[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20762]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 110816505-2184-03]
RIN 0648-XC793


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan; Northern Red Hake Quota 
Harvested

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; possession limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: Beginning August 26, 2013, the northern red hake possession 
limit is reduced to the incidental possession limit for the remainder 
of the 2013 fishing year.

DATES: Effective at 0001 hr local time, August 26, 2013, through 2400 
hr local time April 30, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Berthiaume, (978) 281-9177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at Sec.  648.86(d)(4) 
require that, if the NMFS Northeast Region Administrator (Regional 
Administrator) projects that 90 percent of the total allowable landings 
(TAL) has been landed for a small-mesh multispecies stock, the Regional 
Administrator shall reduce the possession limit for that stock to the 
incidental possession limit of 400 lb (181.44 kg) for the remainder of 
the fishing year.
    The 2013 fishing year northern red hake TAL is 199,077 lb (90,300 
kg) (78 FR 20260; April 4, 2013) and 90 percent of the TAL is 179,169 
lb (81,270 kg). Based on dealer, vessel trip report, and other 
available information, NMFS has projected that, as of August 25, 2013, 
90 percent of the available 2013 TAL for northern red hake will be 
landed. Therefore, effective 0001 hr, August 26, 2013, the possession 
limit for northern red hake is reduced to the incidental possession 
limit of 400 lb (181.44 kg). This incidental possession limit will be 
in effect through the remainder of the fishing year, which ends April 
30, 2014.
    Vessels that have declared a trip through the vessel monitoring 
system (VMS) or interactive voice response system, and crossed the VMS 
demarcation line prior to August 26, 2013, are not be subject to the 
incidental limit for that trip, and, may complete the trip under the 
previous higher possession limit of 5,000 lb (2.27 mt).

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: August 21, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20762 Filed 8-21-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P