82 FR 11158 - 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 82, Issue 33 (February 21, 2017)

Page Range		11158-11158
FR Document		2017-03378

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 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11158]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03378]



[[Page 11158]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XF235


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 2017 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 16, 
2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017.

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 2017 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 4,854 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of 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 Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2017 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 4,844 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 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 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 14, 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 15, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03378 Filed 2-15-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

11158 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Stevens Fishery Conservation and Classification
Management Act. Regulations governing
National Oceanic and Atmospheric fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance This action responds to the best
Administration with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 available information recently obtained
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
50 CFR Part 679 Regulations governing sideboard Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
protections for GOA groundfish (AA), finds good cause to waive the
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR requirement to provide prior notice and
RIN 0648–XF235 part 680. opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic The A season allowance of the 2017
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
impracticable and contrary to the public
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
interest. This requirement is
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA
impracticable and contrary to the public
is 4,854 metric tons (mt), as established
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries interest as it would prevent NMFS from
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and responding to the most recent fisheries
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), data in a timely fashion and would
(81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016) and
Commerce. delay the directed fishing closure of
inseason adjustment (81 FR 95063,
Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. December 27, 2016).
the Western Regulatory Area of the
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using the Administrator, Alaska Region, notice providing time for public
pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area NMFS (Regional Administrator) has comment because the most recent,
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action determined that the A season allowance relevant data only became available as
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC of February 14, 2017.
season allowance of the 2017 Pacific apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA The AA also finds good cause to
cod total allowable catch apportioned to waive the 30-day delay in the effective
vessels using pot gear in the Western will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Regulatory Area of the GOA. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
directed fishing allowance of 4,844 mt
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska the reasons provided above for waiver of
and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt
local time (A.l.t.), February 16, 2017, as bycatch to support other anticipated prior notice and opportunity for public
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, groundfish fisheries. In accordance with comment.
2017. § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional This action is required by § 679.20
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrator finds that this directed and is exempt from review under
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. fishing allowance has been reached. Executive Order 12866.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
manages the groundfish fishery in the directed fishing for Pacific cod by
GOA exclusive economic zone vessels using pot gear in the Western Dated: February 15, 2017.
according to the Fishery Management Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the Karen H. Abrams,
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of effective date of this closure the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North maximum retainable amounts at Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Pacific Fishery Management Council § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time [FR Doc. 2017–03378 Filed 2–15–17; 4:15 pm]
under authority of the Magnuson- during a trip. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:42 Feb 17, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1

Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:04:35
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:04:35

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 16, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 11158
RIN Number		0648-XF23

82 FR 11158 - 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 82, Issue 33 (February 21, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration