82 FR 38611 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 156 (August 15, 2017)

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will be reached.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38611]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17137]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF573


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in 
the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

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 retention of sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of 
sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat 
District of the GOA will be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 9, 
2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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.
    The 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) of sablefish allocated to 
vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the GOA is 211 
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)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2017 TAC 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat 
District of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
sablefish caught by vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat 
District of the GOA 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 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 prohibiting the retention of sablefish by 
vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District 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 
August 8, 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 Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 9, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-17137 Filed 8-9-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P