[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45437-45438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18703]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 121004515-3608-02]
RIN 0648-XS009


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic 
Red Snapper

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial red 
snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. 
NMFS projects commercial landings for red snapper will reach the 
commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2019 fishing year. 
Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the 
South Atlantic EEZ on August 30, 2019. This closure is necessary to 
protect the red snapper resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, August 30, 2019, 
through December 31, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes red snapper and is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    The commercial ACL for red snapper in the South Atlantic is 124,815 
lb (56,615 kg), round weight, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(y)(1).
    Under 50 CFR 622.193(y)(1), NMFS is required to close the 
commercial sector for red snapper when the commercial ACL specified is 
reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to 
that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has 
determined that the commercial ACL for South Atlantic red snapper will 
be reached by August 30, 2019. Accordingly, the commercial sector for 
South Atlantic red snapper is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, 
August 30, 2019. For the 2020 fishing year, unless otherwise specified, 
the commercial season will begin on the second Monday in July (50 CFR 
622.183(b)(5)(i)).
    The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper having red snapper onboard must have 
landed and bartered, traded, or sold such red snapper prior to 12:01 
a.m., local time, August 30, 2019. Because the recreational harvest 
sector closed on July 21, 2019 (84 FR 7827), after the commercial 
closure on August 30, 2019, all harvest and possession of red snapper 
in the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited.
    On and after the effective date of the closure notification, all 
sale or purchase of red snapper is prohibited. This prohibition on the 
harvest, possession, sale or purchase apply in the South Atlantic on 
board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, 
without regard to where such species were harvested or possessed, i.e., 
in state or Federal waters (50 CFR 622.193(y)(1) and 622.181(c)(2)).

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
red snapper and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(y)(1) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without 
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
    This action responds to the best scientific information available. 
The NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to close the commercial 
sector for red snapper constitutes good cause to waive the requirements 
to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to 
the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures are 
unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are 
unnecessary because the rule implementing Amendment 43 to the FMP, 
which established the commercial season and ACLs for red snapper, and 
the accountability measures has already been subject to notice and 
comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. 
Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need 
to immediately implement this action to protect red snapper since the 
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the 
commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would 
require time and could potentially result in a harvest well in excess 
of the established commercial ACL.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

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


[[Page 45438]]


    Dated: August 26, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18703 Filed 8-26-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P