[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53776-53778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21676]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 100812345-2142-03]
RIN 0648-XC132
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Accountability
Measures and Commercial Closures for Two Snapper-Grouper Species and
Two Snapper-Grouper Species Complexes in the South Atlantic
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the
commercial sector of two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-
grouper species complexes in the South Atlantic for the 2012 fishing
year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the
respective annual catch limit (ACLs) for the deep-water complex
(including yellowedge grouper, blueline tilefish, silk snapper, misty
grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, and blackfin
snapper), as well as the porgy complex (including jolthead porgy,
knobbed porgy, whitebone porgy, scup, and saucereye porgy) will have
been reached by September 8, 2012. NMFS has determined that the
respective ACLs for yellowtail snapper and gray triggerfish will have
been reached by September 11, 2012. Therefore, NMFS closes the
commercial sector for these two snapper-grouper species and two
snapper-grouper species complexes in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
of the South Atlantic. This closure is necessary to protect the
snapper-grouper resource.
DATES: The closure for the deep-water complex as well as the porgy
complex (including jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, whitebone porgy,
scup, and saucereye porgy) is effective 12:01 a.m., local time,
September 8, 2012, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2013. The
closure for yellowtail snapper and gray triggerfish is effective 12:01
a.m., local time, September 11, 2012, until 12:01 a.m., local time,
January 1, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic, which includes yellowtail snapper, gray triggerfish, the
deep-water complex, and the porgy complex, is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP). The Snapper-Grouper FMP was prepared by
the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and is implemented under
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part
622.
Background
The 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act implemented
new requirements that established ACLs and AMs to end overfishing and
prevent overfishing from occurring. AMs are management controls to
prevent ACLs from being exceeded, and to correct or mitigate overages
of the ACL if they occur.
The Comprehensive ACL Amendment to the Snapper-Grouper FMP, the
Golden Crab Fishery of the South Atlantic Region FMP, the Dolphin and
Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States
[[Page 53777]]
FMP, and the Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic Region FMP
published March 16, 2010 (77 FR 15916). In part, the final rule for the
Comprehensive ACL Amendment specified ACLs and AMs for species in the
Snapper-Grouper FMP that are not undergoing overfishing, including the
two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes
affected by this temporary rule. Implementation of ACLs and AMs for
these two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper species
complexes is intended to prevent overfishing from occurring in the
future, while maintaining catch levels consistent with achieving
optimum yield for the resources.
Pursuant to the AMs established in the FMP and codified at 50 CFR
622.49(b)(8)(i)(A), 622.49(b)(14)(i)(A), 622.49(b)(17)(i)(A), and
622.49(b)(23)(i)(A), NMFS closes the commercial sector for these two
snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic.
Deep-Water Complex
The AM at 50 CFR 622.49(b)(8)(i) requires NMFS to close the
commercial sector for the deep-water complex (including yellowedge
grouper, blueline tilefish, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper,
sand tilefish, black snapper, and blackfin snapper) for the remainder
of the fishing year when the ACL is reached, or is projected to be
reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the
Federal Register. The commercial ACL for the deep-water complex,
implemented through the Comprehensive ACL Amendment, is 343,869 lb
(155,976 kg), round weight. Based on the best scientific information
available, NMFS has determined that the commercial ACL of 343,869 lb
(155,976 kg), round weight, for the deep-water complex will be reached
on or before September 8, 2012. Accordingly, NMFS is implementing an AM
to close the commercial sector for the deep-water complex in the South
Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 8, 2012.
Porgy Complex
The AM at 50 CFR 622.49(b)(23)(i) requires NMFS to close the
commercial sector for the porgy complex (jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy,
whitebone porgy, scup, and saucereye porgy), for the remainder of the
fishing year when the ACL is reached, or is projected to be reached, by
filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. The commercial ACL for the porgy complex, implemented through
the Comprehensive ACL Amendment, is 35,129 lb (15,934 kg), round
weight. Based on the best scientific information available, NMFS has
determined that the commercial ACL of 35,129 lb (15,934 kg), round
weight, for the porgy complex will be reached on or before September 8,
2012. Accordingly, NMFS is implementing an AM to close the commercial
sector for the jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, whitebone porgy, scup,
and saucereye porgy complex in the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m.,
local time, on September 8, 2012.
Yellowtail Snapper
The AM at 50 CFR 622.49(b)(14)(i) requires NMFS to close the
commercial sector for yellowtail snapper for the remainder of the
fishing year when the ACL is reached, or is projected to be reached, by
filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. The commercial ACL for yellowtail snapper, implemented
through the Comprehensive ACL Amendment, is 1,142,589 lb (518,270 kg),
round weight. Based on the best scientific information available, NMFS
has determined that the commercial ACL of 1,142,589 lb (518,270 kg),
round weight, for yellowtail snapper will be reached on or before
September 11, 2012. Accordingly, NMFS is implementing an AM to close
the commercial sector for yellowtail snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ
at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 11, 2012.
Gray Triggerfish
The AM at 50 CFR 622.49(b)(17)(i) requires NMFS to close the
commercial sector for gray triggerfish for the remainder of the fishing
year when the ACL is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing
a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register.
The commercial ACL for gray triggerfish, implemented through the
Comprehensive ACL Amendment, is 305,262 lb (138,465 kg), round weight.
Based on the best scientific information available, NMFS has determined
that the commercial ACL of 305,262 lb (138,465 kg), round weight, for
gray triggerfish will be reached on or before September 11, 2012.
Accordingly, NMFS is implementing an AM to close the commercial sector
for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local
time, September 11, 2012.
Closure Provisions That Apply to All of These Two Snapper-grouper
Species and Two Snapper-grouper Species Complexes
During the closure, all sale or purchase of these two snapper-
grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes is prohibited
and harvest or possession of these two snapper-grouper species and two
snapper-grouper species complexes in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is
limited to the bag and possession limit, as specified at 50 CFR
622.39(d)(1) and (d)(2). This bag and possession limit applies in the
South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid Federal charter
vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been
issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in
state or Federal waters. The commercial sector for these two snapper-
grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes will reopen
on January 1, 2013, the beginning of the 2013 commercial fishing
season.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of
these two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper species
complexes, which are components of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper
fishery, and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.49(b)(8)(i)(A),
622.49(b)(14)(i)(A), 622.49(b)(17)(i)(A), and 622.49(b)(23)(i)(A) 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.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment
on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to
the public interest because the AMs established by the Comprehensive
ACL Amendment and located at 50 CFR 622.49(b)(8)(i)(A),
622.49(b)(14)(i)(A), 622.49(b)(17)(i)(A), and 622.49(b)(23)(i)(A) have
already been subject to notice and comment and authorize the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA) to file a notification with the
Office of the Federal Register to close the commercial sector for these
two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper
[[Page 53778]]
species complexes for the remainder of the fishing year, if commercial
landings for these two snapper-grouper species and two snapper-grouper
species complexes, as estimated by the SRD, reach or are projected to
reach their respective commercial sector ACL. All that remains is to
notify the public of the commercial closures for these two snapper-
grouper species and two snapper-grouper species complexes for the
remainder of the 2012 fishing year. Additionally, there is a need to
immediately implement the closure for these two snapper-grouper species
and two snapper-grouper species complexes for the 2012 fishing year, to
prevent further commercial harvest and prevent the ACL from being
exceeded, which will protect the snapper-grouper resources in the South
Atlantic. Therefore, providing prior notice and opportunity for public
comment on this action would be contrary to the public interest because
many of those affected by the closure need as much time as possible to
adjust business plans to account for the reduced commercial fishing
season.
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).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 29, 2012.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21676 Filed 8-29-12; 4:15 pm]
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