Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2017 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper, 22615-22616 [2017-09999]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 17, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation
(water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Security measures,
Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the U. S. Coast Guard amends
33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION
AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
1. The authority citation for part 165
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191;
33 CFR 1.05–1, 6.04–1, 6.04–6, and 160.5;
Department of Homeland Security Delegation
No. 0170.1.
2. Temporary § 165.T08–0336 is
added to read as follows:
■
§ 165.T08–0336 Safety Zone; Tennessee
River Miles 323.0 to 325.0, Huntsville, AL.
(a) Location. All navigable waters of
the Tennessee River beginning at mile
marker 323.0 and ending at mile marker
325.0 in Huntsville, AL.
(b) Effective date. This rule is effective
from noon on May 15, 2017 through
noon on May 22, 2017.
(c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with
the general regulations in § 165.23, entry
into this area is prohibited unless
authorized by the Captain of the Port
Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated
representative.
(2) Persons or vessels requiring entry
into or passage through the area must
request permission from the COTP or a
designated representative. U. S. Coast
Guard Sector Ohio Valley may be
contacted on VHF Channel 13 or 16, or
at 1–800–253–7465.
Dated: May 12, 2017.
M.B. Zamperini,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port Ohio Valley.
[FR Doc. 2017–10000 Filed 5–16–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02]
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
RIN 0648–XF424
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2017
Commercial Accountability Measure
and Closure for South Atlantic
Vermilion Snapper
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:25 May 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
NMFS implements an
accountability measure (AM) for the
commercial sector for vermilion snapper
in the South Atlantic exclusive
economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects
that commercial landings of vermilion
snapper will reach the commercial
annual catch limit (ACL) for the January
through June 2017 fishing season by
May 17, 2017. Therefore, NMFS closes
the commercial sector for vermilion
snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on
May 17, 2017, and it will remain closed
until July 1, 2017, the start of the July
through December commercial fishing
season. This closure is necessary to
protect the South Atlantic vermilion
snapper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01
a.m., local time, May 17, 2017, until
12:01 a.m., local time, July 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 vermilion snapper 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.
The commercial ACL (equivalent to
the commercial quota) for vermilion
snapper in the South Atlantic is divided
into separate quotas for two 6-month
seasons, January through June and July
through December. For the January
through June fishing season in 2017, the
commercial quota is 388,703 lb (176,313
kg), gutted weight (431,460 lb (195,707
kg), round weight), as specified in 50
CFR 622.190(a)(4)(i)(D).
On March 22, 2017 (82 FR 14641),
NMFS published a temporary rule in the
Federal Register to reduce the
commercial trip limit for vermilion
snapper in or from the South Atlantic
EEZ to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight,
effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, March
22, 2017, until July 1, 2017, or until the
commercial quota was reached and the
commercial sector closed, whichever
would occur first.
In accordance with regulations at 50
CFR 622.193(f)(1), NMFS is required to
close the commercial sector for
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
22615
vermilion snapper when the commercial
quota for that portion of the fishing year
has been reached, or is projected to be
reached, by filing a notification to that
effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. NMFS has determined that the
commercial quota for South Atlantic
vermilion snapper for the January
through June fishing season will be
reached by May 17, 2017. Accordingly,
the commercial sector for South Atlantic
vermilion snapper is closed effective at
12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2017,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2017.
The operator of a vessel with a valid
commercial vessel permit for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper with
vermilion snapper on board must have
landed and bartered, traded, or sold
such vermilion snapper prior to 12:01
a.m., local time, May 17, 2017. During
the commercial closure, the recreational
bag limit specified in 50 CFR
622.187(b)(5) and the possession limits
specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c)(1) apply
to all harvest or possession of vermilion
snapper in or from the South Atlantic
EEZ. Also during the commercial
closure, the sale or purchase of
vermilion snapper taken from the EEZ is
prohibited. As specified in 50 CFR
622.190(c)(1)(i), the prohibition on sale
or purchase does not apply to the sale
or purchase of vermilion snapper that
were harvested, landed ashore, and sold
prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17,
2017, and were held in cold storage by
a dealer or processor. For a person on
board a vessel for which a valid Federal
commercial or charter vessel/headboat
permit for the South Atlantic snappergrouper fishery has been issued, the bag
and possession limits and the sale and
purchase provisions of the commercial
closure for vermilion snapper apply
regardless of whether the fish are
harvested in state or Federal waters, as
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region 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
622.193(f)(1) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
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
close the commercial sector for
vermilion snapper constitutes good
cause to waive the requirements to
provide prior notice and opportunity for
E:\FR\FM\17MYR1.SGM
17MYR1
22616
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 17, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
public comment pursuant to the
authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
as such procedures would be
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the rule
implementing the AM has 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 on this action are
contrary to the public interest because
there is a need to immediately
implement this action to protect the
vermilion snapper resource, as the
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for
rapid harvest of the commercial quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and could
result in a harvest well in excess of the
established commercial 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: May 12, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–09999 Filed 5–12–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[Docket No. 150121066–5717–02]
RIN 0648–XF413
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
General category retention limit
adjustment.
AGENCY:
NMFS is adjusting the
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General
category daily retention limit from the
default limit of one large medium or
giant BFT to four large medium or giant
BFT for June 1 through August 31, 2017.
This action is based on consideration of
the regulatory determination criteria
regarding inseason adjustments, and
applies to Atlantic Tunas General
category (commercial) permitted vessels
and Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Charter/Headboat category permitted
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:25 May 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
vessels when fishing commercially for
BFT.
DATES: Effective June 1, 2017, through
August 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale,
978–281–9260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations implemented under the
authority of the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et
seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by
persons and vessels subject to U.S.
jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part
635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S.
BFT quota recommended by the
International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
among the various domestic fishing
categories, per the allocations
established in the 2006 Consolidated
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
Fishery Management Plan (2006
Consolidated HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058,
October 2, 2006) and amendments, and
in accordance with implementing
regulations. NMFS is required under
ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to
provide U.S. fishing vessels with a
reasonable opportunity to harvest the
ICCAT-recommended quota.
The currently codified baseline U.S.
quota is 1,058.9 mt (not including the 25
mt ICCAT allocated to the United States
to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic
longline fisheries in the Northeast
Distant Gear Restricted Area). See
§ 635.27(a). The currently codified
General category quota is 466.7 mt. Each
of the General category time periods
(‘‘January,’’ June through August,
September, October through November,
and December) is allocated a portion of
the annual General category quota. The
codified June through August subquota
is 233.3 mt.
Adjustment of General Category Daily
Retention Limit
Unless changed, the General category
daily retention limit starting on June 1
would be the default retention limit of
one large medium or giant BFT
(measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved
fork length (CFL) or greater) per vessel
per day/trip (§ 635.23(a)(2)). This
default retention limit would apply to
General category permitted vessels and
to HMS Charter/Headboat category
permitted vessels when fishing
commercially for BFT. For the 2016
fishing year, NMFS adjusted the daily
retention limit from the default level of
one large medium or giant BFT to three
large medium or giant BFT for the
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Frm 00008
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
January subquota period (80 FR 77264,
December 14, 2015), which closed
effective March 29, 2016 (the
regulations allow the General category
fishery under the ‘‘January’’ subquota to
continue until the subquota is reached,
or March 31, whichever comes first);
five large medium or giant BFT for the
June through August subquota period
(81 FR 29501, May 12, 2016) as well as
for September 1 through October 8, 2016
(81 FR 59153, August 29, 2016); four
large medium or giant BFT for October
9 through October 16, 2016 (81 FR
70369, October 12, 2016); and two large
medium or giant BFT for October 17
through December 31, 2016 (81 FR
71639, October 18, 2016). NMFS closed
the 2016 General category fishery
effective November 4, 2016 (81 FR
76874, November 4, 2016). NMFS
adjusted the daily retention limit for the
2017 January subquota period from the
default level of one large medium or
giant BFT to three large medium or giant
BFT in the same action as the 16.3-mt
transfer from the December 2016
subquota period to the January 2016
subquota period (81 FR 91873,
December 19, 2016), and closed the
January 2017 fishery on March 29 (82
FR 16136, April 3, 2017).
Under § 635.23(a)(4), NMFS may
increase or decrease the daily retention
limit of large medium and giant BFT
over a range of zero to a maximum of
five per vessel based on consideration of
the relevant criteria provided under
§ 635.27(a)(8). NMFS has considered
these criteria and their applicability to
the General category BFT retention limit
for June through August 2017. These
considerations include, but are not
limited to, the following:
Regarding the usefulness of
information obtained from catches in
the particular category for biological
sampling and monitoring of the status of
the stock (§ 635.27(a)(8)(i)), biological
samples collected from BFT landed by
General category fishermen and
provided by BFT dealers continue to
provide NMFS with valuable data for
ongoing scientific studies of BFT age
and growth, migration, and reproductive
status. Additional opportunity to land
BFT would support the collection of a
broad range of data for these studies and
for stock monitoring purposes.
NMFS also considered the catches of
the General category quota to date
(including during the fall and winter
fishery in the last several years), and the
likelihood of closure of that segment of
the fishery if no adjustment is made
(§ 635.27(a)(8)(ii)). Commercial-size BFT
are anticipated to migrate to the fishing
grounds off the northeast U.S. coast by
early June. Based on General category
E:\FR\FM\17MYR1.SGM
17MYR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22615-22616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09999]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XF424
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2017 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic
Vermilion Snapper
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the
commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic exclusive
economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects that commercial landings of
vermilion snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL)
for the January through June 2017 fishing season by May 17, 2017.
Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in
the South Atlantic EEZ on May 17, 2017, and it will remain closed until
July 1, 2017, the start of the July through December commercial fishing
season. This closure is necessary to protect the South Atlantic
vermilion snapper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17,
2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 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 vermilion snapper 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 commercial ACL (equivalent to the commercial quota) for
vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic is divided into separate quotas
for two 6-month seasons, January through June and July through
December. For the January through June fishing season in 2017, the
commercial quota is 388,703 lb (176,313 kg), gutted weight (431,460 lb
(195,707 kg), round weight), as specified in 50 CFR
622.190(a)(4)(i)(D).
On March 22, 2017 (82 FR 14641), NMFS published a temporary rule in
the Federal Register to reduce the commercial trip limit for vermilion
snapper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted
weight, effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, March 22, 2017, until July
1, 2017, or until the commercial quota was reached and the commercial
sector closed, whichever would occur first.
In accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(f)(1), NMFS is
required to close the commercial sector for vermilion snapper when the
commercial quota for that portion of the fishing year has been reached,
or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect
with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the
commercial quota for South Atlantic vermilion snapper for the January
through June fishing season will be reached by May 17, 2017.
Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic vermilion snapper
is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2017, until
12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2017.
The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for
South Atlantic snapper-grouper with vermilion snapper on board must
have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such vermilion snapper prior
to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2017. During the commercial closure,
the recreational bag limit specified in 50 CFR 622.187(b)(5) and the
possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c)(1) apply to all
harvest or possession of vermilion snapper in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ. Also during the commercial closure, the sale or purchase
of vermilion snapper taken from the EEZ is prohibited. As specified in
50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(i), the prohibition on sale or purchase does not
apply to the sale or purchase of vermilion snapper that were harvested,
landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2017,
and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on
board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been
issued, the bag and possession limits and the sale and purchase
provisions of the commercial closure for vermilion snapper apply
regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal
waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region 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 622.193(f)(1) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
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 close the commercial sector for
vermilion snapper constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to
provide prior notice and opportunity for
[[Page 22616]]
public comment pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule
implementing the AM has 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 on this action are contrary to the
public interest because there is a need to immediately implement this
action to protect the vermilion snapper resource, as the capacity of
the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and
could result in a harvest well in excess of the established commercial
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: May 12, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09999 Filed 5-12-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
