80 FR 9230 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 34 (February 20, 2015)

Page Range		9230-9230
FR Document		2015-03532

NMFS reduces the trip limit for the commercial sector of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the southern zone to 1,500 lb (680 kg) of Spanish mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Spanish mackerel resource.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 34 (Friday, February 20, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9230]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03532]



[[Page 9230]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 101206604-1758-02]
RIN 0648-XD779


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and 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 trip limit for the commercial sector of 
Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the southern zone to 1,500 
lb (680 kg) of Spanish mackerel per day in or from the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect 
the Spanish mackerel resource.

DATES: The rule is effective 6 a.m., local time, February 20, 2015, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1, 2015, unless changed by 
subsequent notification in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or email: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic 
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia) is managed under the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of 
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was prepared by 
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 
(Councils) 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.
    Framework Amendment 1 to the FMP (79 FR 69058, November 20, 2014) 
increased the commercial annual catch limit (equal to the commercial 
quota) to 3.33 million lb (1.51 million kg) for the Atlantic migratory 
group of Spanish mackerel. The Atlantic EEZ is divided into a northern 
and southern zone for management purposes of Atlantic migratory group 
Spanish mackerel. The southern zone for Atlantic migratory group 
Spanish mackerel extends from 30[deg]42'45.6'' N. lat., which is a line 
directly east from the Georgia/Florida boundary, to 25[deg]20.4' N. 
lat., which is a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, 
Florida, boundary. The northern and southern zones will have their own 
quotas as of March 1, 2015, the beginning of the next fishing year, 
with implementation of Amendment 20B to the FMP (80 FR 4216, January, 
27, 2015).
    For the southern zone, seasonally variable trip limits are based on 
an adjusted commercial quota of 3.08 million lb (1.40 million kg). The 
adjusted commercial quota is calculated to allow continued harvest in 
the southern zone at a set rate for the remainder of the current 
fishing year, February 28, 2015, in accordance with 50 CFR 
622.385(b)(2). As specified at 50 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(B), beginning 
December 1, annually, the trip limit is unlimited on weekdays and 
limited to 1,500 lb (680 kg) of Spanish mackerel per day on weekends. 
As specified at 50 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C), after 75 percent of the 
adjusted commercial quota of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel 
is taken until 100 percent of the adjusted commercial quota is taken, 
Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern zone may not be 
possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts 
exceeding 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day.
    NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the adjusted commercial 
quota for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has been harvested. 
Accordingly, the 1,500-lb (680-kg) per day commercial trip limit 
applies to Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern zone 
effective 6 a.m., local time, February 20, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., 
local time, March 1, 2015, unless changed by subsequent notification in 
the Federal Register.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel and is consistent with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C) 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.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirements to 
provide prior notice and the opportunity for public comment on this 
temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule itself 
has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is 
to notify the public of the trip limit reduction.
    Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is 
contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately 
implement this action to protect the Atlantic migratory group Spanish 
mackerel resource because the capacity of the commercial fleet allows 
for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment would require time and could potentially result in a harvest 
well in excess of the established quota.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 17, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03532 Filed 2-17-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

9230 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE increased the commercial annual catch 1, 2015, unless changed by subsequent
limit (equal to the commercial quota) to notification in the Federal Register.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 3.33 million lb (1.51 million kg) for the
Administration Classification
Atlantic migratory group of Spanish
mackerel. The Atlantic EEZ is divided The Regional Administrator,
50 CFR Part 622 into a northern and southern zone for Southeast Region, NMFS, has
management purposes of Atlantic determined this temporary rule is
[Docket No. 101206604–1758–02]
migratory group Spanish mackerel. The necessary for the conservation and
RIN 0648–XD779 southern zone for Atlantic migratory management of Atlantic migratory group
group Spanish mackerel extends from Spanish mackerel and is consistent with
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 30°42′45.6″ N. lat., which is a line the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal directly east from the Georgia/Florida applicable laws.
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the boundary, to 25°20.4′ N. lat., which is a This action is taken under 50 CFR
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Trip line directly east from the Miami-Dade/ 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C) and is exempt from
Limit Reduction review under Executive Order 12866.
Monroe County, Florida, boundary. The
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries northern and southern zones will have These measures are exempt from the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and their own quotas as of March 1, 2015, procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the beginning of the next fishing year, Act because the temporary rule is issued
Commerce. with implementation of Amendment without opportunity for prior notice and
20B to the FMP (80 FR 4216, January, comment.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
27, 2015). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the
reduction. Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
For the southern zone, seasonally NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to waive
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the trip limit variable trip limits are based on an
for the commercial sector of Atlantic the requirements to provide prior notice
adjusted commercial quota of 3.08 and the opportunity for public comment
migratory group Spanish mackerel in million lb (1.40 million kg). The
the southern zone to 1,500 lb (680 kg) on this temporary rule. Such procedures
adjusted commercial quota is calculated are unnecessary because the rule itself
of Spanish mackerel per day in or from to allow continued harvest in the
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This has already been subject to notice and
southern zone at a set rate for the comment, and all that remains is to
trip limit reduction is necessary to remainder of the current fishing year,
protect the Spanish mackerel resource. notify the public of the trip limit
February 28, 2015, in accordance with reduction.
DATES: The rule is effective 6 a.m., local 50 CFR 622.385(b)(2). As specified at 50 Allowing prior notice and
time, February 20, 2015, until 12:01 CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(B), beginning opportunity for public comment is
a.m., local time, March 1, 2015, unless December 1, annually, the trip limit is contrary to the public interest because
changed by subsequent notification in unlimited on weekdays and limited to of the need to immediately implement
the Federal Register. 1,500 lb (680 kg) of Spanish mackerel this action to protect the Atlantic
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: per day on weekends. As specified at 50 migratory group Spanish mackerel
Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727–824– CFR 622.385(b)(1)(ii)(C), after 75 percent resource because the capacity of the
5305, or email: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov. of the adjusted commercial quota of commercial fleet allows for rapid
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic migratory group Spanish harvest of the quota. Prior notice and
fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish mackerel is taken until 100 percent of opportunity for public comment would
(king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and the adjusted commercial quota is taken, require time and could potentially result
cobia) is managed under the Fishery Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in in a harvest well in excess of the
Management Plan for the Coastal the southern zone may not be possessed established quota.
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf on board or landed from a permitted For the aforementioned reasons, the
of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). vessel in amounts exceeding 1,500 lb AA also finds good cause to waive the
The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of (680 kg) per day. 30-day delay in effectiveness of this
Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery NMFS has determined that 75 percent action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Management Councils (Councils) and is of the adjusted commercial quota for Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
implemented under the authority of the Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery been harvested. Accordingly, the 1,500- Dated: February 17, 2015.
Conservation and Management Act lb (680-kg) per day commercial trip Emily H. Menashes,
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations limit applies to Spanish mackerel in or Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
at 50 CFR part 622. from the EEZ in the southern zone Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Framework Amendment 1 to the FMP effective 6 a.m., local time, February 20, [FR Doc. 2015–03532 Filed 2–17–15; 4:15 pm]
(79 FR 69058, November 20, 2014) 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, March BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:44 Feb 19, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\20FER1.SGM 20FER1

Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:01:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:01:57

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		The rule is effective 6 a.m., local time, February 20, 2015, until 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1, 2015, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register.
Contact		Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824- 5305, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 9230
RIN Number		0648-XD77

80 FR 9230 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 34 (February 20, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration