Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region, 32478 [2015-14048]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
32478
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 9, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 140501394–5279–02]
RIN 0648–XD962
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2015
Recreational Accountability Measure
and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the
South Atlantic Region
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS implements
accountability measures (AMs) for
recreational blueline tilefish in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
South Atlantic. The NMFS Science and
Research Director estimates that
recreational landings for blueline
tilefish have reached the recreational
annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore,
NMFS is closing the recreational sector
for blueline tilefish in the South
Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time,
June 10, 2015, and it will remain closed
until the 2016 recreational fishing
season begins on May 1, 2016. This
closure is necessary to protect the
blueline tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 10, 2015, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast
Region, telephone: 727–824–5305,
email: catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is
managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council and
NMFS prepared the FMP, and the FMP
is implemented under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622.
NMFS implemented management
measures for blueline tilefish in
Amendment 32 to the FMP for the
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic Region (Amendment 32) (80 FR
16583, March 30, 2015). Amendment 32
contains management measures that end
overfishing of blueline tilefish in the
South Atlantic.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:56 Jun 08, 2015
Jkt 235001
NMFS is required to close the
recreational sector for blueline tilefish
when the recreational ACL is reached,
or is projected to be reached, by filing
a notification to that effect with the
Office of the Federal Register, as
specified in 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i). The
recreational ACL for blueline tilefish in
2015 is 17,791 lb (8,070 kg), round
weight. NMFS has determined that the
recreational ACL for South Atlantic
blueline tilefish has been reached.
Accordingly, the recreational sector for
South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed
effective June 10, 2015, until 12:01 a.m.,
local time, January 1, 2016, the start of
the next fishing year. However, as
described in 50 CFR 622.183(b)(7), the
recreational sector for blueline tilefish is
also closed from January 1 through
April 30, and September 1 through
December 31, each year. Therefore, the
recreational sector may not harvest
blueline tilefish until May 1, 2016.
During the closure, the bag and
possession limits for blueline tilefish in
or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
Additionally, NMFS closed the
commercial sector for blueline tilefish
effective April 7, 2015, upon reaching
the commercial ACL (80 FR 18551,
April 7, 2015). Therefore, on June 10,
2015, no commercial or recreational
harvest of blueline tilefish from the
South Atlantic EEZ is permitted for the
remainder of 2015. The commercial
sector for blueline tilefish reopens on
January 1, 2016.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of blueline tilefish and the
South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery
and is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(z)(2)(i) 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
scientific information available. The
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA (AA), finds that the need to
immediately implement this action to
close the recreational sector for blueline
tilefish 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 prior notice
and opportunity for public comment are
unnecessary and contrary to the public
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the regulations at
50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) have already
been subject to notice and comment,
and all that remains is to notify the
public of the closure. Such procedures
are contrary to the public interest
because there is a need to immediately
implement this action to protect
blueline tilefish, since the capacity of
the recreational sector allows for rapid
harvest of the recreational ACL. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and would
potentially result in a harvest well in
excess of the established recreational
ACL.
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: June 4, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–14048 Filed 6–5–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 120328229–4949–02]
RIN 0648–XD973
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure of
Angling category southern area trophy
fishery.
AGENCY:
NMFS closes the southern
area Angling category fishery for large
medium and giant (‘‘trophy’’ (i.e.,
measuring 73 inches curved fork length
or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT).
This action is being taken to prevent any
further overharvest of the Angling
category southern area trophy BFT
subquota.
SUMMARY:
Effective June 7, 2015 through
December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale,
978–281–9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations implemented under the
authority of the Atlantic Tunas
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\09JNR1.SGM
09JNR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14048]
[[Page 32478]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02]
RIN 0648-XD962
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2015 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Blueline
Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for recreational
blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South
Atlantic. The NMFS Science and Research Director estimates that
recreational landings for blueline tilefish have reached the
recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS is closing the
recreational sector for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ at
12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015, and it will remain closed until
the 2016 recreational fishing season begins on May 1, 2016. This
closure is necessary to protect the blueline tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast
Region, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS
prepared the FMP, and the FMP is implemented under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
NMFS implemented management measures for blueline tilefish in
Amendment 32 to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic Region (Amendment 32) (80 FR 16583, March 30, 2015). Amendment
32 contains management measures that end overfishing of blueline
tilefish in the South Atlantic.
NMFS is required to close the recreational sector for blueline
tilefish when the recreational ACL is reached, or is projected to be
reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the
Federal Register, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i). The
recreational ACL for blueline tilefish in 2015 is 17,791 lb (8,070 kg),
round weight. NMFS has determined that the recreational ACL for South
Atlantic blueline tilefish has been reached. Accordingly, the
recreational sector for South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed
effective June 10, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016,
the start of the next fishing year. However, as described in 50 CFR
622.183(b)(7), the recreational sector for blueline tilefish is also
closed from January 1 through April 30, and September 1 through
December 31, each year. Therefore, the recreational sector may not
harvest blueline tilefish until May 1, 2016.
During the closure, the bag and possession limits for blueline
tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. Additionally, NMFS
closed the commercial sector for blueline tilefish effective April 7,
2015, upon reaching the commercial ACL (80 FR 18551, April 7, 2015).
Therefore, on June 10, 2015, no commercial or recreational harvest of
blueline tilefish from the South Atlantic EEZ is permitted for the
remainder of 2015. The commercial sector for blueline tilefish reopens
on January 1, 2016.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of
blueline tilefish and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) 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 scientific information available.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the
need to immediately implement this action to close the recreational
sector for blueline tilefish 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
prior notice and opportunity for public comment are unnecessary and
contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary
because the regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) have already been
subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the
public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public
interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action
to protect blueline tilefish, since the capacity of the recreational
sector allows for rapid harvest of the recreational ACL. Prior notice
and opportunity for public comment would require time and would
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established
recreational ACL.
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: June 4, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14048 Filed 6-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
