[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75568-75569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30832]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 120213124-1066-02]
RIN 0648-XC388


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2013 Commercial and 
Recreational Quotas for Red Snapper

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS sets the 2013 commercial and recreational quotas for red 
snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico 
(Gulf) through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the 
allowable biological catch (ABC) for red snapper in 2012 has been 
exceeded. Therefore, NMFS is maintaining the commercial and 
recreational quotas for red snapper in 2013 at the 2012 level. The 
intent of this action is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the 
Gulf red snapper resource without increasing the risk of red snapper 
experiencing overfishing.

DATES: This rule is effective January 1, 2013, through December 31, 
2013, unless NMFS publishes a superseding document in the Federal 
Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Meyer, telephone 727-824-5305; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage the Gulf reef 
fish fishery under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). The Council 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).
    On May 30, 2012, NMFS published a final rule (77 FR 31734), that in 
part, set the 2012 commercial quota at 4.121 million lb (1.869 million 
kg), round weight, and the 2012 recreational quota at 3.959 million lb 
(1.796 million kg), round weight. NMFS also set the 2013 commercial 
quota at 4.432 million lb (2.010 million kg), round weight, and the 
2013 recreational quota at 4.258 million lb (1.931 million kg), round 
weight. However, the 2013 quota increases are contingent on the ABC not 
being exceeded in the 2012 fishing year.

[[Page 75569]]

NMFS has determined that the 2012 ABC has been exceeded, therefore, 
NMFS is maintaining the 2012 commercial and recreational quotas in the 
2013 fishing year.
    The Council is currently developing a 2013 red snapper regulatory 
amendment, which could revise the commercial and recreational quotas 
for red snapper. Any increase in the commercial and recreational quotas 
would be released during the 2013 fishing year. This means that if the 
commercial quota is increased, additional pounds of allocation would be 
released to participants in the Gulf red snapper individual fishing 
quota (IFQ) program. If the recreational quota is increased, 
recreational fishermen could see an increase in the length of the 2013 
recreational fishing season. If the 2013 regulatory amendment results 
in a decrease to the commercial and recreational quotas for red 
snapper, the decrease wouldn't become effective until the 2014 fishing 
year.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
that this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of Gulf red snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable law.
    This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 and 
is exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because 
the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and 
comment.
    The 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)(3)(B). Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
is unnecessary because the final rule establishing the commercial and 
recreational quotas for red snapper for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years 
has already been subject to notice and comment. All that remains is to 
notify the public that the 2012 quotas will be maintained during the 
2013 fishing year. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment would also be contrary to the public interest because the red 
snapper fishing year begins January 1, 2013, and IFQ allocation is 
released to Gulf red snapper IFQ participants on that date. Commercial 
red snapper fishermen need to be aware of the entire quota before the 
fishing year begins to help plan their business practices for the year.
    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: December 18, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-30832 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
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