82 FR 35910 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 147 (August 2, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 147 (August 2, 2017)
| Page Range | 35910-35910 | |
| FR Document | 2017-16187 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 35910] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-16187] [[Page 35910]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF576 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Aleutian Islands District 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 Pacific cod, including for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian Islands district of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Western Aleutian Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 29, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 Western Aleutian Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2017 TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 4,018 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, has determined that the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,818 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 1,200 mt as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species. 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 in the Western Aleutian Islands district 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 Pacific cod in the Western Aleutian Islands district 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 27, 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: July 27, 2017. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-16187 Filed 7-28-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![35910 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Management Plan for Groundfish of the Classification
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
National Oceanic and Atmospheric This action responds to the best
Management Area (FMP) prepared by
Administration available information recently obtained
the North Pacific Fishery Management
from the fishery. The Assistant
Council under authority of the
50 CFR Part 679 Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] Conservation and Management Act.
requirement to provide prior notice and
Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
RIN 0648–XF576 opportunity for public comment
vessels in accordance with the FMP
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
and 50 CFR part 679.
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the impracticable and contrary to the public
Western Aleutian Islands District of the The Western Aleutian Islands district interest. This requirement is
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific cod harvest limit of the 2017 impracticable and contrary to the public
Management Area TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of interest as it would prevent NMFS from
the BSAI is 4,018 metric tons (mt) as responding to the most recent fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries established by the final 2017 and 2018 data in a timely fashion and would
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and harvest specifications for groundfish in delay the directed fishing closure of
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, Pacific cod in the Western Aleutian
Commerce. 2017). In accordance with Islands district of the BSAI. NMFS was
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, unable to publish a notice providing
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined time for public comment because the
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed that the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest most recent, relevant data only became
fishing for Pacific cod, including for the limit of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC in the available as of July 27, 2017.
Community Development Quota Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI
program (CDQ), in the Western Aleutian The AA also finds good cause to
will soon be reached. Therefore, the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Islands district of the Bering Sea and Regional Administrator is establishing a
Aleutian Islands management area date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
directed fishing allowance of 2,818 mt, 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
(BSAI). This action is necessary to and is setting aside the remaining 1,200
prevent exceeding the Western Aleutian the reasons provided above for waiver of
mt as incidental catch in directed prior notice and opportunity for public
Islands district Pacific cod harvest limit fishing for other species. In accordance
of the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) comment.
with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional This action is required by § 679.20
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Administrator finds that this directed
BSAI. and is exempt from review under
fishing allowance has been reached. Executive Order 12866.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
time (A.l.t.), July 29, 2017, through 2400 directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Western Aleutian Islands district of the Dated: July 27, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh BSAI. Jennifer M. Wallace,
Keaton, 907–586–7228. After the effective date of this closure Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS the maximum retainable amounts at Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
manages the groundfish fishery in the § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time [FR Doc. 2017–16187 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
BSAI according to the Fishery during a trip. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\02AUR1.SGM 02AUR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_36057/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-08-02 07:10:00
Document Modified: 2017-08-02 07:10:00
| 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 29, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 35910 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF57 |
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