[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51277-51278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19834]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 210520-0112; RTID 0648-XB409]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish 
Fishery; Inseason Adjustment to the Blueline Tilefish Commercial 
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: NMFS announces that the commercial per-trip possession limit 
for blueline tilefish has been reduced for the remainder of the 2021 
fishing year. This announcement informs the public of the reduced 
blueline tilefish possession limit. This action is intended to prevent 
over-harvest of blueline tilefish for the fishing year.

DATES: Effective September 10, 2021, though, December 31, 2021.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the blueline tilefish 
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.  
648.295(b)(2)(i) require that when NMFS projects that blueline tilefish 
catch will reach 70 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL), the 
Regional Administrator must reduce the possession limit for the 
commercial blueline tilefish fishery for the remainder of the fishing 
year or until 100 percent of the TAL is landed. The possession limit is 
reduced from 500 lb to 300 lb per trip in the Tilefish Management Unit. 
Fish must have head and fins attached, but may be gutted. NMFS monitors 
the blueline tilefish fishery catch based on dealer reports, state 
data, and other available information.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based on dealer reports 
and other available information, that the blueline tilefish commercial 
fishery will catch 70 percent of the TAL by September 3, 2021. Upon 
filing this action in the Federal Register, vessels may not may possess 
on board or land more than 300 lb per trip of blueline tilefish in or 
from the Tilefish Management Unit through December 31, 2021.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 648, which was 
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under 
Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS 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 delayed effectiveness period because it would be contrary to 
the public interest and impracticable. Data and other information 
indicating the blueline tilefish commercial fishery will have landed 70 
percent of the TAL have only recently become available. Landings data 
are updated by dealer reports on a weekly basis, and NMFS monitors data 
as catch increases toward the limit. This action is routine and 
formulaic. The regulations at Sec.  648.295(b)(2)(i) require

[[Page 51278]]

such action to ensure that blueline tilefish commercial vessels do not 
exceed the 2021 TAL. If implementation of this action is delayed, the 
TAL for the 2021 fishing year may be exceeded, thereby undermining the 
conservation objectives of the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. Also, 
the public had prior notice and full opportunity to comment on this 
process when the provisions regarding inseason adjustments and the 2021 
quota levels were put in place.

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

    Dated: September 9, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19834 Filed 9-10-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P