[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61994-61995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26227]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 111220786-1781-01]
RIN 0648-XE241


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder 
Fishery; Commercial Quota Available for the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts

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

ACTION: Temporary rule.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the 2015 summer flounder commercial 
fishery within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reopening to allow 
permitted vessels to fully harvest remaining commercial summer flounder 
quota as of October 12, 2015.

[[Page 61995]]

Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication 
of this rule to advise Massachusetts that quota remains available to be 
landed, and to inform Federal vessel and dealer permit holders that 
Federal commercial summer flounder quota is available for landing in 
Massachusetts.

DATES: Effective 0001 hours October 12, 2015, through December 31, 
2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, (978) 281-9112, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder 
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned on a percentage 
basis among the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina. The 
process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to 
each state is described in Sec.  648.103(b).
    The total commercial quota for summer flounder for the 2015 fishing 
year is 11,069,410 lb (5,020,999 kg) (79 FR 78311, December 30, 2014). 
The percent allocated to vessels landing summer flounder in 
Massachusetts is 6.82046 percent, resulting in a commercial quota of 
754,985 lb (342,455 kg). The 2015 Massachusetts allocation was adjusted 
to 760,785 lb (340,165 kg) to reflect the 2014 quota overages and the 
transfer of quota from other states. On September 17, 2015, NMFS closed 
the 2015 commercial summer flounder fishery in Massachusetts based on 
up-to-date catch information. Analysis after the closure indicates that 
16,294 lb (7,390 kg) of the760,785 lb (340,165 kg) of Massachusetts 
commercial summer flounder quota remains unharvested. Therefore, we are 
reopening the Federal fishery concurrent with the Massachusetts action 
to open state waters to allow for full utilization of the 2015 
Massachusetts commercial summer flounder quota.
    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has determined that there is still commercial summer flounder quota 
available for harvest in Massachusetts. NMFS is required to publish 
notification in the Federal Register advising and notifying commercial 
vessels and dealer permit holders that, effective upon a specific date, 
the commercial fishery will re-open.
    Therefore, effective 0001 hours October 12, 2015, vessels holding 
summer flounder commercial Federal fisheries permits can again land 
summer flounder in Massachusetts until the commercial state quota is 
fully harvested. Effective 0001 hours October 12, 2015, federally 
permitted dealers can also purchase summer flounder from federally 
permitted vessels that land in Massachusetts until the commercial state 
quota is fully harvested.

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 (AA), 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. This action reopens the summer flounder fishery for 
Massachusetts until the state commercial summer flounder quota is fully 
harvested, under current regulations. If implementation of this 
reopening were delayed to solicit prior public comment, the quota for 
this fishing year would not be fully harvested, thereby undermining the 
conservation objectives of the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan. 
The AA further finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause to 
waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period for the reason stated 
above.

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

    Dated: October 8, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-26227 Filed 10-9-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P