Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2021 Commercial Longline Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
| Published date | 10 February 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 8876 |
| Record Number | 2021-02727 |
| Section | Rules and Regulations |
| Court | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 10, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 10, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8876-8877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02727]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120404257-3325-02]
RTID 0648-XA849
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2021 Commercial Longline Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial
longline component for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial longline landings for golden
tilefish are projected to reach the longline component's commercial
quota by February 10, 2021. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial
longline component of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on
February 10, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. local time. This closure is necessary
to protect the golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. local time on
February 10, 2021, until 12:01 a.m. local time on January 1, 2022.
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 golden 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 (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.
[[Page 8877]]
The commercial golden tilefish sector has two components, each with
its own quota: The longline and hook-and-line components (50 CFR
622.190(a)(2)). The commercial golden tilefish annual catch limit (ACL)
is allocated 75 percent to the longline component and 25 percent to the
hook-and-line component. The total commercial ACL (equivalent to the
commercial quota) is 331,740 lb (150,475 kg) gutted weight, and the
longline component quota is 248,805 lb (112,856 kg) gutted weight.
Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(ii), NMFS is required to close the
commercial longline component for golden tilefish when the longline
component's commercial quota has been reached or is projected to be
reached by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the
Federal Register. After this closure, golden tilefish may not be
commercially fished or possessed by a vessel with a golden tilefish
longline endorsement. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for
the golden tilefish longline component in the South Atlantic will be
reached by February 10, 2021. Accordingly, the commercial longline
component of South Atlantic golden tilefish is closed effective at
12:01 a.m. local time on February 10, 2021, and will remain closed
until the start of the next fishing year on January 1, 2022.
During the commercial longline closure, golden tilefish may still
be commercially harvested using hook-and-line gear. However, a vessel
with a golden tilefish longline endorsement is not eligible to fish for
or possess golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under the hook-and-
line commercial trip limit, as specified in 50 CFR 622.191(a)(2)(ii).
During the commercial longline closure, the recreational bag and
possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(b)(2)(iii) and (c)(1),
respectively, apply to all harvest or possession of golden tilefish in
or from the South Atlantic EEZ by a vessel with a golden tilefish
longline endorsement.
The sale or purchase of longline-caught golden tilefish taken from
the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited during the commercial longline
closure. The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial
vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper and a valid commercial
longline endorsement for golden tilefish with golden tilefish on board
must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such golden tilefish
prior to 12:01 a.m. local time on February 10, 2021. The prohibition on
sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of longline-
caught golden tilefish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold
prior to 12:01 a.m. local time on February 10, 2021, and were held in
cold storage by a dealer or processor. Additionally, the recreational
bag and possession limits and the sale and purchase prohibitions under
the commercial closure apply to a person on board a vessel with a
golden tilefish longline endorsement, regardless of whether the golden
tilefish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50
CFR 622.190(c)(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(a)(1)(ii),
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
commercial closure of the golden tilefish longline component have
already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains
is to notify the public of the commercial component closure. Prior
notice and opportunity for public comment on this action is contrary to
the public interest because of the need to immediately implement the
commercial component closure to protect the South Atlantic golden
tilefish resource. The capacity of the longline fishing fleet allows
for rapid harvest of the commercial longline component quota, and any
delay in the commercial closure could result in the commercial longline
component quota being exceeded. Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest
that exceeds the commercial quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds 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: February 5, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02727 Filed 2-5-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
