80 FR 38015 - Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 127 (July 2, 2015)

Page Range		38015-38016
FR Document		2015-16379

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces the length of the 2015 recreational fishing season. Therefore, NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 6, 2015. This closure is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38015-38016]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 0907271173-0629-03]
RIN 0648-XE014


Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational 
Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper

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 the 
recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 
2015 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational 
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit 
(ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces 
the length of the 2015 recreational fishing season. Therefore,

[[Page 38016]]

NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South 
Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 6, 2015. This closure is 
necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 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 snowy grouper, 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 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 recreational ACL for snowy grouper is 523 fish. In accordance 
with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2), if the recreational ACL is 
exceeded, the Assistant Administrator, NOAA (AA), will file a 
notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the 
length of the following fishing season by the amount necessary to 
ensure landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in the following 
fishing year. NMFS evaluates annual recreational landings with the 
recreational ACL for snowy grouper based on a 3-year running average of 
landings. For the 2015 fishing year, the most recent 3-year running 
average of recreational landings is the average of 2012-2014. Average 
landings from 2012-2014 exceeded the 2014 recreational ACL by 1,253 
fish. Therefore, this temporary rule implements the post-season AM to 
reduce the fishing season for the recreational snowy grouper component 
of the snapper-grouper fishery by the amount necessary to ensure 
recreational landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in 2015. As a 
result, the recreational sector for snowy grouper will be closed 
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015.
    During the closure, the bag and possession limits for snowy grouper 
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. These limits apply in the 
South Atlantic for a person on board a vessel for which a valid Federal 
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic 
snapper-grouper fishery has been issued regardless of whether the fish 
are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 
622.193(b)(2). The recreational sector for snowy grouper will reopen on 
January 1, 2016, the beginning of the 2016 recreational fishing season.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
snowy grouper 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(b)(2) 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 snowy grouper constitutes good cause to waive the 
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
on this temporary rule pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule 
implementing the AMs established by Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR 
82280, December 30, 2010) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) has 
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 of the need to immediately implement this 
action to protect the snowy grouper resource, since time for notice and 
public comment will allow for continued recreational harvest and 
exceedance of the recreational ACL. Additionally, there is a need to 
immediately notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing 
season for snowy grouper for the 2015 fishing year. Prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment would be contrary to the public interest 
because many of those affected by the length of the recreational 
fishing season, particularly charter vessel and headboat operations, 
book trips for clients in advance and, therefore, need as much time as 
possible to adjust business plans to account for the reduced 
recreational fishing season.
    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 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16379 Filed 6-29-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 38015

Compliance With Endangered Species system (http://permits.fws.gov/186A) for (7) * * *
Act Requirements reporting take, transfers, and loss of (i) If you acquire a bird from a
Section 7 of the Endangered Species falconry birds is fully operational for rehabilitator, within 10 days of the
Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 residents of that jurisdiction. transaction you must report it using one
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that ‘‘The (ii) If you are required to submit a of the methods listed in paragraph
Secretary [of the Interior] shall review report or other information under this (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
other programs administered by him section, you must either enter the * * * * *
and utilize such programs in required information in the electronic (9) * * *
furtherance of the purposes of this database at http://permits.fws.gov/186A, (ii) * * * You must remove its
chapter’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1)). It or at http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/ falconry band (if it has one) and report
further states that the Secretary must FalconryReporting if you are a resident release of the bird by submitting the
‘‘insure that any action authorized, of California, or submit a paper form 3– required information using one of the
funded, or carried out . . . is not likely 186A to your State, tribal, or territorial methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
to jeopardize the continued existence of agency that governs falconry. this section.
any endangered species or threatened * * * * * (iii) * * * You must remove its
species or result in the destruction or (c) * * * falconry band and report release of the
adverse modification of [critical] (6) * * * bird by submitting the required
habitat’’ (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)). This rule (i) * * * Within 10 days from the day information using one of the methods
will not affect threatened or endangered on which you take the raptor from the listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
species or their habitats in the United wild, you must report take of the bird section.
States. by submitting the required information * * * * *
(including the band number) using one (f) * * *
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 21 of the methods listed in paragraph (6) * * * Within 10 days, you must
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting (b)(2)(ii) of this section. * * * report the transfer by submitting the
and recordkeeping requirements, (ii) * * * You must submit the
required information using one of the
Transportation, Wildlife. required information using one of the
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
Regulation Promulgation this section.
this section. * * *
(iii) * * * * * * * *
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, we amend subpart C of part (A) * * * You must submit the Dated: June 15, 2015.
21, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of required information within 10 days of Michael J. Bean,
the Code of Federal Regulations, as rebanding the raptor using one of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish
follows: methods listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of and Wildlife and Parks.
this section. [FR Doc. 2015–16371 Filed 7–1–15; 8:45 am]
PART 21—MIGRATORY BIRD PERMITS (B) Purchase and implant an ISO-
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
compliant (134.2 kHz) microchip in the
■ 1. The authority citation for part 21 bird and report the microchip
continues to read as follows: information using one of the methods DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703–12. listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
■ 2. Amend § 21.29 by: section. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
■ a. Revising paragraph (b)(2); * * * * * Administration
■ b. Revising the fifth sentence of (e) * * *
paragraph (c)(6)(i); (2) * * * 50 CFR Part 622
■ c. Revising the third sentence of (iv) If you are responsible for
[Docket No. 0907271173–0629–03]
paragraph (c)(6)(ii); reporting take of a raptor from the wild,
■ d. Revising the second sentence of use one of the methods listed in RIN 0648–XE014
paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(A); paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
■ e. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(iii)(B); * * * Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South
■ f. Revising the first sentence of * * * * * Atlantic; 2015 Recreational
paragraph (e)(2)(iv); (5) * * * Accountability Measures and Closure
■ g. Revising the second sentence of (i) * * * You must report take of the for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper
paragraph (e)(5)(i); bird using one of the methods listed in AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
■ h. Revising paragraph (e)(6)(i); paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section at Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
■ i. Revising paragraph (e)(7)(i); your first opportunity to do so, but no
■ j. Revising the third sentence of
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
more than 10 days after capture of the Commerce.
paragraph (e)(9)(ii); bird. * * *
■ k. Revising the second sentence of ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
* * * * *
paragraph (e)(9)(iii); and (6) * * *
■ l. Revising the second sentence after
SUMMARY: NMFS implements
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with FRONTMATTER

(i) If you acquire a raptor; transfer, accountability measures (AMs) for the
the heading of paragraph (f)(6). reband, or microchip a raptor; if a raptor
The revisions read as follows: recreational sector for snowy grouper in
you possess is stolen; if you lose a the South Atlantic for the 2015 fishing
§ 21.29 Falconry standards and falconry raptor to the wild and you do not year through this temporary rule.
permitting. recover it within 30 days; or if a bird Average recreational landings from
* * * * * you possess for falconry dies; you must 2012–2014 exceeded the recreational
(b) * * * report the change within 10 days using annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy
(2) Reporting. (i) The State, tribe, or one of the methods listed in paragraph grouper. To account for this overage,
territory must work with us to ensure (b)(2)(ii) of this section. this rule reduces the length of the 2015
that the electronic 3–186A reporting * * * * * recreational fishing season. Therefore,

VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:22 Jul 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02JYR1.SGM 02JYR1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:15:07
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:15:07

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; closure.
Dates		This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, July 6, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
Contact		Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 38015
RIN Number		0648-XE01

80 FR 38015 - Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2015 Recreational Accountability Measures and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 127 (July 2, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration