Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2023 Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic, 50806 [2023-16442]

Download as PDF 50806 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2023 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 EPA-APPROVED NORTH CAROLINA NON-REGULATORY PROVISIONS—Continued EPA approval date Federal Register citation Provision State effective date Rural (counties not covered by MPO, administered by North Carolina DOT) Interagency Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (administered by NPS) Interagency Transportation Conformity Memorandum of Agreement. 1/27/2023 ......................................... 3/29/2023 88 FR 18423 1/30/2023 ......................................... 3/29/2023 88 FR 18423 Explanation [FR Doc. 2023–15965 Filed 8–1–23; 8:45 am] Classification BILLING CODE 6560–50–P NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(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 regulations associated with the closure of the blueline tilefish commercial sector at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) have already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the public interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action to protect blueline tilefish, because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established commercial ACL. For the reasons stated earlier, the Assistant Administrator 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. managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NMFS prepared the FMP, and the FMP National Oceanic and Atmospheric is implemented by NMFS under the Administration authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 50 CFR Part 622 Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by [Docket No. 140501394–5279–02;RTID 0648– regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All weights in this temporary rule are given XD176] in round weight. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2023 specify the commercial ACL for blueline Commercial Closure for Blueline tilefish of 117,148 lb (53,137 kg), and Tilefish in the South Atlantic the commercial accountability measure for blueline tilefish. NMFS is required AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries to close the commercial sector when its Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and ACL is reached, or is projected to be Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reached, by filing a notification to that Commerce. effect with the Office of the Federal ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Register. NMFS estimates that for the SUMMARY: NMFS implements an 2023 fishing year, commercial landings accountability measure for blueline of blueline tilefish will reach the tilefish in the exclusive economic zone commercial ACL by August 2, 2023. (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS Accordingly, the commercial sector for estimates that commercial landings of South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed blueline tilefish have reached the effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for August 2, 2023, through December 31, the 2023 fishing year. Accordingly, 2023. NMFS closes the commercial sector for During the commercial closure, all the harvest of blueline tilefish in the sale or purchase of blueline tilefish is South Atlantic EEZ to protect the prohibited. While the recreational blueline tilefish resource from harvest of blueline tilefish is open, overfishing. harvest of blueline tilefish in or from the DATES: This temporary rule is effective South Atlantic EEZ is limited to the from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August recreational bag and possession limits 2, 2023, through December 31, 2023. specified in 50 CFR 622.187. The bag FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and possession limits for blueline Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional tilefish apply in state or Federal waters Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: of the South Atlantic on a vessel for mary.vara@noaa.gov. which NMFS has issued a valid commercial or charter vessel/headboat SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The permit for South Atlantic snappersnapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is grouper. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:03 Aug 01, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 Dated: July 27, 2023. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–16442 Filed 7–28–23; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\02AUR1.SGM 02AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16442]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02;RTID 0648-XD176]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2023 Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for blueline 
tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. 
NMFS estimates that commercial landings of blueline tilefish have 
reached the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2023 fishing 
year. Accordingly, NMFS closes the commercial sector for the harvest of 
blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to protect the blueline 
tilefish resource from overfishing.

DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on 
August 2, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

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 blueline tilefish and is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS 
prepared the FMP, and the FMP 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 in this temporary rule are given in round weight.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) specify the commercial ACL 
for blueline tilefish of 117,148 lb (53,137 kg), and the commercial 
accountability measure for blueline tilefish. NMFS is required to close 
the commercial sector when its ACL is reached, or is projected to be 
reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the 
Federal Register. NMFS estimates that for the 2023 fishing year, 
commercial landings of blueline tilefish will reach the commercial ACL 
by August 2, 2023. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South 
Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern 
time on August 2, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
    During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of blueline 
tilefish is prohibited. While the recreational harvest of blueline 
tilefish is open, harvest of blueline tilefish in or from the South 
Atlantic EEZ is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits 
specified in 50 CFR 622.187. The bag and possession limits for blueline 
tilefish apply in state or Federal waters of the South Atlantic on a 
vessel for which NMFS has issued a valid commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(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 regulations associated with the 
closure of the blueline tilefish commercial sector at 50 CFR 
622.193(z)(1)(i) have already been subject to notice and public 
comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. 
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the 
public interest because there is a need to immediately implement this 
action to protect blueline tilefish, because the capacity of the 
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would 
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established 
commercial ACL.
    For the reasons stated earlier, the Assistant Administrator 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: July 27, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16442 Filed 7-28-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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