Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2024-2026 Specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, 59678-59681 [2024-16111]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
59678
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
ACTION:
PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST
COAST STATES
3. The authority citation for part 660
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16
U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
4. In § 660.4, revise paragraph (a)(3) to
read as follows:
■
§ 660.4 Usual and accustomed fishing
areas for Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes.
(a) * * *
(3) Hoh. A polygon commencing at
the Pacific coast shoreline near the
mouth of the Quillayute River, located
at latitude 47°54′30″ north, longitude
124°38′31″ west; then proceeding west
approximately forty nautical miles at
that latitude to a northwestern point
located at latitude 47°54′30″ north,
longitude 125°38′18″ west; then
proceeding in a southeasterly direction
mirroring the coastline at a distance no
farther than forty nautical miles from
the mainland Pacific coast shoreline, to
a point located at latitude 47°31′42″
north, longitude 125°20′26″ west, then
proceeding east along that line of
latitude approximately ten nautical
miles to a point located at latitude
47°31′42″ north, longitude 125°5′48″
west, then proceeding in a southeasterly
direction mirroring the coastline at a
distance no farther than thirty nautical
miles from the mainland Pacific coast
shoreline to a point located at latitude
47°21′00″ north, longitude 125°2′52″
west; then proceeding east along that
line of latitude to the Pacific coast
shoreline near the mouth of the
Quinault River, located at latitude
47°21′00″ north, longitude 124°18′8″
west.
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 2024–16010 Filed 7–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 240717–0198]
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
RIN 0648–BM79
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; 2024–2026 Specifications for
the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
Fishery Management Plan
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Jul 22, 2024
Jkt 262001
NMFS approves and
implements the 2024–2026
specifications for the Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish Fishery Management
Plan, as recommended by the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council.
This final rule sets the 2024 Illex and
longfin squid specifications, and
projects the 2025 Illex and 2025–2026
longfin squid specifications. This rule
also reaffirms the 2024 butterfish and
Atlantic chub mackerel specifications
and the previously published projected
2025 chub mackerel specifications.
These specifications establish allowable
harvest levels that will prevent
overfishing, consistent with the most
recent scientific information.
DATES: Effective August 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES: A Supplemental
Information Report (SIR) was prepared
for these specifications. Copies of the
SIR and other relevant environmental
documentation are available on request
from Dr. Christopher M. Moore,
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, Suite 201,
800 North State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
The SIR is also accessible via the
internet at https://www.mafmc.org/
supporting-documents.
Copies of the small entity compliance
guide are available from Michael
Pentony, Regional Administrator,
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2298, or
available on the internet at https://
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maria Fenton, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
■
AGENCY:
Final rule.
General Background
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) manages
Atlantic mackerel, Illex squid, longfin
squid, butterfish, and Atlantic chub
mackerel under the Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish Fishery Management
Plan (FMP). The regulations
implementing the FMP at 50 CFR part
648, subpart B, require the Council’s
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
Monitoring Committee to develop
specification recommendations for each
species based upon the acceptable
biological catch (ABC) advice of the
Council’s Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC). The ABC is the level
of catch that accounts for scientific
uncertainty in the estimate of the stock’s
defined overfishing limit (OFL).
Specifications are the combined suite of
commercial and recreational catch
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
levels and management measures
necessary to prevent such catch levels
from being exceeded. Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish FMP regulations require
the specification of annual catch limits
(ACL) and accountability measure (AM)
provisions for butterfish and chub
mackerel. Both squid species are exempt
from the ACL/AM requirements because
they have a life cycle of less than 1 year.
In addition, the regulations require the
specification of domestic annual harvest
(DAH), the butterfish mortality cap in
the longfin squid fishery, and initial
optimum yield (IOY) for both squid
species. As part of this process, the
Council sets specifications for up to 3
years. These specifications are reviewed
annually and may be revised by the
Council based on updated information.
On July 27, 2023 (88 FR 48389),
NMFS published a final rule in the
Federal Register implementing 2023
specifications for the chub mackerel,
butterfish, longfin squid, and Illex squid
fisheries. This included projected 2024
butterfish specifications and projected
2024–2025 chub mackerel
specifications. The Council’s SSC met in
March, May, and July 2023 to consider
the 2024 longfin squid, Illex squid, chub
mackerel, and butterfish specifications
based upon the latest information. At
those meetings, the SSC concluded that
no adjustments to these species’ ABCs
were warranted. The Council finalized
its recommendations for the 2024 Illex
and longfin squid specifications and
projected 2025 Illex and 2025–2026
longfin squid specifications during its
April and August 2023 meetings. The
Council reaffirmed the 2024 butterfish
and 2024 and projected 2025 Atlantic
chub mackerel specifications during its
June 2023 meeting. During its December
2023 meeting, the Council also finalized
recommendations for the 2024 and
projected 2025 Atlantic mackerel
specifications; however, those
specifications were recently finalized
through a separate final rule due to
additional timing concerns (89 FR
25820, April 12, 2024).
Final 2024 and Projected 2025 Illex
Squid Specifications
The final 2024 and projected 2025
Illex squid specifications are identical to
what was in place in 2023, in alignment
with the Council’s recommendation
(table 1). NMFS and the Council will
review the Illex squid specifications
during future annual specifications
processes following data updates each
spring. The 2025 specifications
projected here could change based on
new information.
E:\FR\FM\23JYR1.SGM
23JYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
59679
TABLE 1—FINAL 2024 AND PROJECTED 2025 ILLEX SQUID SPECIFICATIONS
[mt]
Specification
OFL ......................................................................................................................................................................
ABC ......................................................................................................................................................................
Commercial Discard Set-Aside ............................................................................................................................
Initial optimum yield (IOY) ...................................................................................................................................
Domestic annual harvest (DAH)/domestic annual processing (DAP) .................................................................
Final 2024 and Projected 2025–2026
Longfin Squid Specifications
The final 2024 and projected 2025–
2026 longfin squid specifications are
nearly identical to what was in place in
2023, in alignment with the Council’s
recommendation. The only change is a
slight increase in the longfin squid
2025
(projected)
2024
discard rate (from 2 percent to 2.16
percent). The background for this
change is discussed in the proposed rule
to implement these specifications (89
FR 28713, April 19, 2024), and therefore
is not repeated here. The longfin squid
IOY, DAH, and DAP are calculated by
deducting a discard set-aside, calculated
using the discard rate, from the ABC.
Unknown
40,000
1,369 (3.42%)
38,631
38,631
Unknown
40,000
1,369 (3.42%)
38,631
38,631
The 0.16-percent increase in the discard
rate results in a 0.17-percent decrease in
the commercial quota (table 2). NMFS
and the Council will review the longfin
squid specifications during future
annual specifications processes
following data updates each spring. The
2025–2026 specifications projected here
could change based on new information.
TABLE 2—FINAL 2024 AND PROJECTED 2025–2026 LONGFIN SQUID SPECIFICATIONS
[mt]
Specification
OFL ......................................................................................................................................................................
ABC ......................................................................................................................................................................
Commercial Discard Set-Aside ............................................................................................................................
IOY .......................................................................................................................................................................
DAH/DAP .............................................................................................................................................................
The percentage of the longfin squid
quota allocated to each trimester during
2025–2026
(projected)
2024
Unknown
23,400
506.3 (2.16%)
22,893.7
22,893.7
Unknown
23,400
506.3 (2.16%)
22,893.7
22,893.7
2024–2026 remains unchanged from
what was in place in 2023 (table 3).
TABLE 3—2024–2026 LONGFIN SQUID QUOTA TRIMESTER ALLOCATIONS
Trimester
Percent
Metric tons
I (Jan–Apr) ...........................................................................................................................................................
II (May–Aug) ........................................................................................................................................................
III (Sep–Dec) ........................................................................................................................................................
43
17
40
9,844.3
3,891.9
9,157.5
Total ..............................................................................................................................................................
100
22,893.7
Reaffirmation of 2024 Butterfish
Specifications
As part of the final rule implementing
2023–2025 specifications for the
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP
(88 FR 48389, July 27, 2023), NMFS
projected 2024 butterfish specifications
that would decrease the ABC and
available quota by 12.7 percent relative
to 2023. Even with this reduction, the
projected 2024 butterfish quota was still
above recent catch levels. This final rule
reaffirms the previously projected 2024
butterfish specifications, in alignment
with the Council’s recommendation, as
no new information suggests a need to
change.
TABLE 4—REAFFIRMED 2024 BUTTERFISH SPECIFICATIONS
[mt]
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Specification
2024
OFL ......................................................................................................................................................................................................
ABC/ACL ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
Annual Catch Target (ACT) .................................................................................................................................................................
Assumed Discards ...............................................................................................................................................................................
Total Discard Set-Aside (All Sources) .................................................................................................................................................
Butterfish Cap in Longfin Fishery ........................................................................................................................................................
DAH .....................................................................................................................................................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Jul 22, 2024
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\23JYR1.SGM
23JYR1
16,096
15,764
14,976
1,248
5,132
3,884
9,844
59680
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
The percentage of the butterfish
mortality cap allocated to the longfin
squid fishery during each trimester in
2024 remains unchanged from what was
in place during 2023 (table 5).
TABLE 5—2024 ALLOCATION OF THE BUTTERFISH MORTALITY CAP AMONG LONGFIN SQUID TRIMESTERS
Trimester
Percent
Metric tons
I (Jan–Apr) ...........................................................................................................................................................
II (May–Aug) ........................................................................................................................................................
III (Sep–Dec) ........................................................................................................................................................
43
17
40
1,670
660
1,554
Total ..............................................................................................................................................................
100
3,844
Reaffirmation of 2024 and Projected
2025 Atlantic Chub Mackerel
Specifications
Amendment 21 to the FMP
implemented chub mackerel
specifications for the 2020–2022 fishing
years (85 FR 47103, August 4, 2020).
The Council reevaluated these
specifications during its June 2022
meeting and decided to make no
adjustments for the 2023–2025 fishing
years. The Council reevaluated these
specifications again during its June 2023
meeting and decided to make no
adjustments for the 2024 fishing year.
This final rule reaffirms the previously
projected 2024 specifications, and
projects the 2025 chub mackerel
specifications, in alignment with the
Council’s recommendation (table 6). No
new information suggests a need to
change the specifications for 2024. The
2025 specifications projected here could
change based on new information.
TABLE 6—REAFFIRMED 2024 AND PROJECTED 2025 CHUB MACKEREL SPECIFICATIONS
[mt]
Specification
ABC ......................................................................................................................................................................
ACL ......................................................................................................................................................................
ACT ......................................................................................................................................................................
2,300
2,262
2,171
2,300
2,262
2,171
Total Allowable Landings .............................................................................................................................
2,041
2,041
Proposed Rule Comments
We published a proposed rule for the
2024–2026 specifications on April 19,
2024 (89 FR 28713), and the public
comment period ended on May 20,
2024. We did not receive any public
comments on the proposed rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
2025
(projected)
2024
There are no changes being made to
the proposed specifications. However,
this final rule contains several
corrections and an additional table that
did not appear in the proposed rule.
The 2024 Illex squid specifications
shown in table 3 in the proposed rule
are correct. However, the proposed rule
text incorrectly stated that the discard
rate used to calculate the Illex squid
discard set-aside in 2024 is lower than
rate that was used in 2023, resulting in
a lower 2024 commercial discard setaside and a higher commercial quota.
The recommended 2024 specifications
(including the discard rate, the discard
set-aside, and the commercial quota) are
identical to what was in place in 2023.
This final rule clarifies that there are no
changes in the 2024 Illex squid
specifications relative to 2023.
The 2024–2026 longfin squid quota
trimester allocations shown as
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Jul 22, 2024
Jkt 262001
percentages (column 2) in table 2 in the
proposed rule are correct. However, the
allocations shown as metric tons
(column 3) in table 2 are incorrect.
Those tonnages were calculated based
on the 2023 commercial quota (22,932
mt) instead of the 2024 commercial
quota (22,893.7 mt). Table 3 in this final
rule corrects these calculations.
The proposed rule did not contain a
table showing the 2024 allocation of the
butterfish mortality cap among longfin
squid trimesters. Table 5 was added to
this final rule to provide that
information along with the rest of the
specifications.
Classification
NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. Consistent with Magnuson-Stevens
Act section 305(d), this action is
necessary to carry out the Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish FMP in
accordance with the FMP’s
implementing regulations. The NMFS
Assistant Administrator has determined
that this final rule is consistent with the
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP,
other provisions of the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable law.
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
This final rule has been determined to
be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
This final rule does not contain
policies with federalism or ‘‘takings’’
implication, as those terms are defined
in E.O. 13132 and E.O. 12630,
respectively.
This final rule does not contain any
changes to collection-of-information
requirements subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act. The existing collection
of information requirements would
continue to apply under OMB Control
Number: 0648–0229, Greater Atlantic
Region Dealer Purchase Reports.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of
the Department of Commerce certified
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration (SBA)
during the proposed rule stage that this
action would not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. The factual
basis for the certification was published
in the proposed rule and is not repeated
here. No comments were received
regarding this certification. As a result,
a final regulatory flexibility analysis was
not required and none was prepared.
E:\FR\FM\23JYR1.SGM
23JYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: July 17, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–16111 Filed 7–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 221206–0261]
RIN 0648–BN16
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery;
2023–2024 Biennial Specifications and
Management Measures; Inseason
Adjustments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; inseason adjustments
to biennial groundfish management
measures.
AGENCY:
This final rule announces
routine inseason adjustments to
management measures in commercial
groundfish fisheries. This action is
intended to allow commercial fishing
vessels to access more abundant
groundfish stocks while protecting
overfished and depleted stocks.
DATES: This final rule is effective July
23, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
SUMMARY:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Electronic Access
This rule is accessible via the internet
at the Office of the Federal Register
website at https://
www.federalregister.gov. Background
information and documents are
available at the Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s website at
https://www.pcouncil.org/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abbie Moyer, phone: 206–305–9601 or
email: abbie.moyer@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Management Plan (PCGFMP) and its
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Jul 22, 2024
Jkt 262001
implementing regulations at title 50 in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
part 660, subparts C through G, regulate
fishing for over 90 species of groundfish
off the coasts of Washington, Oregon,
and California. The Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council)
develops groundfish harvest
specifications and management
measures for 2-year periods (i.e., a
biennium). NMFS published the final
rule to implement harvest specifications
and management measures for the
2023–2024 biennium for most species
managed under the PCGFMP on
December 16, 2022 (87 FR 77007). In
general, the management measures set at
the start of the biennial harvest
specifications cycle help the various
sectors of the fishery attain, but not
exceed, the catch limits for each stock.
The Council, in coordination with
Pacific Coast Treaty Indian Tribes and
the States of Washington, Oregon, and
California, recommends adjustments to
the management measures during the
fishing year to achieve this goal.
At its June 2024 meeting, the Council
recommended inseason adjustments to
commercial non-trawl trip limits for
sablefish north of 36° N lat., widow
rockfish north of 40°10′ N lat., and
yellowtail rockfish north 40°10′ N lat.
These adjustments are expected to
improve attainment of these stocks in
the non-trawl fishery. Pacific Coast
groundfish fisheries are managed using
harvest specifications or limits (e.g.,
overfishing limits [OFL], acceptable
biological catch [ABC], annual catch
limits [ACL] and harvest guidelines
[HG]) recommended biennially by the
Council and based on the best scientific
information available at that time (50
CFR 660.60(b)). During development of
the harvest specifications, the Council
also recommends management measures
(e.g., trip limits, area closures, and bag
limits) that are meant to mitigate catch
so as not to exceed the harvest
specifications. The harvest
specifications and mitigation measures
developed for the 2023–2024 biennium
used data collected through the 2021
fishing year. Each of the adjustments to
mitigation measures discussed below
are based on updated fisheries
information that was unavailable when
the analysis for the current harvest
specifications was completed. As new
fisheries data becomes available,
adjustments to mitigation measures are
projected so as to help harvesters
achieve but not exceed the harvest
limits.
Sablefish is an important commercial
species on the U.S. West Coast with
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
59681
vessels targeting sablefish with both
trawl and fixed gear (longlines and pots/
traps). Sablefish is managed with a
coast-wide OFL and ABC and ACLs that
are apportioned north and south of 36°
N lat. In 2024, the ACL for sablefish
north of 36° N lat. is 7,730 metric tons
(mt) with a fishery HG of 6,919 mt. The
fishery HG north of 36° N lat. is further
divided between the LE and OA sectors
with 90.6 percent, or 6,269 mt, going to
the LE sector and 9.4 percent, or 650 mt,
going to the OA sector. From the 6,269
mt LE allocation, 395 mt is allocated to
the LE fixed gear (LEFG) trip limit
fishery.
At the June 2024 Council meeting, the
Council’s Groundfish Management
Team (GMT) received requests from
industry members and members of the
Council’s Groundfish Advisory
Subpanel (GAP) to examine the
potential to increase sablefish trips
limits for the LEFG and OA fisheries
north of 36° N lat. The intent of
increasing trip limits would be to
increase harvest opportunities for
vessels targeting sablefish. Discussion
with GAP and GMT members indicated
that sablefish markets continue to be
less lucrative than they were prior to
2020 and, consequently, that prices per
pound may be a stronger predictor of
participation than before, as some
vessels opt to target other species
instead. Therefore, for both of the
northern sablefish sectors, the GMT
provided data on 2024 sablefish prices
to date, alongside calculated prices, to
predict participation for the remainder
of the year. This information can help
interpret the fleetwide landings
projections under each of the low,
average, and high price scenarios.
Predicted prices for the remainder of the
year were calculated using prices in
each respective period of recent year(s).
Tables 1 and 2 show projected 2024
landings and attainment under the three
modeled price scenarios for status quo
and for the new Council recommended
trip limits for the LEFG (table 1) and OA
(table 2) sectors north of 36° N lat. LEFG
landings for the full year are projected
to be 55–70 percent of the 2024 landings
target under status quo trip limits. So far
this year, five LEFG vessels have
attained more than 90 percent of the
status quo bimonthly limit, indicating
that at least some vessels in the fleet
would benefit from a trip limit increase.
Therefore, the Council recommended
Option 1, which projects fleetwide
landings at 75–97 percent of the 2024
landings target.
E:\FR\FM\23JYR1.SGM
23JYR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59678-59681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16111]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 240717-0198]
RIN 0648-BM79
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2024-2026
Specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery
Management Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS approves and implements the 2024-2026 specifications for
the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, as
recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This final
rule sets the 2024 Illex and longfin squid specifications, and projects
the 2025 Illex and 2025-2026 longfin squid specifications. This rule
also reaffirms the 2024 butterfish and Atlantic chub mackerel
specifications and the previously published projected 2025 chub
mackerel specifications. These specifications establish allowable
harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most
recent scientific information.
DATES: Effective August 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES: A Supplemental Information Report (SIR) was prepared for
these specifications. Copies of the SIR and other relevant
environmental documentation are available on request from Dr.
Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, Suite 201, 800 North State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
The SIR is also accessible via the internet at https://www.mafmc.org/supporting-documents.
Copies of the small entity compliance guide are available from
Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930-2298, or available on the internet at https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Fenton, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Background
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) manages
Atlantic mackerel, Illex squid, longfin squid, butterfish, and Atlantic
chub mackerel under the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR
part 648, subpart B, require the Council's Mackerel, Squid, and
Butterfish Monitoring Committee to develop specification
recommendations for each species based upon the acceptable biological
catch (ABC) advice of the Council's Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC). The ABC is the level of catch that accounts for
scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the stock's defined
overfishing limit (OFL). Specifications are the combined suite of
commercial and recreational catch levels and management measures
necessary to prevent such catch levels from being exceeded. Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish FMP regulations require the specification of
annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measure (AM) provisions
for butterfish and chub mackerel. Both squid species are exempt from
the ACL/AM requirements because they have a life cycle of less than 1
year. In addition, the regulations require the specification of
domestic annual harvest (DAH), the butterfish mortality cap in the
longfin squid fishery, and initial optimum yield (IOY) for both squid
species. As part of this process, the Council sets specifications for
up to 3 years. These specifications are reviewed annually and may be
revised by the Council based on updated information.
On July 27, 2023 (88 FR 48389), NMFS published a final rule in the
Federal Register implementing 2023 specifications for the chub
mackerel, butterfish, longfin squid, and Illex squid fisheries. This
included projected 2024 butterfish specifications and projected 2024-
2025 chub mackerel specifications. The Council's SSC met in March, May,
and July 2023 to consider the 2024 longfin squid, Illex squid, chub
mackerel, and butterfish specifications based upon the latest
information. At those meetings, the SSC concluded that no adjustments
to these species' ABCs were warranted. The Council finalized its
recommendations for the 2024 Illex and longfin squid specifications and
projected 2025 Illex and 2025-2026 longfin squid specifications during
its April and August 2023 meetings. The Council reaffirmed the 2024
butterfish and 2024 and projected 2025 Atlantic chub mackerel
specifications during its June 2023 meeting. During its December 2023
meeting, the Council also finalized recommendations for the 2024 and
projected 2025 Atlantic mackerel specifications; however, those
specifications were recently finalized through a separate final rule
due to additional timing concerns (89 FR 25820, April 12, 2024).
Final 2024 and Projected 2025 Illex Squid Specifications
The final 2024 and projected 2025 Illex squid specifications are
identical to what was in place in 2023, in alignment with the Council's
recommendation (table 1). NMFS and the Council will review the Illex
squid specifications during future annual specifications processes
following data updates each spring. The 2025 specifications projected
here could change based on new information.
[[Page 59679]]
Table 1--Final 2024 and Projected 2025 Illex Squid Specifications
[mt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025
Specification 2024 (projected)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL........................................................................... Unknown Unknown
ABC........................................................................... 40,000 40,000
Commercial Discard Set-Aside.................................................. 1,369 (3.42%) 1,369 (3.42%)
Initial optimum yield (IOY)................................................... 38,631 38,631
Domestic annual harvest (DAH)/domestic annual processing (DAP)................ 38,631 38,631
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 2024 and Projected 2025-2026 Longfin Squid Specifications
The final 2024 and projected 2025-2026 longfin squid specifications
are nearly identical to what was in place in 2023, in alignment with
the Council's recommendation. The only change is a slight increase in
the longfin squid discard rate (from 2 percent to 2.16 percent). The
background for this change is discussed in the proposed rule to
implement these specifications (89 FR 28713, April 19, 2024), and
therefore is not repeated here. The longfin squid IOY, DAH, and DAP are
calculated by deducting a discard set-aside, calculated using the
discard rate, from the ABC. The 0.16-percent increase in the discard
rate results in a 0.17-percent decrease in the commercial quota (table
2). NMFS and the Council will review the longfin squid specifications
during future annual specifications processes following data updates
each spring. The 2025-2026 specifications projected here could change
based on new information.
Table 2--Final 2024 and Projected 2025-2026 Longfin Squid Specifications
[mt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025-2026
Specification 2024 (projected)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL........................................................................... Unknown Unknown
ABC........................................................................... 23,400 23,400
Commercial Discard Set-Aside.................................................. 506.3 (2.16%) 506.3 (2.16%)
IOY........................................................................... 22,893.7 22,893.7
DAH/DAP....................................................................... 22,893.7 22,893.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The percentage of the longfin squid quota allocated to each
trimester during 2024-2026 remains unchanged from what was in place in
2023 (table 3).
Table 3--2024-2026 Longfin Squid Quota Trimester Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester Percent Metric tons
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I (Jan-Apr)................................................................... 43 9,844.3
II (May-Aug).................................................................. 17 3,891.9
III (Sep-Dec)................................................................. 40 9,157.5
---------------------------------
Total..................................................................... 100 22,893.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reaffirmation of 2024 Butterfish Specifications
As part of the final rule implementing 2023-2025 specifications for
the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP (88 FR 48389, July 27, 2023),
NMFS projected 2024 butterfish specifications that would decrease the
ABC and available quota by 12.7 percent relative to 2023. Even with
this reduction, the projected 2024 butterfish quota was still above
recent catch levels. This final rule reaffirms the previously projected
2024 butterfish specifications, in alignment with the Council's
recommendation, as no new information suggests a need to change.
Table 4--Reaffirmed 2024 Butterfish Specifications
[mt]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specification 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL..................................................... 16,096
ABC/ACL................................................. 15,764
Annual Catch Target (ACT)............................... 14,976
Assumed Discards........................................ 1,248
Total Discard Set-Aside (All Sources)................... 5,132
Butterfish Cap in Longfin Fishery....................... 3,884
DAH..................................................... 9,844
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 59680]]
The percentage of the butterfish mortality cap allocated to the
longfin squid fishery during each trimester in 2024 remains unchanged
from what was in place during 2023 (table 5).
Table 5--2024 Allocation of the Butterfish Mortality Cap Among Longfin Squid Trimesters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester Percent Metric tons
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I (Jan-Apr)................................................................... 43 1,670
II (May-Aug).................................................................. 17 660
III (Sep-Dec)................................................................. 40 1,554
---------------------------------
Total..................................................................... 100 3,844
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reaffirmation of 2024 and Projected 2025 Atlantic Chub Mackerel
Specifications
Amendment 21 to the FMP implemented chub mackerel specifications
for the 2020-2022 fishing years (85 FR 47103, August 4, 2020). The
Council reevaluated these specifications during its June 2022 meeting
and decided to make no adjustments for the 2023-2025 fishing years. The
Council reevaluated these specifications again during its June 2023
meeting and decided to make no adjustments for the 2024 fishing year.
This final rule reaffirms the previously projected 2024 specifications,
and projects the 2025 chub mackerel specifications, in alignment with
the Council's recommendation (table 6). No new information suggests a
need to change the specifications for 2024. The 2025 specifications
projected here could change based on new information.
Table 6--Reaffirmed 2024 and Projected 2025 Chub Mackerel Specifications
[mt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025
Specification 2024 (projected)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC........................................................................... 2,300 2,300
ACL........................................................................... 2,262 2,262
ACT........................................................................... 2,171 2,171
---------------------------------
Total Allowable Landings.................................................. 2,041 2,041
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Rule Comments
We published a proposed rule for the 2024-2026 specifications on
April 19, 2024 (89 FR 28713), and the public comment period ended on
May 20, 2024. We did not receive any public comments on the proposed
rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes being made to the proposed specifications.
However, this final rule contains several corrections and an additional
table that did not appear in the proposed rule.
The 2024 Illex squid specifications shown in table 3 in the
proposed rule are correct. However, the proposed rule text incorrectly
stated that the discard rate used to calculate the Illex squid discard
set-aside in 2024 is lower than rate that was used in 2023, resulting
in a lower 2024 commercial discard set-aside and a higher commercial
quota. The recommended 2024 specifications (including the discard rate,
the discard set-aside, and the commercial quota) are identical to what
was in place in 2023. This final rule clarifies that there are no
changes in the 2024 Illex squid specifications relative to 2023.
The 2024-2026 longfin squid quota trimester allocations shown as
percentages (column 2) in table 2 in the proposed rule are correct.
However, the allocations shown as metric tons (column 3) in table 2 are
incorrect. Those tonnages were calculated based on the 2023 commercial
quota (22,932 mt) instead of the 2024 commercial quota (22,893.7 mt).
Table 3 in this final rule corrects these calculations.
The proposed rule did not contain a table showing the 2024
allocation of the butterfish mortality cap among longfin squid
trimesters. Table 5 was added to this final rule to provide that
information along with the rest of the specifications.
Classification
NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to section 305(d) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act section
305(d), this action is necessary to carry out the Mackerel, Squid, and
Butterfish FMP in accordance with the FMP's implementing regulations.
The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 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.
This final rule does not contain policies with federalism or
``takings'' implication, as those terms are defined in E.O. 13132 and
E.O. 12630, respectively.
This final rule does not contain any changes to collection-of-
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The
existing collection of information requirements would continue to apply
under OMB Control Number: 0648-0229, Greater Atlantic Region Dealer
Purchase Reports.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (SBA) during the proposed rule stage that this action
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. The factual basis for the certification was published
in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were
received regarding this certification. As a result, a final regulatory
flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared.
[[Page 59681]]
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: July 17, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-16111 Filed 7-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
