Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer From Maine to Massachusetts, 84106-84107 [2024-24320]

Download as PDF 84106 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 203 / Monday, October 21, 2024 / Rules and Regulations lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 in affected area is available from the NMFS Fisheries Monitoring Branch at 1–305–361–4581. SRHS program participants may delay electronic reporting of logbooks to NMFS during catastrophic conditions. SRHS participants are to report all logbooks to NMFS as soon as possible. South Atlantic Federal for-hire operators may delay electronic reporting of logbooks and ‘‘Did Not Fish’’ reports to NMFS during catastrophic conditions. South Atlantic Federal forhire operators are to report all landings or Did Not Fish reports to NMFS as soon as possible. Assistance for Federal forhire operators in the affected area is available from the NMFS Southeast ForHire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program at 1–833–707–1632, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The electronic systems for submitting information to NMFS will continue to be available to all Federal for-hire operators, and forhire operators are encouraged to continue using these systems, if accessible. NMFS previously provided Federal IFQ dealers with the necessary paper forms and instructions for submission in the event of catastrophic conditions. Paper forms are also available from the RA upon request. The electronic systems for submitting information to NMFS will continue to be available to all dealers, and dealers in the affected area are encouraged to continue using these systems, if accessible. The administrative program functions available to IFQ participants in the area affected by catastrophic conditions will be limited under the paper-based system. There will be no mechanism for transfers of IFQ shares or allocation under the paper-based system in effect during catastrophic conditions. Assistance in complying with the requirements of the paper-based system will be available via the NMFS Catch Share Support line, 1–866–425–7627 Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is consistent with the regulations in 50 CFR 622.5(c)(1)(iii), 622.21(a)(3)(iii), 622.22(a)(3)(iii), 622.26(b)(3) (2020), 622.176(b)(3), 622.271(b)(3), and 622.374(b)(3) (2020), which were 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Oct 18, 2024 Jkt 265001 this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the final rules implementing the Gulf IFQ programs, the Gulf and South Atlantic Federal dealer reporting requirements, and Gulf and South Atlantic for-hire vessel reporting requirements, and the SRHS reporting requirements have already been subject to notice and public comment. These rules authorize the RA to determine when catastrophic conditions exist, and which participants or geographic areas are deemed affected by catastrophic conditions. The final rules also authorize the RA to provide timely notice to affected participants via publication of notification in the Federal Register, NOAA Weather Radio, Fishery Bulletins, and other appropriate means. All that remains is to notify the public that catastrophic conditions exist, that Federal dealers and may use paper forms, and that Federal dealers, South Atlantic for-hire permit holders, and SRHS participants may submit delayed reports. Such procedures are also contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action because affected dealers continue to receive these species in the affected area and fishermen continue to operate, and need a means of completing their landing transactions and logbook reports. With the power outages and damages to infrastructure that have occurred in the affected area due to Hurricane Milton, numerous businesses are unable to complete landings transactions, fishing reports, and dealer reports electronically. In order to continue with their businesses, IFQ dealers need to be aware they can report using the paper forms, and Federal dealers, South Atlantic for-hire permit holders, and SRHS participants need to be aware that they can delay reporting. For the aforementioned reasons, there is 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 16, 2024. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–24276 Filed 10–16–24; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 231215–0305; RTID 0648– XE378] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer From Maine to Massachusetts National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a portion of its 2024 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This adjustment to the 2024 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial quotas for Maine and Massachusetts. SUMMARY: Effective October 18, 2024, through December 31, 2024. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Rigdon, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9336. 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 the final 2024 allocations were published on December 21, 2023 (88 FR 88266). The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the FMP, as 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: (1) the transfers or combinations would not preclude the E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM 21OCR1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 203 / Monday, October 21, 2024 / Rules and Regulations lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 overall annual quota from being fully harvested; (2) the transfers address an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and (3) the transfers are 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. Maine is transferring 4,000 pounds (lb; 1,814 kilograms (kg)) of summer VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Oct 18, 2024 Jkt 265001 flounder to Massachusetts through a mutual agreement between the states. This transfer was requested to help address an overage of the Massachusetts 2024 summer flounder quota. The revised summer flounder quotas for 2024 are: Maine, 180 lb (82 kg); and Massachusetts, 619,561 lb (281,028 kg). Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 84107 648.102(c)(2)(i) through (iv), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and is exempted from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 16, 2024. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–24320 Filed 10–18–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\21OCR1.SGM 21OCR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84106-84107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24320]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 231215-0305; RTID 0648-XE378]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder 
Fishery; Quota Transfer From Maine to Massachusetts

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a 
portion of its 2024 commercial summer flounder quota to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This adjustment to the 2024 fishing year 
quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black 
Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This 
announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial quotas 
for Maine and Massachusetts.

DATES: Effective October 18, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Rigdon, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9336.

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 the final 2024 allocations 
were published on December 21, 2023 (88 FR 88266).
    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the FMP, as 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: (1) the transfers or combinations would not preclude the

[[Page 84107]]

overall annual quota from being fully harvested; (2) the transfers 
address an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and (3) 
the transfers are 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.
    Maine is transferring 4,000 pounds (lb; 1,814 kilograms (kg)) of 
summer flounder to Massachusetts through a mutual agreement between the 
states. This transfer was requested to help address an overage of the 
Massachusetts 2024 summer flounder quota. The revised summer flounder 
quotas for 2024 are: Maine, 180 lb (82 kg); and Massachusetts, 619,561 
lb (281,028 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) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and is exempted from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 16, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-24320 Filed 10-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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