81 FR 51380 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 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		51380-51380
FR Document		2016-18523

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern 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 northern 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 51380]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18523]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE707


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern 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 
northern 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 northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 457 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 northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be 
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing 
a directed fishing allowance of 50 mt, and is setting aside 407 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 northern 
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 northern 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. 2016-18523 Filed 8-1-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

51380 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 150 / Thursday, August 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

Regional Administrator finds that this DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Regulatory Area of the GOA will be
directed fishing allowance has been soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional
reached. Consequently, NMFS is National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator is establishing a directed
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific Administration fishing allowance of 50 mt, and is
ocean perch in the Western Regulatory setting aside 407 mt as bycatch to
Area of the GOA. 50 CFR Part 679 support other anticipated groundfish
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] fisheries. In accordance with
After the effective date of this closure
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
the maximum retainable amounts at RIN 0648–XE707 Administrator finds that this directed
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time fishing allowance has been reached.
during a trip. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in directed fishing for northern rockfish in
Classification the Western Regulatory Area of the the Western Regulatory Area of the
This action responds to the best Gulf of Alaska GOA.
available information recently obtained AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries After the effective date of this closure
from the fishery. The Assistant Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the maximum retainable amounts at
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
(AA), finds good cause to waive the Commerce. during a trip.
requirement to provide prior notice and ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
Classification
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed This action responds to the best
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is fishing for northern rockfish in the available information recently obtained
impracticable and contrary to the public Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of from the fishery. The Assistant
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
interest. This requirement is
to prevent exceeding the 2016 total (AA), finds good cause to waive the
impracticable and contrary to the public
allowable catch of northern rockfish in requirement to provide prior notice and
interest as it would prevent NMFS from the Western Regulatory Area of the
responding to the most recent fisheries opportunity for public comment
GOA. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Pacific ocean perch in the Western local time (A.l.t.), August 1, 2016, impracticable and contrary to the public
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, interest. This requirement is
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was
2016. impracticable and contrary to the public
unable to publish a notice providing
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh interest as it would prevent NMFS from
time for public comment because the responding to the most recent fisheries
most recent, relevant data only became Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS data in a timely fashion and would
available as of July 29, 2016. delay the closure of directed fishing for
manages the groundfish fishery in the
The AA also finds good cause to GOA exclusive economic zone northern rockfish in the Western
waive the 30-day delay in the effective according to the Fishery Management Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of unable to publish a notice providing
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North time for public comment because the
the reasons provided above for waiver of Pacific Fishery Management Council most recent, relevant data only became
prior notice and opportunity for public under authority of the Magnuson- available as of July 29, 2016.
comment. Stevens Fishery Conservation and The AA also finds good cause to
This action is required by § 679.20 Management Act. Regulations governing waive the 30-day delay in the effective
and is exempt from review under fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Executive Order 12866.
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. the reasons provided above for waiver of
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) prior notice and opportunity for public
Dated: August 1, 2016. of northern rockfish in the Western comment.
Emily H. Menashes, Regulatory Area of the GOA is 457 This action is required by § 679.20
metric tons (mt) as established by the and is exempt from review under
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
final 2016 and 2017 harvest Executive Order 12866.
specifications for groundfish of the Gulf Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[FR Doc. 2016–18522 Filed 8–1–16; 4:15 pm]
of Alaska (81 FR 14740, March 18,
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 2016). Dated: August 1, 2016.
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), Emily H. Menashes,
the Administrator, Alaska Region, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
determined that the 2016 TAC of [FR Doc. 2016–18523 Filed 8–1–16; 4:15 pm]
northern rockfish in the Western BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:37 Aug 03, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\04AUR1.SGM 04AUR1

Document Created: 2016-08-04 02:53:17
Document Modified: 2016-08-04 02:53:17

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 51380
RIN Number		0648-XE70

81 FR 51380 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 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