Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2014 Commercial Summer Flounder Quota Adjustments, 78786-78787 [2013-31070]

Download as PDF 78786 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Rules and Regulations Atlantic surfclams, ocean quahogs, and mussels, with the exception of sea scallops harvested only for adductor muscles and shucked at sea, and any gastropods, including whelks, conchs, and carnivorous snails, unless issued and possessing on board a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Regional Administrator authorizing the collection of shellfish and/or gastropods for biological sampling and operating under the terms and conditions of said LOA, in the area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone bound by the following coordinates in the order stated: (A) 43°00′ N. lat., 71°00′ W. long.; (B) 43°00′ N. lat., 69°00′ W. long.; (C) 41°39′ N. lat., 69°00′ W. long.; (D) 41°39′ N. lat., 71°00′ W. long.; and then ending at the first point. (iv) Fish for, harvest, catch, possess, or attempt to fish for, harvest, catch, or possess any sea scallops, except for sea scallops harvested only for adductor muscles and shucked at sea, and any gastropods, including whelks, conchs, and carnivorous snails, unless issued and possessing on board a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Regional Administrator authorizing collection of shellfish and/or gastropods for biological sampling and operating under the terms and conditions of said LOA, in the area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone bound by the following coordinates in the order stated below, excluding the Federal waters of Nantucket Sound west of 70° 00′ W. Longitude: (A) 41°39′ N. lat., 71°00′W. long.; (B) 41°39′ N. lat., 69°00′ W. long.; (C) 40°00′ N. lat., 69°00′ W. long.; (D) 40°00′ N. lat., 71°00′ W. long.; and then ending at the first point. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2013–30945 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 121009528–2729–02] RIN 0648–XD026 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2014 Commercial Summer Flounder Quota Adjustments National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of 2014 commercial summer flounder state quotas. AGENCY: NMFS is announcing the commercial summer flounder state quotas for fishing year 2014. The 2014 summer flounder specifications were established in December 2012. This notice incorporates any previously unaccounted for overages from fishing year 2012 and any known overages to date from fishing year 2013. These commercial state quotas may change as a result of a recent stock assessment and a recommendation by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. DATES: Effective January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281–9218. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. Specifications in these fisheries include the acceptable biological catch (ABC) limit, various catch and landing subdivisions (such as the commercial and recreational sector annual catch limits (ACLs)), annual catch targets (ACTs), sector-specific landing limits (i.e., the commercial fishery quota and recreational harvest limit (RHL)), and research set-aside (RSA) established for the upcoming fishing year. Typically, these specifications are set on an annual basis and announced in the Federal Register in December of each year. Because the summer flounder stock assessment was scheduled for July 2013 and the normal specification schedule would be delayed, the Council established specifications for the 2014 summer flounder fishery in December 2012 (December 31, 2012; 77 FR 76942). These specifications included the initial state allocations, as well as the state allocations after adjusting for RSA. An important component of the annual specifications rulemaking is the notification of the commercial summer flounder state quota and overages. Overages are calculated using final landings data from the previous fishing year and landings from the current fishing year through October 31. In this case, previously unaccounted for overages from fishing year 2012 are combined with known overages from fishing year 2013, through October 31, 2013. As a result, the 2014 summer flounder state quotas, adjusted for RSA and overages, are as follows: TABLE 1—2014 COMMERCIAL SUMMER FLOUNDER STATE QUOTAS, AS ADJUSTED BY OVERAGES AND RSA FMP percent share 2014 Initial quota tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES State lb 2014 Initial quota, less RSA lb kg 0.04756 0.00046 6.82046 15.68298 2.25708 7.64699 16.72499 0.01779 2.03910 21.31676 27.44584 5,579 54 800,091 1,839,732 264,772 897,050 1,961,967 2,087 239,202 2,500,616 3,219,604 2,533 24 363,242 835,240 120,207 407,261 890,735 947 108,598 1,135,282 1,461,703 5,417 52 776,788 1,786,147 257,061 870,922 1,904,823 2,026 232,235 2,427,783 3,125,829 2,457 24 352,345 810,183 116,601 395,044 864,013 919 105,340 1,101,224 1,417,852 0 0 28,199 0 0 79,355 0 52,384 0 0 0 0 0 12,791 0 0 35,995 0 23,760 0 0 0 5,417 52 748,589 1,786,147 257,061 791,587 1,904,823 ¥50,358 232,235 2,427,783 3,125,829 2,457 24 339,554 810,183 116,601 359,058 864,013 ¥22,842 105,340 1,101,224 1,417,852 Total ................................... 100.00 11,730,754 5,326,000 11,389,082 5,166,000 155,376 70,476 11,284,065 5,118,366 VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:49 Dec 26, 2013 Jkt 232001 lb kg Adjusted 2014 quota, less RSA and overages ME ............................................. NH ............................................. MA ............................................. RI ............................................... CT .............................................. NY ............................................. NJ .............................................. DE ............................................. MD ............................................. VA .............................................. NC ............................................. On October 9, 2013, the Council met to discuss whether adjustments to the kg Quota overages (through 10/31/13) previously established 2014 specifications were necessary as a result PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 lb kg of the updated stock assessment, and to establish fishing year 2015 E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Rules and Regulations specifications for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The Council determined that an adjustment was necessary for the 2014 summer flounder specifications. Table 2 below summarizes the established 2014 summer flounder specifications, as well as the specifications that the Council voted to recommend in October 2013. The Council has not yet submitted the specifications package to be reviewed by NMFS; nor has NMFS made a 78787 determination that these adjustments would be implemented. The state quotas listed in Table 1 will be in effect until and unless otherwise changed through proposed and final rulemaking. TABLE 2—SUMMER FLOUNDER 2014 SPECIFICATIONS AND COUNCIL RECOMMENDED 2014 SPECIFICATIONS 2014 Specifications million lb ABC .................................................................................................................. Commercial ACL .............................................................................................. Recreational ACL ............................................................................................. Commercial ACT ............................................................................................. Recreational ACT ............................................................................................ Comm. Quota (less 3% for RSA) .................................................................... RHL (less 3% for RSA) .................................................................................... Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 22.24 12.05 10.19 12.05 10.19 11.39 7.59 October 2013 council recommended 2014 specifications mt million lb 10,088 5,467 4,621 5,467 4,621 5,166 3,444 Dated: December 23, 2013. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–31070 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am] tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:49 Dec 26, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM 27DER1 21.94 12.87 9.07 12.87 9.07 10.51 7.01 mt 9,950 5,837 4,113 5,837 4,113 4,767 3,178

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78786-78787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31070]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 121009528-2729-02]
RIN 0648-XD026


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2014 Commercial 
Summer Flounder Quota Adjustments

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

ACTION: Announcement of 2014 commercial summer flounder state quotas.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the commercial summer flounder state quotas 
for fishing year 2014. The 2014 summer flounder specifications were 
established in December 2012. This notice incorporates any previously 
unaccounted for overages from fishing year 2012 and any known overages 
to date from fishing year 2013. These commercial state quotas may 
change as a result of a recent stock assessment and a recommendation by 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the 
summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. Specifications in 
these fisheries include the acceptable biological catch (ABC) limit, 
various catch and landing subdivisions (such as the commercial and 
recreational sector annual catch limits (ACLs)), annual catch targets 
(ACTs), sector-specific landing limits (i.e., the commercial fishery 
quota and recreational harvest limit (RHL)), and research set-aside 
(RSA) established for the upcoming fishing year. Typically, these 
specifications are set on an annual basis and announced in the Federal 
Register in December of each year. Because the summer flounder stock 
assessment was scheduled for July 2013 and the normal specification 
schedule would be delayed, the Council established specifications for 
the 2014 summer flounder fishery in December 2012 (December 31, 2012; 
77 FR 76942). These specifications included the initial state 
allocations, as well as the state allocations after adjusting for RSA.
    An important component of the annual specifications rulemaking is 
the notification of the commercial summer flounder state quota and 
overages. Overages are calculated using final landings data from the 
previous fishing year and landings from the current fishing year 
through October 31. In this case, previously unaccounted for overages 
from fishing year 2012 are combined with known overages from fishing 
year 2013, through October 31, 2013. As a result, the 2014 summer 
flounder state quotas, adjusted for RSA and overages, are as follows:

                                                     Table 1--2014 Commercial Summer Flounder State Quotas, as Adjusted by Overages and RSA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
                                                                  FMP percent
                                                                     share        2014 Initial quota
                                                                  2014 Initial quota, less
                                                                             RSA
                                                                   Quota overages (through
                                                                          10/31/13)
                                                                    Adjusted 2014 quota,
                                                                    less RSA and overages
                                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              State                                                 lb           kg           lb           kg           lb           kg           lb           kg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME..............................................................      0.04756        5,579        2,533        5,417        2,457            0            0        5,417        2,457
NH..............................................................      0.00046           54           24           52           24            0            0           52           24
MA..............................................................      6.82046      800,091      363,242      776,788      352,345       28,199       12,791      748,589      339,554
RI..............................................................     15.68298    1,839,732      835,240    1,786,147      810,183            0            0    1,786,147      810,183
CT..............................................................      2.25708      264,772      120,207      257,061      116,601            0            0      257,061      116,601
NY..............................................................      7.64699      897,050      407,261      870,922      395,044       79,355       35,995      791,587      359,058
NJ..............................................................     16.72499    1,961,967      890,735    1,904,823      864,013            0            0    1,904,823      864,013
DE..............................................................      0.01779        2,087          947        2,026          919       52,384       23,760      -50,358      -22,842
MD..............................................................      2.03910      239,202      108,598      232,235      105,340            0            0      232,235      105,340
VA..............................................................     21.31676    2,500,616    1,135,282    2,427,783    1,101,224            0            0    2,427,783    1,101,224
NC..............................................................     27.44584    3,219,604    1,461,703    3,125,829    1,417,852            0            0    3,125,829    1,417,852
                                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................       100.00   11,730,754    5,326,000   11,389,082    5,166,000      155,376       70,476   11,284,065    5,118,366
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On October 9, 2013, the Council met to discuss whether adjustments 
to the previously established 2014 specifications were necessary as a 
result of the updated stock assessment, and to establish fishing year 
2015

[[Page 78787]]

specifications for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass 
fisheries. The Council determined that an adjustment was necessary for 
the 2014 summer flounder specifications. Table 2 below summarizes the 
established 2014 summer flounder specifications, as well as the 
specifications that the Council voted to recommend in October 2013. The 
Council has not yet submitted the specifications package to be reviewed 
by NMFS; nor has NMFS made a determination that these adjustments would 
be implemented. The state quotas listed in Table 1 will be in effect 
until and unless otherwise changed through proposed and final 
rulemaking.

            Table 2--Summer Flounder 2014 Specifications and Council Recommended 2014 Specifications
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2014 Specifications            October 2013 council
                                                 --------------------------------        recommended 2014
                                                                                          specifications
                                                    million lb          mt       -------------------------------
                                                                                    million lb          mt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC.............................................           22.24          10,088           21.94           9,950
Commercial ACL..................................           12.05           5,467           12.87           5,837
Recreational ACL................................           10.19           4,621            9.07           4,113
Commercial ACT..................................           12.05           5,467           12.87           5,837
Recreational ACT................................           10.19           4,621            9.07           4,113
Comm. Quota (less 3% for RSA)...................           11.39           5,166           10.51           4,767
RHL (less 3% for RSA)...........................            7.59           3,444            7.01           3,178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

    Dated: December 23, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31070 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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