[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 65136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26238]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 111220786-1781-01]
RIN 0648-XC303
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Black Sea Bass
Fishery; Recreational Quota Harvested
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the 2012 black sea bass recreational
harvest limit has been exceeded. No one may fish for or possess black
sea bass in Federal waters for the remainder of calendar year 2012,
unless issued a Federal moratorium permit and fishing commercially.
Regulations governing the black sea bass fishery require publication of
this notification to advise that the recreational quota has been
harvested and to advise vessel permit holders that no Federal
recreational quota is available for fishing black sea bass.
DATES: Effective at 0001 hr local time, November 1, 2012, through 2400
hr local time December 31, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9218, or Moira.Kelly@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the black sea bass
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual
specification of a recreational harvest limit (RHL) for the Atlantic
coast from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, through Maine. The process to
set the annual RHL is described in Sec. 648.142.
The initial total RHL for black sea bass for the 2012 fishing year
is 1.86 million lb (844 mt) (76 FR 82189, December 30, 2011). The 2012
RHL was reduced to 1.32 million lb (599 mt) after deduction of research
set-aside and discards.
The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
monitors the recreational harvest limit and determines when the
recreational harvest limit has been met or exceeded. NMFS is required
to publish notification in the Federal Register advising and notifying
recreational vessels that, effective upon a specific date, the
recreational harvest limit has been harvested. The Regional
Administrator has determined based upon data from the Marine
Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey and the Marine Recreational
Information Program that the 2012 recreational black sea bass quota has
been exceeded.
Effective 0001 hours, November 1, 2012, no one may fish for or
possess black sea bass in Federal waters for the remainder of the 2012
calendar year, unless issued a commercial moratorium permit and fishing
commercially. This closure also applies to vessels issued a Federal
party/charter permit fishing in state waters.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 19, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26238 Filed 10-24-12; 8:45 am]
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