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Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2020 Specifications, 54790-54791 [2019-22316] :: 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 Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2020 Specifications, 54790-54791 [2019-22316]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2020 Specifications, 54790-54791 [2019-22316]
Download as PDF 54790 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 198 / Friday, October 11, 2019 / Rules and Regulations SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Background National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 191007–0057] RIN 0648–XX009 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Golden Tilefish Fishery; 2020 Specifications National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are implementing 2020 specifications for the commercial golden tilefish fishery, including the annual catch and total allowable landings limits. This action establishes allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. DATES: Effective November 1, 2019, through October 31, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management Specialist, 978–281–9225. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages the golden tilefish fishery under the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which outlines the Council’s process for setting annual specifications. Regulations implementing the Tilefish FMP appear at 50 CFR part 648, subparts A and N, which require the Council to recommend acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), annual catch target (ACT), total allowable landings (TAL), and other management measures, for up to 3 years at a time. On September 7, 2017, we proposed 2018 specifications for the golden tilefish fishery and announced projected specifications for 2019 and 2020 based on Council recommendations (82 FR 42266). Public comment was accepted through September 22, 2017. We published a final rule implementing the 2018 specifications on November 7, 2017 (82 FR 51578). On October 23, 2017, we published a proposed rule (82 FR 48967) to implement Framework Adjustment 2 to the Tilefish FMP (Framework 2), and accepted public comment through November 7, 2017. A final rule implementing Framework 2 was published on March 13, 2018 (83 FR 10803). One provision of Framework 2 changed how assumed discards are accounted for in the specifications setting process. As a result, the Framework 2 final rule adjusted the previously published 2018 specifications and projected specifications for 2019 and 2020. Additional background information regarding the development of these specifications was provided in these rules and is not repeated here. We published a final rule implementing the 2019 specifications on October 26, 2018 (83 FR 54055). At the end of each fishing year, we evaluate catch information and determine if the ACL has been exceeded. If the ACL is exceeded, the regulations at 50 CFR 648.293 require a pound-for-pound reduction in a subsequent fishing year. During fishing year 2018 and thus far in fishing year 2019, there have been no annual catch limit or total allowable landings overages, nor is there any new biological information that would require altering the projected 2020 specifications. As a result, we are announcing the final specifications for fishing year 2020, as projected in the Framework 2 final rule (83 FR 10803; March 13, 2018), and in the final rule implementing the 2019 specifications (83 FR 54055) (See Table 1). TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF GOLDEN TILEFISH SPECIFICATIONS 2019 mt jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES Overfishing Limit .............................................................................................. ABC .................................................................................................................. ACL .................................................................................................................. Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) ACT ................................................................ Incidental ACT ................................................................................................. IFQ TAL ........................................................................................................... Incidental TAL .................................................................................................. As in previous years, no golden tilefish quota has been allocated for research set-aside. All other management measures in the golden tilefish fishery will remain unchanged for the 2020 fishing year. The incidental trip limit will stay 500 lb (226.8 kg), or 50 percent, by weight, of all species being landed, including tilefish; whichever is less. The recreational catch limit will remain eight fish per-angler, per-trip. Annual IFQ allocations will be issued to individual quota shareholders in mid-October, before the November 1 start of the fishing year. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:22 Oct 10, 2019 Jkt 250001 million lb 1,098 742 742 705 37 705 33 The fishery management plan allows for the previous year’s specifications to remain in place until replaced by a subsequent specifications action (rollover provision). As a result, the 2019 specifications remain in effect until replaced by the 2020 specifications included in this rule. Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this rule is consistent with the Tilefish FMP, other provisions of the PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Final 2020 2.421 1.636 1.636 1.554 0.082 1.554 0.072 mt million lb 1,039 742 742 705 37 705 33 2.291 1.636 1.636 1.554 0.082 1.554 0.072 Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest to provide for prior notice and an opportunity for public comment, pursuant to authority set forth at U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The proposed rule for Framework 2 (82 FR 48967, October 23, 2017) provided the public with the opportunity to comment on the projected specifications for 2019 and 2020, and the specifications for fishing year 2020 remain the same as projected in the Framework 2 E:\FR\FM\11OCR1.SGM 11OCR1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 198 / Friday, October 11, 2019 / Rules and Regulations rulemaking. All comments received were addressed in the respective final rule for Framework 2 (83 FR 10803, March 13, 2017). Similarly, the need to implement these measures in a timely manner for the start of the golden tilefish fishing year, constitutes good cause under authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to establish an effective date less than 30 days after date of publication. The public and fishing industry participants expect this action because we previously alerted the public in the proposed and final rules that we would conduct this review in interim years of the status quo multiyear specifications and announce the final quota prior to the start of the fishing year on November 1. This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 because this action contains no implementing regulations. This final rule does not duplicate, conflict, or overlap with any existing Federal rules. This final rule does not contain a collection of information requirement for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared for the 2018–2020 specifications final rule (83 FR 10803, March 13, 2017). That analysis included the potential impacts of the projected status quo specifications for 2019 and 2020, and no new information has arisen that would change the conclusions drawn in that previous analysis. Because advance notice and the opportunity for public comment are not required for this action under the Administrative Procedure Act, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., do not apply to this rule. Therefore, no new regulatory flexibility analysis is required and none has been prepared. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 8, 2019. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22316 Filed 10–10–19; 8:45 am] jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:23 Oct 10, 2019 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] RIN 0648–XY045 Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Pollock Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2019 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch limit established for vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 8, 2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2019 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for vessels directed fishing for pollock using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 6,684 Chinook salmon (§ 679.21(h)(2)(i)). In accordance with § 679.21(h)(8), the Regional Administrator has determined PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 54791 that the 2019 Chinook salmon PSC limit established for vessels directed fishing for pollock using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay closing directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of October 7, 2019. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. This action is required by § 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 8, 2019. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22318 Filed 10–8–19; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\11OCR1.SGM 11OCR1
[Pages 54790-54791]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22316]
[[Page 54790]]
[Docket No. 191007-0057]
RIN 0648-XX009
SUMMARY: We are implementing 2020 specifications for the commercial
golden tilefish fishery, including the annual catch and total allowable
landings limits. This action establishes allowable harvest levels and
Management Act and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.
DATES: Effective November 1, 2019, through October 31, 2020.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages the golden
tilefish fishery under the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP),
which outlines the Council's process for setting annual specifications.
Regulations implementing the Tilefish FMP appear at 50 CFR part 648,
subparts A and N, which require the Council to recommend acceptable
for up to 3 years at a time. On September 7, 2017, we proposed 2018
specifications for the golden tilefish fishery and announced projected
specifications for 2019 and 2020 based on Council recommendations (82
FR 42266). Public comment was accepted through September 22, 2017. We
published a final rule implementing the 2018 specifications on November
7, 2017 (82 FR 51578).
On October 23, 2017, we published a proposed rule (82 FR 48967) to
implement Framework Adjustment 2 to the Tilefish FMP (Framework 2), and
accepted public comment through November 7, 2017. A final rule
implementing Framework 2 was published on March 13, 2018 (83 FR 10803).
One provision of Framework 2 changed how assumed discards are accounted
for in the specifications setting process. As a result, the Framework 2
final rule adjusted the previously published 2018 specifications and
projected specifications for 2019 and 2020. Additional background
information regarding the development of these specifications was
provided in these rules and is not repeated here. We published a final
rule implementing the 2019 specifications on October 26, 2018 (83 FR
54055).
determine if the ACL has been exceeded. If the ACL is exceeded, the
regulations at 50 CFR 648.293 require a pound-for-pound reduction in a
subsequent fishing year. During fishing year 2018 and thus far in
fishing year 2019, there have been no annual catch limit or total
allowable landings overages, nor is there any new biological
information that would require altering the projected 2020
specifications. As a result, we are announcing the final specifications
for fishing year 2020, as projected in the Framework 2 final rule (83
FR 10803; March 13, 2018), and in the final rule implementing the 2019
specifications (83 FR 54055) (See Table 1).
Table 1--Summary of Golden Tilefish Specifications
2019                         Final 2020
mt          million lb          mt          million lb
Overfishing Limit...............................           1,098           2.421           1,039           2.291
ABC.............................................             742           1.636             742           1.636
ACL.............................................             742           1.636             742           1.636
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) ACT..............             705           1.554             705           1.554
Incidental ACT..................................              37           0.082              37           0.082
IFQ TAL.........................................             705           1.554             705           1.554
Incidental TAL..................................              33           0.072              33           0.072
As in previous years, no golden tilefish quota has been allocated
for research set-aside. All other management measures in the golden
tilefish fishery will remain unchanged for the 2020 fishing year. The
incidental trip limit will stay 500 lb (226.8 kg), or 50 percent, by
weight, of all species being landed, including tilefish; whichever is
less. The recreational catch limit will remain eight fish per-angler,
per-trip. Annual IFQ allocations will be issued to individual quota
shareholders in mid-October, before the November 1 start of the fishing
The fishery management plan allows for the previous year's
specifications to remain in place until replaced by a subsequent
specifications action (rollover provision). As a result, the 2019
specifications remain in effect until replaced by the 2020
specifications included in this rule.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds it is
provide for prior notice and an opportunity for public comment,
pursuant to authority set forth at U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The proposed rule
for Framework 2 (82 FR 48967, October 23, 2017) provided the public
with the opportunity to comment on the projected specifications for
2019 and 2020, and the specifications for fishing year 2020 remain the
same as projected in the Framework 2
rulemaking. All comments received were addressed in the respective
final rule for Framework 2 (83 FR 10803, March 13, 2017). Similarly,
the need to implement these measures in a timely manner for the start
of the golden tilefish fishing year, constitutes good cause under
authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to establish an effective
date less than 30 days after date of publication. The public and
fishing industry participants expect this action because we previously
alerted the public in the proposed and final rules that we would
conduct this review in interim years of the status quo multi-year
specifications and announce the final quota prior to the start of the
fishing year on November 1.
A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared for the
2018-2020 specifications final rule (83 FR 10803, March 13, 2017). That
analysis included the potential impacts of the projected status quo
specifications for 2019 and 2020, and no new information has arisen
that would change the conclusions drawn in that previous analysis.
Because advance notice and the opportunity for public comment are not
required for this action under the Administrative Procedure Act, or any
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., do not apply to this rule. Therefore, no
new regulatory flexibility analysis is required and none has been
[FR Doc. 2019-22316 Filed 10-10-19; 8:45 am]