Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2019 Recreational Fishing Seasons for Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, 8825-8826 [2019-04430]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2019 / Rules and Regulations the Federal Government and Indian tribes. Thus, the Agency has determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled ‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled ‘‘Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply to this action. In addition, this action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.). This action does not involve any technical standards that would require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note). VII. Congressional Review Act Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Parts per million Commodity * * * * * 1 There are no U.S. registrations as of March 12, 2019 for use on tea. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2019–04458 Filed 3–11–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 140818679–5356–02] RIN 0648–XG837 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2019 Recreational Fishing Seasons for Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS announces the 2019 recreational fishing seasons for the private angling and Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary Dated: March 4, 2019. rule. The season for the recreational Michael Goodis, sector for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, each year. For Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. recreational harvest by the private angling component, the season closes at Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019. amended as follows: NMFS has issued exempted fishing permits (EFPs) that allow each Gulf state PART 180—[AMENDED] (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180 Alabama, and Florida) to set the private continues to read as follows: recreational season for red snapper that are landed from state and Federal waters Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. in that state during 2018 and 2019. For ■ 2. In § 180.544, add alphabetically the recreational harvest by the Federal forcommodities ‘‘Tea, dried’’ and ‘‘Tea, hire component, the season closes at instant’’ to the table in paragraph (a) to 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 2, read as follows: 2019. These closures are necessary to § 180.544 Methoxyfenozide; tolerances for prevent the private angling and Federal for-hire components from exceeding residues. their respective quotas, equivalent to (a) * * * annual catch limits (ACLs), for the 2019 fishing year and to prevent overfishing Parts per Commodity million of the Gulf red snapper resource. DATES: The closure is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019, until * * * * * Tea, dried 1 ............................... 20 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020, Tea, instant 1 ............................. 20 for the private angling component. The closure is effective at 12:01 a.m., local List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180 Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Mar 11, 2019 Jkt 247001 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 8825 time, August 2, 2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020, for the Federal for-hire component. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: peter.hood@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf reef fish fishery, which includes red snapper, is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico 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. The final rule implementing Amendment 40 to the FMP established two components within the recreational sector fishing for Gulf red snapper: The private angling component, and the Federal for-hire component (80 FR 22422; April 22, 2015). Amendment 40 also allocated the red snapper recreational ACL (recreational quota) between the components and established separate seasonal closures for the two components. The recreational seasonal closures are projected from the component annual catch targets (ACTs). Using ACTS to project the recreational season closures reduces the likelihood of the harvest exceeding the component quotas and the total recreational ACL. The current private angling and for-hire component ACTs are 20 percent below the component quotas. On March 5, 2019, NMFS published a final rule implementing two framework actions that modify the red snapper ACLs (quotas) and ACTs (84 FR 2828). This rule, which will be effective on April 4, 2019, increased the red snapper quotas and decreased the Federal for-hire component’s red snapper ACT for 2019 to 9 percent below the for-hire component quota. Therefore, the applicable regulations will be updated and the 2019 total recreational quota for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ will be 7.399 million lb (3.356 million kg) (50 CFR 622.39(2)(i)). This quota is allocated 57.7 percent to the private angling component and 42.3 percent to the Federal for-hire component. For the private angling component, the 2019 quota will be 4.269 million lb (1.936 million kg), and the 2019 ACT will be 3.415 million lb (1.549 million kg) (50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(C)). For the Federal forhire component, the 2019 quota will be 3.130 million lb (1.420 million kg), and the 2019 ACT will be 2.848 million lb E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM 12MRR1 8826 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (1.292 million kg) (50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(B)). All weights given are in round weight. Private Angling Component For the private angling component, NMFS has issued EFPs that allow each Gulf state (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) to set the season for red snapper that are landed from state and Federal waters in that state during 2018 and 2019. The EFPs allocate a portion of the private angling quota to each state, and each state is required under the terms and conditions of the EFPs to constrain landings to its allocation. The combined allocations equal the private angling component quota. To accommodate the EFPs, the private angling season in federal waters will be closed all year, but private anglers with the appropriate state licenses are exempt from regulations at 50 CFR 622.34(b) (recreational season closure for red snapper) and 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(i) (private angler component in-season closure) if these anglers hold the appropriate state fishing permits and are landing red snapper in a participating state during the state’s open season. Therefore, there will be no Federal season for the private angling component in 2019, and this closure notification will take effect at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019. The Gulf states will establish seasons during which red snapper caught in state and Federal waters can be landed. States will monitor red snapper landings and close their respective fishing seasons if the state’s assigned quota is reached or projected to be reached. Private anglers should consult the regulations for the Gulf state where they wish to land red snapper to determine state season dates and landing requirements. Federal For-Hire Component The 2019 red snapper Federal for-hire fishing season has been determined to be 62 days based on NMFS’ projection of the date landings are expected to reach the component ACT. For details about the calculation of the projection for 2019, see https://www.fisheries.noaa .gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/gulfmexico-recreational-red-snappermanagement. Therefore, the 2019 Federal recreational season for the Federal for-hire component will begin at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019, and close at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 2, 2019. On and after the effective date of the Federal for-hire component closure, the bag and possession limits for red snapper for Federal for-hire vessels are VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Mar 11, 2019 Jkt 247001 zero. When either the Federal for-hire component or entire recreational sector is closed, these bag and possession limits apply in the Gulf onboard a vessel for which a valid Federal for-hire permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Classification Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2019 Bluefish Specifications The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of Gulf red snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(i) and (ii) 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 is based on the best scientific information available. The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this action to close the private angling and Federal for-hire components for the red snapper recreational sector constitute good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the recreational red snapper ACLs and ACTs, and the rule implementing the requirement to close the recreational components when the ACTs are projected to be reached have already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closures. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the public interest because it would require time and many for-hire operations book trips for clients in advance and need as much advance notice as NMFS is able to provide to adjust their business plans to account for the fishing season. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 7, 2019. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–04430 Filed 3–7–19; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 181010932–9124–02] RIN 0648–XG562 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: NMFS issues final specifications for the 2019 Atlantic bluefish fishery. This action establishes allowable harvest levels for the bluefish stock, to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan. This rule is also intended to inform the public of these specifications for the 2019 fishing year. DATES: Effective March 12, 2019, through December 31, 2019. ADDRESSES: Copies of these specifications, including the Supplemental Information Report, and other supporting documents for the action, are available upon request from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 N State Street, Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the internet at https://www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Ferrio, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9180. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The bluefish fishery is jointly managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission under the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The FMP requires the specification of the acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), annual catch targets (ACT), commercial quotas, recreational harvest limit, and other management measures, for up to three years at a time. This action implements final 2019 specifications for the bluefish fishery, which are very similar to 2018. The bluefish stock will undergo an operational assessment in mid-2019 that is designed to incorporate updated E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM 12MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8825-8826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04430]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140818679-5356-02]
RIN 0648-XG837


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2019 Recreational Fishing 
Seasons for Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the 2019 recreational fishing seasons for the 
private angling and Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) 
components for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the 
Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The season for the 
recreational sector for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, 
each year. For recreational harvest by the private angling component, 
the season closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019. NMFS has 
issued exempted fishing permits (EFPs) that allow each Gulf state 
(Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) to set the 
private recreational season for red snapper that are landed from state 
and Federal waters in that state during 2018 and 2019. For recreational 
harvest by the Federal for-hire component, the season closes at 12:01 
a.m., local time, on August 2, 2019. These closures are necessary to 
prevent the private angling and Federal for-hire components from 
exceeding their respective quotas, equivalent to annual catch limits 
(ACLs), for the 2019 fishing year and to prevent overfishing of the 
Gulf red snapper resource.

DATES: The closure is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 
2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020, for the private 
angling component. The closure is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, 
August 2, 2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020, for the 
Federal for-hire component.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: peter.hood@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf reef fish fishery, which includes 
red snapper, is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef 
Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the 
Gulf of Mexico 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.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 40 to the FMP established two 
components within the recreational sector fishing for Gulf red snapper: 
The private angling component, and the Federal for-hire component (80 
FR 22422; April 22, 2015). Amendment 40 also allocated the red snapper 
recreational ACL (recreational quota) between the components and 
established separate seasonal closures for the two components. The 
recreational seasonal closures are projected from the component annual 
catch targets (ACTs). Using ACTS to project the recreational season 
closures reduces the likelihood of the harvest exceeding the component 
quotas and the total recreational ACL. The current private angling and 
for-hire component ACTs are 20 percent below the component quotas.
    On March 5, 2019, NMFS published a final rule implementing two 
framework actions that modify the red snapper ACLs (quotas) and ACTs 
(84 FR 2828). This rule, which will be effective on April 4, 2019, 
increased the red snapper quotas and decreased the Federal for-hire 
component's red snapper ACT for 2019 to 9 percent below the for-hire 
component quota.
    Therefore, the applicable regulations will be updated and the 2019 
total recreational quota for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ will be 7.399 
million lb (3.356 million kg) (50 CFR 622.39(2)(i)). This quota is 
allocated 57.7 percent to the private angling component and 42.3 
percent to the Federal for-hire component. For the private angling 
component, the 2019 quota will be 4.269 million lb (1.936 million kg), 
and the 2019 ACT will be 3.415 million lb (1.549 million kg) (50 CFR 
622.41(q)(2)(iii)(C)). For the Federal for-hire component, the 2019 
quota will be 3.130 million lb (1.420 million kg), and the 2019 ACT 
will be 2.848 million lb

[[Page 8826]]

(1.292 million kg) (50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(B)). All weights given are 
in round weight.

Private Angling Component

    For the private angling component, NMFS has issued EFPs that allow 
each Gulf state (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) 
to set the season for red snapper that are landed from state and 
Federal waters in that state during 2018 and 2019. The EFPs allocate a 
portion of the private angling quota to each state, and each state is 
required under the terms and conditions of the EFPs to constrain 
landings to its allocation. The combined allocations equal the private 
angling component quota.
    To accommodate the EFPs, the private angling season in federal 
waters will be closed all year, but private anglers with the 
appropriate state licenses are exempt from regulations at 50 CFR 
622.34(b) (recreational season closure for red snapper) and 50 CFR 
622.41(q)(2)(i) (private angler component in-season closure) if these 
anglers hold the appropriate state fishing permits and are landing red 
snapper in a participating state during the state's open season. 
Therefore, there will be no Federal season for the private angling 
component in 2019, and this closure notification will take effect at 
12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019.
    The Gulf states will establish seasons during which red snapper 
caught in state and Federal waters can be landed. States will monitor 
red snapper landings and close their respective fishing seasons if the 
state's assigned quota is reached or projected to be reached. Private 
anglers should consult the regulations for the Gulf state where they 
wish to land red snapper to determine state season dates and landing 
requirements.

Federal For-Hire Component

    The 2019 red snapper Federal for-hire fishing season has been 
determined to be 62 days based on NMFS' projection of the date landings 
are expected to reach the component ACT. For details about the 
calculation of the projection for 2019, see https://www.fisheries.noaa 
.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/gulf-mexico-recreational-red-
snapper-management. Therefore, the 2019 Federal recreational season for 
the Federal for-hire component will begin at 12:01 a.m., local time, 
June 1, 2019, and close at 12:01 a.m., local time, August 2, 2019.
    On and after the effective date of the Federal for-hire component 
closure, the bag and possession limits for red snapper for Federal for-
hire vessels are zero. When either the Federal for-hire component or 
entire recreational sector is closed, these bag and possession limits 
apply in the Gulf onboard a vessel for which a valid Federal for-hire 
permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, without regard to where such 
species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has 
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of Gulf red snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.41(q)(2)(i) and (ii) 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 is based on the best scientific information available. 
The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to close the private angling 
and Federal for-hire components for the red snapper recreational sector 
constitute good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice 
and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule pursuant to 
the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because such procedures 
are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures 
are unnecessary because the rule implementing the recreational red 
snapper ACLs and ACTs, and the rule implementing the requirement to 
close the recreational components when the ACTs are projected to be 
reached have already been subject to notice and comment, and all that 
remains is to notify the public of the closures.
    Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment are 
contrary to the public interest because it would require time and many 
for-hire operations book trips for clients in advance and need as much 
advance notice as NMFS is able to provide to adjust their business 
plans to account for the fishing season.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 7, 2019.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04430 Filed 3-7-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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