[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6691]



[[Page 44229]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 010319075-1217-02; I.D. 073106E]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Tilefish Fishery; 
Quota Harvested for Full-time Tier 2 Category

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the percentage of the tilefish annual 
total allowable landings (TAL) available to the Full-time Tier 2 permit 
category for the 2006 fishing year has been harvested. In response, 
commercial vessels fishing under the Full-time Tier 2 tilefish category 
may not harvest tilefish from within the Golden Tilefish Management 
Unit for the remainder of the 2006 fishing year (through October 31, 
2006). Regulations governing the tilefish fishery require publication 
of this notification to advise the public of this closure.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs local time, August 2, 2006, through 2400 hrs 
local time, October 31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian R. Hooker, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, at (978) 281-9220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the tilefish fishery 
are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of a TAL for federally permitted tilefish vessels 
harvesting tilefish from within the Golden Tilefish Management Unit. 
The Golden Tilefish Management Unit is defined as an area of the 
Atlantic Ocean from the latitude of the VA/NC border (36[deg]33.36' N. 
lat.), extending eastward from the shore to the outer boundary of the 
exclusive economic zone, and northward to the U.S./Canada border. After 
5 percent of the TAL is deducted to reflect landings by vessels issued 
an open-access Incidental permit category, and after up to 3 percent of 
the TAL is set aside for research purposes, should research TAL be set 
aside, the remaining TAL is distributed among the following three 
tilefish limited access permit categories: Full-time Tier 1 category 
(66 percent), Full-time Tier 2 category (15 percent), and the Part-time 
category (19 percent).
    The TAL for tilefish for the 2006 fishing year was set at 1.995 
million lb (905,172 kg) and then adjusted downward by 5 percent to 
1,895,250 lb (859,671 kg) to account for incidental catch. There was no 
research set-aside for the 2006 fishing year. Thus, the Full-time Tier 
2 permit category quota for the 2006 fishing year, which is equal to 15 
percent of the TAL, is 284,288 lb (128,951 kg).
    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) 
monitors the commercial tilefish quota for each fishing year using 
dealer reports, vessel catch reports, and other available information 
to determine when the quota for each limited access permit category is 
projected to have been harvested. NMFS is required to publish 
notification in the Federal Register notifying commercial vessels and 
dealer permit holders that, effective upon a specific date, the 
tilefish TAL for the specific limited access category has been 
harvested and no commercial quota is available for harvesting tilefish 
by that category for the remainder of the fishing year, from within the 
Golden Tilefish Management Unit.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer 
reports and other available information, that the 2006 tilefish TAL for 
the Full-time Tier 2 category has been harvested. Therefore, effective 
0001 hrs local time, August 2, 2006, further landings of tilefish 
harvested from within the Golden Tilefish Management Unit by tilefish 
vessels holding Full-time Tier 2 category Federal fisheries permits are 
prohibited through October 31, 2006. The 2007 fishing year for 
commercial tilefish harvest will open on November 1, 2006. Federally 
permitted dealers are also advised that, effective August 2, 2006, they 
may not purchase tilefish from Full-time Tier 2 category federally 
permitted tilefish vessels who land tilefish harvested from within the 
Golden Tilefish Management Unit for the remainder of the 2006 fishing 
year (through October 31, 2006).

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: July 31, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6691 Filed 8-1-06; 1:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S