Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2019 Bluefish Specifications, 8826-8828 [2019-04506]
Download as PDF
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
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Marine Recreational Information
Program information. It is expected that
the 2020 specifications will be
developed using this assessment.
The proposed rule for this action
published in the Federal Register on
December 26, 2018 (83 FR 66234), and
public comments were accepted through
January 10, 2019. Additional
background information regarding the
development of these specifications was
provided in the proposed rule and is not
repeated here.
Final Specifications
This action implements the 2019
Atlantic bluefish specifications (Table
1), as outlined in the proposed rule.
Because the most recent data update
indicated that the bluefish stock is not
overfished and overfishing is not
occurring, the 2019 specifications are
very similar to 2018, with only minor
8827
adjustments to the final commercial
quota and recreational harvest limit to
account for the most recent full year of
recreational catch data (2017), and an
adjusted sector transfer. All other
management measures, including the
recreational possession limit of 15 fish
per person, remain unchanged. For
more information on the Council’s
recommendations and decisionmaking
process, please see the proposed rule
(83 FR 66234).
TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF FINAL 2019 BLUEFISH SPECIFICATIONS
Final 2019 specifications
pounds
Overfishing Limit ......................................................................................................................................................
ABC = ACL ..............................................................................................................................................................
Commercial ACT .....................................................................................................................................................
Recreational ACT ....................................................................................................................................................
Commercial TAL ......................................................................................................................................................
Recreational TAL .....................................................................................................................................................
Sector Transfer ........................................................................................................................................................
Commercial Quota ...................................................................................................................................................
Recreational Harvest Limit ......................................................................................................................................
Table 2 provides the commercial
fishery state allocations for 2019 based
on the final 2019 coast-wide commercial
quota and the allocated percentages
defined in the FMP. No states exceeded
their state allocated quota in 2018;
27,972,252
21,814,741
3,708,175
18,106,565
3,708,175
15,615,342
3,999,185
7,709,565
11,620,566
metric tons
12,688
9,895
1,682
8,213
1,682
7,083
1,814
3,497
5,271
therefore, no accountability measures
need to be implemented for the 2019
fishing year.
TABLE 2—2019 BLUEFISH STATE COMMERCIAL QUOTA ALLOCATIONS
Percent
share
State
Quota
allocation
(lb)
Quota
allocation
(mt)
Maine ...........................................................................................................................................
New Hampshire ...........................................................................................................................
Massachusetts .............................................................................................................................
Rhode Island ................................................................................................................................
Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................
New York .....................................................................................................................................
New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................
Delaware ......................................................................................................................................
Maryland ......................................................................................................................................
Virginia .........................................................................................................................................
North Carolina ..............................................................................................................................
South Carolina .............................................................................................................................
Georgia ........................................................................................................................................
Florida ..........................................................................................................................................
0.67
0.41
6.72
6.81
1.27
10.39
14.82
1.88
3.00
11.88
32.06
0.04
0.01
10.06
51,538
31,956
517,828
524,874
97,626
800,645
1,142,264
144,801
231,426
915,857
2,471,746
2,714
732
775,558
23.38
14.49
234.88
238.08
44.28
363.17
518.12
65.68
104.97
415.43
1121.17
1.23
0.33
351.79
Total ......................................................................................................................................
100.00
7,709,565
3,497.00
Comments
The public comment period for the
proposed rule ended on January 10,
2019. One comment received from the
public claimed rampant overfishing in
the bluefish fishery is occurring due to
widespread corruption and commercial
profiteering. However, this commenter
presented no rationale or evidence
supporting these claims, and the most
recent assessment updates indicate that
the bluefish stock is not overfished and
overfishing is not occurring. No changes
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:10 Mar 11, 2019
Jkt 247001
to the proposed specifications were
made as a result of this comment.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes from the
proposed rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS
Assistant Administrator has determined
that this final rule is consistent with the
Bluefish FMP, other provisions of the
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other
applicable law.
This final rule is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866 because
this action contains no implementing
regulations.
This final rule does not duplicate,
conflict, or overlap with any existing
Federal rules.
This action does not contain a
collection of information requirement
for purposes of the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM
12MRR1
8828
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 12, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
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
proposed rule and is not repeated here.
No comments were received regarding
this certification, and the initial
certification remains unchanged. As a
result, a final regulatory flexibility
analysis is not required and none has
been prepared.
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
specifications are in place as close as
practicable to the start of the 2019
Atlantic bluefish fishing year, which
began on January 1, 2019. This action
establishes the final specifications (i.e.,
annual catch limits) for the bluefish
fishery for the 2019 fishing year. A
delay in effectiveness well beyond the
start of the 2019 fishing year would be
contrary to the public interest, as it
could create confusion in the
commercial bluefish industry.
This rule is being issued at the earliest
possible date. The proposed rule was
prepared and published in December
2018, and the public comment period
ended on January 10, 2019. The partial
Federal government shutdown
prevented any work on this action from
December 22, 2018, through January 25,
2019. We had expected to prepare and
publish this final rule in January but
were unable to do so because of the
shutdown. A 30-day delay in
effectiveness would only prolong the
amount of time the bluefish fishery is
forced to function in the 2019 fishing
year without established specifications,
which is contrary to the public interest.
Furthermore, regulated parties do not
require any additional time to come into
compliance with this rule, and thus, a
30-day delay does not provide any
benefit. Unlike actions that require an
adjustment period to comply with new
rules, bluefish fishery participants will
not have to purchase new equipment or
otherwise expend time or money to
comply with these status quo
management measures. Rather,
complying with this final rule simply
means adhering to the catch limits and
management measures set for bluefish
fishing year 2019. Therefore, there
would be no benefit to delaying the
implementation of these specifications.
For these reasons, a 30-day delay in
effectiveness would be contrary to the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:10 Mar 11, 2019
Jkt 247001
public interest, and is therefore waived.
As a result, there is good cause to
implement these specifications on
March 12, 2019.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 7, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–04506 Filed 3–11–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
RIN 0648–XG884
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the B season allowance of the 2019 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 630 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2019, through
1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The A season allowance of the 2019
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 3,522
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018) and
inseason adjustment (84 FR 33, January
4, 2019).
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2019 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA is necessary to
account for the incidental catch in other
anticipated fisheries. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 3,000 mt
and is setting aside the remaining 522
mt as bycatch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the
Regional Administrator finds that this
directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock
in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for
pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the
GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of March 6, 2019.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
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. 2019–04464 Filed 3–7–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\12MRR1.SGM
12MRR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8826-8828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04506]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 181010932-9124-02]
RIN 0648-XG562
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish
Fishery; 2019 Bluefish Specifications
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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:
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
[[Page 8827]]
Marine Recreational Information Program information. It is expected
that the 2020 specifications will be developed using this assessment.
The proposed rule for this action published in the Federal Register
on December 26, 2018 (83 FR 66234), and public comments were accepted
through January 10, 2019. Additional background information regarding
the development of these specifications was provided in the proposed
rule and is not repeated here.
Final Specifications
This action implements the 2019 Atlantic bluefish specifications
(Table 1), as outlined in the proposed rule. Because the most recent
data update indicated that the bluefish stock is not overfished and
overfishing is not occurring, the 2019 specifications are very similar
to 2018, with only minor adjustments to the final commercial quota and
recreational harvest limit to account for the most recent full year of
recreational catch data (2017), and an adjusted sector transfer. All
other management measures, including the recreational possession limit
of 15 fish per person, remain unchanged. For more information on the
Council's recommendations and decisionmaking process, please see the
proposed rule (83 FR 66234).
Table 1--Summary of Final 2019 Bluefish Specifications
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 2019 specifications
-------------------------------
pounds metric tons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overfishing Limit....................... 27,972,252 12,688
ABC = ACL............................... 21,814,741 9,895
Commercial ACT.......................... 3,708,175 1,682
Recreational ACT........................ 18,106,565 8,213
Commercial TAL.......................... 3,708,175 1,682
Recreational TAL........................ 15,615,342 7,083
Sector Transfer......................... 3,999,185 1,814
Commercial Quota........................ 7,709,565 3,497
Recreational Harvest Limit.............. 11,620,566 5,271
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2 provides the commercial fishery state allocations for 2019
based on the final 2019 coast-wide commercial quota and the allocated
percentages defined in the FMP. No states exceeded their state
allocated quota in 2018; therefore, no accountability measures need to
be implemented for the 2019 fishing year.
Table 2--2019 Bluefish State Commercial Quota Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quota Quota
State Percent share allocation allocation
(lb) (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maine........................................................... 0.67 51,538 23.38
New Hampshire................................................... 0.41 31,956 14.49
Massachusetts................................................... 6.72 517,828 234.88
Rhode Island.................................................... 6.81 524,874 238.08
Connecticut..................................................... 1.27 97,626 44.28
New York........................................................ 10.39 800,645 363.17
New Jersey...................................................... 14.82 1,142,264 518.12
Delaware........................................................ 1.88 144,801 65.68
Maryland........................................................ 3.00 231,426 104.97
Virginia........................................................ 11.88 915,857 415.43
North Carolina.................................................. 32.06 2,471,746 1121.17
South Carolina.................................................. 0.04 2,714 1.23
Georgia......................................................... 0.01 732 0.33
Florida......................................................... 10.06 775,558 351.79
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 100.00 7,709,565 3,497.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments
The public comment period for the proposed rule ended on January
10, 2019. One comment received from the public claimed rampant
overfishing in the bluefish fishery is occurring due to widespread
corruption and commercial profiteering. However, this commenter
presented no rationale or evidence supporting these claims, and the
most recent assessment updates indicate that the bluefish stock is not
overfished and overfishing is not occurring. No changes to the proposed
specifications were made as a result of this comment.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes from the proposed rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the Bluefish FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866
because this action contains no implementing regulations.
This final rule does not duplicate, conflict, or overlap with any
existing Federal rules.
This action does not contain a collection of information
requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
[[Page 8828]]
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
proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received
regarding this certification, and the initial certification remains
unchanged. As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not
required and none has been prepared.
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 specifications are in
place as close as practicable to the start of the 2019 Atlantic
bluefish fishing year, which began on January 1, 2019. This action
establishes the final specifications (i.e., annual catch limits) for
the bluefish fishery for the 2019 fishing year. A delay in
effectiveness well beyond the start of the 2019 fishing year would be
contrary to the public interest, as it could create confusion in the
commercial bluefish industry.
This rule is being issued at the earliest possible date. The
proposed rule was prepared and published in December 2018, and the
public comment period ended on January 10, 2019. The partial Federal
government shutdown prevented any work on this action from December 22,
2018, through January 25, 2019. We had expected to prepare and publish
this final rule in January but were unable to do so because of the
shutdown. A 30-day delay in effectiveness would only prolong the amount
of time the bluefish fishery is forced to function in the 2019 fishing
year without established specifications, which is contrary to the
public interest.
Furthermore, regulated parties do not require any additional time
to come into compliance with this rule, and thus, a 30-day delay does
not provide any benefit. Unlike actions that require an adjustment
period to comply with new rules, bluefish fishery participants will not
have to purchase new equipment or otherwise expend time or money to
comply with these status quo management measures. Rather, complying
with this final rule simply means adhering to the catch limits and
management measures set for bluefish fishing year 2019. Therefore,
there would be no benefit to delaying the implementation of these
specifications.
For these reasons, a 30-day delay in effectiveness would be
contrary to the public interest, and is therefore waived. As a result,
there is good cause to implement these specifications on March 12,
2019.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 7, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04506 Filed 3-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P