80 FR 51758 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 165 (August 26, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 165 (August 26, 2015)
| Page Range | 51758-51758 | |
| FR Document | 2015-21145 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 51758] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-21145] [[Page 51758]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XE140 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 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; modification of a closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., September 9, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2014-0134, by any of the following methods:Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0134, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 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. NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 2, 2015 (80 FR 5992, February 4, 2015). NMFS has determined that as of August 20, 2015, approximately 1,126 metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 2015 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in this fishery. 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 opening of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 20, 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. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook- and-line or pot gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until September 9, 2015. This action is required by Sec. 679.25 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 21, 2015. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-21145 Filed 8-25-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![51758 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 165 / Wednesday, August 26, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE considered by NMFS. All comments Classification
received are a part of the public record
National Oceanic and Atmospheric and will generally be posted for public This action responds to the best
Administration viewing on www.regulations.gov available information recently obtained
without change. All personal identifying from the fishery. The Assistant
50 CFR Part 679 information (e.g., name, address), Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
confidential business information, or (AA), finds good cause to waive the
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] requirement to provide prior notice and
otherwise sensitive information
RIN 0648–XE140 submitted voluntarily by the sender will opportunity for public comment
be publicly accessible. NMFS will pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic accept anonymous comments (enter U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish impracticable and contrary to the public
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands to remain anonymous). interest. This requirement is
Management Area impracticable and contrary to the public
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
responding to the most recent fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS data in a timely fashion and would
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), manages the groundfish fishery in the delay the opening of directed fishing for
Commerce. BSAI exclusive economic zone Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of according to the Fishery Management 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot
a closure. Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea gear in the BSAI. Immediate notification
and Aleutian Islands Management Area is necessary to allow for the orderly
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels conduct and efficient operation of this
Fishery Management Council under fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or the fishing season, and to avoid
Fishery Conservation and Management potential disruption to the fishing fleet
pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Act. Regulations governing fishing by
Islands Management Area (BSAI). This and processors. NMFS was unable to
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP publish a notice providing time for
action is necessary to fully use the 2015 appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
total allowable catch of Pacific cod public comment because the most
and 50 CFR part 679. recent, relevant data only became
allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 NMFS closed directed fishing for
feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot available as of August 20, 2015.
Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than
gear in the BSAI. 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot The AA also finds good cause to
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local gear in the BSAI under waive the 30-day delay in the effective
time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2015, through § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 2, 2015 date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. (80 FR 5992, February 4, 2015). 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Comments must be received at the NMFS has determined that as of the reasons provided above for waiver of
following address no later than 4:30 August 20, 2015, approximately 1,126 prior notice and opportunity for public
p.m., A.l.t., September 9, 2015. metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the comment.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 2015 Pacific cod apportionment for Without this inseason adjustment,
on this document, identified by NOAA– catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA NMFS could not allow the fishery for
NMFS–2014–0134, by any of the using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than
following methods: BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot
• Electronic Submission: Submit all § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an
electronic public comments via the (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2015 expedient manner and in accordance
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific with the regulatory schedule. Under
www.regulations.gov/ cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014- the previous closure and is opening invited to submit written comments on
0134, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, directed fishing for Pacific cod by this action to the above address until
complete the required fields, and enter catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA September 9, 2015.
or attach your comments. using hook-and-line or pot gear in the This action is required by § 679.25
• Mail: Submit written comments to BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska and is exempt from review under
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) Executive Order 12866.
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries considered the following factors in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: reaching this decision: (1) The current
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels Dated: August 21, 2015.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and- Alan D. Risenhoover,
Instructions: Comments sent by any line or pot gear in the BSAI and, (2) the Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
other method, to any other address or harvest capacity and stated intent on National Marine Fisheries Service.
individual, or received after the end of future harvesting patterns of vessels in [FR Doc. 2015–21145 Filed 8–25–15; 8:45 am]
the comment period, may not be participating in this fishery. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:58:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:58:42
| 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; modification of a closure. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. Comments must be | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 51758 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE14 |
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