[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55561-55562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23277]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 150105004-5355-01]
RIN 0648-XE155


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Trip Limit Adjustment for the Common Pool Fishery

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action increases the trip limit for Gulf of Maine cod for 
Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 
2015 fishing year. The regulations authorize the Regional Administrator 
to adjust the trip limits for common pool vessels in order to 
facilitate harvest of, or prevent exceeding, the pertinent common pool 
quotas during the fishing year. Increasing the trip limit is intended 
to provide additional fishing opportunities and help allow the common 
pool fishery to catch its allowable quota for this stock.

DATES: The trip limit increase is effective September 16, 2015, through 
April 30, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Sullivan, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-282-8493.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at Sec.  648.86(o) authorize 
the Regional Administrator (RA) to adjust the possession limits for 
common pool vessels in order to prevent the

[[Page 55562]]

overharvest or underharvest of the common pool quotas. On June 15, 
2015, we adjusted the possession and trip limit for Gulf of Maine (GOM) 
cod to zero for the remainder of the fishing year, out of an abundance 
of caution, to reduce the effort that had been directed on cod, to 
prevent the common pool from exceeding its Trimester 1 quota for the 
stock, and to avoid triggering the closure of portions of the Gulf of 
Maine, which is mandatory if 90 percent of the trimester quota is 
reached. Although the zero possession limit was set for the remainder 
of the fishing year, this does not prevent the RA from subsequently 
increasing it to prevent underharvest of the stock.
    As of August 25, 2015, the common pool had caught approximately 31 
percent of its sub-annual catch limit (ACL) of GOM cod. To allow the 
common pool fishery to catch more of its quota for this stock, 
effective September 16, 2015, the trip limit of GOM cod for all common 
pool vessels is increased from 0 lb per trip, to 25 lb (11.3 kg) per 
trip. Allowing landings of incidentally caught GOM cod up to 25 lb 
(11.3 kg) is projected to prevent overharvest while reducing discards.
    Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery can be 
found on our Web site at: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We 
will continue to monitor common pool catch through vessel trip reports, 
dealer-reported landings, vessel monitoring system catch reports, and 
other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional 
adjustments to common pool management measures.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior 
notice and the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period because it would be impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest.
    The regulations at Sec.  648.86(o) authorize the RA to adjust the 
Northeast multispecies possession and trip limits for common pool 
vessels in order to prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the 
pertinent common pool sub-ACLs. The catch data used to justify 
increasing the possession and trip limit for GOM cod only recently 
became available. The possession and trip limit increase implemented 
through this action allows for increased harvest of GOM cod, to help 
ensure that the fishery may achieve the optimum yield (OY) for this 
stock. As a result, the time necessary to provide for prior notice and 
comment, and a 30-day delay in effectiveness, would prevent us from 
increasing the possession and trip limit for GOM cod in a timely 
manner, which could prevent the fishery from achieving the OY. This 
would undermine management objectives of the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan and cause unnecessary negative economic impacts 
to the common pool fishery. There is additional good cause to waive the 
delayed effective period because this action relieves restrictions on 
fishing vessels by increasing a trip limit.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23277 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P