82 FR 10554 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 29 (February 14, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 29 (February 14, 2017)
| Page Range | 10554-10554 | |
| FR Document | 2017-03039 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 10554] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-03039] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150818742-6210-02] RIN 0648-XF224 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in 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 directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2017 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 10, 2017, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017. 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 A season allowance of the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 2,232 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (81 FR 95063, December 27, 2016). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the A season allowance of the 2017 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,132 mt and is setting aside the remaining 100 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 pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 Acting 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 closure of directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 9, 2017. 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 10, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-03039 Filed 2-10-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![10554 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 29 / Tuesday, February 14, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
Classification Dated: February 9, 2017. determined that the A season allowance
Karen H. Abrams, of the 2017 TAC of pollock in Statistical
The Regional Administrator for the Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Area 610 of the GOA will soon be
NMFS Southeast Region has determined Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. reached. Therefore, the Regional
this temporary rule is necessary for the [FR Doc. 2017–02969 Filed 2–9–17; 4:15 pm] Administrator is establishing a directed
conservation and management of Gulf BILLING CODE 3510–22–P fishing allowance of 2,132 mt and is
king mackerel and is consistent with the setting aside the remaining 100 mt as
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other bycatch to support other anticipated
applicable laws. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
This action is taken under 50 CFR § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator finds that this directed
622.8(b) and 622.388(a)(1) and is Administration
exempt from review under Executive fishing allowance has been reached.
Order 12866. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
50 CFR Part 679 directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
These measures are exempt from the [Docket No. 150818742–6210–02] Area 610 of the GOA.
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
RIN 0648–XF224 After the effective date of this closure
Act because the temporary rule is issued
the maximum retainable amounts at
without prior notice and opportunity for
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
public comment. during a trip.
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
This action responds to the best Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
scientific information available. The Classification
NOAA Assistant Administrator for AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and This action responds to the best
Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to available information recently obtained
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
immediately implement this action to from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Commerce.
close the fishery segment that uses run- Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
around gillnet gear constitutes good (AA), finds good cause to waive the
cause to waive the requirements to SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed requirement to provide prior notice and
provide prior notice and opportunity for fishing for pollock in Statistical Area opportunity for public comment
public comment pursuant to the 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), action is necessary to prevent exceeding U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
because prior notice and opportunity for the A season allowance of the 2017 total impracticable and contrary to the public
public comment on this temporary rule allowable catch of pollock for Statistical interest. This requirement is
is unnecessary and contrary to the Area 610 in the GOA. impracticable and contrary to the public
public interest. Such procedures are DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local interest as it would prevent NMFS from
unnecessary because the rule time (A.l.t.), February 10, 2017, through responding to the most recent fisheries
implementing the commercial quota and 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017. data in a timely fashion and would
the associated AM has already been FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh delay the closure of directed fishing for
subject to notice and comment, and all Keaton, 907–586–7228. pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the
that remains is to notify the public of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
the closure. Prior notice and manages the groundfish fishery in the notice providing time for public
opportunity for public comment is GOA exclusive economic zone comment because the most recent,
according to the Fishery Management relevant data only became available as
contrary to the public interest, because
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of of February 9, 2017.
any delay in the closure of the
commercial harvest could result in the Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North The AA also finds good cause to
commercial quota being exceeded. Pacific Fishery Management Council waive the 30-day delay in the effective
under authority of the Magnuson- date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
There is a need to immediately
Stevens Fishery Conservation and 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
implement this action to protect the
Management Act. Regulations governing the reasons provided above for waiver of
king mackerel resource, because the fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for prior notice and opportunity for public
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 comment.
rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
and opportunity for public comment on The A season allowance of the 2017 This action is required by § 679.20
this action would require time and total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in and is exempt from review under
would potentially result in a harvest Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 2,232 Executive Order 12866.
well in excess of the established quota. metric tons (mt) as established by the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
For the aforementioned reasons, the final 2016 and 2017 harvest Dated: February 10, 2017.
AA also finds good cause to waive the specifications for groundfish in the GOA
Karen H. Abrams,
30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and
inseason adjustment (81 FR 95063, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
December 27, 2016).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), [FR Doc. 2017–03039 Filed 2–10–17; 4:15 pm]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
the Regional Administrator has BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:57 Feb 13, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\14FER1.SGM 14FER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_10583/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-02-13 23:40:05
Document Modified: 2017-02-13 23:40:05
| 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 10, 2017, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 10554 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF22 |
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