Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component, 40156-40157 [2018-17388]

Download as PDF 40156 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Rules and Regulations Office of the Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4713, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–1816; email: MVasquez@ntia.doc.gov. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE On August 3, 2018, NTIA and NHTSA published a joint final rule implementing revisions to the 911 Grant Program (47 CFR part 400) as a result of the enactment of the Next Generation 911 (NG911) Advancement Act of 2012. Final Rule, 83 FR 38051. The final rule was effective upon publication in the Federal Register. The regulatory text contained numbering errors in §§ 400.4 and 400.6. This correcting amendment corrects those errors. RIN 0648–XG409 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 120404257–3325–02] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 400 Grant programs, Telecommunications, Emergency response capabilities (911). Accordingly, 47 CFR part 400 is corrected by making the following correcting amendments: PART 400—911 GRANT PROGRAM 1. The authority citation for part 400 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 47 U.S.C. 942. § 400.4 [Amended] 2. In § 400.4, redesignate paragraphs (b)(4) and the paragraph following it (which is incorrectly designated as (b)) as paragraphs (b)(4)(i) and (ii). ■ § 400.6 [Amended] 3. In § 400.6(a), redesignate the second paragraph (a)(2) as paragraph (a)(3). ■ Dated: August 9, 2018. Kathy D. Smith, Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. John Donaldson, Assistant Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [FR Doc. 2018–17423 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–60–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Aug 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS implements accountability measures for the commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial hook-and-line landings for golden tilefish will reach the hook-and-line component’s commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on August 14, 2018. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on August 14, 2018, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on January 1, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource. DATES: This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: mary.vara@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic includes golden tilefish and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. Amendment 18B to the FMP established a longline endorsement program for the commercial golden tilefish component of the snappergrouper fishery and divided the commercial golden tilefish annual catch limit (ACL) between the commercial longline and commercial hook-and-line SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 gear components (78 FR 23858; April 23, 2013). On January 2, 2018, NMFS published a final temporary rule to implement interim measures to reduce overfishing of golden tilefish in Federal waters of the South Atlantic (83 FR 65), effective through July 1, 2018. On June 19, 2018, NMFS published an extension of the interim measures for an additional 186 days, through January 3, 2019 (83 FR 28387). As a result of the interim measures, the total ACL for golden tilefish is 323,000 lb (146,510 kg), gutted weight, and the commercial ACL is 313,310 lb (142,115 kg), gutted weight. The current golden tilefish commercial quota (ACL) for the 2018 fishing year for the hook-and-line component is 78,328 lb (35,529 kg), gutted weight, with the remainder of the commercial quota assigned to the longline group. Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish when the hook-and-line component’s commercial quota (ACL) has been reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for the golden tilefish hook-and-line component in the South Atlantic will be reached on August 14, 2018. Accordingly, the hook-and-line component of South Atlantic golden tilefish is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018. The commercial longline component for South Atlantic golden tilefish closed on March 25, 2018, and will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019 (83 FR 12280; March 21, 2018). Therefore, because the commercial longline component is already closed, and NMFS is closing the commercial hook-and-line component through this temporary rule, all commercial fishing for South Atlantic golden tilefish will be closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019. The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having golden tilefish on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such golden tilefish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018. During the closure, the sale or purchase of golden tilefish taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of golden tilefish that were harvested by hook-and-line, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018, and were E:\FR\FM\14AUR1.SGM 14AUR1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Rules and Regulations held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on board a vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the sale and purchase provisions of the commercial closure for golden tilefish would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii). amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES Classification Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 16:14 Aug 13, 2018 [FR Doc. 2018–17388 Filed 8–9–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of South Atlantic golden tilefish and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1) 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 Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this action to close the commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish 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 itself 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 the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL for the hook-and-line component, and there is a need to immediately implement this action to protect golden tilefish. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and could potentially 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). VerDate Sep<11>2014 Dated: August 8, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Jkt 244001 [Docket No. 140902739–5224–02] RIN 0648–XG349 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2018 Illex Squid Quota Harvested National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit. AGENCY: Beginning August 15, 2018, through December 31, 2018, Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders are prohibited from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring or landing more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) on Illex squid per trip per calendar day. This prohibition is effective when NMFS projects that 95 percent of the 2018 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 1200 hr local time, August 15, 2018, through December 31, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9352. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the Illex squid fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2) require that when the Regional Administrator projects that Illex squid catch will reach 95 percent of the domestic annual harvest (DAH) quota, NMFS must prohibit Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders from directed fishing. Vessels may not catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) per calendar day. 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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 40157 public that it made this determination. 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 2018 season through December 31, 2018, by August 15, 2018. Therefore, effective 1200 hr local time, August 15, 2018, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid more than once per calendar day. Vessels that have entered port before 1200 hr on August 15, 2018, 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, December 31, 2018, unless it is from a trip landed by a vessel that entered port before 1200 hr on August 15, 2018. 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) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment and the delayed effectiveness because it would be contrary to the public interest and impracticable. Data and other information indicating the Illex squid fleet will have landed at least 95 percent of the 2018 DAH quota have only recently become available. Landings data are 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 2018 DAH quota. If implementation of this action is delayed, the quota for the 2018 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. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. E:\FR\FM\14AUR1.SGM 14AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40156-40157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17388]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 120404257-3325-02]
RIN 0648-XG409


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic 
Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures for the commercial 
hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial hook-and-
line landings for golden tilefish will reach the hook-and-line 
component's commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on August 14, 2018. 
Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line component for 
golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on August 14, 2018, and it 
will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on January 
1, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish 
resource.

DATES: This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 
2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes golden tilefish and is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    Amendment 18B to the FMP established a longline endorsement program 
for the commercial golden tilefish component of the snapper-grouper 
fishery and divided the commercial golden tilefish annual catch limit 
(ACL) between the commercial longline and commercial hook-and-line gear 
components (78 FR 23858; April 23, 2013). On January 2, 2018, NMFS 
published a final temporary rule to implement interim measures to 
reduce overfishing of golden tilefish in Federal waters of the South 
Atlantic (83 FR 65), effective through July 1, 2018. On June 19, 2018, 
NMFS published an extension of the interim measures for an additional 
186 days, through January 3, 2019 (83 FR 28387). As a result of the 
interim measures, the total ACL for golden tilefish is 323,000 lb 
(146,510 kg), gutted weight, and the commercial ACL is 313,310 lb 
(142,115 kg), gutted weight. The current golden tilefish commercial 
quota (ACL) for the 2018 fishing year for the hook-and-line component 
is 78,328 lb (35,529 kg), gutted weight, with the remainder of the 
commercial quota assigned to the longline group.
    Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the 
commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish when the hook-
and-line component's commercial quota (ACL) has been reached, or is 
projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with 
the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the 
commercial quota for the golden tilefish hook-and-line component in the 
South Atlantic will be reached on August 14, 2018. Accordingly, the 
hook-and-line component of South Atlantic golden tilefish is closed 
effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018.
    The commercial longline component for South Atlantic golden 
tilefish closed on March 25, 2018, and will remain closed for the 
remainder of the fishing year, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 
2019 (83 FR 12280; March 21, 2018). Therefore, because the commercial 
longline component is already closed, and NMFS is closing the 
commercial hook-and-line component through this temporary rule, all 
commercial fishing for South Atlantic golden tilefish will be closed 
effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018, until 12:01 a.m., 
local time, January 1, 2019.
    The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial vessel 
permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having golden tilefish on 
board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such golden 
tilefish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, August 14, 2018. During the 
closure, the sale or purchase of golden tilefish taken from the EEZ is 
prohibited. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the 
sale or purchase of golden tilefish that were harvested by hook-and-
line, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, August 
14, 2018, and were

[[Page 40157]]

held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on board a 
vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit 
for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the 
sale and purchase provisions of the commercial closure for golden 
tilefish would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in 
state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
South Atlantic golden tilefish and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1) 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 Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to close the commercial hook-
and-line component for golden tilefish 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 itself 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 the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid 
harvest of the commercial ACL for the hook-and-line component, and 
there is a need to immediately implement this action to protect golden 
tilefish. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require 
time and could potentially 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.

    Dated: August 8, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-17388 Filed 8-9-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.