82_FR_15061 82 FR 15005 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; 2017-2018 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass

82 FR 15005 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; 2017-2018 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 56 (March 24, 2017)

Page Range15005-15006
FR Document2017-05862

NMFS announces that the length of the recreational season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the 2017-2018 fishing year. Announcing the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass during the fishing season while managing harvest to protect the black sea bass resource.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 56 (Friday, March 24, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 56 (Friday, March 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15005-15006]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05862]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130403320-4891-02]
RIN 0648-XF283


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; 2017-2018 Recreational 
Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational season length.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the length of the recreational season for 
black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South 
Atlantic will extend throughout the 2017-2018 fishing year. Announcing 
the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the 
accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This 
announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity 
to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass 
during the fishing season while managing harvest to protect the black 
sea bass resource.

DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 
2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2018, unless changed by 
subsequent notification in the Federal Register.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery includes black 
sea bass in the South Atlantic 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 and 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 final rule implementing Regulatory Amendment 14 to the FMP 
revised the recreational fishing year for black sea bass to be April 1 
through March 31 (79 FR 66316, November 7, 2014). The final rule also 
revised the recreational AMs for black sea bass. Prior to the start of 
each recreational fishing year on April 1, NMFS will project the length 
of the upcoming recreational fishing season based on when NMFS projects 
the recreational ACL to be met and will announce the recreational 
season end date in the Federal Register (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)). The 
purpose of this AM is to have a more predictable recreational season 
length while still constraining harvest at or below the recreational 
ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse biological 
consequences.
    NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2017-2018 fishing 
year will be less than the 2017-2018 recreational ACL. To make this 
determination, NMFS compared landings in the last 3 fishing years to 
the 2017-2018 fishing year's recreational ACL of 848,455 lb (384,853 
kg), gutted weight, 1,001,177 lb (454,126 kg), round weight. The 
recreational ACL was set through the final rule for Regulatory 
Amendment 19 to the FMP on September 23, 2013 (78 FR 58249). Landings 
in each of the past 3 years are below the 2017-2018 recreational ACL; 
therefore, recreational landings in 2017-2018 are projected to be less 
than the 2017-2018 recreational ACL. Accordingly, the season end date 
for recreational fishing for black sea bass in the South Atlantic EEZ, 
south of 35[deg]15.9' N. lat., is the end of the 2017-2018 fishing 
year, March 31, 2018.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
South Atlantic black sea bass and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2) 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 the notice of the recreational season 
length 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. 
Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule establishing the AM

[[Page 15006]]

has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is 
to notify the public of the recreational season length.
    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 20, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-05862 Filed 3-21-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 56 / Friday, March 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 15005 the adaptive management provision in DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE fishing year on April 1, NMFS will paragraph (c)(1) of this section) that do project the length of the upcoming not change the findings made for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric recreational fishing season based on regulations or result in no more than a Administration when NMFS projects the recreational minor change in the total estimated ACL to be met and will announce the number of takes (or distribution by 50 CFR Part 622 recreational season end date in the species or years), NMFS may publish a [Docket No. 130403320–4891–02] Federal Register (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)). notice of proposed LOA in the Federal The purpose of this AM is to have a RIN 0648–XF283 more predictable recreational season Register, including the associated length while still constraining harvest at analysis of the change, and solicit Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of or below the recreational ACL to protect public comment before issuing the LOA. Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- the stock from experiencing adverse (c) An LOA issued under § 216.106 of Grouper Resources of the South biological consequences. this chapter and § 217.76 for the activity Atlantic; 2017–2018 Recreational NMFS estimates that recreational identified in § 217.70(a) may be Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass landings for the 2017–2018 fishing year modified by NMFS under the following AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries will be less than the 2017–2018 circumstances: Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and recreational ACL. To make this (1) Adaptive Management—NMFS Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), determination, NMFS compared Commerce. landings in the last 3 fishing years to the may modify (including augment) the 2017–2018 fishing year’s recreational existing mitigation, monitoring, or ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational ACL of 848,455 lb (384,853 kg), gutted reporting measures (after consulting season length. weight, 1,001,177 lb (454,126 kg), round with AAC regarding the practicability of weight. The recreational ACL was set SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the the modifications) if doing so creates a through the final rule for Regulatory length of the recreational season for reasonable likelihood of more black sea bass in the exclusive economic Amendment 19 to the FMP on effectively accomplishing the goals of zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will September 23, 2013 (78 FR 58249). the mitigation and monitoring set forth extend throughout the 2017–2018 Landings in each of the past 3 years are in the preamble for these regulations: fishing year. Announcing the length of below the 2017–2018 recreational ACL; (i) Possible sources of data that could recreational season for black sea bass is therefore, recreational landings in 2017– contribute to the decision to modify the one of the accountability measures 2018 are projected to be less than the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting (AMs) for the recreational sector. This 2017–2018 recreational ACL. measures in an LOA: announcement allows recreational Accordingly, the season end date for fishers to maximize their opportunity to recreational fishing for black sea bass in (A) Results from AAC’s monitoring the South Atlantic EEZ, south of harvest the recreational annual catch from the previous year(s); 35°15.9′ N. lat., is the end of the 2017– limit (ACL) for black sea bass during the (B) Results from other marine fishing season while managing harvest 2018 fishing year, March 31, 2018. mammal and/or sound research or to protect the black sea bass resource. Classification studies; and DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01 The Regional Administrator, (C) Any information that reveals a.m., local time, April 1, 2017, until Southeast Region, NMFS, has marine mammals may have been taken 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2018, determined this temporary rule is in a manner, extent or number not unless changed by subsequent necessary for the conservation and authorized by these regulations or any notification in the Federal Register. management of South Atlantic black sea LOA issued under §§ 216.106 and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: bass and is consistent with the 217.76 of this chapter. Nikhil Mehta, NMFS Southeast Regional Magnuson-Stevens Act and other Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: applicable laws. (ii) If, through adaptive management, nikhil.mehta@noaa.gov. This action is taken under 50 CFR the modifications to the mitigation, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 622.193(e)(2) and is exempt from review monitoring, or reporting measures are snapper-grouper fishery includes black under Executive Order 12866. substantial, NMFS shall publish a notice sea bass in the South Atlantic and is These measures are exempt from the of proposed LOA in the Federal managed under the Fishery procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Register and solicit public comment. Management Plan for the Snapper- Act because the temporary rule is issued (2) Emergencies—If NMFS determines Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic without opportunity for prior notice and that an emergency exists that poses a Region (FMP). The South Atlantic comment. significant risk to the well-being of the Fishery Management Council prepared This action responds to the best species or stocks of marine mammals the FMP and the FMP is implemented scientific information available. The specified in §§ 217.70(b) and 217.72(a), by NMFS under the authority of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, an LOA may be modified without prior Magnuson-Stevens Fishery NOAA (AA), finds that the need to notice or opportunity for public Conservation and Management Act immediately implement the notice of comment. A notice shall be published in (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations the recreational season length the Federal Register within 30 days of at 50 CFR part 622. constitutes good cause to waive the the action. The final rule implementing requirements to provide prior notice jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES Regulatory Amendment 14 to the FMP and opportunity for public comment § 217.78 [Reserved] revised the recreational fishing year for pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 black sea bass to be April 1 through U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice § 217.79 [Reserved] March 31 (79 FR 66316, November 7, and opportunity for public comment on [FR Doc. 2017–05663 Filed 3–23–17; 8:45 am] 2014). The final rule also revised the this temporary rule is unnecessary. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P recreational AMs for black sea bass. Such procedures are unnecessary, Prior to the start of each recreational because the rule establishing the AM VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:12 Mar 23, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\24MRR1.SGM 24MRR1

15006 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 56 / Friday, March 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations has already been subject to notice and For the aforementioned reasons, the Dated: March 20, 2017. comment, and all that remains is to AA also finds good cause to waive the Karen H. Abrams, notify the public of the recreational 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable season length. action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. [FR Doc. 2017–05862 Filed 3–21–17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:12 Mar 23, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\24MRR1.SGM 24MRR1


Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:10:41
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:10:41
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; recreational season length.
DatesThis rule is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, April 1, 2018, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register.
ContactNikhil Mehta, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 15005 
RIN Number0648-XF28
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