81 FR 13289 - 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 81, Issue 49 (March 14, 2016)

Page Range		13289-13289
FR Document		2016-05632

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 first seasonal apportionment of 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 81 Issue 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13289]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05632]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE493


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.

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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 first seasonal apportionment of 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.), March 11, 
2016, until 1200 hours A.l.t., June 10, 2016.

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 first seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the 
GOA is 120 metric tons as established by the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 
25, 2015), for the period from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2016 
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(6)(ii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the first seasonal 
apportionment of 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 the 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 March 7, 2016.
    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. Sec.  679.20 and 679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 8, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05632 Filed 3-9-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 13289 Dated: March 9, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Classification Emily H. Menashes, Keaton, 907–586–7228. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS This action responds to the best Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. manages the groundfish fishery in the available information recently obtained [FR Doc. 2016–05679 Filed 3–9–16; 4:15 pm] GOA exclusive economic zone from the fishery. The Assistant according to the Fishery Management Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of (AA), finds good cause to waive the Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North requirement to provide prior notice and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Pacific Fishery Management Council opportunity for public comment (Council) under authority of the pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Magnuson-Stevens Fishery U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Administration Conservation and Management Act. impracticable and contrary to the public Regulations governing fishing by U.S. interest. This requirement is 50 CFR Part 679 vessels in accordance with the FMP impracticable and contrary to the public appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 interest as it would prevent NMFS from [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] responding to the most recent fisheries and 50 CFR part 679. RIN 0648–XE493 The first seasonal apportionment of data in a timely fashion and would the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance delay the closure of other hook-and-line Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic specified for the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA. NMFS was Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line fishery by C/Vs in the GOA is 120 unable to publish a notice providing Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf metric tons as established by the final time for public comment because the of Alaska 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for most recent, relevant data only became groundfish of the GOA (80 FR 10250, available as of March 7, 2016. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries February 25, 2015), for the period from The AA also finds good cause to Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2016 waive the 30-day delay in the effective Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Commerce. 2016. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(ii), the reasons provided above for waiver of the Administrator, Alaska Region, prior notice and opportunity for public SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed NMFS, has determined that the first fishing for groundfish, other than comment. seasonal apportionment of the Pacific demersal shelf rockfish, by catcher halibut bycatch allowance specified for This action is required by §§ 679.20 vessels (C/Vs) using hook-and-line gear the other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs and 679.21 and is exempt from review in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action in the GOA has been reached. under Executive Order 12866. is necessary because the first seasonal Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. apportionment of the Pacific halibut directed fishing for groundfish, other bycatch allowance specified for the Dated: March 8, 2016. than demersal shelf rockfish, by C/Vs other hook-and-line fishery by C/Vs in using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. Emily H. Menashes, the GOA has been reached. After the effective date of this closure Acting Director, Office of Sustainable DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska the maximum retainable amounts at Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2016, until § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time [FR Doc. 2016–05632 Filed 3–9–16; 4:15 pm] 1200 hours A.l.t., June 10, 2016. during a trip. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 11:39 Mar 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\14MRR1.SGM 14MRR1$

Document Created: 2016-03-12 01:00:31
Document Modified: 2016-03-12 01:00:31

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.), March 11, 2016, until 1200 hours A.l.t., June 10, 2016.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 13289
RIN Number		0648-XE49

81 FR 13289 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Hook-and-Line Fishery by Catcher Vessels in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 49 (March 14, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration