Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Harpoon Category Fishery for 2024, 63109-63110 [2024-17107]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 149 / Friday, August 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. The General Services Administration will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. OIRA has determined this rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’ under 5 U.S.C. 804(2). V. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not apply to this rule, because an opportunity for public comment is not required to be given for this rule under 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1). Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been prepared. 570.117–1 Federal leadership in environmental, energy, and economic performance. In order to create a clean energy economy that will increase our Nation’s prosperity, promote energy security, protect the interests of taxpayers, and safeguard the health of our environment, GSA will accomplish all sustainability requirements described in 570.117–2 that apply to lease acquisitions. 570.117–2 [Amended] 4. Amend section 570.117–2 in the introductory text by removing ‘‘comply’’ and adding ‘‘complies’’ in its place. ■ [FR Doc. 2024–16918 Filed 8–1–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–61–P VI. Paperwork Reduction Act DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to the GSAR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements, or the collection of information from offerors, contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 570 Government procurement. Jeffrey A. Koses, Senior Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services Administration. Therefore, GSA amends 48 CFR part 570 as set forth below: PART 570—ACQUIRING LEASEHOLD INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 570 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c). 2. Revise section 570.117 to read as follows: ■ 570.117 Sustainable requirements for lease acquisition. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES 3. Revise section 570.117–1 to read as follows: ■ 15:39 Aug 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 [Docket No. 220919–0193; RTID 0648– XE138] Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Closure of the Harpoon Category Fishery for 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS closes the Harpoon category fishery for large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2024 fishing year. This closure applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels. DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, July 31, 2024, through December 31, 2024. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contracting officers must include sustainable design requirements appropriate for the type of leasing action in the solicitations. Contracting officers can find solicitation requirements and instructions at https://www.gsa.gov/realestate/real-estate-services/leasing/ leasing-policy under the ’’Sustainability Policies’’ tab and within the applicable Leasing Desk Guide chapter to assist them in complying with GSA’s sustainable requirements. VerDate Sep<11>2014 50 CFR Part 635 Becky Curtis, becky.curtis@noaa.gov, or Larry Redd, Jr., larry.redd@noaa.gov, 301–427–8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BFT fisheries are managed under the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its amendments, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and consistent with the PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 63109 Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27(a) divides the U.S. BFT quota established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and as implemented by the United States among the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS is required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act at 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(D) to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant international fishery agreements, such as the ICCAT Convention, which is implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA. Under § 635.28(a)(1), NMFS files a closure notice with the Office of the Federal Register for publication when a BFT quota (or subquota) is reached or is projected to be reached. Retaining, possessing, or landing BFT under that quota category is prohibited on and after the effective date and time of a closure notice for that category, for the remainder of the fishing year, until the opening of the subsequent quota period or until such date as specified. As described in § 635.27(a), the current baseline U.S. BFT quota is 1,316.14 metric tons (mt) (not including the 25 mt ICCAT allocated to the United States to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline fisheries in the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area per § 635.27(a)(3)). The Harpoon category baseline quota is 59.2 mt. Effective July 15, 2024, NMFS transferred 10.8 mt from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category, resulting in an adjusted quota of 70.0 mt for the Harpoon category and 27.4 mt for the Reserve category (89 FR 58074, July 17, 2024). As described under § 635.27(a)(4), the Harpoon category quota is only available between June 1 and November 15 of each year. Harpoon Category Closure To date, reported landings for the Harpoon category total approximately 74.5 mt. Based on these landings data, as well as average catch rates and anticipated fishing conditions, NMFS has determined that the adjusted quota of 70 mt has been reached and exceeded, and that the Harpoon category should be closed. Therefore, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium or giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) CFL or greater) BFT by persons aboard vessels permitted in the Harpoon category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on July 31, 2024. The Harpoon category BFT fishery will be E:\FR\FM\02AUR1.SGM 02AUR1 63110 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 149 / Friday, August 2, 2024 / Rules and Regulations closed for the remainder of the Harpoon category season, which ends November 15, 2024, and thus for the year. The Harpoon category will reopen automatically on June 1, 2025, for the 2025 fishing season. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted vessels, and is taken consistent with the regulations at § 635.28(a)(1). Monitoring and Reporting khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. Per § 635.5(b)(2)(i)(A), dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. Late reporting by dealers compromises NMFS’ ability to timely implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments, as well as closures, and may result in enforcement actions. Additionally, and separate from the dealer-reporting requirement, Harpoon category vessel owners are required per § 635.5(a)(4) to report their own catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing https:// hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Catch Reporting app, or calling 888– 872–8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:39 Aug 01, 2024 Jkt 262001 may determine that additional adjustments are necessary to ensure available subquotas are not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. If needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal Register. In addition, fishermen may access https://hmspermits. noaa.gov, for updates on quota monitoring and inseason adjustments. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(d)) and regulations at 50 CFR part 635 and this action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), it is impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior notice of, and an opportunity for public comment on, this action for the following reasons. Specifically, the regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments and fishery closures to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in the BFT fishery. Providing for prior PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 notice and opportunity to comment is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as this fishery is currently underway and, based on the most recent landings information, the available quota for the category has been reached. Delaying this action could result in further BFT landings which exceed the Harpoon category quota, which may result in future potential quota reductions for other BFT categories, depending on the magnitude of a potential Harpoon category overharvest. Taking this action does not raise conservation and management concerns and would support effective management of the BFT fishery. NMFS notes that the public had an opportunity to comment on the underlying rulemakings that established the U.S. BFT quota and the inseason adjustment and closure criteria. For all of the above reasons, the AA also finds that pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq. Dated: July 30, 2024. Lindsay Fullenkamp, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–17107 Filed 7–30–24; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\02AUR1.SGM 02AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63109-63110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 220919-0193; RTID 0648-XE138]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries; Closure of the Harpoon Category Fishery for 2024

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Harpoon category fishery for large medium and 
giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL) or 
greater) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2024 
fishing year. This closure applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category 
permitted vessels.

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, July 31, 2024, through 
December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Curtis, [email protected], 
or Larry Redd, Jr., [email protected], 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic BFT fisheries are managed under the 
2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) and its amendments, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq.) and consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 
16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 
635. Section 635.27(a) divides the U.S. BFT quota established by the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
and as implemented by the United States among the various domestic 
fishing categories, per the allocations established in the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS is required under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act at 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(D) to provide U.S. fishing 
vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant 
international fishery agreements, such as the ICCAT Convention, which 
is implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA.
    Under Sec.  635.28(a)(1), NMFS files a closure notice with the 
Office of the Federal Register for publication when a BFT quota (or 
subquota) is reached or is projected to be reached. Retaining, 
possessing, or landing BFT under that quota category is prohibited on 
and after the effective date and time of a closure notice for that 
category, for the remainder of the fishing year, until the opening of 
the subsequent quota period or until such date as specified.
    As described in Sec.  635.27(a), the current baseline U.S. BFT 
quota is 1,316.14 metric tons (mt) (not including the 25 mt ICCAT 
allocated to the United States to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic 
longline fisheries in the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area per 
Sec.  635.27(a)(3)). The Harpoon category baseline quota is 59.2 mt. 
Effective July 15, 2024, NMFS transferred 10.8 mt from the Reserve 
category to the Harpoon category, resulting in an adjusted quota of 
70.0 mt for the Harpoon category and 27.4 mt for the Reserve category 
(89 FR 58074, July 17, 2024). As described under Sec.  635.27(a)(4), 
the Harpoon category quota is only available between June 1 and 
November 15 of each year.

Harpoon Category Closure

    To date, reported landings for the Harpoon category total 
approximately 74.5 mt. Based on these landings data, as well as average 
catch rates and anticipated fishing conditions, NMFS has determined 
that the adjusted quota of 70 mt has been reached and exceeded, and 
that the Harpoon category should be closed. Therefore, retaining, 
possessing, or landing large medium or giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches 
(185 cm) CFL or greater) BFT by persons aboard vessels permitted in the 
Harpoon category must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on July 31, 2024. 
The Harpoon category BFT fishery will be

[[Page 63110]]

closed for the remainder of the Harpoon category season, which ends 
November 15, 2024, and thus for the year. The Harpoon category will 
reopen automatically on June 1, 2025, for the 2025 fishing season. This 
action applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) 
permitted vessels, and is taken consistent with the regulations at 
Sec.  635.28(a)(1).

Monitoring and Reporting

    NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries closely. Per Sec.  
635.5(b)(2)(i)(A), dealers are required to submit landing reports 
within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. Late reporting by dealers 
compromises NMFS' ability to timely implement actions such as quota and 
retention limit adjustments, as well as closures, and may result in 
enforcement actions. Additionally, and separate from the dealer-
reporting requirement, Harpoon category vessel owners are required per 
Sec.  635.5(a)(4) to report their own catch of all BFT retained or 
discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, 
by accessing https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Catch Reporting 
app, or calling 888-872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 
4:30 p.m.).
    Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, 
NMFS may determine that additional adjustments are necessary to ensure 
available subquotas are not exceeded or to enhance scientific data 
collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. If 
needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal 
Register. In addition, fishermen may access https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on quota monitoring and inseason 
adjustments.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(d)) and regulations at 50 CFR part 635 and 
this action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), it is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest to provide prior notice of, and an opportunity for public 
comment on, this action for the following reasons. Specifically, the 
regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its 
amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments and fishery 
closures to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on 
the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the 
regional variations in the BFT fishery. Providing for prior notice and 
opportunity to comment is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest as this fishery is currently underway and, based on the most 
recent landings information, the available quota for the category has 
been reached. Delaying this action could result in further BFT landings 
which exceed the Harpoon category quota, which may result in future 
potential quota reductions for other BFT categories, depending on the 
magnitude of a potential Harpoon category overharvest. Taking this 
action does not raise conservation and management concerns and would 
support effective management of the BFT fishery. NMFS notes that the 
public had an opportunity to comment on the underlying rulemakings that 
established the U.S. BFT quota and the inseason adjustment and closure 
criteria.
    For all of the above reasons, the AA also finds that pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d), there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 30, 2024.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17107 Filed 7-30-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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