[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 92 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20820-20821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09826]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151211999-6343-02]
RIN 0648-XG900


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery; Common Pool Measures for Fishing Year 2019; 
Correction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; possession and trip limit implementation; 
correction.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is correcting a temporary rule that implemented measures 
for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the 2019 fishing 
year. These measures included possession and trip limits and the 
allocation of zero trips into the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/
Haddock Special Access Program for common pool vessels to target 
yellowtail flounder. The trip limit for Gulf of Maine winter flounder 
was incorrect.

DATES: Effective May 10, 2019, through April 30, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for Correction

    NMFS published measures for the Northeast multispecies common pool 
fishery for fishing year 2019 on April 26, 2019 (84 FR 17926). These 
measures included possession and trip limits for all stocks of 
regulated multispecies.
    The document incorrectly listed the trip limit for Gulf of Maine 
(GOM) winter flounder as 2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip, instead of the 
correct trip limit of 1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip. This correction will 
not adversely affect fishing operations. The corrected trip limit of 
1,000 lb (454 kg) is the same as the 1,000 lb (454 kg) trip limit for 
the stock in the previous year. The 1,000 lb (454 kg) limit is based on 
past experience and anticipated fishing effort. There was no discussion 
of any increase because there was intended to be no change in the limit 
from the previous fishing year to prevent an overage from occurring in 
Trimester 1. This correction is necessary to prevent early trimester 
closures and overages of common pool quotas while facilitating 
optimized harvest.

Correction

    In the Federal Register of April 26, 2019, in FR Doc. 2019-08441, 
on page 17927, table 1, is corrected to read as follows:

[[Page 20821]]



    Table 1--2019 Fishing Year Common Pool Possession and Trip Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Stock                           2019 Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod (outside Eastern U.S./Canada      250 lb (113 kg) per DAS, up to
 Area).                                   500 lb (227 kg) per trip.
GB Cod (inside Eastern U.S./Canada
 Area).
GB Cod [Closed Area II Yellowtail        500 lb (227 kg) per trip.
 Flounder/Haddock SAP (for targeting
 haddock)].
GOM Cod................................  50 lb (23 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
GB Haddock.............................  100,000 lb (45, 359 kg) per
                                          trip.
GOM Haddock............................  500 lb (227 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip.
GB Yellowtail Flounder.................  100 lb (45 kg) per trip.
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.............  100 lb (45 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          200 lb (91 kg) per trip.
Cape Cod (CC)/GOM Yellowtail Flounder..  750 lb (340 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
American Plaice........................  750 lb (340 kg) per DAS, up to
                                          1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
Witch Flounder.........................  600 lb (272 kg) per trip.
GB Winter Flounder.....................  250 lb (113 kg) per trip.
GOM Winter Flounder....................  1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip.
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.................  2,000 lb (907 kg) per DAS, up
                                          to 4,000 lb (1814 kg) per
                                          trip.
Redfish................................  Unlimited.
White Hake.............................  1,500 lb (680 kg) per trip.
Pollock................................  Unlimited.
Atlantic Halibut.......................  1 fish per trip.
Windowpane Flounder....................  Possession Prohibited.
Ocean Pout.............................
Atlantic Wolffish......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    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 contrary to the public 
interest. This action corrects an error that inadvertently identified 
the trip limit of GOM winter flounder for the Northeast multispecies 
common pool fishery at 2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip rather than the 
correct 1,000 lb (454 kg) per trip.
    Delay of this action would leave the common pool fishery with a 
trip limit for GOM winter flounder that is too high to control catch 
and may lead to early closure of a trimester and quota overages. Any 
overage of the quota for either of the first two trimesters must be 
deducted from the Trimester 3 quota, which could substantially disrupt 
the trimester structure and intent to distribute fishing effort across 
the entire fishing year. An overage reduction in Trimester 3 would 
further reduce fishing opportunities for common pool vessels and likely 
result in early closure of Trimester 3. Additionally, any overage of 
the annual quota would be deducted from common pool's quota for the 
next fishing year, to the detriment of the fishery.
    For the reasons above, delay of this action for prior notice and 
the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness 
period would undermine management objectives of the FMP and cause 
unnecessary negative economic impacts to the common pool fishery.

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

    Dated: May 8, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-09826 Filed 5-10-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P