Proposed Rule2024-03507
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2024 and 2025 Summer Flounder and Scup, and 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 23, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS proposes Federal management measures for the summer flounder and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of this action is to set management measures that allow the recreational fisheries to achieve, but not exceed, the recreational harvest targets and thereby prevent overfishing.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13674-13678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03507]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 240214-0048]
RIN 0648-BM83
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2024 and 2025 Summer
Flounder and Scup, and 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management
Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes Federal management measures for the summer
flounder and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The implementing
regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish recreational
measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public
comment. The intent of this action is to set management measures that
allow the recreational fisheries to achieve, but not exceed, the
recreational harvest targets and thereby prevent overfishing.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 11, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0020 by the following method:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and type NOAA-NMFS-2024-0020 in the Search box
(note: copying and pasting the FDMS Docket Number directly from this
document may not yield search results). Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Keiley, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9116, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57123a3e3b2e791c323e3b322e173938363679303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2560484c495c0b6e404c49405c654b4a44440b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) cooperatively
manage summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The Council and the
Commission's Management Boards meet jointly each year to recommend
recreational management measures. For summer flounder and black sea
bass, NMFS must implement coastwide measures or approve conservation-
equivalent measures per 50 CFR 648.102(d) and 648.142(d), as soon as
possible following the Council and Commission's recommendation. This
action proposes establishing conservation equivalency (i.e., waiving
Federal recreational management measures) for both species in 2024 and
for summer flounder in 2025. For scup, no adjustments to the Federal
[[Page 13675]]
recreational management measures are proposed.
Recreational Management Measures Process
Framework Adjustment 17 to the Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Framework Adjustment 6 to the
Bluefish FMP (March 9, 2023, 88 FR 14499), referred to as the Percent
Change Approach, established a new process for determining when
recreational management measures (i.e., possession limits, size limits,
and season) should be changed and by what magnitude. The Percent Change
Approach uses two factors to determine if management measures could
remain status quo, could be liberalized, or must be restricted: (1) a
comparison of a confidence interval (CI) around an estimate of expected
harvest under status quo measures to the average recreational harvest
limit (RHL) for the upcoming 2 years; and (2) biomass compared to the
target level, as defined by the most recent stock assessment. These two
factors also determine the appropriate degree of change, defined as a
percentage change in expected harvest. Changes to recreational
management measures to achieve the required percent change are
evaluated by the Monitoring Committee, which consists of
representatives from the Commission, the Council, state marine fishery
agencies from Massachusetts to North Carolina, and NMFS. The FMP limits
the choices for the types of measures to: (1) minimum and/or maximum
fish size; (2) per-angler possession limit; and (3) fishing season. A
description of the application of this process for each species is
provided below.
The Council and the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass
(Board) then consider the Monitoring Committee's recommendations and
any public comment in making their recommendations. The Council
forwards its recommendations to NMFS for review. The Commission
similarly adopts recommendations for the states. NMFS is required to
review the Council's recommendations to ensure that they are consistent
with the targets specified for summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass in the FMP and all applicable laws and Executive Orders before
ultimately implementing measures for Federal waters. Commission
measures are final at the time they are adopted.
2024 and 2025 Scup Recreational Management Measures
Application of the Percent Change Approach and the bio-economic
model used to evaluate recreational behavior and catch resulted in a
recommended 10-percent reduction in recreational scup harvest.
According to the 2023 management stock assessment (using data
through 2022), scup is not overfished, and overfishing is not
occurring. Scup biomass is 246 percent of the biomass target, which
puts scup in the ``very high'' (i.e., biomass greater than 150 percent
of the target level) biomass category in the Percent Change Approach.
The Recreational Demand Model was used to generate an estimate of
expected 2024-2025 harvest under status quo (i.e., 2023) measures, with
an associated 80-percent confidence interval. The median coastwide
projected 2024-2025 harvest under 2023 measures is 15.29 million pounds
(lb) (6,935 metric ton (mt)), with an 80-percent confidence interval of
14.07-16.29 million lb (6,382-7,389 mt). The average 2024-2025 scup
recreational harvest limit (RHL) of 12.51 million lb (5,674 mt) is
below the lower bound of the confidence interval around expected
harvest.
Table 1--Estimated Scup Harvest, Associated Confidence Interval (CI), 2024-2025 Average RHL, Stock Size
Category, and Resulting Percent Change Recommended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80-Percent
Estimated harvest under confidence Average 2024- Stock size Recommended percent change
status quo measure interval 2025 RHL category
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.29 million lb (6,935 mt). 14.07-16.29 12.51 million Very High....... 10-Percent Reduction.
million lb lb (5,674 mt).
(6,382-7,389
mt).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 2023, recreational management measures were implemented to
achieve a 10-percent reduction in scup harvest. Preliminary harvest
estimates through wave 5 suggest that harvest was approximately 37
percent lower in 2023 than the 2022 harvest through wave 5.
The current Federal recreational scup management measures are a 10-
inch (25.4-centimeter (cm)) minimum fish size, a 50-fish per person
possession limit, and a year-round open season. State measures are
similar but vary slightly due to differences in scup availability. We
are proposing no changes to the Federal recreational scup management
measures for 2024 or 2025. Recreational scup harvest in Federal waters
accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total recreational harvest.
Because the majority of recreational scup harvest occurs in state
waters, the Council and Commission determined that changes to state-
waters measures would be the most effective way to achieve the required
10-percent reduction. The current Federal measures, in conjunction with
changes to state-waters measures, are projected to achieve the needed
10-percent harvest reduction. The state and Federal measures will
remain in place through 2025. Recreational scup measures will be
reevaluated prior to the 2026 fishing year.
Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Conservation Equivalency
Under conservation equivalency, Federal recreational measures are
waived and federally permitted party/charter vessels and all
recreational vessels fishing in Federal waters are subject to the
recreational fishing measures implemented by the state in which they
land. This approach allows for more customized measures at a state or
regional level that are likely to meet the needs of anglers in each
area, compared to coastwide measures that may be advantageous to
anglers in some areas and unnecessarily restrictive in others. The
combination of state or regional measures must be ``equivalent'' in
terms of conservation to a set of ``non-preferred coastwide measures,''
which are recommended by the Council and the Board.
The Council and Board recommend that either state- or region-
specific recreational measures be developed (i.e., conservation
equivalency) or that coastwide management measures be implemented. Even
when the Council and Board recommend conservation equivalency, the
Council must specify a set of non-preferred coastwide measures that
would apply if conservation equivalency is not approved for use in
Federal waters.
When conservation equivalency is recommended, and following
[[Page 13676]]
confirmation by the Commission that the proposed state or regional
measures developed through its technical and policy review processes
achieve conservation equivalency, NMFS waives the permit condition
found at 50 CFR 648.4(b) that requires Federal permit holders to comply
with the more restrictive management measures when state and Federal
measures differ. In such a situation, federally permitted summer
flounder and black sea bass charter/party permit holders and
individuals fishing for summer flounder and black sea bass in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are subject to the recreational fishing
measures implemented by the state in which they land, rather than the
coastwide measures.
In addition, the Council and the Board must recommend precautionary
default measures when recommending conservation equivalency. The
Commission would require adoption of the precautionary default measures
by any state that either does not submit a management proposal to the
Commission's Technical Committee or that submits measures that are not
conservationally equivalent to the coastwide measures.
The development of conservation-equivalency measures happens both
at the Commission and individual state level. The selection of
appropriate data and analytical techniques for technical review of
potential state conservation-equivalent measures, and the process by
which the Commission evaluates and recommends proposed conservation-
equivalent measures, are wholly a function of the Commission and its
individual member states. Individuals seeking information regarding the
process to develop specific state or regional measures, or on the
Commission process for technical evaluation of proposed measures,
should contact the marine fisheries agency in the state of interest,
the Commission, or both.
Once the states and regions select their final 2024 and 2025 summer
flounder and 2024 black sea bass management measures through their
respective development, analytical, and review processes and submit
them to the Commission, the Commission will conduct further review and
evaluation of the submitted proposals. The Commission will notify NMFS
as to which proposals have been approved or disapproved. NMFS has no
overarching authority in the development of state or Commission
management measures but is an equal participant along with all the
member states in the review process. NMFS neither approves nor
implements individual states' measures but retains the final authority
either to approve or to disapprove the use of conservation equivalency
in place of the coastwide measures in Federal waters. The final
combination of state and regional measures will be detailed in a letter
from the Commission to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
certifying that the combination of state and regional measures has met
the conservation objectives under Addendum XXXII to the Commission's
Interstate FMP. NMFS will publish its determination on 2024 and 2025
conservational equivalency as a final rule in the Federal Register
following review of the Commission's determination and any other public
comment on this proposed rule.
2024 and 2025 Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures
This action proposes adopting conservation equivalency for summer
flounder in 2024 and 2025. The non-preferred coastwide measures
approved by the Council and Board are: (1) an 18.5-inch (46.99-cm)
minimum fish size; (2) a 3-fish per person possession limit; and (3) an
open season from May 8-September 30. These coastwide measures will be
waived for 2024 and 2025 if conservation equivalency is approved
through this action. However, the coastwide measures become the default
management measures the year after conservation equivalency expires (in
this case, 2026) until the joint process establishes either coastwide
or conservation-equivalency measures for the next year.
The 2024 and 2025 precautionary default measures recommended by the
Council and Board are identical to those in place for 2021 through
2023: (1) a 20.0-inch (50.8-cm) minimum fish size; (2) a 2-fish per
person possession limit; and (3) an open season of July 1-August 31. If
a state or region does not submit a conservationally equivalent
proposal, or submits a proposal for management measures that do not
meet the required level of conservation, the Commission will require
the state or region to implement the precautionary default measures.
Application of the Percent Change Approach and the bio-economic
model used to evaluate recreational behavior and summer flounder catch
results in a required 28-percent reduction in summer flounder harvest.
The Recreational Demand Model was used to generate an estimate of
expected 2024-2025 harvest under status quo (i.e., 2023) measures, with
an associated 80-percent confidence interval. Results suggest that
under status quo (i.e., 2023) measures, the median projected harvest in
2024-2025 would be 8.88 million lb (4,027 mt), with an 80-percent
confidence interval of 8.10 to 9.48 million lb (3,674-4,300 mt). The
2024-2025 RHL of 6.35 million lb (2,880 mt) is less than the lower
bound of this confidence interval (i.e., harvest is expected to be
higher than the RHL).
According to the 2023 management track stock assessment (using data
through 2022), summer flounder is below the target stock size (i.e.,
estimated at 83 percent of the spawning stock biomass target). This
puts summer flounder in the ``low'' stock size category for the Percent
Change Approach. This results in a required percent change in harvest
equal to the difference between the harvest estimate and the 2-year
average RHL, not to exceed 40 percent. For summer flounder, a 28-
percent reduction is required based on the percent difference between
the projected harvest of 8.88 million lb (4,027 mt) and the RHL of 6.35
million lb (2,880 mt). The resulting 2024-2025 harvest target is equal
to the RHL at 6.35 million lb (2,880 mt).
Table 2--Estimated 2024-2025 Summer Flounder Harvest, Associated Confidence Interval (CI), RHL, Stock Size
Category, and Resulting Percent Change Recommended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80-Percent
Estimated harvest under confidence 2023 RHL Stock size Recommended percent change
status quo measures * interval category
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.88 million lb (4,027 mt).. 8.10-9.48 6.35 million lb Low............. 28-percent Reduction.
million lb (2,880 mt).
(3,674-4,300
mt).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 13677]]
2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures
This action proposes the continued adoption of conservation
equivalency for black sea bass in 2024. The non-preferred coastwide and
precautionary default measures would be the same in 2024 as they were
in 2023.
The non-preferred coastwide measures for 2024 include: (1) a 15-
inch (38.1-cm) minimum size; (2) a 5-fish possession limit; and (3) a
May 15-September 8 open season. The precautionary default measures
would be implemented in any state or region that failed to develop
adequate measures to constrain landings as required by the
conservation-equivalency guidelines. The precautionary default measures
in 2024 include: (1) a 16-inch (40.64-cm) minimum size; (2) a 2-fish
possession limit; and (3) a June 1-August 31 open season.
Under the Percent Change Approach, recreational measures are
intended to be reevaluated every other year, in conjunction with the
assessment cycle. The Percent Change Approach uses the biomass from the
assessment to partially inform what percent change is required.
However, NMFS did not get a new black sea bass stock assessment this
year as originally anticipated. A new management track assessment will
be available later in 2024, and that will be used to inform 2025
specifications and potential adjustments to recreational management
measures. In the absence of a new assessment this year, the Monitoring
Committee, Council, and Board recommended maintaining the current 2023
measures through 2024, such that 2024 is treated as ``year two'' of the
management measures. Treating 2024 as the second year in the
recreational management cycle and aligning the evaluation of management
measures with new assessment information is consistent with the intent
of the Percent Change Approach, specifically, to create more stability
in measures, and better align management measures with stock status.
Regulatory Text Correction
The definition of a recreational fishing vessel currently
references the recreational scup fishery; however, the definition
applies to all recreational fisheries. This action corrects this
definition, removing the reference to the scup fishery.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is
consistent with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP,
other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law,
subject to further consideration after public comment.
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
NMFS finds that a 15-day comment period for this action provides a
reasonable opportunity for public participation in this action pursuant
to the Administrative Procedure Act section 553(c) (5 U.S.C. 553(c)),
while also ensuring that the final recreational management measures are
in place before the majority of recreational state fisheries open. NMFS
could not publish this proposed rule at an earlier date. The
recreational management measure setting process begins after the
Council and Board set the annual specifications. The Council's
Monitoring Committee evaluate the needed changes in recreational
harvest and develop recommendations for coastwide management measures
for the Council and Board to consider. At the December 12-14, 2023,
meeting the Council and Board voted on recommended recreational
management measures. Council staff then prepared and submitted those
recommendations to NMFS on January 16, 2024. The proposed rule was
submitted to the Department of Commerce Office of General Council on
February 8, 2024. Given the time needed to review the recommendations
and prepare the Federal rulemaking, this is the earliest this rule
could be published.
Additionally, stakeholder and industry groups have been involved
with the development of this action and have participated in public
meetings throughout the past year. Generally, stakeholders are
supportive of the use of conservation equivalency because it allows
states, and regions, more flexibility to set measures, instead of one
set of coastwide measures that apply to all. A prolonged comment period
and subsequent potential delay in implementation past the start of the
recreational fishing season would be contrary to the public interest,
as it could create confusion both in the recreational fisheries
regarding the management measures, and with state agencies as they
prepare and finalize their recreational management measures.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (SBA) that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The Council conducted an evaluation of the potential
socioeconomic impacts of the proposed measures.
Entities affected by this action include recreational for-hire
operations holding Federal party/charter permits for summer flounder,
black sea bass, or both species. Individual anglers and for-hire
vessels that are only permitted to operate in state waters are not
considered ``small entities'' under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA) and thus economic impacts on private recreational anglers are not
discussed here.
Vessel ownership data \1\ were used to identify all individuals who
own fishing vessels. Vessels were then grouped according to common
owners. The resulting groupings were then treated as entities, or
affiliates, for purposes of identifying small and large businesses that
may be regulated by this action. A business primarily engaged in
fishing is classified as a small business if it is independently owned
and operated, is not dominant in its field of operation (including its
affiliates) and has combined annual receipts not in excess of $11
million, for all its affiliated operations worldwide.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Affiliate data for 2018-2022 were provided by the NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Social Sciences Branch. This is
the latest affiliate data set available for analysis.
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A total of 482 affiliates had a Federal party/charter permit for
summer flounder, black sea bass, or both species during 2018-2022. All
482 affiliates were categorized as small businesses based on their
average 2018-2022 revenues for any species. It is not possible to
determine what proportion of their revenues came from fishing for an
individual species. Nevertheless, given the popularity of summer
flounder and black sea bass as recreational species, revenues generated
from these species are likely important for many of these affiliates at
certain times of the year.
These 482 small businesses had average total annual revenues of
$130,921 during 2020-2022. Their average revenues from recreational
for-hire fishing (for a variety of species) were $107,429. Average
annual revenues from for-hire fishing ranged from less than $10,000 for
195 affiliates to over $1,000,000 for 8 affiliates. On average,
recreational fishing accounted for 85 percent of the total revenues for
these 482 small businesses. The contribution of summer flounder and
black sea bass to these revenues is unknown.
[[Page 13678]]
For-hire revenues are impacted by a variety of factors, including
regulations and demand for for-hire trips for summer flounder, black
sea bass, and other potential target species, as well as weather, the
economy, and other factors. The restrictions proposed for summer
flounder to achieve a 28-percent reduction in harvest could result in a
decrease in for-hire trips, decreased for-hire revenues, and overall
slight-negative impacts to recreational for-hire businesses, assuming
all other factors that impact revenues remain unchanged. These impacts
would be greater in magnitude for the for-hire businesses that depend
more heavily on this species. Given that the state/regional measures
for black sea bass are expected to remain unchanged from 2023, no
impacts from the proposed action are expected. No changes to Federal
recreational scup measures are proposed, therefore no impacts from the
proposed Federal action are expected.
Because this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, an initial regulatory flexibility
analysis is not required and none has been prepared.
This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: February 15, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50
CFR part 648 as follows:
PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec. 648.2, revise the definition of ``Recreational fishing
vessel,'' to read as follows:
Sec. 648.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Recreational fishing vessel, means any vessel from which no fishing
other than recreational fishing is conducted. Charter and party boats
are considered recreational fishing vessels for purposes of minimum
size, season, and possession limit requirements.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec. 648.104, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.104 Summer flounder size requirements.
* * * * *
(b) Party/charter permitted vessels and recreational fishery
participants. The minimum size for summer flounder is 18.5-inches
(46.99-cm) total length for all vessels that do not qualify for a
summer flounder moratorium permit under Sec. 648.4(a)(3), and charter
boats holding a summer flounder moratorium permit if fishing with more
than three crew members, or party boats holding a summer flounder
moratorium permit if fishing with passengers for hire or carrying more
than five crew members, unless otherwise specified in the conservation-
equivalency regulations at Sec. 648.107. If conservation equivalency
is not in effect in any given year, possession of smaller (or larger,
if applicable) summer flounder harvested from state waters is allowed
for state-only permitted vessels when transiting Federal waters within
the Block Island Sound Transit Area, provided they follow the
provisions at Sec. 648.111 and abide by state regulations.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 648.105, revise introductory paragraph to read as follows:
Sec. 648.105 Summer flounder recreational fishing season.
No person may fish for summer flounder in the EEZ from October 1 to
May 7 unless that person is the owner or operator of a fishing vessel
issued a commercial summer flounder moratorium permit, or is issued a
summer flounder dealer permit, or unless otherwise specified in the
conservation-equivalency measures at Sec. 648.107. Persons aboard a
commercial vessel that is not eligible for a summer flounder moratorium
permit are subject to this recreational fishing season. This time
period may be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec. 648.102.
Possession of summer flounder harvested from state waters during this
time is allowed for state-only permitted vessels when transiting
Federal waters within the Block Island Sound Transit Area, provided
they follow the provisions at Sec. 648.111 and abide by state
regulations.
0
5. In Sec. 648.106, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 648.106 Summer flounder possession restrictions.
(a) Party/charter and recreational possession limits. No person
shall possess more than three summer flounder in, or harvested from,
the EEZ, per trip unless that person is the owner or operator of a
fishing vessel issued a summer flounder moratorium permit, or is issued
a summer flounder dealer permit, or unless otherwise specified in the
conservation-equivalency measures at Sec. 648.107. Persons aboard a
commercial vessel that is not eligible for a summer flounder moratorium
permit are subject to this possession limit. The owner, operator, and
crew of a charter or party boat issued a summer flounder moratorium
permit are subject to the possession limit when carrying passengers for
hire or when carrying more than five crew members for a party boat, or
more than three crew members for a charter boat. This possession limit
may be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in Sec. 648.102. Possession
of summer flounder harvested from state waters above this possession
limit is allowed for state-only permitted vessels when transiting
Federal waters within the Block Island Sound Transit Area, provided
they follow the provisions at Sec. 648.111 and abide by state
regulations.
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec. 648.107, revise (a) introductory paragraph to read as
follows:
Sec. 648.107 Conservation-equivalent measures for the summer flounder
fishery.
(a) The Regional Administrator has determined that the recreational
fishing measures proposed to be implemented by the states of Maine
through North Carolina for 2024 and 2025 are the conservation
equivalent of the season, size limits, and possession limit prescribed
in Sec. Sec. 648.104(b), 648.105, and 648.106. This determination is
based on a recommendation from the Summer Flounder Board of the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec. 648.151, revise (a) introductory paragraph to read as
follows:
Sec. 648.151 Black sea bass conservation equivalency.
(a) The Regional Administrator has determined that the recreational
fishing measures proposed to be implemented by the states of Maine
through North Carolina for 2024 are the conservation equivalent of the
season, size limits, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.
648.146, 648.147(b), and 648.145(a). This determination is based on a
recommendation from the Black Sea Bass Board of the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2024-03507 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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