81 FR 57807 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 164 (August 24, 2016)

Page Range		57807-57807
FR Document		2016-20308

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57807]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20308]



[[Page 57807]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE832


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 
in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI 
trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch 
in the CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited 
access fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2016, 
through 2400 hrs, 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 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 2016 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, in the CAI, allocated to 
vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery was 
established as a directed fishing allowance of 618 metric tons 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)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 
ocean perch in the CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access fishery.
    After the effective dates 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 a 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 the Pacific ocean perch directed fishery in 
the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access 
fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public 
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as 
of August 18, 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 19, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20308 Filed 8-19-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 24, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 57807

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE After the effective dates of this SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
closure, the maximum retainable fishing for species that comprise the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at deep-water species fishery by vessels
Administration any time during a trip. using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary because
50 CFR Part 679 Classification
the third seasonal apportionment of the
This action responds to the best Pacific halibut bycatch allowance
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] available information recently obtained specified for the trawl deep-water
RIN 0648–XE832
from the fishery. The Assistant species fishery in the GOA has been
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, reached.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic (AA) finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch local time (A.l.t.), August 20, 2016,
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1,
Management Area 2016.
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries is impracticable and contrary to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and public interest. This requirement is Keaton, 907–586–7228.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), impracticable and contrary to the public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Commerce. interest as it would prevent NMFS from manages the groundfish fishery in the
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. responding to the most recent fisheries GOA exclusive economic zone
data in a timely fashion and would according to the Fishery Management
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed delay the closure of the Pacific ocean Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the perch directed fishery in the CAI for Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the vessels participating in the BSAI trawl Pacific Fishery Management Council
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands limited access fishery. NMFS was under authority of the Magnuson-
management area (BSAI) by vessels unable to publish a notice providing Stevens Fishery Conservation and
participating in the BSAI trawl limited time for public comment because the Management Act. Regulations governing
access fishery. This action is necessary most recent, relevant data only became fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
to prevent exceeding the 2016 total available as of August 18, 2016. The AA with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean also finds good cause to waive the 30- CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
perch in the CAI allocated to vessels day delay in the effective date of this The third seasonal apportionment of
participating in the BSAI trawl limited action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance
access fishery. finding is based upon the reasons specified for the deep-water species in
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local provided above for waiver of prior the GOA by vessels not participating in
time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2016, through notice and opportunity for public the cooperative fishery in the Rockfish
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. comment. Program of the Central GOA, is 159
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This action is required by § 679.20 metric tons (mt). This apportionment
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. and is exempt from review under was established by the final 2016 and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Executive Order 12866. 2017 harvest specifications for
manages the groundfish fishery in the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740,
BSAI exclusive economic zone Dated: August 19, 2016. March 18, 2016) and reapportionment
according to the Fishery Management Alan D. Risenhoover,
(81 FR 45423, July 14, 2016), for the
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea period 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1, 2016,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service.
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1,
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 2016.
[FR Doc. 2016–20308 Filed 8–19–16; 4:15 pm]
Fishery Management Council under In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(i),
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens the Administrator, Alaska Region,
Fishery Conservation and Management NMFS, has determined that the third
Act. Regulations governing fishing by DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE seasonal apportionment of Pacific
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP halibut bycatch allowance specified for
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 National Oceanic and Atmospheric deep-water species by vessels using
and 50 CFR part 679. Administration trawl gear in the GOA has been reached.
The 2016 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
in the CAI, allocated to vessels 50 CFR Part 679 directed fishing for the deep-water
participating in the BSAI trawl limited species by vessels using trawl gear in
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] the GOA. The species and species
access fishery was established as a
directed fishing allowance of 618 metric RIN 0648–XE822 groups that comprise the deep-water
tons by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest species fishery include sablefish,
specifications for groundfish in the Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016). Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species and arrowtooth flounder. This closure
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in does not apply to fishing by vessels
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES

the Regional Administrator finds that the Gulf of Alaska participating in the cooperative fishery
this directed fishing allowance has been AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries in the Rockfish Program for the Central
reached. Consequently, NMFS is Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and GOA.
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), After the effective date of this closure
ocean perch in the CAI by vessels Commerce. the maximum retainable amounts at
participating in the BSAI trawl limited § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
access fishery. during a trip.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:56 Aug 23, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\24AUR1.SGM 24AUR1

Document Created: 2016-08-24 03:03:13
Document Modified: 2016-08-24 03:03:13

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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
Contact		Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 57807
RIN Number		0648-XE83

81 FR 57807 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 164 (August 24, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration