81 FR 28032 - 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 89 (May 9, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 89 (May 9, 2016)
| Page Range | 28032-28032 | |
| FR Document | 2016-10832 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 28032] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-10832] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863-6211-02] RIN 0648-XE611 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.), May 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 May 3, 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: May 4, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-10832 Filed 5-4-16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![28032 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 89 / Monday, May 9, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
the 60 rail transit agencies in the SSO SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Program. manages the groundfish fishery in the during a trip.
BSAI exclusive economic zone
William Hyre, Classification
according to the Fishery Management
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Administration.
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea This action responds to the best
and Aleutian Islands Management Area available information recently obtained
[FR Doc. 2016–10836 Filed 5–6–16; 8:45 am]
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific from the fishery. The Assistant
BILLING CODE P
Fishery Management Council under Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Fishery Conservation and Management requirement to provide prior notice and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Act. Regulations governing fishing by opportunity for public comment
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Administration
and 50 CFR part 679. impracticable and contrary to the public
50 CFR Part 679 The B season apportionment of the interest. This requirement is
2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch impracticable and contrary to the public
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] (TAC) allocated to trawl catcher vessels interest as it would prevent NMFS from
RIN 0648–XE611 in the BSAI is 5,460 metric tons (mt) as responding to the most recent fisheries
established by the final 2016 and 2017 data in a timely fashion and would
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic harvest specifications for groundfish in delay the closure of directed fishing for
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, Pacific cod by catcher vessels using
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 2016). trawl gear in the BSAI. NMFS was
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), unable to publish a notice providing
Management Area the Administrator, Alaska Region, time for public comment because the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries NMFS (Regional Administrator), has most recent, relevant data only became
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and determined that the B season available as of May 3, 2016.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod The AA also finds good cause to
Commerce. TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels waive the 30-day delay in the effective
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. in the BSAI will soon be reached. date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed establishing a directed fishing the reasons provided above for waiver of
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels allowance of 5,000 mt and is setting prior notice and opportunity for public
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and aside the remaining 460 mt as bycatch comment.
Aleutian Islands management area to support other anticipated groundfish This action is required by § 679.20
(BSAI). This action is necessary to fisheries. In accordance with and is exempt from review under
prevent exceeding the B season § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Executive Order 12866.
apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod Administrator finds that this directed
total allowable catch allocated to trawl Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
fishing allowance has been reached.
catcher vessels in the BSAI. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Dated: May 4, 2016.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska directed fishing for Pacific cod by Emily H. Menashes,
local time (A.l.t.), May 4, 2016, through catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. BSAI. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh After the effective date of this closure [FR Doc. 2016–10832 Filed 5–4–16; 4:15 pm]
Keaton, 907–586–7228. the maximum retainable amounts at BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 May 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\09MYR1.SGM 09MYR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_28121/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-07 14:49:56
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 14:49:56
| 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.), May 4, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 28032 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE61 |
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