Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Complex; Adjustment to the Skate Wing Inseason Possession Limit, 59526-59527 [2017-27082]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
closure, the bag and possession limits
for gray triggerfish in or from the Gulf
EEZ are zero. The commercial sector for
gray triggerfish in or from the Gulf EEZ
is closed from June 1 through July 31,
each year. During the period of both the
commercial and recreational closure, all
harvest or possession in or from the Gulf
EEZ of gray triggerfish is prohibited and
the sale and purchase of gray triggerfish
taken from the Gulf EEZ is prohibited.
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■ 3. In § 622.37, revise paragraph (c)(1)
to read as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
§ 622.37
AGENCY:
Size limits.
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(c) * * *
(1) Gray triggerfish. (i) For a person
not subject to the bag limit specified in
§ 622.38(b)(5)—14 inches (35.6 cm), fork
length.
(ii) For a person subject to the bag
limit specified in § 622.38(b)(5)—15
inches (38.1 cm), fork length.
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■ 4. In § 622.38, revise paragraph (b)(5)
to read as follows:
§ 622.38
Bag and possession limits.
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(b) * * *
(5) Gulf reef fish, combined,
excluding those specified in paragraphs
(b)(1) through (4) and paragraphs (b)(6)
and (7) of this section—20. In addition,
within the 20-fish aggregate reef fish bag
limit, no more than 1 fish may be gray
triggerfish and no more than 10 fish may
be vermilion snapper.
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■ 5. In § 622.43, revise paragraph (b) to
read as follows:
§ 622.43
Commercial trip limits.
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(b) Gray triggerfish. Until the
commercial ACT (commercial quota)
specified in § 622.39(a)(1)(vi) is
reached—16 fish. See § 622.39(b) for the
limitations regarding gray triggerfish
after the commercial ACT (commercial
quota) is reached.
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[FR Doc. 2017–27068 Filed 12–14–17; 8:45 am]
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160301164–6694–02]
RIN 0648–XF883
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Northeast Skate Complex;
Adjustment to the Skate Wing
Inseason Possession Limit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
adjustment.
NMFS announces the
reduction of the commercial skate wing
fishery per-trip possession limit for the
remainder of the 2017 fishing year,
through April 30, 2018. This possession
limit reduction is necessary to prevent
the skate wing commercial quota from
being exceeded, while still allowing the
opportunity to harvest the annual total
allowable landings. This announcement
also informs the public that the skate
wing possession limit is reduced.
DATES: Effective December 27, 2017,
through April 30, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9180, or
Cynthia.Hanson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The skate
wing and bait fisheries are managed
through the Northeast Skate Complex
Fishery Management Plan; the
regulations for which are found at 50
CFR part 648, subpart O. Regulations at
§ 648.322(b)(2) describe the process of
adjusting the commercial possession
limit of skate wings. When 85 percent
of the annual total allowable landings
(TAL) for skate wing fishery is projected
to be harvested, the NMFS Greater
Atlantic Regional Administrator may
reduce the skate wing possession limit
to the incidental limit, unless the
reduction would be expected to prevent
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
attainment of the annual TAL. The
initial skate wing possession limit is
4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of wings (9,307 lb
(4,222 kg) whole weight). When the 85percent trigger is reached, this is
reduced to the incidental limit of and
500 lb (227 kg) of wings (1,135 lb (515
kg) whole weight). We anticipate that
implementing this inseason adjustment
will allow the opportunity for the skate
wing fishery to harvest the annual TAL
while reducing the possibility of
exceeding it.
Based on commercial landings data
reported through December 2, 2017, we
project the skate wing fishery to reach
85 percent of the annual TAL (18.46
million lb, 8,372 mt) on or about
December 11, 2017. Furthermore,
without adjustment, there is a high
probability that skate wing landings will
exceed the TAL before the end of the
fishing year. Therefore, consistent with
§ 648.322(b)(2), we are reducing the
skate wing possession limit from 4,100
lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb
(4,222 kg) whole weight) to 500 lb (227
kg) of skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg)
whole weight) per trip. At the request of
industry to allow adequate time for safe
gear removal, we are affording a 14-day
notice period before implementing this
reduction. Effective December 27, 2017,
no person may possess on board or land
more than 500 lb (227 kg) of skate wings
(1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight), or any
prorated combination of skate wings
and whole skates based on the
conversion factor for wing weight to
whole weight of 2.27, per trip for the
remainder of the 2017 fishing year. This
action does not affect vessels fishing
under a skate bait letter of authorization.
On May 1, 2018, the 2018 fishing year
begins, and the commercial skate wing
possession limit will increase to the
skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018, to
August 31, 2018) possession limit of
2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate wings (5,902
lb (2,677 kg) whole weight) per trip.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Classification
This action is taken under 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) to waive
prior notice and the opportunity for
public comment because it would be
contrary to the public interest. This
action lowers the possession limit for
the commercial skate wing fishery to the
incidental limit in order to prevent the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:15 Dec 14, 2017
Jkt 244001
annual quota from being exceeded,
while still allowing the opportunity to
harvest the annual TAL. The regulations
at § 648.322(b)(2) allow such action
when landings reach a trigger of 85
percent of the annual TAL to ensure this
TAL is not exceeded. If implementation
of this reduction were delayed to solicit
prior public comment, the quota for this
fishing year would likely be exceeded,
thereby undermining the conservation
objectives of the Northeast Skate
Complex Fishery Management Plan. The
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
59527
Assistant Administrator further finds,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good
cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period for the reason
stated above.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 12, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–27082 Filed 12–12–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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15DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59526-59527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27082]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160301164-6694-02]
RIN 0648-XF883
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate
Complex; Adjustment to the Skate Wing Inseason Possession Limit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the reduction of the commercial skate wing
fishery per-trip possession limit for the remainder of the 2017 fishing
year, through April 30, 2018. This possession limit reduction is
necessary to prevent the skate wing commercial quota from being
exceeded, while still allowing the opportunity to harvest the annual
total allowable landings. This announcement also informs the public
that the skate wing possession limit is reduced.
DATES: Effective December 27, 2017, through April 30, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9180, or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The skate wing and bait fisheries are
managed through the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan;
the regulations for which are found at 50 CFR part 648, subpart O.
Regulations at Sec. 648.322(b)(2) describe the process of adjusting
the commercial possession limit of skate wings. When 85 percent of the
annual total allowable landings (TAL) for skate wing fishery is
projected to be harvested, the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional
Administrator may reduce the skate wing possession limit to the
incidental limit, unless the reduction would be expected to prevent
attainment of the annual TAL. The initial skate wing possession limit
is 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of wings (9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight).
When the 85-percent trigger is reached, this is reduced to the
incidental limit of and 500 lb (227 kg) of wings (1,135 lb (515 kg)
whole weight). We anticipate that implementing this inseason adjustment
will allow the opportunity for the skate wing fishery to harvest the
annual TAL while reducing the possibility of exceeding it.
Based on commercial landings data reported through December 2,
2017, we project the skate wing fishery to reach 85 percent of the
annual TAL (18.46 million lb, 8,372 mt) on or about December 11, 2017.
Furthermore, without adjustment, there is a high probability that skate
wing landings will exceed the TAL before the end of the fishing year.
Therefore, consistent with Sec. 648.322(b)(2), we are reducing the
skate wing possession limit from 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings
(9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) to 500 lb (227 kg) of skate wings
(1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight) per trip. At the request of industry
to allow adequate time for safe gear removal, we are affording a 14-day
notice period before implementing this reduction. Effective December
27, 2017, no person may possess on board or land more than 500 lb (227
kg) of skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight), or any prorated
combination of skate wings and whole skates based on the conversion
factor for wing weight to whole weight of 2.27, per trip for the
remainder of the 2017 fishing year. This action does not affect vessels
fishing under a skate bait letter of authorization. On May 1, 2018, the
2018 fishing year begins, and the commercial skate wing possession
limit will increase to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018, to August
31, 2018) possession limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate wings (5,902
lb (2,677 kg) whole weight) per trip.
[[Page 59527]]
Classification
This action is taken under 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) to waive prior notice and the
opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the
public interest. This action lowers the possession limit for the
commercial skate wing fishery to the incidental limit in order to
prevent the annual quota from being exceeded, while still allowing the
opportunity to harvest the annual TAL. The regulations at Sec.
648.322(b)(2) allow such action when landings reach a trigger of 85
percent of the annual TAL to ensure this TAL is not exceeded. If
implementation of this reduction were delayed to solicit prior public
comment, the quota for this fishing year would likely be exceeded,
thereby undermining the conservation objectives of the Northeast Skate
Complex Fishery Management Plan. The Assistant Administrator further
finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30-day
delayed effectiveness period for the reason stated above.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 12, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27082 Filed 12-12-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
