80 FR 8249 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 31 (February 17, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 31 (February 17, 2015)
| Page Range | 8249-8249 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03143 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 8249] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03143] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 130925836-4174-02] RIN 0648-XD715 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear 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 cod by vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 12, 2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 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. Regulations governing sideboard protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR part 680. The A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 5,230 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 192, January 5, 2015). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 5,220 mt and is setting aside the remaining 10 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 cod by vessels using pot gear 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 directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear 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 February 10, 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: February 10, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-03143 Filed 2-11-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 17, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 8249
display a valid OMB Control Number. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS effective date of this closure the
The OMB Control Number is 3060– manages the groundfish fishery in the maximum retainable amounts at
0057. GOA exclusive economic zone § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Federal Communications Commission. according to the Fishery Management during a trip.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Classification
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Secretary.
Pacific Fishery Management Council This action responds to the best
[FR Doc. 2015–03119 Filed 2–13–15; 8:45 am] available information recently obtained
under authority of the Magnuson-
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Stevens Fishery Conservation and from the fishery. The Assistant
Management Act. Regulations governing Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance (AA), finds good cause to waive the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 requirement to provide prior notice and
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. opportunity for public comment
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Regulations governing sideboard pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Administration protections for GOA groundfish U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR impracticable and contrary to the public
50 CFR Part 679 part 680. interest. This requirement is
[Docket No. 130925836–4174–02]
The A season allowance of the 2015 impracticable and contrary to the public
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) interest as it would prevent NMFS from
RIN 0648–XD715 apportioned to vessels using pot gear in responding to the most recent fisheries
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA data in a timely fashion and would
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic is 5,230 metric tons (mt), as established delay the directed fishing closure of
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western specifications for groundfish of the GOA the Western Regulatory Area of the
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014) and GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries inseason adjustment (80 FR 192, January notice providing time for public
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 5, 2015). comment because the most recent,
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), relevant data only became available as
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
the Administrator, Alaska Region, of February 10, 2015.
Commerce.
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has The AA also finds good cause to
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. determined that the A season allowance waive the 30-day delay in the effective
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using apportioned to vessels using pot gear in 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA the reasons provided above for waiver of
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action will soon be reached. Therefore, the prior notice and opportunity for public
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A Regional Administrator is establishing a comment.
season allowance of the 2015 Pacific directed fishing allowance of 5,220 mt This action is required by § 679.20
cod total allowable catch apportioned to and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt and is exempt from review under
vessels using pot gear in the Western as bycatch to support other anticipated Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Area of the GOA. groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Dated: February 10, 2015.
Administrator finds that this directed
local time (A.l.t.), February 12, 2015, fishing allowance has been reached. Emily H. Menashes,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
2015. directed fishing for Pacific cod by Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: vessels using pot gear in the Western [FR Doc. 2015–03143 Filed 2–11–15; 4:15 pm]
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:17 Feb 13, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM 17FER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_8280/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:19:49
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:19:49
| 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.), February 12, 2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2015. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 8249 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD71 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR