81 FR 71642 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 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 Range		71642-71643
FR Document		2016-25138

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program 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 71642-71643]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25138]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE967


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program 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.

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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 391 
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 sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program 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 Regulatory Area of the 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 the retention of sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program 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.


[[Page 71643]]


    Dated: October 13, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25138 Filed 10-13-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES

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.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:31 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\18OCR1.SGM 18OCR1

$Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 71643 Dated: October 13, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–25138 Filed 10–13–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:31 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\18OCR1.SGM 18OCR1$

Document Created: 2016-10-17 23:52:24
Document Modified: 2016-10-17 23:52:24

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.), October 14, 2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 71642
RIN Number		0648-XE96

81 FR 71642 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration