[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57367-57368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23352]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 141107936-5399-02]
RIN 0648-XS014


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2019 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic 
Gray Triggerfish; July Through December Season

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 gray 
triggerfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. 
NMFS projects commercial landings for gray triggerfish will reach the 
commercial annual catch limit (ACL)(commercial quota) for the July 
through December season by October 27, 2019. Therefore, NMFS is closing 
the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on 
October 27, 2019. This closure is necessary to protect the gray 
triggerfish resource.

DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 27, 2019, 
through December 31, 2019.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes gray triggerfish 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 (commercial quota) for gray triggerfish in the 
South Atlantic is divided into two 6-month fishing seasons. The total 
commercial ACL of 312,324 lb (141,668 kg), round weight, is allocated 
50 percent to each commercial fishing season, or 156,162 lb (70,834 
kg), round weight, each, for January through June, and July through 
December, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(8)(i) and (ii).
    Under 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the 
commercial sector for gray triggerfish when the commercial quota 
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(8)(ii) 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 quota for 
South Atlantic gray triggerfish for the July through December fishing 
season will be reached by October 27, 2019. Accordingly, the commercial 
sector for South Atlantic gray triggerfish is closed effective at 12:01 
a.m., local time, October 27, 2019, until the start of the January 
through June fishing season on January 1, 2020.
    The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial vessel 
permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having gray triggerfish on 
board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray 
triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 27, 2019. During 
the closure, the recreational bag limit specified in 50 CFR 
622.187(b)(8), and the possession limits specified in 50 CFR 
622.187(c), apply to all harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in 
or from the South Atlantic EEZ. Also, during the closure, the sale or 
purchase of gray triggerfish taken from the South Atlantic EEZ is 
prohibited. The prohibition on the sale or purchase does not apply to 
gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 
12:01 a.m., local time, October 27, 2019, and were held in cold storage 
by a dealer or processor.
    For a person on board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial 
or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-
grouper fishery has been issued, the bag and possession limits and sale 
and purchase prohibitions for gray triggerfish apply regardless of 
whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified 
in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, NMFS Southeast Region, has determined 
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of 
gray triggerfish 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(q)(1)(i) 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 Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA), finds that the 
need to immediately implement this action to close the commercial 
sector for gray triggerfish 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 final rules implementing the 
split commercial season for gray triggerfish and the commercial closure 
provisions have 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

[[Page 57368]]

immediately implement this action to protect gray triggerfish since the 
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the 
commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would 
require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess 
of the established commercial quota.
    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.

    Dated: October 22, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-23352 Filed 10-22-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P