81_FR_72209 81 FR 72007 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Group Retention Limit Adjustment

81 FR 72007 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Group Retention Limit Adjustment

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 202 (October 19, 2016)

Page Range72007-72008
FR Document2016-25299

NMFS is adjusting the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management group retention limit for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip to 25 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. The retention limit will remain at 25 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2016 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register a fishery closure is warranted. This retention limit adjustment will affect directed shark limited access permit holders fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72007-72008]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25299]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 150413357-5999-02]
RIN 0648-XE914


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Aggregated Large 
Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Group Retention Limit 
Adjustment

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason retention limit adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the commercial aggregated large coastal 
shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management group retention limit for 
directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region 
from 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip to 25 LCS 
other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This action is based on 
consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding 
inseason adjustments. The retention limit will remain at 25 LCS other 
than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through 
the rest of the 2016 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a 
notice in the Federal Register a fishery closure is warranted. This 
retention limit adjustment will affect directed shark limited access 
permit holders fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

DATES: This retention limit adjustment is effective at 11:30 p.m. local 
time October 19, 2016, through the end of the 2016 fishing season on 
December 31, 2016, or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal 
Register a fishery closure, if warranted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gu[yacute] DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-
Geisz 301-427-8503; fax 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic shark fisheries are managed under 
the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP), its amendments, and implementing regulations (50 CFR part 
635) issued under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
    Under Sec.  635.24(a)(8), NMFS may adjust the commercial retention 
limit in the shark fisheries during the fishing season. Before making 
any adjustment, NMFS must consider specified regulatory criteria and 
other relevant factors. See Sec.  635.24(a)(8)(i)-(vi). After 
considering these criteria as discussed below, NMFS concluded that 
reducing the retention limit of the Atlantic aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead management groups for directed shark limited access permit 
holders will slow the fishery catch rates to allow the fishery 
throughout the Atlantic region to remain open for the rest of the year. 
Since landings are projected to reach 80 percent before the end of the 
2016 fishing season, NMFS is reducing the commercial Atlantic 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark retention limit from 45 to 25 LCS 
other than sandbar per vessel per trip.
    NMFS considered the inseason retention limit adjustment criteria 
listed in Sec.  635.24(a)(8), which says that:
     The amount of remaining shark quota in the Atlantic region 
based on dealer reports;
    Based on dealer reports, 108.6 mt dw or 64 percent of the 168.9 mt 
dw shark quota for the aggregated LCS management group has already been 
harvested in the Atlantic region. This means that approximately 36 
percent of the quota remains. Unless action is taken to slow harvest, 
fishermen in the Atlantic region may not have an opportunity to fish in 
the region for the remainder of the year.
     The catch rates of the aggregated LCS management group in 
the Atlantic region based on dealer reports;
    Based on dealer reports, the current catch rates are too high to 
maintain an open season for the rest of the year. While fishermen are 
landing sharks within the per-trip retention limit of 45 LCS other than 
sandbar per trip per day, they are making multiple trips a day that 
result in high numbers of aggregated LCS being caught rapidly 
throughout the fishery. This high daily average catch rate means that 
aggregated LCS are being harvested too quickly to provide equitable 
fishing opportunities throughout the season. If the per trip limit is 
left unchanged, aggregated LCS would likely be harvested at such a high 
rate that the fishery would close in mid-October.
     Estimated date of the aggregated LCS management group 
closure based on when the landings are projected to reach 80 percent of 
the quota;
    Once the landings reach 80 percent of the quota, NMFS would close 
the aggregated LCS management group as well as any other management 
group with ``linked quotas'' such as the Atlantic hammerhead shark 
management group. Current catch rates would likely result in landings 
reaching this limit by mid-October. A closure would preclude fishing 
opportunities in the Atlantic region for the remainder of the year. 
Reducing the trip limit is expected to reduce the catch rates and allow 
for the fishery to remain open for the remainder of the year.
     Effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives 
of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments;
    Reducing the retention limit for the aggregated LCS and hammerhead 
management group from 45 to 25 LCS per trip would allow for fishing 
opportunities later in the year consistent with the FMP's objectives to 
provide equitable fishing opportunities throughout the fishing season 
and to limit bycatch and discards.
     Variations in seasonal distribution or migratory patterns 
of aggregated LCS

[[Page 72008]]

based on scientific and fishery-based knowledge; and
    The directed shark fisheries in the Atlantic region exhibit a mixed 
species composition, with a high abundance of aggregated LCS caught in 
conjunction with hammerhead sharks. As a result, by slowing the harvest 
and reducing landings on a per-trip basis, both fisheries could remain 
open for the remainder of the year.
     Effects of catch rates in one part of the Atlantic region 
precluding vessels in another part from having a reasonable opportunity 
to harvest a portion of the aggregated LCS management group quota.
    Based on dealer reports, and given NMFS' notice to the regulated 
community (80 FR 74999, December 1, 2015; 81 FR 18541, March 31, 2016; 
and 81 FR 44798, July 11, 2016) that a goal of this year's fishery was 
to provide fishing opportunities throughout the fishing season, NMFS 
has concluded that the aggregated LCS quota is being harvested too 
quickly to meet conservation and management goals for the fishery. If 
the harvest of these species is not slowed down, the fishery would 
likely close in mid-October. Closing the fishery would prevent 
fishermen from other parts of the Atlantic region from having the same 
opportunities to harvest the aggregated LCS quota later in the year.
    On December 1, 2015 (80 FR 74999), NMFS announced in a final rule 
that the aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark fisheries management 
groups for the Atlantic region would open on January 1 with a quota of 
168.9 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) (372,552 lb dw) and 27.1 mt 
dw (59,736 lb dw), respectively. NMFS had published a proposed rule on 
August 18, 2015 (80 FR 49974) and accepted public comment. In the final 
rule, NMFS also announced that if it appeared that the quota is being 
harvested too quickly, thus precluding fishing opportunities throughout 
the entire region (e.g., if approximately 20 percent of the quota is 
caught at the beginning of the year), NMFS would consider reducing the 
commercial retention limit to 3 or fewer LCS other than sandbar sharks 
and then later consider increasing the retention limit to 45 LCS other 
than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip around July 15, 2016, after 
considering the appropriate regulatory adjustment criteria. In March 
2016, dealer reports indicated that landings had exceeded 20 percent of 
the quota, and NMFS therefore reduced the commercial Atlantic 
aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark retention limit from 36 to 3 LCS 
other than sandbar per vessel per trip on April 2, 2016 (81 FR 18541; 
March 31, 2016) after considering the inseason retention limit 
adjustment criteria listed at Sec.  635.24(a)(8). As NMFS announced in 
the 2016 shark season final rule (81 FR 44798; July 11, 2016), we 
increased the commercial Atlantic aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark 
retention limit from 3 to 45 LCS other than sandbar per vessel per trip 
after considering the regulatory criteria. Based on dealer reports 
through September 30, 2016, approximately 34 percent and 54 percent of 
the aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark quotas remain, respectively. At 
this point in the season, fishermen in the Atlantic region may not have 
an opportunity to fish in the region for the remainder of the year if 
the retention limits are not reduced.
    Accordingly, as of 11:30 p.m. local time October 19, 2016, NMFS is 
reducing the retention limit for the commercial aggregated LCS and 
hammerhead shark management groups in the Atlantic region for directed 
shark limited access permit holders from 45 LCS other than sandbar 
sharks per vessel per trip to 25 LCS other than sandbar sharks per 
vessel per trip. If the vessel is properly permitted to operate as a 
charter vessel or headboat for HMS and is engaged in a for-hire trip, 
in which case the recreational retention limits for sharks and ``no 
sale'' provisions apply (Sec.  635.22(a) and (c)), or if the vessel 
possesses a valid shark research permit under Sec.  635.32 and a NMFS-
approved observer is onboard, then they are exempted from the retention 
limit adjustment.
    All other retention limits and shark fisheries in the Atlantic 
region remain unchanged. This retention limit will remain at 25 LCS 
other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip for the rest of the 2016 
fishing season, or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal 
Register a fishery closure, is warranted.
    The boundary between the Gulf of Mexico region and the Atlantic 
region is defined at Sec.  635.27(b)(1) as a line beginning on the East 
Coast of Florida at the mainland at 25[deg]20.4' N. lat., proceeding 
due east. Any water and land to the north and east of that boundary is 
considered, for the purposes of quota monitoring and setting of quotas, 
to be within the Atlantic region.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds there is good cause to waive prior notice 
and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and 
comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
Providing prior notice and an opportunity for comment is impracticable 
because the catch and landings that need to be reduced are ongoing and 
must be reduced immediately to meet conservation and management 
objectives for the fishery. Continued fishing at those levels during 
the time that notice and comment would take place would likely result 
in early closure of the fishery, contrary to the objectives of the 
existing conservation and management measures in place for these 
species. These objectives include providing equitable fishing 
opportunities and ensuring that bycatch and discards are minimized. 
Allowing fishing to continue at the existing rates even for a limited 
time is contrary to these objectives and would thus be impracticable. 
It would also be contrary to the public interest because continued 
catch at the current rates, even for a limited period, could result in 
eventual early quota closures and potential overharvests. The AA also 
finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effective date pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) for the same reasons. This action is required 
under Sec.  635.28(b)(2) and is exempt from review under Executive 
Order 12866. NMFS has concluded that reducing the retention limit of 
the Atlantic aggregated LCS and hammerhead management groups for 
directed shark limited access permit holders will slow the fishery 
catch rates to allow the fishery throughout the Atlantic region to 
remain open for the rest of the year.

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

    Dated: October 14, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25299 Filed 10-14-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       72007

                                                List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180                           NMFS is adjusting the
                                                                                                         SUMMARY:                                                 • The amount of remaining shark
                                                   Environmental protection,                      commercial    aggregated large coastal                       quota in the Atlantic region based on
                                                Administrative practice and procedure,            shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark                             dealer reports;
                                                                                                  management group retention limit for                            Based on dealer reports, 108.6 mt dw
                                                Agricultural commodities, Pesticides
                                                                                                                                                               or 64 percent of the 168.9 mt dw shark
                                                and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping directed shark limited access permit
                                                                                                  holders in the Atlantic region from 45                       quota for the aggregated LCS
                                                requirements.
                                                                                                  LCS other than sandbar sharks per                            management group has already been
                                                   Dated: September 30, 2016.                     vessel per trip to 25 LCS other than                         harvested in the Atlantic region. This
                                                Michael Goodis,                                   sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This                     means that approximately 36 percent of
                                                Acting Director, Registration Division, Office    action is based on consideration of the                      the quota remains. Unless action is
                                                of Pesticide Programs.                            regulatory determination criteria                            taken to slow harvest, fishermen in the
                                                                                                  regarding inseason adjustments. The                          Atlantic region may not have an
                                                   Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is
                                                                                                  retention limit will remain at 25 LCS                        opportunity to fish in the region for the
                                                amended as follows:
                                                                                                  other than sandbar sharks per vessel per                     remainder of the year.
                                                PART 180—[AMENDED]                                trip in the Atlantic region through the                         • The catch rates of the aggregated
                                                                                                  rest of the 2016 fishing season or until                     LCS management group in the Atlantic
                                                ■ 1. The authority citation for part 180          NMFS announces via a notice in the                           region based on dealer reports;
                                                continues to read as follows:                     Federal Register a fishery closure is                           Based on dealer reports, the current
                                                                                                  warranted. This retention limit                              catch rates are too high to maintain an
                                                   Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.                                                                  open season for the rest of the year.
                                                                                                  adjustment will affect directed shark
                                                ■ 2. In § 180.664, alphabetically add
                                                                                                  limited access permit holders fishing for                    While fishermen are landing sharks
                                                entries for ‘‘beet, sugar, roots’’, ‘‘beet,       LCS in the Atlantic region.                                  within the per-trip retention limit of 45
                                                sugar, tops’’, and ‘‘vegetable, bulb,                                                                          LCS other than sandbar per trip per day,
                                                                                                  DATES: This retention limit adjustment
                                                group 3–07’’ to the table in paragraph (a)                                                                     they are making multiple trips a day
                                                                                                  is effective at 11:30 p.m. local time
                                                to read as follows:                                                                                            that result in high numbers of
                                                                                                  October 19, 2016, through the end of the
                                                                                                                                                               aggregated LCS being caught rapidly
                                                § 180.664 Penflufen; tolerances for               2016 fishing season on December 31,
                                                                                                                                                               throughout the fishery. This high daily
                                                residues.                                         2016, or until NMFS announces via a
                                                                                                                                                               average catch rate means that aggregated
                                                   (a) * * *                                      notice in the Federal Register a fishery
                                                                                                                                                               LCS are being harvested too quickly to
                                                                                                  closure, if warranted.
                                                                                                                                                               provide equitable fishing opportunities
                                                          Commodity                    Parts per  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guý                        throughout the season. If the per trip
                                                                                        million   DuBeck or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 301–                          limit is left unchanged, aggregated LCS
                                                                                                  427–8503; fax 301–713–1917.                                  would likely be harvested at such a high
                                                    *         *          *           *          * SUPPLEMENTARY     INFORMATION: Atlantic                      rate that the fishery would close in mid-
                                                Beet, sugar, roots .................     0.01 ppm shark fisheries are managed under the                        October.
                                                Beet, sugar, tops ..................     0.01 ppm 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory                              • Estimated date of the aggregated
                                                                                                  Species (HMS) Fishery Management                             LCS management group closure based
                                                    *         *          *           *          * Plan (FMP), its amendments, and                              on when the landings are projected to
                                                Vegetable, bulb, group 3–07              0.01 ppm implementing regulations (50 CFR part                        reach 80 percent of the quota;
                                                                                                  635) issued under authority of the                              Once the landings reach 80 percent of
                                                    *         *          *           *          *
                                                                                                  Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                                     the quota, NMFS would close the
                                                                                                  Conservation and Management Act (16                          aggregated LCS management group as
                                                *      *     *      *        *
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–25293 Filed 10–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                  U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).                                        well as any other management group
                                                                                                     Under § 635.24(a)(8), NMFS may                            with ‘‘linked quotas’’ such as the
                                                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                                                                  adjust the commercial retention limit in                     Atlantic hammerhead shark
                                                                                                  the shark fisheries during the fishing                       management group. Current catch rates
                                                                                                  season. Before making any adjustment,                        would likely result in landings reaching
                                                DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                            NMFS must consider specified                                 this limit by mid-October. A closure
                                                                                                  regulatory criteria and other relevant                       would preclude fishing opportunities in
                                                National Oceanic and Atmospheric                  factors. See § 635.24(a)(8)(i)–(vi). After                   the Atlantic region for the remainder of
                                                Administration                                    considering these criteria as discussed                      the year. Reducing the trip limit is
                                                                                                  below, NMFS concluded that reducing                          expected to reduce the catch rates and
                                                50 CFR Part 635                                   the retention limit of the Atlantic                          allow for the fishery to remain open for
                                                [Docket No. 150413357–5999–02]                    aggregated LCS and hammerhead                                the remainder of the year.
                                                                                                  management groups for directed shark                            • Effects of the adjustment on
                                                RIN 0648–XE914                                    limited access permit holders will slow                      accomplishing the objectives of the 2006
                                                                                                  the fishery catch rates to allow the                         Consolidated HMS FMP and its
                                                Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;                fishery throughout the Atlantic region to                    amendments;
                                                Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal remain open for the rest of the year.                                         Reducing the retention limit for the
                                                Shark and Hammerhead Shark                        Since landings are projected to reach 80                     aggregated LCS and hammerhead
                                                Management Group Retention Limit                  percent before the end of the 2016                           management group from 45 to 25 LCS
                                                Adjustment                                        fishing season, NMFS is reducing the                         per trip would allow for fishing
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries                 commercial Atlantic aggregated LCS and                       opportunities later in the year consistent
                                                Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and              hammerhead shark retention limit from                        with the FMP’s objectives to provide
                                                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                45 to 25 LCS other than sandbar per                          equitable fishing opportunities
                                                Commerce.                                         vessel per trip.                                             throughout the fishing season and to
                                                ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
                                                                                                     NMFS considered the inseason                              limit bycatch and discards.
                                                retention limit adjustment.                       retention  limit adjustment criteria listed                     • Variations in seasonal distribution
                                                                                                  in § 635.24(a)(8), which says that:                          or migratory patterns of aggregated LCS


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                                                72008            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 202 / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                based on scientific and fishery-based                    vessel per trip on April 2, 2016 (81 FR               impracticable and contrary to the public
                                                knowledge; and                                           18541; March 31, 2016) after                          interest. Providing prior notice and an
                                                   The directed shark fisheries in the                   considering the inseason retention limit              opportunity for comment is
                                                Atlantic region exhibit a mixed species                  adjustment criteria listed at                         impracticable because the catch and
                                                composition, with a high abundance of                    § 635.24(a)(8). As NMFS announced in                  landings that need to be reduced are
                                                aggregated LCS caught in conjunction                     the 2016 shark season final rule (81 FR               ongoing and must be reduced
                                                with hammerhead sharks. As a result,                     44798; July 11, 2016), we increased the               immediately to meet conservation and
                                                by slowing the harvest and reducing                      commercial Atlantic aggregated LCS and                management objectives for the fishery.
                                                landings on a per-trip basis, both                       hammerhead shark retention limit from                 Continued fishing at those levels during
                                                fisheries could remain open for the                      3 to 45 LCS other than sandbar per                    the time that notice and comment
                                                remainder of the year.                                   vessel per trip after considering the                 would take place would likely result in
                                                   • Effects of catch rates in one part of               regulatory criteria. Based on dealer                  early closure of the fishery, contrary to
                                                the Atlantic region precluding vessels in                reports through September 30, 2016,                   the objectives of the existing
                                                another part from having a reasonable                    approximately 34 percent and 54                       conservation and management measures
                                                opportunity to harvest a portion of the                  percent of the aggregated LCS and                     in place for these species. These
                                                aggregated LCS management group                          hammerhead shark quotas remain,                       objectives include providing equitable
                                                quota.                                                   respectively. At this point in the season,            fishing opportunities and ensuring that
                                                   Based on dealer reports, and given                    fishermen in the Atlantic region may                  bycatch and discards are minimized.
                                                NMFS’ notice to the regulated                            not have an opportunity to fish in the                Allowing fishing to continue at the
                                                community (80 FR 74999, December 1,                      region for the remainder of the year if               existing rates even for a limited time is
                                                2015; 81 FR 18541, March 31, 2016; and                   the retention limits are not reduced.                 contrary to these objectives and would
                                                81 FR 44798, July 11, 2016) that a goal                     Accordingly, as of 11:30 p.m. local                thus be impracticable. It would also be
                                                of this year’s fishery was to provide                    time October 19, 2016, NMFS is                        contrary to the public interest because
                                                fishing opportunities throughout the                     reducing the retention limit for the                  continued catch at the current rates,
                                                fishing season, NMFS has concluded                       commercial aggregated LCS and                         even for a limited period, could result
                                                that the aggregated LCS quota is being                   hammerhead shark management groups                    in eventual early quota closures and
                                                harvested too quickly to meet                            in the Atlantic region for directed shark             potential overharvests. The AA also
                                                conservation and management goals for                    limited access permit holders from 45                 finds good cause to waive the 30-day
                                                the fishery. If the harvest of these                     LCS other than sandbar sharks per                     delay in effective date pursuant to 5
                                                species is not slowed down, the fishery                  vessel per trip to 25 LCS other than                  U.S.C. 553(d)(3) for the same reasons.
                                                would likely close in mid-October.                       sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. If the            This action is required under
                                                Closing the fishery would prevent                        vessel is properly permitted to operate               § 635.28(b)(2) and is exempt from
                                                fishermen from other parts of the                        as a charter vessel or headboat for HMS               review under Executive Order 12866.
                                                Atlantic region from having the same                     and is engaged in a for-hire trip, in                 NMFS has concluded that reducing the
                                                opportunities to harvest the aggregated                  which case the recreational retention                 retention limit of the Atlantic aggregated
                                                LCS quota later in the year.                             limits for sharks and ‘‘no sale’’                     LCS and hammerhead management
                                                   On December 1, 2015 (80 FR 74999),                    provisions apply (§ 635.22(a) and (c)), or            groups for directed shark limited access
                                                NMFS announced in a final rule that the                  if the vessel possesses a valid shark                 permit holders will slow the fishery
                                                aggregated LCS and hammerhead shark                      research permit under § 635.32 and a                  catch rates to allow the fishery
                                                fisheries management groups for the                      NMFS-approved observer is onboard,                    throughout the Atlantic region to remain
                                                Atlantic region would open on January                    then they are exempted from the                       open for the rest of the year.
                                                1 with a quota of 168.9 metric tons (mt)                 retention limit adjustment.
                                                dressed weight (dw) (372,552 lb dw)                                                                              Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
                                                                                                            All other retention limits and shark
                                                and 27.1 mt dw (59,736 lb dw),                           fisheries in the Atlantic region remain                 Dated: October 14, 2016.
                                                respectively. NMFS had published a                       unchanged. This retention limit will                  Emily H. Menashes,
                                                proposed rule on August 18, 2015 (80                     remain at 25 LCS other than sandbar                   Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
                                                FR 49974) and accepted public                            sharks per vessel per trip for the rest of            Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                comment. In the final rule, NMFS also                    the 2016 fishing season, or until NMFS                [FR Doc. 2016–25299 Filed 10–14–16; 4:15 pm]
                                                announced that if it appeared that the                   announces via a notice in the Federal                 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                quota is being harvested too quickly,                    Register a fishery closure, is warranted.
                                                thus precluding fishing opportunities                       The boundary between the Gulf of
                                                throughout the entire region (e.g., if                   Mexico region and the Atlantic region is              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                approximately 20 percent of the quota is                 defined at § 635.27(b)(1) as a line
                                                caught at the beginning of the year),                    beginning on the East Coast of Florida                National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                NMFS would consider reducing the                         at the mainland at 25°20.4′ N. lat.,                  Administration
                                                commercial retention limit to 3 or fewer                 proceeding due east. Any water and
                                                LCS other than sandbar sharks and then                   land to the north and east of that                    50 CFR Part 648
                                                later consider increasing the retention                  boundary is considered, for the                       [Docket No. 130408348–3835–02]
                                                limit to 45 LCS other than sandbar                       purposes of quota monitoring and
                                                sharks per vessel per trip around July                                                                         RIN 0648–XE968
                                                                                                         setting of quotas, to be within the
                                                15, 2016, after considering the                          Atlantic region.                                      Fisheries of the Northeastern United
                                                appropriate regulatory adjustment
                                                                                                                                                               States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; 2016
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                criteria. In March 2016, dealer reports                  Classification
                                                                                                                                                               Management Area 1A Seasonal Annual
                                                indicated that landings had exceeded 20                    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the
                                                                                                                                                               Catch Limit Harvested
                                                percent of the quota, and NMFS                           Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
                                                therefore reduced the commercial                         NOAA (AA), finds there is good cause                  AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                                Atlantic aggregated LCS and                              to waive prior notice and an                          Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                hammerhead shark retention limit from                    opportunity for public comment on this                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                36 to 3 LCS other than sandbar per                       action, as notice and comment would be                Commerce.


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Document Created: 2016-10-19 02:12:02
Document Modified: 2016-10-19 02:12:02
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; inseason retention limit adjustment.
DatesThis retention limit adjustment is effective at 11:30 p.m. local time October 19, 2016, through the end of the 2016 fishing season on December 31, 2016, or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register a fishery closure, if warranted.
ContactGu[yacute] DuBeck or Karyl Brewster- Geisz 301-427-8503; fax 301-713-1917.
FR Citation81 FR 72007 
RIN Number0648-XE91

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