Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2016 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish, 58411 [2016-20412]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
This action is required by 50 CFR
300.223(a) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
Dated: August 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–20420 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120403249–2492–02]
RIN 0648–XE829
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic; 2016 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure
for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS implements
accountability measures (AMs) for the
golden tilefish recreational sector in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
South Atlantic for the 2016 fishing year
through this temporary rule. NMFS
estimates recreational landings of
golden tilefish in 2016 have exceeded
the recreational annual catch limit
(ACL). Therefore, NMFS closes the
golden tilefish recreational sector in the
South Atlantic EEZ on August 27, 2016.
This closure is necessary to protect the
golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, August 27, 2016, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email:
mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes golden tilefish and 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.
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:55 Aug 24, 2016
Jkt 238001
The recreational ACL for golden
tilefish is 3,019 fish. In accordance with
regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i), if
recreational landings of golden tilefish
reach the recreational ACL, the
Assistant Administrator for NOAA
Fisheries (AA) will file a notification
with the Office of the Federal Register
to close the recreational sector for the
remainder of the fishing year. Landings
data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries
Science Center in 2016 indicate that the
golden tilefish recreational ACL has
been exceeded. Therefore, this
temporary rule implements an AM to
close the golden tilefish recreational
sector of the snapper-grouper fishery for
the remainder of the 2016 fishing year.
As a result, the recreational sector for
golden tilefish in the South Atlantic
EEZ will be closed effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time August 27, 2016.
During the closure, the bag and
possession limits for golden tilefish in
or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
The recreational sector for golden
tilefish will reopen on January 1, 2017,
the beginning of the 2017 recreational
fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of South
Atlantic golden tilefish and is consistent
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(a)(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 AA
finds that the need to immediately
implement this action to close the
recreational sector for golden tilefish
constitutes good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment on
this temporary rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), because such procedures are
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the AMs
established by Regulatory Amendment
12 to the FMP (77 FR 61295, October 9,
2012) have already been subject to
notice and comment. All that remains is
to notify the public of the recreational
closure for golden tilefish for the
remainder of the 2016 fishing year. Prior
notice and opportunity for comment are
contrary to the public interest because
of the need to immediately implement
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
58411
this action to protect the golden tilefish
resource. Time required for notice and
public comment would allow for
continued recreational harvest and
further exceedance of the 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: August 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–20412 Filed 8–22–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02]
RIN 0648–XE824
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Resources of the South
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction.
AGENCY:
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, 555 lb (252 kg), round 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 28, 2016, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email:
mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery in the South
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and
is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council prepared
the FMP. The FMP is implemented by
NMFS under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\25AUR1.SGM
25AUR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20412]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120403249-2492-02]
RIN 0648-XE829
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2016 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
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 golden
tilefish recreational sector in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the South Atlantic for the 2016 fishing year through this temporary
rule. NMFS estimates recreational landings of golden tilefish in 2016
have exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore,
NMFS closes the golden tilefish recreational sector in the South
Atlantic EEZ on August 27, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect
the golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, August 27, 2016,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes golden tilefish 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 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 golden tilefish is 3,019 fish. In
accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i), if recreational
landings of golden tilefish reach the recreational ACL, the Assistant
Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA) will file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register to close the recreational sector for the
remainder of the fishing year. Landings data from the NMFS Southeast
Fisheries Science Center in 2016 indicate that the golden tilefish
recreational ACL has been exceeded. Therefore, this temporary rule
implements an AM to close the golden tilefish recreational sector of
the snapper-grouper fishery for the remainder of the 2016 fishing year.
As a result, the recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South
Atlantic EEZ will be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time August 27,
2016.
During the closure, the bag and possession limits for golden
tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. The recreational
sector for golden tilefish will reopen on January 1, 2017, the
beginning of the 2017 recreational fishing season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic golden tilefish and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(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 AA finds that the need to immediately implement this action to
close the recreational sector for golden tilefish constitutes good
cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity
for public comment on this temporary rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), because such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the AMs
established by Regulatory Amendment 12 to the FMP (77 FR 61295, October
9, 2012) have already been subject to notice and comment. All that
remains is to notify the public of the recreational closure for golden
tilefish for the remainder of the 2016 fishing year. Prior notice and
opportunity for comment are contrary to the public interest because of
the need to immediately implement this action to protect the golden
tilefish resource. Time required for notice and public comment would
allow for continued recreational harvest and further exceedance of the
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: August 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20412 Filed 8-22-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
