Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Possession and Trip Limit Implementation for the Common Pool Fishery, 20285-20287 [2017-08809]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
§ 17.84
[Amended]
The possession and trip limit
implementation is effective at 0001
hours on May 1, 2017, through April 30,
2018.
DATES:
3. Amend § 17.84 by removing and
reserving paragraphs (i) and (n).
■
Dated: March 28, 2017.
James K. Kurth,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9232.
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 150105004–5355–01]
RIN 0648–XF377
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Northeast Multispecies
Fishery; Possession and Trip Limit
Implementation for the Common Pool
Fishery
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; possession and
trip limit implementation.
AGENCY:
This action sets the initial
possession and trip limits for Northeast
multispecies common pool vessels for
the 2017 fishing year. The regulations
authorize the Regional Administrator to
implement trip limits for common pool
vessels in order to prevent exceeding
the pertinent common pool quotas. This
action is intended to optimize the
harvest of Northeast regulated
multispecies.
SUMMARY:
The
regulations at § 648.86(o) authorize the
Regional Administrator (RA) to
implement possession and trip limits for
common pool vessels in order to
prevent the overharvest of common pool
quotas. Effective May 1, 2017, this
action sets the initial possession and
trip limits for the 2017 fishing year, as
summarized in Tables 1 and 2 below.
These possession and trip limits were
developed after considering any changes
to the common pool quota, preliminary
2017 sector rosters, and 2016 catch
rates. These adjustments are intended to
facilitate optimized harvest of the
common pool quotas and prevent early
trimester closures.
The initial 2017 possession and trip
limits are the same as the initial 2016
limits, with the exception of four stocks
(Georges Bank (GB) cod, Gulf of Maine
(GOM) haddock, Southern New
England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA)
yellowtail flounder, and witch
flounder). The initial possession and
trip limit for GB cod outside the Eastern
U.S./Canada area and witch flounder are
reduced relative to initial 2016
possession and trip limits to prevent
early stock area closures in Trimester 1
as occurred in 2016. For GOM haddock
and SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, the
initial 2017 limits are higher than the
initial 2016 limits to allow additional
opportunities given that quota
utilization was low for these stocks in
2016.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FR Doc. 2017–08720 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
20285
For Handgear A and Handgear B
vessels, possession and trip limits for
GB and GOM cod are tied to the
possession and trip limits for groundfish
days-at-sea (DAS) vessels. The default
cod trip limit is 300 lb (136 kg) for
Handgear A vessels and 75 lb (34 kg) for
Handgear B vessels. If the GOM or GB
cod landing limit for vessels fishing on
a groundfish DAS drops below 300 lb
(136 kg), then the respective Handgear
A cod trip limit must be reduced to the
same limit. Similarly, the Handgear B
trip limit must be adjusted
proportionally (rounded up to the
nearest 25 lb (11 kg)) to the DAS limit.
This action sets the trip limit of GOM
cod to 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, up to 100
lb (45 kg) per trip for vessels fishing on
a groundfish DAS, which is 97 percent
lower than the default limit specified in
the regulations for these vessels (800 lb
(363 kg) per DAS). As a result, the
Handgear A and Handgear B trip limit
for GOM cod is 25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
This action sets the possession and trip
limit of GB cod at 250 lb (136 kg) per
DAS, up to 500 lb (227 kg) per trip for
vessels fishing on a groundfish DAS
outside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area.
As a result, the Handgear A trip limit for
GB cod is also set at 250 lb (136 kg) per
trip, and the Handgear B trip limit is 25
lb (11 kg) per trip.
Weekly quota monitoring reports for
the common pool fishery can be found
on our Web site at: https://www.greater
atlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/
MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue
to monitor common pool catch through
vessel trip reports, dealer-reported
landings, vessel monitoring system
catch reports, and other available
information and, if necessary, we will
make additional adjustments to
common pool management measures.
TABLE 1—INITIAL 2016 AND INITIAL 2017 COMMON POOL POSSESSION AND TRIP LIMITS
2016 Trip limit
2017 Trip limit
GB Cod (outside Eastern
U.S./Canada Area).
GB Cod (inside Eastern
U.S./Canada Area).
GOM Cod .............................
GB Haddock .........................
GOM Haddock .....................
500 lb (227 kg) per DAS, up to 2,500 lb per (1,134 kg)
per trip.
100 lb (45 kg) per DAS, up to 500 lb (227 kg) per trip ..
250 lb (113 kg) per DAS, up to 500 lb per (227 kg) per
trip.
100 lb (45 kg) per DAS, up to 500 lb (227 kg) per trip.
25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, up to 100 lb (45 kg) per trip ......
100,000 lb (45,359 kg) per trip .......................................
200 lb (91 kg) per DAS up to 600 lb (272 kg) per trip ...
GB Yellowtail Flounder ........
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
Stock
100 lb (45 kg) per trip .....................................................
250 lb (113 kg) per DAS, up to 500 lb (227 kg) per trip
Cape Cod (CC)/GOM
Yellowtail Flounder.
American plaice ...................
Witch Flounder .....................
GB Winter Flounder .............
GOM Winter Flounder ..........
SNE/MA Winter Flounder ....
750 lb (340 kg) per DAS up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) per
trip.
1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip ................................................
250 lb (113 kg) per trip ...................................................
250 lb (113 kg) per trip ...................................................
2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip ................................................
2,000 lb (907 kg) per DAS, up to 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
per trip.
25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, up to 100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
100,000 lb (45,359 kg) per trip.
500 lb (227 kg) per DAS up to 1,000 lb (454 kg)
trip.
100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
500 lb (227 kg) per DAS, up to 1,000 lb (454 kg)
trip.
750 lb (340 kg) per DAS up to 1,500 lb (680 kg)
trip.
1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip.
150 lb (68 kg) per trip.
250 lb (113 kg) per trip.
2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip.
2,000 lb (907 kg) per DAS, up to 4,000 lb (1,814
per trip.
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per
per
per
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1—INITIAL 2016 AND INITIAL 2017 COMMON POOL POSSESSION AND TRIP LIMITS—Continued
Stock
2016 Trip limit
2017 Trip limit
Redfish .................................
White hake ...........................
Pollock ..................................
Atlantic Halibut .....................
Windowpane Flounder .........
Ocean Pout
Atlantic Wolffish
Unlimited .........................................................................
1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip ................................................
Unlimited .........................................................................
1 fish per trip ...................................................................
Possession Prohibited .....................................................
Unlimited.
1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
Unlimited.
1 fish per trip.
Possession Prohibited.
TABLE 2—INITIAL 2016 AND INITIAL 2017 FISHING YEAR COD TRIP LIMITS FOR HANDGEAR A, HANDGEAR B, AND SMALL
VESSEL CATEGORY PERMITS
Permit
Initial 2016 trip limit
Initial 2017 trip limit
Handgear A GOM Cod ........
Handgear A GB Cod ............
Handgear B GOM Cod ........
Handgear B GB Cod ............
Small Vessel Category ........
25 lb (11 kg) per trip .......................................................
300 lb (136 kg) per trip ...................................................
25 lb (11 kg) per trip .......................................................
25 lb (11 kg) per trip .......................................................
300 lb of cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder combined; additionally, vessels are limited to the common
pool DAS limit for all stocks..
25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
250 lb (113 kg) per trip.
25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
300 lb of cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder combined; additionally, vessels are limited to the common
pool DAS limit for all stocks.
As a reminder, Table 3 includes the
common pool trimester Total Allowable
Catches (TACs) for fishing year 2017.
These trimester TACs are based on
preliminary sector rosters. However,
individual permit holders have until the
end of the 2016 fishing year (April 30,
2017) to drop out of a sector and fish in
the common pool fishery for the 2017
fishing year. Therefore, it is possible
that the sector and common pool catch
limits, including the trimester TACs,
may change due to changes in sector
rosters. If changes to sector rosters
occur, updated catch limits and/or
possession and trip limits will be
announced as soon as possible in the
2017 fishing year to reflect the final
sector rosters as of May 1, 2017. The
regulations also require that any
overages of the common pool quota be
deducted from the respective quota in
the following fishing year. If final
fishing year 2016 catch information
indicates the common pool exceeded its
quota for any stock, we would reduce
the common pool quota, as required, in
a future action.
Additionally, we are working to
publish a proposed rule for Framework
Adjustment 56. If approved, Framework
56 would substantively increase the
2017 catch limit for witch flounder. In
the Framework 56 proposed rule, we
intend to propose a change to the
common pool trip limit for witch
flounder consistent with the
recommended quota increase.
TABLE 3—COMMON POOL TRIMESTER TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCHES FOR FISHING YEAR 2017
[mt, live weight]
Percentage of quota
2017
Stock
Trimester 1
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
GB Cod ....................................................
GOM Cod .................................................
GB Haddock .............................................
GOM Haddock .........................................
GB Yellowtail Flounder ............................
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ....................
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ...................
American Plaice .......................................
Witch Flounder .........................................
GB Winter Flounder .................................
GOM Winter Flounder ..............................
Redfish .....................................................
White Hake ..............................................
Pollock ......................................................
25
27
27
27
19
21
35
24
27
8
37
25
38
28
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Apr 28, 2017
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Trimester 2
Trimester 3
37
36
33
26
30
37
35
36
31
24
38
31
31
35
38
37
40
47
52
42
30
40
42
69
25
44
31
37
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
and the 30-day delayed effectiveness
period because it would be contrary to
the public interest. The regulations at
§ 648.86(o) authorize the RA to adjust
the Northeast multispecies possession
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Trimester 1
2.9
2.7
84.3
10.0
0.8
7.2
5.5
5.2
2.3
0.4
12.6
14.3
9.8
32.5
Trimester 2
4.4
3.6
103.0
9.6
1.3
12.7
5.5
7.8
2.7
1.2
12.9
17.7
8.0
40.6
Trimester 3
4.5
3.7
124.8
17.3
2.2
14.4
4.7
8.7
3.6
3.3
8.5
25.1
8.0
42.9
and trip limits for common pool vessels
in order to prevent the overharvest or
underharvest of the pertinent common
pool quotas. This action sets the initial
common pool possession and trip limits
on May 1, 2017, for the 2017 fishing
year. The possession and trip limits
E:\FR\FM\01MYR1.SGM
01MYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
implemented through this action help to
ensure that the Northeast multispecies
common pool fishery may achieve the
optimum yield (OY) for the relevant
stocks, while controlling catch to help
prevent inseason closures or quota
overages. Delay of this action would
leave the common pool fishery with no
possession or trip limits to control catch
and would likely lead to early closure
of a trimester and quota overages. Any
overage of catch must be deducted from
the Trimester 3 quota, which could
substantially disrupt the trimester
structure and intent to distribute the
fishery across the entire fishing year. An
overage reduction in Trimester 3 would
further reduce fishing opportunities for
common pool vessels and likely result
in early closure of Trimester 3.
This would undermine management
objectives of the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan and cause
unnecessary negative economic impacts
to the common pool fishery.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 26, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–08809 Filed 4–27–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02]
RIN 0648–XF389
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in
the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Apr 28, 2017
Jkt 241001
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Greenland turbot in the
Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the 2017 Greenland
turbot initial total allowable catch
(ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea
of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2017, through 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP) prepared by
the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens 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 2017 Greenland turbot ITAC in
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI
is 106 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017).
The Regional Administrator has
determined that the 2017 ITAC for
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI is necessary to
account for the incidental catch of this
species in other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2017 fishing year.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the directed
fishing allowance for Greenland turbot
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in
SUMMARY:
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20287
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI.
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 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 directed fishing closure of
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as April 25, 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: April 26, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–08750 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\01MYR1.SGM
01MYR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20285-20287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08809]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 150105004-5355-01]
RIN 0648-XF377
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Multispecies Fishery; Possession and Trip Limit Implementation for the
Common Pool Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; possession and trip limit implementation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action sets the initial possession and trip limits for
Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the 2017 fishing year.
The regulations authorize the Regional Administrator to implement trip
limits for common pool vessels in order to prevent exceeding the
pertinent common pool quotas. This action is intended to optimize the
harvest of Northeast regulated multispecies.
DATES: The possession and trip limit implementation is effective at
0001 hours on May 1, 2017, through April 30, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at Sec. 648.86(o) authorize
the Regional Administrator (RA) to implement possession and trip limits
for common pool vessels in order to prevent the overharvest of common
pool quotas. Effective May 1, 2017, this action sets the initial
possession and trip limits for the 2017 fishing year, as summarized in
Tables 1 and 2 below. These possession and trip limits were developed
after considering any changes to the common pool quota, preliminary
2017 sector rosters, and 2016 catch rates. These adjustments are
intended to facilitate optimized harvest of the common pool quotas and
prevent early trimester closures.
The initial 2017 possession and trip limits are the same as the
initial 2016 limits, with the exception of four stocks (Georges Bank
(GB) cod, Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock, Southern New England/Mid-
Atlantic (SNE/MA) yellowtail flounder, and witch flounder). The initial
possession and trip limit for GB cod outside the Eastern U.S./Canada
area and witch flounder are reduced relative to initial 2016 possession
and trip limits to prevent early stock area closures in Trimester 1 as
occurred in 2016. For GOM haddock and SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, the
initial 2017 limits are higher than the initial 2016 limits to allow
additional opportunities given that quota utilization was low for these
stocks in 2016.
For Handgear A and Handgear B vessels, possession and trip limits
for GB and GOM cod are tied to the possession and trip limits for
groundfish days-at-sea (DAS) vessels. The default cod trip limit is 300
lb (136 kg) for Handgear A vessels and 75 lb (34 kg) for Handgear B
vessels. If the GOM or GB cod landing limit for vessels fishing on a
groundfish DAS drops below 300 lb (136 kg), then the respective
Handgear A cod trip limit must be reduced to the same limit. Similarly,
the Handgear B trip limit must be adjusted proportionally (rounded up
to the nearest 25 lb (11 kg)) to the DAS limit. This action sets the
trip limit of GOM cod to 25 lb (11 kg) per DAS, up to 100 lb (45 kg)
per trip for vessels fishing on a groundfish DAS, which is 97 percent
lower than the default limit specified in the regulations for these
vessels (800 lb (363 kg) per DAS). As a result, the Handgear A and
Handgear B trip limit for GOM cod is 25 lb (11 kg) per trip. This
action sets the possession and trip limit of GB cod at 250 lb (136 kg)
per DAS, up to 500 lb (227 kg) per trip for vessels fishing on a
groundfish DAS outside the Eastern U.S./Canada Area. As a result, the
Handgear A trip limit for GB cod is also set at 250 lb (136 kg) per
trip, and the Handgear B trip limit is 25 lb (11 kg) per trip.
Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery can be
found 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,
dealer-reported landings, vessel monitoring system catch reports, and
other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional
adjustments to common pool management measures.
Table 1--Initial 2016 and Initial 2017 Common Pool Possession and Trip
Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock 2016 Trip limit 2017 Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod (outside Eastern U.S./ 500 lb (227 kg) per 250 lb (113 kg) per
Canada Area). DAS, up to 2,500 lb DAS, up to 500 lb
per (1,134 kg) per per (227 kg) per
trip. trip.
GB Cod (inside Eastern U.S./ 100 lb (45 kg) per 100 lb (45 kg) per
Canada Area). DAS, up to 500 lb DAS, up to 500 lb
(227 kg) per trip. (227 kg) per trip.
GOM Cod..................... 25 lb (11 kg) per 25 lb (11 kg) per
DAS, up to 100 lb DAS, up to 100 lb
(45 kg) per trip. (45 kg) per trip.
GB Haddock.................. 100,000 lb (45,359 100,000 lb (45,359
kg) per trip. kg) per trip.
GOM Haddock................. 200 lb (91 kg) per 500 lb (227 kg) per
DAS up to 600 lb DAS up to 1,000 lb
(272 kg) per trip. (454 kg) per trip.
GB Yellowtail Flounder...... 100 lb (45 kg) per 100 lb (45 kg) per
trip. trip.
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.. 250 lb (113 kg) per 500 lb (227 kg) per
DAS, up to 500 lb DAS, up to 1,000 lb
(227 kg) per trip. (454 kg) per trip.
Cape Cod (CC)/GOM Yellowtail 750 lb (340 kg) per 750 lb (340 kg) per
Flounder. DAS up to 1,500 lb DAS up to 1,500 lb
(680 kg) per trip. (680 kg) per trip.
American plaice............. 1,000 lb (454 kg) 1,000 lb (454 kg)
per trip. per trip.
Witch Flounder.............. 250 lb (113 kg) per 150 lb (68 kg) per
trip. trip.
GB Winter Flounder.......... 250 lb (113 kg) per 250 lb (113 kg) per
trip. trip.
GOM Winter Flounder......... 2,000 lb (907 kg) 2,000 lb (907 kg)
per trip. per trip.
SNE/MA Winter Flounder...... 2,000 lb (907 kg) 2,000 lb (907 kg)
per DAS, up to per DAS, up to
4,000 lb (1,814 kg) 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
per trip. per trip.
[[Page 20286]]
Redfish..................... Unlimited........... Unlimited.
White hake.................. 1,500 lb (680 kg) 1,500 lb (680 kg)
per trip. per trip.
Pollock..................... Unlimited........... Unlimited.
Atlantic Halibut............ 1 fish per trip..... 1 fish per trip.
Windowpane Flounder......... Possession Possession
Ocean Pout.................. Prohibited. Prohibited.
Atlantic Wolffish...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--Initial 2016 and Initial 2017 Fishing Year Cod Trip Limits for
Handgear A, Handgear B, and Small Vessel Category Permits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial 2016 trip Initial 2017 trip
Permit limit limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Handgear A GOM Cod.......... 25 lb (11 kg) per 25 lb (11 kg) per
trip. trip.
Handgear A GB Cod........... 300 lb (136 kg) per 250 lb (113 kg) per
trip. trip.
Handgear B GOM Cod.......... 25 lb (11 kg) per 25 lb (11 kg) per
trip. trip.
Handgear B GB Cod........... 25 lb (11 kg) per 25 lb (11 kg) per
trip. trip.
Small Vessel Category....... 300 lb of cod, 300 lb of cod,
haddock, and haddock, and
yellowtail flounder yellowtail flounder
combined; combined;
additionally, additionally,
vessels are limited vessels are limited
to the common pool to the common pool
DAS limit for all DAS limit for all
stocks.. stocks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a reminder, Table 3 includes the common pool trimester Total
Allowable Catches (TACs) for fishing year 2017. These trimester TACs
are based on preliminary sector rosters. However, individual permit
holders have until the end of the 2016 fishing year (April 30, 2017) to
drop out of a sector and fish in the common pool fishery for the 2017
fishing year. Therefore, it is possible that the sector and common pool
catch limits, including the trimester TACs, may change due to changes
in sector rosters. If changes to sector rosters occur, updated catch
limits and/or possession and trip limits will be announced as soon as
possible in the 2017 fishing year to reflect the final sector rosters
as of May 1, 2017. The regulations also require that any overages of
the common pool quota be deducted from the respective quota in the
following fishing year. If final fishing year 2016 catch information
indicates the common pool exceeded its quota for any stock, we would
reduce the common pool quota, as required, in a future action.
Additionally, we are working to publish a proposed rule for
Framework Adjustment 56. If approved, Framework 56 would substantively
increase the 2017 catch limit for witch flounder. In the Framework 56
proposed rule, we intend to propose a change to the common pool trip
limit for witch flounder consistent with the recommended quota
increase.
Table 3--Common Pool Trimester Total Allowable Catches for Fishing Year 2017
[mt, live weight]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of quota 2017
Stock -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.................................................. 25 37 38 2.9 4.4 4.5
GOM Cod................................................. 27 36 37 2.7 3.6 3.7
GB Haddock.............................................. 27 33 40 84.3 103.0 124.8
GOM Haddock............................................. 27 26 47 10.0 9.6 17.3
GB Yellowtail Flounder.................................. 19 30 52 0.8 1.3 2.2
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.............................. 21 37 42 7.2 12.7 14.4
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder.............................. 35 35 30 5.5 5.5 4.7
American Plaice......................................... 24 36 40 5.2 7.8 8.7
Witch Flounder.......................................... 27 31 42 2.3 2.7 3.6
GB Winter Flounder...................................... 8 24 69 0.4 1.2 3.3
GOM Winter Flounder..................................... 37 38 25 12.6 12.9 8.5
Redfish................................................. 25 31 44 14.3 17.7 25.1
White Hake.............................................. 38 31 31 9.8 8.0 8.0
Pollock................................................. 28 35 37 32.5 40.6 42.9
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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 and the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period because it would be contrary to the public
interest. The regulations at Sec. 648.86(o) authorize the RA to adjust
the Northeast multispecies possession and trip limits for common pool
vessels in order to prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the
pertinent common pool quotas. This action sets the initial common pool
possession and trip limits on May 1, 2017, for the 2017 fishing year.
The possession and trip limits
[[Page 20287]]
implemented through this action help to ensure that the Northeast
multispecies common pool fishery may achieve the optimum yield (OY) for
the relevant stocks, while controlling catch to help prevent inseason
closures or quota overages. Delay of this action would leave the common
pool fishery with no possession or trip limits to control catch and
would likely lead to early closure of a trimester and quota overages.
Any overage of catch must be deducted from the Trimester 3 quota, which
could substantially disrupt the trimester structure and intent to
distribute the fishery across the entire fishing year. An overage
reduction in Trimester 3 would further reduce fishing opportunities for
common pool vessels and likely result in early closure of Trimester 3.
This would undermine management objectives of the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and cause unnecessary negative
economic impacts to the common pool fishery.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 26, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-08809 Filed 4-27-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
