Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery; Removal of American Lobster Effort Control Measures, 46825-46829 [2024-11453]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 105 / Thursday, May 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations Corrections ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 Season Dates On page 22967 of the final rule, NMFS inadvertently excluded 2 days the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Council intended the fishery to be open in the Washington South Coast subarea: May 28 and 30. At its November meeting, the Council recommended NMFS implement specific season dates for fishing in the Washington South Coast subarea. These dates were developed through public meetings held by WDFW, as well as at the Council’s September and November meetings. Specifically, the Council recommended to NMFS, based on WDFW’s recommendation, that fishing days in the Washington South Coast subarea be ‘‘Open May 2 through May 30, three days per week, Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday. Memorial Day weekend: open Thursday, May 23. If sufficient quota remains, open June 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30. If quota remains after June 30, open up to seven days per week in August and September.’’ However, the final rule inadvertently excluded the last Tuesday and Thursday in May: May 28 and 30. As such, consistent with the intent of the Council, the corrected season dates for the Washington South Coast subarea in May are: May 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 28, and 30. Closed May 25, 26 and 27. Subarea Allocation Under the allocation framework the Council adopted in the Catch Sharing Plan, the Oregon recreational fishery is allocated 29.7 percent of the non-tribal share of the FCEY. The Oregon recreational fishery allocation is further allocated to two subareas; the Oregon Central Coast receiving 93.79 percent and Southern Oregon receiving 3.91 percent (up to 8,000 pounds (lb) [3.6 metric tons [mt]] with the remainder going to the Columbia River subarea). The Oregon Central Coast subarea allocation is further divided into the nearshore fishery receiving 12 percent, the spring all-depth fishery receiving 63 percent, and the summer all-depth fishery receiving 25 percent. Consistent with the allocation the IPHC set for Area 2A in 2024 (89 FR 19275, March 18, 2024) and this framework, the overall Oregon Central Coast subarea allocation is 266,161 lb (120.7 mt) and the nearshore fishery allocation should therefore be 31,939 lb (14.5 mt). However, page 22968 of the final rule incorrectly states the pounds allocated to the nearshore fishery as 31,393 lb (14.5 mt). Therefore, this action corrects VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:52 May 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 that value and establishes the Oregon Central Coast nearshore fishery allocation at 31,939 lb (14.5 mt). The amount in metric tons of 14.5 mt was stated correctly in the original final rule. Classification Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency for ‘‘good cause’’ finds that those procedures are ‘‘impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.’’ The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries determined there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action as notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest because this action is necessary to correct an inadvertent error in a final rule (89 FR 22966). Immediate correction of the error is necessary to prevent confusion among participants in the fishery and to ensure that management of the fishery is consistent with State Fish and Wildlife agency recommendations, which were developed with stakeholder feedback, and the Council’s intent for the regulations, as developed over two public meetings. The proposed regulations were available for public review during a 30-day public comment period in the proposed rule (89 FR 9105, February 9, 2024), and the final rule (89 FR 22966, April 3, 2024) provided responses to the comments received. Therefore, there is good cause to waive additional public comment and immediate correction of the error is needed to meet the public’s expectations based on recommendations made in the Council’s 2024 Catch Sharing Plan and in outreach materials distributed by the States of Washington and Oregon. Delaying this correction to engage in notice-and-comment rulemaking would be contrary to the public interest because it would undermine the intent of the rule. Under section 553(d) of the APA, an agency must delay the effective date of regulations for 30 days after publication, unless the agency finds good cause to make the regulations effective sooner. For the same reasons stated above, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. This rule makes only two minor corrections to the final rule, which became effective April 4, 2024. Delaying effectiveness of these corrections would result in conflicts in the regulations and confusion among fishery participants, and would therefore be contrary to the public interest. Additionally, without PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 46825 waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness, this correction to the season dates would not be effective by May 28 and 30, which the final rule inadvertently omitted as open fishing days in the Washington South Coast subarea, but which were intended to be included. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604, requires an agency to prepare an initial and a final regulatory flexibility analysis whenever an agency is required by section 553 of the APA, or any other law, to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking. Because NMFS found good cause under section 553(b)(3)(B) of the APA to forgo publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking, the regulatory flexibility analyses described in 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 are not required for this rulemaking. This final rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866. This final rule contains no information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 24, 2024. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–11866 Filed 5–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 697 [Docket No. 240520–0141] RIN 0648–BM92 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery; Removal of American Lobster Effort Control Measures National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: Following the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (Commission) withdrawal of Lobster Conservation Management Area 2 and 3 ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions from its Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (Lobster Plan), this action SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1 46826 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 105 / Thursday, May 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations removes those requirements from Federal regulations and clarifies that all other measures included in the October 2, 2023, interim final rule (IFR) remain in effect. This action is intended to support the Commission’s management of the lobster fishery and eliminate the potential for inconsistent State and Federal regulations that risk undermining management of the fishery and is necessary to ensure that fishery regulations for the lobster fishery in Federal waters remain compatible with the Lobster Plan and consistent with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act). DATES: As of July 1, 2024, the revision to § 697.19(c) and (m) in amendatory instruction 6 of the IFR, 88 FR 67667, 67687–67679 (October 2, 2023), is withdrawn. You may request copies of the supplemental information report prepared for this action at: National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930– 2276 or by calling (978) 281–9315. The supporting document is also accessible via the internet at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/greateratlantic-regional-fisheries-office or https://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281–9122. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Statutory Authority ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 Purpose and Need for Management The purpose of this action is to manage the American lobster fishery to maximize resource sustainability, recognizing that Federal management occurs in concert with State management and compatibility between State and Federal measures is crucial to the overall success of American lobster management and required by the Atlantic Coastal Act. NMFS indicated that the agency could make changes to the IFR measures and requested comment on that possibility in the IFR, see 88 FR at 67669; see also 87 FR 41084 (July 11, 2022) (proposed rule requesting comments on measures ultimately included in the IFR); 82 FR 52871 (November 15, 2017) (advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) requesting comments on change to control date for trap limits in Areas 2 and 3); 79 FR 4319 (January 27, 2014) (ANPR establishing control date and requesting comments). In light of public comments received and to achieve the purpose of the Atlantic Coastal Act, we are withdrawing the Area 2 and 3 ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions that we implemented in the IFR. Management Measures Area 2 and 3 Measures Background These regulations modify Federal lobster fishery management measures in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the authority of section 803(b) of the Atlantic Coastal Act. This authority states that, in the absence of an approved and implemented Fishery Management Plan under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and, after consultation with the appropriate fishery management council(s), the Secretary of Commerce may implement regulations to govern fishing in the EEZ, from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore. The regulations must be: (1) compatible with the effective implementation of an Interstate Fishery Management Plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; and (2) consistent with the National Standards set forth in section 301 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. See 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A) (establishing Secretary’s authority to issue Federal regulations that are compatible with a coastal management plan and consistent with VerDate Sep<11>2014 Magnuson-Stevens Act National Standards), 16 U.S.C. 1502(1) (defining ‘‘coastal management plan’’). 15:52 May 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 The IFR implemented ownership caps in Areas 2 and 3 and maximum trap cap reductions in Area 3, effective May 1, 2025. These measures complemented the Commission’s Addenda XXI and XXII to Amendment 3 to the Lobster Plan, both of which were approved by the Commission in 2013. The objective of these addenda was to scale the southern New England lobster fishery to the diminished size of the resource by addressing latent effort in the fishery and reducing trap limits in an attempt to control harvest to allow for potential stock rebuilding. A full description of those measures is included in the IFR and not repeated here. During the proposed rule (87 FR 41084, July 11, 2022) comment period, we received several comments stating that our management partners and industry needed additional time to understand these measures, consider them in the current context of the fishery, and provide adequate comment. We delayed implementation of the measures until May 1, 2025, while we accepted additional public comments on these measures as provided in the IFR, which indicated that we would PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 consider any additional comments received and would, if necessary and appropriate, publish a subsequent rule to address any changes. See 88 FR at 67669. On January 23, 2024, the Commission’s Lobster Board withdrew its prior recommendation for implementation of Area 2 and 3 ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions, determining that these measures are no longer relevant in the current context of the fishery. On February 12, 2024, the Commission confirmed the decision of the Lobster Board in a letter to NMFS, citing numerous ways in which the fishery in these Areas has changed. The Commission noted that while the Addenda that originally called for the Area 2 and 3 measures attempted to prevent consolidation, the lag time between Commission approval and NMFS implementation has allowed for consolidation to occur, removing the need for these specific measures. In addition, the Commission expressed concern that the implementation of these measures would change how permits and traps will be bought and sold. The Commission also explained the economics of the fishery in these areas and changing operational needs of harvesters to maintain their businesses, citing increased costs, loss of fishing grounds due to other ocean uses, additional management measures on the American lobster fishery to reduce the risk to North Atlantic right whales posed by the fishery, and the evolution of the fishery in these areas from a lobster fishery to a mixed-crustacean fishery targeting both lobsters and Jonah crabs. The Atlantic Coastal Act provides that the Secretary ‘‘may implement regulations’’ affecting fisheries also regulated by the Commission if no fishery management plan exists pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the regulations are ‘‘compatible with the effective implementation of a coastal fishery management plan.’’ 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A). Removing the Area 2 and 3 measures ensures that Federal regulations continue to complement the Commission’s Lobster Plan. Further, this action will minimize confusion between State and Federal requirements. If we do not remove these Area 2 and 3 measures, there would be inconsistent State and Federal lobster regulations, potentially undermining management of the fishery. Other Management Measures The IFR also implemented mandatory electronic harvester reporting requirements and corrections. This final E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 105 / Thursday, May 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 rule makes no changes to those measures, which have already become effective. Comments and Responses As noted above, the IFR delayed implementation of certain measures and solicited public comment on them. The comment period ended on December 1, 2023. We received comments from 10 groups: The Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association (AOLA), the Animal Welfare Institute, a group of environmental organizations, 6 members of the fishing industry, and 1 member of the public. Only comments that were applicable to the proposed measures are addressed below. Comment 1: AOLA stated that the Area 3 maximum trap reductions are inconsistent with the National Standards and are purely an economic reallocation, which is specifically prohibited; that the analysis in the environmental assessment did not rely on the best available science; and that the economic analysis was insufficient because it did not discuss impacts to crew, communities, shoreside employees, and owners. Response: The commenter’s assertions are the same arguments made in AOLA v. Raimondo, an active lawsuit in the Federal Court for the District of New Hampshire. When developed, the IFR measures reflected the best scientific information available and appropriate consideration of economic and social impacts and was supported by the regulated community, including AOLA. However, NOAA is withdrawing the relevant measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery as articulated by the public and the Commission and because the maintaining the measures would create incompatibility between state and Federal management of the fishery. Comment 2: AOLA commented against the ownership caps and maximum trap cap reductions, stating that it is unlikely that the level of fishing necessary to harvest optimum yield could be maintained, as these measures seem to encourage the downsizing of offshore vessels. Response: The 2022 environmental assessment accompanying the IFR noted that it was difficult to predict industry response to these measures, specifically whether traps would be reduced or whether owners would attempt to transfer traps in an attempt to recoup costs. Likewise, it was difficult to assess how fishing practices would have changed. NOAA is withdrawing the Area 2 and 3 IFR measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery and the need for Federal regulations to VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:52 May 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 be compatible with the Commission’s Lobster Plan as discussed in the response to comment 1. Comment 3: AOLA stated that there is no justification for the Area 3 measures, citing multiple reasons. First, the commenter asserted that the majority of fishing effort in Area 3 is on the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock, not the southern New England stock that these measures were intended to conserve. Second, the commenter cited economic impacts, predicting loss in profits and the potential for effort shifts. Third, the commenter discussed how Area 3 permit holders have appropriately scaled their businesses for their trap allocations and lack the ability to consolidate effort. Finally, the commenter stated that they are not aware of any concerns from the fishing industry about the existing level of consolidation in the fishery. Response: As discussed above, NOAA is withdrawing the Area 3 measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery and the need for Federal regulations to be compatible with the Commission’s Lobster Plan. On February 12, 2024, the Commission notified NOAA that the lobster fishery’s circumstances had changed and that it no longer supported certain measures in the IFR. Accordingly, the purpose and need for the involved Federal measures no longer exists and NOAA is withdrawing those measures to avoid incompatibility with the Commission Lobster Plan. See 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A). Comment 4: Environmental organizations indicated general support for measures that reduce risk to protected species. These organizations urged us to implement all possible measures as soon as possible and to continue the development of ondemand (or ropeless) gear to minimize risk from persistent vertical buoy lines. Response: NOAA takes its responsibilities to protect North Atlantic right whales seriously and has expended great effort and resources in doing so. Recent or ongoing efforts include: (1) continued trial and testing of on-demand gear, as facilitated by the approval of several exempted fishing permits and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s on-demand gear library; (2) support of and participation on the New England Fishery Management Council’s On-Demand Gear Conflict Working Group; (3) hosting various on-demand workshops in late 2023; and (4) the February 7, 2024, final rule (89 FR 8333) to close portions of Federal waters north of Cape Cod Bay to lobster fishing every year from February 1 through April 30 to PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 46827 protect right whales on their way to and from their feeding grounds in Cape Cod Bay. This February 7, 2024 final rule is currently in litigation. Our whale protection efforts are continuous and ongoing. Comment 5: A group of environmental organizations indicated that the maximum trap cap reductions will reduce trap fishing effort thus benefiting both the lobster stock, by reducing the number of traps fished, and whales, by reducing the number of associated fishing lines in the water. Response: The maximum trap cap reduction would have been unlikely to reduce the number of traps fished due to the Area 3 trap allocation and trap transfer program and the financial incentive for lobster businesses to maximize profits by transferring (selling) unused trap allocation. On March 27, 2003, we published a final rule (68 FR 14902) that established a program to set the total number of Area 3 traps per permit. On April 7, 2014, we published a final rule (79 FR 19015) that established a trap transfer program, allowing lobster businesses to transfer (sell) these allocated traps to other lobster businesses. These allocated traps remain an asset of the lobster permit regardless of the permit holder’s ability to use any excess allocation created by the lowering of the Area 3 trap cap. In such a trap cap adjustment, there is economic incentive for a permit holder to transfer (sell) this now unusable excess allocation to a lobster business that can use it because their allocation is under the cap. Such a transfer would be subject to a 10-percent conservation tax, which somewhat decreases the overall Area 3 trap allocation with every transfer. Recent public commentary and debate at the Lobster Board, however, suggested that consolidation has already taken place in response to other management measures. Consequently, the actual result of the maximum trap cap reduction would be more of a redistribution than a reduction of trap allocation and, as such, the reduction in traps being fished, and the reduction of lines in the water, would have been expected to be minimal. For more detail on this issue, please see NOAA’s Environmental Assessment, section 7.2.2, December 2022, as well as the Supplemental Information Report, section 6. Comment 6: A group of environmental organizations expressed surprise that comments submitted at the proposed rule stage of this rulemaking that referenced measures to reduce risk to North Atlantic right whales implemented by a September 17, 2021, E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 46828 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 105 / Thursday, May 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations final rule (86 FR 51970) were described as not relevant to the action. Response: The purpose and need of the IFR was not to implement whale protection measures but rather to complement lobster management measures outlined in Addenda XXI, XXII, and XXVI to Amendment 3 to the Lobster Plan (see Lobster EA, section 1.0 Executive Summary—Purpose and Need (August 2022)). All of those Addenda pre-date the September 17, 2021, final rule (86 FR 51970), some by as much as eight years. As such, the IFR did not implement protections for the North Atlantic right whale pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Instead, the IFR was promulgated under the Atlantic Coastal Act, which mandates that Federal lobster regulations be compatible with the Commission’s Lobster Plan and requires the withdrawal of the IFR that we are announcing today. Comment 7: Two environmental organizations supported the IFR, requesting whale protection measures to be put into place as soon as possible. One of the organizations indicated that industry has had ample time to understand and come into compliance with these requirements. Response: Similar to comment 6, this comment conflates NOAA’s whale protection efforts and rulemakings with this rulemaking, which implements the agency’s responsibilities pursuant to the Atlantic Coastal Act. The purpose of the IFR was to implement lobster management measures outlined in Addenda XXI, XXII and XXVI. The Commission, however, rescinded their request for us to implement these measures by vote on January 23, 2024, and by letter to NOAA on February 12, 2024. We are likewise rescinding the Federal regulations to ensure compatibility with the Commission’s Lobster Plan as required by the Atlantic Coastal Act. Management measures for the purposes of reducing the risk from lobster fishing on protected species are implemented through other processes, as described in the response to comment 4. Whether the affected industry had sufficient time to comply with this action is moot, given that, for the reasons stated above, we are removing these requirements. Comment 8: One member of the fishing industry stated that the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock remains at high levels of abundance and not in need of trap reductions. That industry member also stated that there is no evidence that reducing fishing effort of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank lobster stock will address the deterioration of the southern New England lobster stock. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:52 May 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 Another member of the industry stated that these measures are unnecessary, as juvenile and egg-bearing female lobster are abundant on Georges Bank. Response: The best available science from the 2020 benchmark stock assessment indicates that the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock remains in favorable condition based on the reference points. The 2020 assessment concluded that the stock is not depleted and overfishing is not occurring, though more recent information made available since both the assessment and the publication of the interim final rule indicates a decline in recruit abundance, triggering other management actions for those fishing on the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock. The decision whether to apply Area 3 measures to all of Area 3 (i.e., harvesters fishing on both the Gulf of Maine/ Georges Bank and southern New England lobster stocks), was debated and decided upon by the Lobster Board. Draft Addendum XXI, released for public comment in May 2013, included options for a southern New England permit designation, which would have allowed for the trap reductions to only apply to harvesters fishing on the southern New England stock. The Lobster Board did not select permit designations as a final management measure, thus applying management measures to the entirety of Area 3, including the portion of Area 3 that fishes on the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank lobster stock. We proposed and implemented these measures based on the Commission’s original request for complementary measures in Federal waters. Given their more recent request to withdraw the measures, we are now acting accordingly. Comment 9: One member of the fishing industry contends that the declines of the southern New England stock are being driven by climate change, not overfishing or excessive fishing pressure, as supported by the action’s environmental assessment. Further, the member of the fishing industry stated that we did not establish an adequate link between fishing effort and stock depletion. Response: The best available science suggests that environmental factors are a significant factor in the decline of the southern New England stock. The 2020 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment made major advances in considering the impact of changing environmental conditions on lobster population dynamics. Environmental factors contributed to the assessment’s analysis of regime shifts and associated thresholds by which stock health is now measured. While this information was PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 not directly discussed in the environmental assessment, it was the foundation for stock status discussed in section 6.2.3 of the environmental assessment. While not available to the Commission during the development of Addenda XXI and XXII, a 2016 American Lobster Technical Committee analysis suggests that, despite overfishing not occurring, stabilization of the southern New England lobster stock was only possible with a reduction in exploitation. This analysis thus links fishing effort and recovery of the southern New England lobster stock. Comment 10: One member of the fishing industry stated that the analysis included in the environmental assessment was out of date, as it relied on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission’s 2009 and 2015 benchmark American lobster stock assessments. Response: The environmental assessment accompanying the IFR made reference to several recent benchmark American lobster stock assessments. At the time the Commission considered and approved Addenda XXI and XXII, the 2009 stock assessment was considered the best available science. Since that time, the 2015 and 2020 assessments have confirmed the continued downward trend in the southern New England lobster stock. Section 6.2.3 of the environmental assessment accompanying the IFR which discusses stock status, uses the best available scientific information from the 2020 benchmark stock assessment. Comment 11: Five members of the fishing industry commented in opposition to the Area 3 measures, citing changes to the fishery over the last 10 years and financial issues. Two industry members stated that these regulations will create inefficiencies for current fishery participants, with one arguing that these measures would be detrimental to owners with multiple vessels. A third industry member suggested freezing the number of traps at current levels. Other commenters cited the increased cost of fuel and bait, previous investments made to maintain higher allocations following the 2016– 2020 trap reductions, and the difficulty of paying and retaining crew members. Response: We agree with the commenters that imposing the IFR measures could have had some negative impacts to Area 3 harvesters, although we assessed them as slight in the short term when the IFR was released. See 88 FR at 67674–67675. We acknowledge that each business is different, thus impacts are not uniform, with some businesses potentially being more affected by the measures than others. As E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 105 / Thursday, May 30, 2024 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 discussed in the response to comment 5, the environmental assessment acknowledged that permit holders may respond to these measures differently, by either selling off or redistributing traps. Following requests during the proposed rule comment period, we provided additional time for management partners and industry to understand these measures, consider them in the current context of the fishery, and provide additional comment. Comments by these and other commenters and the recommendation from the Commission confirm that the fishery has changed, and these measures no longer make sense, resulting in the Commission’s withdrawal of these measures. We are now withdrawing the Area 3 measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery and the need for Federal regulations to be compatible with the Commission’s Lobster Plan. As part of its recommendation to withdraw these measures, the Commission stated that it also intends to evaluate potential replacement measures. We intend to support the Commission during that process. Comment 12: One industry member and one fishery organization stated that the economic impacts in the environmental assessment were underestimated. In particular, the fishery organization questioned our assumption of a 5-percent profit loss when the Area 3 maximum trap cap reduction may affect up to 18 percent of Area 3 traps. Response: Based on the input received from comments and the Lobster Board and discussed in greater detail in response to comment 5, consolidation at some level had already taken place. Additional input received indicated that permit holders would be likely to sell traps through the trap transfer program to recoup individual losses. At the fishery level, nearly the same number of traps could be expected to be fished, resulting in similar landings and, therefore, revenue for the fishery overall. That said, as discussed in response to other comments above, given the Commission’s more recent VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:52 May 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 request to withdraw the measures, we are now rescinding the Federal regulations to ensure compatibility with the Commission’s Plan. Classification The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is consistent with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, applicable provisions of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable law. The agency finds public comment is unnecessary under the Administrative Procedure Act. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The Atlantic Coastal Act requires Federal regulations to be ‘‘compatible with the effective implementation of a coastal fishery management plan,’’ 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A), and following the Commission’s modification of the Lobster Plan, the only regulatory option to ensure the regulations are compatible with the revised plan is to maintain the status quo, i.e., to withdraw the relevant provisions of the IFR. If those provisions were to go into effect, the result would be inconsistent management of State and Federal waters, creating confusion for the regulated industry and potential harm to the resource. Moreover, the public has had multiple opportunities to comment on the relevant measures, see 88 FR at 67669 (IFR), 87 FR 41084 (proposed rule), 82 FR 52871 (ANPR), 79 FR 4319 (ANPR), and has done so. This final rule has been determined to not be significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared for this action and described in the IFR. The FRFA incorporated the initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a summary of the significant issues raised by the public comments in response to the IRFA and NMFS responses to those comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support the action. The IRFA and FRFA analyzed the suite of measures considered during this rulemaking, including actions that minimize impacts to small entities. Therefore, the analysis included in the FRFA remains valid. This final rule PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 46829 would remove some of the measures in the IFR, and will, therefore, reduce the overall costs of this action. 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 shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, and shall designate such publications as ‘‘small entity compliance guides.’’ The agency shall 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, letters to permit holders that also serves as this small entity compliance guide were prepared at both the interim final rule and this final rule stage. Copies of these guide and this rule are available upon request from the Greater Atlantic Regional Office (see ADDRESSES), and the guide/ permit holder bulletin will be sent to all holders of lobster permits. This final rule contains no information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 697 Fisheries, Fishing. Dated: May 20, 2024. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 697 is amended as follows: PART 697—ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT 1. The authority citation for part 697 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. 2. Effective July 1, 2024, NMFS withdraws amendatory instruction 6 of the interim final rule published at 88 FR 67667, on October 2, 2023. ■ [FR Doc. 2024–11453 Filed 5–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46825-46829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11453]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 697

[Docket No. 240520-0141]
RIN 0648-BM92


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Coastal 
Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster 
Fishery; Removal of American Lobster Effort Control Measures

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Following the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 
(Commission) withdrawal of Lobster Conservation Management Area 2 and 3 
ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions from its 
Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (Lobster Plan), 
this action

[[Page 46826]]

removes those requirements from Federal regulations and clarifies that 
all other measures included in the October 2, 2023, interim final rule 
(IFR) remain in effect. This action is intended to support the 
Commission's management of the lobster fishery and eliminate the 
potential for inconsistent State and Federal regulations that risk 
undermining management of the fishery and is necessary to ensure that 
fishery regulations for the lobster fishery in Federal waters remain 
compatible with the Lobster Plan and consistent with the Atlantic 
Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act).

DATES: As of July 1, 2024, the revision to Sec.  697.19(c) and (m) in 
amendatory instruction 6 of the IFR, 88 FR 67667, 67687-67679 (October 
2, 2023), is withdrawn.

ADDRESSES: You may request copies of the supplemental information 
report prepared for this action at: National Marine Fisheries Service, 
55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2276 or by calling (978) 
281-9315. The supporting document is also accessible via the internet 
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/greater-atlantic-regional-fisheries-office or https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (978) 281-9122.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

Statutory Authority

    These regulations modify Federal lobster fishery management 
measures in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the authority of 
section 803(b) of the Atlantic Coastal Act. This authority states that, 
in the absence of an approved and implemented Fishery Management Plan 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and, after consultation 
with the appropriate fishery management council(s), the Secretary of 
Commerce may implement regulations to govern fishing in the EEZ, from 3 
to 200 nautical miles offshore. The regulations must be: (1) compatible 
with the effective implementation of an Interstate Fishery Management 
Plan developed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; and 
(2) consistent with the National Standards set forth in section 301 of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. See 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A) (establishing 
Secretary's authority to issue Federal regulations that are compatible 
with a coastal management plan and consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act 
National Standards), 16 U.S.C. 1502(1) (defining ``coastal management 
plan'').

Purpose and Need for Management

    The purpose of this action is to manage the American lobster 
fishery to maximize resource sustainability, recognizing that Federal 
management occurs in concert with State management and compatibility 
between State and Federal measures is crucial to the overall success of 
American lobster management and required by the Atlantic Coastal Act. 
NMFS indicated that the agency could make changes to the IFR measures 
and requested comment on that possibility in the IFR, see 88 FR at 
67669; see also 87 FR 41084 (July 11, 2022) (proposed rule requesting 
comments on measures ultimately included in the IFR); 82 FR 52871 
(November 15, 2017) (advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) 
requesting comments on change to control date for trap limits in Areas 
2 and 3); 79 FR 4319 (January 27, 2014) (ANPR establishing control date 
and requesting comments). In light of public comments received and to 
achieve the purpose of the Atlantic Coastal Act, we are withdrawing the 
Area 2 and 3 ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions that 
we implemented in the IFR.

Management Measures

Area 2 and 3 Measures

    The IFR implemented ownership caps in Areas 2 and 3 and maximum 
trap cap reductions in Area 3, effective May 1, 2025. These measures 
complemented the Commission's Addenda XXI and XXII to Amendment 3 to 
the Lobster Plan, both of which were approved by the Commission in 
2013. The objective of these addenda was to scale the southern New 
England lobster fishery to the diminished size of the resource by 
addressing latent effort in the fishery and reducing trap limits in an 
attempt to control harvest to allow for potential stock rebuilding. A 
full description of those measures is included in the IFR and not 
repeated here.
    During the proposed rule (87 FR 41084, July 11, 2022) comment 
period, we received several comments stating that our management 
partners and industry needed additional time to understand these 
measures, consider them in the current context of the fishery, and 
provide adequate comment. We delayed implementation of the measures 
until May 1, 2025, while we accepted additional public comments on 
these measures as provided in the IFR, which indicated that we would 
consider any additional comments received and would, if necessary and 
appropriate, publish a subsequent rule to address any changes. See 88 
FR at 67669.
    On January 23, 2024, the Commission's Lobster Board withdrew its 
prior recommendation for implementation of Area 2 and 3 ownership caps 
and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions, determining that these measures 
are no longer relevant in the current context of the fishery. On 
February 12, 2024, the Commission confirmed the decision of the Lobster 
Board in a letter to NMFS, citing numerous ways in which the fishery in 
these Areas has changed. The Commission noted that while the Addenda 
that originally called for the Area 2 and 3 measures attempted to 
prevent consolidation, the lag time between Commission approval and 
NMFS implementation has allowed for consolidation to occur, removing 
the need for these specific measures. In addition, the Commission 
expressed concern that the implementation of these measures would 
change how permits and traps will be bought and sold. The Commission 
also explained the economics of the fishery in these areas and changing 
operational needs of harvesters to maintain their businesses, citing 
increased costs, loss of fishing grounds due to other ocean uses, 
additional management measures on the American lobster fishery to 
reduce the risk to North Atlantic right whales posed by the fishery, 
and the evolution of the fishery in these areas from a lobster fishery 
to a mixed-crustacean fishery targeting both lobsters and Jonah crabs.
    The Atlantic Coastal Act provides that the Secretary ``may 
implement regulations'' affecting fisheries also regulated by the 
Commission if no fishery management plan exists pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and the regulations are ``compatible with the 
effective implementation of a coastal fishery management plan.'' 16 
U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A). Removing the Area 2 and 3 measures ensures that 
Federal regulations continue to complement the Commission's Lobster 
Plan. Further, this action will minimize confusion between State and 
Federal requirements. If we do not remove these Area 2 and 3 measures, 
there would be inconsistent State and Federal lobster regulations, 
potentially undermining management of the fishery.

Other Management Measures

    The IFR also implemented mandatory electronic harvester reporting 
requirements and corrections. This final

[[Page 46827]]

rule makes no changes to those measures, which have already become 
effective.

Comments and Responses

    As noted above, the IFR delayed implementation of certain measures 
and solicited public comment on them. The comment period ended on 
December 1, 2023. We received comments from 10 groups: The Atlantic 
Offshore Lobstermen's Association (AOLA), the Animal Welfare Institute, 
a group of environmental organizations, 6 members of the fishing 
industry, and 1 member of the public. Only comments that were 
applicable to the proposed measures are addressed below.
    Comment 1: AOLA stated that the Area 3 maximum trap reductions are 
inconsistent with the National Standards and are purely an economic 
reallocation, which is specifically prohibited; that the analysis in 
the environmental assessment did not rely on the best available 
science; and that the economic analysis was insufficient because it did 
not discuss impacts to crew, communities, shoreside employees, and 
owners.
    Response: The commenter's assertions are the same arguments made in 
AOLA v. Raimondo, an active lawsuit in the Federal Court for the 
District of New Hampshire. When developed, the IFR measures reflected 
the best scientific information available and appropriate consideration 
of economic and social impacts and was supported by the regulated 
community, including AOLA. However, NOAA is withdrawing the relevant 
measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery as articulated 
by the public and the Commission and because the maintaining the 
measures would create incompatibility between state and Federal 
management of the fishery.
    Comment 2: AOLA commented against the ownership caps and maximum 
trap cap reductions, stating that it is unlikely that the level of 
fishing necessary to harvest optimum yield could be maintained, as 
these measures seem to encourage the downsizing of offshore vessels.
    Response: The 2022 environmental assessment accompanying the IFR 
noted that it was difficult to predict industry response to these 
measures, specifically whether traps would be reduced or whether owners 
would attempt to transfer traps in an attempt to recoup costs. 
Likewise, it was difficult to assess how fishing practices would have 
changed. NOAA is withdrawing the Area 2 and 3 IFR measures because of 
changed circumstances in the fishery and the need for Federal 
regulations to be compatible with the Commission's Lobster Plan as 
discussed in the response to comment 1.
    Comment 3: AOLA stated that there is no justification for the Area 
3 measures, citing multiple reasons. First, the commenter asserted that 
the majority of fishing effort in Area 3 is on the Gulf of Maine/
Georges Bank stock, not the southern New England stock that these 
measures were intended to conserve. Second, the commenter cited 
economic impacts, predicting loss in profits and the potential for 
effort shifts. Third, the commenter discussed how Area 3 permit holders 
have appropriately scaled their businesses for their trap allocations 
and lack the ability to consolidate effort. Finally, the commenter 
stated that they are not aware of any concerns from the fishing 
industry about the existing level of consolidation in the fishery.
    Response: As discussed above, NOAA is withdrawing the Area 3 
measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery and the need 
for Federal regulations to be compatible with the Commission's Lobster 
Plan. On February 12, 2024, the Commission notified NOAA that the 
lobster fishery's circumstances had changed and that it no longer 
supported certain measures in the IFR. Accordingly, the purpose and 
need for the involved Federal measures no longer exists and NOAA is 
withdrawing those measures to avoid incompatibility with the Commission 
Lobster Plan. See 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A).
    Comment 4: Environmental organizations indicated general support 
for measures that reduce risk to protected species. These organizations 
urged us to implement all possible measures as soon as possible and to 
continue the development of on-demand (or ropeless) gear to minimize 
risk from persistent vertical buoy lines.
    Response: NOAA takes its responsibilities to protect North Atlantic 
right whales seriously and has expended great effort and resources in 
doing so. Recent or ongoing efforts include: (1) continued trial and 
testing of on-demand gear, as facilitated by the approval of several 
exempted fishing permits and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's 
on-demand gear library; (2) support of and participation on the New 
England Fishery Management Council's On-Demand Gear Conflict Working 
Group; (3) hosting various on-demand workshops in late 2023; and (4) 
the February 7, 2024, final rule (89 FR 8333) to close portions of 
Federal waters north of Cape Cod Bay to lobster fishing every year from 
February 1 through April 30 to protect right whales on their way to and 
from their feeding grounds in Cape Cod Bay. This February 7, 2024 final 
rule is currently in litigation. Our whale protection efforts are 
continuous and ongoing.
    Comment 5: A group of environmental organizations indicated that 
the maximum trap cap reductions will reduce trap fishing effort thus 
benefiting both the lobster stock, by reducing the number of traps 
fished, and whales, by reducing the number of associated fishing lines 
in the water.
    Response: The maximum trap cap reduction would have been unlikely 
to reduce the number of traps fished due to the Area 3 trap allocation 
and trap transfer program and the financial incentive for lobster 
businesses to maximize profits by transferring (selling) unused trap 
allocation. On March 27, 2003, we published a final rule (68 FR 14902) 
that established a program to set the total number of Area 3 traps per 
permit. On April 7, 2014, we published a final rule (79 FR 19015) that 
established a trap transfer program, allowing lobster businesses to 
transfer (sell) these allocated traps to other lobster businesses. 
These allocated traps remain an asset of the lobster permit regardless 
of the permit holder's ability to use any excess allocation created by 
the lowering of the Area 3 trap cap. In such a trap cap adjustment, 
there is economic incentive for a permit holder to transfer (sell) this 
now unusable excess allocation to a lobster business that can use it 
because their allocation is under the cap. Such a transfer would be 
subject to a 10-percent conservation tax, which somewhat decreases the 
overall Area 3 trap allocation with every transfer. Recent public 
commentary and debate at the Lobster Board, however, suggested that 
consolidation has already taken place in response to other management 
measures. Consequently, the actual result of the maximum trap cap 
reduction would be more of a redistribution than a reduction of trap 
allocation and, as such, the reduction in traps being fished, and the 
reduction of lines in the water, would have been expected to be 
minimal. For more detail on this issue, please see NOAA's Environmental 
Assessment, section 7.2.2, December 2022, as well as the Supplemental 
Information Report, section 6.
    Comment 6: A group of environmental organizations expressed 
surprise that comments submitted at the proposed rule stage of this 
rulemaking that referenced measures to reduce risk to North Atlantic 
right whales implemented by a September 17, 2021,

[[Page 46828]]

final rule (86 FR 51970) were described as not relevant to the action.
    Response: The purpose and need of the IFR was not to implement 
whale protection measures but rather to complement lobster management 
measures outlined in Addenda XXI, XXII, and XXVI to Amendment 3 to the 
Lobster Plan (see Lobster EA, section 1.0 Executive Summary--Purpose 
and Need (August 2022)). All of those Addenda pre-date the September 
17, 2021, final rule (86 FR 51970), some by as much as eight years. As 
such, the IFR did not implement protections for the North Atlantic 
right whale pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Instead, the 
IFR was promulgated under the Atlantic Coastal Act, which mandates that 
Federal lobster regulations be compatible with the Commission's Lobster 
Plan and requires the withdrawal of the IFR that we are announcing 
today.
    Comment 7: Two environmental organizations supported the IFR, 
requesting whale protection measures to be put into place as soon as 
possible. One of the organizations indicated that industry has had 
ample time to understand and come into compliance with these 
requirements.
    Response: Similar to comment 6, this comment conflates NOAA's whale 
protection efforts and rulemakings with this rulemaking, which 
implements the agency's responsibilities pursuant to the Atlantic 
Coastal Act. The purpose of the IFR was to implement lobster management 
measures outlined in Addenda XXI, XXII and XXVI. The Commission, 
however, rescinded their request for us to implement these measures by 
vote on January 23, 2024, and by letter to NOAA on February 12, 2024. 
We are likewise rescinding the Federal regulations to ensure 
compatibility with the Commission's Lobster Plan as required by the 
Atlantic Coastal Act. Management measures for the purposes of reducing 
the risk from lobster fishing on protected species are implemented 
through other processes, as described in the response to comment 4. 
Whether the affected industry had sufficient time to comply with this 
action is moot, given that, for the reasons stated above, we are 
removing these requirements.
    Comment 8: One member of the fishing industry stated that the Gulf 
of Maine/Georges Bank stock remains at high levels of abundance and not 
in need of trap reductions. That industry member also stated that there 
is no evidence that reducing fishing effort of the Gulf of Maine/
Georges Bank lobster stock will address the deterioration of the 
southern New England lobster stock. Another member of the industry 
stated that these measures are unnecessary, as juvenile and egg-bearing 
female lobster are abundant on Georges Bank.
    Response: The best available science from the 2020 benchmark stock 
assessment indicates that the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock remains 
in favorable condition based on the reference points. The 2020 
assessment concluded that the stock is not depleted and overfishing is 
not occurring, though more recent information made available since both 
the assessment and the publication of the interim final rule indicates 
a decline in recruit abundance, triggering other management actions for 
those fishing on the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock. The decision 
whether to apply Area 3 measures to all of Area 3 (i.e., harvesters 
fishing on both the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank and southern New England 
lobster stocks), was debated and decided upon by the Lobster Board. 
Draft Addendum XXI, released for public comment in May 2013, included 
options for a southern New England permit designation, which would have 
allowed for the trap reductions to only apply to harvesters fishing on 
the southern New England stock. The Lobster Board did not select permit 
designations as a final management measure, thus applying management 
measures to the entirety of Area 3, including the portion of Area 3 
that fishes on the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank lobster stock. We 
proposed and implemented these measures based on the Commission's 
original request for complementary measures in Federal waters. Given 
their more recent request to withdraw the measures, we are now acting 
accordingly.
    Comment 9: One member of the fishing industry contends that the 
declines of the southern New England stock are being driven by climate 
change, not overfishing or excessive fishing pressure, as supported by 
the action's environmental assessment. Further, the member of the 
fishing industry stated that we did not establish an adequate link 
between fishing effort and stock depletion.
    Response: The best available science suggests that environmental 
factors are a significant factor in the decline of the southern New 
England stock. The 2020 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment 
made major advances in considering the impact of changing environmental 
conditions on lobster population dynamics. Environmental factors 
contributed to the assessment's analysis of regime shifts and 
associated thresholds by which stock health is now measured. While this 
information was not directly discussed in the environmental assessment, 
it was the foundation for stock status discussed in section 6.2.3 of 
the environmental assessment. While not available to the Commission 
during the development of Addenda XXI and XXII, a 2016 American Lobster 
Technical Committee analysis suggests that, despite overfishing not 
occurring, stabilization of the southern New England lobster stock was 
only possible with a reduction in exploitation. This analysis thus 
links fishing effort and recovery of the southern New England lobster 
stock.
    Comment 10: One member of the fishing industry stated that the 
analysis included in the environmental assessment was out of date, as 
it relied on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries commission's 2009 and 
2015 benchmark American lobster stock assessments.
    Response: The environmental assessment accompanying the IFR made 
reference to several recent benchmark American lobster stock 
assessments. At the time the Commission considered and approved Addenda 
XXI and XXII, the 2009 stock assessment was considered the best 
available science. Since that time, the 2015 and 2020 assessments have 
confirmed the continued downward trend in the southern New England 
lobster stock. Section 6.2.3 of the environmental assessment 
accompanying the IFR which discusses stock status, uses the best 
available scientific information from the 2020 benchmark stock 
assessment.
    Comment 11: Five members of the fishing industry commented in 
opposition to the Area 3 measures, citing changes to the fishery over 
the last 10 years and financial issues. Two industry members stated 
that these regulations will create inefficiencies for current fishery 
participants, with one arguing that these measures would be detrimental 
to owners with multiple vessels. A third industry member suggested 
freezing the number of traps at current levels. Other commenters cited 
the increased cost of fuel and bait, previous investments made to 
maintain higher allocations following the 2016-2020 trap reductions, 
and the difficulty of paying and retaining crew members.
    Response: We agree with the commenters that imposing the IFR 
measures could have had some negative impacts to Area 3 harvesters, 
although we assessed them as slight in the short term when the IFR was 
released. See 88 FR at 67674-67675. We acknowledge that each business 
is different, thus impacts are not uniform, with some businesses 
potentially being more affected by the measures than others. As

[[Page 46829]]

discussed in the response to comment 5, the environmental assessment 
acknowledged that permit holders may respond to these measures 
differently, by either selling off or redistributing traps. Following 
requests during the proposed rule comment period, we provided 
additional time for management partners and industry to understand 
these measures, consider them in the current context of the fishery, 
and provide additional comment. Comments by these and other commenters 
and the recommendation from the Commission confirm that the fishery has 
changed, and these measures no longer make sense, resulting in the 
Commission's withdrawal of these measures. We are now withdrawing the 
Area 3 measures because of changed circumstances in the fishery and the 
need for Federal regulations to be compatible with the Commission's 
Lobster Plan. As part of its recommendation to withdraw these measures, 
the Commission stated that it also intends to evaluate potential 
replacement measures. We intend to support the Commission during that 
process.
    Comment 12: One industry member and one fishery organization stated 
that the economic impacts in the environmental assessment were 
underestimated. In particular, the fishery organization questioned our 
assumption of a 5-percent profit loss when the Area 3 maximum trap cap 
reduction may affect up to 18 percent of Area 3 traps.
    Response: Based on the input received from comments and the Lobster 
Board and discussed in greater detail in response to comment 5, 
consolidation at some level had already taken place. Additional input 
received indicated that permit holders would be likely to sell traps 
through the trap transfer program to recoup individual losses. At the 
fishery level, nearly the same number of traps could be expected to be 
fished, resulting in similar landings and, therefore, revenue for the 
fishery overall. That said, as discussed in response to other comments 
above, given the Commission's more recent request to withdraw the 
measures, we are now rescinding the Federal regulations to ensure 
compatibility with the Commission's Plan.

Classification

    The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final 
rule is consistent with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 
Management Act, applicable provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable law. The agency 
finds public comment is unnecessary under the Administrative Procedure 
Act. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The Atlantic Coastal Act requires Federal 
regulations to be ``compatible with the effective implementation of a 
coastal fishery management plan,'' 16 U.S.C. 5103(b)(1)(A), and 
following the Commission's modification of the Lobster Plan, the only 
regulatory option to ensure the regulations are compatible with the 
revised plan is to maintain the status quo, i.e., to withdraw the 
relevant provisions of the IFR. If those provisions were to go into 
effect, the result would be inconsistent management of State and 
Federal waters, creating confusion for the regulated industry and 
potential harm to the resource. Moreover, the public has had multiple 
opportunities to comment on the relevant measures, see 88 FR at 67669 
(IFR), 87 FR 41084 (proposed rule), 82 FR 52871 (ANPR), 79 FR 4319 
(ANPR), and has done so.
    This final rule has been determined to not be significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared for 
this action and described in the IFR. The FRFA incorporated the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a summary of the significant 
issues raised by the public comments in response to the IRFA and NMFS 
responses to those comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to 
support the action. The IRFA and FRFA analyzed the suite of measures 
considered during this rulemaking, including actions that minimize 
impacts to small entities. Therefore, the analysis included in the FRFA 
remains valid. This final rule would remove some of the measures in the 
IFR, and will, therefore, reduce the overall costs of this action.
    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 shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency shall 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, letters to permit holders that also serves as 
this small entity compliance guide were prepared at both the interim 
final rule and this final rule stage. Copies of these guide and this 
rule are available upon request from the Greater Atlantic Regional 
Office (see ADDRESSES), and the guide/permit holder bulletin will be 
sent to all holders of lobster permits.
    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 697

    Fisheries, Fishing.

    Dated: May 20, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 697 is amended 
as follows:

PART 697--ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 697 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.

0
2. Effective July 1, 2024, NMFS withdraws amendatory instruction 6 of 
the interim final rule published at 88 FR 67667, on October 2, 2023.

[FR Doc. 2024-11453 Filed 5-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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