Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery; 2018 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications, 4849-4850 [2018-02148]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
We are implementing
specifications for the 2018 Atlantic
deep-sea red crab fishery, including an
annual catch limit and total allowable
landings limit. This action is necessary
to implement allowable red crab harvest
levels that will prevent overfishing and
allow harvesting of optimum yield. This
action is intended to establish the
allowable 2018 harvest levels,
consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea
Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
DATES: The final specifications for the
2018 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery
are effective March 5, 2018, through
February 28, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9122.
SUMMARY:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160920861–8031–03]
RIN 0648–XE900
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab
Fishery; 2018 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red
Crab Specifications
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The
Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery is
managed by the New England Fishery
Management Council. The Atlantic
Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management
Plan includes a specification process
that requires the New England Fishery
Management Council to recommend, on
a triennial basis, an acceptable
biological catch, an annual catch limit,
and total allowable landings.
Collectively, these are the red crab
specifications. Prior to the start of
fishing year 2017, the Council
recommended status quo specifications
for the 2017–2019 fishing years (Table
1).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
TABLE 1—COUNCIL-APPROVED 2017–2019 RED CRAB SPECIFICATIONS
Metric ton
Million lb
undetermined
undetermined
undetermined
Acceptable Biological Catch ....................................................................................................................................
Annual Catch Limit ..................................................................................................................................................
Total Allowable Landings .........................................................................................................................................
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
Maximum Sustainable Yield ....................................................................................................................................
Overfishing Limit ......................................................................................................................................................
Optimum Yield .........................................................................................................................................................
1,775
1,775
1,775
On February 22, 2017, we approved
status quo specifications for the 2017
fishing year, effective through February
28, 2018, and we projected status quo
quotas for 2018–2019 (82 FR 11322). At
the end of each fishing year, we evaluate
catch information and determine if the
quota has been exceeded. If a quota is
exceeded, the regulations at 50 CFR
648.262(b) require a pound-for-pound
reduction in a subsequent fishing year.
We have reviewed available 2017
fishery information against the projected
2018 specifications. There have been no
annual catch limit or total allowable
landings overages, nor is there any new
biological information that would
require altering the projected 2018
specifications. Because no overages
occurred in 2017, we are announcing
the final specifications for fishing year
2018, as projected in the 2017
specifications rule (82 FR 11322), and
outlined above in Table 1. These
specifications are not expected to result
in overfishing and adequately account
for scientific uncertainty.
The 2018 fishing year starts on March
1, 2018. The fishery management plan
allows for the previous year’s
specifications to remain in place until
replaced by a subsequent specifications
action (rollover provision). As a result,
the 2017 specifications, also 1,775 mt,
remain in effect until replaced by the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:21 Feb 01, 2018
Jkt 244001
2018 specifications included in this
rule.
We will publish notice in the Federal
Register of any revisions to these
specifications if an overage occurs in
2018 that would require adjusting the
2019 projected specifications. We will
provide notice of the final 2019
specifications prior to the March 1,
2019, start of the fishing year.
Classification
The NMFS Assistant Administrator
has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea
Red Crab Fishery Management Plan, the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, and
other applicable law.
This rule is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), we
find good cause to waive prior public
notice and opportunity for public
comment on the catch limit and
allocation adjustments because allowing
time for notice and comment is
unnecessary. The proposed rule
provided the public with the
opportunity to comment on the 2017–
2019 specifications, including the
projected 2018 and 2019 specifications
(81 FR 86687, December 1, 2016). No
comments were received on the
proposed rule, and this final rule
contains no changes from the projected
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3.91
3.91
3.91
2018 specifications that were included
in both the December 1, 2016, proposed
rule and the February 22, 2017, final
rule. The public and industry
participants expect this action, because
previously, in both the proposed rule
and the final rule, we alerted the public
that we would conduct a review of the
latest available catch information in
each of the interim years of the multiyear specifications, and announce the
final quota prior to the March 1 start of
the fishing year. Thus, the proposed and
final rules that contained the projected
2017–2019 specifications provided a
full opportunity for the public to
comment on the substance and process
of this action.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation,
Department of Commerce, previously
certified to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (SBA) that the 2017–
2019 red crab specifications would not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
Implementing status quo specifications
for 2018 will not change the conclusions
drawn in that previous certification to
the SBA. Because advance notice and
the opportunity for public comment are
not required for this action under the
Administrative Procedure Act, or any
other law, the analytical requirements of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
E:\FR\FM\02FER1.SGM
02FER1
4850
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
601, et seq., do not apply to this rule.
Therefore, no new regulatory flexibility
analysis is required and none has been
prepared.
This action does not contain a
collection of information requirement
for the purposes of the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 30, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–02148 Filed 2–1–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 160808696–7010–02]
RIN 0648–BH47
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery;
2017–18 Biennial Specifications and
Management Measures; Inseason
Adjustments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; inseason adjustments
to biennial groundfish management
measures.
AGENCY:
This final rule announces
inseason changes to management
measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish
fisheries. This action, which is
authorized by the Pacific Coast
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
(PCGFMP), is intended to allow
fisheries to access more abundant
groundfish stocks while protecting
overfished and depleted stocks.
DATES: This final rule is effective
February 2, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Palmigiano, phone: 206–526–
4491, fax: 206–526–6736, or email:
karen.palmigiano@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
Electronic Access
This rule is accessible via the internet
at the Office of the Federal Register
website at https://
www.federalregister.gov. Background
information and documents are
available at the Pacific Fishery
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:21 Feb 01, 2018
Jkt 244001
Management Council’s website at https://
www.pcouncil.org/.
Background
The PCGFMP and its implementing
regulations at title 50 in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), part 660,
subparts C through G, regulate fishing
for over 90 species of groundfish off the
coasts of Washington, Oregon, and
California. Groundfish specifications
and management measures are
developed by the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), and are
implemented by NMFS.
The final rule to implement the 2017–
18 harvest specifications and
management measures for most species
of the Pacific coast groundfish fishery
was published on February 7, 2017 (82
FR 9634).
The Council, in coordination with
Pacific Coast Treaty Indian Tribes and
the States of Washington, Oregon, and
California, recommended the following
changes to current groundfish
management measures at its November
13–20, 2017, meeting: (1) Increasing the
big skate trip limits for the shorebased
individual fishing quota (IFQ) program,
(2) decreasing the sablefish trip limits
for limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) and
open access (OA) daily trip limit (DTL)
fisheries north of 36° North Latitude (N
lat.), and (3) increasing the lingcod trip
limits for the LEFG and OA fisheries
north of 40°10′ N lat.
Big Skate Trip Limits for the Shorebased
IFQ Program
At the November 2017 Council
meeting, the Council’s Groundfish
Advisory Subpanel (GAP)
recommended higher trip limits for big
skate for the shorebased IFQ program in
2018. For 2017–18, the annual catch
limit (ACL) was set at 494 metric tons
(mt), the fishery harvest guideline (HG)
was 437 mt, and the trawl allocation
was 414.8 mt, which includes big skate
caught by the at-sea fleet. Bi-monthly
trip limits for 2017–18 were set at 5,000
pounds (lbs) (January–February), 25,000
lbs (March–April), 30,000 lbs (May–
June), 35,000 lbs (July–August), 10,000
lbs (September–October), and 5,000 lbs
(November–December).
In November 2017, based on the
partial catch data for 2017, the
Groundfish Management Team (GMT)
estimated that attainment of big skate in
the IFQ fishery would be 88 percent for
2018, approximately 365 mt. Given that
the projected attainment of big skate
was approaching full attainment with
status quo trip limits, the GMT modeled
modest increases in trip limits for 2018
using the 2016 Groundfish Mortality
Report data and 2017 catch data. The
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GMT’s use of the additional 2017 catch
data changed the projected 2018 annual
targets relative to the original annual
targets that were used to set the 2017–
18 big skate trip limits. The two trip
limit alternatives modeled by the GMT
would result in higher estimated
attainments (94 and 98 percent) of big
skate than the estimated 88 percent
attainment under the status quo trip
limits. In order to maximize opportunity
for vessels and increase attainment, the
Council recommended and NMFS is
implementing, by modifying Tables 1
(North and South) to part 660, subpart
D, the following trip limits for big skate
in the IFQ program: Period 1, 5,000 lbs,
Period 2, 30,000 lbs, Period 3, 35,000
lbs, Period 4, 40,000 lbs, Period 5,
15,000 lbs, and Period 6, 5,000 lbs.
These increased trip limits are expected
to increase projected attainment of the
big skate IFQ allocation to 98 percent in
2018.
LEFG and OA Sablefish DTL Fisheries
North of 36° N Lat.
Sablefish are distributed coastwide
with harvest specifications split north
and south of 36° N lat. Trip limits in the
LEFG and OA DTL fisheries, for species
such as sablefish, are intended to keep
attainment of the non-trawl HG within
the ACL. The trip limits for sablefish for
2017–18 were established through the
final rule for the 2017–18 harvest
specifications (82 FR 9634) based on
catch data through 2015.
Inseason catch data from 2017
suggested possible under-attainment of
the sablefish non-trawl HG. During the
September 2017 Council meeting, the
GMT made model-based landings
projections for the LEFG and OA
sablefish DTL fisheries north of 36° N
lat. for the remainder of 2017 to assist
the Council in evaluating potential
increases to sablefish trip limits. These
projections used the most recent
information available, including
inseason catch data from 2017, and
showed under-attainment of the 2017
sablefish non-trawl HG. Based on these
projections, the LEFG and OA sablefish
trip limits were raised through an
inseason action on October 19, 2017 (82
FR 48656). The 2017 trip limits
established through the September
inseason action for LEFG and OA
sablefish remain in place for 2018 until
changed.
At the November 2017 Council
meeting, the GMT updated the
projections for the attainment of the
sablefish HG for 2018 with data through
October 31, 2017. These projections
showed possible attainment of the
sablefish allocation between 95.2 and
125.2 percent for the LEFG fishery, and
E:\FR\FM\02FER1.SGM
02FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4849-4850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02148]
[[Page 4849]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 160920861-8031-03]
RIN 0648-XE900
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-Sea
Red Crab Fishery; 2018 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are implementing specifications for the 2018 Atlantic deep-
sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total
allowable landings limit. This action is necessary to implement
allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and
allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish
the allowable 2018 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-
Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
DATES: The final specifications for the 2018 Atlantic deep-sea red crab
fishery are effective March 5, 2018, through February 28, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy
Analyst, (978) 281-9122.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery is
managed by the New England Fishery Management Council. The Atlantic
Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan includes a specification
process that requires the New England Fishery Management Council to
recommend, on a triennial basis, an acceptable biological catch, an
annual catch limit, and total allowable landings. Collectively, these
are the red crab specifications. Prior to the start of fishing year
2017, the Council recommended status quo specifications for the 2017-
2019 fishing years (Table 1).
Table 1--Council-Approved 2017-2019 Red Crab Specifications
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metric ton Million lb
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sustainable Yield............... undetermined
Overfishing Limit....................... undetermined
Optimum Yield........................... undetermined
-------------------------------
Acceptable Biological Catch............. 1,775 3.91
Annual Catch Limit...................... 1,775 3.91
Total Allowable Landings................ 1,775 3.91
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On February 22, 2017, we approved status quo specifications for the
2017 fishing year, effective through February 28, 2018, and we
projected status quo quotas for 2018-2019 (82 FR 11322). At the end of
each fishing year, we evaluate catch information and determine if the
quota has been exceeded. If a quota is exceeded, the regulations at 50
CFR 648.262(b) require a pound-for-pound reduction in a subsequent
fishing year. We have reviewed available 2017 fishery information
against the projected 2018 specifications. There have been no annual
catch limit or total allowable landings overages, nor is there any new
biological information that would require altering the projected 2018
specifications. Because no overages occurred in 2017, we are announcing
the final specifications for fishing year 2018, as projected in the
2017 specifications rule (82 FR 11322), and outlined above in Table 1.
These specifications are not expected to result in overfishing and
adequately account for scientific uncertainty.
The 2018 fishing year starts on March 1, 2018. The fishery
management plan allows for the previous year's specifications to remain
in place until replaced by a subsequent specifications action (rollover
provision). As a result, the 2017 specifications, also 1,775 mt, remain
in effect until replaced by the 2018 specifications included in this
rule.
We will publish notice in the Federal Register of any revisions to
these specifications if an overage occurs in 2018 that would require
adjusting the 2019 projected specifications. We will provide notice of
the final 2019 specifications prior to the March 1, 2019, start of the
fishing year.
Classification
The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final
rule is consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery
Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, and other applicable law.
This rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), we find good cause to waive prior
public notice and opportunity for public comment on the catch limit and
allocation adjustments because allowing time for notice and comment is
unnecessary. The proposed rule provided the public with the opportunity
to comment on the 2017-2019 specifications, including the projected
2018 and 2019 specifications (81 FR 86687, December 1, 2016). No
comments were received on the proposed rule, and this final rule
contains no changes from the projected 2018 specifications that were
included in both the December 1, 2016, proposed rule and the February
22, 2017, final rule. The public and industry participants expect this
action, because previously, in both the proposed rule and the final
rule, we alerted the public that we would conduct a review of the
latest available catch information in each of the interim years of the
multi-year specifications, and announce the final quota prior to the
March 1 start of the fishing year. Thus, the proposed and final rules
that contained the projected 2017-2019 specifications provided a full
opportunity for the public to comment on the substance and process of
this action.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation, Department of Commerce,
previously certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration (SBA) that the 2017-2019 red crab
specifications would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Implementing status quo
specifications for 2018 will not change the conclusions drawn in that
previous certification to the SBA. Because advance notice and the
opportunity for public comment are not required for this action under
the Administrative Procedure Act, or any other law, the analytical
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
[[Page 4850]]
601, et seq., do not apply to this rule. Therefore, no new regulatory
flexibility analysis is required and none has been prepared.
This action does not contain a collection of information
requirement for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 30, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02148 Filed 2-1-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
