82 FR 46002 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Georges Bank Cod Possession and Trip Limit Adjustment for the Common Pool Fishery
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 190 (October 3, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 190 (October 3, 2017)
| Page Range | 46002-46003 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21234 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 46002-46003] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21234] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 151211999-6343-02] RIN 0648-XF713 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Georges Bank Cod Possession and Trip Limit Adjustment for the Common Pool Fishery AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This action decreases the possession and trip limits for Georges Bank cod for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2017 fishing year, through April 30, 2018. Recent catch data reported through September 19, 2017, indicates that the common pool fishery has already caught 2.4 metric tons, or 65.7 percent, of the Trimester 2 Georges Bank cod Total Allowable Catch since the second trimester began on September 1, 2017. We project that, at its current trajectory, the common pool will catch its Trimester 2 TAC well before the end of the second trimester, and is also at risk of exceeding its annual 2017 quota. This possession and trip limit decrease is intended to prevent the common pool fishery from exceeding its allocation for this stock prior to the end of the fishing year. DATES: This possession and trip limit decrease is effective September 28, 2017, through April 30, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at Sec. 648.86(o) authorize the Regional Administrator to adjust the possession and trip limits for common pool vessels in order to help prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the common pool quotas. Recent catch data reported through September 19, 2017, indicates that the common pool fishery has already caught 2.4 metric tons, or 65.7 percent, of the Trimester 2 Georges Bank (GB) cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) since the second trimester began on September 1, 2017. The current GB cod possession and trip limit for GB cod is 250 pounds per DAS, and up to 500 pounds per trip. Under these possession limits, the common pool fishery caught its Trimester 1 TAC and triggered an area closure for GB cod on July 27, 2017. We project that, at its current trajectory, the common pool will catch its Trimester 2 TAC well before the end of the second trimester, and is also at risk of exceeding its annual 2017 quota. In the event that the common pool exceeds its 2017 quota, regulations require that the overage must be deducted from the following year's quota, which would have a negative economic impact on common pool vessels. Therefore, a decrease to the possession and trip limits is being implemented to help prevent the common pool fishery from exceeding its quota for the 2017 fishing year. Effective September 28, 2017, the GB cod possession and trip limits are decreased to 25 lb (11.3 kg) per day and 50 lb (22.7 kg) per trip, as summarized in the table below. Common pool groundfish vessels that have declared their trip through the vessel monitoring system (VMS) or interactive voice response system, and crossed the VMS demarcation line prior to September 28, 2017, are not subject to the new possession and trip limits for that trip. Table 1--New Possession and Trip Limits for GB Cod ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Current possession/ New possession/trip Permit type trip limits limits ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Days-At-Sea (A DAS)......... 250 lb (113.4 kg) 25 lb (11.3 kg) per per DAS, up to 500 DAS, up to 50 lb lb (226.8 kg) per (22.6 kg) per trip. trip. Handgear A.................. 250 lb (113.4 kg) 25 lb (11.3 kg) per per trip. trip. Handgear B.................. 25 lb (11.3 kg) per Unchanged. trip. Small Vessel Category....... 25 lb (11.3 kg) per Unchanged. trip, within combined 300 lb (136.1 kg) trip limit for cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 46003]] Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery are on our Web site at: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue to monitor common pool catch through vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, VMS catch reports, and other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional adjustments to common pool management measures. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness period because it would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The regulations at Sec. 648.86(o) authorize the Regional Administrator to adjust the Northeast multispecies possession and trip limits for common pool vessels in order to help prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the pertinent common pool quotas. The catch data used as the basis for this action only recently became available. The available analysis indicates that the common pool fishery has already achieved 65.7 percent of its second trimester GB cod TAC within the first three weeks of the trimester and if the GB cod possession and trip limits are not reduced immediately, the common pool fishery may exceed its quota for this stock. This action reduces the probability of the common pool fishery exceeding its quota for GB cod. Any overages of the common pool quota for this stock would undermine conservation objectives and trigger the implementation of accountability measures that would have negative economic impacts on the common pool vessels. The time necessary to provide for prior notice and comment, and a 30- day delay in effectiveness, would prevent NMFS from implementing the necessary possession and trip limit adjustment in a timely manner, which could undermine conservation objectives of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, and cause negative economic impacts to the common pool fishery. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 28, 2017. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-21234 Filed 9-28-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![46002 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 3, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
NMFS reminds General category Dated: September 28, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
participants that when the fishery Emily Menashes, Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
reopens October 1, 2017, the BFT Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Specialist, (978) 281–9255.
General category daily retention limit Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
will be one large medium or giant BFT [FR Doc. 2017–21209 Filed 9–28–17; 4:15 pm]
regulations at § 648.86(o) authorize the
(measuring 73″ or greater) per vessel per BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Regional Administrator to adjust the
day/trip. possession and trip limits for common
Classification DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE pool vessels in order to help prevent the
overharvest or underharvest of the
The Assistant Administrator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric common pool quotas.
NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable Administration Recent catch data reported through
and contrary to the public interest to
September 19, 2017, indicates that the
provide prior notice of, and an 50 CFR Part 648 common pool fishery has already caught
opportunity for public comment on, this [Docket No. 151211999–6343–02] 2.4 metric tons, or 65.7 percent, of the
action for the following reasons:
RIN 0648–XF713 Trimester 2 Georges Bank (GB) cod
The regulations implementing the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) since the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and Fisheries of the Northeastern United second trimester began on September 1,
amendments provide for inseason States; Northeast Multispecies 2017. The current GB cod possession
retention limit adjustments to respond Fishery; Georges Bank Cod and trip limit for GB cod is 250 pounds
to the unpredictable nature of BFT Possession and Trip Limit Adjustment per DAS, and up to 500 pounds per trip.
availability on the fishing grounds, the for the Common Pool Fishery Under these possession limits, the
migratory nature of this species, and the common pool fishery caught its
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
regional variations in the BFT fishery. Trimester 1 TAC and triggered an area
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Affording prior notice and opportunity Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), closure for GB cod on July 27, 2017. We
for public comment to implement the Commerce. project that, at its current trajectory, the
quota transfer for the remainder of 2017 common pool will catch its Trimester 2
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
is impracticable and contrary to the adjustment. TAC well before the end of the second
public interest as such a delay would trimester, and is also at risk of
result in continued closure of the SUMMARY: This action decreases the exceeding its annual 2017 quota. In the
General category fishery (because the possession and trip limits for Georges event that the common pool exceeds its
available quota has been met) and the Bank cod for Northeast multispecies 2017 quota, regulations require that the
need to re-open the fishery later in the common pool vessels for the remainder overage must be deducted from the
October through November time period, of the 2017 fishing year, through April following year’s quota, which would
rather than the fishery automatically re- 30, 2018. Recent catch data reported have a negative economic impact on
opening on October 1. The delay would through September 19, 2017, indicates common pool vessels. Therefore, a
preclude the fishery from harvesting that the common pool fishery has decrease to the possession and trip
already caught 2.4 metric tons, or 65.7 limits is being implemented to help
BFT that are available on the fishing
percent, of the Trimester 2 Georges Bank prevent the common pool fishery from
grounds and that might otherwise
cod Total Allowable Catch since the
become unavailable during a delay. exceeding its quota for the 2017 fishing
second trimester began on September 1,
Therefore, the AA finds good cause year.
2017. We project that, at its current
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior trajectory, the common pool will catch Effective September 28, 2017, the GB
notice and the opportunity for public its Trimester 2 TAC well before the end cod possession and trip limits are
comment. For these reasons, there also of the second trimester, and is also at decreased to 25 lb (11.3 kg) per day and
is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to risk of exceeding its annual 2017 quota. 50 lb (22.7 kg) per trip, as summarized
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. This possession and trip limit decrease in the table below. Common pool
This action is being taken under is intended to prevent the common pool groundfish vessels that have declared
§ 635.27(a)(9) (Inseason adjustments) fishery from exceeding its allocation for their trip through the vessel monitoring
and is exempt from review under this stock prior to the end of the fishing system (VMS) or interactive voice
Executive Order 12866. year. response system, and crossed the VMS
DATES: This possession and trip limit demarcation line prior to September 28,
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 2017, are not subject to the new
decrease is effective September 28,
et seq.
2017, through April 30, 2018. possession and trip limits for that trip.
TABLE 1—NEW POSSESSION AND TRIP LIMITS FOR GB COD
Permit type Current possession/trip limits New possession/trip limits
Days-At-Sea (A DAS) .......................... 250 lb (113.4 kg) per DAS, up to 500 lb (226.8 kg) 25 lb (11.3 kg) per DAS, up to 50 lb (22.6 kg) per
per trip. trip.
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Handgear A .......................................... 250 lb (113.4 kg) per trip ........................................ 25 lb (11.3 kg) per trip.
Handgear B .......................................... 25 lb (11.3 kg) per trip ............................................ Unchanged.
Small Vessel Category ......................... 25 lb (11.3 kg) per trip, within combined 300 lb Unchanged.
(136.1 kg) trip limit for cod, haddock, and
yellowtail flounder.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 3, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 46003
Weekly quota monitoring reports for impracticable and contrary to the public conservation objectives and trigger the
the common pool fishery are on our interest. implementation of accountability
Web site at: http:// The regulations at § 648.86(o) measures that would have negative
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ authorize the Regional Administrator to economic impacts on the common pool
ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will adjust the Northeast multispecies vessels. The time necessary to provide
continue to monitor common pool catch possession and trip limits for common for prior notice and comment, and a 30-
through vessel trip reports, dealer- pool vessels in order to help prevent the day delay in effectiveness, would
reported landings, VMS catch reports, overharvest or underharvest of the prevent NMFS from implementing the
and other available information and, if pertinent common pool quotas. The necessary possession and trip limit
necessary, we will make additional catch data used as the basis for this adjustment in a timely manner, which
adjustments to common pool action only recently became available.
could undermine conservation
management measures. The available analysis indicates that the
objectives of the Northeast Multispecies
common pool fishery has already
Classification Fishery Management Plan, and cause
achieved 65.7 percent of its second
This action is required by 50 CFR part trimester GB cod TAC within the first negative economic impacts to the
648 and is exempt from review under three weeks of the trimester and if the common pool fishery.
Executive Order 12866. GB cod possession and trip limits are Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
The Assistant Administrator for not reduced immediately, the common Dated: September 28, 2017.
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause pool fishery may exceed its quota for
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 Alan D. Risenhoover,
this stock. This action reduces the
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice probability of the common pool fishery Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
and the opportunity for public comment exceeding its quota for GB cod. Any National Marine Fisheries Service.
and the 30-day delayed effectiveness overages of the common pool quota for [FR Doc. 2017–21234 Filed 9–28–17; 4:15 pm]
period because it would be this stock would undermine BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:04 Oct 02, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\03OCR1.SGM 03OCR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_46192/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2017-10-03 01:01:08
Document Modified: 2017-10-03 01:01:08
| 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; inseason adjustment. | |
| Dates | This possession and trip limit decrease is effective September 28, 2017, through April 30, 2018. | |
| Contact | Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9255. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 46002 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF71 |
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