82 FR 11826 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 37 (February 27, 2017)

Page Range		11826-11826
FR Document		2017-03875

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11826]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03875]



[[Page 11826]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XF248


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 
2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2017.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI 
is 34,962 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 
18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season 
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl catcher 
vessels in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 34,000 mt 
and is setting aside the remaining 962 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 catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
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 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 Pacific cod 
by catcher vessels using trawl gear in 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, 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 23, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03875 Filed 2-23-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

11826 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 37 / Monday, February 27, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE in the BSAI will soon be reached. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
National Oceanic and Atmospheric establishing a directed fishing National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration allowance of 34,000 mt and is setting Administration
aside the remaining 962 mt as bycatch
50 CFR Part 679 to support other anticipated groundfish 50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] fisheries. In accordance with [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02]
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
RIN 0648–XF248 RIN 0648–XE989
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in directed fishing for Pacific cod by Aleutian Islands; 2017 and 2018
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
Management Area BSAI.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
After the effective date of this closure Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the maximum retainable amounts at
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Commerce.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
during a trip.
Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; closures.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Classification
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2017
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed This action responds to the best and 2018 harvest specifications and
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels available information recently obtained prohibited species catch allowances for
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and from the fishery. The Acting Assistant the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea
Aleutian Islands management area Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to (AA), finds good cause to waive the (BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the A season requirement to provide prior notice and establish harvest limits for groundfish
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod opportunity for public comment during the 2017 and 2018 fishing years,
total allowable catch allocated to pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 and to accomplish the goals and
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is objectives of the Fishery Management
BSAI. impracticable and contrary to the public Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
interest. This requirement is
local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 2017, (FMP). The intended effect of this action
impracticable and contrary to the public
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, is to conserve and manage the
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
2017. groundfish resources in the BSAI in
responding to the most recent fisheries accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh data in a timely fashion and would Fishery Conservation and Management
Keaton, 907–586–7228. delay the closure of directed fishing for Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Pacific cod by catcher vessels using
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska
manages the groundfish fishery in the trawl gear in the BSAI. NMFS was local time (A.l.t.), February 27, 2017,
BSAI exclusive economic zone unable to publish a notice providing through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
according to the Fishery Management time for public comment because the 2018.
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea most recent, relevant data only became
and Aleutian Islands Management Area available as of February 22, 2017. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Alaska Groundfish Harvest
The AA also finds good cause to Specifications Final Environmental
Fishery Management Council under waive the 30-day delay in the effective
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Decision (ROD), Supplementary
Fishery Conservation and Management 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Act. Regulations governing fishing by Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and
the reasons provided above for waiver of the Initial Regulatory Flexibility
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP prior notice and opportunity for public
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action
comment. are available from http://
and 50 CFR part 679.
The A season apportionment of the This action is required by § 679.20 alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2016
2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch and is exempt from review under Stock Assessment and Fishery
(TAC) allocated to catcher vessels using Executive Order 12866. Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
trawl gear in the BSAI is 34,962 metric groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. November 2016, as well as the SAFE
tons (mt) as established by the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for Dated: February 23, 2017. reports for previous years, are available
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, Karen H. Abrams, from the North Pacific Fishery
March 18, 2016) and inseason Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Management Council (Council) at 605
adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

2017). [FR Doc. 2017–03875 Filed 2–23–17; 4:15 pm]
AK 99510–2252, phone 907–271–2809,
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), or from the Council’s Web site at http://
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
the Administrator, Alaska Region, www.npfmc.org/.
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
determined that the A season Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal
TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels regulations at 50 CFR part 679

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:46 Feb 24, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\27FER1.SGM 27FER1

Document Created: 2017-02-25 01:05:42
Document Modified: 2017-02-25 01:05:42

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 23, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2017.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 11826
RIN Number		0648-XF24

82 FR 11826 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 37 (February 27, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration