80_FR_78917 80 FR 78675 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska

80 FR 78675 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 242 (December 17, 2015)

Page Range78675-78676
FR Document2015-31759

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, other than demersal shelf rockfish, by catcher vessels (C/Vs) using hook-and- line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and- line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 242 (Thursday, December 17, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78675-78676]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31759]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE358


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-
and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in 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 groundfish, other 
than demersal shelf rockfish, by catcher vessels (C/Vs) using hook-and-
line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because 
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-and-
line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 15, 
2015, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 (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 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the other hook-
and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA is 145 metric tons as established 
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(6)(ii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the Pacific halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the 
GOA has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for groundfish, other than demersal shelf rockfish, by C/Vs 
using hook-and-line gear in 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 closure of other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in 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 
December 11, 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

[[Page 78676]]

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: December 14, 2015.
Galen R. Tromble,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31759 Filed 12-14-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 242 / Thursday, December 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 78675 2006 to 2015 will be based on NMFS’ (c) * * * DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska logbook records, submitted on or before (1) If the sum of the commercial and local time (A.l.t.), December 15, 2015, February 16, 2016. If NMFS’ logbooks recreational landings, as estimated by until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, are not available, state landings records the SRD, reaches or is projected to reach 2015. or data for 2006 to 2015 that were the stock ACL, as specified in paragraph FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh submitted in compliance with (c)(3) of this section, the AA will file a Keaton, 907–586–7228. applicable Federal and state regulations notification with the Office of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS on or before February 16, 2015, may be Federal Register to close the commercial manages the groundfish fishery in the used. and recreational sectors for the GOA exclusive economic zone ■ 5. In § 622.385, revise paragraph remainder of the fishing year. On and according to the Fishery Management (a)(2)(ii)(A)(1) to read as follows: after the effective date of such a Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of notification, all sale and purchase of § 622.385 Commercial trip limits. Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel Pacific Fishery Management Council * * * * * is prohibited and the harvest and (Council) under authority of the (a) * * * possession limit of this species in or Magnuson-Stevens Fishery (2) * * * from the Gulf EEZ is zero. Conservation and Management Act. (ii) * * * * * * * * Regulations governing fishing by U.S. (A) * * * (e) * * * vessels in accordance with the FMP (1) In the Florida west coast southern (1) * * * appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 subzone, king mackerel in or from the (i) If the sum of all cobia landings, as and 50 CFR part 679. EEZ may be possessed on board or estimated by the SRD, reaches or is The Pacific halibut bycatch allowance landed from a vessel for which a projected to reach the stock quota (stock specified for the other hook-and-line commercial vessel permit for king ACT), specified in § 622.384(d)(1), the fishery by C/Vs in the GOA is 145 mackerel and a king mackerel gillnet AA will file a notification with the metric tons as established by the final permit have been issued, as required Office of the Federal Register to prohibit 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for under § 622.370(a)(2), in amounts not the harvest of Gulf migratory group groundfish of the GOA (80 FR 10250, exceeding 45,000 lb (20,411 kg) per day, cobia in the Gulf zone for the remainder February 25, 2015). provided the gillnet component for Gulf of the fishing year. On and after the In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(ii), migratory group king mackerel is not effective date of such a notification, all the Administrator, Alaska Region, closed under § 622.378(a) or § 622.8(b). sale and purchase of Gulf migratory NMFS, has determined that the Pacific * * * * * group cobia in the Gulf zone is halibut bycatch allowance specified for ■ 6. In § 622.388: prohibited and the possession limit of the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs ■ a. Add paragraph (a)(1)(iii); and this species in or from the Gulf EEZ is in the GOA has been reached. ■ b. Revise paragraphs (a)(2), (c)(1), and zero. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting (e)(1)(i) to read as follows: * * * * * directed fishing for groundfish, other [FR Doc. 2015–31708 Filed 12–16–15; 8:45 am] than demersal shelf rockfish, by C/Vs § 622.388 Annual catch limits (ACLs), BILLING CODE 3510–22–P using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs). After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at * * * * * DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time (a) * * * during a trip. (1) * * * National Oceanic and Atmospheric (iii) If commercial landings for Gulf Administration Classification migratory group king mackerel caught This action responds to the best by run-around gillnet in the Florida 50 CFR Part 679 available information recently obtained west coast southern subzone, as [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] from the fishery. The Assistant estimated by the SRD, exceed the Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA commercial ACL, the AA will file a RIN 0648–XE358 (AA), finds good cause to waive the notification with the Office of the requirement to provide prior notice and Federal Register to reduce the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line opportunity for public comment commercial ACL for king mackerel pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 harvested by run-around gillnet in the Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Florida west coast southern subzone in impracticable and contrary to the public the following fishing year by the amount AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries interest. This requirement is of the commercial ACL overage in the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and impracticable and contrary to the public prior fishing year. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), interest as it would prevent NMFS from (2) Recreational sector. If recreational Commerce. responding to the most recent fisheries landings, as estimated by the SRD, reach data in a timely fashion and would ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. or are projected to reach the recreational delay closure of other hook-and-line ACL of 8.092 million lb (3.670 million SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishery by C/Vs in the GOA. NMFS was kg), the AA will file a notification with fishing for groundfish, other than unable to publish a notice providing the Office of the Federal Register to demersal shelf rockfish, by catcher time for public comment because the Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES implement a bag and possession limit vessels (C/Vs) using hook-and-line gear most recent, relevant data only became for Gulf migratory group king mackerel in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action available as of December 11, 2015. of zero, unless the best scientific is necessary because the Pacific halibut The AA also finds good cause to information available determines that a bycatch allowance specified for the waive the 30-day delay in the effective bag limit reduction is unnecessary. other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in date of this action under 5 U.S.C. * * * * * the GOA has been reached. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 16, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17DER1.SGM 17DER1

78676 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 242 / Thursday, December 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations the reasons provided above for waiver of This action is required by § 679.20 Dated: December 14, 2015. prior notice and opportunity for public and § 679.21 and is exempt from review Galen R. Tromble, comment. under Executive Order 12866. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. [FR Doc. 2015–31759 Filed 12–14–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:06 Dec 16, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\17DER1.SGM 17DER1


Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:17:57
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:17:57
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 15, 2015, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
ContactJosh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation80 FR 78675 
RIN Number0648-XE35
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR