[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59526-59527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27082]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 160301164-6694-02]
RIN 0648-XF883


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Skate 
Complex; Adjustment to the Skate Wing Inseason Possession Limit

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the reduction of the commercial skate wing 
fishery per-trip possession limit for the remainder of the 2017 fishing 
year, through April 30, 2018. This possession limit reduction is 
necessary to prevent the skate wing commercial quota from being 
exceeded, while still allowing the opportunity to harvest the annual 
total allowable landings. This announcement also informs the public 
that the skate wing possession limit is reduced.

DATES: Effective December 27, 2017, through April 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9180, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The skate wing and bait fisheries are 
managed through the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan; 
the regulations for which are found at 50 CFR part 648, subpart O. 
Regulations at Sec.  648.322(b)(2) describe the process of adjusting 
the commercial possession limit of skate wings. When 85 percent of the 
annual total allowable landings (TAL) for skate wing fishery is 
projected to be harvested, the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional 
Administrator may reduce the skate wing possession limit to the 
incidental limit, unless the reduction would be expected to prevent 
attainment of the annual TAL. The initial skate wing possession limit 
is 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of wings (9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight). 
When the 85-percent trigger is reached, this is reduced to the 
incidental limit of and 500 lb (227 kg) of wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) 
whole weight). We anticipate that implementing this inseason adjustment 
will allow the opportunity for the skate wing fishery to harvest the 
annual TAL while reducing the possibility of exceeding it.
    Based on commercial landings data reported through December 2, 
2017, we project the skate wing fishery to reach 85 percent of the 
annual TAL (18.46 million lb, 8,372 mt) on or about December 11, 2017. 
Furthermore, without adjustment, there is a high probability that skate 
wing landings will exceed the TAL before the end of the fishing year. 
Therefore, consistent with Sec.  648.322(b)(2), we are reducing the 
skate wing possession limit from 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings 
(9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) to 500 lb (227 kg) of skate wings 
(1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight) per trip. At the request of industry 
to allow adequate time for safe gear removal, we are affording a 14-day 
notice period before implementing this reduction. Effective December 
27, 2017, no person may possess on board or land more than 500 lb (227 
kg) of skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole weight), or any prorated 
combination of skate wings and whole skates based on the conversion 
factor for wing weight to whole weight of 2.27, per trip for the 
remainder of the 2017 fishing year. This action does not affect vessels 
fishing under a skate bait letter of authorization. On May 1, 2018, the 
2018 fishing year begins, and the commercial skate wing possession 
limit will increase to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018, to August 
31, 2018) possession limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate wings (5,902 
lb (2,677 kg) whole weight) per trip.

[[Page 59527]]

Classification

    This action is taken under 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) to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it would be contrary to the 
public interest. This action lowers the possession limit for the 
commercial skate wing fishery to the incidental limit in order to 
prevent the annual quota from being exceeded, while still allowing the 
opportunity to harvest the annual TAL. The regulations at Sec.  
648.322(b)(2) allow such action when landings reach a trigger of 85 
percent of the annual TAL to ensure this TAL is not exceeded. If 
implementation of this reduction were delayed to solicit prior public 
comment, the quota for this fishing year would likely be exceeded, 
thereby undermining the conservation objectives of the Northeast Skate 
Complex Fishery Management Plan. The Assistant Administrator 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: December 12, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27082 Filed 12-12-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P