82 FR 45207 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction for Vermilion Snapper
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 187 (September 28, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 187 (September 28, 2017)
| Page Range | 45207-45207 | |
| FR Document | 2017-20792 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 45207] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-20792] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 130312235-3658-02] RIN 0648-XF683 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction for Vermilion Snapper AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS reduces 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, October 2, 2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018. 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 July 1 through December 31, 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)(ii)(D)). As specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii), any unused portion of the commercial quota from the January through June 2017 fishing season will be added to the commercial quota for the July through December 2017 fishing season. Accordingly, NMFS determined that 20,379 lb (9,407 kg), round weight, of the commercial quota was not harvested in the January through June 2017 fishing season, and NMFS added that to the July through December commercial quota. 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, to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 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. Based on current information, NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the commercial quota for the July through December 2017 fishing season for vermilion snapper (including the January through June unused quota) was reached by September 19, 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 October 2, 2017. This reduced commercial trip limit will remain in effect until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2018, or until the 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 NOAA Fisheries (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 the trip limit and trip limit reduction has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. 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. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action would require time and increase the probability 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: September 25, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-20792 Filed 9-25-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 187 / Thursday, September 28, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 45207
concerns about complying with these is managed under the Fishery Classification
requirements by the compliance date. Management Plan for the Snapper-
Programs may voluntarily come into Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic The Regional Administrator,
compliance at an earlier date if they Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Southeast Region, NMFS, has
have the processes already in place. Fishery Management Council prepared determined this temporary rule is
Programs that do not have processes the FMP. The FMP is implemented by necessary for the conservation and
already in place, have until September NMFS under the authority of the management of South Atlantic
30, 2018, to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery vermilion snapper and is consistent
requirements on background checks at Conservation and Management Act with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
45 CFR 1302.90(b) and the requirement (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations other applicable laws.
to participate in their states’ QRIS at 45 at 50 CFR part 622. This action is taken under 50 CFR
CFR 1302.53(b)(2). The commercial ACL (commercial 622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt from
Dated: September 6, 2017. quota) for vermilion snapper in the review under Executive Order 12866.
Steven Wagner, South Atlantic is divided into two 6- These measures are exempt from the
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and
month time periods, January through procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Families. June, and July through December. For Act because the temporary rule is issued
Approved: September 6, 2017.
the July 1 through December 31, 2017, without opportunity for prior notice and
fishing season, the commercial quota is comment.
Thomas E. Price,
388,703 lb (176,313 kg), gutted weight,
Secretary. 431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight This action responds to the best
[FR Doc. 2017–20499 Filed 9–27–17; 8:45 am] (50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D)). As scientific information available. The
BILLING CODE P specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii), Assistant Administrator for NOAA
any unused portion of the commercial Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to
quota from the January through June immediately implement this
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2017 fishing season will be added to the commercial trip limit reduction
commercial quota for the July through constitutes good cause to waive the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric December 2017 fishing season. requirements to provide prior notice
Administration Accordingly, NMFS determined that and opportunity for public comment
20,379 lb (9,407 kg), round weight, of pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
50 CFR Part 622 the commercial quota was not harvested U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice
in the January through June 2017 fishing and opportunity for public comment on
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02]
season, and NMFS added that to the this temporary rule is unnecessary and
RIN 0648–XF683
July through December commercial contrary to the public interest. Such
quota. procedures are unnecessary, because the
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of rule establishing the trip limit and trip
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS
limit reduction has already been subject
Grouper Resources of the South is required to reduce the commercial
to notice and comment, and all that
Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit trip limit for vermilion snapper from
remains is to notify the public of the trip
Reduction for Vermilion Snapper 1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight, 1,110
limit reduction. Prior notice and
lb (503 kg), round weight, to 500 lb (227
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries opportunity for public comment is
kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg),
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and contrary to the public interest, because
round weight, when 75 percent of the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), any delay in reducing the commercial
fishing season commercial quota is
Commerce. trip limit could result in the commercial
reached or projected to be reached, by
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
quota being exceeded. There is a need
filing a notification to that effect with
reduction. to immediately implement this action to
the Office of the Federal Register. Based
protect the vermilion snapper resource,
on current information, NMFS has
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the since the capacity of the fishing fleet
determined that 75 percent of the
commercial trip limit for vermilion allows for rapid harvest of the
commercial quota for the July through
snapper in or from the exclusive commercial quota. Prior notice and
December 2017 fishing season for
economic zone (EEZ) of the South opportunity for public comment on this
vermilion snapper (including the
Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted action would require time and increase
January through June unused quota) was
weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. the probability that the commercial
reached by September 19, 2017.
This trip limit reduction is necessary to sector could exceed its quota.
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the
protect the South Atlantic vermilion commercial trip limit for vermilion For the aforementioned reasons, the
snapper resource. snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted AA also finds good cause to waive the
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight, 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
local time, October 2, 2017, until 12:01 in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
a.m., local time, January 1, 2018. 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 2, Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2017. This reduced commercial trip
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Dated: September 25, 2017.
limit will remain in effect until the start
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: of the next commercial fishing season Emily H. Menashes,
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
mary.vara@noaa.gov. on January 1, 2018, or until the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The commercial quota is reached and the Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
snapper-grouper fishery in the South commercial sector closes, whichever [FR Doc. 2017–20792 Filed 9–25–17; 4:15 pm]
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and occurs first. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:07 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\28SER1.SGM 28SER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_45394/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-09-28 01:32:41
Document Modified: 2017-09-28 01:32:41
| 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; trip limit reduction. | |
| Dates | This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 2, 2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018. | |
| Contact | Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 45207 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF68 |
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