Rule2022-24900
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2022 Commercial and Recreational Accountability Measure and Closures for Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper
Primary source
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Published
November 15, 2022
Effective
November 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the lane snapper commercial and recreational sectors in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2022 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has projected that the 2022 stock annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf lane snapper has been reached. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial and recreational sectors for Gulf lane snapper on November 15, 2022, and they will remain closed through the end of the current fishing year on December 31, 2022. These closures are necessary to protect the Gulf lane snapper resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68382-68383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24900]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 211217-0261; RTID 0648-XC537]
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 2022 Commercial and
Recreational Accountability Measure and Closures for Gulf of Mexico
Lane Snapper
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 (AM) for the lane
snapper commercial and recreational sectors in the exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2022 fishing year
through this temporary rule. NMFS has projected that the 2022 stock
annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf lane snapper has been reached.
Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial and recreational sectors for Gulf
lane snapper on November 15, 2022, and they will remain closed through
the end of the current fishing year on December 31, 2022. These
closures are necessary to protect the Gulf lane snapper resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, on
November 15, 2022, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aae1cfc6c6c384e5eec5c4c4cfc6c6eac4c5cbcb84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec5ebe2e2e7a0c1cae1e0e0ebe2e2cee0e1efefa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the Gulf reef fish fishery,
which includes lane snapper, under the Fishery Management Plan for the
Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
[[Page 68383]]
(FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council (Council) and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) through regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All lane snapper
weights discussed in this temporary rule are in round weight.
The current stock ACL for Gulf lane snapper is 1,028,973 lb
(466,734 kg). As specified in 50 CFR 622.41(k), if the sum of the
commercial and recreational landings reaches or is projected to reach
the stock ACL, then NMFS will close the commercial and recreational
sectors for the remainder of the fishing year. Based on latest
recreational landings estimates, which were available in October 2022,
NMFS has determined that the stock ACL for Gulf lane snapper was
reached as of August 28, 2022. Accordingly, this temporary rule closes
the commercial and recreational sectors for Gulf lane snapper effective
at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 15, 2022, and both sectors will
remain closed through the end of the current fishing year on December
31, 2022.
During the commercial and recreational closures, the commercial
sale or purchase of lane snapper taken from the Gulf EEZ is prohibited
and all harvest or possession in or from the Gulf EEZ of lane snapper
is prohibited. The prohibition on possession of Gulf lane snapper also
applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid Federal
charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish. During the closures,
the operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for Gulf
reef fish having lane snapper on board must have landed and bartered,
traded, or sold such lane snapper prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on
November 15, 2022. The prohibition on the sale or purchase of lane
snapper does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and
sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 15, 2022, and were
held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.41(k), 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), 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
closure of the lane snapper commercial and recreational sectors at 50
CFR 622.41(k) have already been subject to notice and public comment,
and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior
notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the public
interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action
to protect the lane snapper stock. Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment would require time and allow for additional harvest in
excess of the stock ACL.
For the aforementioned reasons, the Assistant Administrator 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: November 9, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24900 Filed 11-10-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 15, 2022.
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