82 FR 13267 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 46 (March 10, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 46 (March 10, 2017)
| Page Range | 13267-13267 | |
| FR Document | 2017-04702 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 46 (Friday, March 10, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 13267] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-04702] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 160920866-7167-02 and 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF270 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; opening. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2017, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2017. This period is the same as the 2017 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2017, until 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations. Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the rationale supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final rule implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments. This announcement is consistent with Sec. 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the halibut season, adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The directed fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2017, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2017. This period runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC. The IFQ halibut season will be specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. 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 opening of the sablefish fishery thereby increasing bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish fishery and the halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of the management objective for simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 3, 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. 679.23 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 6, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-04702 Filed 3-9-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 46 / Friday, March 10, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 13267
[FR Doc. 2017–04768 Filed 3–9–17; 8:45 am] sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ Classification
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P regulatory areas defined in 50 CFR 679.2
has been managed under the IFQ This action responds to the best
Program. The IFQ Program is a available information recently obtained
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE regulatory regime designed to promote from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
the conservation and management of Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric these fisheries and to further the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Administration objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens requirement to provide prior notice and
Fishery Conservation and Management opportunity for public comment
50 CFR Part 679 Act and the Northern Pacific Halibut pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Act. Persons holding quota share receive U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02 and
161020985–7181–02] an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons impracticable and contrary to the public
receiving an annual allocation of IFQ interest. This requirement is
RIN 0648–XF270 impracticable and contrary to the public
are authorized to harvest IFQ species
within specified limitations. Further interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic responding to the most recent fisheries
Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed information on the implementation of
the IFQ Program, and the rationale data in a timely fashion and would
Under the Individual Fishing Quota delay the opening of the sablefish
Program supporting it, are contained in the
preamble to the final rule implementing fishery thereby increasing bycatch and
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the IFQ Program published in the regulatory discards between the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 sablefish fishery and the halibut fishery,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), FR 59375) and subsequent amendments. and preventing the accomplishment of
Commerce. the management objective for
ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.
This announcement is consistent with simultaneous opening of these two
§ 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed directed fishing season for sablefish a notice providing time for public
fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program be comment because the most recent,
managed under the Individual Fishing specified by the Administrator, Alaska relevant data only became available as
Quota (IFQ) Program and the Region, and announced by publication of March 3, 2017.
Community Development Quota (CDQ) in the Federal Register. This method of
Program. The season will open 1200 The AA also finds good cause to
season announcement was selected to
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March waive the 30-day delay in the effective
facilitate coordination between the
11, 2017, and will close 1200 hours, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
sablefish season, chosen by the
A.l.t., November 7, 2017. This period is 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Administrator, Alaska Region, and the
the same as the 2017 commercial the reasons provided above for waiver of
halibut season, adopted by the
halibut fishery opening dates adopted prior notice and opportunity for public
International Pacific Halibut
by the International Pacific Halibut comment.
Commission (IPHC). The directed
Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut fishing season for sablefish with fixed This action is required by § 679.23
season is specified by a separate gear managed under the IFQ Program and is exempt from review under
publication in the Federal Register of will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, Executive Order 12866.
annual management measures. 2017, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2017. This period runs
March 11, 2017, until 1200 hours, A.l.t., Dated: March 6, 2017.
concurrently with the IFQ season for
November 7, 2017. Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC. Karen H. Abrams,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The IFQ halibut season will be specified Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. by a separate publication in the Federal Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning Register of annual management [FR Doc. 2017–04702 Filed 3–9–17; 8:45 am]
in 1995, fishing for Pacific halibut and measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:52:43
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:52:43
| 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; opening. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2017, until 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2017. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 13267 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF27 |
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