83_FR_14266 83 FR 14202 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack

83 FR 14202 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 64 (April 3, 2018)

Page Range14202-14202
FR Document2018-06732

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2018 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined greater amberjack landings have exceeded the 2018 commercial annual catch target (ACT). Therefore, the commercial sector fishing season for greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will not re-open on June 1, 2018, the end of the commercial seasonal closure, and the sector will remain closed until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14202]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 1206013412-2517-02]
RIN 0648-XG110


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for Gulf of Mexico 
Greater Amberjack

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial 
greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for 
the 2018 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined 
greater amberjack landings have exceeded the 2018 commercial annual 
catch target (ACT). Therefore, the commercial sector fishing season for 
greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will not 
re-open on June 1, 2018, the end of the commercial seasonal closure, 
and the sector will remain closed until the start of the next 
commercial fishing season on January 1, 2019. This closure is necessary 
to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2018, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the reef fish fishery of the 
Gulf, which includes greater amberjack, under the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP). The Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP and NMFS 
implements the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations 
at 50 CFR part 622. All greater amberjack weights discussed in this 
temporary rule are in round weight.
    The 2018 commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf greater 
amberjack is 319,140 lb (144,759 kg), as specified in 50 CFR 
622.41(a)(1)(iii). The 2018 commercial quota (equivalent to the 
commercial ACT) is 277,651 lb (125,940.38 kg), as specified in 50 CFR 
622.39(a)(1)(v). Additionally, the greater amberjack commercial sector 
is closed each year during the months of March, April, and May as 
specified in 50 CFR 622.36(a).
    Under 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the 
commercial sector for greater amberjack when the commercial ACT is 
reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to 
that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has 
determined that as of March 15, 2018, 106.4 percent of the 2018 
commercial ACT has been reached. Accordingly, NMFS is closing 
commercial harvest of greater amberjack from the Gulf EEZ for the 
remainder of the 2018 fishing year effective 12:01 a.m., local time, 
June 1, 2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019. This means 
that the commercial sector for Gulf greater amberjack will not re-open 
on June 1, 2018.
    During the commercial closure, the sale or purchase of greater 
amberjack taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or 
purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of greater amberjack 
that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local 
time, March 1, 2018, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or 
processor. The commercial sector for greater amberjack will re-open on 
January 1, 2019, the beginning of the 2019 greater amberjack commercial 
fishing season.
    During the commercial closure, the bag and possession limits 
specified in 50 CFR 622.38(b)(1) apply to all harvest or possession of 
greater amberjack in or from the Gulf EEZ. Additionally, the 
recreational sector for greater amberjack is closed until May 1, 2018. 
During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits for 
greater amberjack in or from the Gulf EEZ are zero.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
Gulf greater amberjack and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1) 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 there 
is 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). Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule 
establishing the requirement to close the commercial sector when the 
commercial ACT is reached or projected to be reached was subject to 
notice and comment, and NMFS must now notify the public of the closure.

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

    Dated: March 29, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06732 Filed 4-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

14202 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Rules and Regulations * * * * * 5305, or email: Kelli.ODonnell@ processor. The commercial sector for Dated: February 14, 2018. noaa.gov. greater amberjack will re-open on James W. Kurth, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS January 1, 2019, the beginning of the manages the reef fish fishery of the Gulf, 2019 greater amberjack commercial Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, exercising the authority of the which includes greater amberjack, fishing season. Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. under the Fishery Management Plan for During the commercial closure, the [FR Doc. 2018–06736 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am] the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf bag and possession limits specified in BILLING CODE 4333–15–C (FMP). The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 50 CFR 622.38(b)(1) apply to all harvest Management Council (Council) or possession of greater amberjack in or prepared the FMP and NMFS from the Gulf EEZ. Additionally, the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE implements the FMP under the recreational sector for greater amberjack authority of the Magnuson-Stevens is closed until May 1, 2018. During the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Fishery Conservation and Management recreational closure, the bag and Administration Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by possession limits for greater amberjack regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All in or from the Gulf EEZ are zero. 50 CFR Part 622 greater amberjack weights discussed in Classification this temporary rule are in round weight. [Docket No. 1206013412–2517–02] The 2018 commercial annual catch The Regional Administrator, RIN 0648–XG110 limit (ACL) for Gulf greater amberjack is Southeast Region, NMFS, has 319,140 lb (144,759 kg), as specified in determined this temporary rule is Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(iii). The 2018 necessary for the conservation and Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 commercial quota (equivalent to the management of Gulf greater amberjack Commercial Accountability Measure commercial ACT) is 277,651 lb and is consistent with the Magnuson- and Closure for Gulf of Mexico Greater (125,940.38 kg), as specified in 50 CFR Stevens Act and other applicable laws. Amberjack 622.39(a)(1)(v). Additionally, the greater This action is taken under 50 CFR amberjack commercial sector is closed AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 622.41(a)(1) and is exempt from review each year during the months of March, Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and under Executive Order 12866. April, and May as specified in 50 CFR Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), These measures are exempt from the 622.36(a). Commerce. Under 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1)(i), NMFS procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. is required to close the commercial Act, because the temporary rule is sector for greater amberjack when the issued without opportunity for prior SUMMARY: NMFS implements notice and comment. accountability measures (AMs) for commercial ACT is reached, or is commercial greater amberjack in the projected to be reached, by filing a This action responds to the best Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery notification to that effect with the Office scientific information available. The for the 2018 fishing year through this of the Federal Register. NMFS has Assistant Administrator for NOAA temporary rule. NMFS has determined determined that as of March 15, 2018, Fisheries (AA), finds that there is good greater amberjack landings have 106.4 percent of the 2018 commercial cause to waive the requirements to exceeded the 2018 commercial annual ACT has been reached. Accordingly, provide prior notice and opportunity for catch target (ACT). Therefore, the NMFS is closing commercial harvest of public comment pursuant to the commercial sector fishing season for greater amberjack from the Gulf EEZ for authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive the remainder of the 2018 fishing year Such procedures are unnecessary economic zone (EEZ) will not re-open effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, because the rule establishing the on June 1, 2018, the end of the 2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, requirement to close the commercial commercial seasonal closure, and the January 1, 2019. This means that the sector when the commercial ACT is sector will remain closed until the start commercial sector for Gulf greater reached or projected to be reached was of the next commercial fishing season amberjack will not re-open on June 1, subject to notice and comment, and on January 1, 2019. This closure is 2018. NMFS must now notify the public of the During the commercial closure, the closure. necessary to protect the Gulf greater sale or purchase of greater amberjack Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. amberjack resource. taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., prohibition on sale or purchase does not Dated: March 29, 2018. local time, June 1, 2018, until 12:01 apply to the sale or purchase of greater Jennifer M. Wallace, a.m., local time, January 1, 2019. amberjack that were harvested, landed Acting Director, Office of Sustainable FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Kelli O’Donnell, NMFS Southeast local time, March 1, 2018, and were [FR Doc. 2018–06732 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am] Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– held in cold storage by a dealer or BILLING CODE 3510–22–P nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:13 Apr 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\03APR1.SGM 03APR1


Document Created: 2018-04-03 00:50:02
Document Modified: 2018-04-03 00:50:02
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; closure.
DatesThis rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2018, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2019.
ContactKelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 14202 
RIN Number0648-XG11
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