81_FR_6485 81 FR 6460 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

81 FR 6460 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 25 (February 8, 2016)

Page Range6460-6461
FR Document2016-02394

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ processors using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the A season allowance of the 2016 total allowable catch apportioned to catcher/ processors using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 25 (Monday, February 8, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6460-6461]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02394]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE426


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear 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; modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/
processors using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the A season 
allowance of the 2016 total allowable catch apportioned to catcher/
processors using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 
2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
February 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

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.
    NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors 
using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA under Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2016 pursuant to the final 2015 and 
2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (80 FR 
10250, February 25, 2015) and inseason adjustment (81 FR 188, January 
5, 2016).
    NMFS has determined that as of February 1, 2016, approximately 200 
metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the A season allowance of the 2016 
Pacific cod apportionment for catcher/processors using trawl gear in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully 
use the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure 
and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors 
using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) considered 
the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch 
of Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated 
intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in 
this fishery.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained

[[Page 6461]]

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 
opening of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using 
trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable 
to publish a notification providing time for public comment because the 
most recent, relevant data only became available as of February 1, 
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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner and 
in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.  679.25(c)(2), 
interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this 
action to the above address until February 23, 2016.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.25 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 3, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-02394 Filed 2-3-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

6460 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 25 / Monday, February 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 2016 harvest specifications for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE submitted voluntarily by the sender will groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, be publicly accessible. NMFS will March 5, 2015). National Oceanic and Atmospheric accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ Administration A’’ in the required fields if you wish to In accordance with § 679.64(a)(2) and (3), the Administrator, Alaska Region, remain anonymous). Attachments to 50 CFR Part 679 electronic comments will be accepted in NMFS (Regional Administrator), has [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF determined that the sideboard limit of file formats only. red king crab in Zone 1 specified for the RIN 0648–XE426 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: AFA catcher processors in the BSAI will Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. be caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing with trawl Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS gear in Zone 1, other than pelagic trawl Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear manages the groundfish fishery in the gear for walleye pollock, by AFA trawl in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA exclusive economic zone catcher processors in the BSAI. Gulf of Alaska according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Classification AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Pacific Fishery Management Council This action responds to the best Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under authority of the Magnuson- available information recently obtained Commerce. Stevens Fishery Conservation and from the fishery. The Assistant ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of Management Act. Regulations governing Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, a closure. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance (AA), finds good cause to waive the with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 requirement to provide prior notice and SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. opportunity for public comment fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ Regulations governing sideboard pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 processors using trawl gear in the protections for GOA groundfish U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary part 680. impracticable and contrary to the public to fully use the A season allowance of NMFS closed directed fishing for interest. This requirement is the 2016 total allowable catch Pacific cod by catcher/processors using impracticable and contrary to the public apportioned to catcher/processors using interest as it would prevent NMFS from trawl gear in the Western Regulatory trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA under responding to the most recent fisheries Area of the GOA. data in a timely fashion and would § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2016 DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska pursuant to the final 2015 and 2016 delay the closure of directed fishing local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 2016, with trawl gear, other than pelagic trawl harvest specifications for groundfish of through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, the Gulf of Alaska (80 FR 10250, gear for walleye pollock, by AFA trawl 2016. Comments must be received at the February 25, 2015) and inseason catcher processors in Zone 1 of the following address no later than 4:30 adjustment (81 FR 188, January 5, 2016). BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a p.m., A.l.t., February 23, 2016. NMFS has determined that as of notification providing time for public ADDRESSES: You may submit comments February 1, 2016, approximately 200 comment because the most recent, on this document, identified by NOAA– metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the relevant data only became available as NMFS–2014–0118, by any of the A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific of February 1, 2016. following methods: cod apportionment for catcher/ The AA also finds good cause to • Electronic Submission: Submit all processors using trawl gear in the waive the 30-day delay in the effective electronic public comments via the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to Therefore, in accordance with 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon www.regulations.gov/ § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and the reasons provided above for waiver of #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014- (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2016 prior notice and opportunity for public 0118, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific comment. complete the required fields, and enter cod in the Western Regulatory Area of or attach your comments. the GOA, NMFS is terminating the This action is required by § 679.21 • Mail: Submit written comments to previous closure and is opening and is exempt from review under Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional directed fishing for Pacific cod by Executive Order 12866. Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries catcher/processors using trawl gear in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: the Western Regulatory Area of the Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. GOA. The Administrator, Alaska Dated: February 3, 2016. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) Emily H. Menashes, Instructions: Comments sent by any considered the following factors in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable other method, to any other address or reaching this decision: (1) The current Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. individual, or received after the end of catch of Pacific cod by catcher/ [FR Doc. 2016–02391 Filed 2–3–16; 4:15 pm] the comment period, may not be processors using trawl gear in the asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–P considered by NMFS. All comments Western Regulatory Area of the GOA received are a part of the public record and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated and will generally be posted for public intent on future harvesting patterns of viewing on www.regulations.gov vessels in participating in this fishery. without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address), Classification confidential business information, or This action responds to the best otherwise sensitive information available information recently obtained VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:19 Feb 05, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\08FER1.SGM 08FER1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 25 / Monday, February 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 6461 from the fishery. The Assistant publish a notification providing time for with the regulatory schedule. Under Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA public comment because the most § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are (AA), finds good cause to waive the recent, relevant data only became invited to submit written comments on requirement to provide prior notice and available as of February 1, 2016. this action to the above address until opportunity for public comment The AA also finds good cause to February 23, 2016. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 waive the 30-day delay in the effective This action is required by § 679.25 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is date of this action under 5 U.S.C. impracticable and contrary to the public 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon and is exempt from review under interest. This requirement is the reasons provided above for waiver of Executive Order 12866. impracticable and contrary to the public prior notice and opportunity for public Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. interest as it would prevent NMFS from comment. Dated: February 3, 2016. responding to the most recent fisheries Without this inseason adjustment, data in a timely fashion and would NMFS could not allow the fishery for Emily H. Menashes, delay the opening of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested in an [FR Doc. 2016–02394 Filed 2–3–16; 4:15 pm] Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to expedient manner and in accordance BILLING CODE 3510–22–P asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:19 Feb 05, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08FER1.SGM 08FER1


Document Created: 2016-02-06 00:24:54
Document Modified: 2016-02-06 00:24:54
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; modification of a closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016. Comments must be
ContactObren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation81 FR 6460 
RIN Number0648-XE42
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