80_FR_62701 80 FR 62501 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction for Gag Grouper

80 FR 62501 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction for Gag Grouper

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 200 (October 16, 2015)

Page Range62501-62501
FR Document2015-26396

NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for gag grouper (gag) 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 gag resource.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 62501]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26396]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130403320-4891-02]
RIN 0648-XE245


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

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 gag grouper (gag) 
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 gag resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 18, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: mary.vara@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery in the South 
Atlantic includes gag 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 
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 ACL (commercial quota) for gag in the South Atlantic 
during the 2015 fishing year is 295,459 lb (134,018 kg), gutted weight, 
348,642 lb (158,141 kg), round weight, as specified in 50 CFR 
622.190(a)(7)(i).
    Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(7)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the 
commercial trip limit for gag from 1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight, 
1,180 lb (535 kg), round weight, to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 590 
lb (268 kg), round weight, when 75 percent of the quota is reached or 
is 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 14 to the FMP (79 FR 66316, November 7, 
2014). Based on current data, NMFS has determined that 75 percent of 
the available gag commercial quota will be reached by October 18, 2015. 
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial trip limit for gag to 500 
lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 590 lb (268 kg), round weight, in or from 
the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 18, 2015. 
This 500-lb (227-kg), gutted weight, 590-lb (268-kg), round weight, 
trip limit will remain in effect until either the commercial sector 
reaches its quota and the sector closes, or through the end of the 
current fishing year on December 31, 2015, 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 gag and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(7) 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 reduction has already been subject to 
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the 
reduced trip limit. The procedures are contrary to the public interest, 
because there is a need to immediately implement this action to protect 
the gag 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: October 13, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-26396 Filed 10-13-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 62501 PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST (gag) in or from the exclusive economic is consistent with the Magnuson- COAST STATES zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 500 Stevens Act and other applicable laws. lb (227 kg), gutted weight. This trip This action is taken under 50 CFR ■ 7. The authority citation for part 660 limit reduction is necessary to protect 622.191(a)(7) and is exempt from review continues to read as follows: the South Atlantic gag resource. under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. These measures are exempt from the local time, October 18, 2015, until 12:01 procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility ■ 8. In § 660.2, add paragraph (c) to read a.m., local time, January 1, 2016. Act because the temporary rule is issued as follows: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: without opportunity for prior notice and Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional comment. § 660.2 Relation to other laws. Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: * * * * * mary.vara@noaa.gov. This action responds to the best (c) Fishing activities on the high seas scientific information available. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, are governed by regulations of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act set forth snapper-grouper fishery in the South NOAA (AA), finds that the need to in 50 CFR part 300, subparts A and Q. Atlantic includes gag and is managed immediately implement this under the Fishery Management Plan for commercial trip limit reduction the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the § 660.708 [Amended] constitutes good cause to waive the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP ■ 9. In § 660.708, remove paragraph requirements to provide prior notice was prepared by the South Atlantic (a)(1)(iii) and redesignate paragraph Fishery Management Council and is and opportunity for public comment (a)(1)(iv) as paragraph (a)(1)(iii). implemented by NMFS under the pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice PART 665—FISHERIES IN THE Fishery Conservation and Management and opportunity for public comment on WESTERN PACIFIC Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by this temporary rule is unnecessary and regulations at 50 CFR part 622. contrary to the public interest. Such ■ 10. The authority citation for part 665 The commercial ACL (commercial procedures are unnecessary, because the continues to read as follows: quota) for gag in the South Atlantic rule establishing the trip limit reduction Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. has already been subject to notice and during the 2015 fishing year is 295,459 ■ 11. In § 665.1, revise paragraph (b) to lb (134,018 kg), gutted weight, 348,642 comment, and all that remains is to read as follows: lb (158,141 kg), round weight, as notify the public of the reduced trip specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(7)(i). limit. The procedures are contrary to the § 665.1 Purpose and scope. public interest, because there is a need Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(7)(ii), NMFS * * * * * is required to reduce the commercial to immediately implement this action to (b) General regulations governing trip limit for gag from 1,000 lb (454 kg), protect the gag resource since the fishing by all vessels of the United gutted weight, 1,180 lb (535 kg), round capacity of the fishing fleet allows for States and by fishing vessels other than weight, to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice vessels of the United States are weight, 590 lb (268 kg), round weight, and opportunity for public comment on contained in 50 CFR parts 300 and 600. when 75 percent of the quota is reached this action would require time and * * * * * or is projected to be reached, by filing would increase the probability that the [FR Doc. 2015–26398 Filed 10–15–15; 8:45 am] a notification to that effect with the commercial sector could exceed the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Office of the Federal Register, as quota. implemented by the final rule for For the aforementioned reasons, the Regulatory Amendment 14 to the FMP (79 FR 66316, November 7, 2014). Based AA also finds good cause to waive the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE on current data, NMFS has determined 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this National Oceanic and Atmospheric that 75 percent of the available gag action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Administration commercial quota will be reached by Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. October 18, 2015. Accordingly, NMFS is Dated: October 13, 2015. 50 CFR Part 622 reducing the commercial trip limit for Emily H. Menashes, [Docket No. 130403320–4891–02] gag to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 590 lb (268 kg), round weight, in or from Acting Director, Office of Sustainable RIN 0648–XE245 the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. local time, on October 18, 2015. This [FR Doc. 2015–26396 Filed 10–13–15; 4:15 pm] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 500-lb (227-kg), gutted weight, 590-lb BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- (268-kg), round weight, trip limit will Grouper Resources of the South remain in effect until either the Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction for Gag commercial sector reaches its quota and Grouper the sector closes, or through the end of AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the current fishing year on December 31, asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 2015, whichever occurs first. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Classification Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit The Regional Administrator, reduction. Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is SUMMARY:NMFS reduces the necessary for the conservation and commercial trip limit for gag grouper management of South Atlantic gag and VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 Oct 15, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\16OCR1.SGM 16OCR1


Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:23:36
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:23:36
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; trip limit reduction.
DatesThis rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 18, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2016.
ContactMary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 62501 
RIN Number0648-XE24
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