81 FR 8859 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

Page Range		8859-8859
FR Document		2016-03732

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8859]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE457


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Using Pot 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; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 
season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch 
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 19, 
2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 5,417 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) and inseason adjustment (81 FR 
188, January 5, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot 
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 5,407 mt and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt 
as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. 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 cod by 
vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. After 
the effective date 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 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 directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for vessels 
using pot gear 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 February 17, 
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: February 18, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-03732 Filed 2-18-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 8859

As such, NMFS has been working to Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
better understand diet linkages between Commerce. directed fishing for Pacific cod by
forage fish species and higher order ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. vessels using pot gear in the Western
predators to enhance the ecosystem Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the
science used in our fisheries SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed effective date of this closure the
management. fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using maximum retainable amounts at
pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Classification
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action during a trip.
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the is necessary to prevent exceeding the A
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery season allowance of the 2016 Pacific Classification
Conservation and Management Act, the cod total allowable catch apportioned to
Assistant Administrator, NMFS, has vessels using pot gear in the Western This action responds to the best
determined that this final rule is Regulatory Area of the GOA. available information recently obtained
consistent with the CPS FMP, other from the fishery. The Assistant
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens local time (A.l.t.), February 19, 2016, Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Fishery Conservation and Management through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Act, and other applicable law. 2016. requirement to provide prior notice and
These specifications are exempt from opportunity for public comment
review under Executive Order 12866. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
the Department of Commerce certified SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS impracticable and contrary to the public
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the manages the groundfish fishery in the interest. This requirement is
Small Business Administration during GOA exclusive economic zone
the proposed rule stage that this action impracticable and contrary to the public
according to the Fishery Management interest as it would prevent NMFS from
would not have a significant economic Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
impact on a substantial number of small responding to the most recent fisheries
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North data in a timely fashion and would
entities. The factual basis for the Pacific Fishery Management Council
certification was published in the delay the directed fishing closure of
under authority of the Magnuson-
proposed rule and is not repeated here. Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
No comments were received regarding the Western Regulatory Area of the
Management Act. Regulations governing
this certification. As a result, a fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
regulatory flexibility analysis was not with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 notice providing time for public
required and none was prepared. CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. comment because the most recent,
This action does not contain a Regulations governing sideboard relevant data only became available as
collection-of-information requirement protections for GOA groundfish of February 17, 2016.
for purposes of the Paperwork fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR The AA also finds good cause to
Reduction Act. part 680. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The A season allowance of the 2016 date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Dated: February 12, 2016. Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Samuel D. Rauch III, apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the reasons provided above for waiver of
Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA prior notice and opportunity for public
Regulatory Programs, National Marine is 5,417 metric tons (mt), as established comment.
Fisheries Service. by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA This action is required by § 679.20
[FR Doc. 2016–03610 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]
(80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) and and is exempt from review under
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
inseason adjustment (81 FR 188, January Executive Order 12866.
5, 2016). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
Dated: February 18, 2016.
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric NMFS (Regional Administrator) has Alan D. Risenhoover,
Administration determined that the A season allowance Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC National Marine Fisheries Service.
50 CFR Part 679 apportioned to vessels using pot gear in [FR Doc. 2016–03732 Filed 2–18–16; 4:15 pm]

[Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
will soon be reached. Therefore, the
RIN 0648–XE457 Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 5,407 mt
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
as bycatch to support other anticipated
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Administrator finds that this directed
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and fishing allowance has been reached.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Feb 22, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\23FER1.SGM 23FER1

Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:33:47
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:33:47

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.), February 19, 2016, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2016.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 8859
RIN Number		0648-XE45

81 FR 8859 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration