80 FR 43337 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 140 (July 22, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 140 (July 22, 2015)
| Page Range | 43337-43337 | |
| FR Document | 2015-17968 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 43337] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-17968] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 140918791-4999-02] RIN 0648-XE064 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,014 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,914 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. 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 Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. 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 directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of July 16, 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: July 17, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-17968 Filed 7-17-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 140 / Wednesday, July 22, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 43337
salmon fisheries opening prior to May 1, exempt from review under Executive In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
2016 (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015). Order 12866. the Administrator, Alaska Region,
The RA determined that the best Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
available information indicated that determined that the 2015 TAC of Pacific
Chinook salmon catch to date and Dated: July 17, 2015. ocean perch in the West Yakutat District
fishery effort supported the above Emily H. Menashes, of the GOA will soon be reached.
inseason actions recommended by the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
states of Washington and Oregon. The Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. establishing a directed fishing
states manage the fisheries in state [FR Doc. 2015–17969 Filed 7–21–15; 8:45 am] allowance of 1,914 mt, and is setting
waters adjacent to the areas of the U.S. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch
exclusive economic zone in accordance to support other anticipated groundfish
with these Federal actions. As provided fisheries. In accordance with
by the inseason notice procedures of 50 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
CFR 660.411, actual notice of the Administrator finds that this directed
described regulatory actions was given, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
fishing allowance has been reached.
prior to the time the action was Administration
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
effective, by telephone hotline numbers directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch
206–526–6667 and 800–662–9825, and 50 CFR Part 679
in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners
broadcasts on Channel 16 VHF–FM and [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] After the effective date of this closure
2182 kHz. the maximum retainable amounts at
RIN 0648–XE064 § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Classification during a trip.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
The Assistant Administrator for Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch Classification
Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that good in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf
cause exists for this notification to be of Alaska This action responds to the best
issued without affording prior notice available information recently obtained
and opportunity for public comment AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries from the fishery. The Assistant
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) because such Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
notification would be impracticable. As Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (AA), finds good cause to waive the
previously noted, actual notice of the Commerce. requirement to provide prior notice and
regulatory actions was provided to ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. opportunity for public comment
fishers through telephone hotline and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
radio notification. These actions comply SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
with the requirements of the annual fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the impracticable and contrary to the public
management measures for ocean salmon West Yakutat District of the Gulf of interest. This requirement is
fisheries (80 FR 25611, May 5, 2015), Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary impracticable and contrary to the public
the West Coast Salmon Fishery to prevent exceeding the 2015 total interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Management Plan (Salmon FMP), and allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch responding to the most recent fisheries
regulations implementing the Salmon in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. data in a timely fashion and would
FMP, 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411. Prior DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska delay the closure of directed fishing for
notice and opportunity for public local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 2015, through Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat
comment was impracticable because 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. District of the GOA. NMFS was unable
NMFS and the state agencies had to publish a notice providing time for
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
insufficient time to provide for prior public comment because the most
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
notice and the opportunity for public recent, relevant data only became
comment between the time Chinook SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
available as of July 16, 2015.
salmon catch and effort assessments and manages the groundfish fishery in the
projections were developed and GOA exclusive economic zone The AA also finds good cause to
fisheries impacts were calculated, and according to the Fishery Management waive the 30-day delay in the effective
the time the fishery modifications had Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
to be implemented in order to ensure Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
that fisheries are managed based on the Pacific Fishery Management Council the reasons provided above for waiver of
best available scientific information, under authority of the Magnuson- prior notice and opportunity for public
ensuring that conservation objectives Stevens Fishery Conservation and comment.
and ESA consultation standards are not Management Act. Regulations governing This action is required by § 679.20
exceeded. The AA also finds good cause fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance and is exempt from review under
to waive the 30-day delay in with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Executive Order 12866.
effectiveness required under 5 U.S.C. CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
553(d)(3), as a delay in effectiveness of The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific ocean perch in the West Dated: July 17, 2015.
these actions would allow fishing at
levels inconsistent with the goals of the Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,014 Emily H. Menashes,
Salmon FMP and the current metric tons (mt) as established by the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
management measures. final 2015 and 2016 harvest Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
These actions are authorized by 50 specifications for groundfish of the (80 [FR Doc. 2015–17968 Filed 7–17–15; 4:15 pm]
CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and are FR 10250, February 25, 2015). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Jul 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22JYR1.SGM 22JYR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_43477/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 12:55:08
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 12:55:08
| 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.), July 17, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 43337 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE06 |
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