[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63843-63844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17347]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 240610-0155; RTID 0648-XE156]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
2024 Commercial Closure of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic

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

[[Page 63844]]


ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for red snapper in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects 
that commercial landings of red snapper have reached the commercial 
annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2024 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is 
closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic 
EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.

DATES: This temporary rule is effective from August 6, 2024 through 
December 31, 2024.

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 red snapper 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 NMFS, 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.
    On June 14, 2024, NMFS published a final temporary rule to reduce 
overfishing of red snapper in Federal waters of the South Atlantic (89 
FR 50530). Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(aa)(1) specify the commercial 
ACL and accountability measure for red snapper in the South Atlantic 
for the 2024 fishing year. Among other measures, for the 2024 fishing 
year the commercial ACL was reduced from 124,815 pounds (lb) or 56,615 
kilograms (kg) to 85,268 lb (38,677 kg), round weight (50 CFR 
622.193(aa)(1)). NMFS is required to close the commercial sector for 
red snapper when NMFS projects its landings will reach or have reached 
the commercial ACL. NMFS has determined that the commercial ACL for 
South Atlantic red snapper has been reached. Accordingly, the 
commercial sector for South Atlantic red snapper is closed from August 
6, 2024 through the end of 2024. Unless NMFS specifies otherwise, the 
commercial season for the 2025 fishing year will begin on the second 
Monday in July [50 CFR 622.183(b)(5)(i)].
    The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper with red snapper on board must have 
landed and bartered, traded, or sold such red snapper prior to August 
6, 2024. Because the harvest of red snapper by the recreational sector 
is also closed for the rest of 2024 (89 FR 50530, June 14, 2024), 
during this commercial closure, all harvest and possession of red 
snapper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited through the end 
of 2024.
    Also during the commercial closure for South Atlantic red snapper, 
all sale or purchase of red snapper is prohibited. This prohibition on 
the harvest, possession, sale, or purchase applies in the South 
Atlantic on a vessel issued a Federal commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, regardless if such 
species were harvested or possessed in state or Federal waters [50 CFR 
622.181(c)(2) and 622.193(aa)(1)].

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(aa)(1), which 
was issued pursuant to section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 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 are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such 
procedures are unnecessary because the rule that established the 
accountability measure for red snapper has 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 immediately implement this action to protect red snapper 
because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of 
the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
would require time and could potentially result in a harvest well in 
excess of the established commercial ACL.
    For the reasons just stated, there is also 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: August 1, 2024.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17347 Filed 8-1-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P