Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/02/21/2017-03291/snapper-grouper-fishery-off-the-southern-atlantic-states-regulatory-amendment-16-technical-amendment
Timestamp: 2018-02-22 09:16:01
Document Index: 387491836

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 622', '§\u2009622', '§\u2009622', '§\u2009622', '§\u2009622', '§\u2009622']

Federal Register :: Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Regulatory Amendment 16; Technical Amendment
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-03291 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-03291
NMFS is hereby making a technical amendment to our regulations without altering the substance of the regulations. These changes will clarify our regulations to make them more easily understood by the public. As a result of a previously published final rule to implement Regulatory Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), that published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2016, NMFS has identified a section of the regulations for black sea bass pot commercial trip limits in need of clarification. This rule does not make any substantive changes to the regulations governing South Atlantic snapper-grouper or to other species managed by NMFS.
Electronic copies of Regulatory Amendment 16, which includes an environmental impact statement, a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, and a regulatory impact review, may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office Web site at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/​sustainable_​fisheries/​s_​atl/​sg/​2013/​reg_​am16/​index.html.
Black sea bass is in the snapper-grouper fishery and is managed under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and Start Printed Page 11157is implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
On November 7, 2014, NMFS published the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 to the FMP (79 FR 66316). One of the measures implemented through Regulatory Amendment 14 was the establishment of a 300 lb (136-kg), gutted weight; 354 lb (161 kg), round weight, commercial trip limit for the black sea bass hook-and-line component in the South Atlantic from January 1 through April 30, each year. In addition, NMFS changed the commercial trip limit for the black sea bass pot component from year-round to May 1 through October 31, each year. The intent of referencing the May through October dates for the black sea bass pot commercial trip limit was because at that time, May through October was the only time period that pots could be fished. The final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 simply clarified the seasonal differences in commercial trip limits among the different black sea bass gear components (pots and hook-and-line) in the commercial sector.
Currently, the regulations at § 622.191(a)(8)(ii) contain a reference that the 1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight; 1,180 lb (535 kg), round weight, commercial trip limit is only applicable from May 1 through October 31. The May 1 through October 31 condition was added to clarify the seasonal differences in commercial trip limits among the hook-and-line and black sea bass pot components in the commercial sector. As currently written, the regulations at § 622.191(a)(8)(ii) incorrectly have no commercial trip limit in place from November 1 through April 30. As had been described in Regulatory Amendment 16, the intent by NMFS and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council was for the commercial trip limit for sea bass pots to be in effect year-round.
This technical amendment corrects the text within § 622.191(a)(8)(ii) to accurately state that the black sea bass pot trip limit is in effect year-round.
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this final rule is necessary for the conservation and management of South Atlantic black sea bass and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
2. In § 622.191, revise paragraph (a)(8)(ii) to read as follows:
(ii) Sea bass pot component. Until the applicable quota specified in § 622.190(a)(5) is reached—1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight; 1,180 lb (535 kg), round weight.