81 FR 52366 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery; Adjustment to the Commercial Northern Red Hake Inseason Possession Limit
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 152 (August 8, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 152 (August 8, 2016)
| Page Range | 52366-52367 | |
| FR Document | 2016-18715 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 152 (Monday, August 8, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 52366-52367] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-18715] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 120109034-2171-01] RIN 0648-XE778 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh Multispecies Fishery; Adjustment to the Commercial Northern Red Hake Inseason Possession Limit AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We announce the reduction of the commercial possession limit for northern red hake for the remainder of the 2016 fishing year. This action is required to prevent the northern red hake total allowable landing limit from being exceeded. This announcement informs the public that the northern red hake possession limit is reduced. DATES: Effective August 8, 2016, through April 30, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-675-9112. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The small-mesh multispecies fishery is managed primarily through a series of exemptions from the Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan. Regulations governing the red hake fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations describing the process to adjust inseason commercial possession limits of northern red hake are described in Sec. 648.86(d)(4) and (5). These regulations require the Regional Administrator to reduce the northern red hake possession limit from 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) to 1,500 [[Page 52367]] lb (680 kg) when landings have been projected to reach or exceed 45 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL). The northern red hake possession limit is required to be further reduced to 400 lb (181 kg) if landings are projected to reach or exceed 62.5 percent of the TAL, unless such a reduction would be expected to prevent the TAL from being reached. The setting of these inseason adjustment thresholds were established in the final rule implementing the small-mesh multispecies specifications for 2015-2017, published in the Federal Register on May 28, 2015 (80 FR 30379). These measures were imposed because the annual catch limits (ACL) for northern red hake were exceeded for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years, and northern red hake was experiencing overfishing. To reduce the risk of continued overfishing on the stock and to better constrain catch to the ACL, we implemented this possession limit reduction trigger. Based on commercial landings data reported through July 23, 2016, the northern red hake fishery is projected to reach 45 percent of the TAL on July 31, 2016. Based on this projection, reducing the commercial northern red hake possession limit to 1,500 lb (680 kg) is required to prevent the TAL from being exceeded. Upon the effective date of this action, no person may possess on board or land more than 1,500 lb (680 kg) of northern red hake, per trip for the remainder of the fishing year. Classification This action is taken under 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 2, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-18715 Filed 8-5-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![52366 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 152 / Monday, August 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE recreational ACL has been reached, or is opportunity for public comment would
projected to be reached, by filing a require time and would potentially
National Oceanic and Atmospheric notification to that effect with the Office allow the recreational sector to exceed
Administration of the Federal Register. NMFS has its ACL.
determined that the recreational sector For the aforementioned reasons, the
50 CFR Part 622 for this complex is projected to reach its AA also finds good cause to waive the
[Docket No. 120815345–3525–02]
ACL by August 9, 2016. Therefore, this 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
temporary rule implements an AM to action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
RIN 0648–XE774 close the recreational sector for the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
other jacks complex in the South
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic, effective 12:01 a.m., local time, Dated: August 2, 2016.
Atlantic; 2016 Recreational August 9, 2016, until January 1, 2017, Emily H. Menashes,
Accountability Measure and Closure the start of the next fishing year. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
for the South Atlantic Other Jacks During the recreational closure, the Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Complex bag and possession limits for the fish in [FR Doc. 2016–18677 Filed 8–2–16; 4:15 pm]
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the other jacks complex in or from the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Additionally, NMFS closed the
Commerce. commercial sector for the other jacks DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
complex effective on August 9, 2016,
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
upon reaching the commercial ACL.
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an Therefore, on August 9, 2016, no Administration
accountability measure (AM) for the commercial or recreational harvest of
recreational sector for the other jacks fish in the other jacks complex from the 50 CFR Part 648
complex (lesser amberjack, almaco jack, South Atlantic EEZ is permitted for the [Docket No. 120109034–2171–01]
and banded rudderfish) in the South remainder of 2016. The commercial
sector for the other jacks complex re- RIN 0648–XE778
Atlantic for the 2016 fishing year
through this temporary rule. NMFS opens on January 1, 2017.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
projects that recreational landings of the Classification States; Small-Mesh Multispecies
other jacks complex will reach their Fishery; Adjustment to the Commercial
combined recreational annual catch The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has Northern Red Hake Inseason
limit (ACL) by August 9, 2016. Possession Limit
Therefore, NMFS closes the recreational determined this temporary rule is
sector for this complex on August 9, necessary for the conservation and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
2016, through the remainder of the management of the fish in the other Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
fishing year in the exclusive economic jacks complex, a component of the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. This South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery, Commerce.
closure is necessary to protect the lesser and is consistent with the Magnuson-
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
amberjack, almaco jack, and banded Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR adjustment.
rudderfish resources.
622.193(l)(2)(i) and is exempt from SUMMARY: We announce the reduction of
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., review under Executive Order 12866.
local time, August 9, 2016, until 12:01 the commercial possession limit for
These measures are exempt from the northern red hake for the remainder of
a.m., local time, January 1, 2017. procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility the 2016 fishing year. This action is
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Act because the temporary rule is issued required to prevent the northern red
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional without opportunity for prior notice and hake total allowable landing limit from
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: public comment. being exceeded. This announcement
mary.vara@noaa.gov. This action responds to the best
informs the public that the northern red
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scientific information available. The
hake possession limit is reduced.
snapper-grouper fishery of the South Assistant Administrator for NOAA
Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to DATES: Effective August 8, 2016, through
Atlantic includes lesser amberjack,
almaco jack, and banded rudderfish, immediately implement this action to April 30, 2017.
and is managed under the Fishery close the recreational sector for the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid
Management Plan for the Snapper- other jacks complex constitutes good Lichwell, Fishery Management
Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic cause to waive the requirements to Specialist, 978–675–9112.
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared provide prior notice and opportunity for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The small-
by the South Atlantic Fishery public comment pursuant to the mesh multispecies fishery is managed
Management Council and is authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), primarily through a series of exemptions
implemented by NMFS under the as such procedures are unnecessary and from the Northeast Multispecies
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens contrary to the public interest. Such Fisheries Management Plan. Regulations
Fishery Conservation and Management procedures are unnecessary because the governing the red hake fishery are found
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by rule implementing the AM itself has at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations
been subject to notice and comment, describing the process to adjust
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regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
The recreational ACL for the other and all that remains is to notify the inseason commercial possession limits
jacks complex is 267,799 lb (121,472 public of the closure. Such procedures of northern red hake are described in
kg), round weight. Under 50 CFR are contrary to the public interest § 648.86(d)(4) and (5). These regulations
622.193(l)(2)(i), NMFS is required to because of the need to immediately require the Regional Administrator to
close the recreational sector for the implement this action to protect the reduce the northern red hake possession
other jacks complex when the other jacks complex. Prior notice and limit from 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) to 1,500
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 152 / Monday, August 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 52367
lb (680 kg) when landings have been DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
projected to reach or exceed 45 percent CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
of the total allowable landings (TAL). National Oceanic and Atmospheric
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
The northern red hake possession limit Administration
portion of the 2016 pollock total
is required to be further reduced to 400
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
lb (181 kg) if landings are projected to 50 CFR Part 679
Aleut Corporation directed fishing
reach or exceed 62.5 percent of the TAL,
unless such a reduction would be [Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] allowance (DFA) is 9,700 metric tons
expected to prevent the TAL from being (mt) as established by the final 2016 and
RIN 0648–XE789 2017 harvest specifications for
reached. The setting of these inseason
adjustment thresholds were established Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
in the final rule implementing the Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of March 18, 2016), and as adjusted by
small-mesh multispecies specifications Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian reallocations (81 FR 16097, March 25,
for 2015–2017, published in the Federal Islands 2016).
Register on May 28, 2015 (80 FR 30379). As of August 1, 2016, the
These measures were imposed AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
because the annual catch limits (ACL) Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
(Regional Administrator) has
for northern red hake were exceeded for Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
determined that 8,000 mt of the Aleut
the 2012 and 2013 fishing years, and Commerce.
Corporation pollock DFA in the
northern red hake was experiencing ACTION: Temporary rule.
Aleutian Islands subarea will not be
overfishing. To reduce the risk of
continued overfishing on the stock and SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the harvested. Therefore, in accordance
to better constrain catch to the ACL, we projected unused amounts of the Aleut with § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
implemented this possession limit Corporation pollock directed fishing reallocates 8,000 mt of A season pollock
reduction trigger. allowance from the Aleutian Islands DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea
Based on commercial landings data subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea DFAs.
reported through July 23, 2016, the action is necessary to provide The 8,000 mt of the Aleut Corporation
northern red hake fishery is projected to opportunity for harvest of the 2016 total pollock DFA is added to the 2016 Bering
reach 45 percent of the TAL on July 31, allowable catch of pollock, consistent Sea non-CDQ DFAs. As a result, the
2016. Based on this projection, reducing with the goals and objectives of the 2016 harvest specifications for pollock
the commercial northern red hake Fishery Management Plan for in the Aleutian Islands subarea included
possession limit to 1,500 lb (680 kg) is Groundfish of the Bering Sea and in the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
required to prevent the TAL from being Aleutian Islands Management Area. specifications for groundfish in the
exceeded. Upon the effective date of this DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016),
action, no person may possess on board time (A.l.t.), August 8, 2016, through and as adjusted by reallocations (81 FR
or land more than 1,500 lb (680 kg) of 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. 16097, March 25, 2016) are revised as
northern red hake, per trip for the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: follows: 1,700 mt to the annual Aleut
remainder of the fishing year. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. Corporation pollock DFA and 1,700 mt
Classification SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS to the A season Aleut Corporation
manages the groundfish fishery in the pollock DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to
This action is taken under 50 CFR
BSAI exclusive economic zone § 679.20(a)(5), Table 5 of the final 2016
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866. according to the Fishery Management and 2017 harvest specifications for
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea groundfish in the Bering Sea and
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Aleutian Islands (81 FR 14773, March
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Dated: August 2, 2016. (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 18, 2016, and 81 FR 16097, March 25,
Emily H. Menashes, Fishery Management Council (Council) 2016), is revised to make 2016 pollock
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable under authority of the Magnuson- allocations consistent with this
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Stevens Fishery Conservation and reallocation. This reallocation results in
[FR Doc. 2016–18715 Filed 8–5–16; 8:45 am] Management Act. Regulations governing adjustments to the 2016 pollock
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 5—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season 1 2016
2016 B season 1
Area and sector Allocations A season DFA SCA harvest
limit 2 B season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .............................................................................. 1,354,900 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 135,900 54,360 38,052 81,540
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ICA 1 ................................................................................................................. 48,240 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore ..................................................................................................... 585,380 234,152 163,906 351,228
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ............................................................................... 468,304 187,322 131,125 280,982
Catch by C/Ps .......................................................................................... 428,498 171,399 n/a 257,099
Catch by CVs 3 ......................................................................................... 39,806 15,922 n/a 23,884
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ................................................................................... 2,342 937 n/a 1,405
AFA Motherships ............................................................................................. 117,076 46,830 32,781 70,246
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Document Created: 2016-08-06 03:07:53
Document Modified: 2016-08-06 03:07:53
| 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; inseason adjustment. | |
| Dates | Effective August 8, 2016, through April 30, 2017. | |
| Contact | Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-675-9112. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 52366 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE77 |
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