81 FR 19059 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
| Page Range | 19059-19059 | |
| FR Document | 2016-07599 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 19059] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-07599] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150818742-6210-02] RIN 0648-XE556 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central 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 Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 31, 2016, through 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 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 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 8,028 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and reallocation (81 FR 15650, March 24, 2016). 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 2016 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 8,018 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 Central 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 Central 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 March 29, 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 30, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-07599 Filed 3-30-16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 19059
relevant data only became available as of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action Administrator finds that this directed
of March 28, 2016. is necessary to prevent exceeding the A fishing allowance has been reached.
The AA also finds good cause to season allowance of the 2016 Pacific Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
waive the 30-day delay in the effective cod total allowable catch apportioned to directed fishing for Pacific cod by
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. vessels using pot gear in the Central vessels using pot gear in the Central
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon Regulatory Area of the GOA. Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the
the reasons provided above for waiver of DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska effective date of this closure the
prior notice and opportunity for public local time (A.l.t.), March 31, 2016, maximum retainable amounts at
comment. through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Without this inseason adjustment, 2016. during a trip.
NMFS could not allow the fishery for
northern rockfish in the BSAI to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Classification
harvested in an expedient manner and Keaton, 907–586–7228.
This action responds to the best
in accordance with the regulatory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
available information recently obtained
schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2), manages the groundfish fishery in the
from the fishery. The Assistant
interested persons are invited to submit GOA exclusive economic zone
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
written comments on this action to the according to the Fishery Management
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
above address until April 19, 2016. Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
requirement to provide prior notice and
This action is required by §§ 679.20 Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
opportunity for public comment
and 679.25 and is exempt from review Pacific Fishery Management Council
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
under Executive Order 12866. under authority of the Magnuson-
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. impracticable and contrary to the public
Management Act. Regulations governing
Dated: March 30, 2016. interest. This requirement is
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
impracticable and contrary to the public
Emily H. Menashes, with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
responding to the most recent fisheries
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Regulations governing sideboard
data in a timely fashion and would
[FR Doc. 2016–07613 Filed 3–30–16; 4:15 pm] protections for GOA groundfish
delay the directed fishing closure of
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in
part 680.
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
The A season allowance of the 2016
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
providing time for public comment
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
National Oceanic and Atmospheric because the most recent, relevant data
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
Administration only became available as of March 29,
is 8,028 metric tons (mt), as established
2016.
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
50 CFR Part 679 specifications for groundfish of the GOA The AA also finds good cause to
(81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and waive the 30-day delay in the effective
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
reallocation (81 FR 15650, March 24, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
RIN 0648–XE556 2016). 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the reasons provided above for waiver of
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic the Administrator, Alaska Region, prior notice and opportunity for public
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by NMFS (Regional Administrator) has comment.
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central determined that the A season allowance This action is required by § 679.20
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC and is exempt from review under
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries apportioned to vessels using pot gear in Executive Order 12866.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a Dated: March 30, 2016.
Commerce.
directed fishing allowance of 8,018 mt Emily H. Menashes,
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed as bycatch to support other anticipated Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using groundfish fisheries. In accordance with [FR Doc. 2016–07599 Filed 3–30–16; 4:15 pm]
pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2016-04-02 03:53:07
Document Modified: 2016-04-02 03:53:07
| 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 31, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 19059 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE55 |
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