Rule2023-06517
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2023-2024 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass
Primary source
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Published
March 29, 2023
Effective
April 1, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces that the recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the species' 2023-2024 fishing year. Announcing the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass while NMFS manages harvest to protect the black sea bass resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18442-18443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06517]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130403320-4891-02]
RTID 0648-XC842
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2023-2024 Recreational
Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational season length.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the recreational fishing season for black
sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic
will extend throughout the species' 2023-2024 fishing year. Announcing
the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the
accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This
announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity
to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass
while NMFS manages harvest to protect the black sea bass resource.
DATES: This rule is effective from April 1, 2023, through March 31,
2024, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal
Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b35323033323775363e332f3a1b35343a3a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7d9dedcdfdedb99dad2dfc3d6f7d9d8d6d699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery
includes black sea bass south of 35[deg]15.19' N latitude, due east of
Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina, and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared
the FMP and NMFS implements the FMP under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
The recreational fishing year for black sea bass is April 1 through
March 31. The recreational AM for black sea bass requires that before
the April 1 start date of each recreational fishing year, NMFS projects
the length of the recreational fishing season based on when NMFS
projects the recreational ACL will be met, and announces the
recreational season end date in the Federal Register (50 CFR
622.193(e)(2)). The purpose of this AM is to allow recreational fishers
to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational ACL through a
more predictable recreational season while NMFS manages harvest within
the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse
biological consequences.
The recreational ACL for black sea bass during the 2023-2024
fishing year is 310,602 lb (140,887 kg) in gutted weight, or 366,510 lb
(166,246 kg) in round weight (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)).
NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2023-2024 fishing
year will be less than the 2023-2024 recreational ACL. To make this
determination, NMFS compared recreational landings of black sea bass in
the last 3 fishing years with available data (2019-20 through 2021-22)
to the recreational ACL for the 2023-2024 fishing year. Recreational
landings in each of these past 3 fishing years have been less than the
2023-2024 recreational ACL; and NMFS expects similar landings for the
2023-2024 fishing season. Therefore, because NMFS projects that the
recreational landings of black sea bass will be less than the 2023-2024
recreational ACL, NMFS does not expect to close the recreational sector
during the fishing year and announces the season end date for
recreational fishing for black sea bass in the South Atlantic EEZ south
of 35[deg]15.19' N latitude is March 31, 2024.
[[Page 18443]]
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2), which
were 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. Such procedures are unnecessary because the
rule establishing the AM has already been subject to notice and comment
and all that remains is to notify the public of the recreational season
length.
For the reasons already stated, the Assistant Administrator for
NMFS 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: March 24, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06517 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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