82_FR_16604 82 FR 16540 - 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

82 FR 16540 - 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 64 (April 5, 2017)

Page Range16540-16541
FR Document2017-06723

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 B 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 64 (Wednesday, April 5, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 5, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16540-16541]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06723]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF334


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 B 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.), April 3, 2017, 
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 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 B season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI 
is 5,197 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2017 and 2018 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, 
February 27, 2017.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the B 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 4,697 mt 
and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 March 30, 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

[[Page 16541]]

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 31, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06723 Filed 3-31-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

16540 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 5, 2017 / Rules and Regulations Required Determinations PART 17—ENDANGERED AND (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS Fishery Management Council under National Environmental Policy Act (42 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 3. The authority citation for part 17 ■ Fishery Conservation and Management We have determined that continues to read as follows: Act. Regulations governing fishing by environmental assessments and Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 1531– U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP environmental impact statements, as 1544; and 4201–4245, unless otherwise appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 defined under the authority of the noted. and 50 CFR part 679. National Environmental Policy Act, The B season apportionment of the need not be prepared in connection § 17.11 [Amended] 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch with listing or reclassification of a ■ 4. Amend § 17.11(h) by removing the (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels using species as an endangered or threatened entries for ‘‘Parakeet, scarlet-chested’’ trawl gear in the BSAI is 5,197 metric species under the Endangered Species and ‘‘Parakeet, turquoise’’ under BIRDS tons (mt) as established by the final Act. We published a notice outlining in the List of Endangered and 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for our reasons for this determination in the Threatened Wildlife. groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, Federal Register on October 25, 1983 February 27, 2017. (48 FR 49244). Dated: March 3, 2017. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), James W. Kurth the Administrator, Alaska Region, References Cited Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife NMFS (Regional Administrator), has A complete list of references cited in Service. determined that the B season this rulemaking is available on the [FR Doc. 2017–06663 Filed 4–4–17; 8:45 am] apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod Internet at http://www.regulations.gov BILLING CODE 4333–15–P TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels under Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2015– in the BSAI will soon be reached. 0176 or upon request (see FOR FURTHER Therefore, the Regional Administrator is INFORMATION CONTACT). establishing a directed fishing DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE allowance of 4,697 mt and is setting Authors aside the remaining 500 mt as bycatch This final rule was authored by staff National Oceanic and Atmospheric to support other anticipated groundfish of the Branch of Foreign Species, Administration fisheries. In accordance with Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional and Wildlife Service. 50 CFR Part 679 Administrator finds that this directed List of Subjects fishing allowance has been reached. [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 50 CFR Part 15 directed fishing for Pacific cod by Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping RIN 0648–XF334 catcher vessels using trawl gear in the requirements, Wildlife. BSAI. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic After the effective date of this closure 50 CFR Part 17 Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by the maximum retainable amounts at Endangered and threatened species, Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Exports, Imports, Reporting and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands during a trip. recordkeeping requirements, Management Area Transportation. Classification AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Regulation Promulgation Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and This action responds to the best Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), available information recently obtained Accordingly, we amend part 15 and from the fishery. The Acting Assistant part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title Commerce. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. (AA), finds good cause to waive the as set forth below: requirement to provide prior notice and SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels opportunity for public comment PART 15—WILD BIRD using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 CONSERVATION ACT Aleutian Islands management area U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is ■ 1. The authority citation for part 15 (BSAI). This action is necessary to impracticable and contrary to the public continues to read as follows: prevent exceeding the B season interest. This requirement is apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod impracticable and contrary to the public Authority: 16 U.S.C. 4901–4916. total allowable catch allocated to interest as it would prevent NMFS from ■ 2. Amend § 15.33(a) by: responding to the most recent fisheries ■ a. Amending the entries in the table catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI. data in a timely fashion and would for ‘‘Neophema pulchella 1 (Turquoise delay the closure of directed fishing for parrot.)’’ and ‘‘Neophema splendida 1 DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Pacific cod by catcher vessels using (Scarlet-chested parrot.)’’ by removing local time (A.l.t.), April 3, 2017, through trawl gear in the BSAI. NMFS was the footnote superscripts; and 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017. ■ b. Revising footnote 1 following the unable to publish a notice providing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh time for public comment because the table to read as follows: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES Keaton, 907–586–7228. most recent, relevant data only became § 15.33 Species included in the approved SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS available as of March 30, 2017. list. manages the groundfish fishery in the The AA also finds good cause to (a) * * * BSAI exclusive economic zone waive the 30-day delay in the effective 1 Note: Permits are still required for this according to the Fishery Management date of this action under 5 U.S.C. species under part 17 of this chapter. Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon * * * * * and Aleutian Islands Management Area the reasons provided above for waiver of VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:35 Apr 04, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\05APR1.SGM 05APR1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 5, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 16541 prior notice and opportunity for public This action is required by § 679.20 Dated: March 31, 2017. comment. and is exempt from review under Karen H. Abrams, Executive Order 12866. Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–06723 Filed 3–31–17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:35 Apr 04, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\05APR1.SGM 05APR1


Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:47:24
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:47:24
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 3, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017.
ContactJosh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation82 FR 16540 
RIN Number0648-XF33
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