80 FR 9398 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 35 (February 23, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 35 (February 23, 2015)
| Page Range | 9398-9398 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03554 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 9398] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03554] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 131021878-4158-02] RIN 0648-XD780 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 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, including for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian Islands district (Area 543) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 18, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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. The Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2015 TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 2,478 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,178 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 300 mt as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species. 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 in the Western Aleutian Islands district of the BSAI. 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 in the Western Aleutian Islands district of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of February 16, 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 18, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-03554 Filed 2-18-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![9398 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 35 / Monday, February 23, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
the Gulf of Alaska from Point Manby Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
southeast to and including Dry Bay): Commerce. directed fishing for Pacific cod in the
(i) Season: Glaucous-winged gull egg ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Western Aleutian Islands district of the
gathering: May 15–June 30. BSAI.
(ii) Closure: July 1–August 31. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod, including for the After the effective date of this closure
■ 4. Amend subpart D by adding § 92.32
Community Development Quota the maximum retainable amounts at
to read as follows:
program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
§ 92.32 Emergency regulations to protect Islands district (Area 543) of the Bering during a trip.
Steller’s eiders. Sea and Aleutian Islands management
Upon finding that continuation of Classification
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
these subsistence regulations would prevent exceeding the Area 543 Pacific This action responds to the best
pose an imminent threat to the cod harvest limit of the 2015 total available information recently obtained
conservation of threatened Steller’s allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian from the fishery. The Assistant
eiders (Polysticta stelleri), the U.S. Fish Islands subarea of the BSAI. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
and Wildlife Service Alaska Regional DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
Director, in consultation with the Co- (AA), finds good cause to waive the
time (A.l.t.), February 18, 2015, through requirement to provide prior notice and
management Council, will immediately 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
under § 92.21 take action as is necessary opportunity for public comment
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
to prevent further take. Regulation Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228.
changes implemented could range from U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS impracticable and contrary to the public
a temporary closure of duck hunting in
a small geographic area to large-scale manages the groundfish fishery in the interest. This requirement is
regional or Statewide long-term closures BSAI according to the Fishery impracticable and contrary to the public
of all subsistence migratory bird Management Plan for Groundfish of the interest as it would prevent NMFS from
hunting. These closures or temporary Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands responding to the most recent fisheries
suspensions will remain in effect until Management Area (FMP) prepared by
data in a timely fashion and would
the Regional Director, in consultation the North Pacific Fishery Management
delay the directed fishing closure of
with the Co-management Council, Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Pacific cod in the Western Aleutian
determines that the potential for Islands district of the BSAI. NMFS was
additional Steller’s eiders to be taken no Conservation and Management Act.
Regulations governing fishing by U.S. unable to publish a notice providing
longer exists. time for public comment because the
vessels in accordance with the FMP
Dated: February 9, 2015. appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 most recent, relevant data only became
Michael J. Bean, and 50 CFR part 679. available as of February 16, 2015.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish The Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit The AA also finds good cause to
and Wildlife and Parks. of the 2015 TAC in the Aleutian Islands waive the 30-day delay in the effective
[FR Doc. 2015–03602 Filed 2–20–15; 8:45 am] subarea of the BSAI is 2,478 metric tons date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
2015 harvest specifications for the reasons provided above for waiver of
groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, prior notice and opportunity for public
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment comment.
(80 FR 188, January 5, 2015). In
National Oceanic and Atmospheric accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the This action is required by § 679.20
Administration Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, and is exempt from review under
has determined that the Area 543 Pacific Executive Order 12866.
50 CFR Part 679 cod harvest limit of the 2015 Pacific cod Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[Docket No. 131021878–4158–02] TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of
Dated: February 18, 2015.
the BSAI will soon be reached.
RIN 0648–XD780 Therefore, the Regional Administrator is Emily H. Menashes,
establishing a directed fishing Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
allowance of 2,178 mt, and is setting
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the
aside the remaining 300 mt as incidental [FR Doc. 2015–03554 Filed 2–18–15; 4:15 pm]
Western Aleutian Islands District of the
catch in directed fishing for other BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
species. In accordance with
Management Area
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Administrator finds that this directed
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and fishing allowance has been reached.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:12 Feb 20, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\23FER1.SGM 23FER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_9433/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:28:33
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:28:33
| 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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 18, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 9398 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD78 |
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