Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer, 73556 [2012-29876]

Download as PDF 73556 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with without opportunity for prior notice and comment. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and the opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest regarding red snapper because the commercial ACL and AMs for red snapper were established in emergency rulemaking to allow for the limited harvest and possession of red snapper in 2012 (77 FR 51939, August 28, 2012), and the AMs allow the Regional Administrator to reopen the commercial sector if the ACL has been determined to have not been reached during the first 7-day commercial season. NMFS previously determined the commercial ACL for red snapper would be reached by November 21, 2012, and closed the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 21, 2012. However, updated landings estimates indicate the commercial ACL for red snapper has not been reached at this time, and therefore additional harvest is available in order to achieve optimum yield. Such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest regarding gray triggerfish because NMFS previously determined the commercial ACL for gray triggerfish would be reached by September 11, 2012, and therefore, closed the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 11, 2012. However, updated landings estimates indicate the commercial ACL for gray triggerfish has not been reached at this time, and therefore additional harvest is available in order to achieve optimum yield. All that remains is to notify the public that additional harvest is available under the established ACLs and, therefore, the commercial sector for red snapper and gray triggerfish will reopen. Additionally, reopening the commercial sector for red snapper and gray triggerfish will likely result in revenue increases to commercial vessels. Fishermen will be able to keep the red snapper and gray triggerfish that they are currently required to discard. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Dec 10, 2012 Jkt 229001 Additionally, reopening the commercial sector for red snapper will provide an opportunity to collect fishery-dependent data that will likely be useful for the 2014 red snapper stock assessment. Delaying the implementation of this rulemaking to provide prior notice and the opportunity for public comment would reduce the likelihood of reopening the commercial sector for red snapper and gray triggerfish in the 2012 fishing year. 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: December 6, 2012. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–29878 Filed 12–6–12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 111220786–1781–01] RIN 0648–XC373 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a portion of its 2012 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved. DATES: Effective December 6, 2012, through December 31, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Bari, Fishery Management Specialist, 978–281–9224. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery are in 50 CFR part 648, and require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state are described in § 648.100. The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which was published on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a mechanism for summer flounder quota to be transferred from one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), can transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota under § 648.102(c)(2). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in § 648.102(c)(2)(i) to evaluate requests for quota transfers or combinations. Maine has agreed to transfer 6,000 lb (2,721 kg) of its 2012 commercial quota to Connecticut. This transfer was prompted by the diligent efforts of state officials in Connecticut not to exceed the commercial summer flounder quota. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in § 648.102(c)(2)(i) have been met. The revised summer flounder quotas for calendar year 2012 are: Maine, 54 lb (24 kg); and Connecticut, 293,320 lb (133,048 kg). Classification This action is taken under 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 5, 2012. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–29876 Filed 12–6–12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\11DER1.SGM 11DER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29876]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 111220786-1781-01]
RIN 0648-XC373


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder 
Fishery; Quota Transfer

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a 
portion of its 2012 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of 
Connecticut. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised 
commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective December 6, 2012, through December 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Bari, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder 
fishery are in 50 CFR part 648, and require annual specification of a 
commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from 
North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial 
quota and the percent allocated to each state are described in Sec.  
648.100.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder, 
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which was published 
on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a mechanism for summer 
flounder quota to be transferred from one state to another. Two or more 
states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), can 
transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota under Sec.  
648.102(c)(2). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the 
criteria in Sec.  648.102(c)(2)(i) to evaluate requests for quota 
transfers or combinations.
    Maine has agreed to transfer 6,000 lb (2,721 kg) of its 2012 
commercial quota to Connecticut. This transfer was prompted by the 
diligent efforts of state officials in Connecticut not to exceed the 
commercial summer flounder quota. The Regional Administrator has 
determined that the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.102(c)(2)(i) have 
been met. The revised summer flounder quotas for calendar year 2012 
are: Maine, 54 lb (24 kg); and Connecticut, 293,320 lb (133,048 kg).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: December 5, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29876 Filed 12-6-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.