Rule2025-13670
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic
Primary source
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Published
July 21, 2025
Effective
December 31, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial harvest of blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS estimates that commercial landings of blueline tilefish will soon reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. Accordingly, NMFS closes the commercial sector for the harvest of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to protect the blueline tilefish resource from overfishing.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13670]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 140501394-5279-02]
RTID 0648-XF042
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Commercial Closure for Blueline
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
harvest of blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the South Atlantic. NMFS estimates that commercial landings of blueline
tilefish will soon reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for
the 2025 fishing year. Accordingly, NMFS closes the commercial sector
for the harvest of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ to
protect the blueline tilefish resource from overfishing.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from July 23 through December
31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#335e52414a1d45524152735d5c52521d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c313d2e25722a3d2e3d1c32333d3d723b332a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP 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. All weights in this
temporary rule are given in round weight.
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) specify the commercial ACL
and in-season accountability measure for blueline tilefish in the South
Atlantic. The commercial ACL is 117,148 pounds or 53,137 kilograms.
NMFS is required to close the commercial harvest of blueline tilefish
when NMFS projects commercial landings will reach or have reached the
sector ACL. NMFS estimates that commercial landings of blueline
tilefish for the 2025 fishing year will reach the commercial ACL by
July 23. Accordingly, the commercial sector harvest of South Atlantic
blueline tilefish is closed from July 23 through December 31, 2025.
During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of blueline
tilefish is prohibited. Because the harvest of blueline tilefish by the
recreational sector is also closed for the rest of 2025 (90 FR 20809,
May 16, 2025), during this commercial closure all harvest and
possession of blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is
also prohibited through the end of 2025. The recreational bag and
possession limits of zero blueline tilefish during the remainder of
2025 apply in state or Federal waters of the South Atlantic on a vessel
for which NMFS has issued a valid commercial or charter vessel/headboat
permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper [50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i)].
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(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), 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
closure of the blueline tilefish commercial sector at 50 CFR
622.193(z)(1)(i) 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 blueline tilefish, because the capacity of the
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior
notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would
potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established
commercial ACL.
For the reasons already stated, there is also 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: July 17, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-13670 Filed 7-17-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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