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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Rules and Regulations The commercial golden tilefish sector has two components, each with its own quota: The longline and hook-and-line components 50 CFR 622.190a2. The commercial golden tilefish annual catch limit ACL is allocated 75 percent to the longline component and 25 percent to the hook-and-line component. The total commercial ACL equivalent to the commercial quota is 331,740 lb 150,475 kg gutted weight, and the longline component quota is 248,805 lb 112,856 kg gutted weight.
Under 50 CFR 622.193a1ii, NMFS
is required to close the commercial longline component for golden tilefish when the longline components commercial quota has been reached or is projected to be reached by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. After this closure, golden tilefish may not be commercially fished or possessed by a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for the golden tilefish longline component in the South Atlantic will be reached by February 10, 2021. Accordingly, the commercial longline component of South Atlantic golden tilefish is closed effective at 12:01 a.m. local time on February 10, 2021, and will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year on January 1, 2022.
During the commercial longline closure, golden tilefish may still be commercially harvested using hookand-line gear. However, a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement 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 622.191a2ii.

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During the commercial longline closure, the recreational bag and possession limits specified in 50 CFR
622.187b2iii and c1, respectively, apply to all harvest or possession of golden tilefish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ by a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement.
The sale or purchase of longlinecaught golden tilefish taken from the South Atlantic EEZ 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 prior to 12:01 a.m. local time on February 10, 2021. 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 prior to 12:01 a.m.
local time on February 10, 2021, 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 closure apply to a person on board a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement, regardless of whether the golden tilefish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190c1.
Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305d of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
622.193a1ii, issued pursuant to section 304b, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553bB, 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 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 commercial component 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 component closure to protect the South Atlantic golden tilefish resource. 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 commercial longline component quota being exceeded. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest that exceeds the commercial quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553d3.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 5, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 202102727 Filed 2521; 4:15 pm BILLING CODE 351022P

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