[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74712-74714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30320]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 150311250-5474-01]
RIN 0648-BE97


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish 
Fishery; Secretarial Emergency Action

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; emergency action extended.

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

SUMMARY: This rule extends emergency permitting and possession limit 
regulations for the blueline tilefish fishery in waters north of the 
Virginia/North Carolina border that were implemented on June 4, 2015. 
This extension is necessary to continue to constrain fishing effort on 
the blueline tilefish stock while a long-term management plan is 
developed. The rule is expected to reduce fishing mortality and help 
ensure the long-term sustainability of the stock.

DATES: The expiration date of the emergency rule published on June 4, 
2016 (80 FR 31864) is extended through June 3, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Copies the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Impact 
Review (EA/RIR) and other supporting documents for this emergency 
action are available from John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, 
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA, 01930. The EA/RIR is also accessible via the 
Internet at: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This temporary final rule extends emergency permitting and 
possession limit regulations for the blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus 
microps) fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region (i.e., Federal waters 
north of the latitude of the Virginia/North Carolina border) as 
described in the original emergency action that published on June 4, 
2015 (80 FR 31864). The initial temporary rule was implemented in 
response to a request for emergency action from the Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council. That temporary final rule

[[Page 74713]]

included detailed information on the background, purpose, need, and 
justification to implement these emergency management measures, and 
that information is not repeated here.
    Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act allows for the extension 
of an emergency action, which is otherwise effective for up to 180 
days, for up to another 186 days, provided that certain criteria are 
met: (1) The public has had an opportunity to comment on the emergency 
regulation; and (2) in the case of a Council recommendation for 
emergency action, the Council is actively developing an fishery 
management plan (FMP) amendment or regulations to address the emergency 
on a permanent basis. NMFS accepted public comment on the initial 
emergency measures in the final rule through July 6, 2015; comments and 
responses are summarized below. The Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Councils are both working on long-term management 
measures for blueline tilefish along the Atlantic coast. The Mid-
Atlantic Council has initiated an amendment to its Golden Tilefish FMP 
to add blueline tilefish fishery management measures to that FMP and 
manage the stock within its jurisdiction. Final action on that 
amendment is expected to occur at the Council's February 2016 meeting 
so that rulemaking may be completed before this temporary extension 
expires. This extension does not change the measures already in place. 
NMFS is not accepting additional public comment on this extension, and 
has determined that all the necessary criteria have been met and, 
therefore, is extending these emergency measures.

Extended Emergency Management Measures

    This temporary final rule extends the following management measures 
for blueline tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region:
    1. A requirement for commercial or charter/party vessels landing 
blueline tilefish in the Northeast region (i.e., north of the latitude 
of the Virginia/North Carolina border: 36[deg]33'01.0'' N. latitude) to 
hold a valid Northeast open access golden tilefish commercial or 
charter/party vessel permit, which are issued by the Greater Atlantic 
Regional Fisheries Office;
    2. A commercial possession limit of 300 lb (136 kg) whole weight 
per trip; and
    3. A recreational possession limit of seven blueline tilefish per 
person, per trip.
    None of these management measures modify the existing possession 
regulations for golden tilefish, or any other species.
    In addition to the efforts being made by the Mid-Atlantic Council, 
the South Atlantic Council is considering revisions to its Snapper 
Grouper FMP to modify blueline tilefish management measures that may or 
may not affect the Mid-Atlantic Council's management of this stock. 
Questions remain on potential stock structure of the species throughout 
its distribution and there is considerable uncertainty in the data and 
projections in the most recent benchmark stock assessment that are 
currently being explored. It is expected that the long-term management 
of blueline tilefish fisheries will be improved once these scientific 
and policy issues are resolved. These extended emergency measures will 
continue to protect blueline tilefish in the Greater Atlantic Region 
while allowing the Councils more time to finalize their work.

Comments and Responses

    We received numerous public comments prior to implementation of the 
emergency action, primarily from fishermen who were opposed to overly-
restrictive possession limits on blueline tilefish. Overall, the 
concerns raised in these comments were addressed by the management 
measures that we implemented. We received three comments during the 
original rule's comment period, and these are summarized below.
    Comment 1: One comment was from a North Carolina-based commercial 
fishing organization. The commenter suggested that the blueline 
tilefish possession limits implemented by the rule disproportionately 
impacted commercial fishing vessels while not equally restraining 
recreational fishing vessels.
    Response: According to the analyses in the EA (see ADDRESSES), the 
possession limits implemented by NMFS were expected to have minor 
negative impacts on both commercial and recreational fishing vessels. 
In recent years, only 18 percent of commercial trips landed more than 
500 lb (227 kg) of blueline tilefish, and in 2014, 94 percent of 
landings were derived from only six vessels (out of 81 active vessels). 
Therefore, the commercial possession limit of 300 lb (136 kg) was not 
expected to impact the vast majority of vessels in the fishery, and by 
design, reduces incentives to target blueline tilefish. Similarly, in 
the recreational fishery in recent years, only 12 percent of charter/
party trips landed more than seven fish per person. Therefore, impacts 
on the overall commercial and recreational fisheries were projected to 
be comparable, with little impact on the vast majority of trips.
    Comment 2: One comment from a New Jersey recreational fisherman 
opposed the recreational possession limit, stating it was too 
restrictive.
    Response: As noted in the response above, a minority of 
recreational trips are likely to be affected by the possession limit of 
seven fish per person. The objective of the emergency rule was to 
prevent further expansion of catch on this species, and we believe the 
seven-fish possession limit to be appropriate, and consistent with the 
recommendations of the Council. Additionally, the blueline tilefish 
possession limits do not impact the possession limits of golden 
tilefish or other species.
    Comment 3: One comment was from a recreational fisherman who was 
opposed to a possession limit of one fish per vessel (Alternative 2 in 
the EA).
    Response: NMFS agrees that the possession limits under Alternative 
2 would have been more restrictive, and likely to result in greater 
negative impacts on a higher proportion of fishery participants. NMFS 
chose to implement the possession limit of seven fish per person to 
help constrain fishing effort, while still allowing the fishery to 
continue.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has 
determined that the emergency measures extended by this temporary rule 
are necessary for the conservation and management of the blueline 
tilefish fishery and are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
other applicable law.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 
finds good cause to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness of this 
action. Because the extension of these emergency measures contains 
regulations already in place, it is contrary to public interest to 
allow them to expire. As described more fully in the original emergency 
action (80 FR 31864; June 4, 2015), the reasons justifying promulgation 
of the rule on an emergency basis make a delay in effectiveness 
contrary to the public interest. The possession limits implemented for 
recreational and commercial blueline tilefish vessels fishing in 
Federal waters north of the Virgina/North Carolina border are needed to 
constrain fishing mortality on the stock that would otherwise be 
unregulated. To provide protection for blueline tilefish, and to allow 
additional

[[Page 74714]]

time for the Council to develop an appropriate long-term solution for 
the management of this stock, expediting these emergency measures is 
necessary.
    This action is being taken pursuant to the emergency provision of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and is exempt from OMB review.
    This rule is exempt from the otherwise applicable requirement of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act to prepare a regulatory flexibility 
analysis because the rule is issued without opportunity for prior 
public comment.

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

    Dated: November 24, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30320 Filed 11-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P