82 FR 14641 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 54 (March 22, 2017)

Page Range		14641-14641
FR Document		2017-05634

NMFS issues this temporary rule to reduce the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14641]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05634]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XF290


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

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; commercial trip limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this temporary rule to reduce the commercial trip 
limit for vermilion snapper in or from the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb 
(252 kg), round weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary to 
protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 22, 2017, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery in the South 
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared 
the FMP. The FMP 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 vermilion snapper in the 
South Atlantic is divided into two 6-month time periods, January 
through June and July through December. For the January 1 through June 
30, 2017, fishing season, the commercial quota is 388,703 lb (176,313 
kg), gutted weight, 431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight (50 CFR 
622.190(a)(4)(i)(D)).
    Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the 
commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 lb (454 kg), 
gutted weight, 1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight, when 75 percent of the 
fishing season commercial quota is reached or projected to be reached, 
by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal 
Register, as established by Regulatory Amendment 18 to the FMP (78 FR 
47574, August 6, 2013). The reduced commercial trip limit is 500 lb 
(227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. Based on 
current information, NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the 
available commercial quota for the January 1 through June 30, 2017, 
fishing season for vermilion snapper will be reached by March 22, 2017. 
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial trip limit for vermilion 
snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round 
weight, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on 
March 22, 2017. This reduced commercial trip limit will remain in 
effect until the start of the next fishing season on July 1, 2017, or 
until the seasonal commercial quota is reached and the commercial 
sector closes, 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 vermilion snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii) 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 and providing for a reduction in the commercial trip limit 
has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is 
to notify the public of the commercial trip limit reduction. Providing 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the 
public interest because any delay in reducing the commercial trip limit 
could result in the commercial quota being exceeded. There is a need to 
immediately implement this action to protect the vermilion snapper 
resource, since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid 
harvest of the commercial quota. Providing prior notice and opportunity 
for public comment on this action would require time and increase the 
likelihood that the commercial sector could exceed its 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: March 17, 2017.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-05634 Filed 3-17-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 14641

II model-based support and rural Region (FMP). The South Atlantic with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
broadband experiment funding to file Fishery Management Council prepared other applicable laws.
their location information and the FMP. The FMP is implemented by This action is taken under 50 CFR
associated reports and certifications in NMFS under the authority of the 622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt from
the portal instead of on the FCC Form Magnuson-Stevens Fishery review under Executive Order 12866.
481 or as is currently required. Conservation and Management Act These measures are exempt from the
Federal Communications Commission. (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Marlene H. Dortch,
at 50 CFR part 622. Act because the temporary rule is issued
Secretary. The commercial ACL (commercial without opportunity for prior notice and
quota) for vermilion snapper in the comment.
[FR Doc. 2017–05654 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
South Atlantic is divided into two 6- This action responds to the best
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
month time periods, January through scientific information available. The
June and July through December. For Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
the January 1 through June 30, 2017, NOAA (AA), finds that the need to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE fishing season, the commercial quota is immediately implement this
388,703 lb (176,313 kg), gutted weight, commercial trip limit reduction
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight constitutes good cause to waive the
Administration
(50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(i)(D)). requirements to provide prior notice
50 CFR Part 622 Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS and opportunity for public comment
is required to reduce the commercial pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02] trip limit for vermilion snapper from U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice
RIN 0648–XF290 1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight, 1,110 and opportunity for public comment on
lb (503 kg), round weight, when 75 this temporary rule is unnecessary and
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of percent of the fishing season contrary to the public interest. Such
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- commercial quota is reached or procedures are unnecessary because the
Grouper Resources of the South projected to be reached, by filing a rule establishing and providing for a
Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit notification to that effect with the Office reduction in the commercial trip limit
Reduction of the Federal Register, as established by has already been subject to notice and
Regulatory Amendment 18 to the FMP comment, and all that remains is to
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries (78 FR 47574, August 6, 2013). The notify the public of the commercial trip
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and reduced commercial trip limit is 500 lb limit reduction. Providing prior notice
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), and opportunity for public comment is
Commerce. round weight. Based on current contrary to the public interest because
ACTION: Temporary rule; commercial information, NMFS has determined that any delay in reducing the commercial
trip limit reduction. 75 percent of the available commercial trip limit could result in the commercial
quota for the January 1 through June 30, quota being exceeded. There is a need
SUMMARY: NMFS issues this temporary
2017, fishing season for vermilion to immediately implement this action to
rule to reduce the commercial trip limit
snapper will be reached by March 22, protect the vermilion snapper resource,
for vermilion snapper in or from the
2017. Accordingly, NMFS is reducing since the capacity of the fishing fleet
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
the commercial trip limit for vermilion allows for rapid harvest of the
South Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted
snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted commercial quota. Providing prior
weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight.
weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight, notice and opportunity for public
This trip limit reduction is necessary to
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at comment on this action would require
protect the South Atlantic vermilion
12:01 a.m., local time, on March 22, time and increase the likelihood that the
snapper resource.
2017. This reduced commercial trip commercial sector could exceed its
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., limit will remain in effect until the start quota.
local time, March 22, 2017, until 12:01 of the next fishing season on July 1, For the aforementioned reasons, the
a.m., local time, July 1, 2017. 2017, or until the seasonal commercial AA also finds good cause to waive the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: quota is reached and the commercial 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional sector closes, whichever occurs first. action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email:
Classification Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The The Regional Administrator, Dated: March 17, 2017.
snapper-grouper fishery in the South Southeast Region, NMFS, has Jennifer M. Wallace,
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and determined this temporary rule is Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
is managed under the Fishery necessary for the conservation and Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Management Plan for the Snapper- management of South Atlantic [FR Doc. 2017–05634 Filed 3–17–17; 4:15 pm]
Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:52 Mar 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22MRR1.SGM 22MRR1

Document Created: 2017-03-22 03:58:44
Document Modified: 2017-03-22 03:58:44

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; commercial trip limit reduction.
Dates		This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 22, 2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2017.
Contact		Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 14641
RIN Number		0648-XF29

82 FR 14641 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 54 (March 22, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration