[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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