[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19290-19291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 231101-0256; RTID 0648-XD766]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2024 Recreational Fishing Season and Closure Date for Blueline Tilefish 
in the South Atlantic

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational fishing season.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the 2024 recreational fishing season for 
blueline tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. Announcing the 
length of the recreational season is part of the accountability 
measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. The recreational season 
opens on May 1, 2024, and NMFS has projected that recreational

[[Page 19291]]

landings of blueline tilefish will reach the recreational annual catch 
limit (ACL) after July 18, 2024. Therefore, NMFS closes the 
recreational sector for blueline tilefish on July 19, 2024. The 
recreational season length and closure are necessary to protect the 
blueline tilefish resource in South Atlantic Federal waters.

DATES: This temporary rule is effective from July 19, 2024, through 
December 31, 2024.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish 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 weights given in 
this temporary rule are in round weight.
    The final rule for Abbreviated Framework 3 to the FMP implemented 
the recreational ACL for blueline tilefish of 116,820 pounds (52,989 
kilograms) (85 FR 43145, July 16, 2020). NMFS recently revised the 
recreational AMs for blueline tilefish through the final rule for 
Amendment 52 to the FMP (88 FR 76696, November 7, 2023). Regulations 
for blueline tilefish at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2) require NMFS to project 
the length of the recreational fishing season based on catch rates from 
the previous fishing year and when NMFS projects the recreational ACL 
to be met in the current fishing year and then to announce the season 
end date in the Federal Register.
    The recreational season for blueline tilefish will open on May 1, 
2024. Data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center informed 
the projection that recreational landings of South Atlantic blueline 
tilefish will reach the recreational ACL after July 18, 2024. 
Accordingly, on July 19, 2024, NMFS closes the recreational sector for 
blueline tilefish. During a recreational closure for blueline tilefish 
in South Atlantic Federal waters, the bag and possession limits are 
zero.
    The next recreational fishing season for blueline tilefish in South 
Atlantic Federal waters opens on May 1, 2025. As described in 50 CFR 
622.183(b)(7), the recreational sector for blueline tilefish in or from 
South Atlantic Federal waters is closed each year from January 1 
through April 30 and from September 1 through December 31.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2), issued 
pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under Executive 
Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such 
procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the 
recreational harvest of blueline tilefish have already been subject to 
notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public 
of the recreational season end date and the recreational closure. Prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment on this action is contrary to 
the public interest because of the need to protect the South Atlantic 
blueline tilefish resource. Additionally, providing as much advance 
notice to the public of this closure allows charter vessel and headboat 
businesses that fish for blueline tilefish to prepare for the rest of 
the fishing season and to schedule or reschedule trips for their 
clients and to maximize opportunities for their business revenues and 
profits.

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

    Dated: March 12, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05616 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
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