[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78258-78259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22033]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 240315-0081; RTID 0648-XE321]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish 
Fishery; 2024 Blueline Tilefish Commercial Quota Harvested

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: Federal commercial tilefish permit holders are prohibited from 
fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring or landing blueline 
tilefish in the Tilefish Management Unit for the remainder of the 2024 
fishing year. This action is required because NMFS has determined that 
100 percent of the 2024 total allowable landings have been caught. This 
action is intended to prevent over-harvest of blueline tilefish for the 
fishing year.

DATES: Effective September 23, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
[email protected], 978-281-9241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the blueline tilefish 
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.  
648.295(b)(2)(ii) require that when NMFS projects that blueline 
tilefish catch will reach 100 percent of the total allowable landings 
(TAL), the Regional Administrator must close the commercial blueline 
tilefish fishery for the remainder of the fishing year. No vessel may 
retain or land blueline tilefish in or from the Tilefish Management 
Unit after the announced closure date. NMFS monitors the blueline 
tilefish fishery catch based on dealer reports, state data, and other 
available information. NMFS must publish a notice in the Federal 
Register notifying blueline tilefish vessel and dealer permit holders 
of the closure date when 100 percent of the TAL is projected to be 
landed.
    The Regional Administrator has determined, based on dealer reports 
and other available information, that the blueline tilefish commercial 
fishery has caught 100 percent of the TAL. Effective September 23, 2024 
vessels may not retain or land 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 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 has landed 100 
percent of the TAL have only recently become available. Landings data 
are updated by dealer reports dealers 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)(ii) 
require such action to ensure that blueline tilefish commercial vessels 
do not exceed the 2024 TAL. If implementation of this action is

[[Page 78259]]

delayed, the Annual Catch Limit for the 2024 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 closures and the 2024 quota levels were put in place.

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

    Dated: September 20, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22033 Filed 9-23-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P