Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Quota Harvested, 42610 [2017-19208]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
42610
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 174 / Monday, September 11, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 140902739–5224–02]
RIN 0648–XF672
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and
Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid
Quota Harvested
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of
possession limit.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces a 10,000 lb
(4.535 kg) trip limit that may not be
landed more than once per day for the
Illex squid fishery beginning September
1, 2017. This prohibition is required by
regulation because NMFS projects that
95 percent of the 2017 annual catch
limit will have been caught by the
effective date. This action is intended to
prevent over harvest of Illex squid for
the fishing year.
DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time,
September 1, 2017, through December
31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the Illex squid
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The
regulations require specifications for
maximum sustainable yield, initial
optimum yield, allowable biological
catch (ABC), domestic annual harvest
(DAH), domestic annual processing,
joint venture processing, and total
allowable levels of foreign fishing for
the species managed under the Atlantic
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The
procedures for setting the annual initial
specifications are described in § 648.22.
The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2)
require that when the NMFS
Administrator of the Greater Atlantic
Region (Regional Administrator)
projects Illex squid catch will reach 95
percent of the DAH quota designated in
the FMP, NMFS must prohibit Federal
Illex squid vessel permit holders from
fishing for, catching, possessing,
transferring, or landing more than
10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per
trip and landing no squid more than
10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per calendar
day for the remainder of the prohibition
period. This type of prohibition
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:54 Sep 08, 2017
Jkt 241001
effectively closes the directed Illex
squid fishery. The Regional
Administrator monitors the Illex squid
fishery catch annually based on dealer
reports, state data, and other available
information. When 95 percent of the
DAH has been reached, NMFS must
provide at least 72 hours of notice to the
public that this determination has been
made. NMFS must also publish the date
that the catch is projected to reach 95
percent of the quota, and the date when
prohibitions on catch and landings for
the remainder of the fishing year
become effective.
The Regional Administrator has
determined, based on dealer reports and
other available information, that the
Illex squid fleet will catch 95 percent of
the total Illex squid DAH quota for the
2017 season through December 31,
2017, by September 1, 2017. Therefore,
effective 0001 hr local time, September
1, 2017, federally permitted vessels may
not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or
land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of
Illex squid per trip and may not land
more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per
calendar day. In addition, vessels that
have entered port before 0001 hr on
September 1, 2017, may offload and sell
more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex
squid from that trip. Also, federally
permitted dealers may not receive Illex
squid from federally permitted Illex
squid vessels that harvest more than
10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid
through 2400 hr local time, December
31, 2017, unless it is from a trip landed
by a vessel that entered port before 0001
hr on September 1, 2017.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
because it would be contrary to the
public interest and impracticable. The
Illex squid fishery opened for the 2017
fishing year on January 1, 2017. Data
and other information indicating the
Illex squid fleet will have landed at least
95 percent of the 2017 DAH quota have
only recently become available.
Landings data is updated on a weekly
basis, and NMFS monitors catch data on
a daily basis as catch increases toward
the limit. Further, high-volume catch
and landings in this fishery increases
total catch relative to the quota quickly.
The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2) require
such action to ensure that Illex squid
vessels do not exceed the 2017 DAH
quota. If implementation of this action
is delayed to solicit prior public
comment, the quota for the 2017 fishing
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
year may be exceeded, thereby
undermining the conservation
objectives of the FMP. Also, the public
had prior notice and full opportunity to
comment on this process when these
provisions were put in place. Based on
these considerations, NMFS further
finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3),
good cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period for the reasons
stated above.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 6, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–19208 Filed 9–6–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Doc. No. 170113076–7772–02]
RIN 0648–BG60
Omnibus Framework Adjustment
Requiring Electronic Vessel Trip
Reporting for Federally-Permitted
Party and Charter Vessel Operators in
the Mid-Atlantic Region
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This action approves and
implements regulations submitted by
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council in an Omnibus Framework
Adjustment to all of its fishery
management plans. The Electronic
Vessel Trip Report Framework
implements a requirement for charter
and party vessels that hold a permit to
fish for Atlantic bluefish, black sea bass,
scup, summer flounder, tilefish, squid,
Atlantic mackerel, and/or butterfish,
while on a trip carrying passengers for
hire, to submit required vessel trip
reports by electronic means. This action
is intended to increase the timeliness,
accuracy, and quality of fisheries data
submitted to NMFS while also reducing
the burden on the charter and party
fishing fleets.
DATES: This rule is effective March 12,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting
documents used by the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, including
the Framework Adjustment with
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11SER1.SGM
11SER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19208]
[[Page 42610]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 140902739-5224-02]
RIN 0648-XF672
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Quota Harvested
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 10,000 lb (4.535 kg) trip limit that may not
be landed more than once per day for the Illex squid fishery beginning
September 1, 2017. This prohibition is required by regulation because
NMFS projects that 95 percent of the 2017 annual catch limit will have
been caught by the effective date. This action is intended to prevent
over harvest of Illex squid for the fishing year.
DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, September 1, 2017, through
December 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Illex squid
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require specifications
for maximum sustainable yield, initial optimum yield, allowable
biological catch (ABC), domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic annual
processing, joint venture processing, and total allowable levels of
foreign fishing for the species managed under the Atlantic Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The procedures for
setting the annual initial specifications are described in Sec.
648.22.
The regulations at Sec. 648.24(a)(2) require that when the NMFS
Administrator of the Greater Atlantic Region (Regional Administrator)
projects Illex squid catch will reach 95 percent of the DAH quota
designated in the FMP, NMFS must prohibit Federal Illex squid vessel
permit holders from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring, or
landing more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip and
landing no squid more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per calendar day
for the remainder of the prohibition period. This type of prohibition
effectively closes the directed Illex squid fishery. The Regional
Administrator monitors the Illex squid fishery catch annually based on
dealer reports, state data, and other available information. When 95
percent of the DAH has been reached, NMFS must provide at least 72
hours of notice to the public that this determination has been made.
NMFS must also publish the date that the catch is projected to reach 95
percent of the quota, and the date when prohibitions on catch and
landings for the remainder of the fishing year become effective.
The Regional Administrator has determined, based on dealer reports
and other available information, that the Illex squid fleet will catch
95 percent of the total Illex squid DAH quota for the 2017 season
through December 31, 2017, by September 1, 2017. Therefore, effective
0001 hr local time, September 1, 2017, federally permitted vessels may
not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb
(4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip and may not land more than 10,000 lb
(4,535 kg) once per calendar day. In addition, vessels that have
entered port before 0001 hr on September 1, 2017, may offload and sell
more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid from that trip. Also,
federally permitted dealers may not receive Illex squid from federally
permitted Illex squid vessels that harvest more than 10,000 lb (4,535
kg) of Illex squid through 2400 hr local time, December 31, 2017,
unless it is from a trip landed by a vessel that entered port before
0001 hr on September 1, 2017.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior
notice and the opportunity for public comment because it would be
contrary to the public interest and impracticable. The Illex squid
fishery opened for the 2017 fishing year on January 1, 2017. Data and
other information indicating the Illex squid fleet will have landed at
least 95 percent of the 2017 DAH quota have only recently become
available. Landings data is updated on a weekly basis, and NMFS
monitors catch data on a daily basis as catch increases toward the
limit. Further, high-volume catch and landings in this fishery
increases total catch relative to the quota quickly. The regulations at
Sec. 648.24(a)(2) require such action to ensure that Illex squid
vessels do not exceed the 2017 DAH quota. If implementation of this
action is delayed to solicit prior public comment, the quota for the
2017 fishing year may be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation
objectives of the FMP. Also, the public had prior notice and full
opportunity to comment on this process when these provisions were put
in place. Based on these considerations, NMFS further finds, pursuant
to 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period for the reasons stated above.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 6, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-19208 Filed 9-6-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
