[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04991]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XD117


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper 
in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 
500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary 
to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, March 11, 2014, 
until 12:01 a.m., local time, July 1, 2014.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery includes 
vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic and 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 commercial ACL (commercial quota) for vermilion snapper in the 
South Atlantic is divided into two 6-month time periods, and is 401,874 
lb (182,287 kg), gutted weight (446,080 lb (202,338 kg), round weight), 
for the January 1 through June 30, 2014, fishing season, and 401,874 lb 
(182,287 kg), gutted weight (446,080 lb (202,338 kg), round weight), 
for the July 1 through December 31, 2014, fishing season, as specified 
in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(i)(B) and (ii)(B), respectively.
    Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the 
commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 lb (454 kg), 
gutted weight (1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight), to 500 lb (227 kg), 
gutted weight (555 lb (252 kg), round weight), when 75 percent of the 
fishing season quota is reached or projected to be reached, by filing a 
notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register, as 
implemented by the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 18 (78 FR 47574, 
August 6, 2013). Based on current statistics, NMFS has determined that 
75 percent of the available commercial quota for the January 1 through 
June 30, 2014, fishing season, for vermilion snapper will be reached on 
or before March 11, 2014. Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the commercial 
trip limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight (555 
lb (252 kg), round weight), in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 
a.m., local time, on March 11, 2014. This 500-lb (227-kg), gutted 
weight, trip limit will remain in effect until July 1, 2014, or until 
the quota is reached and the commercial sector closes, whichever occurs 
first.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6) 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.
    This action responds to the best available scientific information 
recently obtained from the fishery. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA), finds good cause to 
waive the requirements to provide prior notice and the opportunity for 
public comment on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary 
because the rule itself has already been subject to notice and comment, 
and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit 
reduction.
    Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is 
contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately 
implement this action to protect vermilion snapper because the capacity 
of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the ACL (quota). Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment for this trip limit reduction 
would require time and would result in the trip limit reduction not 
being implemented, and increase the probability that the commercial ACL 
(commercial quota) will be exceeded.
    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: March 4, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-04991 Filed 3-4-14; 4:15 pm]
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