81 FR 64784 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 183 (September 21, 2016)

Page Range		64784-64784
FR Document		2016-22724

NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64784]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22724]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE894


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker 
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 retention of shortraker rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 19, 
2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 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.
    The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 38 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2016 TAC 
of shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will 
be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that shortraker rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species 
in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b).

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 prohibiting the retention of shortraker 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 September 15, 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 Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 16, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22724 Filed 9-16-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$64784 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, from the fishery. The Assistant Dated: September 16, 2016. 2016. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Emily H. Menashes, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (AA), finds good cause to waive the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. requirement to provide prior notice and Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS opportunity for public comment [FR Doc. 2016–22694 Filed 9–20–16; 8:45 am] manages the groundfish fishery in the pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P GOA exclusive economic zone U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is according to the Fishery Management impracticable and contrary to the public Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of interest. This requirement is DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North impracticable and contrary to the public Pacific Fishery Management Council interest as it would prevent NMFS from National Oceanic and Atmospheric under authority of the Magnuson- responding to the most recent fisheries Administration Stevens Fishery Conservation and data in a timely fashion and would Management Act. Regulations governing delay prohibiting the retention of 50 CFR Part 679 fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance shortraker rockfish in the Western [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. unable to publish a notice providing RIN 0648–XE894 time for public comment because the The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the Western most recent, relevant data only became Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish Regulatory Area of the GOA is 38 metric available as of September 15, 2016. in the Western Regulatory Area of the tons (mt) as established by the final The AA also finds good cause to Gulf of Alaska 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for waive the 30-day delay in the effective groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, date of this action under 5 U.S.C. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries March 18, 2016). 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the the reasons provided above for waiver of Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS prior notice and opportunity for public Commerce. (Regional Administrator), has comment. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. determined that the 2016 TAC of shortraker rockfish in the Western This action is required by § 679.20 SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention Regulatory Area of the GOA will be and § 679.21 and is exempt from review of shortraker rockfish in the Western reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring under Executive Order 12866. Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska that shortraker rockfish in the Western Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (GOA). This action is necessary because Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated the 2016 total allowable catch of Dated: September 16, 2016. as prohibited species in accordance shortraker rockfish in the Western with § 679.21(b). Emily H. Menashes, Regulatory Area of the GOA will be Acting Director, Office of Sustainable reached. Classification Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska This action responds to the best [FR Doc. 2016–22724 Filed 9–16–16; 4:15 pm] local time (A.l.t.), September 19, 2016, available information recently obtained BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:23 Sep 20, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM 21SER1$

Document Created: 2016-09-21 01:31:43
Document Modified: 2016-09-21 01:31:43

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.), September 19, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 64784
RIN Number		0648-XE89

81 FR 64784 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 183 (September 21, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration