80_FR_32588 80 FR 32478 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region

80 FR 32478 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 110 (June 9, 2015)

Page Range32478-32478
FR Document2015-14048

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for recreational blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. The NMFS Science and Research Director estimates that recreational landings for blueline tilefish have reached the recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS is closing the recreational sector for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015, and it will remain closed until the 2016 recreational fishing season begins on May 1, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect the blueline tilefish resource.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32478]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14048]



[[Page 32478]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02]
RIN 0648-XD962


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2015 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Blueline 
Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for recreational 
blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South 
Atlantic. The NMFS Science and Research Director estimates that 
recreational landings for blueline tilefish have reached the 
recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS is closing the 
recreational sector for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ at 
12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015, and it will remain closed until 
the 2016 recreational fishing season begins on May 1, 2016. This 
closure is necessary to protect the blueline tilefish resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast 
Region, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish 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 and NMFS 
prepared the FMP, and the FMP is implemented under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    NMFS implemented management measures for blueline tilefish in 
Amendment 32 to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 
Atlantic Region (Amendment 32) (80 FR 16583, March 30, 2015). Amendment 
32 contains management measures that end overfishing of blueline 
tilefish in the South Atlantic.
    NMFS is required to close the recreational sector for blueline 
tilefish when the recreational ACL is reached, or is projected to be 
reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the 
Federal Register, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i). The 
recreational ACL for blueline tilefish in 2015 is 17,791 lb (8,070 kg), 
round weight. NMFS has determined that the recreational ACL for South 
Atlantic blueline tilefish has been reached. Accordingly, the 
recreational sector for South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed 
effective June 10, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016, 
the start of the next fishing year. However, as described in 50 CFR 
622.183(b)(7), the recreational sector for blueline tilefish is also 
closed from January 1 through April 30, and September 1 through 
December 31, each year. Therefore, the recreational sector may not 
harvest blueline tilefish until May 1, 2016.
    During the closure, the bag and possession limits for blueline 
tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. Additionally, NMFS 
closed the commercial sector for blueline tilefish effective April 7, 
2015, upon reaching the commercial ACL (80 FR 18551, April 7, 2015). 
Therefore, on June 10, 2015, no commercial or recreational harvest of 
blueline tilefish from the South Atlantic EEZ is permitted for the 
remainder of 2015. The commercial sector for blueline tilefish reopens 
on January 1, 2016.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
blueline tilefish and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) 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 action to close the recreational 
sector for blueline tilefish 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), as such 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment are unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary 
because the regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) have already been 
subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the 
public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public 
interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action 
to protect blueline tilefish, since the capacity of the recreational 
sector allows for rapid harvest of the recreational ACL. Prior notice 
and opportunity for public comment would require time and would 
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established 
recreational ACL.
    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: June 4, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14048 Filed 6-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

32478 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 9, 2015 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NMFS is required to close the interest. Such procedures are recreational sector for blueline tilefish unnecessary because the regulations at National Oceanic and Atmospheric when the recreational ACL is reached, 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i) have already Administration or is projected to be reached, by filing been subject to notice and comment, a notification to that effect with the and all that remains is to notify the 50 CFR Part 622 Office of the Federal Register, as public of the closure. Such procedures [Docket No. 140501394–5279–02] specified in 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2)(i). The are contrary to the public interest recreational ACL for blueline tilefish in because there is a need to immediately RIN 0648–XD962 2015 is 17,791 lb (8,070 kg), round implement this action to protect weight. NMFS has determined that the blueline tilefish, since the capacity of Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of recreational ACL for South Atlantic the recreational sector allows for rapid Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2015 blueline tilefish has been reached. harvest of the recreational ACL. Prior Recreational Accountability Measure Accordingly, the recreational sector for notice and opportunity for public and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed comment would require time and would South Atlantic Region effective June 10, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., potentially result in a harvest well in AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries local time, January 1, 2016, the start of excess of the established recreational Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the next fishing year. However, as ACL. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), described in 50 CFR 622.183(b)(7), the For the aforementioned reasons, the Commerce. recreational sector for blueline tilefish is AA also finds good cause to waive the ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. also closed from January 1 through 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this April 30, and September 1 through action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). SUMMARY: NMFS implements December 31, each year. Therefore, the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. accountability measures (AMs) for recreational sector may not harvest recreational blueline tilefish in the blueline tilefish until May 1, 2016. Dated: June 4, 2015. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the During the closure, the bag and Emily H. Menashes, South Atlantic. The NMFS Science and possession limits for blueline tilefish in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Research Director estimates that or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. recreational landings for blueline Additionally, NMFS closed the [FR Doc. 2015–14048 Filed 6–5–15; 8:45 am] tilefish have reached the recreational commercial sector for blueline tilefish BILLING CODE 3510–22–P annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, effective April 7, 2015, upon reaching NMFS is closing the recreational sector the commercial ACL (80 FR 18551, for blueline tilefish in the South April 7, 2015). Therefore, on June 10, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, 2015, no commercial or recreational June 10, 2015, and it will remain closed harvest of blueline tilefish from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric until the 2016 recreational fishing South Atlantic EEZ is permitted for the Administration season begins on May 1, 2016. This remainder of 2015. The commercial closure is necessary to protect the sector for blueline tilefish reopens on 50 CFR Part 635 blueline tilefish resource. January 1, 2016. [Docket No. 120328229–4949–02] DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., Classification RIN 0648–XD973 local time, June 10, 2015, until 12:01 The Regional Administrator, a.m., local time, January 1, 2016. Southeast Region, NMFS, has Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: determined this temporary rule is Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast necessary for the conservation and Region, telephone: 727–824–5305, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries management of blueline tilefish and the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and email: catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov. South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and is consistent with the Magnuson- Commerce. snapper-grouper fishery of the South Stevens Act and other applicable laws. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure of Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is This action is taken under 50 CFR managed under the Fishery Angling category southern area trophy 622.193(z)(2)(i) and is exempt from Management Plan for the Snapper- fishery. review under Executive Order 12866. Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic These measures are exempt from the SUMMARY: NMFS closes the southern Region (FMP). The South Atlantic procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility area Angling category fishery for large Fishery Management Council and Act because the temporary rule is issued medium and giant (‘‘trophy’’ (i.e., NMFS prepared the FMP, and the FMP without opportunity for prior notice and measuring 73 inches curved fork length is implemented under the authority of comment. or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery This action responds to the best This action is being taken to prevent any Conservation and Management Act scientific information available. The further overharvest of the Angling (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, category southern area trophy BFT at 50 CFR part 622. NOAA (AA), finds that the need to subquota. NMFS implemented management immediately implement this action to measures for blueline tilefish in close the recreational sector for blueline DATES: Effective June 7, 2015 through Amendment 32 to the FMP for the tilefish constitutes good cause to waive December 31, 2015. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South the requirements to provide prior notice FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Atlantic Region (Amendment 32) (80 FR and opportunity for public comment Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, 16583, March 30, 2015). Amendment 32 pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 978–281–9260. contains management measures that end U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such prior notice SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: overfishing of blueline tilefish in the and opportunity for public comment are Regulations implemented under the South Atlantic. unnecessary and contrary to the public authority of the Atlantic Tunas VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:56 Jun 08, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\09JNR1.SGM 09JNR1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:26:03
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:26:03
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesThis rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 10, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
ContactCatherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast Region, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 32478 
RIN Number0648-XD96
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