Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2024 Commercial Trip Limit Reduction and Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack, 50529-50530 [2024-13046]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
individually or cumulatively have a
significant effect on the human
environment. This rule involves
establishment of a temporary moving
safety zone for navigable waters of the
La Quinta Channel between gated pair
lights 11 and 12 from the sea buoy. The
safety zone is needed to protect
personnel, vessels, and the marine
environment from potential hazards
created by the rig Valaris 144 while it
is towed to Kiewit Offshore Services. It
is categorically excluded from further
review under paragraph L60(c), in
Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction
Manual 023–01–001–01, Rev. 1.
authorized by the COTP or a designated
representative. They may be contacted
on Channel 16 VHF–FM (156.8 MHz) or
by telephone at 361–939–0450.
(2) If permission is granted, all
persons and vessels shall comply with
the instructions of the COTP or
designated representative.
(d) Information broadcasts. The COTP
or a designated representative will
inform the public of the enforcement
times and date for this safety zone
through Broadcast Notices to Mariners,
Local Notices to Mariners, and/or Safety
Marine Information Broadcasts as
appropriate.
G. Protest Activities
The Coast Guard respects the First
Amendment rights of protesters.
Protesters are asked to contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section to
coordinate protest activities so that your
message can be received without
jeopardizing the safety or security of
people, places, or vessels.
Dated: June 10, 2024.
Jason Gunning,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port, Sector Corpus Christi.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation
(water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Security measures,
Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33
CFR part 165 as follows:
Authority: 46 U.S.C 70034, 70051; 70124;
33 CFR 1.05–1, 6.04–1, 6.04–6, and 160.5;
Department of Homeland Security Delegation
No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.
2. Add § 165.T08–0518 to read as
follows:
■
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2024
Commercial Trip Limit Reduction and
Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater
Amberjack
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction and closure.
NMFS reduces the
commercial trip limit for greater
amberjack in or from the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of
Mexico (Gulf) to 250 lb (113 kg), gutted
weight; 260 lb (118 kg), round weight,
on June 16, 2024, as a result of 75
percent of the adjusted commercial
quota being reached. Additionally,
subsequent to the trip limit reduction,
NMFS implements an accountability
measure (AM) for Gulf commercial
greater amberjack to close commercial
harvest when NMFS projects landings
have reached the adjusted commercial
annual catch target (ACT). The 2024
commercial fishing season for greater
amberjack in the Gulf EEZ will close on
June 30, 2024, and will remain closed
through December 31, 2024. These
actions are necessary to protect the Gulf
greater amberjack resource.
SUMMARY:
§ 165.T08–0518 Safety Zone; La Quinta
and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel,
Ingleside, TX.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
AGENCY:
1. The authority citation for part 165
continues to read as follows:
(a) Location. The following area is a
safety zone: all navigable waters of the
La Quinta Channel between gated pair
lights 11 and 12 to the sea buoy. Entry
of vessels or persons into this zone is
prohibited unless specifically
authorized by the Captain of the Port
Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a
designated representative.
(b) Enforcement period. This section
will be subject to enforcement from 6
a.m. to 2 p.m. each day from June 10,
2024, through June 16, 2024.
(c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with
the general regulations in § 165.23 of
this part, entry into this temporary,
moving safety zone is prohibited unless
Jkt 262001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 1206013412–2517–02; RTID
0648–XE023]
■
16:11 Jun 13, 2024
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
50 CFR Part 622
PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION
AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
VerDate Sep<11>2014
[FR Doc. 2024–13139 Filed 6–13–24; 8:45 am]
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50529
The commercial trip limit
reduction is effective 12:01 a.m., local
time, June 16, 2024, until 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 30, 2024. The
commercial closure is effective 12:01
a.m., local time, June 30, 2024, through
December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, 727–824–5305, or Frank.Helies@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the reef fish fishery of the Gulf,
which includes greater amberjack,
under the Fishery Management Plan for
the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf
(FMP). The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (Council)
prepared the FMP, which was approved
by the Secretary of Commerce, and
NMFS implements the FMP under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
regulations at 50 CFR part 622. Unless
otherwise specified, all greater
amberjack weights discussed in this
temporary rule are in round weight.
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.43(a)
specify a commercial trip limit for Gulf
greater amberjack of 1,000 pounds (lb;
454 kilogram (kg)), gutted weight, (1,040
lb (472 kg)). Additionally, the
commercial trip limit is reduced to 250
lb (113 kg), gutted weight, (260 lb (118
kg)) when 75 percent of the commercial
quota (commercial ACT) has been
landed.
On June 15, 2023, NMFS published
the final rule implementing Amendment
54 to the FMP (88 FR 39193). Among
other measures, that final rule decreased
the commercial annual catch limit
(ACL) and commercial quota for Gulf
greater amberjack. The Amendment 54
final rule set the commercial ACL and
quota at 101,000 lb (45,813 kg), and
93,930 lb (42,606 kg), respectively (50
CFR 622.41(a)(1)(iii) and
622.39(a)(1)(v)).
NMFS previously determined that in
2023, the commercial harvest of greater
amberjack exceeded the 2023
commercial ACL of 101,000 lb (45,813
kg) by 35,280 lb (16,003 kg). As
described in 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(ii),
NMFS is required to reduce both the
commercial ACL and the commercial
quota for greater amberjack in the year
following an overage of the commercial
ACL, by the amount of any commercial
ACL overage. Consistent with the
commercial AM, for the 2024 fishing
year, NMFS reduced both the
commercial ACL and the commercial
quota to 65,720 lb (29,810 kg) and
58,650 lb (26,603 kg), respectively (88
FR 90995, November 21, 2023).
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\14JNR1.SGM
14JNR1
50530
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 116 / Friday, June 14, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
On December 18, 2023, NMFS
published a final temporary rule to
implement emergency measures for Gulf
greater amberjack (88 FR 87365). That
temporary rule implemented a revised
commercial trip limit of seven fish to
decrease the likelihood of exceeding the
adjusted 2024 catch limits and to extend
the 2024 commercial fishing season.
The emergency measures are effective
through June 15, 2024. On May 15,
2024, NMFS published a proposed rule
to implement a framework action
recommended by the Council that
would modify the commercial trip limit
to seven fish (89 FR 42413). However,
if implemented, this commercial trip
limit will not be effective before NMFS
projects that the 2024 adjusted
commercial quota will be reached.
Commercial Trip Limit Reduction
NMFS has determined that when the
emergency measures implementing the
seven fish commercial trip limit end on
June 15, 2024, 75 percent of the Gulf
greater amberjack 2024 adjusted
commercial quota will have been
reached. Accordingly, consistent with
50 CFR 622.43(a)(2), NMFS is reducing
the greater amberjack commercial trip
limit to 250 lb (113 kg), gutted weight,
(260 lb (118 kg)) in or from the Gulf EEZ
at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 16, 2024.
This reduced commercial trip limit will
remain in effect until 12:01 a.m., local
time, June 30, 2024, the date that NMFS
has projected that the Gulf greater
amberjack 2024 adjusted commercial
quota will be reached.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Commercial AM and Closure
Under 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(i), NMFS
is required to close the greater
amberjack commercial sector when the
commercial ACT is reached, or is
projected to be reached, by filing a
notification to that effect with the Office
of the Federal Register. NMFS has
determined that the 2024 adjusted
commercial ACT of 58,650 lb (26,603
kg) will be reached as of June 30, 2024.
Accordingly, NMFS closes commercial
harvest of greater amberjack from the
Gulf EEZ effective 12:01 a.m., local
time, June 30, 2024, through December
31, 2024.
During the commercial closure, the
sale or purchase of greater amberjack
taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The
prohibition on sale or purchase does not
apply to the sale or purchase of greater
amberjack that were harvested, landed
ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 30, 2024, and were held
in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
The commercial sector for greater
amberjack will re-open on January 1,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:11 Jun 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
2025, the beginning of the 2025 greater
amberjack commercial fishing season.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
622.41(a)(1) and 622.43(a)(2), which
were issued pursuant to section 304(b)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and are
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 is
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the regulations
associated with the closure of the
greater amberjack commercial sector 50
CFR 622.41(a)(1) and the commercial
trip limit reduction at 50 CFR
622.43(a)(2) have already been subject to
notice and public comment, and all that
remains is to notify the public of the trip
limit reduction and subsequent 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 the greater amberjack stock.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and could
result in a harvest well in excess of the
commercial ACL. NMFS is required to
reduce the 2025 commercial ACT and
ACL by the amount of any overage of
the 2024 commercial ACL, which would
reduce the 2025 fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
(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).
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 240610–0155]
RIN 0648–BN05
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region; Temporary Measures To
Reduce Overfishing of Red Snapper
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; interim
measures.
AGENCY:
Dated: June 10, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
NMFS implements this final
temporary rule to reduce overfishing of
red snapper in Federal waters of the
South Atlantic. For the 2024 fishing
year, this temporary rule reduces the
commercial and recreational annual
catch limits (ACLs) and revises the
authority of the Regional Administrator
to change the red snapper recreational
season dates under certain adverse
weather conditions. This temporary rule
also announces the red snapper 2024
commercial and recreational fishing
season dates in the South Atlantic. This
temporary rule is effective for 180 days.
The purpose of this temporary rule is to
reduce overfishing of red snapper and to
provide notification of the red snapper
seasons for 2024.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective
on June 14, 2024, through December 11,
2024. The 2024 red snapper commercial
season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time,
July 8, 2024, until 12:01 a.m., local time,
January 1, 2025, unless changed by
subsequent notification in the Federal
Register. The 2024 red snapper
recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m.,
local time, on July 12, 2024, and closes
at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 13,
2024.
[FR Doc. 2024–13046 Filed 6–10–24; 4:15 pm]
ADDRESSES:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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SUMMARY:
Electronic copies of the
environmental assessment (EA)
supporting these interim measures,
which includes a Regulatory Impact
Review (RIR), may be obtained from the
Southeast Regional Office website at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/
2024-south-atlantic-red-snapper-season.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
DeVictor, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, or
email: rick.devictor@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS,
with the advice of the South Atlantic
E:\FR\FM\14JNR1.SGM
14JNR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 116 (Friday, June 14, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50529-50530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13046]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 1206013412-2517-02; RTID 0648-XE023]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2024 Commercial Trip Limit Reduction and Closure for Gulf of Mexico
Greater Amberjack
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction and closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for greater amberjack
in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico
(Gulf) to 250 lb (113 kg), gutted weight; 260 lb (118 kg), round
weight, on June 16, 2024, as a result of 75 percent of the adjusted
commercial quota being reached. Additionally, subsequent to the trip
limit reduction, NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for
Gulf commercial greater amberjack to close commercial harvest when NMFS
projects landings have reached the adjusted commercial annual catch
target (ACT). The 2024 commercial fishing season for greater amberjack
in the Gulf EEZ will close on June 30, 2024, and will remain closed
through December 31, 2024. These actions are necessary to protect the
Gulf greater amberjack resource.
DATES: The commercial trip limit reduction is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 16, 2024, until 12:01 a.m., local time, June 30, 2024.
The commercial closure is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 30,
2024, through December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, 727-824-5305, or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the reef fish fishery of the
Gulf, which includes greater amberjack, under the Fishery Management
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP). The Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP, which was
approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and NMFS implements the FMP
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part
622. Unless otherwise specified, all greater amberjack weights
discussed in this temporary rule are in round weight.
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.43(a) specify a commercial trip limit for
Gulf greater amberjack of 1,000 pounds (lb; 454 kilogram (kg)), gutted
weight, (1,040 lb (472 kg)). Additionally, the commercial trip limit is
reduced to 250 lb (113 kg), gutted weight, (260 lb (118 kg)) when 75
percent of the commercial quota (commercial ACT) has been landed.
On June 15, 2023, NMFS published the final rule implementing
Amendment 54 to the FMP (88 FR 39193). Among other measures, that final
rule decreased the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) and commercial
quota for Gulf greater amberjack. The Amendment 54 final rule set the
commercial ACL and quota at 101,000 lb (45,813 kg), and 93,930 lb
(42,606 kg), respectively (50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(iii) and
622.39(a)(1)(v)).
NMFS previously determined that in 2023, the commercial harvest of
greater amberjack exceeded the 2023 commercial ACL of 101,000 lb
(45,813 kg) by 35,280 lb (16,003 kg). As described in 50 CFR
622.41(a)(1)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce both the commercial ACL
and the commercial quota for greater amberjack in the year following an
overage of the commercial ACL, by the amount of any commercial ACL
overage. Consistent with the commercial AM, for the 2024 fishing year,
NMFS reduced both the commercial ACL and the commercial quota to 65,720
lb (29,810 kg) and 58,650 lb (26,603 kg), respectively (88 FR 90995,
November 21, 2023).
[[Page 50530]]
On December 18, 2023, NMFS published a final temporary rule to
implement emergency measures for Gulf greater amberjack (88 FR 87365).
That temporary rule implemented a revised commercial trip limit of
seven fish to decrease the likelihood of exceeding the adjusted 2024
catch limits and to extend the 2024 commercial fishing season. The
emergency measures are effective through June 15, 2024. On May 15,
2024, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement a framework action
recommended by the Council that would modify the commercial trip limit
to seven fish (89 FR 42413). However, if implemented, this commercial
trip limit will not be effective before NMFS projects that the 2024
adjusted commercial quota will be reached.
Commercial Trip Limit Reduction
NMFS has determined that when the emergency measures implementing
the seven fish commercial trip limit end on June 15, 2024, 75 percent
of the Gulf greater amberjack 2024 adjusted commercial quota will have
been reached. Accordingly, consistent with 50 CFR 622.43(a)(2), NMFS is
reducing the greater amberjack commercial trip limit to 250 lb (113
kg), gutted weight, (260 lb (118 kg)) in or from the Gulf EEZ at 12:01
a.m., local time, June 16, 2024. This reduced commercial trip limit
will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m., local time, June 30, 2024, the
date that NMFS has projected that the Gulf greater amberjack 2024
adjusted commercial quota will be reached.
Commercial AM and Closure
Under 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the greater
amberjack commercial sector when the commercial ACT is reached, or is
projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with
the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the 2024
adjusted commercial ACT of 58,650 lb (26,603 kg) will be reached as of
June 30, 2024. Accordingly, NMFS closes commercial harvest of greater
amberjack from the Gulf EEZ effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 30,
2024, through December 31, 2024.
During the commercial closure, the sale or purchase of greater
amberjack taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or
purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of greater amberjack
that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local
time, June 30, 2024, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or
processor. The commercial sector for greater amberjack will re-open on
January 1, 2025, the beginning of the 2025 greater amberjack commercial
fishing season.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1) and
622.43(a)(2), which were issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and are 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 is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the
closure of the greater amberjack commercial sector 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)
and the commercial trip limit reduction at 50 CFR 622.43(a)(2) have
already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains
is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction and subsequent
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 the greater amberjack stock. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment would require time and could result in a
harvest well in excess of the commercial ACL. NMFS is required to
reduce the 2025 commercial ACT and ACL by the amount of any overage of
the 2024 commercial ACL, which would reduce the 2025 fishing season.
For the aforementioned reasons, the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries (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.
Dated: June 10, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-13046 Filed 6-10-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P