Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2018 Illex Squid Quota Harvested, 40157-40158 [2018-17409]
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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.
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14AUR1
40158
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: August 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–17409 Filed 8–10–18; 8:45 am]
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Aug 13, 2018
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
E:\FR\FM\14AUR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40157-40158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17409]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[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
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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 Sec. 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 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 Sec. 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.
[[Page 40158]]
Dated: August 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-17409 Filed 8-10-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
