82 FR 31924 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2017 Commercial Accountability Measures and Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 131 (July 11, 2017)

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial landings for blueline tilefish are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) by July 18, 2017. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 18, 2017, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on January 1, 2018. This closure is necessary to protect the blueline tilefish resource.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31924-31925]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14441]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02]
RIN 0648-XF525


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2017 Commercial Accountability Measures and Closure for Blueline 
Tilefish in the South Atlantic Region

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

[[Page 31925]]


ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial 
blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South 
Atlantic. Commercial landings for blueline tilefish are projected to 
reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) by July 18, 2017. 
Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for blueline tilefish 
in the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 18, 2017, and 
it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on 
January 1, 2018. This closure is necessary to protect the blueline 
tilefish resource.

DATES: This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 18, 2017, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish 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 and NMFS 
prepared the FMP, and the FMP is implemented under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    As specified at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i), the blueline tilefish 
commercial ACL is 87,521 lb (39,699 kg), round weight.
    The blueline tilefish commercial AM requires NMFS to close the 
commercial sector for blueline tilefish when the commercial ACL is 
reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to 
that effect with the Office of the Federal Register, as specified in 50 
CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i). NMFS has projected that the commercial ACL for 
South Atlantic blueline tilefish will be reached by July 18, 2017. 
Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic blueline tilefish 
is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 18, 2017, until 
12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018.
    The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial vessel 
permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having blueline tilefish on 
board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such blueline 
tilefish prior to July 18, 2017. During the commercial closure, all 
sale or purchase of blueline tilefish is prohibited. The harvest or 
possession of blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is 
limited to the bag and possession limits specified in 50 CFR 
622.187(b)(2) and 622.187(c)(1), respectively, while the recreational 
sector for blueline tilefish is open. These bag and possession limits 
apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel with a valid Federal 
commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic 
snapper-grouper, and apply to the harvest of blueline tilefish in both 
state and Federal waters.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has 
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of blueline tilefish and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper 
fishery and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) 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 NOAA Fisheries (AA) finds that the need 
to immediately implement this action to close the commercial sector for 
blueline tilefish 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), as such prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment are unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the 
regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) have already been subject to 
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the 
closure. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary 
to the public interest because there is a need to immediately implement 
this action to protect blueline tilefish, since the capacity of the 
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would 
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established 
commercial ACL.
    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: July 5, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14441 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P