81 FR 34915 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 105 (June 1, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 105 (June 1, 2016)
| Page Range | 34915-34915 | |
| FR Document | 2016-12819 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 34915] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-12819] [[Page 34915]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863-6211-02] RIN 0648-XE647 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder 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 Kamchatka flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 Kamchatka flounder initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 26, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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 2016 Kamchatka flounder ITAC in the BSAI is 4,250 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 2016 Kamchatka flounder ITAC in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 2,250 mt as incidental catch. 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 Kamchatka flounder 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 Kamchatka flounder to directed fishing 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 24, 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 25, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-12819 Filed 5-26-16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 34915
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the North Pacific Fishery Management Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Council under authority of the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Magnuson-Stevens Fishery requirement to provide prior notice and
Administration Conservation and Management Act. opportunity for public comment
Regulations governing fishing by U.S. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
50 CFR Part 679 vessels in accordance with the FMP U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 impracticable and contrary to the public
and 50 CFR part 679. interest. This requirement is
RIN 0648–XE647 The 2016 Kamchatka flounder ITAC impracticable and contrary to the public
in the BSAI is 4,250 metric tons (mt) as interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic established by the final 2016 and 2017
Zone Off Alaska; Kamchatka Flounder responding to the most recent fisheries
harvest specifications for groundfish in data in a timely fashion and would
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18,
Management Area delay the closure of Kamchatka flounder
2016). In accordance with to directed fishing in the BSAI. NMFS
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, was unable to publish a notice
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
providing time for public comment
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administrator), has determined that the
because the most recent, relevant data
Commerce. 2016 Kamchatka flounder ITAC in the
only became available as of May 24,
BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore,
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 2016.
the Regional Administrator is
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed establishing a directed fishing The AA also finds good cause to
fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the allowance of 2,000 mt, and is setting waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands aside the remaining 2,250 mt as date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
management area (BSAI). This action is incidental catch. In accordance with 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional the reasons provided above for waiver of
Kamchatka flounder initial total Administrator finds that this directed prior notice and opportunity for public
allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI. fishing allowance has been reached. comment.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting This action is required by § 679.20
local time (A.l.t.), May 26, 2016, through directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder and is exempt from review under
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. in the BSAI. Executive Order 12866.
After the effective date of this closure
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
the maximum retainable amounts at
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Dated: May 25, 2016.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS during a trip.
manages the groundfish fishery in the Emily H. Menashes,
BSAI according to the Fishery Classification Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Management Plan for Groundfish of the This action responds to the best Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands available information recently obtained [FR Doc. 2016–12819 Filed 5–26–16; 4:15 pm]
Management Area (FMP) prepared by from the fishery. The Assistant BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:26:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:26:49
| 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 26, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 34915 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE64 |
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