Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2014 Limited Commercial and Recreational Fishing Seasons for Red Snapper in the Southern Atlantic States, 32496-32497 [2014-13014]
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32496
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Issued on: May 30, 2014.
Anne S. Ferro,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014–13022 Filed 6–2–14; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 121004515–3608–02]
RIN 0648–XD307
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2014
Limited Commercial and Recreational
Fishing Seasons for Red Snapper in
the Southern Atlantic States
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; limited fishing
seasons.
AGENCY:
NMFS has determined that
limited commercial and recreational
fishing seasons can occur in 2014.
Therefore, NMFS announces the
commercial and recreational annual
catch limits (ACLs) for red snapper in
the South Atlantic exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) for the 2014 fishing year, the
opening and closing dates of the 2014
recreational fishing season, and the
opening date of the 2014 commercial
fishing season through this temporary
rule. The 2014 commercial ACL is
50,994 lb (23,130 kg), gutted weight, and
the 2014 recreational ACL is 22,576 fish.
Based on NMFS projections, the
recreational fishing season in 2014 will
be open for three consecutive weekends,
starting July 11, 2014, and consist of 3
days the first two weekends (Friday,
Saturday, Sunday) and 2 days the third
weekend (Friday and Saturday). The
commercial fishing season in 2014 will
open on July 14, 2014, and NMFS will
monitor commercial harvest in-season
and close the commercial sector when
the commercial ACL is reached or
projected to be reached by filing an inseason closure notification with the
Office of the Federal Register. This
temporary rule is necessary to announce
the limited fishing seasons for South
Atlantic red snapper to provide socioeconomic benefits to snapper-grouper
fishermen and communities that utilize
the red snapper resource while at the
same time allowing red snapper to
rebuild to sustainable levels.
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:48 Jun 04, 2014
The 2014 recreational fishing
season will open at 12:01 a.m. on July
11, 2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July
14, 2014; open at 12:01 a.m. on July 18,
2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July 21,
2014; and open at 12:01 a.m. on July 25,
2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July 27,
2014. The 2014 commercial fishing
season will open at 12:01 a.m. on July
14, 2014, and remain open until NMFS
publishes an in-season closure
notification in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: Catherine.Hayslip@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes red snapper, is
managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared
by the Council and is implemented
through regulations at 50 CFR part 622
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act).
On July 24, 2013, NMFS published a
final rule to implement Amendment 28
to the FMP (78 FR 44461). In part, the
final rule for Amendment 28 to the FMP
established a process for setting
commercial and recreational ACLs and
determining whether limited
commercial and recreational fishing
seasons for red snapper in or from the
South Atlantic EEZ can occur during a
given fishing year. That final rule also
implemented accountability measures
(AMs) for South Atlantic red snapper, if
limited fishing seasons are allowed in a
fishing year, including setting a season
length for the recreational sector and
implementing an in-season closure
when the commercial ACL is reached or
projected to be reached. The final rule
for Amendment 28 to the FMP also
implemented a 75-lb (34-kg) commercial
trip limit during the limited commercial
fishing season and a 1-fish per person
recreational bag limit during the limited
recreational fishing season.
DATES:
Jkt 232001
Red Snapper Harvest in 2014
NMFS used the formulas established
in Amendment 28 to the FMP to
determine if harvest of red snapper
could occur in 2014. In accordance with
50 CFR 622.193(y), the total removals
(landings plus dead discards) for 2013
were compared to the 2013 ABC to
determine if the ABC was exceeded and
thus whether the ACL for 2014 could be
set greater than zero. In 2013, total
removals equaled 72,881 fish. Because
the 2013 total removals for red snapper
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
are less than the 2013 ABC of 96,000
fish, NMFS has determined that the
ACL for 2014 can be set greater than
zero and that limited commercial and
recreational fishing seasons may be
established in 2014.
NMFS has determined that the 2014
total ACL for red snapper in the South
Atlantic EEZ is 31,386 fish. Based on
the current allocation ratio for red
snapper (28.07 percent commercial and
71.93 percent recreational), the 2014
commercial ACL is 50,994 lb (23,130
kg), gutted weight, and the 2014
recreational ACL is 22,576 fish. For
details regarding the calculation of the
commercial and recreational ACLs and
the recreational season length, please
see SERO–LAPP–2014–06 ‘‘2014 South
Atlantic Red Snapper Annual Catch
Limits and Recreational Season Length
Projection’’, which can be found at
https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_
fisheries/s_atl/sg/documents/pdfs/sa_
rs_acl_season_projections.pdf.
NMFS has determined the length of
the recreational fishing season for 2014.
The recreational fishing season will be
open for three weekends consisting of 3
days the first two weekends (Friday,
Saturday, Sunday) and 2 days the third
weekend (Friday and Saturday). The
recreational fishing season for red
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ will
open at 12:01 a.m. on July 11, 2014, and
close at 12:01 a.m. on July 14, 2014;
open at 12:01 a.m. on July 18, 2014, and
close at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2014; and
open at 12:01 a.m. on July 25, 2014, and
close at 12:01 a.m. on July 27, 2014.
After the recreational sector closes, both
harvest and possession of red snapper
under the bag limit are prohibited.
NMFS has determined that the 2014
commercial fishing season for red
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ will
open at 12:01 a.m. on July 14, 2014, and
NMFS will monitor commercial harvest
in-season and close the commercial
sector when the commercial ACL is
reached or projected to be reached by
filing an in-season closure notification
with the Office of the Federal Register.
After the commercial sector closes, both
sale and purchase of red snapper in or
from the South Atlantic EEZ are
prohibited. When the recreational and
commercial sectors are closed, all
harvest and all possession of red
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ will
be prohibited.
In accordance with 50 CFR
622.183(b)(5), if the Regional
Administrator, Southeast Region,
NMFS, (RA) determines tropical storm
or hurricane conditions exist, or are
projected to exist, in the South Atlantic,
during the 2014 commercial or
recreational fishing season, the RA may
E:\FR\FM\05JNR1.SGM
05JNR1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 108 / Thursday, June 5, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
modify the opening and closing dates of
the fishing season by filing a
notification to that effect with the Office
of the Federal Register, and announcing
via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery
Bulletin any change in the dates of the
red snapper commercial or recreational
fishing season.
Classification
The RA has determined this
temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of the
South Atlantic red snapper component
of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper
fishery and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and
other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(y) 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), there
is good cause to waive the requirements
to provide prior notice and opportunity
for public comment on this temporary
rule. Such procedures are unnecessary
because the AMs established by
Amendment 28 to the FMP (78 FR
44461, July 24, 2013) and located at 50
CFR 622.193(y) have already been
subject to notice and comment and
authorize the AA to file a notification
with the Office of the Federal Register
to use the established process for
determining whether limited
commercial and recreational fishing
seasons for red snapper in the South
Atlantic EEZ can occur during a given
fishing year and to set commercial and
recreational ACLs for red snapper
during limited fishing seasons. All that
remains is to notify the public of the
length of the recreational fishing season,
the commercial fishing season start date,
and the commercial and recreational
ACLs for red snapper for the 2014
fishing year. Additionally, there is a
need to immediately notify the public of
the fishing seasons for red snapper for
the 2014 fishing year, to allow time for
commercial and recreational businesses
to plan their seasons. For example,
charter vessel and headboat operations
book trips for clients in advance and,
therefore need as much time as possible
to adjust business plans to account for
the recreational fishing season. The
commercial sector also needs to be able
to plan and purchase supplies for the
commercial fishing season.
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).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:48 Jun 04, 2014
Jkt 232001
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 30, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–13014 Filed 6–2–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 0907271173–0629–03]
RIN 0648–XD199
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic; 2014 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure
for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS implements
accountability measures (AMs) for the
recreational sector for snowy grouper in
the South Atlantic for the 2014 fishing
year through this temporary rule.
Average recreational landings from
2011–2013 exceeded the recreational
annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy
grouper. To account for this overage,
this rule reduces the length of the 2014
recreational fishing season. Therefore,
NMFS closes the recreational sector for
snowy grouper on June 7, 2014. This
closure is necessary to protect the
snowy grouper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 7, 2014, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: Catherine.Hayslip@
noaa.gov.
SUMMARY:
The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes snowy
grouper, is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared
by the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council 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.
In 2013, NMFS published a temporary
rule (78 FR 30779, May 23, 2013) to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
32497
implement the post-season AM to
reduce the 2013 fishing season for the
recreational snowy grouper component
of the snapper-grouper fishery. As a
result, the recreational sector for snowy
grouper was closed May 31, 2013, until
January 1, 2014.
The recreational ACL for snowy
grouper is 523 fish. In accordance with
regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2), if
the recreational ACL is exceeded, the
Assistant Administrator, NMFS (AA)
will file a notification with the Office of
the Federal Register to reduce the length
of the following fishing season by the
amount necessary to ensure landings do
not exceed the recreational ACL in the
following fishing year. The most recent
3-year running average of recreational
landings is compared to the recreational
ACL for snowy grouper, and for the
2014 fishing year, the average of 2011–
2013 recreational landings is compared
to the recreational ACL. Average
landings from 2011–2013 exceeded the
2013 ACL by 999 fish on average.
Therefore, this temporary rule
implements the post-season AM to
reduce the fishing season for the
recreational snowy grouper component
of the snapper-grouper fishery in 2014.
As a result, the recreational sector for
snowy grouper will be closed effective
12:01 a.m., local time June 7, 2014.
During the closure, the bag and
possession limit for snowy grouper in or
from the South Atlantic exclusive
economic zone is zero. The recreational
sector for snowy grouper will reopen on
January 1, 2015, the beginning of the
2015 recreational fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of the South Atlantic
snowy grouper component of the South
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, the FMP, and other applicable
laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(b)(2) 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), there
is good cause to waive the requirements
to provide prior notice and opportunity
for public comment on this temporary
rule. Such procedures are unnecessary
because the AMs established by
Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR
82280, December 30, 2010) and located
E:\FR\FM\05JNR1.SGM
05JNR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32496-32497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13014]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 121004515-3608-02]
RIN 0648-XD307
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2014 Limited Commercial and Recreational Fishing Seasons for Red
Snapper in the Southern Atlantic States
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; limited fishing seasons.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that limited commercial and recreational
fishing seasons can occur in 2014. Therefore, NMFS announces the
commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) for red snapper
in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the 2014
fishing year, the opening and closing dates of the 2014 recreational
fishing season, and the opening date of the 2014 commercial fishing
season through this temporary rule. The 2014 commercial ACL is 50,994
lb (23,130 kg), gutted weight, and the 2014 recreational ACL is 22,576
fish. Based on NMFS projections, the recreational fishing season in
2014 will be open for three consecutive weekends, starting July 11,
2014, and consist of 3 days the first two weekends (Friday, Saturday,
Sunday) and 2 days the third weekend (Friday and Saturday). The
commercial fishing season in 2014 will open on July 14, 2014, and NMFS
will monitor commercial harvest in-season and close the commercial
sector when the commercial ACL is reached or projected to be reached by
filing an in-season closure notification with the Office of the Federal
Register. This temporary rule is necessary to announce the limited
fishing seasons for South Atlantic red snapper to provide socio-
economic benefits to snapper-grouper fishermen and communities that
utilize the red snapper resource while at the same time allowing red
snapper to rebuild to sustainable levels.
DATES: The 2014 recreational fishing season will open at 12:01 a.m. on
July 11, 2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July 14, 2014; open at 12:01
a.m. on July 18, 2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2014; and
open at 12:01 a.m. on July 25, 2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on July
27, 2014. The 2014 commercial fishing season will open at 12:01 a.m. on
July 14, 2014, and remain open until NMFS publishes an in-season
closure notification in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727-824-
5305, email: Catherine.Hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes red snapper, is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Council and is implemented
through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).
On July 24, 2013, NMFS published a final rule to implement
Amendment 28 to the FMP (78 FR 44461). In part, the final rule for
Amendment 28 to the FMP established a process for setting commercial
and recreational ACLs and determining whether limited commercial and
recreational fishing seasons for red snapper in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ can occur during a given fishing year. That final rule
also implemented accountability measures (AMs) for South Atlantic red
snapper, if limited fishing seasons are allowed in a fishing year,
including setting a season length for the recreational sector and
implementing an in-season closure when the commercial ACL is reached or
projected to be reached. The final rule for Amendment 28 to the FMP
also implemented a 75-lb (34-kg) commercial trip limit during the
limited commercial fishing season and a 1-fish per person recreational
bag limit during the limited recreational fishing season.
Red Snapper Harvest in 2014
NMFS used the formulas established in Amendment 28 to the FMP to
determine if harvest of red snapper could occur in 2014. In accordance
with 50 CFR 622.193(y), the total removals (landings plus dead
discards) for 2013 were compared to the 2013 ABC to determine if the
ABC was exceeded and thus whether the ACL for 2014 could be set greater
than zero. In 2013, total removals equaled 72,881 fish. Because the
2013 total removals for red snapper are less than the 2013 ABC of
96,000 fish, NMFS has determined that the ACL for 2014 can be set
greater than zero and that limited commercial and recreational fishing
seasons may be established in 2014.
NMFS has determined that the 2014 total ACL for red snapper in the
South Atlantic EEZ is 31,386 fish. Based on the current allocation
ratio for red snapper (28.07 percent commercial and 71.93 percent
recreational), the 2014 commercial ACL is 50,994 lb (23,130 kg), gutted
weight, and the 2014 recreational ACL is 22,576 fish. For details
regarding the calculation of the commercial and recreational ACLs and
the recreational season length, please see SERO-LAPP-2014-06 ``2014
South Atlantic Red Snapper Annual Catch Limits and Recreational Season
Length Projection'', which can be found at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/documents/pdfs/sa_rs_acl_season_projections.pdf.
NMFS has determined the length of the recreational fishing season
for 2014. The recreational fishing season will be open for three
weekends consisting of 3 days the first two weekends (Friday, Saturday,
Sunday) and 2 days the third weekend (Friday and Saturday). The
recreational fishing season for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ
will open at 12:01 a.m. on July 11, 2014, and close at 12:01 a.m. on
July 14, 2014; open at 12:01 a.m. on July 18, 2014, and close at 12:01
a.m. on July 21, 2014; and open at 12:01 a.m. on July 25, 2014, and
close at 12:01 a.m. on July 27, 2014. After the recreational sector
closes, both harvest and possession of red snapper under the bag limit
are prohibited.
NMFS has determined that the 2014 commercial fishing season for red
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ will open at 12:01 a.m. on July 14,
2014, and NMFS will monitor commercial harvest in-season and close the
commercial sector when the commercial ACL is reached or projected to be
reached by filing an in-season closure notification with the Office of
the Federal Register. After the commercial sector closes, both sale and
purchase of red snapper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are
prohibited. When the recreational and commercial sectors are closed,
all harvest and all possession of red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ
will be prohibited.
In accordance with 50 CFR 622.183(b)(5), if the Regional
Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, (RA) determines tropical storm
or hurricane conditions exist, or are projected to exist, in the South
Atlantic, during the 2014 commercial or recreational fishing season,
the RA may
[[Page 32497]]
modify the opening and closing dates of the fishing season by filing a
notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register,
and announcing via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change
in the dates of the red snapper commercial or recreational fishing
season.
Classification
The RA has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of the South Atlantic red snapper component
of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(y) 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), there is good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary because the AMs
established by Amendment 28 to the FMP (78 FR 44461, July 24, 2013) and
located at 50 CFR 622.193(y) have already been subject to notice and
comment and authorize the AA to file a notification with the Office of
the Federal Register to use the established process for determining
whether limited commercial and recreational fishing seasons for red
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ can occur during a given fishing year
and to set commercial and recreational ACLs for red snapper during
limited fishing seasons. All that remains is to notify the public of
the length of the recreational fishing season, the commercial fishing
season start date, and the commercial and recreational ACLs for red
snapper for the 2014 fishing year. Additionally, there is a need to
immediately notify the public of the fishing seasons for red snapper
for the 2014 fishing year, to allow time for commercial and
recreational businesses to plan their seasons. For example, charter
vessel and headboat operations book trips for clients in advance and,
therefore need as much time as possible to adjust business plans to
account for the recreational fishing season. The commercial sector also
needs to be able to plan and purchase supplies for the commercial
fishing season.
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: May 30, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13014 Filed 6-2-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
