Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Extension of the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Private Angling Recreational Red Snapper Season, 38110-38111 [2016-13909]

Download as PDF 38110 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 113 / Monday, June 13, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Therefore, because the Commission received no significant adverse comments, the amendments to 46 CFR part 535 will become effective on June 13, 2016. By the Commission. Rachel E. Dickon, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–13889 Filed 6–10–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6731–AA–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 140818679–5356–02] RIN 0648–XE674 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Extension of the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Private Angling Recreational Red Snapper Season National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; extension. AGENCY: NMFS extends the recreational fishing season for the private angling component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. NMFS previously determined the private angling component would reach its annual catch target (ACT) for Gulf red snapper by 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2016. However, due to recent severe weather conditions in the eastern Gulf, fishing opportunities were restricted during the recreational fishing season for the private angling component. NMFS has projected the private angling component will not reach its ACT by the current closure date. Therefore, NMFS is extending the recreational red snapper fishing season for the private angling component for 2 days to allow the ACT to be harvested. The intent of this action is to provide the recreational private angling component the opportunity to harvest its red snapper ACT, and the opportunity to achieve the optimum yield for the fishery, thus enhancing social and economic benefits to the fishery. DATES: The extension is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2016, until 12:01 a.m., local time, June 12, 2016. The beginning of the 2017 Federal mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:33 Jun 10, 2016 Jkt 238001 recreational fishing season for the private angling component begins on June 1, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– 5305, email: steve.branstetter@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf reef fish fishery includes red snapper and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). On April 28, 2016, NMFS announced in the Federal Register the 2016 recreational fishing seasons for the private angling and Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ (81 FR 25583, April 28, 2016). The Federal recreational seasons for red snapper in the Gulf began on June 1, 2016. Regulations at 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(i) require NMFS to close the respective recreational fishing seasons for Gulf red snapper in Federal waters when the respective recreational component ACT, specified in 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(iii), is met or projected to be met. For recreational harvest by the private angling component, NMFS determined that the season would end at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 10, 2016, which constituted a 9-day fishing season. Landings and effort data are not available in-season to determine if the recreational ACT for the private angling component will be met on June 9, 2016. However, the eastern Gulf experienced severe weather conditions from Tropical Storm Colin during the 2016 red snapper recreational fishing season and it is likely that fishing effort and landings for the private angling component are less than NMFS projected. The majority of red snapper recreational harvest in the Gulf comes from the eastern Gulf. Because of the assumed effort reduction as a result of severe weather, NMFS has determined that the recreational private angling component will not harvest its red snapper ACT by the previously estimated June 10, 2016, closing date. Based on the assumption that weather conditions will improve and recreational fishing effort will return to expected rates, NMFS projects the recreational red snapper season for the private angling component can be extended for an additional 2 days, and PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 will therefore close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 12, 2016. The Federal season for the Federal for-hire component began at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2016, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 17, 2016 (81 FR 25583, April 28, 2016). The Federal recreational fishing season for the for-hire component will not be revised by NMFS as a result of the recent severe weather, because the comparatively longer component fishing season allows for greater flexibility in scheduling fishing trips and greater opportunity to harvest the component ACT. The 2017 Federal recreational fishing seasons for both private angling and forhire components begin on June 1, 2017. On and after the effective date of a recreational component closure, the bag and possession limits for red snapper in the respective component are zero. When the Federal charter vessel/ headboat component or entire recreational sector is closed, these bag and possession limits apply in the Gulf on board a vessel for which a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters. Classification The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of Gulf red snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.8(c) and 622.41(q)(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 NOAA Fisheries (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this action to extend the season for the private angling component for the red snapper recreational sector constitute 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), because such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the recreational red snapper ACLs and ACTs, and the rule E:\FR\FM\13JNR1.SGM 13JNR1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 113 / Monday, June 13, 2016 / Rules and Regulations implementing the requirement to close the recreational components when the ACTs are projected to be reached have already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the extension. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to allow for a limited extended season. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would not allow for the extension of the 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 8, 2016. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–13909 Filed 6–8–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 151211999–6343–02] RIN 0648–XE670 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; area closure. AGENCY: This action closes the witch flounder Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2016. The closure is required by regulation because the common pool fishery has caught 90 percent of its Trimester 1 quota for witch flounder. This closure is intended to prevent an overage of the common pool’s quota for this stock. DATES: This action is effective June 8, 2016, through August 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Scheimer, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9236. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at § 648.82(n)(2)(ii) require mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:33 Jun 10, 2016 Jkt 238001 the Regional Administrator to close a common pool Trimester Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Area for a stock when 90 percent of the Trimester TAC is projected to be caught. The closure applies to all common pool vessels fishing with gear capable of catching that stock for the remainder of the trimester. As of May 31, 2016, the common pool fishery caught approximately 62 percent of the Trimester 1 TAC (2.1 mt) for witch flounder. We project that 90 percent of the Trimester 1 TAC will be caught by June 8, 2016. The fishing year 2016 common pool sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL) for witch flounder is 8 mt. Effective June 8, 2016, the witch flounder Trimester TAC Area is closed for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2016, to all common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear. The witch flounder Trimester TAC Area consists of statistical areas 512, 513, 514, 515, 521, 522, and 525. The area reopens at the beginning of Trimester 2 on September 1, 2016. If a vessel declared its trip through the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or the interactive voice response system, and crossed the VMS demarcation line prior to June 8, 2016, it may complete its trip within the Trimester TAC Area. Any overage of the Trimester 1 or 2 TACs must be deducted from the Trimester 3 TAC. If the common pool fishery exceeds its sub-ACL for the 2016 fishing year, the overage must be deducted from the common pool’s subACL for fishing year 2017. Any uncaught portion of the Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 TACs is carried over into the next trimester. However, any uncaught portion of the common pool’s sub-ACL may not be carried over into the following fishing year. Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery are on our Web site at: https:// www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue to monitor common pool catch through vessel trip reports, dealerreported landings, VMS catch reports, and other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional adjustments to common pool management measures. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 38111 and the 30-day delayed effectiveness period because it would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The regulations require the Regional Administrator to close a trimester TAC area to the common pool fishery when 90 percent of the Trimester TAC for a stock has been caught. Updated catch information only recently became available indicating that the common pool fishery has caught 90 percent of its Trimester 1 TAC for witch flounder as of June 8, 2016. The time necessary to provide for prior notice and comment, and a 30-day delay in effectiveness, prevents the immediate closure of the witch flounder Trimester 1 TAC Area. This increases the likelihood that the common pool fishery exceeds its quota of witch flounder to the detriment of this stock, which could undermine management objectives of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Additionally, an overage of the common pool quota could cause negative economic impacts to the common pool fishery as a result of overage paybacks in a future trimester or fishing year. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 8, 2016. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–13929 Filed 6–8–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] RIN 0648–XE669 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole for Vessels Participating in the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 allocation of yellowfin sole total allowable catch for SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\13JNR1.SGM 13JNR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38110-38111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13909]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140818679-5356-02]
RIN 0648-XE674


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Extension of the 2016 Gulf of 
Mexico Private Angling Recreational Red Snapper Season

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; extension.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the recreational fishing season for the private 
angling component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 
of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. NMFS 
previously determined the private angling component would reach its 
annual catch target (ACT) for Gulf red snapper by 12:01 a.m., local 
time, June 10, 2016. However, due to recent severe weather conditions 
in the eastern Gulf, fishing opportunities were restricted during the 
recreational fishing season for the private angling component. NMFS has 
projected the private angling component will not reach its ACT by the 
current closure date. Therefore, NMFS is extending the recreational red 
snapper fishing season for the private angling component for 2 days to 
allow the ACT to be harvested. The intent of this action is to provide 
the recreational private angling component the opportunity to harvest 
its red snapper ACT, and the opportunity to achieve the optimum yield 
for the fishery, thus enhancing social and economic benefits to the 
fishery.

DATES: The extension is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 
2016, until 12:01 a.m., local time, June 12, 2016. The beginning of the 
2017 Federal recreational fishing season for the private angling 
component begins on June 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: 
steve.branstetter@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf reef fish fishery includes red 
snapper and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef 
Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and is implemented 
by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).
    On April 28, 2016, NMFS announced in the Federal Register the 2016 
recreational fishing seasons for the private angling and Federal 
charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components for red snapper in the 
Gulf EEZ (81 FR 25583, April 28, 2016). The Federal recreational 
seasons for red snapper in the Gulf began on June 1, 2016. Regulations 
at 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(i) require NMFS to close the respective 
recreational fishing seasons for Gulf red snapper in Federal waters 
when the respective recreational component ACT, specified in 50 CFR 
622.41(q)(2)(iii), is met or projected to be met. For recreational 
harvest by the private angling component, NMFS determined that the 
season would end at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 10, 2016, which 
constituted a 9-day fishing season.
    Landings and effort data are not available in-season to determine 
if the recreational ACT for the private angling component will be met 
on June 9, 2016. However, the eastern Gulf experienced severe weather 
conditions from Tropical Storm Colin during the 2016 red snapper 
recreational fishing season and it is likely that fishing effort and 
landings for the private angling component are less than NMFS 
projected. The majority of red snapper recreational harvest in the Gulf 
comes from the eastern Gulf. Because of the assumed effort reduction as 
a result of severe weather, NMFS has determined that the recreational 
private angling component will not harvest its red snapper ACT by the 
previously estimated June 10, 2016, closing date. Based on the 
assumption that weather conditions will improve and recreational 
fishing effort will return to expected rates, NMFS projects the 
recreational red snapper season for the private angling component can 
be extended for an additional 2 days, and will therefore close at 12:01 
a.m., local time, on June 12, 2016.
    The Federal season for the Federal for-hire component began at 
12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2016, and will close at 12:01 a.m., 
local time, July 17, 2016 (81 FR 25583, April 28, 2016). The Federal 
recreational fishing season for the for-hire component will not be 
revised by NMFS as a result of the recent severe weather, because the 
comparatively longer component fishing season allows for greater 
flexibility in scheduling fishing trips and greater opportunity to 
harvest the component ACT.
    The 2017 Federal recreational fishing seasons for both private 
angling and for-hire components begin on June 1, 2017.
    On and after the effective date of a recreational component 
closure, the bag and possession limits for red snapper in the 
respective component are zero. When the Federal charter vessel/headboat 
component or entire recreational sector is closed, these bag and 
possession limits apply in the Gulf on board a vessel for which a valid 
Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been 
issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in 
state or Federal waters.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has 
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of Gulf red snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.8(c) and 622.41(q)(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 NOAA Fisheries (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to extend the season for the 
private angling component for the red snapper recreational sector 
constitute 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), because such procedures 
are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures 
are unnecessary because the rule implementing the recreational red 
snapper ACLs and ACTs, and the rule

[[Page 38111]]

implementing the requirement to close the recreational components when 
the ACTs are projected to be reached have already been subject to 
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the 
extension. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately 
implement this action to allow for a limited extended season. Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would 
not allow for the extension of the 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 8, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-13909 Filed 6-8-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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