81 FR 9787 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 38 (February 26, 2016)

Page Range		9787-9788
FR Document		2016-04205

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, including for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian Islands district of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Western Aleutian Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9787-9788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04205]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE471


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area

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, 
including for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the 
Western Aleutian Islands district of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the Western Aleutian Islands district Pacific cod harvest 
limit of the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 
2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (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 Western Aleutian Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit of 
the 2016 TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 3,377 
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) 
and inseason adjustment (81 FR 184, January 5, 2016). In accordance 
with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has 
determined that the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2016 
Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will soon 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 2,377 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 1,000 mt as incidental catch in directed fishing for other 
species. 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 in the Western Aleutian Islands district of the BSAI.
    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 in the Western 
Aleutian Islands district of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of February 22, 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.

[[Page 9788]]

    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 23, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04205 Filed 2-23-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 9787

projected to be reached, by filing a protect the vermilion snapper resource, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
notification to that effect with the Office since the capacity of the fishing fleet Conservation and Management Act.
of the Federal Register, as established by allows for rapid harvest of the Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
Regulatory Amendment 18 (78 FR commercial quota. Prior notice and vessels in accordance with the FMP
47574, August 6, 2013). The reduced opportunity for public comment on this appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
commercial trip limit is 500 lb (227 kg), action would require time and increase and 50 CFR part 679.
gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round the probability that the commercial The Western Aleutian Islands district
weight. Based on current information, sector could exceed its quota. Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2016
NMFS has determined that 75 percent of For the aforementioned reasons, the TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of
the available commercial quota for the AA also finds good cause to waive the the BSAI is 3,377 metric tons (mt) as
January 1 through June 30, 2016, fishing 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this established by the final 2015 and 2016
season for vermilion snapper will be action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). harvest specifications for groundfish in
reached by March 2, 2016. Accordingly, Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015)
NMFS is reducing the commercial trip and inseason adjustment (81 FR 184,
limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb Dated: February 23, 2016.
January 5, 2016). In accordance with
(227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), Emily H. Menashes,
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator,
round weight, in or from the South Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined
Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
that the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest
on March 2, 2016. This reduced [FR Doc. 2016–04191 Filed 2–25–16; 8:45 am] limit of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC in the
commercial trip limit will remain in BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI
effect until the start of the next fishing will soon be reached. Therefore, the
season on July 1, 2016, or until the Regional Administrator is establishing a
commercial quota is reached and the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE directed fishing allowance of 2,377 mt,
commercial sector closes, whichever and is setting aside the remaining 1,000
occurs first. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration mt as incidental catch in directed
Classification fishing for other species. In accordance
50 CFR Part 679 with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
The Regional Administrator,
Administrator finds that this directed
Southeast Region, NMFS, has [Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] fishing allowance has been reached.
determined this temporary rule is
RIN 0648–XE471 Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic directed fishing for Pacific cod in the
vermilion snapper and is consistent Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Western Aleutian Islands district of the
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the BSAI.
other applicable laws. Western Aleutian Islands District of the After the effective date of this closure
This action is taken under 50 CFR Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands the maximum retainable amounts at
622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt from Management Area § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
review under Executive Order 12866. during a trip.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
These measures are exempt from the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Classification
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Act because the temporary rule is issued This action responds to the best
Commerce. available information recently obtained
without opportunity for prior notice and
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. from the fishery. The Assistant
comment.
This action responds to the best SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
scientific information available. The fishing for Pacific cod, including for the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Community Development Quota requirement to provide prior notice and
NOAA (AA), finds that the need to program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian opportunity for public comment
immediately implement this Islands district of the Bering Sea and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
commercial trip limit reduction Aleutian Islands management area U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
constitutes good cause to waive the (BSAI). This action is necessary to impracticable and contrary to the public
requirements to provide prior notice prevent exceeding the Western Aleutian interest. This requirement is
and opportunity for public comment Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit impracticable and contrary to the public
pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 of the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) interest as it would prevent NMFS from
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the responding to the most recent fisheries
and opportunity for public comment on BSAI. data in a timely fashion and would
this temporary rule is unnecessary and delay the directed fishing closure of
contrary to the public interest. Such DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local Pacific cod in the Western Aleutian
procedures are unnecessary, because the time (A.l.t.), February 23, 2016, through Islands district of the BSAI. NMFS was
rule establishing the trip limit has 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. unable to publish a notice providing
already been subject to notice and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh time for public comment because the
comment, and all that remains is to Keaton, 907–586–7228. most recent, relevant data only became
notify the public of the trip limit SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS available as of February 22, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

reduction. Prior notice and opportunity manages the groundfish fishery in the The AA also finds good cause to
for public comment is contrary to the BSAI according to the Fishery waive the 30-day delay in the effective
public interest, because any delay in Management Plan for Groundfish of the date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
reducing the commercial trip limit Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
could result in the commercial quota Management Area (FMP) prepared by the reasons provided above for waiver of
being exceeded. There is a need to the North Pacific Fishery Management prior notice and opportunity for public
immediately implement this action to Council under authority of the comment.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:33 Feb 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\26FER1.SGM 26FER1

$9788 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2016 / Rules and Regulations This action is required by § 679.20 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 23, 2016. and is exempt from review under Emily H. Menashes, Executive Order 12866. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–04205 Filed 2–23–16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:33 Feb 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\26FER1.SGM 26FER1$

Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:37:02
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:37:02

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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 9787
RIN Number		0648-XE47

81 FR 9787 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 38 (February 26, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration