82_FR_42784 82 FR 42610 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Quota Harvested

82 FR 42610 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Quota Harvested

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 174 (September 11, 2017)

Page Range42610-42610
FR Document2017-19208

NMFS announces a 10,000 lb (4.535 kg) trip limit that may not be landed more than once per day for the Illex squid fishery beginning September 1, 2017. This prohibition is required by regulation because NMFS projects that 95 percent of the 2017 annual catch limit will have been caught by the effective date. This action is intended to prevent over harvest of Illex squid for the fishing year.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 174 (Monday, September 11, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42610]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19208]



[[Page 42610]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140902739-5224-02]
RIN 0648-XF672


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Quota Harvested

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of possession limit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 10,000 lb (4.535 kg) trip limit that may not 
be landed more than once per day for the Illex squid fishery beginning 
September 1, 2017. This prohibition is required by regulation because 
NMFS projects that 95 percent of the 2017 annual catch limit will have 
been caught by the effective date. This action is intended to prevent 
over harvest of Illex squid for the fishing year.

DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, September 1, 2017, through 
December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Illex squid 
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require specifications 
for maximum sustainable yield, initial optimum yield, allowable 
biological catch (ABC), domestic annual harvest (DAH), domestic annual 
processing, joint venture processing, and total allowable levels of 
foreign fishing for the species managed under the Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The procedures for 
setting the annual initial specifications are described in Sec.  
648.22.
    The regulations at Sec.  648.24(a)(2) require that when the NMFS 
Administrator of the Greater Atlantic Region (Regional Administrator) 
projects Illex squid catch will reach 95 percent of the DAH quota 
designated in the FMP, NMFS must prohibit Federal Illex squid vessel 
permit holders from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring, or 
landing more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip and 
landing no squid more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per calendar day 
for the remainder of the prohibition period. This type of prohibition 
effectively closes the directed Illex squid fishery. The Regional 
Administrator monitors the Illex squid fishery catch annually based on 
dealer reports, state data, and other available information. When 95 
percent of the DAH has been reached, NMFS must provide at least 72 
hours of notice to the public that this determination has been made. 
NMFS must also publish the date that the catch is projected to reach 95 
percent of the quota, and the date when prohibitions on catch and 
landings for the remainder of the fishing year become effective.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based on dealer reports 
and other available information, that the Illex squid fleet will catch 
95 percent of the total Illex squid DAH quota for the 2017 season 
through December 31, 2017, by September 1, 2017. Therefore, effective 
0001 hr local time, September 1, 2017, federally permitted vessels may 
not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 10,000 lb 
(4,535 kg) of Illex squid per trip and may not land more than 10,000 lb 
(4,535 kg) once per calendar day. In addition, vessels that have 
entered port before 0001 hr on September 1, 2017, may offload and sell 
more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid from that trip. Also, 
federally permitted dealers may not receive Illex squid from federally 
permitted Illex squid vessels that harvest more than 10,000 lb (4,535 
kg) of Illex squid through 2400 hr local time, December 31, 2017, 
unless it is from a trip landed by a vessel that entered port before 
0001 hr on September 1, 2017.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior 
notice and the opportunity for public comment because it would be 
contrary to the public interest and impracticable. The Illex squid 
fishery opened for the 2017 fishing year on January 1, 2017. Data and 
other information indicating the Illex squid fleet will have landed at 
least 95 percent of the 2017 DAH quota have only recently become 
available. Landings data is updated on a weekly basis, and NMFS 
monitors catch data on a daily basis as catch increases toward the 
limit. Further, high-volume catch and landings in this fishery 
increases total catch relative to the quota quickly. The regulations at 
Sec.  648.24(a)(2) require such action to ensure that Illex squid 
vessels do not exceed the 2017 DAH quota. If implementation of this 
action is delayed to solicit prior public comment, the quota for the 
2017 fishing year may be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation 
objectives of the FMP. Also, the public had prior notice and full 
opportunity to comment on this process when these provisions were put 
in place. Based on these considerations, NMFS further finds, pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period for the reasons stated above.

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

    Dated: September 6, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-19208 Filed 9-6-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

42610 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 174 / Monday, September 11, 2017 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE effectively closes the directed Illex year may be exceeded, thereby squid fishery. The Regional undermining the conservation National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator monitors the Illex squid objectives of the FMP. Also, the public Administration fishery catch annually based on dealer had prior notice and full opportunity to reports, state data, and other available comment on this process when these 50 CFR Part 648 information. When 95 percent of the provisions were put in place. Based on [Docket No. 140902739–5224–02] DAH has been reached, NMFS must these considerations, NMFS further provide at least 72 hours of notice to the finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), RIN 0648–XF672 public that this determination has been good cause to waive the 30-day delayed made. NMFS must also publish the date effectiveness period for the reasons Fisheries of the Northeastern United that the catch is projected to reach 95 stated above. States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and percent of the quota, and the date when Butterfish Fishery; 2017 Illex Squid Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. prohibitions on catch and landings for Quota Harvested the remainder of the fishing year Dated: September 6, 2017. become effective. Emily H. Menashes, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The Regional Administrator has Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), determined, based on dealer reports and Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Commerce. other available information, that the [FR Doc. 2017–19208 Filed 9–6–17; 4:15 pm] Illex squid fleet will catch 95 percent of BILLING CODE 3510–22–P ACTION: Temporary rule; reduction of the total Illex squid DAH quota for the possession limit. 2017 season through December 31, SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 10,000 lb 2017, by September 1, 2017. Therefore, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (4.535 kg) trip limit that may not be effective 0001 hr local time, September landed more than once per day for the 1, 2017, federally permitted vessels may National Oceanic and Atmospheric Illex squid fishery beginning September not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or Administration 1, 2017. This prohibition is required by land more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of regulation because NMFS projects that Illex squid per trip and may not land 50 CFR Part 648 95 percent of the 2017 annual catch more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per [Doc. No. 170113076–7772–02] limit will have been caught by the calendar day. In addition, vessels that have entered port before 0001 hr on RIN 0648–BG60 effective date. This action is intended to prevent over harvest of Illex squid for September 1, 2017, may offload and sell more than 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex Omnibus Framework Adjustment the fishing year. Requiring Electronic Vessel Trip DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, squid from that trip. Also, federally permitted dealers may not receive Illex Reporting for Federally-Permitted September 1, 2017, through December Party and Charter Vessel Operators in 31, 2017. squid from federally permitted Illex squid vessels that harvest more than the Mid-Atlantic Region FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management through 2400 hr local time, December Specialist, (978) 281–9352. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 31, 2017, unless it is from a trip landed Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: by a vessel that entered port before 0001 Regulations governing the Illex squid Commerce. hr on September 1, 2017. fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The ACTION: Final rule. regulations require specifications for Classification SUMMARY: This action approves and maximum sustainable yield, initial This action is required by 50 CFR part implements regulations submitted by optimum yield, allowable biological 648 and is exempt from review under the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management catch (ABC), domestic annual harvest Executive Order 12866. NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5 Council in an Omnibus Framework (DAH), domestic annual processing, U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice Adjustment to all of its fishery joint venture processing, and total and the opportunity for public comment management plans. The Electronic allowable levels of foreign fishing for because it would be contrary to the Vessel Trip Report Framework the species managed under the Atlantic public interest and impracticable. The implements a requirement for charter Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Illex squid fishery opened for the 2017 and party vessels that hold a permit to Management Plan (FMP). The fishing year on January 1, 2017. Data fish for Atlantic bluefish, black sea bass, procedures for setting the annual initial and other information indicating the scup, summer flounder, tilefish, squid, specifications are described in § 648.22. The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2) Illex squid fleet will have landed at least Atlantic mackerel, and/or butterfish, require that when the NMFS 95 percent of the 2017 DAH quota have while on a trip carrying passengers for Administrator of the Greater Atlantic only recently become available. hire, to submit required vessel trip Region (Regional Administrator) Landings data is updated on a weekly reports by electronic means. This action projects Illex squid catch will reach 95 basis, and NMFS monitors catch data on is intended to increase the timeliness, percent of the DAH quota designated in a daily basis as catch increases toward accuracy, and quality of fisheries data the FMP, NMFS must prohibit Federal the limit. Further, high-volume catch submitted to NMFS while also reducing asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES Illex squid vessel permit holders from and landings in this fishery increases the burden on the charter and party fishing for, catching, possessing, total catch relative to the quota quickly. fishing fleets. transferring, or landing more than The regulations at § 648.24(a)(2) require DATES: This rule is effective March 12, 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) of Illex squid per such action to ensure that Illex squid 2018. trip and landing no squid more than vessels do not exceed the 2017 DAH ADDRESSES: Copies of supporting 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) once per calendar quota. If implementation of this action documents used by the Mid-Atlantic day for the remainder of the prohibition is delayed to solicit prior public Fishery Management Council, including period. This type of prohibition comment, the quota for the 2017 fishing the Framework Adjustment with VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:54 Sep 08, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\11SER1.SGM 11SER1


Document Created: 2017-09-09 00:03:45
Document Modified: 2017-09-09 00:03:45
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; reduction of possession limit.
DatesEffective 0001 hr local time, September 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.
ContactAlyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9352.
FR Citation82 FR 42610 
RIN Number0648-XF67
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