81_FR_5650 81 FR 5628 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

81 FR 5628 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 22 (February 3, 2016)

Page Range5628-5628
FR Document2016-01989

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5628]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01989]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE419


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central 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 Pacific cod by 
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 
season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch 
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 
2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 6,528 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) and inseason adjustment (81 FR 
188, January 5, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot 
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 6,518 mt and is setting aside the remaining 10 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 
vessels using pot gear in the Central 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 directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for vessels 
using pot gear in the Central 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 January 28, 
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: January 29, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01989 Filed 1-29-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

5628 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2016 / Rules and Regulations and inseason adjustment (81 FR 184, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NMFS (Regional Administrator) has January 5, 2016) are revised as follows: determined that the A season allowance 137 mt to the A season apportionment National Oceanic and Atmospheric of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC and 1,394 mt to the annual amount for Administration apportioned to vessels using pot gear in vessels using jig gear, and 6,226 mt to the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) 50 CFR Part 679 will soon be reached. Therefore, the LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,518 mt Classification RIN 0648–XE419 and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated This action responds to the best Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic groundfish fisheries. In accordance with available information recently obtained Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional from the fishery. The Assistant Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Administrator finds that this directed Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska fishing allowance has been reached. (AA), finds good cause to waive the Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries requirement to provide prior notice and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and directed fishing for Pacific cod by opportunity for public comment Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), vessels using pot gear in the Central pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 Commerce. Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is effective date of this closure the ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. impracticable and contrary to the public maximum retainable amounts at interest. This requirement is SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time impracticable and contrary to the public fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using during a trip. interest as it would prevent NMFS from pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area Classification responding to the most recent fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action data in a timely fashion and would is necessary to prevent exceeding the A This action responds to the best delay the reallocation of Pacific cod season allowance of the 2016 Pacific available information recently obtained specified from jig vessels to catcher cod total allowable catch apportioned to from the fishery. The Assistant vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA vessels using pot gear in the Central Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since Regulatory Area of the GOA. (AA), finds good cause to waive the the fishery is currently open, it is DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska requirement to provide prior notice and important to immediately inform the local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 2016, opportunity for public comment through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 industry as to the revised allocations. 2016. U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Immediate notification is necessary to impracticable and contrary to the public allow for the orderly conduct and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: interest. This requirement is efficient operation of this fishery, to Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. impracticable and contrary to the public allow the industry to plan for the fishing SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS interest as it would prevent NMFS from season, and to avoid potential manages the groundfish fishery in the responding to the most recent fisheries disruption to the fishing fleet as well as GOA exclusive economic zone data in a timely fashion and would processors. NMFS was unable to according to the Fishery Management delay the directed fishing closure of publish a notice providing time for Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in public comment because the most Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. recent, relevant data only became Pacific Fishery Management Council NMFS was unable to publish a notice available as of January 28, 2016. under authority of the Magnuson- providing time for public comment The AA also finds good cause to Stevens Fishery Conservation and because the most recent, relevant data waive the 30-day delay in the effective Management Act. Regulations governing only became available as of January 28, date of this action under 5 U.S.C. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance 2016. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 The AA also finds good cause to the reasons provided above for waiver of CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. waive the 30-day delay in the effective Regulations governing sideboard date of this action under 5 U.S.C. prior notice and opportunity for public protections for GOA groundfish 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon comment. fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR the reasons provided above for waiver of This action is required by § 679.20 part 680. prior notice and opportunity for public and is exempt from review under The A season allowance of the 2016 comment. Executive Order 12866. Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) This action is required by § 679.20 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. apportioned to vessels using pot gear in and is exempt from review under the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA Executive Order 12866. Dated: January 29, 2016. is 6,528 metric tons (mt), as established Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Emily H. Menashes, by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest Acting Director, Office of Sustainable specifications for groundfish of the GOA Dated: January 29, 2016. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) and Emily H. Menashes, [FR Doc. 2016–01992 Filed 1–29–16; 4:15 pm] inseason adjustment (81 FR 188, January Acting Director, Office of Sustainable tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES 5, 2016). Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), [FR Doc. 2016–01989 Filed 1–29–16; 4:15 pm] the Administrator, Alaska Region, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Feb 02, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\03FER1.SGM 03FER1


Document Created: 2016-02-03 00:40:01
Document Modified: 2016-02-03 00:40:01
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016.
ContactObren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation81 FR 5628 
RIN Number0648-XE41
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