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, 15642-15643 [2013-05782]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule. Such procedures
are unnecessary because the rule itself
has already been subject to notice and
comment, and all that remains is to
notify the public of the trip limit
adjustments.
Allowing prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest because
of the need to immediately implement
this action to achieve optimum yield
and better manage the South Atlantic
golden tilefish resource.
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: March 8, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–05784 Filed 3–8–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 001005281–0369–02]
RIN 0648–XC553
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
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction.
AGENCY:
NMFS reduces the trip limit
in the hook-and-line component of the
commercial sector for king mackerel in
the southern 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, March 12, 2013, through
June 30, 2013, unless changed by further
notice in the Federal Register.
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SUMMARY:
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14:38 Mar 11, 2013
Jkt 229001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish
(king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and
cobia) 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 quotas. The 2012 to 2013
fishing year quota for the hook-and-line
component of the commercial sector in
the southern Florida west coast subzone
is 607,614 lb (275,609 kg) (50 CFR
622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).
In accordance with 50 CFR
622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2), from the date that
75 percent of the southern Florida west
coast subzone’s hook-and-line gear
quota has been harvested until a closure
of the subzone’s commercial sector of
the hook-and-line component 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 projected that 75 percent of
the hook-and-line gear quota for Gulf
group king mackerel from the southern
Florida west coast subzone will be
reached by March 12, 2013.
Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit
applies to vessels in the hook-and-line
component of the commercial sector for
king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the
southern Florida west coast subzone
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March
12, 2013. The 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit
will remain in effect until the
component closes or until the end of the
current fishing year (June 30, 2013),
whichever occurs first.
The Florida west coast subzone is that
part of the eastern zone located south
and west of 25°20.4′ N. lat. (a line
directly east from the Miami-Dade/
Monroe County, FL boundary) along the
west coast of Florida to 87°31′06″ W.
long. (a line directly south from the
Alabama/Florida boundary). The
Florida west coast subzone is further
divided into northern and southern
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Fmt 4700
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subzones. From November 1 through
March 31, the southern subzone is
designated as the area extending south
and west from 25°20.4′ N. lat. to
26°19.8′ N. lat. (a line directly west from
the Lee/Collier County, Florida,
boundary), i.e., the area off Collier and
Monroe Counties. Beginning April 1, the
southern subzone is reduced to the area
off Collier County, Florida, between
25°48′ N. lat. and 26°19.8′ N. lat.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of the Gulf king mackerel
resource and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.43(a) 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
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
(AA), finds that the need to immediately
implement this trip limit reduction for
the hook-and-line component of the
commercial sector 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
the capacity of the fishing fleet allows
for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment could result in a harvest well
in excess of the established quota.
Immediate implementation of this
action is needed to protect the Gulf king
mackerel resource.
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).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM
12MRR1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: March 8, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–05782 Filed 3–8–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 120918468–3111–02]
RIN 0648–XC550
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the B season allowance of the 2013 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 630 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2013,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., August 25,
2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The B season allowance of the 2013
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 2,618
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013). In
accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), hereby
increases the B season pollock
allowance by 39 mt to reflect the total
underharvest of the A seasonal
apportionment in Statistical Area 630.
Therefore, the revised B season
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:38 Mar 11, 2013
Jkt 229001
allowance of the pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 630 is 2,657 mt (2,618
mt plus 39 mt).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the B season allowance
of the 2013 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 2,457 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 200 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and as such
requirement is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. This
requirement is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest as it
would prevent NMFS from responding
to the most recent fisheries data in a
timely fashion and would delay the
closure of directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of March 6,
2013.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 7, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–05633 Filed 3–7–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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15643
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 121018563–3148–02]
RIN 0648–XC552
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the A season
apportionment of the 2013 Pacific cod
total allowable catch allocated to trawl
catcher vessels in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2013,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1,
2013.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The A season apportionment of the
2013 Pacific cod total allowable catch
(TAC) allocated to trawl catcher vessels
in the BSAI is 37,971 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2013 and
2014 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813,
March 1, 2013).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the A season
apportionment of the 2013 Pacific cod
TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels
in the BSAI will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM
12MRR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15642-15643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05782]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XC553
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the trip limit in the hook-and-line component of
the commercial sector for king mackerel in the southern 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, March 12, 2013,
through June 30, 2013, unless changed by further notice in the Federal
Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-
5305, email: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia) 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 quotas. The 2012 to 2013 fishing year quota
for the hook-and-line component of the commercial sector in the
southern Florida west coast subzone is 607,614 lb (275,609 kg) (50 CFR
622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).
In accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2), from the date
that 75 percent of the southern Florida west coast subzone's hook-and-
line gear quota has been harvested until a closure of the subzone's
commercial sector of the hook-and-line component 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 projected that 75 percent of the hook-and-line gear quota
for Gulf group king mackerel from the southern Florida west coast
subzone will be reached by March 12, 2013. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-
kg) trip limit applies to vessels in the hook-and-line component of the
commercial sector for king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern
Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 12,
2013. The 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit will remain in effect until the
component closes or until the end of the current fishing year (June 30,
2013), whichever occurs first.
The Florida west coast subzone is that part of the eastern zone
located south and west of 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east
from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL boundary) along the west coast of
Florida to 87[deg]31'06'' W. long. (a line directly south from the
Alabama/Florida boundary). The Florida west coast subzone is further
divided into northern and southern subzones. From November 1 through
March 31, the southern subzone is designated as the area extending
south and west from 25[deg]20.4' N. lat. to 26[deg]19.8' N. lat. (a
line directly west from the Lee/Collier County, Florida, boundary),
i.e., the area off Collier and Monroe Counties. Beginning April 1, the
southern subzone is reduced to the area off Collier County, Florida,
between 25[deg]48' N. lat. and 26[deg]19.8' N. lat.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of
the Gulf king mackerel resource and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) 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 available information recently
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this trip
limit reduction for the hook-and-line component of the commercial
sector 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 the capacity of the fishing
fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment could result in a harvest well in excess
of the established quota. Immediate implementation of this action is
needed to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.
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).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 15643]]
Dated: March 8, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05782 Filed 3-8-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
