Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer, 3137-3138 [2014-00906]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
implemented under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622.
Amendment 18 to the FMP (76 FR
82058, December 29, 2011)
implemented a commercial annual
catch limit (equal to the commercial
quota) of 3.13 million lb (1.42 million
kg) for the Atlantic migratory group of
Spanish mackerel. Atlantic migratory
group Spanish mackerel are divided
into a northern and southern zone for
management purposes. The southern
zone for Atlantic migratory group
Spanish mackerel extends from
30°42′45.6″ N. lat., which is a line
directly east from the Georgia/Florida
boundary, to 25°20.4′ N. lat., which is a
line directly east from the Miami-Dade/
Monroe County, Florida, boundary.
For the southern zone, seasonally
variable trip limits are based on an
adjusted commercial quota of 2.88
million lb (1.31 million kg). The
adjusted commercial quota is calculated
to allow continued harvest in the
southern zone at a set rate for the
remainder of the current fishing year,
February 28, 2014, in accordance with
50 CFR 622.385(b)(2). As specified at 50
CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(B), beginning
December 1, annually, the trip limit is
unlimited on weekdays and limited to
1,500 lb (680 kg) of Spanish mackerel
per day on weekends. As specified at 50
CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C), after 75 percent
of the adjusted commercial quota of
Atlantic migratory group Spanish
mackerel is taken until 100 percent of
the adjusted commercial quota is taken,
Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in
the southern zone may not be possessed
on board or landed from a permitted
vessel in amounts exceeding 1,500 lb
(680 kg) per day.
NMFS has determined that 75 percent
of the adjusted commercial quota for
Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has
been taken. Accordingly, the 1,500-lb
(680-kg) per day commercial trip limit
applies to Spanish mackerel in or from
the EEZ in the southern zone effective
6 a.m., local time, January 17, 2014,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1,
2014, unless changed by subsequent
notification in the Federal Register.
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C) 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.
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
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 Atlantic
migratory group Spanish mackerel
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 could 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).
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of Atlantic migratory group
Spanish mackerel and is consistent with
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Summer Flounder Fishery;
Quota Transfer
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:02 Jan 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 14, 2014.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–00904 Filed 1–14–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 121009528–2729–02]
RIN 0648–XD063
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
ACTION:
3137
Temporary rule; quota transfer.
NMFS announces that the
State of North Carolina is transferring a
portion of its 2013 commercial summer
flounder quota to the Commonwealth of
Virginia. NMFS is adjusting the quotas
and announcing the revised commercial
quota for each state involved.
DATES: Effective January 17, 2014. The
quota transfer is applicable from
December 3, 2013, through December
31, 2013.
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 § 648.102.
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.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer
29,373 lb (13,323 kg) of its 2013
commercial quota to Virginia. This
transfer was prompted by summer
flounder landings of four North Carolina
vessels that were granted safe harbor in
Virginia due to mechanical failures
between December 3, 2013, and
December 16, 2013, thereby requiring a
quota transfer to account for an increase
in Virginia’s landings that would have
otherwise accrued against the North
Carolina quota. The Regional
Administrator has determined that the
criteria set forth in § 648.102(c)(2)(i)
have been met. The revised summer
flounder commercial quotas for calendar
year 2013 are: North Carolina, 373,400
lb (169,371 kg); and Virginia, 5,314,380
lb (2,410,562 kg).
SUMMARY:
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3138
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 12 / Friday, January 17, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Dated: January 14, 2014.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–00906 Filed 1–16–14; 8:45 am]
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:02 Jan 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
E:\FR\FM\17JAR1.SGM
17JAR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3137-3138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00906]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 121009528-2729-02]
RIN 0648-XD063
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 North Carolina is
transferring a portion of its 2013 commercial summer flounder quota to
the Commonwealth of Virginia. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and
announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
DATES: Effective January 17, 2014. The quota transfer is applicable
from December 3, 2013, through December 31, 2013.
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.
648.102.
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.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer 29,373 lb (13,323 kg) of its
2013 commercial quota to Virginia. This transfer was prompted by summer
flounder landings of four North Carolina vessels that were granted safe
harbor in Virginia due to mechanical failures between December 3, 2013,
and December 16, 2013, thereby requiring a quota transfer to account
for an increase in Virginia's landings that would have otherwise
accrued against the North Carolina 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 commercial quotas for
calendar year 2013 are: North Carolina, 373,400 lb (169,371 kg); and
Virginia, 5,314,380 lb (2,410,562 kg).
[[Page 3138]]
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: January 14, 2014.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-00906 Filed 1-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
