Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 66313 

clearing the 1910–1930 MHz band of 

incumbent microwave stations. On May 

29, 2014, DISH, the sole licensee in the 

1915–1920 MHz band, reimbursed 

UTAM for these costs. 

6. Based on the reimbursements paid 

by Sprint and DISH, as well as the 

membership and device fees that had 

been paid by UPCS device 

manufacturers, UTAM determined that 

it could satisfy all of its financial 

obligations associated with clearing the 

entire 1910–1930 MHz band. 

Accordingly, it prepared a plan of 

dissolution and cessation of all 

corporate activities. It also asked the 

Commission to suspend enforcement of 

§ 15.307 pending administrative action 

to eliminate the rule in its entirety. 

7. The Commission found that there 

was good cause to eliminate the rule in 

its entirety. UTAM no longer needed the 

reimbursement funds that § 15.307 was 

designed to provide, continued 

application of the rule would impose an 

unnecessary financial burden on UPCS 

device manufacturers who may seek to 

develop new and innovative products, 

and it would no longer be possible to 

comply with the rule once UTAM 

dissolved. The Commission further 

determined that it could take action to 

eliminate the rule without notice and 

comment rulemaking procedures, 

pursuant to section 553(b)(B) of the 

Administrative Procedure Act. Among 

other things, section 553(b)(B) 

establishes an exception to the noticeand-comment requirement for cases in 

which the Commission finds good cause 

for concluding that notice and comment 

are ‘‘unnecessary.’’ The Commission 

found that because § 15.307 no longer 

had any purpose now that the relocation 

reimbursement obligations have been 

satisfied and UTAM would be 

disbanding, the provisions of section 

553(b)(B) were applicable to this 

situation. 

8. The Commission removed and 

reserved § 15.307, effective upon 

publication of the Order in the Federal 

Register. Until that time, and effective 

immediately, the Commission stayed 

the effectiveness of the rule. The 

Commission took these actions under 

the delegated authority granted to the 

Office of Engineering and Technology. 

Thus, upon release of the Order, it was 

no longer necessary for applicants for 

equipment certification of UPCS devices 

to obtain and submit to the Commission 

certification of membership in UTAM 

pursuant to § 15.307 of our rules. 

Congressional Review Act 

9. Because the Order was adopted 

without notice and comment, the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act does not 

apply, see 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. The 

Commission will not send a copy of the 

Order pursuant to the Congressional 

Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), 

because the rules are of a particular 

applicability. 

Paperwork Reduction Analysis 

10. This document does not contain 

any new or modified information 

collections subject to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public 

Law 104–13. 

Ordering Clauses 

11. Pursuant to sections 4(i) and 

303(r) of the Communications Act of 

1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 

303(r), the Order is hereby adopted and 

part 15 of the Commission’s rules is 

amended as set forth in the Final Rules 

effective upon publication in the 

Federal Register. 

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 15 

Communications equipment, Radio, 

Reporting, and Recordkeeping. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Julius P. Knapp, 

Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology. 

For the reasons discussed in the 

preamble, the Federal Communications 

Commission amends 47 CFR part 15 as 

follows: 

PART 15—RADIO FREQUENCY 

DEVICES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 15 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, 304, 

307, 336, and 544a. 

§ 15.307 [Removed and Reserved] 

■ 2. Section 15.307 is removed and 

reserved. 

[FR Doc. 2014–26429 Filed 11–6–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 300 

RIN 0648–XD548 

Fraser River Sockeye Salmon 

Fisheries; Inseason Orders 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary orders; inseason 

orders. 

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes Fraser River 

salmon inseason orders to regulate 

treaty and non-treaty (all citizen) 

commercial salmon fisheries in U.S. 

waters. The orders were issued by the 

Fraser River Panel (Panel) of the Pacific 

Salmon Commission (Commission) and 

subsequently approved and issued by 

NMFS during the 2014 salmon fisheries 

within the U.S. Fraser River Panel Area. 

These orders established fishing dates, 

times, and areas for the gear types of 

U.S. treaty Indian and all citizen 

commercial fisheries during the period 

the Panel exercised jurisdiction over 

these fisheries. 

DATES: The effective dates for the 

inseason orders are set out in this 

document under the heading Inseason 

Orders. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peggy Mundy at 206–526–4323. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Treaty between the Government of the 

United States of America and the 

Government of Canada concerning 

Pacific Salmon was signed at Ottawa on 

January 28, 1985, and subsequently was 

given effect in the United States by the 

Pacific Salmon Treaty Act (Act) at 16 

U.S.C. 3631–3644. 

Under authority of the Act, Federal 

regulations at 50 CFR part 300, subpart 

F, provide a framework for the 

implementation of certain regulations of 

the Commission and inseason orders of 

the Commission’s Fraser River Panel for 

U.S. sockeye salmon fisheries in the 

Fraser River Panel Area. 

The regulations close the U.S. portion 

of the Fraser River Panel Area to U.S. 

sockeye tribal and non-tribal 

commercial fishing unless opened by 

Panel orders that are given effect by 

inseason regulations published by 

NMFS. During the fishing season, NMFS 

may issue regulations that establish 

fishing times and areas consistent with 

the Commission agreements and 

inseason orders of the Panel. Such 

orders must be consistent with domestic 

legal obligations and are issued by the 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, NMFS. Official notification of 

these inseason actions is provided by 

two telephone hotline numbers 

described at 50 CFR 300.97(b)(1) and in 

79 FR 24580 (May 1, 2014). The 

inseason orders are published in the 

Federal Register as soon as practicable 

after they are issued. Due to the 

frequency with which inseason orders 

are issued, publication of individual 

orders is impractical. 

Inseason Orders 

The following inseason orders were 

adopted by the Panel and issued for U.S. 


rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
66314 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

fisheries by NMFS during the 2014 

fishing season. Each of the following 

inseason actions was effective upon 

announcement on telephone hotline 

numbers as specified at 50 CFR 

300.97(b)(1) and in 79 FR 24580 (May 1, 

2014); those dates and times are listed 

herein. The times listed are local times, 

and the areas designated are Puget 

Sound Management and Catch 

Reporting Areas as defined in the 

Washington State Administrative Code 

at Chapter 220–22. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

01: Issued 2:10 p.m., July 29, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Open to drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Thursday, July 

31, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 2, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

02: Issued 12:45 p.m., August 1, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 2, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

03: Issued 12:15 p.m., August 5, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Wednesday, 

August 6, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), 

Saturday, August 9, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Thursday, August 7, 

2014 through 9 a.m., Saturday, August 

9, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, August 

9, 2014. 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, August 9, 2014. 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, August 10, 

2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

04: Issued 12:55 p.m., August 8, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 9, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m. Sunday, August 10, 

2014 through 9 a.m., Tuesday, August 

12, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, August 

12, 2014. 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014. 

Area 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, August 11, 

2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

05: Issued 12:20 p.m., August 12, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Wednesday, 

August 13, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), 

Saturday, August 16, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m. Wednesday, August 

13, 2014 through 9 a.m., Thursday, 

August 14, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Friday, August 15, 

2014 through 9 a.m., Saturday, August 

16, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, August 

14, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Thursday, August 14, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, August 13, 

2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

06: Issued 2:30 p.m., August 15, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 16, 2014, to 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Saturday, August 

16, 2014 through 9 a.m., Monday, 

August 18, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Tuesday, August 19, 

2014 through 9 a.m., Wednesday, 

August 20, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, August 

18, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Monday, August 18, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, August 18, 

2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

07: Issued 1:35 p.m., August 19, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 through 12 

p.m. (noon), Saturday, August 23, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Wednesday, August 

20, 2014 through 9 a.m., Thursday, 

August 21, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, August 

21, 2014 and Friday, August 22, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Thursday, August 21, 2014 and Friday, 

August 22, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, August 20, 

2014, Thursday, August 21, 2014, and 

Friday, August 22, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

08: Issued 1:30 p.m., August 22, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 23, 2014 through 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Saturday, August 

23, 2014 through 9 a.m., Monday, 

August 25, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, August 

25, 2014 and Tuesday, August 26, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Monday, August 25, 2014 and Tuesday, 

August 26, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Saturday, 

August 23, 2014 through Tuesday, 

August 26, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

09: Issued 1:45 p.m., August 26, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 through 12 

p.m. (noon), Saturday, August 30, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Wednesday 27, 

2014 through 9 a.m., Saturday, August 

30, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Wednesday, 

August 27, 2014 through Friday, August 

29, 2014. 


rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 66315 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

10: Issued 1:30 p.m., August 29, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

August 30, 2014 through 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Saturday, August 

30, 2014 through 9 a.m., Sunday, 

August 31, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 12:01 a.m. (midnight), 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 through 9 

a.m., Wednesday, September 3, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, August 

31, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Monday, September 1, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Saturday, 

August 30, 2014 through Tuesday, 

September 2, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

11: Issued 1:30 p.m., September 2, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 through 

12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, September 6, 

2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Wednesday, 

September 3, 2014 through 9 a.m., 

Friday, September 5, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, September 

5, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8:05 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Friday, September 5, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Wednesday, 

September 3, 2014 through Friday, 

September 5, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

12: Issued 1:30 p.m., September 5, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), Saturday, 

September 6, 2014 through 12 p.m. 

(noon), Wednesday, September 10, 

2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Open for net 

fishing from 5 a.m., Sunday, September 

7, 2014 through 9 a.m., Wednesday, 

September 10, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 

September 6, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8:10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 6, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Saturday, 

September 6, 2014 through Tuesday, 

September 9, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

13: Issued 1:15 p.m., September 9, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 4B, 5, and 6C: Extend for drift 

gillnets from 12 p.m. (noon), 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014 

through 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 13, 2014. 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Wednesday, 

September 10, 2014 through 9 a.m., 

Saturday, September 13, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 

September 13, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8:20 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 13, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Wednesday, 

September 10, 2014 through Friday, 

September 12, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

14: Issued 1:30 p.m., September 12, 

2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extend for net 

fishing from 9 a.m., Saturday, 

September 13, 2014 until 11:59 p.m. 

(midnight), Saturday, September 20, 

2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 

5 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily from Saturday, 

September 13, 2014 through Saturday, 

September 20, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

15: Issued 4:30 p.m., September 18, 

2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Area 7A: Open to net fishing from 5 

a.m., Monday, September 22, 2014 until 

9 a.m., Wednesday, September 24, 2014. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines 

from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m., Saturday, 

September 20, 2014. 

Area 7A: Open to purse seines from 

5 a.m. until 9 p.m., Sunday, September 

21, 2014. 

Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 

8:25 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 20, 2014. 

Area 7A: Open to gillnets from 8:30 

a.m. until 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Sunday, September 21, 2014. 

Treaty Indian and All Citizen Fisheries 

Areas 6 and 7: Relinquish regulatory 

control effective 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 20, 2014. 

Area 7A: Retain regulatory control 

through 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 27, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

16: Issued 2 p.m., September 22, 2014 

Treaty Indian Fishery 

Area 7A: Extend for net fishing from 

9 a.m., Wednesday, September 24, 2014 

through 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Saturday, September 27. 

All Citizen Fishery 

Area 7A: Open to purse seines from 

5 a.m. until 9 p.m., Wednesday, 

September 24, 2014. 

Area 7A: Open to gillnets from 8:35 

a.m. until 11:59 p.m. (midnight), 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014. 

Fraser River Panel Order Number 2014– 

17: Issued 2 p.m., September 25, 2014 

Treaty Indian and All Citizen Fisheries 

Area 7A, excluding the Apex: 

Relinquish regulatory control as 

scheduled effective 11:59 p.m. 

(midnight), Saturday, September 27, 

2014. 

Classification 

The Assistant Administrator for 

Fisheries NOAA (AA), finds that good 

cause exists for the inseason orders to be 

issued without affording the public 

prior notice and opportunity for 

comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as 

such prior notice and opportunity for 

comments is impracticable and contrary 

to the public interest. Prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment is 

impracticable because NMFS has 

insufficient time to allow for prior 

notice and opportunity for public 

comment between the time the stock 

abundance information is available to 

determine how much fishing can be 

allowed and the time the fishery must 

open and close in order to harvest the 

appropriate amount of fish while they 

are available. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in the effective 

date, required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 

of the inseason orders. A delay in the 

effective date of the inseason orders 

would not allow fishers appropriately 

controlled access to the available fish at 

that time they are available. 


rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
66316 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

This action is authorized by 50 CFR 

300.97, and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3636(b). 

Dated: October 29, 2014. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–26113 Filed 11–6–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[Docket No. 130403320–4891–02] 

RIN 0648–BD07 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery Off the Southern 

Atlantic States; Regulatory 

Amendment 14 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations to 

implement Regulatory Amendment 14 

to the Fishery Management Plan for the 

Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 

Atlantic Region (FMP) (Regulatory 

Amendment 14), as prepared and 

submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council (Council). This 

rule changes the fishing years for greater 

amberjack and black sea bass, revises 

the commercial trip limits for gag 

grouper (gag) and black sea bass, and 

revises the recreational accountability 

measures (AMs) for black sea bass and 

vermilion snapper. The purpose of 

Regulatory Amendment 14 and this rule 

is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) 

and enhance socio-economic 

opportunities within the snappergrouper fishery in accordance with the 

requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

DATES: This rule is effective December 8, 

2014. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

regulatory amendment, which includes 

an environmental assessment and an 

initial regulatory flexibility analysis 

(IRFA), may be obtained from the 

Southeast Regional Office Web site at 

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_

fisheries/s_atl/sg/2014/reg_am14/

index.html. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nikhil Mehta, telephone: 727–824– 

5305, or email: nikhil.mehta@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

snapper-grouper fishery of the South 

Atlantic is managed under the FMP. The 

FMP was prepared by the Council and 

is implemented through regulations at 

50 CFR part 622 under the authority of 

the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

On April 25, 2014, NMFS published 

a proposed rule for Regulatory 

Amendment 14 and requested public 

comment (79 FR 22936). The proposed 

rule and Regulatory Amendment 14 

outline the rationale for the actions 

contained in this final rule. A summary 

of the actions implemented by 

Regulatory Amendment 14 and this 

final rule is provided below. 

Management Measures Contained in 

This Final Rule 

This final rule changes the fishing 

years for greater amberjack and black 

sea bass, revises the commercial trip 

limits for gag and black sea bass, and 

revises the recreational AMs for black 

sea bass and vermilion snapper. All 

weights described in this final rule are 

given in gutted weight. 

Greater Amberjack Fishing Year 

This final rule changes the greater 

amberjack fishing year of May 1 through 

April 30 to a fishing year of March 1 

through the end of February. This 

fishing year change allows the 

commercial sector access to greater 

amberjack during the Lenten season, 

when there is an increase in demand for 

the species, and thus enhances the 

economic yield from greater amberjack 

harvest. 

Black Sea Bass Fishing Year 

This final rule changes the 

commercial and recreational fishing 

years for black sea bass from June 1 

through May 31, to January 1 through 

December 31 for the commercial sector 

and April 1 through March 31 for the 

recreational sector. Starting the 

commercial fishing year on January 1 

during the black sea bass pot gear 

closure could provide, to the extent 

practicable, positive socio-economic 

benefits to the commercial black sea 

bass fishers who use hook-and-line gear 

because they would be able to fish for 

black sea bass when the catch per unit 

effort is higher, the fish are closer to 

shore, and there is generally a higher 

price per pound for black sea bass. The 

action also aligns the beginning of the 

commercial harvest seasons for black 

sea bass and vermilion snapper, which 

are commonly caught together with 

hook-and-line gear, and is expected to 

decrease the amount of regulatory 

discards in the snapper-grouper fishery. 

In addition, changing the commercial 

fishing year to January 1 for the black 

sea bass commercial sector allows 

commercial fishers to harvest black sea 

bass with hook-and-line gear during 

January to April when many other 

snapper-grouper species such as 

shallow-water groupers are closed to 

harvest. 

Changing the black sea bass 

recreational fishing year start date from 

June 1 to April 1 is expected to allow 

recreational fishermen throughout the 

Council’s area of jurisdiction to have 

more opportunity to harvest black sea 

bass and vermilion snapper when 

harvest for both species is open, thus 

reducing regulatory discards of black 

sea bass during April and May. 

Black Sea Bass Commercial Trip Limit 

Currently, the trip limit for the black 

sea bass commercial sector for hookand-line gear and black sea bass pots is 

1,000 lb (454 kg). This final rule 

establishes a trip limit of 300 lb (136 

kg), for the hook-and-line component of 

the commercial sector from January 1 

through April 30 when fishing with 

black sea bass pots is prohibited. The 

hook-and-line trip limit for the 

remainder of the fishing year remains at 

1,000 lb (454 kg). The trip limit for 

fishers using black sea bass pots would 

continue to be 1,000 lb (454 kg). A 300 

lb (136 kg), black sea bass trip limit for 

the hook-and-line sector during the 

period January 1 to April 30 allows 

fishermen to retain marketable 

quantities of black sea bass when 

targeting vermilion snapper, thereby 

addressing bycatch and discard 

mortality issues. The 300-lb (136-kg) 

trip limit for black sea bass could help 

to extend the length of the commercial 

vermilion snapper fishing season, 

because fishers have the opportunity to 

harvest both black sea bass and 

vermilion snapper instead of just 

targeting vermilion snapper. The 

Council determined that a January 1 

fishing year start date for the black sea 

bass commercial sector, in conjunction 

with a trip limit of 300 lb (136 kg) for 

the hook-and-line component, would 

allow commercial harvest of black sea 

bass and vermilion snapper to occur at 

the same time and enhance the socioeconomic benefits to those utilizing the 

black sea bass resource. 

Gag Commercial Trip Limit 

This final rule revises the gag 

commercial trip limit from the current 

1,000 lb (454 kg), to include a trip limit 

reduction to 500 lb (227 kg), when 75 

percent of the gag commercial quota is 


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