Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper, 38015-38016 [2015-16379]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations Compliance With Endangered Species Act Requirements Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that ‘‘The Secretary [of the Interior] shall review other programs administered by him and utilize such programs in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1)). It further states that the Secretary must ‘‘insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out . . . is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [critical] habitat’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)). This rule will not affect threatened or endangered species or their habitats in the United States. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 21 Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation, Wildlife. Regulation Promulgation For the reasons stated in the preamble, we amend subpart C of part 21, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as follows: PART 21—MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS 1. The authority citation for part 21 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703–12. 2. Amend § 21.29 by: a. Revising paragraph (b)(2); b. Revising the fifth sentence of paragraph (c)(6)(i); ■ c. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (c)(6)(ii); ■ d. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(A); ■ e. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(B); ■ f. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (e)(2)(iv); ■ g. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (e)(5)(i); ■ h. Revising paragraph (e)(6)(i); ■ i. Revising paragraph (e)(7)(i); ■ j. Revising the third sentence of paragraph (e)(9)(ii); ■ k. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (e)(9)(iii); and ■ l. Revising the second sentence after the heading of paragraph (f)(6). The revisions read as follows: asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with FRONTMATTER ■ ■ ■ § 21.29 Falconry standards and falconry permitting. * * * * * (b) * * * (2) Reporting. (i) The State, tribe, or territory must work with us to ensure that the electronic 3–186A reporting VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:22 Jul 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 system (https://permits.fws.gov/186A) for reporting take, transfers, and loss of falconry birds is fully operational for residents of that jurisdiction. (ii) If you are required to submit a report or other information under this section, you must either enter the required information in the electronic database at https://permits.fws.gov/186A, or at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/ FalconryReporting if you are a resident of California, or submit a paper form 3– 186A to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that governs falconry. * * * * * (c) * * * (6) * * * (i) * * * Within 10 days from the day on which you take the raptor from the wild, you must report take of the bird by submitting the required information (including the band number) using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * (ii) * * * You must submit the required information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * (iii) * * * (A) * * * You must submit the required information within 10 days of rebanding the raptor using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. (B) Purchase and implant an ISOcompliant (134.2 kHz) microchip in the bird and report the microchip information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * (e) * * * (2) * * * (iv) If you are responsible for reporting take of a raptor from the wild, use one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * * * * (5) * * * (i) * * * You must report take of the bird using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section at your first opportunity to do so, but no more than 10 days after capture of the bird. * * * * * * * * (6) * * * (i) If you acquire a raptor; transfer, reband, or microchip a raptor; if a raptor you possess is stolen; if you lose a raptor to the wild and you do not recover it within 30 days; or if a bird you possess for falconry dies; you must report the change within 10 days using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 38015 (7) * * * (i) If you acquire a bird from a rehabilitator, within 10 days of the transaction you must report it using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * (9) * * * (ii) * * * You must remove its falconry band (if it has one) and report release of the bird by submitting the required information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. (iii) * * * You must remove its falconry band and report release of the bird by submitting the required information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * (f) * * * (6) * * * Within 10 days, you must report the transfer by submitting the required information using one of the methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * * * Dated: June 15, 2015. Michael J. Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 2015–16371 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 0907271173–0629–03] RIN 0648–XE014 Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational landings from 2012–2014 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces the length of the 2015 recreational fishing season. Therefore, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02JYR1.SGM 02JYR1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with FRONTMATTER 38016 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 6, 2015. This closure is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource. DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– 5305, email: catherine.hayslip@ noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic, which includes snowy grouper, is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. The recreational ACL for snowy grouper is 523 fish. In accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2), if the recreational ACL is exceeded, the Assistant Administrator, NOAA (AA), will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the length of the following fishing season by the amount necessary to ensure landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in the following fishing year. NMFS evaluates annual recreational landings with the recreational ACL for snowy grouper based on a 3-year running average of landings. For the 2015 fishing year, the most recent 3-year running average of recreational landings is the average of 2012–2014. Average landings from 2012–2014 exceeded the 2014 recreational ACL by 1,253 fish. Therefore, this temporary rule implements the post-season AM to reduce the fishing season for the recreational snowy grouper component of the snapper-grouper fishery by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in 2015. As a result, the recreational sector for snowy grouper will be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015. During the closure, the bag and possession limits for snowy grouper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. These limits apply in the South Atlantic for a person on board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:22 Jul 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2). The recreational sector for snowy grouper will reopen on January 1, 2016, the beginning of the 2016 recreational fishing season. Classification The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of snowy grouper and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and comment. This action responds to the best scientific information available. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this action to close the recreational sector for snowy grouper constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the AMs established by Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR 82280, December 30, 2010) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect the snowy grouper resource, since time for notice and public comment will allow for continued recreational harvest and exceedance of the recreational ACL. Additionally, there is a need to immediately notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing season for snowy grouper for the 2015 fishing year. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would be contrary to the public interest because many of those affected by the length of the recreational fishing season, particularly charter vessel and headboat operations, book trips for clients in advance and, therefore, need as much time as possible to adjust business plans to account for the reduced recreational fishing season. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 29, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–16379 Filed 6–29–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 [Docket No. 140429387–4971–02] RIN 0648–XD954 Gulf of Mexico Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Blacknose Sharks and Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico Region National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is closing the fisheries for commercial non-blacknose small coastal sharks (SCS) and blacknose sharks in the Gulf of Mexico region. This action is necessary because the commercial landings of Gulf of Mexico non-blacknose SCS for the 2015 fishing season have exceeded 80 percent of the available commercial quota as of June 26, 2015, and the blacknose shark and non-blacknose SCS fisheries are quotalinked under current regulations. DATES: The commercial fisheries for blacknose sharks and non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf of Mexico region are closed effective 11:30 p.m. local time July 4, 2015, until the end of the 2015 fishing season on December 31, 2015, or until and if NMFS announces via notification in the Federal Register that additional quota is available and the season is reopened. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 301– 427–8503; fax 301–713–1917. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico shark fisheries are managed under the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), its amendments, and its implementing regulations (50 CFR part 635) issued under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\02JYR1.SGM 02JYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38015-38016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 0907271173-0629-03]
RIN 0648-XE014


Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational 
Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the 
recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 
2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational 
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit 
(ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces 
the length of the 2015 recreational fishing season. Therefore,

[[Page 38016]]

NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South 
Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 6, 2015. This closure is 
necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: 
catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic, which includes snowy grouper, is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    The recreational ACL for snowy grouper is 523 fish. In accordance 
with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2), if the recreational ACL is 
exceeded, the Assistant Administrator, NOAA (AA), will file a 
notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the 
length of the following fishing season by the amount necessary to 
ensure landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in the following 
fishing year. NMFS evaluates annual recreational landings with the 
recreational ACL for snowy grouper based on a 3-year running average of 
landings. For the 2015 fishing year, the most recent 3-year running 
average of recreational landings is the average of 2012-2014. Average 
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the 2014 recreational ACL by 1,253 
fish. Therefore, this temporary rule implements the post-season AM to 
reduce the fishing season for the recreational snowy grouper component 
of the snapper-grouper fishery by the amount necessary to ensure 
recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in 2015. As a 
result, the recreational sector for snowy grouper will be closed 
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015.
    During the closure, the bag and possession limits for snowy grouper 
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. These limits apply in the 
South Atlantic for a person on board a vessel for which a valid Federal 
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic 
snapper-grouper fishery has been issued regardless of whether the fish 
are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 
622.193(b)(2). The recreational sector for snowy grouper will reopen on 
January 1, 2016, the beginning of the 2016 recreational fishing season.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
snowy grouper and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without 
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
    This action responds to the best scientific information available. 
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to close the recreational 
sector for snowy grouper constitutes good cause to waive the 
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
on this temporary rule pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule 
implementing the AMs established by Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR 
82280, December 30, 2010) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) has 
already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to 
notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the 
public interest because of the need to immediately implement this 
action to protect the snowy grouper resource, since time for notice and 
public comment will allow for continued recreational harvest and 
exceedance of the recreational ACL. Additionally, there is a need to 
immediately notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing 
season for snowy grouper for the 2015 fishing year. Prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment would be contrary to the public interest 
because many of those affected by the length of the recreational 
fishing season, particularly charter vessel and headboat operations, 
book trips for clients in advance and, therefore, need as much time as 
possible to adjust business plans to account for the reduced 
recreational fishing season.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16379 Filed 6-29-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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