82 FR 16947 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 16947-16947 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06985 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 16947] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06985] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 160920866-7167-02] RIN 0648-XF325 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Hook-and-Line 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line 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 catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 4, 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 catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,700 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). 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 catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,690 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 catcher/processors using hook-and-line 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 by catcher/processors using hook-and-line 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 April 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 4, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-06985 Filed 4-4-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 16947
the reasons provided above for waiver of season allowance of the 2017 Pacific fishing allowance has been reached.
prior notice and opportunity for public cod total allowable catch apportioned to Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
comment. catcher/processors using hook-and-line directed fishing for Pacific cod by
Without this inseason adjustment, gear in the Western Regulatory Area of catcher/processors using hook-and-line
NMFS could not allow the fishery for the GOA. gear in the Western Regulatory Area of
Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska the GOA. After the effective date of this
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA local time (A.l.t.), April 4, 2017, through closure, the maximum retainable
to be harvested in an expedient manner 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017. amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
and in accordance with the regulatory FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: any time during a trip.
schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2), Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
interested persons are invited to submit Classification
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
written comments on this action to the This action responds to the best
above address until April 24, 2017. manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone available information recently obtained
This action is required by § 679.25 from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
and is exempt from review under according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Executive Order 12866. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Pacific Fishery Management Council requirement to provide prior notice and
Dated: April 4, 2017. under authority of the Magnuson- opportunity for public comment
Stevens Fishery Conservation and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Karen H. Abrams,
Management Act. Regulations governing U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 interest. This requirement is
[FR Doc. 2017–07003 Filed 4–4–17; 4:15 pm]
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. impracticable and contrary to the public
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Regulations governing sideboard interest as it would prevent NMFS from
protections for GOA groundfish responding to the most recent fisheries
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR data in a timely fashion and would
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
part 680. delay the directed fishing closure of
National Oceanic and Atmospheric The A season allowance of the 2017 Pacific cod by catcher/processors using
Administration Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) hook-and-line gear in the Western
apportioned to catcher/processors using Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was
50 CFR Part 679 hook-and-line gear in the Western unable to publish a notice providing
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,700 time for public comment because the
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] most recent, relevant data only became
metric tons (mt), as established by the
RIN 0648–XF325 final 2017 and 2018 harvest available as of April 3, 2017.
specifications for groundfish of the GOA The AA also finds good cause to
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Catcher/Processors Using Hook-and- the Administrator, Alaska Region, 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Line Gear in the Western Regulatory NMFS (Regional Administrator) has the reasons provided above for waiver of
Area of the Gulf of Alaska determined that the A season allowance prior notice and opportunity for public
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC comment.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and apportioned to catcher/processors using This action is required by § 679.20
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hook-and-line gear in the Western and is exempt from review under
Commerce. Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon Executive Order 12866.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. be reached. Therefore, the Regional Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Administrator is establishing a directed
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing allowance of 2,690 mt and is Dated: April 4, 2017.
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ setting aside the remaining 10 mt as Karen H. Abrams,
processors using hook-and-line gear in bycatch to support other anticipated Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
of Alaska (GOA). This action is § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional [FR Doc. 2017–06985 Filed 4–4–17; 4:15 pm]
necessary to prevent exceeding the A Administrator finds that this directed BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2017-04-06 23:49:43
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 23:49:43
| 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; closure. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 4, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 16947 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF32 |
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