80 FR 54254 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)
| Page Range | 54254-54254 | |
| FR Document | 2015-22639 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 54254] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-22639] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 140918791-4999-02] RIN 0648-XE168 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Regulatory Area 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 Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 3, 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 Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,302 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i) and (ii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be taken as incidental catch in directed fisheries for other species. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 102 mt, and is setting aside 2,200 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 Western Regulatory Area 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 Western Regulatory Area 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 September 2, 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: September 3, 2015. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-22639 Filed 9-3-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![54254 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
of the GOA will soon be reached. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the
establishing a directed fishing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Regional Administrator finds that this
allowance of 50 mt, and is setting aside Administration directed fishing allowance has been
the remaining 246 mt as bycatch to reached. Consequently, NMFS is
support other anticipated groundfish 50 CFR Part 679 prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
fisheries. In accordance with [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] ocean perch in the Western Regulatory
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Area of the GOA.
Administrator finds that this directed RIN 0648–XE168
After the effective date of this closure
fishing allowance has been reached. the maximum retainable amounts at
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
directed fishing for dusky rockfish in in the Western Regulatory Area of the during a trip.
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
GOA. Classification
After the effective date of this closure AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and This action responds to the best
the maximum retainable amounts at available information recently obtained
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time from the fishery. The Assistant
Commerce.
during a trip. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
Classification (AA), finds good cause to waive the
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed requirement to provide prior notice and
This action responds to the best fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the opportunity for public comment
available information recently obtained Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
from the fishery. The Assistant Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA to prevent exceeding the 2015 total impracticable and contrary to the public
(AA), finds good cause to waive the allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch interest. This requirement is
requirement to provide prior notice and in the Western Regulatory Area of the impracticable and contrary to the public
opportunity for public comment GOA. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska responding to the most recent fisheries
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is local time (A.l.t.), September 3, 2015, data in a timely fashion and would
impracticable and contrary to the public through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, delay the closure of directed fishing for
interest. This requirement is 2015. Pacific ocean perch in the Western
impracticable and contrary to the public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was
interest as it would prevent NMFS from Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. unable to publish a notice providing
responding to the most recent fisheries SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
time for public comment because the
data in a timely fashion and would manages the groundfish fishery in the most recent, relevant data only became
delay the closure of directed fishing for GOA exclusive economic zone available as of September 2, 2015.
dusky rockfish in the Western according to the Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of waive the 30-day delay in the effective
unable to publish a notice providing Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
time for public comment because the Pacific Fishery Management Council 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
most recent, relevant data only became under authority of the Magnuson- the reasons provided above for waiver of
available as of September 2, 2015. Stevens Fishery Conservation and prior notice and opportunity for public
The AA also finds good cause to Management Act. Regulations governing comment.
waive the 30-day delay in the effective fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 This action is required by § 679.20
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. and is exempt from review under
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) Executive Order 12866.
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,302 Dated: September 3, 2015.
comment.
metric tons (mt) as established by the
This action is required by § 679.20 Jennifer M. Wallace,
final 2015 and 2016 harvest
and is exempt from review under specifications for groundfish of the Gulf Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Executive Order 12866. of Alaska (80 FR 10250, February 25, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
2015). [FR Doc. 2015–22639 Filed 9–3–15; 4:15 pm]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i) BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Dated: September 3, 2015. and (ii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska
Jennifer M. Wallace, Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable has determined that the 2015 TAC of
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Pacific ocean perch in the Western
[FR Doc. 2015–22641 Filed 9–3–15; 4:15 pm] Regulatory Area of the GOA will be
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P taken as incidental catch in directed
fisheries for other species. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 102 mt, and is setting aside
2,200 mt as bycatch to support other
VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Sep 08, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\09SER1.SGM 09SER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_54428/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:52:59
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:52:59
| 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.), September 3, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 54254 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE16 |
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