[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61059-61060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25423]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 0907301205-0289-02]
RIN 0648-XA413


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring 
Fishery; Sub-ACL (Annual Catch Limit) Harvested for Management Area 1B

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, effective 0001 hr, October 1, 2011, 
federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, 
or land more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic herring (herring) in 
or from Management Area 1B (Area 1B) per calendar day until January 1, 
2012, when the 2012 sub-ACL for Area 1B becomes available, except when 
transiting as described in this notice. This action is based on the 
determination that 95 percent of the Atlantic herring sub-ACL allocated 
to Area 1B for 2011 is projected to be harvested by October 1, 2011.

DATES: Effective 0001 hr local time, October 1, 2011, through December 
31, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lindsey Feldman, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 675-2179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic herring 
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, 
ACL, optimum yield, domestic harvest and processing, U.S. at-sea 
processing, border transfer and sub-ACLs for each management area. The 
2011 Domestic Annual Harvest is 91,200 metric tons (mt); the 2011 sub-
ACL allocated to Area 1B is 4,362 mt and 0 mt of the sub-ACL is set 
aside for research (75 FR 48874, August 12, 2010).
    The regulations at Sec.  648.201 require the Administrator, 
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), to monitor the 
Atlantic herring fishery in each of the four management areas 
designated in the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic 
herring fishery and, based upon dealer reports, state data, and other 
available information, to determine when the harvest of Atlantic 
herring is projected to reach 95 percent of the management area sub-
ACL. When such a determination is made, NMFS is required to publish 
notification in the Federal Register and prohibit Atlantic herring 
vessel permit holders from fishing for, catching, possessing, 
transferring, or landing more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring per 
calendar day in or from the specified management area for the remainder 
of the closure period. Transiting of Area 1B with more than 2,000 lb 
(907.2 kg) of herring on board is allowed under the conditions 
specified below.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based upon dealer 
reports and other available information that 95 percent of the total 
Atlantic herring sub-ACL allocated to Area 1B for FY 2011 is projected 
to be harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hr local time, October 1, 
2011, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, 
transfer, or land more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic herring in 
or from Area 1B per calendar day through December 31, 2011. Vessels 
transiting Area 1B with more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring on 
board may land this amount, provided such herring was not caught in 
Area 1B and provided all fishing gear aboard is stowed and not 
available for immediate use as required by Sec.  648.23(b). Effective 
October 1, 2011, federally permitted dealers are also advised that they 
may not purchase Atlantic herring from federally permitted Atlantic 
herring vessels that harvest more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic 
herring from Area 1B through 2400 hr local time, December 31, 2011.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good 
cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the 
public interest. This action closes the Atlantic herring fishery for 
Management Area 1B until January 1, 2012, under current regulations. 
The regulations at Sec.  648.201(a) require such action to ensure that 
Atlantic herring

[[Page 61060]]

vessels do not exceed the 2011 sub-ACL allocated to Area 1B. The 
Atlantic herring fishery opened for the 2011 fishing year on January 1, 
2011. Data indicating the Atlantic herring fleet will have landed at 
least 95 percent of the 2011 sub-ACL allocated to Area 1B have only 
recently become available. If implementation of this closure is delayed 
to solicit prior public comment, the sub-ACL for Area 1B for this 
fishing year will be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation 
objectives of the FMP. The AA further finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C 
553(d)(3), good cause to waive the 30 day delayed effectiveness period 
for the reasons stated above.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 28, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25423 Filed 9-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P