[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65554-65555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17901]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 240315-0081; RTID 0648-XE089]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish 
Fishery; In-season Adjustment to the Blueline Tilefish Commercial 
Possession Limit

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; in-season adjustment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial per-trip possession limit 
for the blueline tilefish fishery has been reduced for the remainder of 
the 2024 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 August 12, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
[email protected], (978) 281-9341.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the blueline tilefish 
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.  
648.295(b)(2)(i) state that when NMFS projects that blueline tilefish 
commercial catch will reach 70 percent of the total allowable landings 
(TAL), the Regional Administrator may 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. When this 
occurs, the blueline tilefish possession limit is reduced from 500 
pounds (lb) (226.7 kilograms (kg)) to 300 lb (136.1 kg) 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 land 70 percent of the TAL by August 12, 2024. Upon filing 
this action in the Federal Register, vessels may not possess on board 
or land more than 300 lb (136.1 kg) per trip of blueline tilefish in or 
from the Tilefish Management Unit through December 31, 2024.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This action implements 
provisions of Sec.  648.295, which were 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 (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) provide for such action to slow 
down catch as the fishery approaches its TAL, reducing the likelihood 
that the fishery will need to be shut down before the

[[Page 65555]]

end of the fishing year, and to help to ensure that blueline tilefish 
commercial vessels do not exceed the 2024 TAL. If implementation of 
this action is delayed, the TAL for the 2024 fishing year may be 
exceeded, thereby undermining the conservation objectives of the 
Tilefish Fishery Management Plan. In addition, the public had prior 
notice and full opportunity to comment on this process when the 
provisions regarding in-season adjustments and the 2024 quota levels 
were put in place (89 FR 19760, March 20, 2024).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 7, 2024.
Claudia Stephanie Womble,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17901 Filed 8-7-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P