Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2019/07/31/2019-16272.html
Timestamp: 2020-03-29 06:48:02
Document Index: 112685538

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 300', 'art 300', 'ART 300', 'art 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', 'art 622', 'art 622', '§ 622', 'art 622', '§ 622', '§ 622', 'art 622']

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper, 37148-37149 [2019-16272] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper, 37148-37149 [2019-16272]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper, 37148-37149 [2019-16272]
Download as PDF 37148 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 147 / Wednesday, July 31, 2019 / Rules and Regulations proceed with this rulemaking in the usual timeframe after the Commission adopted CMM 2018–01. For the reasons articulated above, there is also good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effective date for this rule. As described above, NMFS must implement the purse seine fishing effort limits as soon as possible to ensure that they are not exceeded. A delay in implementing this limit for 2019 could result in the United States violating its obligations with respect to the purse seine fishing effort limit provisions of CMM 2018–01, which are important for the conservation and management of tropical tuna stocks in the WCPO. Executive Order 12866 This interim final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Regulatory Flexibility Act Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., are inapplicable. Therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis was required and none has been prepared. Paperwork Reduction Act Although there are no new collectionof-information requirements associated with this action that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, existing collection-of information requirements would apply in the Convention Area, under the following Control Number: 0648–0649, Transshipment Requirements under the WCPFC. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300 Administrative practice and procedure, Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, Marine resources, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties. Dated: July 26, 2019. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 300 is amended as follows: PART 300—INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS Subpart O—Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species 1. The authority citation for part 300, subpart O, continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:26 Jul 30, 2019 Jkt 247001 2. In § 300.223, revise paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) to read as follows: ■ § 300.223 Purse seine fishing restrictions. * * * * * (a) * * * (1) For calendar year 2019, there is a limit of 1,616 fishing days in the ELAPS. (2) Beginning in 2020, there is a limit of 1,828 fishing days in the ELAPS per calendar year. (3) NMFS will determine the number of fishing days spent in the ELAPS in each calendar year using data submitted in logbooks and other available information. After NMFS determines that a limit in a calendar year is expected to be reached by a specific future date, and at least seven calendar days in advance of the closure date, NMFS will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing that the purse seine fishery in the area where the limit is expected to be reached will be closed starting on that specific future date and will remain closed until the end of the calendar year. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2019–16284 Filed 7–30–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 0907271173–0629–03] RIN 0648–XS006 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial snowy grouper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for snowy grouper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) by August 3, 2019. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic EEZ on August 3, 2019, and it will remain closed until the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2020. This closure is SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource. DATES: This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: mary.vara@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic includes snowy grouper and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. The commercial ACL (commercial quota) for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic is 153,935 lb (69,824 kg), gutted weight, 181,644 lb (82,392 kg), round weight, for the current fishing year, January 1 through December 31, 2019, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(1)(v). Under 50 CFR 622.193(b)(1), NMFS is required to close the commercial sector for snowy grouper when the commercial ACL is reached or projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS projects that commercial landings of South Atlantic snowy grouper, as estimated by the Science and Research Director, will reach the commercial quota by August 3, 2019. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic snowy grouper is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020. The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having snowy grouper on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such snowy grouper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019. During the commercial closure, harvest and possession of snowy grouper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is limited to the bag and possession limits, as specified in § 622.187(b)(2)(ii) and (c)(1). Also during the commercial closure, the sale or purchase of snowy grouper taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of snowy grouper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019, and were E:\FR\FM\31JYR1.SGM 31JYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 147 / Wednesday, July 31, 2019 / Rules and Regulations held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on board a vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the bag and possession limits and the sale and purchase provisions of the commercial closure for snowy grouper would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii). Classification Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 19:26 Jul 30, 2019 [FR Doc. 2019–16272 Filed 7–26–19; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 190725–0004] The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of snowy grouper and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(b)(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 the need to immediately implement this action to close the commercial sector for snowy grouper constitutes 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), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the implementing final rule for these AMs has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect snowy grouper since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established commercial ACL. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). VerDate Sep<11>2014 Dated: July 26, 2019. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Jkt 247001 RIN 0648–BI11 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Amendment 13 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Council) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (South Atlantic Council) (Councils) have submitted Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP), for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. The purpose of Amendment 13 and this final rule is to align Federal regulations for spiny lobster that apply to the EEZ off Florida with Florida state regulations, reestablish a procedure for an enhanced cooperative management system, and update the regulations to aid law enforcement and the public. DATES: This final rule is effective August 30, 2019, except for the amendments to §§ 622.403(b) and 622.413(b)(3), which are effective July 26, 2019. The incorporation by reference of certain materials listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of August 30, 2019. The incorporation by reference of the material in § 622.413(b)(3), is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 26, 2019. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 13 may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ amendment-13-modifications-spinylobster-gear-requirements-andcooperative-management. Amendment 13 includes an environmental assessment, a fishery impact statement, a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 37149 analysis, and a regulatory impact review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O’Donnell, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, telephone: 727–824– 5305; email: Kelli.ODonnell@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Councils manage the spiny lobster fishery under the FMP. The Councils prepared the FMP and NMFS implements the FMP through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.). On April 2, 2019, NMFS published a notice of availability (NOA) for Amendment 13 and requested public comment (83 FR 12573). On April 18, 2019, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 13 and requested public comment (84 FR 16233). Amendment 13 and the proposed rule outline the rationale for the actions contained in this final rule. A summary of the management measures described in Amendment 13 and implemented by this final rule is provided below. Management Measures Contained in This Final Rule This final rule implements measures to modify the Federal regulations regarding spiny lobster to be compatible with Florida regulations concerning bully net gear requirements and commercial daily possession limits. This rule also clarifies outdated language in the spiny lobster Federal regulations and updates the incorporations by reference to the Florida regulations. In addition, Amendment 13 re-establishes a procedure for an enhanced cooperative management system to provide Florida a mechanism to propose spiny lobster regulations directly to NMFS for implementation. Florida Bully Net Permit and Gear Marking Requirements and Prohibitions This final rule aligns Federal and Florida bully net regulations to improve enforcement and reduce potential confusion among fishers. The rule requires commercial bully net vessels in the EEZ off Florida to have a bully net permit from Florida; requires such a vessel to be marked with the harvester’s Florida bully net permit number using reflective paint or other reflective material; prohibits commercial bully net vessels from having trap pullers onboard; and prohibits the simultaneous possession of a bully net and any underwater breathing apparatus (not E:\FR\FM\31JYR1.SGM 31JYR1
[Pages 37148-37149]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16272]
RIN 0648-XS006
reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) by August 3, 2019.
South Atlantic EEZ on August 3, 2019, and it will remain closed until
the start of the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2020.
This closure is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3,
2019, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020.
South Atlantic is 153,935 lb (69,824 kg), gutted weight, 181,644 lb
(82,392 kg), round weight, for the current fishing year, January 1
through December 31, 2019, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(1)(v).
commercial sector for snowy grouper when the commercial ACL is reached
or projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect
with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS projects that commercial
landings of South Atlantic snowy grouper, as estimated by the Science
and Research Director, will reach the commercial quota by August 3,
2019. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic snowy
grouper is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3,
a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019. During the commercial closure,
12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2019, and were
Such procedures are unnecessary because the implementing final rule for
these AMs has already been subject to notice and comment, and all that
implement this action to protect snowy grouper since the capacity of
the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior