[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17999]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 110816505-2184-03]
RIN 0648-XD336


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 5, 2014, the northern red hake possession 
limit is reduced to the incidental possession limit for the remainder 
of the 2014 fishing year.

DATES: Effective at 0001 hr local time, August 5, 2014, through 2400 hr 
local time April 30, 2015.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at Sec.  648.86(d)(4)(i) 
require that, if the NMFS Greater Atlantic Region Administrator 
(Regional Administrator) projects that if the total allowable landings 
(TAL) trigger 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 for the remainder of the fishing 
year. The incidental possession limit for northern red hake is 400 lb 
(181.44 kg).
    The 2014 fishing year northern red hake TAL is 199,077 lb (90,300 
kg) and the TAL trigger is 45 percent, which is 89,585 lb (40,635.07 
kg). Based on dealer, vessel trip report, and other available 
information, NMFS has projected that, as of August 5, 2014, 45 percent 
of the available 2014 TAL for northern red hake have been landed. 
Therefore, effective 0001 hr, August 5, 2014, 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, 2015.
    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 5, 2014, 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 (2,268 kg).

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS 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 and impracticable. This action reduces 
the northern red hake possession limit to the incidental level of 400 
lb. The regulations at Sec.  648.86(d)(4)(i) require that, if the NMFS 
projects that if the TAL trigger has been landed for a small-mesh 
multispecies stock, NMFS must reduce the possession limit for that 
stock to the incidental possession limit for the remainder of the 
fishing year. The whiting fishery opened for the 2014 fishing year on 
May 1, 2014. Data indicating that 45 percent of the northern red hake 
TAL is projected to be reached only recently became available. If 
implementation of this closure is delayed to solicit prior public 
comment, northern red hake landings limits for this fishing year will 
likely be exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation objectives of 
the FMP. NMFS 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: July 25, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-17999 Filed 7-29-14; 8:45 am]
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