Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 28; Correction, 70904-70905 [2019-27657]

Download as PDF 70904 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2019 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 140819687–5583–02; RTID 0648–XS020] Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; 2019–2020 Commercial Trip Limit Reduction for Spanish Mackerel in the Atlantic Southern Zone National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction. AGENCY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the southern zone of the Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to 1,500 lb (680 kg) in round or gutted weight per day. This commercial trip limit reduction is necessary to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of the fishery. DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 6 a.m. eastern time on December 24, 2019, until 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 1, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, or email: mary.vara@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish in the Atlantic includes king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia on the east coast of Florida, and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 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. All weights described for the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel (Atlantic Spanish mackerel) apply as either round or gutted weight. For management purposes, the commercial sector of Atlantic Spanish mackerel is divided into northern and southern zones. The southern zone consists of Federal waters off South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida. The southern zone boundaries for Atlantic Spanish mackerel extend from the border of North Carolina and khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:55 Dec 23, 2019 Jkt 250001 South Carolina (which is a line extending in a direction of 135°34′55″ from true north beginning at 33°51′07.9″ N lat. and 78°32′32.6″ W long. to the intersection point with the outward boundary of the EEZ) to the border of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida (at 25°20′24″ N lat.). The southern zone commercial quota for Atlantic Spanish mackerel is 2,667,330 lb (1,209,881 kg). Seasonally variable trip limits are based on an adjusted commercial quota of 2,417,330 lb (1,096,482 kg). The adjusted commercial quota is calculated to allow continued harvest in the southern zone at a set rate for the remainder of the current fishing year, through February 29, 2020, in accordance with 50 CFR 622.385(b)(2). As specified at 50 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(B), after 75 percent of the adjusted commercial quota of Atlantic Spanish mackerel is reached or is projected to be reached, Atlantic Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern zone may not be possessed on board or landed from a vessel that has been issued a Federal permit for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in amounts exceeding 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day. NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the adjusted commercial quota for Atlantic Spanish mackerel has been reached. Accordingly, the commercial trip limit of 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day applies to Atlantic Spanish mackerel harvested in or from the EEZ in the southern zone effective from 6 a.m. eastern time on December 24, 2019, until 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 1, 2020, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register. Classification The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of Atlantic Spanish mackerel and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(B) 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 opportunity for comment. This action responds to the best scientific information available. The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to immediately reduce the trip limit for the commercial sector for Atlantic Spanish mackerel constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and the opportunity for public PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rules implementing the commercial quotas and trip limits have already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest, because any delay in the trip limit reduction of the commercial harvest could result in the commercial quota being exceeded. There is a need to immediately implement this action to protect the Atlantic Spanish mackerel resource, because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require additional time and could potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established commercial quota. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 18, 2019. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–27723 Filed 12–19–19; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 191106–0077] RIN 0648–BI89 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 28; Correction National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; correction AGENCY: NMFS published a final rule that implemented Amendment 28 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan in the Federal Register on November 19, 2019 (84 FR 63966). The final rule changed boundaries of closed areas that affect commercial vessels fishing under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26DER1.SGM 26DER1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2019 / Rules and Regulations Management Plan with bottom contacting gear in Federal waters off of Washington, Oregon, and California. DATES: Effective January 1, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Hanshew, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, phone: 206–526– 6147, or email: Gretchen.Hanshew@ noaa.gov. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:55 Dec 23, 2019 Jkt 250001 Federal Register Correction Effective January 1, 2020, in rule document 2019–24684 at 84 FR 63966 in the issue of November 19, 2019: ■ 1. On page 63977, in the second column, in amendatory instruction 12, paragraph (e)(5) is corrected to read as follows: § 660.78 [Corrected] (e) * * * (5) 46°00.83′ N lat., 124°36.78′ W long.; ■ 2. On page 63979, in the third column, in amendatory instruction 14, paragraph (f)(22) is corrected to read as follows: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 § 660.79 70905 [Corrected] (f) * * * (22) 40°32.68′ N lat., 125°05.63′ W long.; Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. Dated: December 18, 2019. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–27657 Filed 12–23–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\26DER1.SGM 26DER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70904-70905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27657]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 191106-0077]
RIN 0648-BI89


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Fishery Management Plan; 
Amendment 28; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correction

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SUMMARY: NMFS published a final rule that implemented Amendment 28 to 
the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan in the Federal 
Register on November 19, 2019 (84 FR 63966). The final rule changed 
boundaries of closed areas that affect commercial vessels fishing under 
the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

[[Page 70905]]

Management Plan with bottom contacting gear in Federal waters off of 
Washington, Oregon, and California.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Hanshew, West Coast Region, 
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, phone: 206-526-6147, 
or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Federal Register Correction

    Effective January 1, 2020, in rule document 2019-24684 at 84 FR 
63966 in the issue of November 19, 2019:

0
1. On page 63977, in the second column, in amendatory instruction 12, 
paragraph (e)(5) is corrected to read as follows:


Sec.  660.78  [Corrected]

    (e) * * *
    (5) 46[deg]00.83' N lat., 124[deg]36.78' W long.;

0
2. On page 63979, in the third column, in amendatory instruction 14, 
paragraph (f)(22) is corrected to read as follows:


Sec.  660.79  [Corrected]

    (f) * * *
    (22) 40[deg]32.68' N lat., 125[deg]05.63' W long.;

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

    Dated: December 18, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-27657 Filed 12-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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