Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Re-Opening of Recreational Sector for the South Atlantic Other Jacks Complex, 86970 [2016-28942]

Download as PDF 86970 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 232 / Friday, December 2, 2016 / Rules and Regulations provided by the HMS Branch. The owner and operator shall ensure that the form is submitted to the address specified by the HMS Branch. ■ 5. In § 300.27, redesignate paragraphs (e) through (h) as paragraph (g) through (j) and add paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows: § 300.27 Incidental catch and tuna retention requirements. * * * * * (e) Silky shark restrictions for purse seine vessels. The crew, operator, and owner of a commercial purse seine fishing vessel of the United States used to fish for tuna or tuna-like species is prohibited from retaining on board, transshipping, storing, or landing any part or whole carcass of a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) that is caught in the Convention Area. (f) Silky shark restrictions for longline vessels. The crew, operator, and owner of a longline vessel of the United States used to fish for tuna or tuna-like species must limit the retained catch of silky sharks caught in the IATTC Convention Area to a maximum of 20 percent in weight of the total catch during each fishing trip that occurs in whole or in part in the IATTC Convention Area. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2016–28968 Filed 12–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 120815345–3525–02] RIN 0648–XF046 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; ReOpening of Recreational Sector for the South Atlantic Other Jacks Complex National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; re-opening. AGENCY: NMFS announces the reopening of the recreational sector for the other jacks complex (lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic through this temporary rule. The most recent recreational landings of the other jacks complex indicate that the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for 2016 fishing year has not yet been reached. jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:49 Dec 01, 2016 Jkt 241001 Therefore, NMFS re-opens the recreational sector for the other jacks complex in the South Atlantic EEZ through the end of the 2016 fishing year or until the ACL is reached, whichever happens first, to allow the recreational ACL to be caught, while minimizing the risk of the recreational ACL being exceeded. DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, December 2, 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 the other jacks complex which is composed of lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 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 other jacks complex in the South Atlantic is 267,799 lb (121,472 kg), round weight. Under 50 CFR 622.193(l)(2)(i), NMFS is required to close the recreational sector for the other jacks complex when landings reach, or are projected to reach, the recreational ACL by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS previously projected that the recreational ACL for the South Atlantic other jacks complex for the 2016 fishing year would be reached by August 9, 2016. Accordingly, NMFS published a temporary rule in the Federal Register to implement accountability measures (AMs) to close the recreational sector for the other jacks complex in the South Atlantic EEZ effective from August 9, 2016, until the start of the 2017 fishing year on January 1, 2017 (81 FR 52366, August 8, 2016). However, the most recent landings data for the other jacks complex now indicate the recreational ACL has not been reached. Consequently, and in accordance with 50 CFR 622.8(c), NMFS temporarily re-opens the recreational sector for the other jacks complex on December 2, 2016. The recreational sector will remain open through the remainder of 2016 fishing year or until the recreational ACL is reached, whichever happens first. Re-opening the recreational sector allows for an PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 additional opportunity to recreationally harvest the other jacks complex while minimizing the risk of the recreational ACL being exceeded. Classification The Regional Administrator, NMFS Southeast Region, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of the other jacks complex 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 622.8(c) 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 temporarily re-open the recreational sector for the other jacks complex 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 procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the recreational ACL and AMs has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the re-opening. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to allow recreational fishers to harvest the recreational ACL of species of the other jacks complex from the EEZ. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would delay the re-opening of the recreational sector. 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: November 28, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–28942 Filed 12–1–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\02DER1.SGM 02DER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 86970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28942]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 120815345-3525-02]
RIN 0648-XF046


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Re-Opening of Recreational Sector for the South Atlantic Other Jacks 
Complex

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; re-opening.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the re-opening of the recreational sector for 
the other jacks complex (lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded 
rudderfish) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic 
through this temporary rule. The most recent recreational landings of 
the other jacks complex indicate that the recreational annual catch 
limit (ACL) for 2016 fishing year has not yet been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS re-opens the recreational sector for the other jacks complex in 
the South Atlantic EEZ through the end of the 2016 fishing year or 
until the ACL is reached, whichever happens first, to allow the 
recreational ACL to be caught, while minimizing the risk of the 
recreational ACL being exceeded.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, December 2, 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 the other jacks complex which is composed of lesser 
amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 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 other jacks complex in the South Atlantic 
is 267,799 lb (121,472 kg), round weight. Under 50 CFR 
622.193(l)(2)(i), NMFS is required to close the recreational sector for 
the other jacks complex when landings reach, or are projected to reach, 
the recreational ACL by filing a notification to that effect with the 
Office of the Federal Register.
    NMFS previously projected that the recreational ACL for the South 
Atlantic other jacks complex for the 2016 fishing year would be reached 
by August 9, 2016. Accordingly, NMFS published a temporary rule in the 
Federal Register to implement accountability measures (AMs) to close 
the recreational sector for the other jacks complex in the South 
Atlantic EEZ effective from August 9, 2016, until the start of the 2017 
fishing year on January 1, 2017 (81 FR 52366, August 8, 2016).
    However, the most recent landings data for the other jacks complex 
now indicate the recreational ACL has not been reached. Consequently, 
and in accordance with 50 CFR 622.8(c), NMFS temporarily re-opens the 
recreational sector for the other jacks complex on December 2, 2016. 
The recreational sector will remain open through the remainder of 2016 
fishing year or until the recreational ACL is reached, whichever 
happens first. Re-opening the recreational sector allows for an 
additional opportunity to recreationally harvest the other jacks 
complex while minimizing the risk of the recreational ACL being 
exceeded.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, NMFS Southeast Region, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
the other jacks complex 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 622.8(c) 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 temporarily re-open the 
recreational sector for the other jacks complex 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 procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule 
implementing the recreational ACL and AMs has been subject to notice 
and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the re-
opening. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of 
the need to immediately implement this action to allow recreational 
fishers to harvest the recreational ACL of species of the other jacks 
complex from the EEZ. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
would require time and would delay the re-opening of the recreational 
sector.
    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: November 28, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28942 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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