81 FR 19931 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 66 (April 6, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 66 (April 6, 2016)
| Page Range | 19931-19931 | |
| FR Document | 2016-07905 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 19931] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-07905] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863-6211-02] RIN 0648-XE557 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 4, 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 BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 B season apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI is 5,460 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the B season apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 5,000 mt and is setting aside the remaining 460 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 catcher vessels using trawl gear in 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 closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in 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 March 31, 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: April 1, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-07905 Filed 4-1-16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 6, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 19931
port of export prior to export of the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
specimen from the United States. Commerce. Administrator finds that this directed
(D) No specimens of the taxa in ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. fishing allowance has been reached.
paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section that Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
were taken from the wild may be SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed directed fishing for Pacific cod by
imported for breeding purposes absent a fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
definitive showing that the need for new using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and BSAI.
bloodlines can be met only by wild Aleutian Islands management area After the effective date of this closure
specimens, that suitable foreign-bred, (BSAI). This action is necessary to the maximum retainable amounts at
captive individuals are unavailable, and prevent exceeding the B season § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
that wild populations can sustain apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod during a trip.
limited taking. In addition, an import total allowable catch allocated to trawl
permit must be issued under § 17.22. catcher vessels in the BSAI. Classification
(E) Any permanent exports of such DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska This action responds to the best
specimens meet the requirements of local time (A.l.t.), April 4, 2016, through available information recently obtained
paragraph (g)(4) of this section. 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. from the fishery. The Assistant
(F) Each person claiming the benefit FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
of the exception in paragraph (g)(1) of Keaton, 907–586–7228. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
this section must maintain accurate SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS requirement to provide prior notice and
written records of activities, including manages the groundfish fishery in the opportunity for public comment
births, deaths, and transfers of BSAI exclusive economic zone pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
specimens, and make those records according to the Fishery Management U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
accessible to Service agents for Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea impracticable and contrary to the public
inspection at reasonable hours as set and Aleutian Islands Management Area interest. This requirement is
forth in §§ 13.46 and 13.47 of this (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific impracticable and contrary to the public
chapter. Fishery Management Council under interest as it would prevent NMFS from
* * * * * authority of the Magnuson-Stevens responding to the most recent fisheries
Dated: March 24, 2016. Fishery Conservation and Management data in a timely fashion and would
Act. Regulations governing fishing by delay the closure of directed fishing for
Michael J. Bean,
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP Pacific cod by catcher vessels using
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish trawl gear in the BSAI. NMFS was
and Wildlife and Parks. appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679. unable to publish a notice providing
[FR Doc. 2016–07762 Filed 4–5–16; 8:45 am]
The B season apportionment of the time for public comment because the
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P most recent, relevant data only became
2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch
(TAC) allocated to trawl catcher vessels available as of March 31, 2016.
in the BSAI is 5,460 metric tons (mt) as The AA also finds good cause to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE established by the final 2016 and 2017 waive the 30-day delay in the effective
harvest specifications for groundfish in date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18,
Administration the reasons provided above for waiver of
2016).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), prior notice and opportunity for public
50 CFR Part 679 the Administrator, Alaska Region, comment.
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] NMFS (Regional Administrator), has This action is required by § 679.20
determined that the B season and is exempt from review under
RIN 0648–XE557 apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod Executive Order 12866.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by in the BSAI will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is Dated: April 1, 2016.
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Emily H. Menashes,
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 5,000 mt and is setting Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Management Area Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
aside the remaining 460 mt as bycatch
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries to support other anticipated groundfish [FR Doc. 2016–07905 Filed 4–1–16; 4:15 pm]
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and fisheries. In accordance with BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-02-07 13:51:48
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 13:51:48
| 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.), April 4, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 19931 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE55 |
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