Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2021 Illex, 48608-48609 [2021-18724]

Download as PDF 48608 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Rules and Regulations Area Extended falconry dates Ducks, mergansers, and coots ......................................................... (1) (2) (3) (4) In In In In Montana, the limits are 2 daily and 6 in possession. New Mexico, the limits for sandhill cranes are 3 daily and 6 in possession. California, in the Imperial County Special Management Area, there is no extended falconry season. Oregon, no more than 1 pigeon daily in bag or possession. [FR Doc. 2021–18429 Filed 8–30–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 RIN 0648–XB238 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Complex; Rescission of Control Dates National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of rescinded control dates. AGENCY: NMFS announces the rescission of the July 30, 2009, and March 31, 2014, skate wing and bait fishery control dates. The New England Fishery Management Council has decided to discontinue development of limited access alternatives for both the skate wing and skate bait fisheries as part of Amendment 5 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. The Council also stated that the existing control dates for each sector of the fishery are too outdated to be used should the Council reconsider limited access for the skate fisheries in the future and has requested that NMFS rescind both control dates. This notification informs stakeholders and the public of this decision, and that July 30, 2009, and March 31, 2014, are no longer considered dates for entry into the bait and skate wing fisheries, respectively. SUMMARY: The rescission of skate wing and bait fishery control dates is effective August 31, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Ferrio, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281–9180. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New England Fishery Management Council manages a complex of seven skate species (barndoor, clearnose, little, rosette, smooth, thorny, and winter skate) through the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan DATES: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Sept. 18–Sept. 19 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:07 Aug 30, 2021 Jkt 253001 (FMP). Under this FMP, skates are harvested and managed within two targeted fishery sectors, one for use as food (the wing fishery) and one for use as bait in other fisheries (the bait fishery). Currently, all skate permits are open access and may be obtained anyone with a valid commercial operator’s permit. NMFS announced a control date of July 30, 2009, for the bait sector of the fishery (74 FR 37977; July 30, 2009) during the initial development of Amendment 3 to the Skate FMP. At that time, the Council was concerned about the possibility of increased effort by new entrants into the skate bait fishery, and therefore, considered developing a limited access program for that sector only. The notification announcing the control date intended to promote public awareness of potential eligibility criteria for access to the fishery and possible implementation of a limited-entry management plan. Although Amendment 3 (75 FR 34049; June 16, 2010) did not end up establishing limited entry for the bait fishery, the July 30, 2009 control date remained on record for future use. On March 31, 2014, NMFS announced a separate control date for the wing fishery at the Council’s request (79 FR 18002; March 31, 2014). This notification was not tied to a specific regulatory action or amendment at the time, but was intended as a preliminary step toward preparing for a limited entry program for the overall skate fishery and announcing these possibilities to the public. In 2016, the Council began developing Amendment 5 to the Skate FMP, which included consideration of limited access for both the bait and wing sectors of the fishery. However, at its meeting in April 2021, the Council decided to discontinue development of all limited access alternatives in this amendment in favor of other management strategies to address latent effort. In conjunction with that decision, the Council also determined that both control dates for the wing and bait skate fisheries are outdated should a limited access program be reconsidered in the future. As a result, at its following meeting in June 2021, the Council voted to request NMFS rescind the existing control dates for the skate FMP. Therefore, NMFS PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 announces the rescission of the July 30, 2009, control date with respect to the skate bait fishery; and the March 31, 2014, control date with respect to the skate wing fishery. The Council decided to not develop a limited entry management system for the Skate FMP in Amendment 5. However, if the Council chooses to pursue limited access in the future, it will consider new control dates for these fisheries. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 25, 2021. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–18679 Filed 8–30–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 210716–0148; RTID 0648– XB188] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2021 Illex Squid Quota Harvested National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit. AGENCY: Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders are prohibited from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring or landing more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip, and from landing Illex squid more than once per calendar day. This prohibition is required when NMFS projects that 94 percent of the 2021 annual catch limit has been caught. This action is intended to prevent over-harvest of Illex squid for the fishing year. DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, August 30, 2021, through December 31, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9352. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\31AUR1.SGM 31AUR1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Rules and Regulations khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the Illex squid fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2) require that NMFS must prohibit Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders from directed fishing when the Regional Administrator projects that 94 percent of the domestic annual harvest (DAH) quota is caught. Vessels may not catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip, or land Illex squid more than once per calendar day. The Regional Administrator monitors the Illex squid fishery catch based on dealer reports, state data, and other available information. When 94 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 94 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 94 percent of the total Illex squid DAH quota for the 2021 season through December 31, 2021, by August 30, 2021. Therefore, VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:07 Aug 30, 2021 Jkt 253001 effective 0001 August 30, 2021, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid, and may not land Illex squid more than once per calendar day. Vessels that have entered port before 0001 hr on August 30, 2021, 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, 2021, unless it is from a trip landed by a vessel that entered port before 0001 hr on August 30, 2021. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 648, which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), 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 PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 48609 information indicating the Illex squid fleet will have landed at least 94 percent of the 2021 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 2021 DAH quota. If implementation of this action is delayed, the quota for the 2021 fishing year may be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation objectives of the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. Also, the public had prior notice and full opportunity to comment on this process when the provisions regarding closures and the 2021 quota levels were put in place. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 25, 2021. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–18724 Filed 8–26–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\31AUR1.SGM 31AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48608-48609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18724]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 210716-0148; RTID 0648-XB188]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2021 Illex Squid Quota Harvested

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit.

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SUMMARY: Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders are prohibited from 
fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring or landing more than 
10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip, and from landing Illex 
squid more than once per calendar day. This prohibition is required 
when NMFS projects that 94 percent of the 2021 annual catch limit has 
been caught. This action is intended to prevent over-harvest of Illex 
squid for the fishing year.

DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, August 30, 2021, through December 
31, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9352.

[[Page 48609]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the Illex squid fishery are 
at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.  648.24(a)(2) require that 
NMFS must prohibit Federal Illex squid vessel permit holders from 
directed fishing when the Regional Administrator projects that 94 
percent of the domestic annual harvest (DAH) quota is caught. Vessels 
may not catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 
kg) of Illex squid per trip, or land Illex squid more than once per 
calendar day. The Regional Administrator monitors the Illex squid 
fishery catch based on dealer reports, state data, and other available 
information. When 94 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 94 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 
94 percent of the total Illex squid DAH quota for the 2021 season 
through December 31, 2021, by August 30, 2021. Therefore, effective 
0001 August 30, 2021, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, 
catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of 
Illex squid, and may not land Illex squid more than once per calendar 
day. Vessels that have entered port before 0001 hr on August 30, 2021, 
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, 
2021, unless it is from a trip landed by a vessel that entered port 
before 0001 hr on August 30, 2021.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 648, which was 
issued pursuant to section 304(b), 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 94 percent 
of the 2021 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 2021 DAH 
quota. If implementation of this action is delayed, the quota for the 
2021 fishing year may be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation 
objectives of the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery 
Management Plan. Also, the public had prior notice and full opportunity 
to comment on this process when the provisions regarding closures and 
the 2021 quota levels were put in place.

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

    Dated: August 25, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18724 Filed 8-26-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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