Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; 2017 Commercial Run-Around Gillnet Closure, 10553-10554 [2017-02969]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 14, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf)
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using
run-around gillnet gear. NMFS has
§ 180.448 Hexythiazox; tolerances for
determined that the commercial annual
residues.
catch limit (ACL, equivalent to the
(a) * * *
commercial quota) for king mackerel
using run-around gillnet gear in the
Parts
Florida west coast southern subzone of
Commodity
per
million the Gulf EEZ will be reached by
February 10, 2017. Therefore, NMFS
closes the Florida west coast southern
*
*
*
*
*
subzone to commercial king mackerel
Beet, sugar, dried pulp .....................
0.30 fishing using run-around gillnet gear in
Beet, sugar, root ...............................
0.15 the Gulf EEZ. This closure is necessary
to protect the Gulf king mackerel
*
*
*
*
*
resource.
(b) Section 18 emergency exemptions. DATES: The closure is effective from
12:01 p.m., eastern standard time,
[Reserved]
February 10, 2017, until 6 a.m., eastern
(c) * * *
standard time, January 16, 2018.
Parts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commodity
per
Kelli O’Donnell, NMFS Southeast
million Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: kelli.odonnell@noaa.gov.
Alfalfa, forage (EPA Regions 7–11
only) ..............................................
20 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish
Alfalfa, hay (EPA Regions 7–11
only) ..............................................
60 includes king mackerel, Spanish
mackerel, and cobia, and is managed
*
*
*
*
*
under the Fishery Management Plan for
Bermuda grass, forage (EPA Rethe Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
gions 9–10 only) ...........................
40
of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic
Bermuda grass, hay (EPA Regions
9–10 only) .....................................
70 Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared
by the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
*
*
*
*
*
and is implemented by NMFS under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
*
*
*
*
*
Fishery Conservation and Management
[FR Doc. 2017–02481 Filed 2–13–17; 8:45 am]
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
The Florida west coast subzone of the
Gulf eastern zone for Gulf migratory
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
group king mackerel (Gulf king
mackerel) is divided into northern and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
southern subzones, each with separate
Administration
commercial quotas. From November 1
through March 31, the southern subzone
50 CFR Part 622
encompasses an area of the EEZ south
[Docket No. 101206604–1758–02]
of a line extending due west of the Lee
and Collier County, Florida, boundary
RIN 0648–XF151
on the Florida west coast, and south of
a line extending due east of the Monroe
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
and Miami-Dade County, Florida,
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal
boundary on the Florida east coast,
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the
which includes the EEZ off Collier and
Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region;
Monroe Counties, Florida. From April 1
2017 Commercial Run-Around Gillnet
through October 31, the southern
Closure
subzone is reduced to the EEZ off
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Collier County, and the EEZ off Monroe
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
County becomes part of the Atlantic
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
migratory group area (50 CFR
Commerce.
622.369(a)(1)(ii)(A)(2)).
The commercial quota for Gulf king
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
mackerel in the Florida west coast
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an
southern subzone is 551,448 lb (250,133
accountability measure (AM) through
kg) for vessels using run-around gillnet
this temporary rule for commercial
gear (50 CFR 622.384(b)(1)(i)(B)(1)), for
harvest of king mackerel in the Florida
the current fishing year, July 1, 2016,
west coast southern subzone of the
through June 30, 2017.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
The additions and revisions read as
follows:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:57 Feb 13, 2017
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10553
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.8(b) and
622.388(a)(1) require NMFS to close any
segment of the king mackerel
commercial sector when its quota has
been reached, or is projected to be
reached, by filing a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has
determined that the Gulf king mackerel
commercial quota of 551,448 lb (250,133
kg) for vessels using run-around gillnet
gear in the Florida west coast southern
subzone will be reached by February 10,
2017. Accordingly, commercial fishing
using such gear in the Florida west coast
southern subzone is closed at 12:01
p.m., eastern standard time, February
10, 2017, until 6 a.m., eastern standard
time, January 16, 2018, the beginning of
the next fishing season, i.e., the day after
the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal
holiday. Accordingly, the vessel
operator that has been issued a Federal
commercial permit to harvest Gulf king
mackerel using run-around gillnet gear
in the Florida west coast southern
subzone must have landed ashore and
bartered, traded, or sold such king
mackerel prior to 12:01 p.m., eastern
standard time, February 10, 2017.
Persons aboard a vessel for which a
commercial permit for king mackerel
has been issued, except persons who
also possess a king mackerel gillnet
permit, may fish for or retain Gulf king
mackerel harvested using hook-and-line
gear in the Florida west coast southern
subzone unless the commercial quota
for hook-and-line gear has been met and
the hook-and-line segment of the
commercial sector has been closed. A
person aboard a vessel that has a valid
charter vessel/headboat permit for
coastal migratory pelagic fish may
continue to retain king mackerel in or
from closed zones or subzones under
the bag and possession limits set forth
in 50 CFR 622.382(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2),
provided the vessel is operating as a
charter vessel or headboat. A charter
vessel or headboat that also has a
commercial king mackerel permit is
considered to be operating as a charter
vessel or headboat when it carries a
passenger who pays a fee or when there
are more than three persons aboard,
including operator and crew.
During the closure, king mackerel
harvested using run-around gillnet gear
in the Florida west coast southern
subzone may not be purchased or sold.
This prohibition does not apply to king
mackerel harvested using run-around
gillnet gear in the Florida west coast
southern subzone that were harvested,
landed ashore, and sold prior to the
closure and were held in cold storage by
a dealer or processor.
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10554
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 14, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
Classification
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of Gulf
king mackerel and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.8(b) and 622.388(a)(1) 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 prior notice and opportunity for
public comment.
This action responds to the best
scientific information available. The
NOAA Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to
immediately implement this action to
close the fishery segment that uses runaround gillnet gear 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
implementing the commercial quota and
the associated AM has already been
subject to notice and comment, and all
that remains is to notify the public of
the closure. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest, because
any delay in the closure of the
commercial harvest could result in the
commercial quota being exceeded.
There is a need to immediately
implement this action to protect the
king mackerel resource, because the
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for
rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice
and opportunity for public comment on
this action would require time and
would potentially result in a harvest
well in excess of the established quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:57 Feb 13, 2017
Jkt 241001
Dated: February 9, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–02969 Filed 2–9–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
RIN 0648–XF224
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the A season allowance of the 2017 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 610 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 10, 2017, through
1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The A season allowance of the 2017
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 2,232
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and
inseason adjustment (81 FR 95063,
December 27, 2016).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2017 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 2,132 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 100 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for
pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the
GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of February 9, 2017.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 10, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03039 Filed 2–10–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10553-10554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02969]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 101206604-1758-02]
RIN 0648-XF151
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic
Region; 2017 Commercial Run-Around Gillnet Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) through this
temporary rule for commercial harvest of king mackerel in the Florida
west coast southern subzone of the eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico
(Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using run-around gillnet gear.
NMFS has determined that the commercial annual catch limit (ACL,
equivalent to the commercial quota) for king mackerel using run-around
gillnet gear in the Florida west coast southern subzone of the Gulf EEZ
will be reached by February 10, 2017. Therefore, NMFS closes the
Florida west coast southern subzone to commercial king mackerel fishing
using run-around gillnet gear in the Gulf EEZ. This closure is
necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.
DATES: The closure is effective from 12:01 p.m., eastern standard time,
February 10, 2017, until 6 a.m., eastern standard time, January 16,
2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email:
kelli.odonnell@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic
fish includes king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia, and is
managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory
Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP). The
FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery
Management Councils 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 Florida west coast subzone of the Gulf eastern zone for Gulf
migratory group king mackerel (Gulf king mackerel) is divided into
northern and southern subzones, each with separate commercial quotas.
From November 1 through March 31, the southern subzone encompasses an
area of the EEZ south of a line extending due west of the Lee and
Collier County, Florida, boundary on the Florida west coast, and south
of a line extending due east of the Monroe and Miami-Dade County,
Florida, boundary on the Florida east coast, which includes the EEZ off
Collier and Monroe Counties, Florida. From April 1 through October 31,
the southern subzone is reduced to the EEZ off Collier County, and the
EEZ off Monroe County becomes part of the Atlantic migratory group area
(50 CFR 622.369(a)(1)(ii)(A)(2)).
The commercial quota for Gulf king mackerel in the Florida west
coast southern subzone is 551,448 lb (250,133 kg) for vessels using
run-around gillnet gear (50 CFR 622.384(b)(1)(i)(B)(1)), for the
current fishing year, July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.8(b) and 622.388(a)(1) require NMFS to
close any segment of the king mackerel commercial sector when its quota
has been reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a
notification with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has
determined that the Gulf king mackerel commercial quota of 551,448 lb
(250,133 kg) for vessels using run-around gillnet gear in the Florida
west coast southern subzone will be reached by February 10, 2017.
Accordingly, commercial fishing using such gear in the Florida west
coast southern subzone is closed at 12:01 p.m., eastern standard time,
February 10, 2017, until 6 a.m., eastern standard time, January 16,
2018, the beginning of the next fishing season, i.e., the day after the
2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal holiday. Accordingly, the vessel
operator that has been issued a Federal commercial permit to harvest
Gulf king mackerel using run-around gillnet gear in the Florida west
coast southern subzone must have landed ashore and bartered, traded, or
sold such king mackerel prior to 12:01 p.m., eastern standard time,
February 10, 2017.
Persons aboard a vessel for which a commercial permit for king
mackerel has been issued, except persons who also possess a king
mackerel gillnet permit, may fish for or retain Gulf king mackerel
harvested using hook-and-line gear in the Florida west coast southern
subzone unless the commercial quota for hook-and-line gear has been met
and the hook-and-line segment of the commercial sector has been closed.
A person aboard a vessel that has a valid charter vessel/headboat
permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue to retain king
mackerel in or from closed zones or subzones under the bag and
possession limits set forth in 50 CFR 622.382(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2),
provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat. A
charter vessel or headboat that also has a commercial king mackerel
permit is considered to be operating as a charter vessel or headboat
when it carries a passenger who pays a fee or when there are more than
three persons aboard, including operator and crew.
During the closure, king mackerel harvested using run-around
gillnet gear in the Florida west coast southern subzone may not be
purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to king mackerel
harvested using run-around gillnet gear in the Florida west coast
southern subzone that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to
the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
[[Page 10554]]
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and
management of Gulf king mackerel and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.8(b) and 622.388(a)(1) 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 prior
notice and opportunity for public comment.
This action responds to the best scientific information available.
The NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA) finds that the need
to immediately implement this action to close the fishery segment that
uses run-around gillnet gear 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 implementing the commercial quota and the
associated AM has already been subject to notice and comment, and all
that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest,
because any delay in the closure of the commercial harvest could result
in the commercial quota being exceeded. There is a need to immediately
implement this action to protect the king mackerel resource, because
the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the
quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action
would require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in
excess of the established quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 9, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-02969 Filed 2-9-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
