80_FR_34654 80 FR 34538 - Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for the South Atlantic Lesser Amberjack, Almaco Jack, and Banded Rudderfish Complex

80 FR 34538 - Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for the South Atlantic Lesser Amberjack, Almaco Jack, and Banded Rudderfish Complex

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 116 (June 17, 2015)

Page Range34538-34539
FR Document2015-14917

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial sector for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish complex in the South Atlantic for the 2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Commercial landings for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish complex, as estimated by the Science and Research Director, are projected to reach their combined commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on June 23, 2015. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for this complex on June 23, 2015, through the remainder of the fishing year in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. This closure is necessary to protect the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish resources.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34538-34539]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14917]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 120815345-3525-02]
RIN 0648-XD988


Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Commercial 
Accountability Measure and Closure for the South Atlantic Lesser 
Amberjack, Almaco Jack, and Banded Rudderfish Complex

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the 
commercial sector for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded 
rudderfish complex in the South Atlantic for the 2015 fishing year 
through this temporary rule. Commercial landings for the lesser 
amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish complex, as estimated by 
the Science and Research Director, are projected to reach their 
combined commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on June 23, 2015. 
Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for this complex on June 
23, 2015, through the remainder of the fishing year in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. This closure is necessary to 
protect the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 
resources.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 23, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: 
catherine.hayslip@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic, which includes the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded 
rudderfish complex, 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 is 
implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 622.
    The combined commercial ACL for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, 
and banded rudderfish complex is 189,422 lb (85,920 kg), round weight. 
Under 50 CFR 622.193(l)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the commercial 
sector for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 
complex when the commercial ACL has been reached, or is projected to be 
reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the 
Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial sector for 
this complex is projected to reach the ACL on June 23, 2015. Therefore, 
this temporary rule implements an AM to close the commercial sector for 
the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish complex in the 
South Atlantic, effective 12:01 a.m., local time June 23, 2015.
    The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper having lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or 
banded rudderfish on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or 
sold such species prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, June 23, 2015. 
During the closure, the bag limit specified in 50 CFR 622.187(b)(8) and 
the possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c) apply to all 
harvest or possession of lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded 
rudderfish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ. These bag and possession 
limits apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid 
Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic 
snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species 
were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters. During the closure, 
the sale or purchase of lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded 
rudderfish taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or 
purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of lesser amberjack, 
almaco jack, or banded rudderfish that were harvested, landed ashore, 
and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, June 23, 2015, and were held 
in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish complex, a 
component of 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(l)(1)(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 commercial 
sector for the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 
complex 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 procedures are 
unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are 
unnecessary because the rule itself has 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

[[Page 34539]]

interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to 
protect the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded rudderfish 
complex since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid 
harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest 
well in excess of the established commercial 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 12, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14917 Filed 6-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                              34538            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 116 / Wednesday, June 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on               SUMMARY:   NMFS implements                             amberjack, almaco jack, or banded
                                              June 5, 2015.                                           accountability measures (AMs) for the                  rudderfish on board must have landed
                                              Ann C. Mollica,                                         commercial sector for the lesser                       and bartered, traded, or sold such
                                              Acting Directorate Manager, Engine &                    amberjack, almaco jack, and banded                     species prior to 12:01 a.m., local time,
                                              Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification           rudderfish complex in the South                        June 23, 2015. During the closure, the
                                              Service.                                                Atlantic for the 2015 fishing year                     bag limit specified in 50 CFR
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–14694 Filed 6–16–15; 8:45 am]             through this temporary rule.                           622.187(b)(8) and the possession limits
                                              BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                  Commercial landings for the lesser                     specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c) apply to
                                                                                                      amberjack, almaco jack, and banded                     all harvest or possession of lesser
                                                                                                      rudderfish complex, as estimated by the                amberjack, almaco jack, or banded
                                              EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY                            Science and Research Director, are                     rudderfish in or from the South Atlantic
                                              COMMISSION                                              projected to reach their combined                      EEZ. These bag and possession limits
                                                                                                      commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on                 apply in the South Atlantic on board a
                                              29 CFR Part 1611                                        June 23, 2015. Therefore, NMFS closes                  vessel for which a valid Federal
                                                                                                      the commercial sector for this complex                 commercial or charter vessel/headboat
                                              Privacy Act Regulations                                 on June 23, 2015, through the remainder                permit for South Atlantic snapper-
                                                                                                      of the fishing year in the exclusive                   grouper has been issued, without regard
                                              CFR Correction
                                                                                                      economic zone (EEZ) of the South                       to where such species were harvested,
                                              ■  In Title 29 of the Code of Federal                   Atlantic. This closure is necessary to                 i.e., in state or Federal waters. During
                                              Regulations, Parts 900 to 1899, revised                 protect the lesser amberjack, almaco                   the closure, the sale or purchase of
                                              as of July 1, 2014, on page 257, in                     jack, and banded rudderfish resources.                 lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded
                                              § 1611.3, in paragraph (b)(3), the address              DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,              rudderfish taken from the EEZ is
                                              ‘‘1801 L Street NW.’’ is corrected to read              local time, June 23, 2015, until 12:01                 prohibited. The prohibition on sale or
                                              ‘‘131 M Street NE.’’.                                   a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.                     purchase does not apply to the sale or
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–14654 Filed 6–16–15; 8:45 am]             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       purchase of lesser amberjack, almaco
                                                                                                      Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast                      jack, or banded rudderfish that were
                                              BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
                                                                                                      Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–                   harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior
                                                                                                      5305, email: catherine.hayslip@                        to 12:01 a.m., local time, June 23, 2015,
                                                                                                      noaa.gov.                                              and were held in cold storage by a
                                              ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                                                                       dealer or processor.
                                              AGENCY                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                      snapper-grouper fishery of the South                   Classification
                                              40 CFR Part 52                                          Atlantic, which includes the lesser                      The Regional Administrator,
                                                                                                      amberjack, almaco jack, and banded                     Southeast Region, NMFS, has
                                              Approval and Promulgation of                            rudderfish complex, is managed under
                                              Implementation Plans                                                                                           determined this temporary rule is
                                                                                                      the Fishery Management Plan for the                    necessary for the conservation and
                                              CFR Correction                                          Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South                   management of the lesser amberjack,
                                                                                                      Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was                     almaco jack, and banded rudderfish
                                                In Title 40 of the Code of Federal                    prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery                 complex, a component of the South
                                              Regulations, Part 52 (§§ 52.1019 to                     Management Council and is                              Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery, and is
                                              52.2019), revised as of July 1, 2014, on                implemented under the authority of the                 consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
                                              page 649, in § 52.1881, paragraph (b) is                Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                               Act and other applicable laws.
                                              removed and reserved.                                   Conservation and Management Act                          This action is taken under 50 CFR
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–14652 Filed 6–16–15; 8:45 am]             (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations                  622.193(l)(1)(i) and is exempt from
                                              BILLING CODE 1505–01–D                                  at 50 CFR part 622.                                    review under Executive Order 12866.
                                                                                                         The combined commercial ACL for                       These measures are exempt from the
                                                                                                      the lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and                 procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
                                              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  banded rudderfish complex is 189,422                   Act because the temporary rule is issued
                                                                                                      lb (85,920 kg), round weight. Under 50                 without opportunity for prior notice and
                                              National Oceanic and Atmospheric                        CFR 622.193(l)(1)(i), NMFS is required                 comment.
                                              Administration                                          to close the commercial sector for the                   This action responds to the best
                                                                                                      lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and                     scientific information available. The
                                              50 CFR Part 622                                         banded rudderfish complex when the                     Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
                                              [Docket No. 120815345–3525–02]                          commercial ACL has been reached, or is                 NOAA (AA), finds that the need to
                                                                                                      projected to be reached, by filing a                   immediately implement this action to
                                              RIN 0648–XD988                                          notification to that effect with the Office            close the commercial sector for the
                                                                                                      of the Federal Register. NMFS has                      lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and
                                              Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South                    determined that the commercial sector                  banded rudderfish complex constitutes
                                              Atlantic; 2015 Commercial                               for this complex is projected to reach                 good cause to waive the requirements to
                                              Accountability Measure and Closure                      the ACL on June 23, 2015. Therefore,                   provide prior notice and opportunity for
                                              for the South Atlantic Lesser                           this temporary rule implements an AM                   public comment pursuant to the
                                              Amberjack, Almaco Jack, and Banded                      to close the commercial sector for the                 authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                              Rudderfish Complex                                      lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and                     as such procedures are unnecessary and
                                              AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      banded rudderfish complex in the South                 contrary to the public interest. Such
                                              Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    Atlantic, effective 12:01 a.m., local time             procedures are unnecessary because the
                                              Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      June 23, 2015.                                         rule itself has been subject to notice and
                                              Commerce.                                                  The operator of a vessel with a valid               comment, and all that remains is to
                                                                                                      commercial vessel permit for South                     notify the public of the closure. Such
                                              ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
                                                                                                      Atlantic snapper-grouper having lesser                 procedures are contrary to the public


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   15:57 Jun 16, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00008   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\17JNR1.SGM   17JNR1


                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 116 / Wednesday, June 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                34539

                                              interest because of the need to                         opportunity for public comment would                     Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
                                              immediately implement this action to                    require time and would potentially                       Dated: June 12, 2015.
                                              protect the lesser amberjack, almaco                    result in a harvest well in excess of the
                                                                                                                                                             Emily H. Menashes,
                                              jack, and banded rudderfish complex                     established commercial ACL.
                                                                                                        For the aforementioned reasons, the                  Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
                                              since the capacity of the fishing fleet                                                                        Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                              allows for rapid harvest of the                         AA also finds good cause to waive the
                                                                                                      30-day delay in the effectiveness of this              [FR Doc. 2015–14917 Filed 6–16–15; 8:45 am]
                                              commercial ACL. Prior notice and
                                                                                                      action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).                       BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   15:57 Jun 16, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00009   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 9990   E:\FR\FM\17JNR1.SGM   17JNR1



Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:22:41
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:22:41
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 23, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
ContactCatherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 34538 
RIN Number0648-XD98

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR