[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30779-30780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12321]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 0907271173-0629-03]
RIN 0648-XC672


Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2013 Recreational 
Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper

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 
recreational sector of snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 2013 
fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational landings 
from 2010-2012 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for 
snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces the 
length of the 2013 recreational fishing season. Therefore, NMFS closes 
the recreational sector for snowy grouper on May 31, 2013. This closure 
is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, May 31, 2013, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, telephone: 727-824-
5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic, which includes snowy grouper, is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The 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.
    The recreational ACL for snowy grouper is 523 fish. In accordance 
with regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2), if the recreational ACL is 
exceeded, the Assistant Administrator, NMFS (AA) will file a 
notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the 
length of the following fishing season by the amount necessary to 
ensure landings do not exceed the recreational ACL in the following 
fishing year. Additionally, the most recent 3-year running average of 
recreational landings is compared to the recreational ACL. For the 2013 
fishing year, the average of 2010-2012 recreational landings is 
compared to the recreational ACL. Average landings from 2010-2012 
exceeded the 2012 ACL by 882 fish on average. Therefore, this temporary 
rule implements the post-season AM to reduce the fishing season for the 
recreational snowy grouper component of the snapper-grouper fishery in 
2013. As a result, the recreational sector for snowy grouper will be 
closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time May 31, 2013.
    During the closure, the bag and possession limit for snowy grouper 
in or from the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone is zero. The 
recreational sector for snowy grouper will reopen on January 1, 2014, 
the beginning of the 2014 recreational fishing season.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, (RA) has 
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of the South Atlantic snowy grouper component of the South 
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) 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 because the AMs 
established by Amendment 17B to the FMP (75 FR 82280, December 30, 
2010) and located at 50 CFR 622.193(b)(2) have already been subject to 
notice and comment and authorize the AA to file a notification with the 
Office of the Federal Register to reduce the duration of the 
recreational fishing season the following fishing year if an ACL 
overage occurs. All that remains is to notify the public of the reduced 
recreational fishing season for snowy grouper for the 2013 fishing 
year. Additionally, there is a need to immediately notify the public of 
the reduced recreational fishing season for snowy grouper for the 2013 
fishing year, to prevent snowy grouper recreational harvest from 
further exceeding the ACL, which will help protect the South Atlantic 
snowy

[[Page 30780]]

grouper resource. Also, 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 length of the recreational 
fishing season, particularly charter vessel and headboat operations, 
book trips for clients in advance and, therefore need as much time as 
possible to adjust business plans to account for the reduced 
recreational 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: May 20, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12321 Filed 5-22-13; 8:45 am]
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