82 FR 32262 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 133 (July 13, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 133 (July 13, 2017)
| Page Range | 32262-32262 | |
| FR Document | 2017-14686 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 133 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 32262] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-14686] [[Page 32262]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF537 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea 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 retention of sablefish by non-CDQ vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2017 sablefish initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI has been reached. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 10, 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 non-CDQ sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is 541 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)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2017 non-CDQ sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that sablefish caught with non-CDQ vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b). 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 prohibiting retention of sablefish by non-CDQ vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea 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 of July 6, 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. Sec. 679.20 and 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: July 10, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-14686 Filed 7-10-17; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![32262 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 133 / Thursday, July 13, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BSAI according to the Fishery (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Management Plan for Groundfish of the requirement to provide prior notice and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands opportunity for public comment
Administration Management Area (FMP) prepared by pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
the North Pacific Fishery Management U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
50 CFR Part 679 Council under authority of the impracticable and contrary to the public
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] Magnuson-Stevens Fishery interest. This requirement is
Conservation and Management Act. impracticable and contrary to the public
RIN 0648–XF537 Regulations governing fishing by U.S. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
vessels in accordance with the FMP responding to the most recent fisheries
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 data in a timely fashion and would
Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the
and 50 CFR part 679. delay prohibiting retention of sablefish
Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea
The 2017 non-CDQ sablefish trawl by non-CDQ vessels using trawl gear in
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries BSAI is 541 metric tons (mt) as NMFS was unable to publish a notice
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and established by the final 2017 and 2018 providing time for public comment
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), harvest specifications for groundfish in because the most recent, relevant data
Commerce. the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, only became available as of July 6, 2017.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 2017). In accordance with The AA also finds good cause to
§ 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, waive the 30-day delay in the effective
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
of sablefish by non-CDQ vessels using Administrator), has determined that the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of 2017 non-CDQ sablefish trawl ITAC in the reasons provided above for waiver of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI has prior notice and opportunity for public
management area (BSAI). This action is been reached. Therefore, NMFS is comment.
necessary because the 2017 sablefish requiring that sablefish caught with This action is required by §§ 679.20
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in non-CDQ vessels using trawl gear in the and 679.21 and is exempt from review
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI has Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI be under Executive Order 12866.
been reached. treated as prohibited species in
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
accordance with § 679.21(b).
time (A.l.t.), July 10, 2017, through 2400 Dated: July 10, 2017.
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Classification Emily H. Menashes,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This action responds to the best Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. available information recently obtained Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS from the fishery. The Assistant [FR Doc. 2017–14686 Filed 7–10–17; 11:15 am]
manages the groundfish fishery in the Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2017-07-13 01:00:25
Document Modified: 2017-07-13 01:00:25
| 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.), July 10, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 32262 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF53 |
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