Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2018 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area, 19461-19462 [2018-09377]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 86 / Thursday, May 3, 2018 / Rules and Regulations FCC’s standard remittance form (Form 159) on the subsequent December 1. Licensees and permittees will certify the amount of gross revenues received from feeable ancillary or supplementary services for the applicable 12–month period and will remit the payment of the required fee. * * * * * (TTY). This document is not subject to the Congressional Review Act. The Commission is, therefore, not required to submit a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to the General Accounting Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), because the Petition for Reconsideration was dismissed. [FR Doc. 2018–09335 Filed 5–2–18; 8:45 am] Federal Communications Commission. Thomas Horan, Chief of Staff, Media Bureau. BILLING CODE 6712–01–P [FR Doc. 2018–09413 Filed 5–2–18; 8:45 am] FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 47 CFR Part 76 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [CS Docket No. 98–120; DA 18–410] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Dismissal of petition for reconsideration. 50 CFR Part 648 This document dismisses the Petition for Reconsideration filed by Paxson Communications Corporation (now known as ION Media Networks, Inc.) (ION). Due to the passage of time, ION has agreed to withdraw its petition. Accordingly, the Media Bureau dismisses the petition without prejudice. DATES: May 3, 2018. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Sokolow, Diana.Sokolow@fcc.gov, of the Policy Division, Media Bureau, (202) 418–2120. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Order of Dismissal, CS Docket No. 98–120, adopted and released on April 23, 2018. The full text of this document is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be available via ECFS at https:// fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. Copies of the materials can be obtained from the FCC’s Reference Information Center at (202) 418–0270. Alternative formats are available for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), by sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2018 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area AGENCY: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:59 May 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 [Docket No. 180110025–8285–02] RIN 0648–XG202 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels. Vessels subject to this closure may not fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area through March 31, 2019. Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of the Limited Access General Category 2018 total allowable catch for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area will be harvested. DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, May 2, 2018, through March 31, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 282–8456. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reader can find regulations governing fishing activity in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area in 50 CFR 648.54 and 648.62. These regulations authorize vessels issued a valid federal scallop permit to fish in the NGOM Scallop Management Area under specific conditions, including a total allowable catch (TAC) of 135,000 lb (61,235 kg) for the Limited Access SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 19461 General Category (LAGC) fleet for the 2018 fishing year, and a State Waters Exemption Program for the State of Maine and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Section 648.62(b)(2) requires the NGOM Scallop Management Area to be closed to scallop vessels issued federal LAGC scallop permits, except as provided below, for the remainder of the fishing year once the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator determines that the LAGC TAC for the fishing year is projected to be harvested. Any vessel that holds a federal NGOM (category LAGC B) or Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) (LAGC A) permit may continue to fish in the Maine or Massachusetts state waters portion of the NGOM Scallop Management Area under the State Waters Exemption Program found in § 648.54 provided it has a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permit and fishes in that states respective waters only. Based on trip declarations by federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels fishing in the NGOM Scallop Management Area and analysis of fishing effort, we project that the 2018 LAGC TAC will be harvested as of May 2, 2018. Therefore, in accordance with § 648.62(b)(2), the NGOM Scallop Management Area is closed to all federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels as of May 2, 2018. As of this date, no vessel issued a federal LAGC scallop permit may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the NGOM Scallop Management Area after 0001 local time, May 2, 2018, unless the vessel is fishing exclusively in state waters and is participating in an approved state waters exemption program as specified in § 648.54. Any federally permitted LAGC scallop vessel that has declared into the NGOM Scallop Management Area, complied with all trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the VMS demarcation line on the way to the area before 0001, May 2, 2018, may complete its trip and land scallops. This closure is in effect until the end of the 2018 scallop fishing year, through March 31, 2019. This closure does not apply to the Limited Access (LA) scallop fleet, which was allocated a separate TAC of 65,000 lb (29, 484 kg) for the 2018 fishing year under Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. Vessels that are participating in the 2018 scallop Research Set-Aside Program and have been issued letters of authorization to conduct compensation fishing activities will harvest the 2018 LA TAC. E:\FR\FM\03MYR1.SGM 03MYR1 19462 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 86 / Thursday, May 3, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 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) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the public interest and impracticable. The NGOM Scallop Management Area opened for the 2018 fishing year on April 1, 2018. The regulations at § 648.60(b)(2) require this closure to ensure that federally permitted scallop vessels do not harvest more than the allocated LAGC TAC for the NGOM Scallop Management Area. NMFS can only make projections for the NGOM closure date as trips into the area occur on a real-time basis and as activity trends appear. As a result, NMFS can typically make an accurate projection only shortly before the TAC is harvested. A rapid harvest rate, that has occurred in the last two weeks, makes it more difficult to project a closure well in advance. To allow federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels to continue to take trips in the NGOM Scallop Management Area during the period necessary to publish and receive comments on a proposed rule would result in vessels harvesting more than the 2018 LAGC TAC for the NGOM Scallop Management Area. This would result in excessive fishing effort in the area thereby undermining conservation objectives of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and requiring more restrictive future management measures to make up for the excessive harvest. Also, the public had prior notice and full opportunity to comment on this closure process when we put the NGOM management provisions in place on April 1, 2018 (83 FR 12857). NMFS also finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30day delayed effectiveness period for the reasons stated above. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 30, 2018. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–09377 Filed 4–30–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 180411362–8362–01] RIN 0648–XG168 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Monkfish Fishery; 2018 Monkfish Specifications National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: We are implementing specifications for the 2018 monkfish fishery, including total allowable landings limits, trip limits, and day-atsea limits. This action is necessary to ensure allowable monkfish harvest levels that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action is intended to establish the SUMMARY: allowable 2018 harvest levels, consistent with the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan and previously announced multi-year specifications. DATES: The final specifications for the 2018 monkfish fishery are effective June 4, 2018, through April 30, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281–9122. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils jointly manage the monkfish fishery. The fishery is divided into Northern and Southern Fishery Management Areas and there are different management measures for each area. Primary effort controls include a yearly allocation of days-atsea (DAS) and landing limits that are designed to enable the fishery to catch, but not exceed, its annual quotas. This action would continue specifications approved by the Councils in Framework Adjustment 10 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan, which included specifications for fishing years 2017– 2019. On July 12, 2017, we approved measures in Framework 10 for the 2017 fishing year (82 FR 32145), based on a recent stock assessment update and consistent with the Councils’ Scientific and Statistical Committee recommendations. At that time, we also approved the projected specifications for 2018 and 2019. Approved measures for 2018 (Table 1) include total allowable landings (TAL) in both the Northern and Southern Fishery Management Areas, DAS limits, and trip limits. These 2018 measures are the same as 2017. All other requirements remain the same. TABLE 1—MONKFISH SPECIFICATIONS FOR FISHING YEAR 2018 Management area TAL DAS maximum Incidental limit on a groundfish DAS Category C: 900lb tail weight per DAS. Category D: 750lb tail weight per DAS. .......................................... 6,338 ........................ Southern Area ............................................................. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES Northern Area .............................................................. 9,011 37 We have reviewed available 2017 fishery information against the 2018 specifications. While we have exceeded the Northern Area total allowable landings, we do not expect that the annual catch limit will be exceeded. Further, there is no new biological information that would require altering VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:59 May 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 the projected 2018 specifications. Neither Council has recommended any changes to the previous multi-year specifications. Based on this, we are implementing the 2018 specifications as outlined in the Framework 10 final rule (82 FR 32145, July 12, 2017). The 2018 specifications will be effective until PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Possession limit when on a monkfish DAS Category A/C: 700 lb tail weight per DAS. Category B/D: 575 lb tail weight per DAS. April 30, 2019. We will finalize the 2019 fishing year specifications prior to May 1, 2019, by publishing another final rule. The 2018 fishing year starts on May 1, 2018. The fishery management plan allows for the previous year’s specifications to remain in place until E:\FR\FM\03MYR1.SGM 03MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19461-19462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09377]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 180110025-8285-02]
RIN 0648-XG202


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery; 2018 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management 
Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine 
Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year for 
Limited Access General Category vessels. Vessels subject to this 
closure may not fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the 
Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area through March 31, 2019. 
Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of 
the Limited Access General Category 2018 total allowable catch for the 
Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area will be harvested.

DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, May 2, 2018, through March 31, 
2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 282-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reader can find regulations governing 
fishing activity in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop 
Management Area in 50 CFR 648.54 and 648.62. These regulations 
authorize vessels issued a valid federal scallop permit to fish in the 
NGOM Scallop Management Area under specific conditions, including a 
total allowable catch (TAC) of 135,000 lb (61,235 kg) for the Limited 
Access General Category (LAGC) fleet for the 2018 fishing year, and a 
State Waters Exemption Program for the State of Maine and Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts. Section 648.62(b)(2) requires the NGOM Scallop 
Management Area to be closed to scallop vessels issued federal LAGC 
scallop permits, except as provided below, for the remainder of the 
fishing year once the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator 
determines that the LAGC TAC for the fishing year is projected to be 
harvested. Any vessel that holds a federal NGOM (category LAGC B) or 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) (LAGC A) permit may continue to fish in 
the Maine or Massachusetts state waters portion of the NGOM Scallop 
Management Area under the State Waters Exemption Program found in Sec.  
648.54 provided it has a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop 
permit and fishes in that states respective waters only.
    Based on trip declarations by federally permitted LAGC scallop 
vessels fishing in the NGOM Scallop Management Area and analysis of 
fishing effort, we project that the 2018 LAGC TAC will be harvested as 
of May 2, 2018. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  648.62(b)(2), the 
NGOM Scallop Management Area is closed to all federally permitted LAGC 
scallop vessels as of May 2, 2018. As of this date, no vessel issued a 
federal LAGC scallop permit may fish for, possess, or land scallops in 
or from the NGOM Scallop Management Area after 0001 local time, May 2, 
2018, unless the vessel is fishing exclusively in state waters and is 
participating in an approved state waters exemption program as 
specified in Sec.  648.54. Any federally permitted LAGC scallop vessel 
that has declared into the NGOM Scallop Management Area, complied with 
all trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the VMS 
demarcation line on the way to the area before 0001, May 2, 2018, may 
complete its trip and land scallops. This closure is in effect until 
the end of the 2018 scallop fishing year, through March 31, 2019. This 
closure does not apply to the Limited Access (LA) scallop fleet, which 
was allocated a separate TAC of 65,000 lb (29, 484 kg) for the 2018 
fishing year under Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery Management Plan. Vessels that are participating in the 2018 
scallop Research Set-Aside Program and have been issued letters of 
authorization to conduct compensation fishing activities will harvest 
the 2018 LA TAC.

[[Page 19462]]

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) to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the 
public interest and impracticable. The NGOM Scallop Management Area 
opened for the 2018 fishing year on April 1, 2018. The regulations at 
Sec.  648.60(b)(2) require this closure to ensure that federally 
permitted scallop vessels do not harvest more than the allocated LAGC 
TAC for the NGOM Scallop Management Area. NMFS can only make 
projections for the NGOM closure date as trips into the area occur on a 
real-time basis and as activity trends appear. As a result, NMFS can 
typically make an accurate projection only shortly before the TAC is 
harvested. A rapid harvest rate, that has occurred in the last two 
weeks, makes it more difficult to project a closure well in advance. To 
allow federally permitted LAGC scallop vessels to continue to take 
trips in the NGOM Scallop Management Area during the period necessary 
to publish and receive comments on a proposed rule would result in 
vessels harvesting more than the 2018 LAGC TAC for the NGOM Scallop 
Management Area. This would result in excessive fishing effort in the 
area thereby undermining conservation objectives of the Atlantic Sea 
Scallop Fishery Management Plan and requiring more restrictive future 
management measures to make up for the excessive harvest. Also, the 
public had prior notice and full opportunity to comment on this closure 
process when we put the NGOM management provisions in place on April 1, 
2018 (83 FR 12857). NMFS also 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: April 30, 2018.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09377 Filed 4-30-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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