Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Closure of the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to General Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels, 52104-52105 [2021-20288]

Download as PDF 52104 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 179 / Monday, September 20, 2021 / Rules and Regulations Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.41(i), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule implementing the stock complex ACL and the associated AM has already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are also contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement the closure to protect the mid-water snapper stock complex. The capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the ACL and the ACL has already been met. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and could result in additional harvest. For the aforementioned reasons, there is 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 15, 2021. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20285 Filed 9–15–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 180720681–8999–02; RTID 0648–XB426] Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2021 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) applicable to recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:36 Sep 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 Atlantic for the 2021 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS estimates that recreational landings of golden tilefish in 2021 have exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS closes the golden tilefish recreational sector in the South Atlantic EEZ on September 20, 2021. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource. DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, September 20, 2021, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2022. 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 golden tilefish and is managed under the Fishery 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. On January 4, 2019, NMFS implemented management measures for golden tilefish through a final rule for Amendment 28 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP (83 FR 233; December 4, 2018). That final rule set a recreational ACL of 2,316 fish (50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i)) and revised the recreational AM. The inseason recreational AM states that if recreational landings reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL, then the recreational sector will be closed for the remainder of the fishing year (50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i)). Landings data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center indicate that the golden tilefish recreational ACL of 2,316 fish has been reached. Therefore, this temporary rule implements an AM to close the golden tilefish recreational sector of the snapper-grouper fishery for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. As a result, the recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ will be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time September 20, 2021. The recreational sector for golden tilefish will open on January 1, 2022, the beginning of the 2022 fishing year and the recreational fishing season. During the closure, the bag and possession limits for golden tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. NMFS also closed the commercial sector for golden tilefish for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year (86 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 FR 29209; June 1, 2021). Therefore, as of the date of this recreational closure, all harvest and possession of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the NMFS Assistant Administrator (AA) finds good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule that established the recreational ACL and AM for golden tilefish has already 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 because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect the golden tilefish stock. The recreational ACL has been reached and prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time, potentially resulting in a harvest well in excess of the established 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. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20287 Filed 9–15–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 210513–0105; RTID 0648– XB421] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Closure of the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to General Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\20SER1.SGM 20SER1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 179 / Monday, September 20, 2021 / Rules and Regulations Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. NMFS announces that the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. Regulations require this action once it is projected that 100 percent of trips allocated to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area will be taken. This action is intended to prevent the number of trips in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area from exceeding what is allowed under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, September 17, 2021, through March 31, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis Forristall, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9321. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing fishing activity in the Sea Scallop Access Areas can be found in 50 CFR 648.59 and 648.60. These regulations authorize vessels issued a valid Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) scallop permit to fish in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area under specific conditions, including a total of 856 trips that may be taken during the 2021 fishing year. Section 648.59(g)(3)(iii) requires NMFS to close the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to LAGC IFQ permitted vessels for the remainder of the fishing year once it determines that the allocated number of trips for the fishing year are projected to be taken. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:36 Sep 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 Based on trip declarations by LAGC IFQ scallop vessels fishing in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area, analysis of fishing effort, and other information, NMFS projects that 856 trips will be taken as of September 15, 2021. Therefore, in accordance with § 648.59(g)(3)(iii), NMFS is closing the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to all LAGC IFQ scallop vessels as of September 17, 2021. No vessel issued an LAGC IFQ permit may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area after 0001 local time, September 17, 2021. Any LAGC IFQ vessel that has declared into the Closed Area I Access Area scallop fishery, complied with all trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the Vessel Monitoring System demarcation line on the way to the area before 0001, September 17, 2021, may complete its trip without being subject to this closure. This closure is in effect for the remainder of the 2021 scallop fishing year, through March 31, 2022. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 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. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The Closed Area I Scallop Access Area opened for the 2021 fishing year on April 1, 2021. The regulations at § 648.59(g)(3)(iii) require this closure to ensure that LAGC IFQ PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 52105 scallop vessels do not take more than their allocated number of trips in the area. The projected date on which the LAGC IFQ fleet will have taken all of its allocated trips in an Access Area becomes apparent only as trips into the area occur on a real-time basis and as activity trends begin to appear. As a result, NMFS can only make an accurate projection very close in time to when the fleet has taken all of its trips. To allow LAGC IFQ scallop vessels to continue to take trips in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area during the period necessary to publish and receive comments on a proposed rule would likely result in the vessels taking much more than the allowed number of trips in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area. Excessive trips and harvest from the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area would result in excessive fishing effort in the area, where effort controls are critical, thereby undermining conservation objectives of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and requiring more restrictive future management measures. Also, the public had prior notice and full opportunity to comment on this closure process when it was enacted, as well as during the public comment period on the action to set specifications for the 2021 fishing year. For these same reasons, NMFS further finds, under 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 15, 2021. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–20288 Filed 9–15–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\20SER1.SGM 20SER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52104-52105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20288]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 210513-0105; RTID 0648-XB421]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery; Closure of the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to General 
Category Individual Fishing Quota Scallop Vessels

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 52105]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is 
closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota 
scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. Regulations 
require this action once it is projected that 100 percent of trips 
allocated to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing 
Quota scallop vessels for the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area will be 
taken. This action is intended to prevent the number of trips in the 
Closed Area I Scallop Access Area from exceeding what is allowed under 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, September 17, 2021, through March 
31, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis Forristall, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing fishing activity in 
the Sea Scallop Access Areas can be found in 50 CFR 648.59 and 648.60. 
These regulations authorize vessels issued a valid Limited Access 
General Category (LAGC) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) scallop permit 
to fish in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area under specific 
conditions, including a total of 856 trips that may be taken during the 
2021 fishing year. Section 648.59(g)(3)(iii) requires NMFS to close the 
Closed Area I Scallop Access Area to LAGC IFQ permitted vessels for the 
remainder of the fishing year once it determines that the allocated 
number of trips for the fishing year are projected to be taken.
    Based on trip declarations by LAGC IFQ scallop vessels fishing in 
the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area, analysis of fishing effort, and 
other information, NMFS projects that 856 trips will be taken as of 
September 15, 2021. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
648.59(g)(3)(iii), NMFS is closing the Closed Area I Scallop Access 
Area to all LAGC IFQ scallop vessels as of September 17, 2021. No 
vessel issued an LAGC IFQ permit may fish for, possess, or land 
scallops in or from the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area after 0001 
local time, September 17, 2021. Any LAGC IFQ vessel that has declared 
into the Closed Area I Access Area scallop fishery, complied with all 
trip notification and observer requirements, and crossed the Vessel 
Monitoring System demarcation line on the way to the area before 0001, 
September 17, 2021, may complete its trip without being subject to this 
closure. This closure is in effect for the remainder of the 2021 
scallop fishing year, through March 31, 2022.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 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.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
The Closed Area I Scallop Access Area opened for the 2021 fishing year 
on April 1, 2021. The regulations at Sec.  648.59(g)(3)(iii) require 
this closure to ensure that LAGC IFQ scallop vessels do not take more 
than their allocated number of trips in the area. The projected date on 
which the LAGC IFQ fleet will have taken all of its allocated trips in 
an Access Area becomes apparent only as trips into the area occur on a 
real-time basis and as activity trends begin to appear. As a result, 
NMFS can only make an accurate projection very close in time to when 
the fleet has taken all of its trips. To allow LAGC IFQ scallop vessels 
to continue to take trips in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area 
during the period necessary to publish and receive comments on a 
proposed rule would likely result in the vessels taking much more than 
the allowed number of trips in the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area. 
Excessive trips and harvest from the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area 
would result in excessive fishing effort in the area, where effort 
controls are critical, thereby undermining conservation objectives of 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and requiring more 
restrictive future management measures. Also, the public had prior 
notice and full opportunity to comment on this closure process when it 
was enacted, as well as during the public comment period on the action 
to set specifications for the 2021 fishing year. For these same 
reasons, NMFS further finds, under 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), good cause to 
waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period.

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

    Dated: September 15, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20288 Filed 9-15-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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