[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48081-48082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19808]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 180209147-8509-02]
RIN 0648-XX010


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Small-Mesh 
Multispecies Fishery; Inseason Adjustment to the Northern Red Hake 
Possession Limit

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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SUMMARY: This action reduces the commercial per-trip possession limit 
for northern red hake for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year. 
Regulations governing the small-mesh multispecies fishery require this 
action because the northern red hake fishery is projected to reach 37.9 
percent of its total allowable landing limit for the year. This action 
is intended to prevent this limit from being exceeded. This 
announcement also informs the public of the reduced northern red hake 
possession limit.

DATES: Effective September 9, 2019, through April 30, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the red hake fishery 
are found at 50 CFR part 648. The small-mesh multispecies fishery is 
managed primarily through a series of exemptions from the Northeast 
Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan. The regulations describing the

[[Page 48082]]

process to adjust inseason commercial possession limits of northern red 
hake are described in Sec.  648.86(d)(4) and Sec.  648.90(b)(5). These 
regulations require the NMFS Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 
Region, to reduce the northern red hake possession limit from 3,000 lb 
(1,361 kg) to the incidental limit of 400 lb (181 kg) when landings 
have been projected to reach or exceed 37.9 percent of the total 
allowable landings (TAL), unless such a reduction would be expected to 
prevent the TAL from being reached. The final rule implementing the 
small-mesh multispecies specifications for 2018-2020 (83 FR 27713; June 
14, 2018) set the northern red hake inseason adjustment threshold for 
the 2019 fishing year at 228,941 lb (103,846 kg); 37.9 percent of the 
northern red hake TAL for the year.
    Based on commercial landings data reported through September 3, 
2019, the northern red hake fishery is projected to reach 37.9 percent 
of the TAL on September 4, 2019. It is not expected that this reduction 
will prevent the TAL from being reached. Using this projection, NMFS is 
required to reduce the commercial northern red hake possession limit to 
prevent the TAL from being exceeded. Therefore, effective September 9, 
2019, no person may possess on board or land more than 400 lb (181 kg) 
of northern red hake per trip for the remainder of the fishing year 
(i.e., through April 30, 2020). Vessels that are currently on a trip 
when this reduction becomes effective may retain northern red hake up 
to the prior possession limit of 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) for the completion 
of that trip.

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, finds good cause 
under 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 reduces the per-trip possession limit for northern red hake 
to the incidental limit of 400 lb (181 kg) until April 30, 2020, under 
current small-mesh multispecies fishery regulations. The regulations at 
Sec.  648.86(d) require such action to ensure that commercial small-
mesh multispecies vessels do not exceed the TAL set for the northern 
red hake stock. If implementation of this reduction is delayed, the 
northern red hake TAL for this fishing year may be exceeded, thereby 
undermining the conservation objectives of the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the 
Assistant Administrator further finds good cause to waive the 30-day 
delayed effectiveness period for the reason stated above.

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

    Dated: September 9, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-19808 Filed 9-9-19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P