Rule2021-19834
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish Fishery; Inseason Adjustment to the Blueline Tilefish Commercial Possession Limit
Primary source
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Published
September 15, 2021
Effective
September 10, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces that the commercial per-trip possession limit for blueline tilefish has been reduced for the remainder of the 2021 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51277-51278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19834]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 210520-0112; RTID 0648-XB409]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish
Fishery; Inseason Adjustment to the Blueline Tilefish Commercial
Possession Limit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial per-trip possession limit
for blueline tilefish has been reduced for the remainder of the 2021
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 September 10, 2021, though, December 31, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations for the blueline tilefish
fishery are at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.
648.295(b)(2)(i) require that when NMFS projects that blueline tilefish
catch will reach 70 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL), the
Regional Administrator must 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. The possession limit is
reduced from 500 lb to 300 lb 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 catch 70 percent of the TAL by September 3, 2021. Upon
filing this action in the Federal Register, vessels may not may possess
on board or land more than 300 lb per trip of blueline tilefish in or
from the Tilefish Management Unit through December 31, 2021.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens 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 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) require
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such action to ensure that blueline tilefish commercial vessels do not
exceed the 2021 TAL. If implementation of this action is delayed, the
TAL for the 2021 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 inseason adjustments and the 2021
quota levels were put in place.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 9, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19834 Filed 9-10-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 15, 2021.
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