81 FR 14988 - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 54 (March 21, 2016)

Page Range		14988-14988
FR Document		2016-06295

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl 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 deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 54 (Monday, March 21, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14988]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06295]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE516


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water 
Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear 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 species that comprise 
the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl 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 deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 
2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 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 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 deep-water species fishery in the GOA is 85 
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 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, 2016, through 
1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2016.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(6)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the first seasonal apportionment of 
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl deep-
water species fishery in the GOA has been reached. Consequently, NMFS 
is prohibiting directed fishing for the deep-water species fishery by 
vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The species and species groups 
that comprise the deep-water species fishery include sablefish, 
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
    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 the deep-water species fishery by vessels 
using trawl gear 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 14, 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.  679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 16, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06295 Filed 3-16-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

14988 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 54 / Monday, March 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

is insufficient time to allow for prior DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE species fishery by vessels using trawl
public notice and comment for the gear in the GOA. The species and
transfer of quota for these yellowtail National Oceanic and Atmospheric species groups that comprise the deep-
flounder stocks from the scallop fishery Administration water species fishery include sablefish,
to the groundfish fishery. The NE rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
multispecies fishing year ends on April 50 CFR Part 679 and arrowtooth flounder.
30, 2016. If NMFS allowed for the time [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] After the effective date of this closure
necessary to provide for prior notice and the maximum retainable amounts at
comment, it would be unlikely that the RIN 0648–XE516
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
transfer would occur in time to allow during a trip.
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive
groundfish vessels to harvest the
Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Classification
additional quota of these stocks before Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in
the end of the fishing year. As a result, the Gulf of Alaska This action responds to the best
groundfish fishermen would be
available information recently obtained
prevented from offsetting their current AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
from the fishery. The Assistant
negative economic circumstances due to Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
the severe decreases in ACLs of several
Commerce. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
important groundfish stocks, thus
requirement to provide prior notice and
undermining the intent of the rule. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
opportunity for public comment
Giving effect to this rule as soon as
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
possible will help relieve fishermen
fishing for species that comprise the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
from more restrictive ACLs for the
deep-water species fishery by vessels impracticable and contrary to the public
yellowtail stocks and help achieve
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska interest. This requirement is
optimum yield in the fishery. For these
(GOA). This action is necessary because impracticable and contrary to the public
same reasons, the NMFS Assistant the first seasonal apportionment of the interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Administrator also finds good cause Pacific halibut bycatch allowance responding to the most recent fisheries
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive specified for the deep-water species data in a timely fashion and would
the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this fishery in the GOA has been reached. delay the closure of the deep-water
action for these same reasons. Further,
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska species fishery by vessels using trawl
there is no need to allow the industry local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 2016, gear in the GOA. NMFS was unable to
additional time to adjust to this rule through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, publish a notice providing time for
because it does not require any 2016. public comment because the most
compliance or other action on the part
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh recent, relevant data only became
of individual scallop or groundfish
Keaton, 907–586–7228. available as of March 14, 2016.
fishermen.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS The AA also finds good cause to
Because notice and opportunity for
manages the groundfish fishery in the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
comment are not required pursuant to 5
GOA exclusive economic zone date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the according to the Fishery Management 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
analytical requirements of the Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of the reasons provided above for waiver of
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North prior notice and opportunity for public
et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a Pacific Fishery Management Council comment.
regulatory flexibility analysis is not under authority of the Magnuson-
required and one has not been prepared. This action is required by § 679.21
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
and is exempt from review under
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance Executive Order 12866.
Dated: March 15, 2016.
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Samuel D. Rauch III, CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Dated: March 16, 2016.
Deputy Assistant Administrator for The first seasonal apportionment of
Regulatory Programs, National Marine Alan D. Risenhoover,
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance
Fisheries Service. specified for the deep-water species Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
[FR Doc. 2016–06306 Filed 3–18–16; 8:45 am] fishery in the GOA is 85 metric tons as National Marine Fisheries Service.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P established by the final 2015 and 2016 [FR Doc. 2016–06295 Filed 3–16–16; 4:15 pm]
harvest specifications for groundfish of BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25,
2015), for the period 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
January 20, 2016, through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., April 1, 2016.
In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that the first
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES

seasonal apportionment of the Pacific
halibut bycatch allowance specified for
the trawl deep-water species fishery in
the GOA has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for the deep-water

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:24 Mar 18, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21MRR1.SGM 21MRR1

Document Created: 2016-03-19 01:00:52
Document Modified: 2016-03-19 01:00:52

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 16, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2016.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 14988
RIN Number		0648-XE51

81 FR 14988 - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 54 (March 21, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration