Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2019 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Red Grouper, 50334-50335 [2019-20779]
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50334
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 25, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES
projected to be reached, by filing a
notification to that effect with the Office
of the Federal Register, unless NMFS
determines that no closure is necessary
based on the best scientific information
available. The NMFS Southeast
Fisheries Science Center has determined
that the recreational sector for this
complex has exceeded its ACL.
Therefore, this temporary rule
implements an AM to close the
recreational sector for the other jacks
complex in the South Atlantic EEZ,
effective 12:01 a.m., local time,
September 25, 2019, until January 1,
2020, the start of the next fishing year.
During the recreational closure, the
bag and possession limits for the fish in
the other jacks complex in or from the
South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
Additionally, NMFS closed the
commercial sector for the other jacks
complex effective on July 16, 2019,
when that sector was projected to reach
its sector ACL (84 FR 32648; July 9,
2019). Therefore, as of 12:01 a.m. on
September 25, 2019, no commercial or
recreational harvest of fish in the other
jacks complex in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ is allowed for the
remainder of the 2019 fishing year.
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of the other jacks complex,
a component of the South Atlantic
snapper-grouper fishery, and is
consistent with the FMP, the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(l)(2)(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
public 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 recreational sector for the
other jacks complex 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 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:54 Sep 24, 2019
Jkt 247001
because of the need to immediately
implement this action to protect the
other jacks complex. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment would
require time and would potentially
allow the recreational sector to further
exceed its 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: September 19, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–20764 Filed 9–20–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 100812345–2142–03]
RIN 0648–XS012
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
Atlantic; 2019 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure
for South Atlantic Red Grouper
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS implements
accountability measures (AMs) for the
red grouper recreational sector in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
South Atlantic for the 2019 fishing year
through this temporary rule. NMFS
estimates recreational landings of red
grouper in 2019 have exceeded the
recreational annual catch limit (ACL).
Therefore, NMFS closes the red grouper
recreational sector in the South Atlantic
EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on
September 25, 2019, for the remainder
of the 2019 fishing year. This closure is
necessary to protect the red grouper
resource.
SUMMARY:
This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, September 25, 2019, until
12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020.
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 red grouper and is
managed under the Fishery
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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.
In August of 2018, as a result of the
determination that red grouper was
undergoing overfishing, the final rule
for Abbreviated Framework Amendment
1 to the FMP (83 FR 35435; July 26,
2018) reduced the red grouper ACL to
84,000 lb (38,102 kg), round weight, for
2019 (§ 622.193(d)(2)(ii)). In accordance
with regulations at 50 CFR
622.193(d)(2)(i), if recreational landings
of red grouper are projected to reach the
recreational ACL, the Assistant
Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA)
will file a notification with the Office of
the Federal Register to close the
recreational sector for the remainder of
the fishing year regardless if the stock is
overfished, unless NMFS determines
that no closure is necessary based on the
best scientific information available.
The NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science
Center has estimated that the red
grouper recreational ACL for 2019 has
been exceeded. Therefore, this
temporary rule implements the AM to
close the red grouper recreational sector
for the remainder of the 2019 fishing
year. The recreational sector for red
grouper in the South Atlantic EEZ will
be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time
September 25, 2019, through December
31, 2019. During the recreational
closure, the bag and possession limits
for red grouper in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ are zero.
NMFS notes that while the 2020
fishing year begins on January 1, the
commercial and recreational harvest of
red grouper is prohibited annually from
January through April of each year
(§ 622.183(b)(1)). Therefore, the
recreational sector for red grouper will
reopen on May 1, 2020, the beginning of
the recreational fishing season. The
recreational ACL for 2020 and
subsequent fishing years is 90,720 lb
(41,150 kg), round weight
(§ 622.193(d)(2)(ii)).
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of South
Atlantic red grouper and is consistent
with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, and other applicable laws.
E:\FR\FM\25SER1.SGM
25SER1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 25, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(d)(2)(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 AA
finds that the need to immediately
implement this action to close the
recreational sector for red grouper
constitutes good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment on
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:54 Sep 24, 2019
Jkt 247001
this temporary rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), because such procedures are
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the AM
implementing the recreational closure
has already been subject to notice and
comment. All that remains is to notify
the public of the recreational closure for
red grouper for the remainder of the
2019 fishing year. Prior notice and
opportunity for comment are contrary to
the public interest because of the need
to immediately implement this action to
protect the red grouper resource. Time
required for notice and public comment
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
50335
would allow for continued recreational
harvest and further exceedance of the
recreational 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: September 20, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–20779 Filed 9–20–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\25SER1.SGM
25SER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50334-50335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20779]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 100812345-2142-03]
RIN 0648-XS012
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2019 Recreational
Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Red Grouper
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the red
grouper recreational sector in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
South Atlantic for the 2019 fishing year through this temporary rule.
NMFS estimates recreational landings of red grouper in 2019 have
exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS
closes the red grouper recreational sector in the South Atlantic EEZ at
12:01 a.m., local time, on September 25, 2019, for the remainder of the
2019 fishing year. This closure is necessary to protect the red grouper
resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, September 25,
2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2020.
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 red grouper 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.
In August of 2018, as a result of the determination that red
grouper was undergoing overfishing, the final rule for Abbreviated
Framework Amendment 1 to the FMP (83 FR 35435; July 26, 2018) reduced
the red grouper ACL to 84,000 lb (38,102 kg), round weight, for 2019
(Sec. 622.193(d)(2)(ii)). In accordance with regulations at 50 CFR
622.193(d)(2)(i), if recreational landings of red grouper are projected
to reach the recreational ACL, the Assistant Administrator for NOAA
Fisheries (AA) will file a notification with the Office of the Federal
Register to close the recreational sector for the remainder of the
fishing year regardless if the stock is overfished, unless NMFS
determines that no closure is necessary based on the best scientific
information available. The NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center has
estimated that the red grouper recreational ACL for 2019 has been
exceeded. Therefore, this temporary rule implements the AM to close the
red grouper recreational sector for the remainder of the 2019 fishing
year. The recreational sector for red grouper in the South Atlantic EEZ
will be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time September 25, 2019,
through December 31, 2019. During the recreational closure, the bag and
possession limits for red grouper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are
zero.
NMFS notes that while the 2020 fishing year begins on January 1,
the commercial and recreational harvest of red grouper is prohibited
annually from January through April of each year (Sec. 622.183(b)(1)).
Therefore, the recreational sector for red grouper will reopen on May
1, 2020, the beginning of the recreational fishing season. The
recreational ACL for 2020 and subsequent fishing years is 90,720 lb
(41,150 kg), round weight (Sec. 622.193(d)(2)(ii)).
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic red grouper and is consistent with the
FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
[[Page 50335]]
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(d)(2)(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 AA finds that the need to immediately implement this action to
close the recreational sector for red grouper constitutes good cause to
waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this temporary rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
because such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the AM implementing
the recreational closure has already been subject to notice and
comment. All that remains is to notify the public of the recreational
closure for red grouper for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year.
Prior notice and opportunity for comment are contrary to the public
interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to
protect the red grouper resource. Time required for notice and public
comment would allow for continued recreational harvest and further
exceedance of the recreational 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: September 20, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20779 Filed 9-20-19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
