Rule2024-12373
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2024 Commercial Longline Closure for Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic
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
June 6, 2024
Effective
June 8, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial longline component of golden tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. Commercial landings of golden tilefish harvested by bottom longline gear are projected to reach the 2024 commercial quota for the longline component. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial longline component of golden tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12373]
[[Page 48338]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 120404257-3325-02; RTID 0648-XE009]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
2024 Commercial Longline Closure for Golden Tilefish in the South
Atlantic
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 for the commercial
longline component of golden tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters.
Commercial landings of golden tilefish harvested by bottom longline
gear are projected to reach the 2024 commercial quota for the longline
component. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial longline component of
golden tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. This closure is
necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from June 8, 2024, through
December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack McGovern, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-204-5518, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d3732353373303e3a322b382f331d33323c3c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f59f9a9d9bdb9896929a8390879bb59b9a9494db929a83">[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 (Council) and NMFS, 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.
The commercial sector for golden tilefish has two components, each
with its own quota: the longline and hook-and-line components [50 CFR
622.190(a)(2)]. The commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for golden
tilefish is allocated as 75 percent to the longline component and 25
percent to the hook-and-line component. The total commercial ACL in
2024, which is equivalent to the total commercial quota, is 433,216
pounds (lb) or 196,503 kilograms (kg) in gutted weight. The longline
component quota for 2024 is 324,912 lb (147,378 kg) in gutted weight
[50 CFR 622.190(a)(2)(iii)(B)].
Under 50 CFR 622.193(a)(1)(ii), NMFS is required to close the
commercial longline component for the harvest of golden tilefish when
its quota has been reached or is projected to be reached. After this
closure, golden tilefish may not be commercially fished or possessed by
a vessel with a South Atlantic golden tilefish longline endorsement.
NMFS projects that commercial landings of golden tilefish harvested by
bottom longline gear from South Atlantic Federal waters will reach the
2024 component quota by June 8, 2024. Accordingly, the commercial
longline component of South Atlantic golden tilefish is closed
beginning on June 8, 2024, and will remain closed through the rest of
the fishing year ending on December 31, 2024.
The sale or purchase of longline-caught golden tilefish harvested
from South Atlantic Federal waters is prohibited during the commercial
longline closure. The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal
commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper and a valid
commercial longline endorsement for golden tilefish with golden
tilefish on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such
golden tilefish before June 8, 2024. The prohibition on sale or
purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of longline-caught
golden tilefish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before
June 8, 2024, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Additionally, the recreational bag and possession limits and the sale
and purchase prohibitions under the commercial quota closure apply to a
person on board a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement
apply to the harvest of golden tilefish from state or Federal waters,
as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1).
On March 1, 2024, NMFS also closed the recreational harvest of
golden tilefish in the South Atlantic for the rest of 2024 (89 FR
14415, February 27, 2024). Therefore, during the commercial longline
closure and for the rest of 2024, all harvest or possession of golden
tilefish in or from South Atlantic Federal waters or adjacent state
waters is prohibited by a vessel with a golden tilefish longline
endorsement.
The 2025 fishing season for the commercial harvest of South
Atlantic golden tilefish with bottom longline gear opens again on
January 15, 2025 [50 CFR 622.183(b)(11)].
During the commercial longline closure, golden tilefish may still
be commercially harvested using hook-and-line gear on a vessel with a
South Atlantic unlimited snapper-grouper commercial permit and without
a longline endorsement until the hook-and-line quota specified in 50
CFR 622.190(a)(2)(ii)(B) is reached. A vessel with a golden tilefish
longline endorsement at any time during a fishing year is not eligible
to fish for or possess golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear under
the hook-and-line commercial trip limit, as specified in 50 CFR
622.191(a)(2)(ii).
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)(1)(ii),
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 are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the
commercial closure of the golden tilefish longline component 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 on this action is contrary to the public interest
because of the need to immediately implement the commercial longline
component closure to protect the golden tilefish resource in the South
Atlantic. The capacity of the longline fishing fleet allows for rapid
harvest of the commercial longline component quota, and any delay in
the commercial closure could result in the exceedance of the commercial
longline component quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest
that exceeds the commercial quota.
For the reasons just stated, 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: May 31, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-12373 Filed 6-3-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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