{"abstract":"Through this interim final rule, NMFS announces that it partially approves Framework Adjustment 48 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and implements the approved measures in the regulations. Framework 48 is the first of two parallel and related actions developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to respond to updated stock status information and to adjust other management measures in the NE multispecies (groundfish) fishery beginning in fishing year (FY) 2013. This action implements new status determination criteria for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod, Georges Bank (GB) cod, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) yellowtail flounder, and white hake based on new benchmark assessments completed for these stocks in 2012 and 2013. NMFS is approving and implementing updated status determination criteria for white hake through this interim final rule and accepting further comment on this measure since it was not available for comment in the Framework 48 proposed rule. NMFS will publish a subsequent final rule to respond to any comments received, if necessary. Through this action, NMFS has also approved and is implementing the following Framework 48 measures: Elimination of dockside monitoring requirements for the groundfish fishery; lower minimum fish sizes for several groundfish stocks; clarified goals and performance standard for groundfish monitoring programs; revisions to the allocation of GB yellowtail flounder to the scallop fishery; and establishment of sub-annual catch limits (ACLs) of GB yellowtail flounder and SNE/MA windowpane flounder for the scallop and other non- groundfish fisheries. NMFS also approved revisions to recreational and commercial accountability measures (AMs), including amendments to existing AMs for windowpane flounder, ocean pout, and Atlantic halibut, and new \"reactive\" AMs for Atlantic wolffish and SNE/MA winter flounder, to address a remand by the U.S. District Court of Appeals. NMFS disapproved some measures in Framework 48: A provision for cost- sharing of monitoring costs between the industry and NMFS; a provision to delay industry-funded monitoring to FY 2014; finer scale discard rate strata for GB yellowtail flounder; and a provision to remove requirements for groundfish trawlers to stow their gear when transiting closed areas. Through this interim final rule, NMFS also withdraws a proposed correction to the regulations specific to monitoring of the Eastern U.S./Canada quotas, and will be accepting additional public comment on this issue. These measures are necessary to meet the requirements of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act, most notably preventing overfishing, ensuring that management measures are based on the best available science, and mitigating, to the extent practicable, potential negative economic impacts from reductions in catch limits anticipated for fishing year FY 2013.","action":"Interim final rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2013/05/03/2013-10402.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":648,"title":50}],"citation":"78 FR 26118","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2013-06-03","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective May 1, 2013, except for the amendment to Sec. 648.84, which is effective July 1, 2013. Comments on the interim final status determination criteria for white hake or U.S./Canada quota monitoring methods must be received by June 3, 2013.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. 120814336-3408-02"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2013-10402","effective_on":"2013-05-01","end_page":26169,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2013/05/03/2013-10402.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/05/03/2013-10402/magnuson-stevens-fishery-conservation-and-management-act-provisions-fisheries-of-the-northeastern","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2013-10402?publication_date=2013-05-03","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2013-05-03/2013-10402/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":52,"page_views":{"count":361,"last_updated":"2026-10-24 18:15:05 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-05-03/pdf/2013-10402.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2013-10402.pdf?1367353041","publication_date":"2013-05-03","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2013/05/03/2013-10402.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-BC27":{"issue":"201304","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BC27/framework-adjustment-48-to-the-northeast-multispecies-fishery-management-plan","title":"Framework Adjustment 48 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201304&RIN=0648-BC27&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-BC27"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Final Framework Adjustment 48 and EA","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2013-0050-0132"},{"title":"Framework Adjustment 48 Draft Environmental Assessment","document_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2013-0050-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BC27/framework-adjustment-48-to-the-northeast-multispecies-fishery-management-plan","title":"Framework Adjustment 48 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0050","supporting_documents_count":2,"docket_id":"NOAA-NMFS-2013-0050","regulation_id_number":"0648-BC27","title":"Framework Adjustment 48 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2013-05-24T05:09:00Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":26118,"subtype":null,"title":"Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 48","toc_doc":"Northeast Multispecies Fishery","toc_subject":"Fisheries of the Northeastern United States:","topics":["Fisheries","Fishing","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":78}