Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2025 Recreational Season Announcement and Closure for Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic, 13099 [2025-04788]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 53 / Thursday, March 20, 2025 / Rules and Regulations mackerel is open (50 CFR 622.384(e)(1)), a person on a vessel that has a valid Federal commercial gillnet permit for king mackerel may continue to retain king mackerel under the recreational bag and possession limits set forth in 50 CFR 622.382(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2). During the commercial closure, Gulf king mackerel harvested using runaround gillnet gear in the southern zone may not be purchased or sold. This prohibition does not apply to Gulf king mackerel harvested using run-around gillnet gear in the southern zone that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor (50 CFR 622.384(e)(2)). Classification ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.388(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 is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedure is unnecessary because the regulations associated with the commercial quota and associated AM for Gulf king mackerel have already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action is contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement the closure to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource. The capacity of the commercial fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota, and any delay in the closure could result in the commercial quota being exceeded. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest that exceeds the commercial quota. For the reasons just stated, there is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 17, 2025. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–04783 Filed 3–17–25; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:41 Mar 19, 2025 Jkt 265001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 231101–0256; RTID 0648– XE647] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2025 Recreational Season Announcement and 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 announces the 2025 recreational fishing season for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Announcing the length of the recreational fishing season is the accountability measure (AM) for the recreational sector. NMFS estimates that recreational landings of golden tilefish will soon reach the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. Accordingly, NMFS announces the closure date for the recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to protect the golden tilefish resource. SUMMARY: This temporary rule is effective from March 21 through December 31, 2025. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: karla.gore@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 SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and 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. Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) specify the 2025 recreational ACL for golden tilefish of 2,694 fish, and the recreational AM. The recreational AM states that NMFS will project the length of the recreational fishing season for golden tilefish based on catch rates from the previous fishing year and announce the end date of the recreational season PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 13099 [50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)]. The fishing year and season for recreational harvest of golden tilefish started on January 1, 2025. Data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center informed NMFS’ projection that recreational landings will reach the recreational ACL for 2025 by March 21. Therefore, NMFS announces that the last day of the recreational season for golden tilefish is March 20, 2025. The recreational season and harvest of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ is closed starting on March 21, 2025, and continues to be closed through the end of the calendar year. During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits for golden tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. The next recreational fishing year and season for golden tilefish begins on January 1, 2026. 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)(2), 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 rule that established the recreational ACL and AM for golden tilefish has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the end date of the recreational season. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect the golden tilefish stock. The recreational ACL will soon be reached and prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require additional time, potentially resulting in a harvest well in excess of the established ACL. For the reasons just stated, there is also 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: March 17, 2025. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–04788 Filed 3–17–25; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\20MRR1.SGM 20MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 53 (Thursday, March 20, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04788]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 231101-0256; RTID 0648-XE647]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2025 Recreational Season Announcement and 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the 2025 recreational fishing season for golden 
tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. 
Announcing the length of the recreational fishing season is the 
accountability measure (AM) for the recreational sector. NMFS estimates 
that recreational landings of golden tilefish will soon reach the 
recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. 
Accordingly, NMFS announces the closure date for the recreational 
harvest of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to protect the 
golden tilefish resource.

DATES: This temporary rule is effective from March 21 through December 
31, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, 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 FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council and NMFS, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and 
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.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) specify the 2025 recreational 
ACL for golden tilefish of 2,694 fish, and the recreational AM. The 
recreational AM states that NMFS will project the length of the 
recreational fishing season for golden tilefish based on catch rates 
from the previous fishing year and announce the end date of the 
recreational season [50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)]. The fishing year and season 
for recreational harvest of golden tilefish started on January 1, 2025. 
Data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center informed NMFS' 
projection that recreational landings will reach the recreational ACL 
for 2025 by March 21. Therefore, NMFS announces that the last day of 
the recreational season for golden tilefish is March 20, 2025. The 
recreational season and harvest of golden tilefish in the South 
Atlantic EEZ is closed starting on March 21, 2025, and continues to be 
closed through the end of the calendar year. During the recreational 
closure, the bag and possession limits for golden tilefish in or from 
the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. The next recreational fishing year and 
season for golden tilefish begins on January 1, 2026.

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)(2), 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 rule that established the 
recreational ACL and AM for golden tilefish has already been subject to 
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the 
end date of the recreational season. Such procedures are contrary to 
the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this 
action to protect the golden tilefish stock. The recreational ACL will 
soon be reached and prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
would require additional time, potentially resulting in a harvest well 
in excess of the established ACL.
    For the reasons just stated, there is also 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: March 17, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04788 Filed 3-17-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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