Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer From North Carolina to Virginia, 65823-65824 [2023-20874]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations (A) For the 2023–2024 fishing year, 652,817 lb (296,113 kg). (B) For the 2024–2025 fishing year, 569,019 lb (258,103 kg). (C) For the 2025–2026 fishing year, 544,990 lb (247,203 kg). (D) For the 2026–2027 and subsequent fishing years, 538,933 lb (244,456 kg). (ii) For the period of September 1 through the end of February each year. (A) For the 2023–2024 fishing year, 435,212 lb (197,409 kg). (B) For the 2024–2025 fishing year, 379,346 lb (172,068 kg). (C) For the 2025–2026 fishing year, 363,327 lb (164,802 kg). (D) For the 2026–2027 and subsequent fishing years, 359,288 lb (162,970 kg). * * * * * ■ 6. In § 622.191, revise paragraph (a)(5) to read as follows: § 622.191 Commercial trip limits. * * * * * (a) * * * (5) Until the applicable commercial quota specified in § 622.190(a)(3) is reached—1,200 lb (544 kg). See § 622.190(c)(1) for the limitations regarding greater amberjack after the applicable commercial quota is reached. * * * * * ■ 7. In § 622.193, revise the section heading and paragraph (k) to read as follows: § 622.193 Annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs). lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 * * * * * (k) Greater amberjack—(1) Commercial sector. (i) If commercial landings for greater amberjack, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the applicable commercial ACL (commercial quota) specified in § 622.190(a)(3), the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for that portion of the fishing year applicable to the respective quota. Applicable restrictions after a commercial quota closure are specified in § 622.190(c). (ii) If commercial landings for greater amberjack, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the commercial ACL, and the combined commercial and recreational ACL as specified in paragraph (k)(3) of this section is exceeded during the same fishing year, and the species is overfished based on the most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the commercial ACL in the following fishing year by the amount of the commercial ACL overage in the VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:42 Sep 25, 2023 Jkt 259001 prior fishing year. The total commercial ACL is 1,088,029 lb (493,522 kg), gutted weight, for the 2023–2024 fishing year; 948,365 lb (430,171 kg), gutted weight, for the 2024–2025 fishing year; 908,317 lb (412,006 kg), gutted weight, for the 2025–2026 fishing year; and 898,221 lb (407,426 kg), gutted weight, for the 2026–2027 and subsequent fishing years. (2) Recreational sector. (i) If recreational landings for greater amberjack, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACL, the 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 of whether the stock is overfished, unless NMFS determines that no closure is necessary based on the best scientific information available. On and after the effective date of such a notification, the bag and possession limits for greater amberjack in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. The recreational ACL is 2,101,450 lb (953,202 kg), round weight, for the 2023–2024 fishing year; 1,831,700 lb (830,845 kg), round weight, for the 2024–2025 fishing year; 1,754,350 lb (795,760 kg), round weight, for the 2025–2026 fishing year; and 1,734,850 lb (786,915 kg), round weight, for the 2026–2027 and subsequent fishing years. (ii) If recreational landings for greater amberjack, as estimated by the SRD, exceed the recreational ACL, then during the following fishing year recreational landings will be monitored for a persistence in increased landings, and if necessary, the AA will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the length of the recreational fishing season and recreational ACL by the amount of the recreational ACL overage, if the species is overfished based on the most recent Status of U.S. Fisheries Report to Congress, and if the combined commercial and recreational ACL specified in paragraph (k)(3) of this section, is exceeded during the same fishing year. The AA will use the best scientific information available to determine if reducing the length of the recreational season and recreational ACL is necessary. When the recreational sector is closed as a result of NMFS reducing the length of the recreational fishing season and ACL, the bag and possession limits for greater amberjack in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. (3) Combined commercial and recreational ACLs. The combined commercial and recreational ACL for greater amberjack is 3,233,000 lb PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 65823 (1,466,464 kg), round weight, for the 2023–2024 fishing year; 2,818,000 lb (1,278,223 kg), round weight, for the 2024–2025 fishing year; 2,699,000 lb (1,224,246 kg), round weight, for the 2025–2026 fishing year; and 2,669,000 lb (1,210,638 kg), round weight, for the 2026–2027 and subsequent fishing years. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2023–20798 Filed 9–25–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 221223–0282; RTID 0648– XD393] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer From North Carolina to Virginia National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of quota transfer. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2023 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2023 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2023 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia. DATES: Effective September 25, 2023, through December 31, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Deighan, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9184. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.100 through 648.111. These regulations require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina. The process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in § 648.102 and final 2023 allocations were published on January 3, 2023 (88 FR 11). The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26SER1.SGM 26SER1 65824 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations published in the Federal Register on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a mechanism for transferring summer flounder commercial quota from one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, can transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota under § 648.102(c)(2). The Regional Administrator is required to consider three criteria in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations: the transfer or combinations would not preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested; the transfer addresses an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and the transfer is consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The Regional Administrator has determined these three criteria have been met for the transfer approved in this notification. North Carolina is transferring 20,441 lb (9,272 kg) to Virginia through a mutual agreement between the states. This transfer was requested to repay landings made by out-of-state permitted vessels under safe harbor agreements. The revised summer flounder quotas for 2023 are North Carolina, 3,281,083 lb (1,488,274 kg), and Virginia, 2,764,904 lb (1,254,139 kg). Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 648.102(c)(2)(i) through (iv), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempted from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 20, 2023. Kelly Denit, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–20874 Filed 9–25–23; 8:45 am] lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:42 Sep 25, 2023 Jkt 259001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 230508–0124; RTID 0648– XD334] Fisheries Off West Coast States; Modification of the West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Action #19–26 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Inseason modification of 2023 management measures. AGENCY: NMFS announces eight inseason actions for the 2023–2024 ocean salmon fishing season. These inseason actions modify the recreational and commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon. DATES: The effective dates for these inseason actions are set out in this document under the heading ‘‘Inseason Actions’’ and the actions remain in effect until superseded or modified. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Penna, 562–980–4239, Shannon.Penna@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The annual management measures for the 2023 and early 2024 ocean salmon fisheries (88 FR 30235, May 11, 2023) govern the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area from the U.S./ Canada border to the U.S./Mexico border, effective from 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), May 16, 2023, until the effective date of the 2024 management measures, as published in the Federal Register. NMFS is authorized to implement inseason management actions to modify fishing seasons and quotas as necessary to provide fishing opportunity while meeting management objectives for the affected species (50 CFR 660.409). Inseason actions in the salmon fishery may be taken directly by NMFS (50 CFR 660.409(a)—Fixed inseason management provisions) or upon consultation with the Chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), and the appropriate State Directors (50 CFR 660.409(b)—Flexible inseason management provisions). Management of the salmon fisheries is divided into two geographic areas: north of Cape Falcon (NOF) (U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR), and south PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 of Cape Falcon (SOF) (Cape Falcon, OR, to the U.S./Mexico border). The actions described in this document affect the NOF commercial salmon troll and recreational fisheries, as set out under the heading Inseason Actions below. Consultation with the Council Chairman on these inseason actions occurred on July 26, 2023, August 15, 2023, August 17, 2023, and August 25, 2023. These consultations included representatives from NMFS, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Representatives from the Salmon Advisory Subpanel and Salmon Technical Team (STT) were also present. A Council representative was present on August 15, 2023. These inseason actions were announced on NMFS’ telephone hotline and U.S. Coast Guard radio broadcast on the date of the consultations (50 CFR 660.411(a)(2)). Inseason Actions Inseason Action #19 Description of the action: Inseason action #19 modifies the NOF ocean salmon recreational fishery from the Queets River to Leadbetter Point (Westport Subarea—Marine Area 2). Retention of Chinook salmon is prohibited on Fridays and Saturdays. Possession of Chinook salmon is illegal when retention is prohibited in the area. Effective dates: Inseason action #19 takes effect on July 28, 2023, at 12:01 a.m., and remains in effect until superseded. Reason and authorization for the action: Inseason action #19 was necessary to not exceed the Chinook salmon guideline due to high Chinook salmon catch and preserve the length of the season while continuing to allow access to coho salmon. The NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator (RA) determined that this inseason action is necessary to meet management and conservations goals for the 2023–2024 management measures after considering the best available information on the 2023 abundance forecasts for Chinook salmon stocks, landings and effort patterns to date, anticipated fishery effort and projected catch, the timing of the action relative to the length of the season, and the other factors and considerations set forth in 50 CFR 660.409. This inseason action modified recreational bag limits under 50 CFR 660.409(b)(1)(iii). Inseason Action #20 Description of the action: Inseason action #20 modifies the NOF E:\FR\FM\26SER1.SGM 26SER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65823-65824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20874]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 221223-0282; RTID 0648-XD393]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder 
Fishery; Quota Transfer From North Carolina to Virginia

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

ACTION: Notification of quota transfer.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is 
transferring a portion of its 2023 commercial summer flounder quota to 
the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2023 fishing year 
quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black 
Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This 
announcement informs the public of the revised 2023 commercial quotas 
for North Carolina and Virginia.

DATES: Effective September 25, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Deighan, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder 
fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.100 through 648.111. These regulations 
require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned 
among the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina. The process 
to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each 
state is described in Sec.  648.102 and final 2023 allocations were 
published on January 3, 2023 (88 FR 11).
    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as

[[Page 65824]]

published in the Federal Register on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), 
provided a mechanism for transferring summer flounder commercial quota 
from one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement 
and with the concurrence of the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional 
Administrator, can transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota 
under Sec.  648.102(c)(2). The Regional Administrator is required to 
consider three criteria in the evaluation of requests for quota 
transfers or combinations: the transfer or combinations would not 
preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested; the 
transfer addresses an unforeseen variation or contingency in the 
fishery; and the transfer is consistent with the objectives of the FMP 
and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). The Regional Administrator has determined these 
three criteria have been met for the transfer approved in this 
notification.
    North Carolina is transferring 20,441 lb (9,272 kg) to Virginia 
through a mutual agreement between the states. This transfer was 
requested to repay landings made by out-of-state permitted vessels 
under safe harbor agreements. The revised summer flounder quotas for 
2023 are North Carolina, 3,281,083 lb (1,488,274 kg), and Virginia, 
2,764,904 lb (1,254,139 kg).

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 648.102(c)(2)(i) through 
(iv), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempted from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 20, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-20874 Filed 9-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.