80 FR 54255 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish 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)

Page Range		54255-54255
FR Document		2015-22653

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 total allowable catch of northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54255]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22653]



[[Page 54255]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE170


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 total allowable catch of 
northern rockfish 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 northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,226 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), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 TAC 
of northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will 
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing 
a directed fishing allowance of 50 mt, and is setting aside 1,176 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 northern 
rockfish 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 northern rockfish 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. 2015-22653 Filed 9-3-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 54255 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE under authority of the Magnuson- Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Stevens Fishery Conservation and (AA), finds good cause to waive the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Management Act. Regulations governing requirement to provide prior notice and Administration fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance opportunity for public comment with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 50 CFR Part 679 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) impracticable and contrary to the public of northern rockfish in the Western interest. This requirement is RIN 0648–XE170 Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,226 impracticable and contrary to the public metric tons (mt) as established by the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic interest as it would prevent NMFS from final 2015 and 2016 harvest Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in specifications for groundfish of the Gulf responding to the most recent fisheries the Western Regulatory Area of the of Alaska (80 FR 10250, February 25, data in a timely fashion and would Gulf of Alaska 2015). delay the closure of directed fishing for In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), northern rockfish in the Western AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the Administrator, Alaska Region, Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NMFS (Regional Administrator), has unable to publish a notice providing Commerce. determined that the 2015 TAC of time for public comment because the ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. northern rockfish in the Western most recent, relevant data only became Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon available as of September 2, 2015. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed be reached. Therefore, the Regional The AA also finds good cause to fishing for northern rockfish in the Administrator is establishing a directed waive the 30-day delay in the effective Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of fishing allowance of 50 mt, and is date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary setting aside 1,176 mt as bycatch to 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon to prevent exceeding the 2015 total support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with the reasons provided above for waiver of allowable catch of northern rockfish in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional prior notice and opportunity for public the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Administrator finds that this directed comment. fishing allowance has been reached. This action is required by § 679.20 DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting and is exempt from review under local time (A.l.t.), September 3, 2015, directed fishing for northern rockfish in Executive Order 12866. through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, the Western Regulatory Area of the 2015. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. GOA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: After the effective date of this closure Dated: September 3, 2015. Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. the maximum retainable amounts at Jennifer M. Wallace, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Acting Director, Office of Sustainable manages the groundfish fishery in the during a trip. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Classification [FR Doc. 2015–22653 Filed 9–3–15; 4:15 pm] Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of This action responds to the best BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North available information recently obtained Pacific Fishery Management Council from the fishery. The Assistant Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Sep 08, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\09SER1.SGM 09SER1$

Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:53:48
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:53:48

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 54255
RIN Number		0648-XE17

80 FR 54255 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration