81 FR 51379 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 150 (August 4, 2016)

Page Range		51379-51379
FR Document		2016-18524

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51379]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18524]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE708


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky 
Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 dusky rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 total allowable catch of dusky 
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 1, 
2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 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 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of dusky rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 173 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2016 TAC 
of dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 100 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 73 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 dusky 
rockfish in the Western 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 closure of directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the 
Western 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 July 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: August 1, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18524 Filed 8-1-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 150 / Thursday, August 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 51379

issued a scup moratorium permit may final 2016 and 2017 harvest DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
possess more than 1,000 lb (454 kg) of specifications for groundfish of the Gulf
scup from November 1 through April of Alaska (81 FR 14740, March 18, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
30, or more than 200 lb (91 kg) of scup 2016). Administration
from May 1 through October 31, unless In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
fishing with nets that have a minimum the Administrator, Alaska Region, 50 CFR Part 679
mesh size of 5.0-inch (12.7-cm) NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2016 TAC of dusky [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
diamond mesh, applied throughout the
codend for at least 75 continuous rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area RIN 0648–XE706
meshes forward of the terminus of the of the GOA will soon be reached.
net, and all other nets are stowed and Therefore, the Regional Administrator is Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
not available for immediate use as establishing a directed fishing Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
defined in § 648.2. allowance of 100 mt, and is setting aside in the Western Regulatory Area of the
* * * * * the remaining 73 mt as bycatch to Gulf of Alaska
[FR Doc. 2016–18485 Filed 8–1–16; 4:15 pm] support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
fishing allowance has been reached. Commerce.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric directed fishing for dusky rockfish in
Administration the Western Regulatory Area of the SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
GOA. fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the
50 CFR Part 679 After the effective date of this closure Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
the maximum retainable amounts at Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] to prevent exceeding the 2016 total
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
RIN 0648–XE708 during a trip. allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch
in the Western Regulatory Area of the
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Classification GOA.
Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the This action responds to the best DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of available information recently obtained local time (A.l.t.), August 1, 2016,
Alaska from the fishery. The Assistant through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 2016.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
(AA), finds good cause to waive the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
requirement to provide prior notice and Keaton, 907–586–7228.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
opportunity for public comment
Commerce. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. manages the groundfish fishery in the
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public GOA exclusive economic zone
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed according to the Fishery Management
fishing for dusky rockfish in the interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries Pacific Fishery Management Council
to prevent exceeding the 2016 total under authority of the Magnuson-
allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Management Act. Regulations governing
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
dusky rockfish in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
local time (A.l.t.), August 1, 2016, with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
2016. The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC)
most recent, relevant data only became
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh of Pacific ocean perch in the Western
available as of July 29, 2016.
Keaton, 907–586–7228. The AA also finds good cause to Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,737
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS waive the 30-day delay in the effective metric tons (mt) as established by the
manages the groundfish fishery in the date of this action under 5 U.S.C. final 2016 and 2017 harvest
GOA exclusive economic zone 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon specifications for groundfish of the Gulf
according to the Fishery Management the reasons provided above for waiver of of Alaska (81 FR 14740, March 18,
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of prior notice and opportunity for public 2016).
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North comment. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
Pacific Fishery Management Council This action is required by § 679.20 the Administrator, Alaska Region,
under authority of the Magnuson- and is exempt from review under NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Executive Order 12866. determined that the 2016 TAC of Pacific
Management Act. Regulations governing ocean perch in the Western Regulatory
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance Area of the GOA will soon be reached.
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES

with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Dated: August 1, 2016. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Emily H. Menashes, establishing a directed fishing
The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) Acting Director, Office of Sustainable allowance of 2,637 mt, and is setting
of dusky rockfish in the Western Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. aside 100 mt as bycatch to support other
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 173 [FR Doc. 2016–18524 Filed 8–1–16; 4:15 pm] anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
metric tons (mt) as established by the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the

VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:37 Aug 03, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\04AUR1.SGM 04AUR1

Document Created: 2016-08-04 02:53:27
Document Modified: 2016-08-04 02:53:27

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.), August 1, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 51379
RIN Number		0648-XE70

81 FR 51379 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 150 (August 4, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration