82 FR 38612 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 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)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 156 (August 15, 2017)
| Page Range | 38612-38612 | |
| FR Document | 2017-17133 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 38612] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-17133] [[Page 38612]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 160920866-7167-02] RIN 0648-XF572 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. 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: Stephanie Warpinski, 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 Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,786 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the (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 2017 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,686 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100 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 ocean perch in the West Yakutat District 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 closure of directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 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 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. 2017-17133 Filed 8-9-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![38612 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 15, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Pacific Fishery Management Council from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
under authority of the Magnuson- Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Stevens Fishery Conservation and (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Administration Management Act. Regulations governing requirement to provide prior notice and
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance opportunity for public comment
50 CFR Part 679 with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02]
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
The 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) impracticable and contrary to the public
RIN 0648–XF572 of Pacific ocean perch in the West interest. This requirement is
Yakutat District of the GOA is 2,786 impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic metric tons (mt) as established by the
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch interest as it would prevent NMFS from
final 2017 and 2018 harvest responding to the most recent fisheries
in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf specifications for groundfish of the (82
of Alaska data in a timely fashion and would
FR 12032, February 27, 2017). delay the closure of directed fishing for
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the Administrator, Alaska Region,
District of the GOA. NMFS was unable
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2017 TAC of Pacific to publish a notice providing time for
Commerce. public comment because the most
ocean perch in the West Yakutat District
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. recent, relevant data only became
of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is available as of August 8, 2017.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the establishing a directed fishing The AA also finds good cause to
West Yakutat District of the Gulf of allowance of 2,686 mt, and is setting waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
to prevent exceeding the 2017 total to support other anticipated groundfish 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch fisheries. In accordance with the reasons provided above for waiver of
in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional prior notice and opportunity for public
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
Administrator finds that this directed comment.
local time (A.l.t.), August 9, 2017, fishing allowance has been reached. This action is required by § 679.20
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting and is exempt from review under
2017. directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch Executive Order 12866.
in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: After the effective date of this closure Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Stephanie Warpinski, 907–586–7228. the maximum retainable amounts at Dated: August 9, 2017.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
manages the groundfish fishery in the Emily H. Menashes,
during a trip.
GOA exclusive economic zone Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
according to the Fishery Management Classification Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of This action responds to the best [FR Doc. 2017–17133 Filed 8–9–17; 4:15 pm]
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North available information recently obtained BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2017-08-15 01:12:50
Document Modified: 2017-08-15 01:12:50
| 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.), August 9, 2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Stephanie Warpinski, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 38612 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF57 |
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