Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2021 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Blueline Tilefish

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Temporary rule; closure.

SUMMARY:

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial blueline tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial landings of blueline tilefish are projected to reach the commercial sector annual catch limit (ACL) by August 1, 2021. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on August 1, 2021, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on January 1, 2022. This closure is necessary to protect the blueline tilefish resource.

DATES:

This temporary rule is effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern time, on August 1, 2021, until 12:01 a.m., eastern time, on January 1, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rick DeVictor, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: rick.devictor@noaa.gov.

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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS prepared the FMP, and 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.

As specified at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i), the commercial sector ACL for blueline tilefish is 117,148 lb (53,137 kg). The commercial AM for blueline tilefish requires NMFS to close the commercial sector when the its ACL is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register (50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i)). NMFS has projected that for the 2021 fishing year, the commercial sector ACL for South Atlantic blueline tilefish will be reached by August 1, 2021. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic blueline tilefish is closed effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern time, on August 1, 2021, until 12:01 a.m., eastern time, on January 1, 2022.

The operator of a vessel with a valid Federal commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having blueline tilefish on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such blueline tilefish prior to August 1, 2021. During the commercial sector closure, all sale or purchase of blueline tilefish is prohibited. The harvest or possession of blueline tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(b)(2) and (c)(1), respectively, while the recreational sector for blueline tilefish is open. These bag and possession limits apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel with a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, and apply to the harvest of blueline tilefish in both state and Federal waters.

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 is 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, since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial sector 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 sector ACL.

For the aforementioned reasons, the Acting 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.