Rule2021-20287
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2021 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
Primary source
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Published
September 20, 2021
Effective
September 20, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) applicable to recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic for the 2021 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS estimates that recreational landings of golden tilefish in 2021 have exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS closes the golden tilefish recreational sector in the South Atlantic EEZ on September 20, 2021. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20287]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 180720681-8999-02; RTID 0648-XB426]
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2021 Recreational
Accountability Measure and 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 accountability measures (AMs) applicable to
recreational harvest of golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) of the South Atlantic for the 2021 fishing year through this
temporary rule. NMFS estimates that recreational landings of golden
tilefish in 2021 have exceeded the recreational annual catch limit
(ACL). Therefore, NMFS closes the golden tilefish recreational sector
in the South Atlantic EEZ on September 20, 2021. This closure is
necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, September 20,
2021, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e58884979ccb93849784a58b8a8484cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bed3dfccc790c8dfccdffed0d1dfdf90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 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.
On January 4, 2019, NMFS implemented management measures for golden
tilefish through a final rule for Amendment 28 to the Snapper-Grouper
FMP (83 FR 233; December 4, 2018). That final rule set a recreational
ACL of 2,316 fish (50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i)) and revised the
recreational AM. The inseason recreational AM states that if
recreational landings reach or are projected to reach the recreational
ACL, then the recreational sector will be closed for the remainder of
the fishing year (50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)(i)).
Landings data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center
indicate that the golden tilefish recreational ACL of 2,316 fish has
been reached. Therefore, this temporary rule implements an AM to close
the golden tilefish recreational sector of the snapper-grouper fishery
for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. As a result, the
recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ will
be closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time September 20, 2021. The
recreational sector for golden tilefish will open on January 1, 2022,
the beginning of the 2022 fishing year and the recreational fishing
season. During the closure, the bag and possession limits for golden
tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ are zero.
NMFS also closed the commercial sector for golden tilefish for the
remainder of the 2021 fishing year (86 FR 29209; June 1, 2021).
Therefore, as of the date of this recreational closure, all harvest and
possession of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited.
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)(2)(i), which
was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the NMFS Assistant Administrator
(AA) finds good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for
public comment on this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary
and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary
because the rule that established the recreational ACL and AM for
golden tilefish has already been subject to notice and comment, and all
that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures
are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately
implement this action to protect the golden tilefish stock. The
recreational ACL has been reached and prior notice and opportunity for
public comment would require time, potentially resulting in a harvest
well in excess of the established ACL.
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.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20287 Filed 9-15-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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