80 FR 32866 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 111 (June 10, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 111 (June 10, 2015)
| Page Range | 32866-32866 | |
| FR Document | 2015-14155 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 32866] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-14155] [[Page 32866]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XD974 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 Kamchatka flounder initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 6, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2015 Kamchatka flounder ITAC in the BSAI is 5,525 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 Kamchatka flounder ITAC in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 3,525 mt as incidental catch. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the BSAI. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the closure of Kamchatka flounder to directed fishing in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of June 4, 2015. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 4, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-14155 Filed 6-5-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![32866 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 111 / Wednesday, June 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Management Area (FMP) prepared by from the fishery. The Assistant
the North Pacific Fishery Management Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Council under authority of the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Administration Magnuson-Stevens Fishery requirement to provide prior notice and
Conservation and Management Act. opportunity for public comment
50 CFR Part 679 Regulations governing fishing by U.S. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
vessels in accordance with the FMP U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 impracticable and contrary to the public
RIN 0648–XD974 and 50 CFR part 679. interest. This requirement is
The 2015 Kamchatka flounder ITAC impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic in the BSAI is 5,525 metric tons (mt) as interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder established by the final 2015 and 2016 responding to the most recent fisheries
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands harvest specifications for groundfish in data in a timely fashion and would
Management Area the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). delay the closure of Kamchatka flounder
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the to directed fishing in the BSAI. NMFS
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS was unable to publish a notice
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (Regional Administrator), has providing time for public comment
Commerce. determined that the 2015 Kamchatka because the most recent, relevant data
flounder ITAC in the BSAI will soon be only became available as of June 4,
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 2015.
reached. Therefore, the Regional
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed Administrator is establishing a directed The AA also finds good cause to
fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the fishing allowance of 2,000 mt, and is waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands setting aside the remaining 3,525 mt as date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
management area (BSAI). This action is incidental catch. In accordance with 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional the reasons provided above for waiver of
Kamchatka flounder initial total Administrator finds that this directed prior notice and opportunity for public
allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI. fishing allowance has been reached. comment.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting This action is required by § 679.20
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder and is exempt from review under
local time (A.l.t.), June 6, 2015, through
in the BSAI. Executive Order 12866.
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
After the effective date of this closure Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the maximum retainable amounts at
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Dated: June 4, 2015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS during a trip. Emily H. Menashes,
manages the groundfish fishery in the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
BSAI according to the Fishery Classification Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Management Plan for Groundfish of the This action responds to the best [FR Doc. 2015–14155 Filed 6–5–15; 4:15 pm]
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands available information recently obtained BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:10 Jun 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\10JNR1.SGM 10JNR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_32977/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:17:32
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:17:32
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Temporary rule; closure. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 6, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 32866 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD97 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR