Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction, 58411-58412 [2016-20414]

Download as PDF 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 Frm 00031 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 58412 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES 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 6month time periods, January through June, and July through December. For the July 1 through December 31, 2016, fishing season, the commercial quota is 388,703 lb (176,313 kg), gutted weight, 431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight (50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D)). As specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii), any unused portion of the commercial quota from the January through June 2016, fishing season would be added to the commercial quota for the July through December 2016, fishing season. However, in 2016, there was no unused commercial quota for the January through June period as the commercial sector reached its quota during the first 6-month period. Accordingly, the commercial sector was closed on March 29, 2016, through June 30, 2016 (81 FR 16095, March 25, 2016). 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, 1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight, when 75 percent of the fishing season commercial quota is reached or projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register, as established by Regulatory Amendment 18 to the FMP (78 FR 47574, August 6, 2013). The reduced commercial trip limit is 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:55 Aug 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 round weight. Based on current information, NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the available commercial quota for the July through December 2016 fishing season for vermilion snapper will be reached by August 28, 2016. Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 28, 2016. This reduced commercial trip limit will remain in effect until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2017, or until the commercial quota is reached and the commercial sector closes, 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 and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii) 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 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 commercial trip limit reduction 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), because prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule establishing the trip limit has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest, because any delay in reducing the commercial trip limit could result in the commercial quota being exceeded. There is a need to immediately implement this action to protect the vermilion snapper resource, since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action would require time and increase the probability that the commercial sector could exceed its quota. 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. 2016–20414 Filed 8–22–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\25AUR1.SGM 25AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58411-58412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20414]


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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; 
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, 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 Snapper-Grouper 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

[[Page 58412]]

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, January 
through June, and July through December. For the July 1 through 
December 31, 2016, fishing season, the commercial quota is 388,703 lb 
(176,313 kg), gutted weight, 431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight (50 
CFR 622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D)). As specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii), 
any unused portion of the commercial quota from the January through 
June 2016, fishing season would be added to the commercial quota for 
the July through December 2016, fishing season. However, in 2016, there 
was no unused commercial quota for the January through June period as 
the commercial sector reached its quota during the first 6-month 
period. Accordingly, the commercial sector was closed on March 29, 
2016, through June 30, 2016 (81 FR 16095, March 25, 2016).
    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, 1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight, when 75 percent of the 
fishing season commercial quota is reached or projected to be reached, 
by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal 
Register, as established by Regulatory Amendment 18 to the FMP (78 FR 
47574, August 6, 2013). The reduced commercial trip limit is 500 lb 
(227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. Based on 
current information, NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the 
available commercial quota for the July through December 2016 fishing 
season for vermilion snapper will be reached by August 28, 2016. 
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial trip limit for vermilion 
snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round 
weight, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on 
August 28, 2016. This reduced commercial trip limit will remain in 
effect until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 
1, 2017, or until the commercial quota is reached and the commercial 
sector closes, 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 and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii) 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 commercial trip limit reduction 
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), because prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary and contrary to 
the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule 
establishing the trip limit has already been subject to notice and 
comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit 
reduction. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary 
to the public interest, because any delay in reducing the commercial 
trip limit could result in the commercial quota being exceeded. There 
is a need to immediately implement this action to protect the vermilion 
snapper resource, since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for 
rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment on this action would require time and increase the 
probability that the commercial sector could exceed its quota.
    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. 2016-20414 Filed 8-22-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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