82 FR 20287 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 82 (May 1, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 82 (May 1, 2017)
| Page Range | 20287-20287 | |
| FR Document | 2017-08750 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 20287] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-08750] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF389 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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 2017 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 106 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017). The Regional Administrator has determined that the 2017 ITAC for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is necessary to account for the incidental catch of this species in other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2017 fishing year. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowance for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 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 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 Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as April 25, 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 26, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-08750 Filed 4-28-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 20287
implemented through this action help to Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
ensure that the Northeast multispecies Commerce. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
common pool fishery may achieve the ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
optimum yield (OY) for the relevant subarea of the BSAI.
stocks, while controlling catch to help SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
After the effective date of this closure
prevent inseason closures or quota fishing for Greenland turbot in the
the maximum retainable amounts at
overages. Delay of this action would Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
leave the common pool fishery with no Sea and Aleutian Islands management
during a trip.
possession or trip limits to control catch area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
and would likely lead to early closure prevent exceeding the 2017 Greenland Classification
of a trimester and quota overages. Any turbot initial total allowable catch
overage of catch must be deducted from (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea This action responds to the best
the Trimester 3 quota, which could of the BSAI. available information recently obtained
substantially disrupt the trimester DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
from the fishery. The Assistant
structure and intent to distribute the time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2017, through 2400 Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
fishery across the entire fishing year. An hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
overage reduction in Trimester 3 would requirement to provide prior notice and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
further reduce fishing opportunities for opportunity for public comment
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
common pool vessels and likely result pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
in early closure of Trimester 3. manages the groundfish fishery in the
This would undermine management impracticable and contrary to the public
BSAI according to the Fishery interest. This requirement is
objectives of the Northeast Multispecies
Management Plan for Groundfish of the impracticable and contrary to the public
Fishery Management Plan and cause
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands interest as it would prevent NMFS from
unnecessary negative economic impacts
Management Area (FMP) prepared by responding to the most recent fisheries
to the common pool fishery.
the North Pacific Fishery Management data in a timely fashion and would
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Council under authority of the delay the directed fishing closure of
Dated: April 26, 2017. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
Karen H. Abrams, Conservation and Management Act. subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Regulations governing fishing by U.S. to publish a notice providing time for
Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service. vessels in accordance with the FMP public comment because the most
[FR Doc. 2017–08809 Filed 4–27–17; 4:15 pm] appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 recent, relevant data only became
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P and 50 CFR part 679. available as April 25, 2017.
The 2017 Greenland turbot ITAC in
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI The AA also finds good cause to
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is 106 metric tons (mt) as established by waive the 30-day delay in the effective
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric specifications for groundfish in the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Administration BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017). the reasons provided above for waiver of
The Regional Administrator has prior notice and opportunity for public
50 CFR Part 679 determined that the 2017 ITAC for comment.
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands This action is required by § 679.20
subarea of the BSAI is necessary to and is exempt from review under
RIN 0648–XF389 account for the incidental catch of this Executive Order 12866.
species in other anticipated groundfish Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
fisheries for the 2017 fishing year.
Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in Dated: April 26, 2017.
Therefore, in accordance with
the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Karen H. Abrams,
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Administrator establishes the directed
Management Area Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
fishing allowance for Greenland turbot
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the [FR Doc. 2017–08750 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2017-04-29 03:16:06
Document Modified: 2017-04-29 03:16:06
| 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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 20287 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF38 |
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