[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9692-9693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3880]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 001005281-0369-02]
RIN 0648-XA220
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic; Trip Limit Reduction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit of Atlantic migratory
group Spanish mackerel in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in
the southern zone to 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day. This trip limit
reduction is necessary to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of the
quota.
DATES: Effective 6 a.m., local time, February 22, 2011, until 12:01
a.m., local time, March 1, 2011, unless changed by further notification
in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-
5305, or e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fishery for coastal migratory pelagic
fish (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cero, cobia, little tunny,
dolphin, and, in the Gulf of Mexico only, bluefish) is managed under
the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP). The FMP was prepared by
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
(Councils) and is implemented under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by regulations at 50
CFR part 622.
Based on the Councils' recommended total allowable catch and the
allocation ratios in the FMP (65 FR 41015, July 3, 2000) NMFS
implemented a commercial quota of 3.87 million lb (1.76 million kg) for
the Atlantic migratory group of Spanish mackerel. Atlantic migratory
group Spanish mackerel are divided into a northern and southern zone
for management purposes. The southern zone for Atlantic migratory group
Spanish mackerel extends from 30[deg]42'45.6'' N. lat., which is a line
directly east from the Georgia/Florida boundary, to 25[deg]20.4'N.
lat., which is a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County,
Florida, boundary.
For the southern zone, seasonally variable trip limits are based on
an adjusted quota of 3.62 million lb (1.64 million kg). The adjusted
quota is calculated to allow continued harvest in the southern zone at
a set rate for the remainder of the fishing year, February 28, 2011, in
accordance with 50 CFR 622.44(b)(2). Beginning December 1, the trip
limit is unlimited on weekdays and limited to 1,500 lb (680 kg) of
Spanish mackerel per day on weekends. When 75 percent of the adjusted
quota of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel is taken until 100
percent of the adjusted quota is taken, Spanish mackerel in or from the
EEZ in the southern zone may not be possessed on board or landed from a
permitted vessel in amounts exceeding 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day.
NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the adjusted quota for
Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has been taken. Accordingly, the 1,500-
lb (680-kg) per day commercial trip limit applies to Spanish mackerel
in or from the EEZ in the southern zone effective 6 a.m., local time,
February 22, 2011, until 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1, 2011, unless
changed by further notification in the Federal Register.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained regarding the status of the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA), finds the need to immediately
implement this commercial trip limit reduction constitutes good cause
to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for
public comment pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the
public interest. Such procedures would be unnecessary because the rule
itself already has been subject to notice and comment, and all that
remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction.
Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately
implement this action to protect the fishery resource because the
capacity of the commercial fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established
quota.
[[Page 9693]]
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3).
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 16, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3880 Filed 2-16-11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P