Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction, 65579-65580 [2010-27081]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Rules and Regulations Dated: October 7, 2010. Daniel M. Ashe, Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. ACTION: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration SUMMARY: 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 001005281–0369–02] RIN 0648–XZ99 [FR Doc. 2010–26765 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for king mackerel in the northern Florida west coast subzone to 500 lb (227 kg) of king mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction DATES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES Temporary rule; trip limit reduction. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (iii) All wolves found in the wild within the boundaries of these experimental areas are considered nonessential experimental animals. * * * * * FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AGENCY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:00 Oct 25, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 26, 2010, until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2011, unless changed by further notice in the Federal Register. Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727–824– 5305, or e-mail: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov. E:\FR\FM\26OCR1.SGM 26OCR1 ER26OC10.003</GPH> BILLING CODE 4310–55–C 65579 65580 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Rules and Regulations The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero, cobia, little tunny, and, in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) only, dolphin and bluefish) is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils) and is implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. On April 27, 2000, NMFS implemented the final rule (65 FR 16336, March 28, 2000) that divided the Florida west coast subzone of the Gulf of Mexico eastern zone into northern and southern subzones, and established their separate commercial quotas. The northern Florida west coast subzone is located in Federal waters of the Gulf north of 26°19.8′ N lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/Collier County, FL boundary) and east of 87°31.1′ W long. (a line directly south from the Alabama/ Florida boundary). The quota for the northern subzone is 168,750 lb (76,544 kg) (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(ii)). In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2), from the date that 75 percent of the northern Florida west coast subzone’s quota has been harvested until a closure of the subzone has been effected or the fishing year ends, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts not exceeding 500 lb (227 kg) per day. NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the quota for Gulf group king mackerel from the northern Florida west coast subzone has been reached. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit applies to vessels harvesting commercial quantities of king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the northern Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 26, 2010. The 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit will remain in effect until the northern Florida west coast subzone closes or until the end of the current fishing year (June 30, 2011), whichever occurs first. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA), finds the need to immediately implement this commercial trip limit reduction constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:00 Oct 25, 2010 Jkt 223001 comment 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 would be unnecessary because the rule itself already has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect the fishery resource because the capacity of the commercial fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established quota. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 21, 2010. Carrie Selberg, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–27081 Filed 10–21–10; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 900124–0127] RIN 0648–XZ16 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; Suspension of Minimum Atlantic Surfclam Size Limit for Fishing Year 2011 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; suspension of the Atlantic surfclam minimum size limit. AGENCY: NMFS suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2011 fishing year. This action is taken under the authority of the implementing regulations for this fishery, which allow for the annual suspension of the minimum size limit based upon set criteria. The intended SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 effect is to relieve the industry from a regulatory burden that is not necessary, as the majority of surfclams harvested are larger than the minimum size limit. DATES: Effective January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. ADDRESSES: Written inquiries may be sent to: Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930– 2298. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Macan, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9165; fax (978) 281–9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 648.72(c) of the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries authorizes the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), to suspend annually, by publication of a notification in the Federal Register, the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams. This action may be taken unless discard, catch, and biological sampling data indicate that 30 percent of the Atlantic surfclam resource is smaller than 4.75 inches (120 mm) and the overall reduced size is not attributable to harvest from beds where growth of the individual clams has been reduced because of density-dependent factors. At its June 2010 meeting, the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council voted to recommend that the Regional Administrator suspend the minimum size limit for the 2011 fishing year. Commercial surfclam data for 2010 were analyzed to determine the percentage of surfclams that were smaller than the minimum size requirement. The analysis indicated that 8.10 percent of the overall commercial landings were composed of surfclams that were less than 4.75 inches (120 mm). Based on these data, the Regional Administrator adopts the Council’s recommendation and suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams from January 1 through December 31, 2011. Classification This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 21, 2010. Carrie Selberg, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–27076 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\26OCR1.SGM 26OCR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65579-65580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27081]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XZ99


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for king mackerel in 
the northern Florida west coast subzone to 500 lb (227 kg) of king 
mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This 
trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel 
resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 26, 2010, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2011, unless changed by further 
notice in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or e-mail: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov.

[[Page 65580]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic 
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero, cobia, little tunny, and, 
in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) only, dolphin and bluefish) is managed 
under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was 
prepared by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils (Councils) and is implemented under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    On April 27, 2000, NMFS implemented the final rule (65 FR 16336, 
March 28, 2000) that divided the Florida west coast subzone of the Gulf 
of Mexico eastern zone into northern and southern subzones, and 
established their separate commercial quotas. The northern Florida west 
coast subzone is located in Federal waters of the Gulf north of 
26[deg]19.8[min] N lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/Collier 
County, FL boundary) and east of 87[deg]31.1[min] W long. (a line 
directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary). The quota for the 
northern subzone is 168,750 lb (76,544 kg) (50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(ii)).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2), from the date 
that 75 percent of the northern Florida west coast subzone's quota has 
been harvested until a closure of the subzone has been effected or the 
fishing year ends, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on 
board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts not exceeding 500 lb 
(227 kg) per day.
    NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the quota for Gulf group 
king mackerel from the northern Florida west coast subzone has been 
reached. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit applies to vessels 
harvesting commercial quantities of king mackerel in or from the EEZ in 
the northern Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local 
time, October 26, 2010. The 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit will remain in 
effect until the northern Florida west coast subzone closes or until 
the end of the current fishing year (June 30, 2011), whichever occurs 
first.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, (AA), finds the need to immediately implement this commercial 
trip limit reduction constitutes good cause to waive the requirements 
to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 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 
would be unnecessary because the rule itself already has been subject 
to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of 
the trip limit reduction.
    Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is 
contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately 
implement this action to protect the fishery resource because the 
capacity of the commercial fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota. 
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and 
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established 
quota.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3).
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 21, 2010.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-27081 Filed 10-21-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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