80 FR 10392 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 38 (February 26, 2015)

Page Range		10392-10392
FR Document		2015-04024

NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10392]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04024]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XD733


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper 
in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 
500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary 
to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 2, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Britni LaVine, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery includes 
vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic 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 
prepared the FMP 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.
    The commercial quota for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic is 
divided into two 6-month time periods, January through June and July 
through December. For the January 1 through June 30, 2015, fishing 
season, the commercial quota is 394,829 lb (179,091 kg), gutted weight 
(438,260 lb (198,791 kg), round weight), as specified in 50 CFR 
622.190(a)(4)(i)(C).
    Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the 
commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 lb (454 kg), 
gutted weight (1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight), to 500 lb (227 kg), 
gutted weight (555 lb (252 kg), round weight), when 75 percent of the 
fishing season quota is reached or projected to be reached, by filing a 
notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register, as 
implemented by the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 18 (78 FR 47574, 
August 6, 2013). Based on current information, NMFS has determined that 
75 percent of the available commercial quota for the January 1 through 
June 30, 2015, fishing season for vermilion snapper will be reached by 
March 2, 2015. Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial trip limit 
for vermilion snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight (555 lb (252 
kg), round weight), in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., 
local time, on March 2, 2015. This 500-lb (227-kg), gutted weight, trip 
limit will remain in effect until July 1, 2015, or until the quota is 
reached and the commercial sector closes, whichever occurs first.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.
    These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without 
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
    This action responds to the best scientific information available. 
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this commercial trip limit reduction 
constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary and contrary to 
the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule 
establishing the trip limit has already been subject to notice and 
comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit 
reduction. They are contrary to the public interest, because there is a 
need to immediately implement this action to protect the vermilion 
snapper resource since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for 
rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment on this action would require time and would increase the 
probability that the commercial sector could exceed the quota.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the 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: February 23, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04024 Filed 2-23-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

10392 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 38 / Thursday, February 26, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

225.7010–4 Implementation. into two 6-month time periods, January procedures are unnecessary, because the
(a) 10 U.S.C. 2534(h) prohibits the use through June and July through rule establishing the trip limit has
of contract clauses or certifications to December. For the January 1 through already been subject to notice and
implement this restriction. June 30, 2015, fishing season, the comment, and all that remains is to
(b) Agencies shall accomplish commercial quota is 394,829 lb (179,091 notify the public of the trip limit
implementation of this restriction kg), gutted weight (438,260 lb (198,791 reduction. They are contrary to the
through use of management and kg), round weight), as specified in 50 public interest, because there is a need
oversight techniques that achieve the CFR 622.190(a)(4)(i)(C). to immediately implement this action to
objectives of this section without Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS protect the vermilion snapper resource
imposing a significant management is required to reduce the commercial since the capacity of the fishing fleet
burden on the Government or the trip limit for vermilion snapper from allows for rapid harvest of the quota.
contractor involved. 1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight (1,110 Prior notice and opportunity for public
lb (503 kg), round weight), to 500 lb comment on this action would require
[FR Doc. 2015–03855 Filed 2–25–15; 8:45 am]
(227 kg), gutted weight (555 lb (252 kg), time and would increase the probability
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
round weight), when 75 percent of the that the commercial sector could exceed
fishing season quota is reached or the quota.
projected to be reached, by filing a For the aforementioned reasons, the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE notification to that effect with the Office AA also finds good cause to waive the
of the Federal Register, as implemented 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
National Oceanic and Atmospheric by the final rule for Regulatory
Administration action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Amendment 18 (78 FR 47574, August 6,
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2013). Based on current information,
50 CFR Part 622 NMFS has determined that 75 percent of Dated: February 23, 2015.
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02] the available commercial quota for the Emily H. Menashes,
January 1 through June 30, 2015, fishing Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
RIN 0648–XD733 Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
season for vermilion snapper will be
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of reached by March 2, 2015. Accordingly, [FR Doc. 2015–04024 Filed 2–23–15; 4:15 pm]

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- NMFS is reducing the commercial trip BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

Grouper Resources of the South limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction (227 kg), gutted weight (555 lb (252 kg),
round weight), in or from the South DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time,
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and on March 2, 2015. This 500-lb (227-kg), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), gutted weight, trip limit will remain in Administration
Commerce. effect until July 1, 2015, or until the
quota is reached and the commercial 50 CFR Part 660
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction. sector closes, whichever occurs first. [Docket No. 140528460–5122–02]
Classification RIN 0648–BE25
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the
commercial trip limit for vermilion The Regional Administrator,
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
snapper in or from the exclusive Southeast Region, NMFS, has
Highly Migratory Fisheries; California
economic zone (EEZ) of the South determined this temporary rule is
Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery; Vessel
Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted necessary for the conservation and
Monitoring System and Pre-Trip
weight. This trip limit reduction is management of South Atlantic
Notification Requirements
necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent
vermilion snapper resource. with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., other applicable laws. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
local time, March 2, 2015, until 12:01 This action is taken under 50 CFR Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
a.m., local time, July 1, 2015. 622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt from Commerce.
review under Executive Order 12866. ACTION: Final rule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: These measures are exempt from the
Britni LaVine, NMFS Southeast procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility SUMMARY: NMFS is issuing regulations
Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– Act because the temporary rule is issued that require use of a NMFS-approved
5305, email: britni.lavine@noaa.gov. without opportunity for prior notice and vessel monitoring system (VMS) and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The comment. institute a pre-trip notification
snapper-grouper fishery includes This action responds to the best requirement for West Coast large-mesh
vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic scientific information available. The swordfish drift gillnet (DGN) vessel
and is managed under the Fishery Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, owners and operators. The DGN fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper- NOAA (AA), finds that the need to operates under the authority of the
Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic immediately implement this Federal Fishery Management Plan for
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic commercial trip limit reduction U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly
Fishery Management Council prepared constitutes good cause to waive the Migratory Species (HMS FMP).
the FMP and is implemented by NMFS requirements to provide prior notice Installing and operating VMS on vessels
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES

under the authority of the Magnuson- and opportunity for public comment in this fishery will provide NMFS and
Stevens Fishery Conservation and pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 law enforcement personnel with the
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice ability to monitor the DGN fishery for
Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. and opportunity for public comment on compliance with conservation
The commercial quota for vermilion this temporary rule is unnecessary and measures, efficiently deploy agents to
snapper in the South Atlantic is divided contrary to the public interest. Such inspect vessels, and provide the ability

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:05:04
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:05:04

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.
Dates		This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 2, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2015.
Contact		Britni LaVine, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 10392
RIN Number		0648-XD73

80 FR 10392 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 38 (February 26, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration