83_FR_15825 83 FR 15754 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Complex; Inseason Adjustment to the Skate Wing Possession Limit

83 FR 15754 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate Complex; Inseason Adjustment to the Skate Wing Possession Limit

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

Page Range15754-15755
FR Document2018-07589

NMFS announces the adjustment of the commercial per-trip possession limit in the skate wing fishery for the remainder of the 2017 fishing year, through April 30, 2018, based on a revised landings projection. This possession limit adjustment is necessary to allow fishermen the opportunity to fully harvest the remaining skate wing annual total allowable landings. This announcement also informs the public that the skate wing possession limit is increased until the end of the fishing year (April 30).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15754-15755]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07589]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 170710645-8098-02]
RIN 0648-XG162


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate 
Complex; Inseason Adjustment to the Skate Wing Possession Limit

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the adjustment of the commercial per-trip 
possession limit in the skate wing fishery for the remainder of the 
2017 fishing year, through April 30, 2018, based on a revised landings 
projection. This possession limit adjustment is necessary to allow 
fishermen the opportunity to fully harvest the remaining skate wing 
annual total allowable landings. This announcement also informs the 
public that the skate wing possession limit is increased until the end 
of the fishing year (April 30).

DATES: Effective April 9, 2018, through April 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The skate wing fishery is managed through 
the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP); the 
regulations for which are found at 50 CFR part 648, subpart O. On 
December 27, 2017, we reduced the commercial skate wing possession 
limit from 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb (4,222 kg) 
whole weight) per trip to the incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of 
skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight) per trip for the remainder 
of the fishing year (82 FR 59526). The Regional Administrator is 
authorized to reduce the skate wing possession limit when landings 
reach 85 percent of the annual total allowable landings (TAL), which 
occurred in December. However, this is discouraged if the reduction is 
expected to prevent attainment of the annual TAL. Regulations at Sec.  
648.322(b) describe this process of adjusting the commercial possession 
limit of skate wings.
    Based on landings data reported through March 31, 2018, our revised 
projections indicate that under the current possession limits, the 
skate wing fishery will only harvest 98 percent of the annual TAL 
before the end of the fishing year on April 30. Because the annual TAL 
would not be fully utilized under the current incidental possession 
limit, we are authorized to adjust the possession limit in accordance 
with the regulations to allow the full attainment of the annual TAL. 
Revised projections indicate that increasing the possession limit for 
skate wings from 500 lb (227 kg) back to the seasonal 4,100 lb (1,860 
kg) per trip for the remainder of April (and the fishing year) would 
better allow the annual TAL to be fully utilized while still limiting 
the possibility of exceeding it due to the limited time period.

[[Page 15755]]

    This action increases the commercial skate wing possession limit 
from the incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of skate wings (1,135 lb 
(515 kg) whole weight) per trip to the seasonal 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of 
skate wings (9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip. This action is 
being implemented to allow the skate wing fishery an opportunity to 
fully attain the annual TAL while minimizing the possibility of 
exceeding it. Upon filing of this notice, no person may possess on 
board or land more than 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb 
(4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip for the remainder of the 2017 fishing 
year, unless under specific exemption. This action applies to the skate 
wing fishery only and does not affect vessels fishing in accordance 
with a skate bait letter of authorization. On May 1, 2018, the 2018 
fishing year begins, and the commercial skate wing possession limit 
will return to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018 through August 31, 
2018) possession limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate wings or 5,902 
lb (2,677 kg) whole weight per trip.

Classification

    This action is taken under 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) to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the 
public interest. This action ends the previous trip limit reduction in 
the commercial skate bait fishery, and raises the possession limit from 
the incidental limit to the standard season 2 limit in order to allow 
fishermen the opportunity to fully harvest the annual skate wing TAL. 
The regulations at Sec.  648.322(b)(2)(iii) allow this by stating that 
trip limits should not be reduced if they prevent the attainment of the 
TAL. If implementation of this adjustment were delayed to solicit prior 
public comment, this could further prevent the fishery's ability to 
harvest the full TAL, thereby undermining the objectives of the 
Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. This action also 
relieves the restriction of the former trip limit reduction in the wing 
fishery for the remainder of the 2017 fishing year. The Assistant 
Administrator further finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause 
to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period for the reason stated 
above.

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

    Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07589 Filed 4-9-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

15754 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Rules and Regulations FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS October 1, 2017, on page 657, in § 2.106, (a) Federal fixed and tactical radio COMMISSION under ‘‘United States (US) Footnotes’’, relay stations may operate indefinitely footnote US378 is reinstated to read as on a primary basis within 80 km of 47 CFR Part 2 follows: Cherry Point, NC (34°58′ N, 76°56′ W) § 2.106 Table of frequency allocations. and Yuma, AZ (32°32′ N, 113°58′ W). Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters * * * * * (b) Federal fixed and tactical radio UNITED STATES (US) FOOTNOTES relay stations shall operate on a CFR Correction secondary basis to primary non-Federal * * * * * ■ In Title 47 of the Code of Federal US378 In the band 1710–1755 MHz, operations at the 14 sites listed below: Regulations, Parts 0 to 19, revised as of the following provisions apply: State Location Coordinates 80 km radius of operation centered on: CA ........... China Lake ........................................................................................................................ 35°41′ N, 117°41′ W. CA ........... Pacific Missile Test Range/Point Mugu ............................................................................ 34°07′ N, 119°30′ W. FL ............ Eglin AFB .......................................................................................................................... 30°29′ N, 086°31′ W. MD .......... Patuxent River .................................................................................................................. 38°17′ N, 076°25′ W. NM .......... White Sands Missile Range ............................................................................................. 33°00′ N, 106°30′ W. NV ........... Nellis AFB ......................................................................................................................... 36°14′ N, 115°02′ W. UT ........... Hill AFB ............................................................................................................................. 41°07′ N, 111°58′ W. 50 km radius of operation centered on: AL ........... Fort Rucker ....................................................................................................................... 31°13′ N, 085°49′ W. CA ........... Fort Irwin ........................................................................................................................... 35°16′ N, 116°41′ W. GA ........... Fort Benning ..................................................................................................................... 32°22′ N, 084°56′ W. GA ........... Fort Stewart ...................................................................................................................... 31°52′ N, 081°37′ W. KY ........... Fort Campbell ................................................................................................................... 36°41′ N, 087°28′ W. NC ........... Fort Bragg ......................................................................................................................... 35°09′ N, 079°01′ W. WA .......... Fort Lewis ......................................................................................................................... 47°05′ N, 122°36′ W. (c) In the sub-band 1710–1720 MHz, ACTION:Temporary rule; inseason fishing year (82 FR 59526). The Regional precision guided munitions shall adjustment. Administrator is authorized to reduce operate on a primary basis until the skate wing possession limit when inventory is exhausted or until SUMMARY: NMFS announces the landings reach 85 percent of the annual December 31, 2008, whichever is earlier. adjustment of the commercial per-trip total allowable landings (TAL), which (d) All other Federal stations in the possession limit in the skate wing occurred in December. However, this is fixed and mobile services shall operate fishery for the remainder of the 2017 discouraged if the reduction is expected on a primary basis until fishing year, through April 30, 2018, to prevent attainment of the annual reaccommodated in accordance with the based on a revised landings projection. This possession limit adjustment is TAL. Regulations at § 648.322(b) Commercial Spectrum Enhancement describe this process of adjusting the Act. necessary to allow fishermen the opportunity to fully harvest the commercial possession limit of skate * * * * * wings. remaining skate wing annual total [FR Doc. 2018–07566 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am] allowable landings. This announcement Based on landings data reported BILLING CODE 1301–00–D also informs the public that the skate through March 31, 2018, our revised wing possession limit is increased until projections indicate that under the the end of the fishing year (April 30). current possession limits, the skate wing DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DATES: Effective April 9, 2018, through fishery will only harvest 98 percent of April 30, 2018. the annual TAL before the end of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric fishing year on April 30. Because the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administration annual TAL would not be fully utilized Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9180. under the current incidental possession 50 CFR Part 648 limit, we are authorized to adjust the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The skate [Docket No. 170710645–8098–02] wing fishery is managed through the possession limit in accordance with the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery regulations to allow the full attainment RIN 0648–XG162 Management Plan (FMP); the of the annual TAL. Revised projections regulations for which are found at 50 indicate that increasing the possession Fisheries of the Northeastern United limit for skate wings from 500 lb (227 States; Northeast Skate Complex; CFR part 648, subpart O. On December sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES 27, 2017, we reduced the commercial kg) back to the seasonal 4,100 lb (1,860 Inseason Adjustment to the Skate kg) per trip for the remainder of April Wing Possession Limit skate wing possession limit from 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb (and the fishing year) would better AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries (4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip to the allow the annual TAL to be fully Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of utilized while still limiting the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole possibility of exceeding it due to the Commerce. weight) per trip for the remainder of the limited time period. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:50 Apr 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\12APR1.SGM 12APR1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 15755 This action increases the commercial Dated: April 9, 2018. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the skate wing possession limit from the Jennifer M. Wallace, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of Acting Director, Office of Sustainable (Regional Administrator), has skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. determined that the 2018 TAC of weight) per trip to the seasonal 4,100 lb [FR Doc. 2018–07589 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm] sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb (4,222 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P gear and not participating in the kg) whole weight) per trip. This action cooperative fishery of the Rockfish is being implemented to allow the skate Program in the Central Regulatory Area wing fishery an opportunity to fully DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, attain the annual TAL while minimizing NMFS is requiring that sablefish by the possibility of exceeding it. Upon National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessels using trawl gear and not filing of this notice, no person may participating in the cooperative fishery possess on board or land more than of the Rockfish Program in the Central 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 50 CFR Part 679 Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip for [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] as prohibited species in accordance the remainder of the 2017 fishing year, with § 679.21(b). This closure does not unless under specific exemption. This RIN 0648–XG159 apply to fishing by vessels participating action applies to the skate wing fishery in the cooperative fishery of the only and does not affect vessels fishing Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish in the Rockfish Program for the Central in accordance with a skate bait letter of Regulatory Area of the GOA. authorization. On May 1, 2018, the 2018 Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of fishing year begins, and the commercial Alaska Classification skate wing possession limit will return AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018 This action responds to the best Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and available information recently obtained through August 31, 2018) possession Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate from the fishery. The Assistant Commerce. wings or 5,902 lb (2,677 kg) whole Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. (AA), finds good cause to waive the weight per trip. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention requirement to provide prior notice and Classification opportunity for public comment of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 This action is taken under 50 CFR fishery of the Rockfish Program in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of impracticable and contrary to the public Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary interest. This requirement is The Assistant Administrator for because the 2018 total allowable catch impracticable and contrary to the public Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause of sablefish allocated to vessels using interest as it would prevent NMFS from pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive trawl gear and not participating in the responding to the most recent fisheries prior notice and the opportunity for cooperative fishery of the Rockfish data in a timely fashion and would public comment because it would be Program in the Central Regulatory Area delay prohibiting the retention of contrary to the public interest. This of the GOA has been reached. sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and action ends the previous trip limit not participating in the cooperative DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska reduction in the commercial skate bait local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018, through fishery of the Rockfish Program in the fishery, and raises the possession limit 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. from the incidental limit to the standard FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh NMFS was unable to publish a notice season 2 limit in order to allow Keaton, (907) 586–7228. providing time for public comment fishermen the opportunity to fully SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS because the most recent, relevant data harvest the annual skate wing TAL. The manages the groundfish fishery in the only became available as of April 6, regulations at § 648.322(b)(2)(iii) allow GOA exclusive economic zone 2018. this by stating that trip limits should not be reduced if they prevent the according to the Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to attainment of the TAL. If Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of waive the 30-day delay in the effective implementation of this adjustment were Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North date of this action under 5 U.S.C. delayed to solicit prior public comment, Pacific Fishery Management Council 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon this could further prevent the fishery’s under authority of the Magnuson- the reasons provided above for waiver of ability to harvest the full TAL, thereby Stevens Fishery Conservation and prior notice and opportunity for public undermining the objectives of the Management Act. Regulations governing comment. Northeast Skate Complex Fishery fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 This action is required by § 679.20 Management Plan. This action also and § 679.21 and is exempt from review CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. relieves the restriction of the former trip under Executive Order 12866. The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) limit reduction in the wing fishery for of sablefish allocated to vessels using Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. the remainder of the 2017 fishing year. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES trawl gear and not participating in the Dated: April 9, 2018. The Assistant Administrator further cooperative fishery of the Rockfish finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), Jennifer M. Wallace, Program in the Central Regulatory Area good cause to waive the 30-day delayed of the GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as Acting Director, Office of Sustainable effectiveness period for the reason established by the final 2018 and 2019 Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. stated above. harvest specifications for groundfish of [FR Doc. 2018–07615 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm] Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801et seq. the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:50 Apr 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\12APR1.SGM 12APR1


Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:14:28
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:14:28
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; inseason adjustment.
DatesEffective April 9, 2018, through April 30, 2018.
ContactCynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9180.
FR Citation83 FR 15754 
RIN Number0648-XG16
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