Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper, 38015-38016 [2015-16379]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Compliance With Endangered Species
Act Requirements
Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that ‘‘The
Secretary [of the Interior] shall review
other programs administered by him
and utilize such programs in
furtherance of the purposes of this
chapter’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1)). It
further states that the Secretary must
‘‘insure that any action authorized,
funded, or carried out . . . is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of
any endangered species or threatened
species or result in the destruction or
adverse modification of [critical]
habitat’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)). This rule
will not affect threatened or endangered
species or their habitats in the United
States.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 21
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements,
Transportation, Wildlife.
Regulation Promulgation
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, we amend subpart C of part
21, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of
the Code of Federal Regulations, as
follows:
PART 21—MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS
1. The authority citation for part 21
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703–12.
2. Amend § 21.29 by:
a. Revising paragraph (b)(2);
b. Revising the fifth sentence of
paragraph (c)(6)(i);
■ c. Revising the third sentence of
paragraph (c)(6)(ii);
■ d. Revising the second sentence of
paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(A);
■ e. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(B);
■ f. Revising the first sentence of
paragraph (e)(2)(iv);
■ g. Revising the second sentence of
paragraph (e)(5)(i);
■ h. Revising paragraph (e)(6)(i);
■ i. Revising paragraph (e)(7)(i);
■ j. Revising the third sentence of
paragraph (e)(9)(ii);
■ k. Revising the second sentence of
paragraph (e)(9)(iii); and
■ l. Revising the second sentence after
the heading of paragraph (f)(6).
The revisions read as follows:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with FRONTMATTER
■
■
■
§ 21.29 Falconry standards and falconry
permitting.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) Reporting. (i) The State, tribe, or
territory must work with us to ensure
that the electronic 3–186A reporting
VerDate Sep<11>2014
23:22 Jul 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
system (https://permits.fws.gov/186A) for
reporting take, transfers, and loss of
falconry birds is fully operational for
residents of that jurisdiction.
(ii) If you are required to submit a
report or other information under this
section, you must either enter the
required information in the electronic
database at https://permits.fws.gov/186A,
or at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/
FalconryReporting if you are a resident
of California, or submit a paper form 3–
186A to your State, tribal, or territorial
agency that governs falconry.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(6) * * *
(i) * * * Within 10 days from the day
on which you take the raptor from the
wild, you must report take of the bird
by submitting the required information
(including the band number) using one
of the methods listed in paragraph
(b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * *
(ii) * * * You must submit the
required information using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
this section. * * *
(iii) * * *
(A) * * * You must submit the
required information within 10 days of
rebanding the raptor using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
this section.
(B) Purchase and implant an ISOcompliant (134.2 kHz) microchip in the
bird and report the microchip
information using one of the methods
listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
section.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(2) * * *
(iv) If you are responsible for
reporting take of a raptor from the wild,
use one of the methods listed in
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
* * *
*
*
*
*
*
(5) * * *
(i) * * * You must report take of the
bird using one of the methods listed in
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section at
your first opportunity to do so, but no
more than 10 days after capture of the
bird. * * *
*
*
*
*
*
(6) * * *
(i) If you acquire a raptor; transfer,
reband, or microchip a raptor; if a raptor
you possess is stolen; if you lose a
raptor to the wild and you do not
recover it within 30 days; or if a bird
you possess for falconry dies; you must
report the change within 10 days using
one of the methods listed in paragraph
(b)(2)(ii) of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
38015
(7) * * *
(i) If you acquire a bird from a
rehabilitator, within 10 days of the
transaction you must report it using one
of the methods listed in paragraph
(b)(2)(ii) of this section.
*
*
*
*
*
(9) * * *
(ii) * * * You must remove its
falconry band (if it has one) and report
release of the bird by submitting the
required information using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
this section.
(iii) * * * You must remove its
falconry band and report release of the
bird by submitting the required
information using one of the methods
listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
section.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) * * *
(6) * * * Within 10 days, you must
report the transfer by submitting the
required information using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
this section.
*
*
*
*
*
Dated: June 15, 2015.
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish
and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2015–16371 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 0907271173–0629–03]
RIN 0648–XE014
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic; 2015 Recreational
Accountability Measures 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 2015 fishing
year through this temporary rule.
Average recreational landings from
2012–2014 exceeded the recreational
annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy
grouper. To account for this overage,
this rule reduces the length of the 2015
recreational fishing season. Therefore,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\02JYR1.SGM
02JYR1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with FRONTMATTER
38016
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
NMFS closes the recreational sector for
snowy grouper in the South Atlantic
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July
6, 2015. This closure is necessary to
protect the snowy grouper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, July 6, 2015, until 12:01 a.m.,
local time, January 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: catherine.hayslip@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 by NMFS under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
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, NOAA (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. NMFS evaluates
annual recreational landings with the
recreational ACL for snowy grouper
based on a 3-year running average of
landings. For the 2015 fishing year, the
most recent 3-year running average of
recreational landings is the average of
2012–2014. Average landings from
2012–2014 exceeded the 2014
recreational ACL by 1,253 fish.
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 by the
amount necessary to ensure recreational
landings do not exceed the recreational
ACL in 2015. As a result, the
recreational sector for snowy grouper
will be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local
time, July 6, 2015.
During the closure, the bag and
possession limits for snowy grouper in
or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
These limits apply in the South Atlantic
for a person on board a vessel for which
a valid Federal commercial or charter
vessel/headboat permit for the South
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has
been issued regardless of whether the
fish are harvested in state or Federal
VerDate Sep<11>2014
23:22 Jul 01, 2015
Jkt 235001
waters, as specified in 50 CFR
622.193(b)(2). The recreational sector for
snowy grouper will reopen on January
1, 2016, the beginning of the 2016
recreational fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of snowy grouper 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(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.
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 snowy
grouper constitutes good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment on
this temporary rule pursuant to the
authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
as such procedures would be
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the rule
implementing the AMs established by
Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR
82280, December 30, 2010) and located
at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) has 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 of the need to immediately
implement this action to protect the
snowy grouper resource, since time for
notice and public comment will allow
for continued recreational harvest and
exceedance of the recreational ACL.
Additionally, there is a need to
immediately notify the public of the
reduced recreational fishing season for
snowy grouper for the 2015 fishing year.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would be contrary to the
public interest because many of those
affected by the length of the recreational
fishing season, particularly 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 reduced recreational fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–16379 Filed 6–29–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 140429387–4971–02]
RIN 0648–XD954
Gulf of Mexico Highly Migratory
Species; Commercial Blacknose
Sharks and Non-Blacknose Small
Coastal Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico
Region
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is closing the fisheries
for commercial non-blacknose small
coastal sharks (SCS) and blacknose
sharks in the Gulf of Mexico region.
This action is necessary because the
commercial landings of Gulf of Mexico
non-blacknose SCS for the 2015 fishing
season have exceeded 80 percent of the
available commercial quota as of June
26, 2015, and the blacknose shark and
non-blacknose SCS fisheries are quotalinked under current regulations.
DATES: The commercial fisheries for
blacknose sharks and non-blacknose
SCS in the Gulf of Mexico region are
closed effective 11:30 p.m. local time
July 4, 2015, until the end of the 2015
fishing season on December 31, 2015, or
until and if NMFS announces via
notification in the Federal Register that
additional quota is available and the
season is reopened.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy
DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 301–
427–8503; fax 301–713–1917.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico shark fisheries are managed
under the 2006 Consolidated Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery
Management Plan (FMP), its
amendments, and its implementing
regulations (50 CFR part 635) issued
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\02JYR1.SGM
02JYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38015-38016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16379]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 0907271173-0629-03]
RIN 0648-XE014
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational
Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the
recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the
2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit
(ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces
the length of the 2015 recreational fishing season. Therefore,
[[Page 38016]]
NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South
Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 6, 2015. This closure is
necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email:
catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes snowy grouper, 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 by NMFS under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
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, NOAA (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. NMFS evaluates annual recreational landings with the
recreational ACL for snowy grouper based on a 3-year running average of
landings. For the 2015 fishing year, the most recent 3-year running
average of recreational landings is the average of 2012-2014. Average
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the 2014 recreational ACL by 1,253
fish. 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 by the amount necessary to ensure
recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in 2015. As a
result, the recreational sector for snowy grouper will be closed
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015.
During the closure, the bag and possession limits for snowy grouper
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. These limits apply in the
South Atlantic for a person on board a vessel for which a valid Federal
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic
snapper-grouper fishery has been issued regardless of whether the fish
are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR
622.193(b)(2). The recreational sector for snowy grouper will reopen on
January 1, 2016, the beginning of the 2016 recreational fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of
snowy grouper 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(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.
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 snowy grouper constitutes good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule
implementing the AMs established by Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR
82280, December 30, 2010) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) has
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 of the need to immediately implement this
action to protect the snowy grouper resource, since time for notice and
public comment will allow for continued recreational harvest and
exceedance of the recreational ACL. Additionally, there is a need to
immediately notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing
season for snowy grouper for the 2015 fishing year. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment would be contrary to the public interest
because many of those affected by the length of the recreational
fishing season, particularly 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 reduced
recreational 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: June 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16379 Filed 6-29-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P