Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction, 50563-50564 [2014-20123]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50563-50564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20123]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XD438


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper 
in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 
500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary 
to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, August 23, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery includes 
vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic and is managed under the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper 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

[[Page 50564]]

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    The commercial ACL (commercial quota) for vermilion snapper in the 
South Atlantic is divided into two, 6-month time periods, and is 
466,080 lb (202,338 kg), round weight, for January 1 through June 30, 
2014, and 466,080 lb (202,338 kg), round weight, for July 1 through 
December 31, 2014, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(i)(B) and 
(ii)(B), respectively. Any unused portion of the January 1 through June 
30, 2014, fishing season quota is added to the July 1 through December 
31, 2014, fishing season quota, as specified in 50 CFR 
622.190(a)(4)(iii). In 2014, there was no unused commercial quota for 
the January through June period as the commercial sector reached its 
quota for the first 6-month period and the sector was closed on April 
19, 2014, through June 30, 2014 (79 FR 19836, April 10, 2014).
    Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the 
commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 lb (454 kg), 
gutted weight, to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, when 75 percent of 
the fishing season quota is reached or projected to be reached, by 
filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal 
Register, as implemented by the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 18 
(78 FR 47574, August 6, 2013). Based on current statistics, NMFS has 
determined that 75 percent of the available commercial quota for the 
July 1 through December 31, 2014, fishing season, for vermilion snapper 
will be reached on or before August 23, 2014. Accordingly, NMFS is 
reducing the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb (227 
kg), gutted weight, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., 
local time, on August 23, 2014. This 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit will 
remain in effect until the quota is reached and the commercial sector 
closes, or through December 31, 2014, whichever occurs first.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6) 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 scientific information 
recently obtained from the fishery. 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 vermilion snapper because the capacity 
of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the ACL (quota). Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment for this trip limit reduction 
would require time and would result in the trip limit reduction not 
being implemented, and increase the probability that the commercial ACL 
(commercial quota) will be exceeded.
    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: August 20, 2014.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20123 Filed 8-20-14; 4:15 pm]
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