82 FR 16306 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 63 (April 4, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 63 (April 4, 2017)
| Page Range | 16306-16306 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06644 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 16306] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06644] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 160920866-7167-02] RIN 0648-XF332 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective March 31, 2017 through 1200 hours, Alaska local time (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. The A season allowance of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 6,933 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 1,500 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B) the Regional Administrator has also determined that vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA currently have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation and reallocates 1,500 mt to vessels using pot gear. Therefore, NMFS apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the A season apportionments for catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 26, 2017) are revised as follows: 5,433 mt to the A season apportionment and 12,141 mt to the annual amount for catcher vessels using trawl gear and 7,349 mt to the A season apportionment and 10,621 mt to the annual amount to vessels using pot gear. 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 29, 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: March 30, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-06644 Filed 3-30-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![16306 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
changes implemented could range from FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: mt to the annual amount to vessels
a temporary closure of duck hunting in Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. using pot gear.
a small geographic area to large-scale SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Classification
regional or Statewide long-term closures manages the groundfish fishery in the
of all subsistence migratory bird This action responds to the best
GOA exclusive economic zone
hunting. These closures or temporary available information recently obtained
according to the Fishery Management
suspensions will remain in effect until from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
the Regional Director, in consultation Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
with the Co-management Council, (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Pacific Fishery Management Council
determines that the potential for requirement to provide prior notice and
under authority of the Magnuson-
additional Steller’s eiders to be taken no opportunity for public comment
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
longer exists. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Management Act. Regulations governing
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Dated: March 28, 2017. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
impracticable and contrary to the public
Maureen D. Foster, with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
interest. This requirement is
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
impracticable and contrary to the public
Wildlife and Parks. The A season allowance of the 2017 interest as it would prevent NMFS from
[FR Doc. 2017–06592 Filed 3–31–17; 8:45 am] Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) responding to the most recent fisheries
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P apportioned to catcher vessels using data in a timely fashion and would
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory delay the reallocation of Pacific cod
Area of the GOA is 6,933 metric tons specified from catcher vessels using
(mt), as established by the final 2017 trawl gear to vessels using pot gear.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
and 2018 harvest specifications for Since the fishery is currently open, it is
National Oceanic and Atmospheric groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, important to immediately inform the
Administration February 27, 2017). industry as to the revised allocations.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, Immediate notification is necessary to
50 CFR Part 679 NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has allow for the orderly conduct and
determined that catcher vessels using efficient operation of this fishery, to
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] trawl gear will not be able to harvest allow the industry to plan for the fishing
1,500 mt of the A season apportionment season, and to avoid potential
RIN 0648–XF332 of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic those vessels under processors. NMFS was unable to
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). In accordance publish a notice providing time for
Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory with § 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B) the Regional public comment because the most
Area of the Gulf of Alaska Administrator has also determined that recent, relevant data only became
vessels using pot gear in the Central available as of March 29, 2017.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Regulatory Area of the GOA currently The AA also finds good cause to
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and have the capacity to harvest this excess waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allocation and reallocates 1,500 mt to date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Commerce. vessels using pot gear. Therefore, NMFS 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the reasons provided above for waiver of
the A season apportionments for catcher prior notice and opportunity for public
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the vessels using trawl gear to vessels using comment.
projected unused amount of Pacific cod pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area This action is required by § 679.20
from catcher vessels using trawl gear to of the GOA. and is exempt from review under
vessels using pot gear in the Central The harvest specifications for Pacific Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska cod included in the final 2017 and 2018
(GOA). This action is necessary to allow Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the A season apportionment of the 2017 the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 26, Dated: March 30, 2017.
total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be 2017) are revised as follows: 5,433 mt to Karen H. Abrams,
harvested. the A season apportionment and 12,141 Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
DATES: Effective March 31, 2017 through mt to the annual amount for catcher Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), vessels using trawl gear and 7,349 mt to [FR Doc. 2017–06644 Filed 3–30–17; 4:15 pm]
June 10, 2017. the A season apportionment and 10,621 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:52 Apr 03, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\04APR1.SGM 04APR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_16369/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-04-03 23:53:20
Document Modified: 2017-04-03 23:53:20
| 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; reallocation. | |
| Dates | Effective March 31, 2017 through 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 10, 2017. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 16306 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF33 |
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