 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM NEFS 12 NEFS 13 New Hampshire Permit Bank 02MYR1 Sustainable Harvest Sector 1 Sustainable Harvest Sector 2 Sustainable Harvest Sector 3 Common Pool Sector Total ~ .., 0 u :.! 0 \!) .~" ;;; ..,.., " = ~ ~ 0 :g 't; "" =~ ~ ..,..,~ =; i0 t .., =" = = " = ;;. .s :.! = .. 8 \!) "' ~ ~ .5~ ~ ~ § z== 00 ~ ~ :.! "' ~ o!!~ ~ \!) = u i .§ u;;. .. ~ ~ = = 0 Ii: .c ~ t ·-I " = ~-g =" ~] :.! 6 ~j ~ ~ ~ =.s \!) .. Oli: \!) ~ ~~ .... z .c ..,,! ~ ~ =" -~ .c ~ ~ .~ rlJ 35 60 5 119 146 6 2 0 37 83 38 76 29 10 IOI 42 762 7 12 103 224 276 404 2 2 127 I 876 327 27 111 23 1683 586 3 582 0 I 8 3 4 37 0 0 7 141 19 0 6 0 151 70 480 40 68 41 263 324 123 2 I 62 104 48 32 40 25 870 453 2979 32 53 177 986 1,214 842 5 5 568 1,888 553 151 393 58 4,025 566 5,128 29 49 73 414 510 295 3 2 131 I 137 235 24 105 11 1226 351 2 055 2 3 2 31 38 4 I 12 19 35 12 7 12 98 2 3 19 2 3 I 38 47 5 0 0 I 106 13 3 I 0 204 22 90 107 181 42 2 713 3 340 633 52 14 376 2 567 547 I 923 91 408 4 826 814 5 298 I 2 12 8 10 36 0 0 66 54 25 0 99 6 3 2 25 I 2 74 2 3 91 0 0 47 183 41 0 28 0 342 170 2480 2 4 24 11 13 44 0 0 189 187 48 0 173 3 100 38 394 37 62 4 1122 1381 29 44 18 149 916 205 647 29 167 331 57 384 0 0 8 0 0 I 0 0 0 3 0 0 I 0 4 3 32 22 37 46 580 714 560 8 4 98 1990 357 369 57 57 3 381 858 3 337 6 10 11 161 198 140 I I 52 339 74 21 43 26 878 146 915 0 0 I 0 0 8 0 0 16 109 22 0 8 8 6 19 32 10 15 22 159 178 67 7 17 87 314 90 97 174 117 170 40 269 323 547 630 6 675 8219 3 260 120 60 I 943 11 718 2 564 3 281 1226 899 18 135 4201 27 990 #Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds. In some cases, this table shows an allocation of 0, but that sector may be allocated a small amount of that stock in tens or hundreds of pounds. /\ The data in the table represent the total allocations to each sector. Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 16:20 May 01, 2024 Table 12 -- ACE (in 1,000 lb), by stock, for each sector for fishing year 2024 #A 35761 ER02MY24.350</GPH> khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES 35762 VerDate Sep<11>2014 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4700 Fixed Gear Sector Maine Coast Community Sector Maine Permit Bank Mooncusser Sector NEFS2 NEFS4 NEFS 5 NEFS 6 NEFS 8 Sfmt 4725 ~ ~ :g ~ ""r.l t:s :g ~ "" t:s =~ 2 54 66 3 1 0 17 5 47 102 125 183 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 17 0 18 31 19 119 147 56 14 24 80 447 551 13 22 33 188 231 1 1 1 14 1 1 1 49 82 1 1 I.., u u t:s t:s \!) 16 27 3 i Sector Name NEFS 10 NEFS 11 E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM NEFS 12 NEFS 13 ..,..,~ .., u :.! ..,r.l 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 " = :.! =a it 0.., =" = ... .=i= ~"' i~ "'.5~ ~ § ~ z== 00 ~ ~ :.! "' ~ o!!~ ~ \!) = u i .§ u..,"' ~ I = = 0 ;;; ~ ~ " ~ ~" ~] ~ .=i t =~ it~ ~-g ~ .'§ § :.! 6 o.:: \!) .c Ji! ~~£ &ii " = -~ <= .., .c ~ 1 . ~ ""' 38 17 35 13 4 46 19 345 58 851 148 12 50 10 764 266 1,625 0 3 64 9 0 3 0 68 32 218 1 0 28 47 22 15 18 11.5 395 205 1 351 382 2 2 258 856 251 68 178 26 1 826 257 2 326 134 1 1 59 516 106 11 47 5 556 159 932 17 2 0 5 9 16 6 3 5 44 1 1 9 17 21 2 0 0 0 48 6 1 0 0 92 10 41 19 1,231 1,515 287 24 6 170 1,164 248 872 41 185 2,189 369 2,403 1 5 4 4 16 0 0 30 25 12 0 45 3 1 1 12 1 34 1 1 41 0 0 21 83 19 0 13 0 155 77 1125 8 \!) 02MYR1 1 2 11 5 6 20 0 0 86 85 22 0 78 2 45 17 179 17 28 2 509 627 13 20 8 68 415 93 293 13 76 150 26 174 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 14 10 17 21 263 324 254 4 2 45 903 162 168 26 26 1 534 389 1 513 3 4 5 73 90 63 1 1 24 154 34 10 20 12 398 66 415 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 7 49 10 0 4 4 3 8 15 4 7 10 72 81 30 3 8 39 142 41 44 79 53 77 18 122 147 248 286 3 028 3 728 1479 55 27 881 5 315 1163 1 488 556 408 8 226 1905 12 696 New Hampshire Permit Bank Sustainable Harvest Sector 1 Sustainable Harvest Sector 2 Sustainable Harvest Sector 3 Common Pool Sector Total # Numbers are rounded to the nearest metric ton, but allocations are made in pounds. In some cases, this table shows a sector allocation of O metric tons, but that sector may be allocated a small amount of that stock in pounds. /\ The data in the table represent the total allocations to each sector. ER02MY24.351</GPH> Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 16:20 May 01, 2024 Table 13 -- ACE (in metric tons), by stock, for each sector for fishing year 2024 #A Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Modification to the Catch Thresholds for Implementing Accountability Measures As more fully described in the proposed rule, Framework 66 modifies the catch threshold for implementing the Atlantic halibut AMs. In the situation where the Atlantic halibut ACL is exceeded by more than the management uncertainty buffer, NMFS would take into account the landings from the Canadian fishery for the last calendar year and determine whether, when combined with the landings by U.S. fisheries (Federal and state), the total ABC had been exceeded as well. Framework 66 does not make any changes to the AMs themselves, which are a combination of a zero-possession limit and gear-area restrictions. Framework 66 modifies the catch threshold for implementing the scallop fishery’s AMs for GB yellowtail flounder for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years, so that the AMs for GB yellowtail flounder would only be implemented if the scallop fishery catch exceeds its subACL by any amount and the total ACL is also exceeded. Unless this modification is extended in a future action, the underlying policy for implementing the scallop fishery’s AM for GB cod would be in effect for catches in fishing year 2026 and beyond. This temporary modification is more fully described in the proposed rule. Minor, Clarifying Regulatory Changes Under Secretarial Authority Framework 66 makes minor, clarifying changes in the regulations. Specifically, this action revises § 648.90(a)(5)(i)(F) to reorganize the section to improve clarity and readability regarding the Atlantic halibut AMs. Comments and Responses on Measures Proposed in the Framework 66 Proposed Rule We received two comment submissions covering numerous issues regarding the Framework 66 proposed rule from Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC) and a member of the public. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Specifications Comment 1: NSC wrote in support of setting the ABC for white hake at 75 percent of the fishing mortality associated with maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) for two years, citing that this will still allow for the stock to rebuild by 2031. NSC also supports increasing the GOM haddock ABC to the level of 90 percent FMSY for fishing years 2024 and 2026, given the healthy VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 population level and the potential economic impacts of a lower quota. A member of the public wrote in support of all the catch limits proposed in Framework 66. Response 1: NMFS agrees and is approving the specifications as proposed. Comment 2: NSC expressed concern regarding the proposed shared U.S./ Canada quota for GB yellowtail flounder. NSC commented that the calculation of this quota follows a harvest strategy known as the Limiter Approach, designed to use data from three surveys. NSC noted that, in recent years, there have been missing survey data. NSC claims that the use of the Limiter Approach with missing survey data has not been adequately addressed. NSC recommends that NMFS prioritize scientific and management approaches that do not economically impact the commercial fishery, but does not provide an alternative to the quota that was recommended by the Council’s SSC and by the TMGC, and proposed in Framework 66. Response 2: NSC is echoing the concerns that the SSC raised when it made its recommendation of the shared U.S./Canada quota for GB yellowtail flounder of 168 mt. In the SSC’s September 15, 2023, report to the Council, the SSC noted that it had previously accepted the use of the Limiter Approach despite the recognized uncertainty from having only two of the three surveys. In the last three years in which the Limiter Approach was used without all three surveys, sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine the potential impact of the missing information. For 2023, no adjustment was made to the Limiter Approach to account for the missing survey because these analyses showed that the impact of missing that particular survey was minimal. The SSC also noted that the Yellowtail Flounder Research Track Stock Assessment was ongoing and evaluating alternative assessment approaches for GB yellowtail flounder to replace, or improve upon, the Limiter Approach. While the SSC acknowledged in its September 2023 report that fishing does not appear to be a ‘‘major driver’’ of stock status currently, it also argued that for a stock that has experienced overfishing historically and the causal mechanisms for lack of rebuilding are ‘‘difficult to know with certainty,’’ and therefore, the SSC advised caution when managing this stock. NMFS will continue to support the yellowtail research track assessment process (Memorandum from SSC to Dr. Cate PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 35763 O’Keefe, Council Executive Director, September 15, 2023). Comment 3: NSC wrote in support of removing the management uncertain buffer for sectors for GOM haddock and white hake for the upcoming fishing year. Response 3: NMFS agrees and is approving this measure. Additionally, because the management uncertainty buffer by regulation defaults to zero when the ASM coverage target is 100 percent, NMFS is removing the management uncertainty buffer for each allocated stock for all sectors for the entirety of the 2024 fishing year based on the preliminary ASM coverage target of 100 percent. Accountability Measure Modifications Comment 4: NSC supports the modifications of catch threshold for implementing AMs, for both Atlantic halibut and the scallop fishery’s catch of GB yellowtail flounder. Response 4: NMFS agrees and is approving both measures. Changes From the Proposed Rule NMFS made one change to the proposed rule. The proposed rule’s section Annual Catch Limits included sector and common pool sub-ACLs based on fishing year 2023 PSCs and final fishing year 2023 sector rosters but did not include the PSCs and ACEs allocated to each sector. This final rule updates the total ACLs and sector and common pool sub-ACLs based on the ASM coverage target of 100 percent and the 2024 PSCs and preliminary fishing year 2024 sector rosters, and includes the PSCs and ACEs at the sector level. Classification NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to sections 304(b)(3) and 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provide specific authority for implementing this action. Pursuant to section 305(d), this action sets specifications for stocks managed by the Northeast Multispecies FMP as recommended by the Council, in accordance with § 648.90(a)(4), makes minor, clarifying changes in the regulations for the Northeast Multispecies FMP, and is necessary to carry out the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is consistent with Framework Adjustment 66, the Northeast Multispecies FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, as amended by E.O. 14094. This final rule E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES 35764 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations does not contain policies with federalism or takings implications as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and E.O. 12630, respectively. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries finds that waiver of the 30-day delayed effectiveness of this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and 553(d)(3) is justified. This action relies on the best available science to set fishing year 2024 catch limits for groundfish stocks and adopts several other measures to improve the management of the groundfish fishery. This final rule must be implemented as soon as possible to capture fully the conservation and economic benefits of Framework 66 and avoid adverse economic impacts. This action was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council as part of the annual Framework Adjustment process, during which final action was taken in December 2023. The Council submitted the final Framework on February 16, 2024. Given the timing of the Council process and submission, the earliest NMFS was able to publish a proposed rule for Framework 66 was on March 22, 2024. A delay in implementation of this rule increases negative economic effects for regulated entities. Several stocks did not have 2024 quotas set by a previous framework. A separate action implemented default quotas for those stocks (75 percent of the 2023 quota). For several stocks, the fishery is operating under lower quotas than those implemented by this rule. A delay could limit economic opportunities for the fishery, as well as lead to confusion and uncertainty. A delay would also increase the administrative burden and costs for groundfish sectors of tracking temporary quotas and coordinating fishing effort relating to those quotas, and then having to reprogram their data systems to adjust to the revised quotas. Providing timely access to these stocks is also a potential safety issue. A significant portion of fishing activity occurs in early summer, due to better weather, and, for some smaller vessels, summer may be the only season in which they are able to participate in the fishery. Additionally, this rule contains no new measures (e.g., gear requirements) for which regulated entities need time to prepare or revise their current practices. Fishermen who are subject to this action expect and need timely implementation to avoid adverse economic impacts. This action is similar to the process used to set quotas every 1–2 years, approves all items as proposed, and contains only quotas and minor VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 adjustments to the management plan that were discussed at multiple noticed meetings where the public was provided opportunity to learn about the action, ask questions, and provide input into the development of the measures. Affected parties and other interested parties participated in this public process to develop this action and desire implementation as close to the beginning of the fishing year on May 1 as possible. Section 553(d)(1) of the Administrative Procedure Act permits that the 30-day delay in effectiveness be waived for substantive rules that relieve a restriction (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1)). Once this rule goes into effect, all fisherman impacted by the action will be under new quota limits that increase their opportunity to fish. Until the rule is in effect, those fishermen are effectively restricted in their opportunity to fish. Therefore, waiving the 30-day delay for this rule would relieve the restriction on the fishermen. Additionally, relieving the restriction on catch from application of the management uncertainty buffer increases available quota and provides economic opportunities, operational flexibility, and prevents potential earlier closures of fisheries. In sum, a delay in implementation of this action would greatly diminish the benefits of these specifications and other approved measures. For these reasons, a 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this rule is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires Federal agencies to prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) for each final rule that describes the economic impact of this action on small entities (5 U.S.C. 604). The FRFA includes a summary of significant issues raised by public comments, the analyses contained in Framework 66 and its accompanying Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), the IRFA summary in the proposed rule, as well as the summary provided below. A statement of the necessity for and for the objectives of this action are contained in Framework 66 and in the preamble to this final rule, and is not repeated here. PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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 NMFS received one comment expressing concern about the economic impacts of this action and has summarized the comments in the comments and responses section of this rule. None of the comments received were directly related to the IRFA, or provided information that changed the conclusions of the IRFA. The Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) did not file any comments. NMFS made no changes to the proposed rule measures. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Rule Would Apply The final rule impacts the recreational groundfish, Atlantic sea scallop, small mesh multispecies, Atlantic herring, and large-mesh non-groundfish fisheries. Individually-permitted vessels may hold permits for several fisheries, harvesting species of fish that are regulated by several different FMPs, even beyond those impacted by the action. Furthermore, multiple-permitted vessels and/or permits may be owned by entities affiliated by stock ownership, common management, identity of interest, contractual relationships, or economic dependency. For the purposes of the RFA analysis, the ownership entities, not the individual vessels, are considered to be the regulated entities. As of June 1, 2023, NMFS had issued 675 commercial limited-access groundfish permits associated with vessels (including those in confirmation of permit history (CPH)), 639 party/ charter groundfish permits, 696 limited access and general category Atlantic sea scallop permits, 694 small-mesh multispecies permits, 73 Atlantic herring permits, and 752 large-mesh non-groundfish permits (limited access summer flounder and scup permits). Therefore, this action potentially regulates 3,529 permits. When accounting for overlaps between fisheries, this number falls to 2,029 permitted vessels. Each vessel may be individually owned or part of a larger corporate ownership structure and, for RFA purposes, it is the ownership entity that is ultimately regulated by the action. Ownership entities are identified on June 1st of each year based on the list of all permit numbers, for the most recent complete calendar year, that have E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations applied for any type of Greater Atlantic Region Federal fishing permit. The current ownership data set is based on calendar year 2022 permits and contains gross sales associated with those permits for calendar years 2018 through 2022. 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 (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 11411) is classified as a small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates) and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. The determination as to whether the entity is large or small is based on the average annual revenue for 2018 through 2022. The SBA has established size standards for all other major industry sectors in the U.S., including for-hire fishing (NAICS code 487210). These entities are classified as small businesses if combined annual receipts are not in excess of $8.0 million for all of an entity’s affiliated operations. As with commercial fishing businesses, the annual average of the most recent years (2018–2022) is utilized in determining annual receipts for businesses primarily engaged in for-hire fishing. Based on the ownership data, 1,538 distinct business entities hold at least one permit that this action regulates. All 1,538 business entities identified could be directly regulated by this action. Of these 1,538 entities, 871 are commercial fishing entities, 291 are for-hire entities, and 376 did not have revenues (i.e., were inactive in 2022). Of the 871 commercial fishing entities, 860 are categorized as small entities and 11 are categorized as large entities, per the NMFS guidelines. Furthermore, 520 of these commercial fishing entities held limited access groundfish permits, with 516 of these entities being classified as small businesses and 4 of these entities being classified as large businesses. All 291 for-hire entities are categorized as small businesses. Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other Compliance Requirements of This Final Rule The action does not contain any new collection-of-information requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 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 The economic impacts of each measure are discussed in more detail in sections 6.5 and 7.12 of the Framework 66 Environmental Assessment (see ADDRESSES) and are not repeated here. NMFS notes that, overall, for the updated groundfish specifications and the modifications to the AMs in this final rule, the No Action alternative was the only other alternative considered by the Council. There are no significant alternatives that would minimize the economic impacts. The action is predicted to generate $40.8 million in gross revenues for the sector portion of the commercial groundfish trips. This amount is $20.4 million more than the amount of gross revenues under the No Action alternative, but $3.9 million less than the amount of gross revenues generated in fishing year 2022. Small entities engaged in common pool groundfish fishing are expected to be positively impacted by the action as well, relative to the No Action alternative. Small entities engaged in the recreational groundfish fishery are likely to be negatively impacted by the decrease in the GOM haddock sub-ACL. Sub-ACL decreases for groundfish stocks allocated to the Atlantic sea scallop fishery and the large-mesh nongroundfish fishery may negatively affect small entities engaged in those fisheries. The temporary modification to the scallop fishery’s AM implementation catch threshold for GB yellowtail flounder for fishing years 2024 and 2025 will reduce the likelihood of negative impacts to the scallop 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’’ that 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 Northeast multispecies fishery email list, as well as the email lists for the scallop and herring PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 35765 fisheries, which receive an allocation of some groundfish stocks. The final rule and the guide are available from NMFS at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ management-plan/northeastmultispecies-management-plan. 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: April 29, 2024. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons stated in the preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part 648 as follows: PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. In § 648.90, revise paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F) and add paragraph (a)(5)(iv)(B) to read as follows: ■ § 648.90 NE multispecies assessment, framework procedures and specifications, and flexible area action system. * * * * * (a) * * * (5) * * * (i) * * * (F) Atlantic halibut. If NMFS determines, as described in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(D) of this section, that the overall ACL for Atlantic halibut is exceeded by catch from U.S. Federal and state fisheries by any amount greater than the management uncertainty buffer and, after accounting for the amount of landings of Atlantic halibut from Canadian fisheries, as appropriate, that the total ABC for Atlantic halibut has also been exceeded, the applicable AM shall be implemented as described in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(1) of this section. If a subACL for Atlantic halibut is allocated to another fishery, consistent with the process specified at § 648.90(a)(4), and there are AMs for that fishery, the multispecies fishery AM shall only be implemented if the sub-ACL allocated to the multispecies fishery is exceeded (i.e., the sector and common pool catch for a particular stock, including the common pool’s share of any overage of the overall ACL caused by excessive catch by other sub-components of the fishery pursuant to § 648.90(a)(5), E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1 35766 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES exceeds the common pool sub-ACL) and the overall ACL is also exceeded. (1) Description of AM. When the AM is implemented, any vessel issued a Federal permit for any fishery management plan may not fish for, possess, or land Atlantic halibut for the fishing year in which the AM is implemented, as specified in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F) of this section, unless otherwise specified in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(2) of this section. Additionally, the applicable AM areas, as defined in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(4) of this section, shall be implemented as follows: Any vessel issued a limited access NE multispecies permit and fishing with trawl gear in the Atlantic Halibut Trawl Gear AM Area may only use a haddock separator trawl, as specified in § 648.85(a)(3)(iii)(A); a Ruhle trawl, as specified in § 648.85(b)(6)(iv)(J)(3); a rope separator trawl, as specified in § 648.84(e); or any other gear approved consistent with the process defined in § 648.85(b)(6), except that selective trawl gear is not required in the portion of the Trawl Gear AM Area between 41 degrees 40 minutes and 42 degrees from April 1 through July 31. When in effect, a limited access NE multispecies permitted vessel with gillnet gear may not fish or be in the Atlantic Halibut Fixed Gear AM Area from March 1 through October 31, unless transiting with its gear stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in § 648.2, or such gear was VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 May 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 approved consistent with the process defined in § 648.85(b)(6). (2) Vessels exempt from the no possession AM. Vessels issued only a charter/party permit, and/or an Atlantic highly migratory species angling permit, and/or an Atlantic highly migratory species charter/headboat permit are exempt from the no possession AM. This exemption does not apply to any vessel that is issued any other permit that is subject to the AM. For example, a vessel issued a Northeast multispecies charter/party permit and a bluefish charter/party permit would be exempt from the no possession AM, but a vessel issued a Northeast multispecies charter/ party permit and a commercial bluefish permit would not be exempt from the no possession AM. (3) Review of the AM. If the overall ACL is exceeded by more than 20 percent, the Council shall revisit the AM in a future action. (4) Atlantic halibut AM area. The AM areas defined below are bounded by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by rhumb lines, unless otherwise noted. TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (a)(5)(i)(F)(4) Atlantic halibut trawl gear AM area Points 1 2 3 4 .......... .......... .......... .......... PO 00000 N latitude 42°00′ 42°00′ 41°30′ 41°30′ Frm 00082 Fmt 4700 W longitude TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (a)(5)(i)(F)(4) Atlantic halibut gillnet gear AM area Points 1 2 3 4 N latitude .......... .......... .......... .......... 43°10′ 43°10′ 43°00′ 43°00′ 69°40′ 69°30′ 69°30′ 69°40′ * * * * * (iv) * * * (B) 2024 and 2025 fishing year threshold for implementing the Atlantic sea scallop fishery AM for GB yellowtail flounder. For the 2024 and 2025 fishing years, if scallop fishery catch exceeds the GB yellowtail flounder sub-ACL specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, and total catch exceeds the overall ACL for that stock, then the applicable scallop fishery AM will take effect, as specified in § 648.64 of the Atlantic sea scallop regulations. For the 2026 fishing year and onward, the threshold for implementing scallop fishery AMs for GB yellowtail flounder will return to that listed in paragraph (a)(5)(iv)(A) of this section. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2024–09569 Filed 5–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 69°20′ 68°20′ 68°20′ 69°20′ Sfmt 9990 W longitude E:\FR\FM\02MYR1.SGM 02MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35755-35766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09569]



[[Page 35755]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 240429-0120]
RIN 0648-BM71


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 66

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This action approves and implements Framework Adjustment 66 to 
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This rule 
sets catch limits for 8 of the 20 multispecies stocks, modifies the 
accountability measure (AM) implementation catch threshold for Atlantic 
halibut, and makes a temporary modification to the AM implementation 
catch threshold for the scallop fishery for Georges Bank (GB) 
yellowtail flounder. This action is necessary to respond to updated 
scientific information and to achieve the goals and objectives of the 
fishery management plan. The measures are intended to help prevent 
overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and 
ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific 
information available.

DATES: Effective May 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Framework Adjustment 66, including the draft 
Environmental Assessment, the Regulatory Impact Review, and the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis prepared by the New England Fishery 
Management Council in support of this action, are available from Dr. 
Cate O'Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management 
Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. The supporting 
documents are also accessible via the internet at: https://www.nefmc.org/management-plans/northeast-multispecies or https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Sullivan, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
phone: 978-282-8493; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Approved Measures

    The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) adopted 
Framework Adjustment 66 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP on December 
7, 2023. The Council submitted Framework 66, including an environmental 
assessment (EA), for NMFS approval on February 16, 2024. NMFS published 
a proposed rule for Framework 66 on March 22, 2024 (89 FR 20412), with 
a 15-day comment period that closed on April 8, 2024.
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) and on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office's Regional Administrator 
(Regional Administrator) approves, disapproves, or partially approves 
measures that the Council proposes, based on consistency with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. NMFS reviews recommended 
specifications and proposed measures for consistency with the fishery 
management plan, plan amendments, the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable law, and publishes proposed regulations, solicits public 
comment, and promulgates final regulations. Based on information 
provided in the EA and considered during the preparation of this 
action, and after consideration of comments, NMFS has approved all of 
the measures in Framework 66 recommended by the Council, as described 
below. The measures implemented in this final rule:
     Set shared U.S./Canada quotas for GB yellowtail flounder 
and eastern GB cod and haddock for fishing years 2024 and 2025;
     Set specifications, including catch limits for eight 
groundfish stocks: redfish, northern windowpane flounder, and southern 
windowpane flounder for fishing years 2024-2026; and GB cod, GB 
haddock, Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock, GB yellowtail flounder, and white 
hake for fishing years 2024-2025;
     Make a minor adjustment to the subcomponent quotas for GOM 
cod and adjust the amount set aside for Canadian catch for Atlantic 
halibut;
     Remove the management uncertainty buffer for sectors for 
GOM haddock and white hake if the at-sea monitoring (ASM) target 
coverage level is set at 90 percent or greater for the 2024 and 2025 
fishing years;
     Modify the catch threshold for implementing the Atlantic 
halibut accountability measures (AM); and
     Temporarily modify the catch threshold for implementing 
the scallop fishery's AM for GB yellowtail flounder.
    This action also makes minor, clarifying regulatory changes that 
are not part of Framework 66, but are implemented under section 305(d) 
authority in the Magnuson-Stevens Act to make changes necessary to 
carry out the FMP. NMFS is making these changes in conjunction with the 
Framework 66 proposed measures for expediency purposes. These changes 
are described below under the heading, Minor, Clarifying Regulatory 
Changes under Secretarial Authority.

Fishing Years 2024 and 2025 Shared U.S./Canada Quotas

Management of Transboundary Georges Bank Stocks

    As described in the proposed rule, eastern GB cod, eastern GB 
haddock, and GB yellowtail flounder are jointly managed with Canada 
under the United States/Canada Resource Sharing Understanding. This 
action adopts shared U.S./Canada quotas for these stocks for fishing 
year 2024 based on 2023 assessments and the recommendations of the 
Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC) and consistent with 
the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
recommendations. Framework 66 sets the same shared quotas for a second 
year (i.e., for fishing year 2025) as placeholders, with the 
expectation that those quotas will be reviewed annually and new 
recommendations will be received from the TMGC. The 2024 and 2025 
shared U.S./Canada quotas, and each country's allocation, are listed in 
table 1.

  Table 1--2024 and 2025 Fishing Years U.S./Canada Quotas (metric tons (mt), live weight) and Percent of Quota
                                            Allocated to Each Country
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Quota                       Eastern GB cod         Eastern GB haddock     GB yellowtail flounder
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Shared Quota...................  520....................  10,000.................  168.
U.S. Quota...........................  151 (29 percent).......  3,100 (31 percent).....  71 (42 percent).

[[Page 35756]]

 
Canadian Quota.......................  369 (71 percent).......  6,900 (69 percent).....  97 (58 percent).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The regulations implementing the U.S./Canada Resource Sharing 
Understanding at 50 CFR 648.85(a) require deducting any overages of the 
U.S. quota for eastern GB cod, eastern GB haddock, or GB yellowtail 
flounder from the U.S. quota in the following fishing year. If catch 
information for the 2023 fishing year indicates that the U.S. fishery 
exceeded its quota for any of the shared stocks, NMFS will reduce the 
respective U.S. quotas for the 2024 fishing year in a future management 
action, as close to May 1, 2024, as possible. If any fishery that is 
allocated a portion of the U.S. quota exceeds its allocation and causes 
an overage of the overall U.S. quota, the overage reduction would be 
applied only to that fishery's allocation in the following fishing 
year. This ensures that catch by one component of the overall fishery 
does not negatively affect another component of the overall fishery.

Catch Limits for Fishing Years 2024-2026

Summary of the Catch Limits

    This rule adopts catch limits for redfish, northern windowpane 
flounder, and southern windowpane flounder for the 2024-2026 fishing 
years, based on stock assessments completed in 2023, and catch limits 
for GB cod, GB haddock, GOM haddock, GB yellowtail flounder, and white 
hake for fishing years 2024-2025. Framework 65 (86 FR 40353, July 28, 
2021) previously set 2024-2025 quotas for the remaining groundfish 
stocks, other than GOM cod, based on assessments conducted in 2022, and 
those remain in place. Framework 63 (87 FR 42375, July 15, 2022) 
previously set the 2024 quota for GOM cod, based on an assessment 
conducted in 2021, and that also remains in place. The catch limits 
implemented in this action, including overfishing limits (OFL), 
acceptable biological catches (ABC), and annual catch limits (ACL), are 
listed in tables 2 through 10. A summary of how these catch limits were 
developed, including the distribution to the various fishery 
components, was provided in the proposed rule and in appendix II 
(Calculation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Limits, FY 2024-FY 
2026) to the EA, and is not repeated here. The sector and common pool 
sub-ACLs implemented in this action are based on fishing year 2024 
potential sector contributions (PSC) and preliminary fishing year 2024 
sector rosters.

Management Uncertainty Buffer for Sectors

    NMFS approves the measure in Framework 66 that removes the 
management uncertainty buffer for the sector sub-ACL for GOM haddock 
and white hake if the ASM coverage target is 90 percent or higher. This 
measure remains in place for the next 2 fishing years unless the 
Council adopts, and NMFS approves and implements, new specifications 
for fishing year 2025 based on updated assessments.
    Amendment 23 (87 FR 75852, December 9, 2022) implemented a measure 
to remove the management uncertainty buffer for the sector sub-ACL for 
each allocated groundfish stock in years that the ASM coverage target 
is set at 100 percent, unless otherwise warranted. On February 20, 
2024, the Regional Administrator announced the preliminary ASM coverage 
target of 100 percent and nothing has changed since that announcement 
to require a lower ASM coverage target. Therefore, in this action, NMFS 
is removing the management uncertainty buffer for each allocated stock 
for all sectors for the entirety of the 2024 fishing year. If the 
Regional Administrator makes a final determination with a lower ASM 
coverage target, the sectors' buffers will not be reinstated. Because 
the removal of the buffer is dependent on the annual determination of 
the ASM coverage target and consideration of its merit, the 
determination regarding the buffer in fishing year 2025 would be made 
in a future action.

                                  Table 2--Fishing Years 2024-2026 Overfishing Limits and Acceptable Biological Catches
                                                                    [mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         2024              Percent              2025                      2026
                            Stock                             -------------------------- change from ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                   OFL        U.S. ABC       2023         OFL        U.S. ABC       OFL        U.S. ABC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.......................................................          UNK          535            3          UNK  ...........  ...........  ...........
GOM Cod......................................................          980          551            0  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
GB Haddock...................................................       17,768        7,058          -41       15,096        5,382  ...........  ...........
GOM Haddock..................................................        2,651        2,406           -4        2,549        2,312  ...........  ...........
GB Yellowtail Flounder.......................................          UNK           71          -33          UNK           71  ...........  ...........
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder...................................           89           40            0          345           40  ...........  ...........
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder...................................        1,279          992          -11        1,184          915  ...........  ...........
American Plaice..............................................        7,091        5,520           -3        6,763        5,270  ...........  ...........
Witch Flounder...............................................          UNK        1,256            0          UNK        1,256  ...........  ...........
GB Winter Flounder...........................................        2,153        1,549           -9        2,100        1,490  ...........  ...........
GOM Winter Flounder..........................................        1,072          804            0        1,072          804  ...........  ...........
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.......................................        1,425          627            0        1,536          627  ...........  ...........
Redfish......................................................       11,041        8,307          -17       10,982        8,273       11,177        8,418
White Hake...................................................        2,607        1,934            5        2,591        1,921  ...........  ...........
Pollock......................................................       18,208       13,940           -7       17,384       13,294  ...........  ...........
N Windowpane Flounder........................................          UNK          136          -15          UNK          136          UNK          136
S Windowpane Flounder........................................          284          213          -45          284          213          284          213
Ocean Pout...................................................          125           87            0          125           87  ...........  ...........
Atlantic Halibut.............................................          UNK           78           -9          UNK           78  ...........  ...........

[[Page 35757]]

 
Atlantic Wolffish............................................          124           93            0          124           93  ...........  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNK = Unknown; CC = Cape Cod; SNE/MA = Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic.
Note: An empty cell indicates no OFL/ABC is adopted for that year. These catch limits would be set in a future action.


                                                                         Table 3--Catch Limits for the 2024 Fishing Year
                                                                                        [mt, live weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                       Midwater                 Small-       State
                              Stock                                Total ACL    Groundfish  Sector sub-  Common pool   Recreational      trawl      Scallop      mesh     waters sub- Other sub-
                                                                                 sub-ACL        ACL        sub-ACL        sub-ACL       fishery     fishery    fisheries   component   component
                                                                       A to H    A + B + C            A            B               C           D           E           F           G           H
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod..........................................................          534          406          395           11  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          43          86
GOM Cod.........................................................          536          488          286           10             192  ..........  ..........  ..........          48           0
GB Haddock......................................................        7,040        6,909        6,756          153  ..............         131  ..........  ..........           0           0
GOM Haddock.....................................................        2,346        2,268        1,479           31             759          22  ..........  ..........          48         8.0
GB Yellowtail Flounder..........................................           70           58           55          3.3  ..............  ..........        11.0         1.3           0           0
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder......................................           40           35           27          7.6  ..............  ..........         2.7  ..........         0.2         2.0
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder......................................          990          921          881           39  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          30          40
American Plaice.................................................        5,513        5,457        5,315          142  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          28          28
Witch Flounder..................................................        1,254        1,204        1,163           41  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          19          31
GB Winter Flounder..............................................        1,548        1,532        1,488           44  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          16
GOM Winter Flounder.............................................          800          635          556           79  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........         153        12.1
SNE/MA Winter Flounder..........................................          624          461          408           53  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          19         144
Redfish.........................................................        8,303        8,303        8,226           77  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0           0
White Hake......................................................        1,933        1,923        1,905           18  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          10
Pollock.........................................................       13,934       12,818       12,696          122  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........         627         488
N Windowpane Flounder...........................................          127           94           na           94  ..............  ..........          27  ..........         0.0         6.8
S Windowpane Flounder...........................................          205           30           na           30  ..............  ..........          71  ..........         6.4          98
Ocean Pout......................................................           83           49           na           49  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          34
Atlantic Halibut................................................           75           58           na           58  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          16         1.2
Atlantic Wolffish...............................................           87           87           na           87  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0           0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
na: not allocated to sectors.


                                                                        Table 4--Catch Limits for the 2025 Fishing Year *
                                                                                        [mt, live weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                       Midwater                 Small-       State
                              Stock                                Total ACL    Groundfish  Sector sub-  Common pool   Recreational      trawl      Scallop      mesh     waters sub- Other sub-
                                                                                 sub-ACL        ACL        sub-ACL        sub-ACL       fishery     fishery    fisheries   component   component
                                                                       A to H    A + B + C            A            B               C           D           E           F           G           H
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Haddock......................................................        5,111        5,011        4,894          117  ..............         100  ..........  ..........           0           0
GOM Haddock.....................................................        2,183        2,108        1,350           29             729          22  ..........  ..........          46           8
GB Yellowtail Flounder..........................................           69           56           53          3.3  ..............  ..........          11         1.3           0           0
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder......................................           38           33           26          7.6  ..............  ..........         2.7  ..........         0.2         2.0
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder......................................          873          808          772           36  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          28          37
American Plaice.................................................        5,009        4,956        4,821          136  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          26          26
Witch Flounder..................................................        1,196        1,146        1,105           41  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          19          31
GB Winter Flounder..............................................        1,446        1,431        1,389           42  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          15
GOM Winter Flounder.............................................          772          607          528           79  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........         153        12.1
SNE/MA Winter Flounder..........................................          604          441          388           53  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          19         144
Redfish.........................................................        7,859        7,859        7,783           77  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0           0
White Hake......................................................        1,826        1,816        1,798           18  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          10
Pollock.........................................................       12,683       11,619       11,503          117  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........         598         465
N Windowpane Flounder...........................................          127           94           na           94  ..............  ..........          27  ..........         0.0         6.8
S Windowpane Flounder...........................................          205           30           na           30  ..............  ..........          71  ..........         6.4          98

[[Page 35758]]

 
Ocean Pout......................................................           83           49           na           49  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0          34
Atlantic Halibut................................................           75           58           na           58  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........          16         1.2
Atlantic Wolffish...............................................           87           87           na           87  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0           0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
na: not allocated to sectors.
* Northeast multispecies stocks not included in table 4 do not have catch limits approved or proposed for fishing year 2025.


                                                                        Table 5--Catch Limits for the 2026 Fishing Year *
                                                                                        [mt, live weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                       Midwater                 Small-       State
                              Stock                                Total ACL    Groundfish  Sector sub-  Common pool   Recreational      trawl      Scallop      mesh     waters sub- Other sub-
                                                                                 sub-ACL        ACL        sub-ACL        sub-ACL       fishery     fishery    fisheries   component   component
                                                                       A to H    A + B + C            A            B               C           D           E           F           G           H
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redfish.........................................................        7,997        7,997        7,919           78  ..............  ..........  ..........  ..........           0           0
N Windowpane Flounder...........................................          127           94           na           94  ..............  ..........          27  ..........         0.0           7
S Windowpane Flounder...........................................          205           30           na           30  ..............  ..........          71  ..........           6          98
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
na: not allocated to sectors.
* Northeast multispecies stocks not included in table 5 do not have catch limits approved or proposed for fishing year 2026.


                                               Table 6--Fishing Years 2024-2026 Common Pool Trimester TACs
                                                                    [mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2024                                    2025                                    2026
              Stock               ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Trimester 1  Trimester 2   Trimester 3  Trimester 1  Trimester 2   Trimester 3  Trimester 1  Trimester 2  Trimester 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod...........................          3.1          3.8          4.3   ...........  ...........  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........
GOM Cod..........................          4.8          3.2          1.8   ...........  ...........  ............  ...........  ...........  ...........
GB Haddock.......................         41.3         50.5         61.2          31.5         38.5         46.7   ...........  ...........  ...........
GOM Haddock......................          8.2          7.9         14.3           7.9          7.6         13.8   ...........  ...........  ...........
GB Yellowtail Flounder...........          0.6          1.0          1.7           0.6          1.0          1.7   ...........  ...........  ...........
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.......          1.6          2.1          3.9           1.6          2.1          3.9   ...........  ...........  ...........
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder.......         22.5         10.2          6.7          20.7          9.4          6.2   ...........  ...........  ...........
American Plaice..................        105.3         11.4         25.6         100.5         10.9         24.4   ...........  ...........  ...........
Witch Flounder...................         22.3          8.1         10.2          22.3          8.1         10.2   ...........  ...........  ...........
GB Winter Flounder...............          3.5         10.6         29.9           3.4         10.2         28.8   ...........  ...........  ...........
GOM Winter Flounder..............         29.2         29.9         19.7          29.2         29.9         19.7   ...........  ...........  ...........
Redfish..........................         19.3         23.9         33.9          19.2         23.8         33.7          19.5         24.2         34.4
White Hake.......................          6.8          5.6          5.6           6.8          5.5          5.5   ...........  ...........  ...........
Pollock..........................         34.2         42.8         45.2          32.6         40.8         43.1   ...........  ...........  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Table 7--Common Pool Incidental Catch TACs for the 2024-2026 Fishing Years
                                                [mt, live weight]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Percentage of
                     Stock                       common pool sub-      2024            2025            2026
                                                       ACL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.........................................             1.68            0.19  ..............  ..............
GOM Cod........................................                1            0.10  ..............  ..............
GB Yellowtail Flounder.........................                2            0.07            0.07  ..............
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder.....................                1            0.39            0.36  ..............
American Plaice................................                5            7.12            6.79  ..............
Witch Flounder.................................                5            2.03            2.03  ..............
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.........................                1            0.53            0.53  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table 8--Percentage of Incidental Catch TACs Distributed to Each Special
                           Management Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Regular B DAS     Eastern U.S./CA
               Stock                     program          haddock SAP
                                        (percent)          (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod............................                60                  40
GOM Cod...........................               100                 n/a

[[Page 35759]]

 
GB Yellowtail Flounder............                50                  50
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder........               100                 n/a
American Plaice...................               100                 n/a
Witch Flounder....................               100                 n/a
SNE/MA Winter Flounder............               100                 n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------
n/a: not applicable.


                               Table 9--Fishing Years 2024-2026 Incidental Catch TACs for Each Special Management Program
                                                                    [mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Regular B DAS program                      Eastern U.S./Canada haddock SAP
                          Stock                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               2024            2025            2026            2024            2025            2026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod..................................................            0.11  ..............  ..............            0.08  ..............  ..............
GOM Cod.................................................            0.10  ..............  ..............             n/a             n/a             n/a
GB Yellowtail Flounder..................................            0.03            0.03  ..............            0.03            0.03  ..............
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder..............................            0.39            0.36  ..............             n/a             n/a             n/a
American Plaice.........................................            7.12            6.79  ..............             n/a             n/a             n/a
Witch Flounder..........................................            2.03            2.03  ..............             n/a             n/a             n/a
SNE/MA Winter Flounder..................................            0.53            0.53  ..............             n/a             n/a             n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n/a: not applicable.


                                                     Table 10--Fishing Years 2024-2026 Regular B DAS Program Quarterly Incidental Catch TACs
                                                                                        [mt, live weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 2024                                        2025                                        2026
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Stock                                1st        2nd        3rd        4th        1st        2nd        3rd        4th        1st        2nd        3rd        4th
                                                               Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter    Quarter
                                                                (13%)      (29%)      (29%)      (29%)      (13%)      (29%)      (29%)      (29%)      (13%)      (29%)      (29%)      (29%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod......................................................       0.01       0.03       0.03       0.03  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
GOM Cod.....................................................       0.01       0.03       0.03       0.03  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
GB Yellowtail Flounder......................................       0.00       0.01       0.01       0.01       0.00       0.01       0.01       0.01  .........  .........  .........  .........
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder..................................       0.05       0.11       0.11       0.11       0.05       0.11       0.11       0.11  .........  .........  .........  .........
American Plaice.............................................       0.92       2.06       2.06       2.06       0.88       1.97       1.97       1.97  .........  .........  .........  .........
Witch Flounder..............................................       0.26       0.59       0.59       0.59       0.26       0.59       0.59       0.59  .........  .........  .........  .........
SNE/MA Winter Flounder......................................       0.07       0.15       0.15       0.15       0.07       0.15       0.15       0.15  .........  .........  .........  .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sector Annual Catch Entitlements (ACE)

    On April 5, 2024, NMFS allocated stocks to each sector, based on 
the fishing year 2024 catch limits set by prior frameworks (89 FR 
23941, April 5, 2024). This rule updates the ACE allocated to sectors 
based on the catch limits approved in Framework 66, fishing year 2024 
PSC, and preliminary fishing year 2024 sector rosters. NMFS calculates 
a sector's allocation for each stock by summing its members' PSC for 
the stock and then multiplying that total percentage by the commercial 
sub-ACL for that stock. The process for allocating ACE to sectors is 
further described in the rule allocating ACE to sectors for fishing 
year 2024 and is not repeated here (see 89 FR 23941, April 5, 2024).
    Table 11 shows the cumulative PSC by stock for each sector for 
fishing year 2024. Tables 12 and 13 show the ACEs allocated to each 
sector for fishing year 2024, in pounds (lb) and mt, respectively. The 
common pool sub-ACLs are included in tables 11 through 13 for 
comparison. All permits enrolled in a sector, and the vessels 
associated with those permits, have until April 30, 2024, to withdraw 
from a sector and fish in the common pool for the 2024 fishing year. In 
addition, all permits that change ownership after the roster deadline 
of March 13, 2024, may join a sector through April 30, 2024. NMFS will 
publish final sector and common pool sub-ACLs based on final 2024 
rosters as soon as practicable after the start of the 2024 fishing 
year.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

[[Page 35760]]

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[[Page 35761]]


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[[Page 35762]]


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[[Page 35763]]


BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

Modification to the Catch Thresholds for Implementing Accountability 
Measures

    As more fully described in the proposed rule, Framework 66 modifies 
the catch threshold for implementing the Atlantic halibut AMs. In the 
situation where the Atlantic halibut ACL is exceeded by more than the 
management uncertainty buffer, NMFS would take into account the 
landings from the Canadian fishery for the last calendar year and 
determine whether, when combined with the landings by U.S. fisheries 
(Federal and state), the total ABC had been exceeded as well. Framework 
66 does not make any changes to the AMs themselves, which are a 
combination of a zero-possession limit and gear-area restrictions.
    Framework 66 modifies the catch threshold for implementing the 
scallop fishery's AMs for GB yellowtail flounder for the 2024 and 2025 
fishing years, so that the AMs for GB yellowtail flounder would only be 
implemented if the scallop fishery catch exceeds its sub-ACL by any 
amount and the total ACL is also exceeded. Unless this modification is 
extended in a future action, the underlying policy for implementing the 
scallop fishery's AM for GB cod would be in effect for catches in 
fishing year 2026 and beyond. This temporary modification is more fully 
described in the proposed rule.

Minor, Clarifying Regulatory Changes Under Secretarial Authority

    Framework 66 makes minor, clarifying changes in the regulations. 
Specifically, this action revises Sec.  648.90(a)(5)(i)(F) to 
reorganize the section to improve clarity and readability regarding the 
Atlantic halibut AMs.

Comments and Responses on Measures Proposed in the Framework 66 
Proposed Rule

    We received two comment submissions covering numerous issues 
regarding the Framework 66 proposed rule from Northeast Seafood 
Coalition (NSC) and a member of the public.

Specifications

    Comment 1: NSC wrote in support of setting the ABC for white hake 
at 75 percent of the fishing mortality associated with maximum 
sustainable yield (FMSY) for two years, citing that this 
will still allow for the stock to rebuild by 2031. NSC also supports 
increasing the GOM haddock ABC to the level of 90 percent 
FMSY for fishing years 2024 and 2026, given the healthy 
population level and the potential economic impacts of a lower quota. A 
member of the public wrote in support of all the catch limits proposed 
in Framework 66.
    Response 1: NMFS agrees and is approving the specifications as 
proposed.
    Comment 2: NSC expressed concern regarding the proposed shared 
U.S./Canada quota for GB yellowtail flounder. NSC commented that the 
calculation of this quota follows a harvest strategy known as the 
Limiter Approach, designed to use data from three surveys. NSC noted 
that, in recent years, there have been missing survey data. NSC claims 
that the use of the Limiter Approach with missing survey data has not 
been adequately addressed. NSC recommends that NMFS prioritize 
scientific and management approaches that do not economically impact 
the commercial fishery, but does not provide an alternative to the 
quota that was recommended by the Council's SSC and by the TMGC, and 
proposed in Framework 66.
    Response 2: NSC is echoing the concerns that the SSC raised when it 
made its recommendation of the shared U.S./Canada quota for GB 
yellowtail flounder of 168 mt. In the SSC's September 15, 2023, report 
to the Council, the SSC noted that it had previously accepted the use 
of the Limiter Approach despite the recognized uncertainty from having 
only two of the three surveys. In the last three years in which the 
Limiter Approach was used without all three surveys, sensitivity 
analyses were conducted to determine the potential impact of the 
missing information. For 2023, no adjustment was made to the Limiter 
Approach to account for the missing survey because these analyses 
showed that the impact of missing that particular survey was minimal.
    The SSC also noted that the Yellowtail Flounder Research Track 
Stock Assessment was ongoing and evaluating alternative assessment 
approaches for GB yellowtail flounder to replace, or improve upon, the 
Limiter Approach. While the SSC acknowledged in its September 2023 
report that fishing does not appear to be a ``major driver'' of stock 
status currently, it also argued that for a stock that has experienced 
overfishing historically and the causal mechanisms for lack of 
rebuilding are ``difficult to know with certainty,'' and therefore, the 
SSC advised caution when managing this stock. NMFS will continue to 
support the yellowtail research track assessment process (Memorandum 
from SSC to Dr. Cate O'Keefe, Council Executive Director, September 15, 
2023).
    Comment 3: NSC wrote in support of removing the management 
uncertain buffer for sectors for GOM haddock and white hake for the 
upcoming fishing year.
    Response 3: NMFS agrees and is approving this measure. 
Additionally, because the management uncertainty buffer by regulation 
defaults to zero when the ASM coverage target is 100 percent, NMFS is 
removing the management uncertainty buffer for each allocated stock for 
all sectors for the entirety of the 2024 fishing year based on the 
preliminary ASM coverage target of 100 percent.

Accountability Measure Modifications

    Comment 4: NSC supports the modifications of catch threshold for 
implementing AMs, for both Atlantic halibut and the scallop fishery's 
catch of GB yellowtail flounder.
    Response 4: NMFS agrees and is approving both measures.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    NMFS made one change to the proposed rule. The proposed rule's 
section Annual Catch Limits included sector and common pool sub-ACLs 
based on fishing year 2023 PSCs and final fishing year 2023 sector 
rosters but did not include the PSCs and ACEs allocated to each sector. 
This final rule updates the total ACLs and sector and common pool sub-
ACLs based on the ASM coverage target of 100 percent and the 2024 PSCs 
and preliminary fishing year 2024 sector rosters, and includes the PSCs 
and ACEs at the sector level.

Classification

    NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to sections 304(b)(3) and 305(d) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which provide specific authority for 
implementing this action. Pursuant to section 305(d), this action sets 
specifications for stocks managed by the Northeast Multispecies FMP as 
recommended by the Council, in accordance with Sec.  648.90(a)(4), 
makes minor, clarifying changes in the regulations for the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP, and is necessary to carry out the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP. The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that 
this final rule is consistent with Framework Adjustment 66, the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, and other applicable law.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, as amended by E.O. 14094. 
This final rule

[[Page 35764]]

does not contain policies with federalism or takings implications as 
those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and E.O. 12630, respectively.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries finds that waiver of the 
30-day delayed effectiveness of this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1) and 553(d)(3) is justified. This action relies on the best 
available science to set fishing year 2024 catch limits for groundfish 
stocks and adopts several other measures to improve the management of 
the groundfish fishery. This final rule must be implemented as soon as 
possible to capture fully the conservation and economic benefits of 
Framework 66 and avoid adverse economic impacts.
    This action was developed by the New England Fishery Management 
Council as part of the annual Framework Adjustment process, during 
which final action was taken in December 2023. The Council submitted 
the final Framework on February 16, 2024. Given the timing of the 
Council process and submission, the earliest NMFS was able to publish a 
proposed rule for Framework 66 was on March 22, 2024.
    A delay in implementation of this rule increases negative economic 
effects for regulated entities. Several stocks did not have 2024 quotas 
set by a previous framework. A separate action implemented default 
quotas for those stocks (75 percent of the 2023 quota). For several 
stocks, the fishery is operating under lower quotas than those 
implemented by this rule. A delay could limit economic opportunities 
for the fishery, as well as lead to confusion and uncertainty. A delay 
would also increase the administrative burden and costs for groundfish 
sectors of tracking temporary quotas and coordinating fishing effort 
relating to those quotas, and then having to reprogram their data 
systems to adjust to the revised quotas. Providing timely access to 
these stocks is also a potential safety issue. A significant portion of 
fishing activity occurs in early summer, due to better weather, and, 
for some smaller vessels, summer may be the only season in which they 
are able to participate in the fishery.
    Additionally, this rule contains no new measures (e.g., gear 
requirements) for which regulated entities need time to prepare or 
revise their current practices. Fishermen who are subject to this 
action expect and need timely implementation to avoid adverse economic 
impacts. This action is similar to the process used to set quotas every 
1-2 years, approves all items as proposed, and contains only quotas and 
minor adjustments to the management plan that were discussed at 
multiple noticed meetings where the public was provided opportunity to 
learn about the action, ask questions, and provide input into the 
development of the measures. Affected parties and other interested 
parties participated in this public process to develop this action and 
desire implementation as close to the beginning of the fishing year on 
May 1 as possible.
    Section 553(d)(1) of the Administrative Procedure Act permits that 
the 30-day delay in effectiveness be waived for substantive rules that 
relieve a restriction (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1)). Once this rule goes into 
effect, all fisherman impacted by the action will be under new quota 
limits that increase their opportunity to fish. Until the rule is in 
effect, those fishermen are effectively restricted in their opportunity 
to fish. Therefore, waiving the 30-day delay for this rule would 
relieve the restriction on the fishermen. Additionally, relieving the 
restriction on catch from application of the management uncertainty 
buffer increases available quota and provides economic opportunities, 
operational flexibility, and prevents potential earlier closures of 
fisheries.
    In sum, a delay in implementation of this action would greatly 
diminish the benefits of these specifications and other approved 
measures. For these reasons, a 30-day delay in the effectiveness of 
this rule is impracticable and contrary to the public interest.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires 
Federal agencies to prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(FRFA) for each final rule that describes the economic impact of this 
action on small entities (5 U.S.C. 604). The FRFA includes a summary of 
significant issues raised by public comments, the analyses contained in 
Framework 66 and its accompanying Environmental Assessment, Regulatory 
Impact Review, and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), the 
IRFA summary in the proposed rule, as well as the summary provided 
below. A statement of the necessity for and for the objectives of this 
action are contained in Framework 66 and in the preamble to this final 
rule, and is not repeated here.

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

    NMFS received one comment expressing concern about the economic 
impacts of this action and has summarized the comments in the comments 
and responses section of this rule. None of the comments received were 
directly related to the IRFA, or provided information that changed the 
conclusions of the IRFA. The Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration (SBA) did not file any comments. 
NMFS made no changes to the proposed rule measures.

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

    The final rule impacts the recreational groundfish, Atlantic sea 
scallop, small mesh multispecies, Atlantic herring, and large-mesh non-
groundfish fisheries. Individually-permitted vessels may hold permits 
for several fisheries, harvesting species of fish that are regulated by 
several different FMPs, even beyond those impacted by the action. 
Furthermore, multiple-permitted vessels and/or permits may be owned by 
entities affiliated by stock ownership, common management, identity of 
interest, contractual relationships, or economic dependency. For the 
purposes of the RFA analysis, the ownership entities, not the 
individual vessels, are considered to be the regulated entities.
    As of June 1, 2023, NMFS had issued 675 commercial limited-access 
groundfish permits associated with vessels (including those in 
confirmation of permit history (CPH)), 639 party/charter groundfish 
permits, 696 limited access and general category Atlantic sea scallop 
permits, 694 small-mesh multispecies permits, 73 Atlantic herring 
permits, and 752 large-mesh non-groundfish permits (limited access 
summer flounder and scup permits). Therefore, this action potentially 
regulates 3,529 permits. When accounting for overlaps between 
fisheries, this number falls to 2,029 permitted vessels. Each vessel 
may be individually owned or part of a larger corporate ownership 
structure and, for RFA purposes, it is the ownership entity that is 
ultimately regulated by the action. Ownership entities are identified 
on June 1st of each year based on the list of all permit numbers, for 
the most recent complete calendar year, that have

[[Page 35765]]

applied for any type of Greater Atlantic Region Federal fishing permit. 
The current ownership data set is based on calendar year 2022 permits 
and contains gross sales associated with those permits for calendar 
years 2018 through 2022.
    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 (North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) code 11411) is classified as a small business if it is 
independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of 
operation (including its affiliates) and has combined annual receipts 
not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated operations 
worldwide. The determination as to whether the entity is large or small 
is based on the average annual revenue for 2018 through 2022. The SBA 
has established size standards for all other major industry sectors in 
the U.S., including for-hire fishing (NAICS code 487210). These 
entities are classified as small businesses if combined annual receipts 
are not in excess of $8.0 million for all of an entity's affiliated 
operations. As with commercial fishing businesses, the annual average 
of the most recent years (2018-2022) is utilized in determining annual 
receipts for businesses primarily engaged in for-hire fishing.
    Based on the ownership data, 1,538 distinct business entities hold 
at least one permit that this action regulates. All 1,538 business 
entities identified could be directly regulated by this action. Of 
these 1,538 entities, 871 are commercial fishing entities, 291 are for-
hire entities, and 376 did not have revenues (i.e., were inactive in 
2022). Of the 871 commercial fishing entities, 860 are categorized as 
small entities and 11 are categorized as large entities, per the NMFS 
guidelines. Furthermore, 520 of these commercial fishing entities held 
limited access groundfish permits, with 516 of these entities being 
classified as small businesses and 4 of these entities being classified 
as large businesses. All 291 for-hire entities are categorized as small 
businesses.

Description of the Projected Reporting, Record-Keeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of This Final Rule

    The action does not contain any new collection-of-information 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

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

    The economic impacts of each measure are discussed in more detail 
in sections 6.5 and 7.12 of the Framework 66 Environmental Assessment 
(see ADDRESSES) and are not repeated here. NMFS notes that, overall, 
for the updated groundfish specifications and the modifications to the 
AMs in this final rule, the No Action alternative was the only other 
alternative considered by the Council. There are no significant 
alternatives that would minimize the economic impacts. The action is 
predicted to generate $40.8 million in gross revenues for the sector 
portion of the commercial groundfish trips. This amount is $20.4 
million more than the amount of gross revenues under the No Action 
alternative, but $3.9 million less than the amount of gross revenues 
generated in fishing year 2022. Small entities engaged in common pool 
groundfish fishing are expected to be positively impacted by the action 
as well, relative to the No Action alternative. Small entities engaged 
in the recreational groundfish fishery are likely to be negatively 
impacted by the decrease in the GOM haddock sub-ACL. Sub-ACL decreases 
for groundfish stocks allocated to the Atlantic sea scallop fishery and 
the large-mesh non-groundfish fishery may negatively affect small 
entities engaged in those fisheries. The temporary modification to the 
scallop fishery's AM implementation catch threshold for GB yellowtail 
flounder for fishing years 2024 and 2025 will reduce the likelihood of 
negative impacts to the scallop 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'' that 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 Northeast multispecies fishery email list, as 
well as the email lists for the scallop and herring fisheries, which 
receive an allocation of some groundfish stocks. The final rule and the 
guide are available from NMFS at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/management-plan/northeast-multispecies-management-plan. 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: April 29, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part 648 
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.  648.90, revise paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F) and add paragraph 
(a)(5)(iv)(B) to read as follows:


Sec.  648.90   NE multispecies assessment, framework procedures and 
specifications, and flexible area action system.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (F) Atlantic halibut. If NMFS determines, as described in paragraph 
(a)(5)(i)(D) of this section, that the overall ACL for Atlantic halibut 
is exceeded by catch from U.S. Federal and state fisheries by any 
amount greater than the management uncertainty buffer and, after 
accounting for the amount of landings of Atlantic halibut from Canadian 
fisheries, as appropriate, that the total ABC for Atlantic halibut has 
also been exceeded, the applicable AM shall be implemented as described 
in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(1) of this section. If a sub-ACL for Atlantic 
halibut is allocated to another fishery, consistent with the process 
specified at Sec.  648.90(a)(4), and there are AMs for that fishery, 
the multispecies fishery AM shall only be implemented if the sub-ACL 
allocated to the multispecies fishery is exceeded (i.e., the sector and 
common pool catch for a particular stock, including the common pool's 
share of any overage of the overall ACL caused by excessive catch by 
other sub-components of the fishery pursuant to Sec.  648.90(a)(5),

[[Page 35766]]

exceeds the common pool sub-ACL) and the overall ACL is also exceeded.
    (1) Description of AM. When the AM is implemented, any vessel 
issued a Federal permit for any fishery management plan may not fish 
for, possess, or land Atlantic halibut for the fishing year in which 
the AM is implemented, as specified in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F) of this 
section, unless otherwise specified in paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(2) of 
this section. Additionally, the applicable AM areas, as defined in 
paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(4) of this section, shall be implemented as 
follows: Any vessel issued a limited access NE multispecies permit and 
fishing with trawl gear in the Atlantic Halibut Trawl Gear AM Area may 
only use a haddock separator trawl, as specified in Sec.  
648.85(a)(3)(iii)(A); a Ruhle trawl, as specified in Sec.  
648.85(b)(6)(iv)(J)(3); a rope separator trawl, as specified in Sec.  
648.84(e); or any other gear approved consistent with the process 
defined in Sec.  648.85(b)(6), except that selective trawl gear is not 
required in the portion of the Trawl Gear AM Area between 41 degrees 40 
minutes and 42 degrees from April 1 through July 31. When in effect, a 
limited access NE multispecies permitted vessel with gillnet gear may 
not fish or be in the Atlantic Halibut Fixed Gear AM Area from March 1 
through October 31, unless transiting with its gear stowed and not 
available for immediate use as defined in Sec.  648.2, or such gear was 
approved consistent with the process defined in Sec.  648.85(b)(6).
    (2) Vessels exempt from the no possession AM. Vessels issued only a 
charter/party permit, and/or an Atlantic highly migratory species 
angling permit, and/or an Atlantic highly migratory species charter/
headboat permit are exempt from the no possession AM. This exemption 
does not apply to any vessel that is issued any other permit that is 
subject to the AM. For example, a vessel issued a Northeast 
multispecies charter/party permit and a bluefish charter/party permit 
would be exempt from the no possession AM, but a vessel issued a 
Northeast multispecies charter/party permit and a commercial bluefish 
permit would not be exempt from the no possession AM.
    (3) Review of the AM. If the overall ACL is exceeded by more than 
20 percent, the Council shall revisit the AM in a future action.
    (4) Atlantic halibut AM area. The AM areas defined below are 
bounded by the following coordinates, connected in the order listed by 
rhumb lines, unless otherwise noted.

                  Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Atlantic halibut trawl gear AM area
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Points                  N latitude            W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  42[deg]00'            69[deg]20'
2...........................  42[deg]00'            68[deg]20'
3...........................  41[deg]30'            68[deg]20'
4...........................  41[deg]30'            69[deg]20'
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                  Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(5)(i)(F)(4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Atlantic halibut gillnet gear AM area
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Points                  N latitude            W longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  43[deg]10'            69[deg]40'
2...........................  43[deg]10'            69[deg]30'
3...........................  43[deg]00'            69[deg]30'
4...........................  43[deg]00'            69[deg]40'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (iv) * * *
    (B) 2024 and 2025 fishing year threshold for implementing the 
Atlantic sea scallop fishery AM for GB yellowtail flounder. For the 
2024 and 2025 fishing years, if scallop fishery catch exceeds the GB 
yellowtail flounder sub-ACL specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this 
section, and total catch exceeds the overall ACL for that stock, then 
the applicable scallop fishery AM will take effect, as specified in 
Sec.  648.64 of the Atlantic sea scallop regulations. For the 2026 
fishing year and onward, the threshold for implementing scallop fishery 
AMs for GB yellowtail flounder will return to that listed in paragraph 
(a)(5)(iv)(A) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2024-09569 Filed 5-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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