Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2023 Commercial Hook-and-Line Closure for Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic, 74066-74067 [2023-23835]
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74066
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 208 / Monday, October 30, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
(viii) We prohibit hunting on
Sundays.
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(c) * * *
(2) * * *
(iii) We prohibit hunting on Sundays.
(3) * * *
(i) The conditions set forth at
paragraphs (c)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) and
(c)(2)(iii) of this section apply.
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■ 15. Effective September 1, 2026,
further amend § 32.65 by:
■ a. Adding paragraph (b)(1)(vi);
■ b. Revising paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and
(b)(3)(i);
■ c. Adding paragraphs (b)(4)(vi) and
(n)(1)(vi); and
■ d. Revising paragraphs (n)(2)(i) and
(n)(3)(i).
The additions and revisions read as
follows:
§ 32.65
Virginia.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
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(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(vi) You may only use or possess
approved non-lead shot shells and
ammunition while in the field (see
§ 32.2(k)).
(2) * * *
(i) The conditions set forth at
paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (vi) of this
section apply. All occupants of a vehicle
or hunt party must possess a signed
refuge hunt brochure and be actively
engaged in hunting unless aiding a
disabled person who possesses a valid
State disabled hunting license.
*
*
*
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(3) * * *
(i) The conditions set forth at
paragraphs (b)(1)(vi) and (b)(2)(i), (ii),
and (v) through (viii) of this section
apply.
*
*
*
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*
(4) * * *
(vi) The condition set forth at
paragraph (b)(1)(vi) of this section
applies.
*
*
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*
(n) * * *
(1) * * *
(vi) You may only use or possess
approved non-lead shot shells,
ammunition, and tackle while in the
field (see § 32.2(k)).
(2) * * *
(i) The conditions set forth in
paragraphs (n)(1)(i), (iii), and (vi) of this
section apply.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) * * *
(i) The conditions set forth at
paragraphs (n)(1)(i), (ii), and (vi) and
(n)(2)(iv) of this section apply.
*
*
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*
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15:45 Oct 27, 2023
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16. Amend § 32.66 by revising
paragraph (b)(4)(i) to read as follows:
■
§ 32.66
Washington.
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(b) * * *
(4) * * *
(i) On waters open to fishing, we
allow fishing only from the start of the
State season to September 30, except
that we allow fishing year-round on
Falcon, Heron, Goldeneye, Corral,
Blythe, Chukar, and Scaup Lakes.
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Shannon Estenoz,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and
Parks.
[FR Doc. 2023–23847 Filed 10–27–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120404257–3325–02; RTID
0648–XD427]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2023
Commercial Hook-and-Line Closure for
Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS implements an
accountability measure for the
commercial hook-and-line component
of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic
exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS
projects that commercial landings of
golden tilefish harvested by hook-andline are projected to reach the
commercial component quota in the
2023 fishing year. Accordingly, NMFS
closes the commercial hook-and-line
component for golden tilefish in the
South Atlantic EEZ for the remainder of
the 2023 fishing year to protect the
golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective
from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on October
31, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
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 SnapperSUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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 gutted weight.
The commercial sector for golden
tilefish has two components, each with
its own quota: The hook-and-line and
longline components (50 CFR
622.190(a)(2)). The commercial annual
catch limit (ACL) for golden tilefish is
allocated 25 percent to the hook-andline component and 75 percent to the
longline component. The total
commercial ACL (equivalent to the total
commercial quota) for golden tilefish is
331,740 lb (150,475 kg). The commercial
ACL (equivalent to the commercial
quota) for the hook-and-line component
is 82,935 lb (37,619 kg).
Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(i), NMFS
is required to close the commercial
hook-and-line component for golden
tilefish when its commercial ACL has
been reached, or is projected to be
reached, through a notification filed
with the Office of the Federal Register.
NMFS projects that commercial
landings of South Atlantic golden
tilefish by the hook-and-line component
will reach the ACL by October 31, 2023.
Accordingly, the commercial hook-andline component of South Atlantic
golden tilefish is closed on October 31,
2023.
For the current fishing year, NMFS
has also closed the commercial longline
component on April 7, 2023, and the
recreational sector on July 17, 2023, for
golden tilefish through 2023 (88 FR
20079, April 5, 2023; 88 FR 45369, July
17, 2023). Therefore, because the
commercial longline component and
recreational sector are already closed,
and NMFS is closing the commercial
hook-and-line component through this
temporary rule, all harvest and
possession of South Atlantic golden
tilefish in or from the EEZ is prohibited
from the effective date of this temporary
rule through the end of 2023.
The operator of a vessel issued a valid
Federal commercial vessel permit for
South Atlantic snapper-grouper with
golden tilefish on board harvested by
hook-and-line must have landed and
bartered, traded, or sold such golden
tilefish prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern time
on October 31, 2023. During the closure,
the sale or purchase of golden tilefish
harvested from the EEZ is prohibited.
The prohibition on sale or purchase
does not apply to the sale or purchase
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 208 / Monday, October 30, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
of golden tilefish that were harvested by
hook-and-line, landed ashore, and sold
before 12:01 a.m. eastern time on
October 31, 2023, and were held in cold
storage by a dealer or processor. For a
person on board a vessel for which a
Federal commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for the South Atlantic
snapper-grouper fishery has been
issued, the recreational bag and
possession limits and the sale and
purchase prohibitions during the
commercial closure for golden tilefish
apply regardless of whether the fish are
harvested in state or Federal waters, as
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).
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)(1), 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 commercial closure
of the golden tilefish hook-and-line
component have 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 golden tilefish
resource and minimize the risk of
exceeding the commercial ACL. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time, which
would allow for additional commercial
landings, and could therefore result in
exceedance of the sector 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: October 24, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
[FR Doc. 2023–23835 Filed 10–25–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:45 Oct 27, 2023
Jkt 262001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648–
XD297]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using
pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the
2023 total allowable catch (TAC) of
Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), October, 26, 2023,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abby Jahn, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act). Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR parts 600
and 679.
The 2023 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
is 3,062 metric tons (mt) as established
by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the 2023 Pacific cod
TAC apportioned to vessels using pot
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA will soon be reached.
SUMMARY:
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74067
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 3,052 mt and is setting
aside the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
While this closure is effective, the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
part 679, 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, as it would prevent
NMFS from responding to the most
recent fisheries data in a timely fashion,
and would delay the closure of Pacific
cod by vessels using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of October 24,
2023.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA also finds good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in the
effective date of this action under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based
upon the reasons provided above for
waiver of prior notice and opportunity
for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 25, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–23882 Filed 10–25–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74066-74067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23835]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120404257-3325-02; RTID 0648-XD427]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2023 Commercial Hook-and-Line Closure for Golden Tilefish in the South
Atlantic
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial
hook-and-line component of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic
exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects that commercial landings
of golden tilefish harvested by hook-and-line are projected to reach
the commercial component quota in the 2023 fishing year. Accordingly,
NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish
in the South Atlantic EEZ for the remainder of the 2023 fishing year to
protect the golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on
October 31, 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 golden 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 gutted weight.
The commercial sector for golden tilefish has two components, each
with its own quota: The hook-and-line and longline components (50 CFR
622.190(a)(2)). The commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for golden
tilefish is allocated 25 percent to the hook-and-line component and 75
percent to the longline component. The total commercial ACL (equivalent
to the total commercial quota) for golden tilefish is 331,740 lb
(150,475 kg). The commercial ACL (equivalent to the commercial quota)
for the hook-and-line component is 82,935 lb (37,619 kg).
Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the
commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish when its
commercial ACL has been reached, or is projected to be reached, through
a notification filed with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS
projects that commercial landings of South Atlantic golden tilefish by
the hook-and-line component will reach the ACL by October 31, 2023.
Accordingly, the commercial hook-and-line component of South Atlantic
golden tilefish is closed on October 31, 2023.
For the current fishing year, NMFS has also closed the commercial
longline component on April 7, 2023, and the recreational sector on
July 17, 2023, for golden tilefish through 2023 (88 FR 20079, April 5,
2023; 88 FR 45369, July 17, 2023). Therefore, because the commercial
longline component and recreational sector are already closed, and NMFS
is closing the commercial hook-and-line component through this
temporary rule, all harvest and possession of South Atlantic golden
tilefish in or from the EEZ is prohibited from the effective date of
this temporary rule through the end of 2023.
The operator of a vessel issued a valid Federal commercial vessel
permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper with golden tilefish on board
harvested by hook-and-line must have landed and bartered, traded, or
sold such golden tilefish prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern time on October
31, 2023. During the closure, the sale or purchase of golden tilefish
harvested from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or
purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase
[[Page 74067]]
of golden tilefish that were harvested by hook-and-line, landed ashore,
and sold before 12:01 a.m. eastern time on October 31, 2023, and were
held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on board a
vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit
for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the
recreational bag and possession limits and the sale and purchase
prohibitions during the commercial closure for golden tilefish apply
regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal
waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).
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)(1), 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
commercial closure of the golden tilefish hook-and-line component have
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 golden tilefish resource and
minimize the risk of exceeding the commercial ACL. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment would require time, which would allow
for additional commercial landings, and could therefore result in
exceedance of the sector 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: October 24, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-23835 Filed 10-25-23; 4:15 pm]
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