Rule2024-02516
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery; 2024 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 8, 2024
Effective
March 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is approving specifications for the 2024-2027 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including the annual catch limits and total allowable landings limits. This action implements the allowable 2024 harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan. This action is necessary to establish allowable red crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8557-8558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02516]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[240202-0033]
RIN 0648-XD495
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-Sea
Red Crab Fishery; 2024 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specifications
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is approving specifications for the 2024-2027 Atlantic
deep-sea red crab fishery, including the annual catch limits and total
allowable landings limits. This action implements the allowable 2024
harvest levels, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery
Management Plan. This action is necessary to establish allowable red
crab harvest levels that will prevent overfishing.
DATES: The final specifications for the 2024 Atlantic deep-sea red crab
fishery are effective March 11, 2024, through February 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the supplemental information report, including the
Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis and other supporting documents for
the specifications, are available from Dr. Cate O'Keefe, Executive
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill
2, Newburyport, MA 01950 or at <a href="https://www.nefmc.org/library/2024-2027-red-crab-specifications">https://www.nefmc.org/library/2024-2027-red-crab-specifications</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy
Analyst, (978) 281-9122.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery is managed by the New
England Fishery Management Council (Council). The Atlantic Deep-Sea Red
Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) includes a specification process
that requires the Council to recommend, on a triennial basis, an
acceptable biological catch (ABC), an annual catch limit (ACL), and
total allowable landings (TAL) every 4 years. The Council's Scientific
and Statistical Committee (SSC) provides a recommendation to the
Council for the ABC. The Council makes a recommendation to NMFS on the
ABC, which cannot exceed the ABC recommendation made by the SSC.
Final Specifications
The biological and management reference points currently in the FMP
are used to determine whether overfishing is occurring or if the stock
is overfished. There is insufficient information on the species to
establish the maximum sustainable yield, optimum yield, or overfishing
limit. The ABC is defined in terms of landings instead of total catch
because there is insufficient information to estimate dead discards of
red crab. We are approving the Council-recommended specifications for
the 2024-2027 fishing years that establish a 2,000-metric ton ABC, ACL,
and TAL. This action implements these specifications for the 2024
fishing year.
At the end of each fishing year, we evaluate catch information and
determine if the quota has been exceeded. If a quota is exceeded, the
regulations at 50 CFR 648.262(b) require a pound-for-pound reduction of
the quota in a subsequent fishing year. NMFS will publish a notice in
the Federal Register of any revisions to the projected specifications
if an overage occurs. Based on the performance of the 2023 red crab
fishery, no adjustment is necessary for fishing year 2024. NMFS will
provide notice of the final 2025-2027 quotas, and any necessary
reductions, prior to the start of each respective fishing year.
Comments and Responses
The public comment period for the proposed rule (88 FR 83893,
December 1, 2023) ended on January 2, 2024. No comments were received
on the proposed rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
There are no changes from the proposed rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab FMP, other provisions of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law.
This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation, Department of Commerce, certified
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration
(SBA) during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial
[[Page 8558]]
number of small entities. The factual basis for the certification was
published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments
were received regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory
flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared.
This action does not contain a collection of information
requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 2, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02516 Filed 2-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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