Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Fishing Year 2018, 24945-24947 [2018-11606]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
species were harvested in state or
Federal waters.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of South
Atlantic yellowtail snapper and is
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(n)(1)(i) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act because the temporary rule is issued
without opportunity for prior notice and
comment.
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 yellowtail snapper commercial
sector constitutes good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures are
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. Such procedures are contrary to
the public interest because there is a
need to immediately implement this
action to protect the yellowtail snapper
resource, as the capacity of the fishing
fleet allows for rapid harvest of the
commercial ACL. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment would
require time and could result in a
harvest well in excess of the established
commercial ACL.
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.
pmangrum on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES
Dated: May 25, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–11665 Filed 5–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 180220193–8488–02]
RIN 0648–BH79
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Recreational Management
Measures for the Summer Flounder,
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries;
Fishing Year 2018
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces
management measures for the 2018
summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass recreational fisheries. The
implementing regulations for these
fisheries require NMFS to publish
recreational measures for the fishing
year. The intent of these measures is to
constrain recreational catch to
established limits and prevent
overfishing of summer flounder, scup,
and black sea bass.
DATES: This rule is effective May 31,
2018.
SUMMARY:
Copies of the
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
other supporting documents for the
recreational harvest measures are
available from Dr. Christopher M.
Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, Suite 201,
800 N. State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
The recreational harvest measures
document is also accessible via the
internet at: https://www.mafmc.org/s/
2018-sf-bsb-rec-measures-EA.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Gilbert, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Summary of Management Measures
In this rule, NMFS specifies
management measures for the 2018
summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass recreational fisheries consistent
with the recommendations of the MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council
(Council) and the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission (Commission).
NMFS is establishing measures that
would apply in the Federal waters of the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Additionally, these measures apply to
all Federally permitted party/charter
vessels with applicable summer
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24945
flounder, scup, and black sea bass
permits, regardless of where they fish,
unless the state in which they land
implements measures that are more
restrictive. These measures are intended
to achieve, but not exceed, the
previously established 2018 recreational
harvest limits established in a final rule
published on December 22, 2017 (82 FR
60682).
2018 Summer Flounder Recreational
Management Measures
NMFS is implementing conservation
equivalency to manage the 2018
summer flounder recreational fishery, as
proposed on April 11, 2018 (83 FR
15535). These measures are consistent
with the recommendation of the Council
and Commission. Additional
information on the development of
these measures is provided in the
proposed rule and not repeated here.
Conservation equivalency, as
established by Framework Adjustment 2
(July 29, 2001; 66 FR 36208), allows
each state to establish its own
recreational management measures
(possession limits, minimum fish size,
and fishing seasons) to achieve its state
harvest limit established by the
Commission from the coastwide
recreational harvest limit, as long as the
combined effect of all of the states’
management measures achieves the
same level of conservation as Federal
coastwide measures. Framework
Adjustment 6 (July 26, 2006; 71 FR
42315) allowed states to form regions for
conservation equivalency in order to
minimize differences in regulations for
anglers fishing in adjacent waters.
The Commission is maintaining the
provisions of Addendum XXVIII to its
fishery management plan (FMP), which
continues regional conservation
equivalency for fishing year 2018. The
Commission maintained regions that are
consistent with those in place since
2016: (1) Massachusetts; (2) Rhode
Island; (3) Connecticut and New York;
(4) New Jersey; (5) Delaware, Maryland,
and Virginia; and (6) North Carolina.
The Commission’s Summer Flounder
Management Board specified any
adjustments to state measures in 2018
should result in no more than a 17percent liberalization in coastwide
harvest relative to the projected 2017
harvest of 3.23 million lb (1,465 mt), the
harvest estimate available at the
December 2017 meeting. The Board
specified this maximum liberalization
due to concerns about the status of the
summer flounder stock, as well as
concerns that harvest estimates for 2017
appeared to be anomalously low in
terms of effort and landings. The cap on
liberalization is to address concerns that
E:\FR\FM\31MYR1.SGM
31MYR1
24946
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
overages may occur if catch and effort
rates increase in 2018. More information
on Addendum XXVIII is available from
the Commission (www.asmfc.org).
The Commission certified, by a letter
dated April 26, 2018, that the
Addendum XXVIII measures
implemented by individual states and
regions, when combined, are the
conservation equivalent of coastwide
measures that would be expected to
result in the 2018 recreational harvest
limit being achieved, but not exceeded.
Based on the Commission’s
recommendation, we find that the 2018
recreational fishing measures required
to be implemented in state waters are,
collectively, the conservation equivalent
of the season, minimum size, and
possession limit prescribed in 50 CFR
648.104(b), 648.105, and 648.106(a).
According to § 648.107(a)(1), vessels
subject to the recreational fishing
measures are not subject to Federal
measures, and instead are subject to the
recreational fishing measures
implemented by the state in which they
land. Section 648.107(a) is amended
through this rule to recognize stateimplemented measures as conservation
equivalent of the coastwide recreational
management measures for 2018.
In addition, this action implements
default coastwide measures (a 19-inch
(48.3-cm) minimum size, 4-fish
possession limit, and May 15 through
September 15 open fishing season), that
become effective January 1, 2019, when
the 2018 conservation equivalency
program expires. These measures will
remain effective until replaced by the
2019 recreational management measures
in the spring of next year.
pmangrum on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES
Scup Recreational Management
Measures
This rule maintains status quo scup
measures for the 2018 fishery: A 9-inch
(22.9-cm) minimum fish size, 50-fish
per person possession limit, and yearround season.
Black Sea Bass Recreational
Management Measures
NMFS is extending the Federal waters
black sea bass recreational season by
removing a closure that occurs from
September 22 through October 21 and
maintaining the current possession limit
and minimum size. The following
measures are implemented for the 2018
fishing year in Federal waters: A 15-fish
possession limit, a 12.5-inch (31.75-cm)
minimum size, and an open season from
May 15–December 31.
On May 4, 2018, the Commission
submitted a letter stating that the
recreational black sea bass fishing
measures to be implemented by the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 244001
states are projected to restrict the
recreational coastwide landings to the
2018 recreational harvest limit of 3.66
million lb (1,661 mt). The Commission
adjusted management measures
contained in Addendum XXX following
an appeal from the Northern Region
(Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, and New York). The revised
management program is designed to
meet the needs of the Northern Region
without impacting the remaining states,
while still constraining harvest to the
recreational harvest limit.
Based on the Commission’s letter,
NMFS has determined that the measures
that the states have committed to
implement are sufficient to restrain
catch appropriately. As a result, NMFS
is able to implement the measures
outlined in the proposed rule in Federal
waters.
Comments and Responses
On April 11, 2018, NMFS published
the proposed measures for the 2018
summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass recreational fisheries for public
notice and comments. NMFS received
46 comments. Only one of these
comments was directly pertinent to the
proposed Federal recreational measures.
The commenter offered alternative
measures to consider, suggesting a 5-fish
possession limit for summer flounder, a
40-fish possession limit for scup with a
9-inch minimum size, and an
unspecified possession limit higher than
the current 15-fish possession limit for
black sea bass. This commenter did not
provide a rationale for why these
measures would be appropriate or why
the measures developed by the Council
must be disapproved by NMFS. The
remaining comments spoke directly to
the Northern Region’s black sea bass
appeal, which was resolved by the
Commission to meet the needs of the
Northern Region without impacting the
remaining states, addressed statespecific measures outside the scope of
this action, offered general concerns
over Marine Recreational Information
Program estimates, or relayed general
complaints over the management of
black sea bass. No changes to the final
rule are made based on these comments.
Classification
The Administrator, Greater Atlantic
Region, NMFS, determined that these
management measures are necessary for
the conservation and management of the
summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass fisheries and that they are
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and other applicable laws.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause
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Fmt 4700
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under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the
30-day delay of effectiveness period for
this rule, to ensure that the final
management measures are in place as
soon as possible.
This rule is being issued at the earliest
possible date. Preparation of the
proposed rule was dependent on the
submission of the EA in support of these
recreational management measures that
is developed by the Council. A complete
document was received by NMFS in
April 2018. Documentation in support
of the Council’s recommended
management measures is required for
NMFS to provide the public with
information from the environmental and
economic analyses, as required in
rulemaking, and to evaluate the
consistency of the Council’s
recommendation with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable law.
The proposed rule published on April
11, 2018, with a 15-day comment period
ending April 26, 2018.
The more restrictive Federal
coastwide regulatory measures for
summer flounder that were codified last
year remain in effect until the 2018
recreational measures are made
effective. Although the states’ summer
flounder fisheries are already open,
additional delay in implementing the
measures of this rule will increase
confusion on what measures are in
place in Federal waters. This would
create inconsistencies between state and
federal measures and increase the
likelihood of illegal landings due to
misunderstood regulations.
Unlike actions that require an
adjustment period to comply with new
rules, charter/party operators will not
have to purchase new equipment or
otherwise expend time or money to
comply with these management
measures. Rather, complying with this
final rule simply means adhering to the
published management measures for
each relevant species of fish while the
charter/party operators are engaged in
fishing activities.
For these reasons, the Assistant
Administrator finds good cause to waive
the 30-day delay and to make this rule
effective upon publication in the
Federal Register.
This final rule has been determined to
be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of
the Department of Commerce certified
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration during
the proposed rule stage that this action
would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The factual basis for the
certification was published in the
E:\FR\FM\31MYR1.SGM
31MYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
proposed rule and is not repeated here.
Two comments were received that
mentioned perceived economic impacts
of state waters measures, which is
outside the scope of this action and
results from decisions made by the
Commission. A final regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required and
none has been prepared.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: May 24, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended
as follows:
PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
■
2. Revise § 648.105 to read as follows:
§ 648.105 Summer flounder recreational
fishing season.
Unless otherwise specified pursuant
to § 648.107, vessels that are not eligible
for a moratorium permit under
§ 648.4(a)(3), and fishermen subject to
the possession limit, may fish for
summer flounder from May 15 through
September 15. This time period may be
adjusted pursuant to the procedures in
§ 648.102.
■ 3. In § 648.107, revise paragraph (a)
introductory text to read as follows:
§ 648.107 Conservation equivalent
measures for the summer flounder fishery.
pmangrum on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES
(a) The Regional Administrator has
determined that the recreational fishing
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24947
measures proposed to be implemented
by the states of Maine through North
Carolina for 2018 are the conservation
equivalent of the season, minimum size,
and possession limit prescribed in
§§ 648.104(b), 648.105, and 648.106.
This determination is based on a
recommendation from the Summer
Flounder Board of the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Revise § 648.146 to read as follows:
§ 648.146 Black sea bass recreational
fishing season.
Vessels that are not eligible for a
moratorium permit under § 648.4(a)(7),
and fishermen subject to the possession
limit specified in § 648.145(a), may only
possess black sea bass from May 15
through December 31, unless this time
period is adjusted pursuant to the
procedures in § 648.142.
[FR Doc. 2018–11606 Filed 5–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24945-24947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11606]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 180220193-8488-02]
RIN 0648-BH79
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational
Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Fisheries; Fishing Year 2018
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces management measures for the 2018 summer
flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. The
implementing regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to publish
recreational measures for the fishing year. The intent of these
measures is to constrain recreational catch to established limits and
prevent overfishing of summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass.
DATES: This rule is effective May 31, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and other
supporting documents for the recreational harvest measures are
available from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 N. State Street,
Dover, DE 19901. The recreational harvest measures document is also
accessible via the internet at: https://www.mafmc.org/s/2018-sf-bsb-rec-measures-EA.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Gilbert, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary of Management Measures
In this rule, NMFS specifies management measures for the 2018
summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries
consistent with the recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission (Commission). NMFS is establishing measures that would apply
in the Federal waters of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Additionally, these measures apply to all Federally permitted party/
charter vessels with applicable summer flounder, scup, and black sea
bass permits, regardless of where they fish, unless the state in which
they land implements measures that are more restrictive. These measures
are intended to achieve, but not exceed, the previously established
2018 recreational harvest limits established in a final rule published
on December 22, 2017 (82 FR 60682).
2018 Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures
NMFS is implementing conservation equivalency to manage the 2018
summer flounder recreational fishery, as proposed on April 11, 2018 (83
FR 15535). These measures are consistent with the recommendation of the
Council and Commission. Additional information on the development of
these measures is provided in the proposed rule and not repeated here.
Conservation equivalency, as established by Framework Adjustment 2
(July 29, 2001; 66 FR 36208), allows each state to establish its own
recreational management measures (possession limits, minimum fish size,
and fishing seasons) to achieve its state harvest limit established by
the Commission from the coastwide recreational harvest limit, as long
as the combined effect of all of the states' management measures
achieves the same level of conservation as Federal coastwide measures.
Framework Adjustment 6 (July 26, 2006; 71 FR 42315) allowed states to
form regions for conservation equivalency in order to minimize
differences in regulations for anglers fishing in adjacent waters.
The Commission is maintaining the provisions of Addendum XXVIII to
its fishery management plan (FMP), which continues regional
conservation equivalency for fishing year 2018. The Commission
maintained regions that are consistent with those in place since 2016:
(1) Massachusetts; (2) Rhode Island; (3) Connecticut and New York; (4)
New Jersey; (5) Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; and (6) North
Carolina. The Commission's Summer Flounder Management Board specified
any adjustments to state measures in 2018 should result in no more than
a 17-percent liberalization in coastwide harvest relative to the
projected 2017 harvest of 3.23 million lb (1,465 mt), the harvest
estimate available at the December 2017 meeting. The Board specified
this maximum liberalization due to concerns about the status of the
summer flounder stock, as well as concerns that harvest estimates for
2017 appeared to be anomalously low in terms of effort and landings.
The cap on liberalization is to address concerns that
[[Page 24946]]
overages may occur if catch and effort rates increase in 2018. More
information on Addendum XXVIII is available from the Commission
(www.asmfc.org).
The Commission certified, by a letter dated April 26, 2018, that
the Addendum XXVIII measures implemented by individual states and
regions, when combined, are the conservation equivalent of coastwide
measures that would be expected to result in the 2018 recreational
harvest limit being achieved, but not exceeded.
Based on the Commission's recommendation, we find that the 2018
recreational fishing measures required to be implemented in state
waters are, collectively, the conservation equivalent of the season,
minimum size, and possession limit prescribed in 50 CFR 648.104(b),
648.105, and 648.106(a). According to Sec. 648.107(a)(1), vessels
subject to the recreational fishing measures are not subject to Federal
measures, and instead are subject to the recreational fishing measures
implemented by the state in which they land. Section 648.107(a) is
amended through this rule to recognize state-implemented measures as
conservation equivalent of the coastwide recreational management
measures for 2018.
In addition, this action implements default coastwide measures (a
19-inch (48.3-cm) minimum size, 4-fish possession limit, and May 15
through September 15 open fishing season), that become effective
January 1, 2019, when the 2018 conservation equivalency program
expires. These measures will remain effective until replaced by the
2019 recreational management measures in the spring of next year.
Scup Recreational Management Measures
This rule maintains status quo scup measures for the 2018 fishery:
A 9-inch (22.9-cm) minimum fish size, 50-fish per person possession
limit, and year-round season.
Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures
NMFS is extending the Federal waters black sea bass recreational
season by removing a closure that occurs from September 22 through
October 21 and maintaining the current possession limit and minimum
size. The following measures are implemented for the 2018 fishing year
in Federal waters: A 15-fish possession limit, a 12.5-inch (31.75-cm)
minimum size, and an open season from May 15-December 31.
On May 4, 2018, the Commission submitted a letter stating that the
recreational black sea bass fishing measures to be implemented by the
states are projected to restrict the recreational coastwide landings to
the 2018 recreational harvest limit of 3.66 million lb (1,661 mt). The
Commission adjusted management measures contained in Addendum XXX
following an appeal from the Northern Region (Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York). The revised management
program is designed to meet the needs of the Northern Region without
impacting the remaining states, while still constraining harvest to the
recreational harvest limit.
Based on the Commission's letter, NMFS has determined that the
measures that the states have committed to implement are sufficient to
restrain catch appropriately. As a result, NMFS is able to implement
the measures outlined in the proposed rule in Federal waters.
Comments and Responses
On April 11, 2018, NMFS published the proposed measures for the
2018 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries
for public notice and comments. NMFS received 46 comments. Only one of
these comments was directly pertinent to the proposed Federal
recreational measures. The commenter offered alternative measures to
consider, suggesting a 5-fish possession limit for summer flounder, a
40-fish possession limit for scup with a 9-inch minimum size, and an
unspecified possession limit higher than the current 15-fish possession
limit for black sea bass. This commenter did not provide a rationale
for why these measures would be appropriate or why the measures
developed by the Council must be disapproved by NMFS. The remaining
comments spoke directly to the Northern Region's black sea bass appeal,
which was resolved by the Commission to meet the needs of the Northern
Region without impacting the remaining states, addressed state-specific
measures outside the scope of this action, offered general concerns
over Marine Recreational Information Program estimates, or relayed
general complaints over the management of black sea bass. No changes to
the final rule are made based on these comments.
Classification
The Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, determined that
these management measures are necessary for the conservation and
management of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries
and that they are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay of effectiveness
period for this rule, to ensure that the final management measures are
in place as soon as possible.
This rule is being issued at the earliest possible date.
Preparation of the proposed rule was dependent on the submission of the
EA in support of these recreational management measures that is
developed by the Council. A complete document was received by NMFS in
April 2018. Documentation in support of the Council's recommended
management measures is required for NMFS to provide the public with
information from the environmental and economic analyses, as required
in rulemaking, and to evaluate the consistency of the Council's
recommendation with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.
The proposed rule published on April 11, 2018, with a 15-day comment
period ending April 26, 2018.
The more restrictive Federal coastwide regulatory measures for
summer flounder that were codified last year remain in effect until the
2018 recreational measures are made effective. Although the states'
summer flounder fisheries are already open, additional delay in
implementing the measures of this rule will increase confusion on what
measures are in place in Federal waters. This would create
inconsistencies between state and federal measures and increase the
likelihood of illegal landings due to misunderstood regulations.
Unlike actions that require an adjustment period to comply with new
rules, charter/party operators will not have to purchase new equipment
or otherwise expend time or money to comply with these management
measures. Rather, complying with this final rule simply means adhering
to the published management measures for each relevant species of fish
while the charter/party operators are engaged in fishing activities.
For these reasons, the Assistant Administrator finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay and to make this rule effective upon publication
in the Federal Register.
This final rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the
[[Page 24947]]
proposed rule and is not repeated here. Two comments were received that
mentioned perceived economic impacts of state waters measures, which is
outside the scope of this action and results from decisions made by the
Commission. A final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and
none has been prepared.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: May 24, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended
as follows:
PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. Revise Sec. 648.105 to read as follows:
Sec. 648.105 Summer flounder recreational fishing season.
Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Sec. 648.107, vessels that
are not eligible for a moratorium permit under Sec. 648.4(a)(3), and
fishermen subject to the possession limit, may fish for summer flounder
from May 15 through September 15. This time period may be adjusted
pursuant to the procedures in Sec. 648.102.
0
3. In Sec. 648.107, revise paragraph (a) introductory text to read as
follows:
Sec. 648.107 Conservation equivalent measures for the summer flounder
fishery.
(a) The Regional Administrator has determined that the recreational
fishing measures proposed to be implemented by the states of Maine
through North Carolina for 2018 are the conservation equivalent of the
season, minimum size, and possession limit prescribed in Sec. Sec.
648.104(b), 648.105, and 648.106. This determination is based on a
recommendation from the Summer Flounder Board of the Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission.
* * * * *
0
4. Revise Sec. 648.146 to read as follows:
Sec. 648.146 Black sea bass recreational fishing season.
Vessels that are not eligible for a moratorium permit under Sec.
648.4(a)(7), and fishermen subject to the possession limit specified in
Sec. 648.145(a), may only possess black sea bass from May 15 through
December 31, unless this time period is adjusted pursuant to the
procedures in Sec. 648.142.
[FR Doc. 2018-11606 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
