81_FR_71842 81 FR 71641 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

81 FR 71641 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 201 (October 18, 2016)

Page Range71641-71642
FR Document2016-25140

NMFS is prohibiting retention of the incidental catch allowance for Pacific Ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific Ocean perch apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71641-71642]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25140]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE966


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch 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 retention of the incidental catch 
allowance for Pacific Ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2016 total 
allowable catch of Pacific Ocean perch apportioned to the incidental 
catch allowance in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been 
reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 14, 
2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.

[[Page 71642]]


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 Pacific Ocean perch 
apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA is 1,500 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 Pacific Ocean perch apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is requiring that catches of the incidental catch allowance for 
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b). This 
closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program for the Central GOA.

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 retention of the incidental catch allowance for 
Pacific Ocean perch 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 October 12, 
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: October 13, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25140 Filed 10-13-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             71641

                                           immediate action to be effective on the                 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                would result in 109 percent of the
                                           fishing grounds and thus efficiently                                                                          Season 2 quota being harvested.
                                           manage the fishery. NMFS could not                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      Additional projections indicate that the
                                           effectively react to this data if, in                   Administration                                        annual TAL is likely to be attained in
                                           implementing the retention limit, it                                                                          Season 3, even with this season 2
                                           allowed a public comment period,                        50 CFR Part 648                                       possession limit reduction. Therefore,
                                           which, for both the quota transfers,                    [Docket No. 160301164–6694–02]                        consistent with § 648.322(b) and (d) we
                                           would preclude fishermen from                                                                                 are reducing the skate wing trip limit
                                                                                                   RIN 0648–XE955                                        from 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) to 9,307 lb
                                           harvesting BFT that are legally available
                                           consistent with all of the regulatory                                                                         (4,222 kg) whole weight [4,100 lb (1,860
                                                                                                   Fisheries of the Northeastern United                  kg) skate wings] to prevent the season 2
                                           criteria.                                               States; Northeast Skate Complex;                      quota from being exceeded. Beginning
                                              Delays in adjusting the retention limit              Adjustment to the Skate Bait Inseason                 October 17, 2016, no person may
                                           may result in the available quota being                 Possession Limit                                      possess on board or land more than
                                           exceeded and NMFS needing to close                      AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    9,307 lb (4,222 kg) of skate bait per trip
                                           the fishery earlier than otherwise would                Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  for the remainder of Season 2 (i.e.,
                                           be necessary under a lower limit. This                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    through October 31, 2016). The 25,000
                                           could adversely affect those General and                Commerce.                                             lb (11,340 kg) skate bait trip limit is
                                           HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels                   ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason                      reinstated on November 1, 2016, the
                                           that would otherwise have an                            adjustment.                                           start of Season 3.
                                           opportunity to harvest BFT under                                                                              Classification
                                           retention limits set in response to the                 SUMMARY:   We announce the reduction of
                                           most recent data available. Limited                     the commercial per-trip skate bait                      This action is taken under 50 CFR
                                           opportunities to harvest the respective                 possession limit from 25,000 lb (11,340               part 648 and is exempt from review
                                           quotas may have negative social and                     kg) to 9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole weight               under Executive Order 12866.
                                           economic impacts for U.S. fishermen                     through October 31, 2016. This action is                Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
                                           that depend upon catching the available                 required to prevent the skate bait Season               Dated: October 13, 2016.
                                           quota within the time periods                           2 quota from being exceeded. This
                                                                                                                                                         Emily H. Menashes,
                                                                                                   announcement informs the public that
                                           designated in the 2006 Consolidated                                                                           Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
                                                                                                   the skate bait possession limit is
                                           HMS FMP, as amended. Adjustment of                                                                            Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                                   reduced.
                                           the retention limit needs to be effective                                                                     [FR Doc. 2016–25139 Filed 10–13–16; 4:15 pm]
                                           as soon as possible to extend fishing                   DATES: Effective October 17, 2016,                    BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                           opportunities for fishermen in                          through October 31, 2016.
                                           geographic areas with access to the                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                           fishery only during this time period.                   William Whitmore, Fishery Policy                      DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                           Therefore, the AA finds good cause                      Analyst, 978–281–9182.
                                                                                                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                           under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior
                                                                                                                                                         Administration
                                           notice and the opportunity for public                   Background
                                           comment. For these reasons, there is                                                                          50 CFR Part 679
                                           good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to                        The bait skate fishery is managed
                                                                                                   primarily through the Northeast Skate                 [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
                                           waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness.
                                                                                                   Complex Fishery Management Plan. The
                                              This action is being taken under                     regulations describing the process to                 RIN 0648–XE966
                                           §§ 635.23(a)(4) and 635.27(a)(9), and is                adjust inseason commercial possession
                                           exempt from review under Executive                                                                            Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
                                                                                                   limits of skate bait are described at 50              Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
                                           Order 12866.                                            CFR 648.322(b) and (d). When the                      in the Central Regulatory Area of the
                                              Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801            National Marine Fisheries Service                     Gulf of Alaska
                                           et seq.                                                 Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic
                                                                                                   Region projects that 90 percent of the                AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                             Dated: October 14, 2016.                              skate bait fishery seasonal quota has                 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                           Emily H. Menashes,                                      been landed, the Regional Administrator               Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                           Acting Director, Office of Sustainable                  is required to reduce the skate bait trip             Commerce.
                                           Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.           limit unless such a reduction would be                ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
                                           [FR Doc. 2016–25309 Filed 10–14–16; 4:15 pm]            expected to prevent attainment of the
                                                                                                   seasonal quota or annual TAL. The                     SUMMARY:   NMFS is prohibiting retention
                                           BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                   current skate bait trip limit is 25,000 lb            of the incidental catch allowance for
                                                                                                   (11,340 kg) and the current skate wing                Pacific Ocean perch in the Central
                                                                                                   trip limit is 9,307 lb (4,222 kg) whole               Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
                                                                                                   weight, 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) skate wings.              (GOA). This action is necessary because
                                                                                                                                                         the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific
                                                                                                   Inseason Action                                       Ocean perch apportioned to the
                                                                                                     Based on commercial landings data                   incidental catch allowance in the
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                                                                                                   reported through October 1, 2016, the                 Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has
                                                                                                   skate bait fishery is projected to reach or           been reached.
                                                                                                   exceed 90 percent of the Season 2 quota               DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
                                                                                                   on or around October 15, 2016. Further,               local time (A.l.t.), October 14, 2016,
                                                                                                   catch projections indicate that retaining             through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
                                                                                                   the current skate bait possession limits              2016.


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                                           71642            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:               Josh     the reasons provided above for waiver of              and not participating in the cooperative
                                           Keaton, 907–586–7228.                                   prior notice and opportunity for public               fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
                                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     NMFS                     comment.                                              Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is
                                           manages the groundfish fishery in the                     This action is required by § 679.20                 391 metric tons (mt) as established by
                                           GOA exclusive economic zone                             and § 679.21 and is exempt from review                the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
                                           according to the Fishery Management                     under Executive Order 12866.                          specifications for groundfish of the GOA
                                           Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of                        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.                   (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
                                           Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North                        Dated: October 13, 2016.                               In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
                                           Pacific Fishery Management Council
                                                                                                   Emily H. Menashes,                                    Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
                                           under authority of the Magnuson-
                                                                                                   Acting Director, Office of Sustainable                (Regional Administrator), has
                                           Stevens Fishery Conservation and
                                                                                                   Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.         determined that the 2016 TAC of
                                           Management Act. Regulations governing
                                           fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance                   [FR Doc. 2016–25140 Filed 10–13–16; 4:15 pm]          sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and
                                           with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                not participating in the cooperative
                                           CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.                                                                             fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
                                              The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC)                                                                       Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has
                                           of Pacific Ocean perch apportioned to                   DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                been reached. Therefore, NMFS is
                                           the incidental catch allowance in the                                                                         requiring that sablefish by vessels using
                                                                                                   National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                           Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is                                                                         trawl gear and not participating in the
                                                                                                   Administration
                                           1,500 metric tons (mt) as established by                                                                      cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
                                           the final 2016 and 2017 harvest                         50 CFR Part 679                                       Program in the Central Regulatory Area
                                           specifications for groundfish of the GOA                                                                      of the GOA be treated as prohibited
                                           (81 FR 14740; March 18, 2016).                          [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]                        species in accordance with § 679.21(b).
                                              In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the               RIN 0648–XE967                                        This closure does not apply to fishing
                                           Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS                                                                            by vessels participating in the
                                           (Regional Administrator), has                           Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic                   cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
                                           determined that the 2016 TAC of Pacific                 Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the                     Program for the Central Regulatory Area
                                           Ocean perch apportioned to the                          Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of                of the GOA.
                                           incidental catch allowance in the                       Alaska
                                           Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has                                                                        Classification
                                           been reached. Therefore, NMFS is                        AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                           requiring that catches of the incidental                Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                     This action responds to the best
                                           catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch                 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    available information recently obtained
                                           in the Central Regulatory Area of the                   Commerce.                                             from the fishery. The Assistant
                                           GOA be treated as prohibited species in                 ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.                      Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
                                           accordance with § 679.21(b). This                                                                             (AA), finds good cause to waive the
                                                                                                   SUMMARY:   NMFS is prohibiting retention              requirement to provide prior notice and
                                           closure does not apply to fishing by
                                                                                                   of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear              opportunity for public comment
                                           vessels participating in the cooperative
                                                                                                   and not participating in the cooperative
                                           fishery of the Rockfish Program for the                                                                       pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
                                                                                                   fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
                                           Central GOA.                                                                                                  U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
                                                                                                   Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
                                                                                                   Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary                impracticable and contrary to the public
                                           Classification
                                                                                                   because the 2016 total allowable catch                interest. This requirement is
                                              This action responds to the best                                                                           impracticable and contrary to the public
                                           available information recently obtained                 of sablefish allocated to vessels using
                                                                                                   trawl gear and not participating in the               interest as it would prevent NMFS from
                                           from the fishery. The Assistant                                                                               responding to the most recent fisheries
                                           Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA                       cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
                                                                                                   Program in the Central Regulatory Area                data in a timely fashion and would
                                           (AA), finds good cause to waive the                                                                           delay prohibiting the retention of
                                           requirement to provide prior notice and                 of the GOA has been reached.
                                                                                                   DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska                   sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and
                                           opportunity for public comment
                                                                                                   local time (A.l.t.), October 14, 2016,                not participating in the cooperative
                                           pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
                                           U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is                 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,              fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
                                           impracticable and contrary to the public                2016.                                                 Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
                                           interest. This requirement is                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh                 NMFS was unable to publish a notice
                                           impracticable and contrary to the public                Keaton, 907–586–7228.                                 providing time for public comment
                                           interest as it would prevent NMFS from                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS                       because the most recent, relevant data
                                           responding to the most recent fisheries                 manages the groundfish fishery in the                 only became available as of October 12,
                                           data in a timely fashion and would                      GOA exclusive economic zone                           2016.
                                           delay prohibiting retention of the                      according to the Fishery Management                      The AA also finds good cause to
                                           incidental catch allowance for Pacific                  Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of                    waive the 30-day delay in the effective
                                           Ocean perch in the Central Regulatory                   Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North                    date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
                                           Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to                     Pacific Fishery Management Council                    553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
                                           publish a notice providing time for                     under authority of the Magnuson-                      the reasons provided above for waiver of
                                           public comment because the most                         Stevens Fishery Conservation and                      prior notice and opportunity for public
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                                           recent, relevant data only became                       Management Act. Regulations governing                 comment.
                                           available as of October 12, 2016.                       fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
                                              The AA also finds good cause to                                                                               This action is required by § 679.20
                                                                                                   with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
                                           waive the 30-day delay in the effective                                                                       and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
                                                                                                   CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
                                           date of this action under 5 U.S.C.                         The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC)               under Executive Order 12866.
                                           553(d)(3). This finding is based upon                   of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear                Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.



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Document Created: 2016-10-17 23:52:19
Document Modified: 2016-10-17 23:52:19
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.), October 14, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
ContactJosh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation81 FR 71641 
RIN Number0648-XE96

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