80 FR 46520 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Squids in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 150 (August 5, 2015)

Page Range		46520-46520
FR Document		2015-19094

NMFS is prohibiting retention of squids in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2015 initial total allowable catch of squids in the BSAI has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46520]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE072


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Squids 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of squids in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
because the 2015 initial total allowable catch of squids in the BSAI 
has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 30, 2015, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 initial total allowable catch (TAC) for squids in the BSAI 
is 340 metric tons as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 
initial TAC of squids in the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that squids caught in the BSAI be treated as prohibited 
species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b).

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 prohibiting the retention of squids 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 July 29, 
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 Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 30, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19094 Filed 7-30-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

46520 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 150 / Wednesday, August 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 subpart E of this Title, and other The 2015 initial total allowable catch
Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and applicable law. (TAC) for squids in the BSAI is 340
recordkeeping requirements. * * * * * metric tons as established by the final
2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for
Dated: July 30, 2015. § 660.711 [Amended] groundfish of the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
Samuel D. Rauch III, March 5, 2015).
■ 4. In § 660.711, remove paragraph (a)
Deputy Assistant Administrator for and redesignate paragraphs (b) through
Regulatory Programs, National Marine In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
(d) as (a) through (c). Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–19157 Filed 8–4–15; 8:45 am] (Regional Administrator), has
For the reasons set out in the determined that the 2015 initial TAC of
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended squids in the BSAI has been reached.
as follows: Therefore, NMFS is requiring that
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE squids caught in the BSAI be treated as
PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST
COAST STATES prohibited species in accordance with
National Oceanic and Atmospheric § 679.21(b).
■ 1. The authority citation for part 660 Administration
Classification
continues to read as follows:
50 CFR Part 679
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. This action responds to the best
773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. [Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] available information recently obtained
■ 2. In § 660.702, revise the definition RIN 0648–XE072 from the fishery. The Assistant
for ‘‘Prohibited species’’ to read as Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
follows: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Zone Off Alaska; Squids in the Bering requirement to provide prior notice and
§ 660.702 Definitions. Sea and Aleutian Islands Management opportunity for public comment
* * * * * Area pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Prohibited species means any highly U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
migratory species for which quotas or AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries impracticable and contrary to the public
catch limits under the FMP have been Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and interest. This requirement is
achieved and the fishery closed; salmon; Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), impracticable and contrary to the public
great white shark; basking shark; Commerce. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
megamouth shark; and Pacific halibut. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. responding to the most recent fisheries
* * * * * SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention data in a timely fashion and would
■ 3. In § 660.705, revise paragraph (e) to of squids in the Bering Sea and Aleutian delay prohibiting the retention of squids
read as follows: Islands management area (BSAI). This in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to
action is necessary because the 2015 publish a notice providing time for
§ 660.705 Prohibitions. public comment because the most
initial total allowable catch of squids in
* * * * * the BSAI has been reached. recent, relevant data only became
(e) When fishing for HMS, fail to available as of July 29, 2015.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
return a prohibited species to the sea
time (A.l.t.), July 30, 2015, through 2400 The AA also finds good cause to
immediately with a minimum of injury,
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
except under the following
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
circumstances:
(1) Any prohibited species may be Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
retained for examination by an SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS the reasons provided above for waiver of
authorized observer or to return tagged manages the groundfish fishery in the prior notice and opportunity for public
fish as specified by the tagging agency. BSAI exclusive economic zone comment.
(2) Salmon may be retained if according to the Fishery Management This action is required by § 679.20
harvested in accordance with subpart H Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
of this part, and other applicable law. and Aleutian Islands management area under Executive Order 12866.
(3) Great white sharks, basking sharks, (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
and megamouth sharks may be retained Fishery Management Council under
if incidentally caught and subsequently authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Dated: July 30, 2015.
sold or donated to a recognized Fishery Conservation and Management Emily H. Menashes,
scientific or educational organization for Act. Regulations governing fishing by Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
research or display purposes. U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
(4) Pacific halibut may be retained if appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 [FR Doc. 2015–19094 Filed 7–30–15; 4:15 pm]
harvested in accordance with part 300, and 50 CFR part 679. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

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Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:53:22
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:53:22

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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 30, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		80 FR 46520
RIN Number		0648-XE07

80 FR 46520 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Squids in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 150 (August 5, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration