82 FR 41358 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 168 (August 31, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 168 (August 31, 2017)
| Page Range | 41358-41358 | |
| FR Document | 2017-18496 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 168 (Thursday, August 31, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 41358] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-18496] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF656 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in 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 ocean perch in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 28, 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 exclusive economic zone 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 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, in the CAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery was established as a directed fishing allowance of 619 metric tons 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)(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 CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. After the effective dates 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 a 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 the Pacific ocean perch directed fishery in the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a document providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 25, 2017. The Acting 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 28, 2017. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-18496 Filed 8-28-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![41358 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 168 / Thursday, August 31, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
periods. Limited opportunities to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE specifications for groundfish in the
harvest the respective quotas may have BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017).
negative social and economic impacts National Oceanic and Atmospheric In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
for U.S. fishermen that depend upon Administration the Regional Administrator finds that
catching the available quota within the this directed fishing allowance has been
time periods designated in the 2006 50 CFR Part 679 reached. Consequently, NMFS is
Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended. [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
Adjustment of the retention limit needs ocean perch in the CAI by vessels
RIN 0648–XF656 participating in the BSAI trawl limited
to be effective September 1, 2017, to
extend fishing opportunities for access fishery.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
fishermen in all geographic areas, Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch After the effective dates of this
consistent with objectives of the 2006 in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands closure, the maximum retainable
Consolidated HMS FMP and provide Management Area amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
equitable opportunities. any time during a trip.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Prior notice and an opportunity for Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Classification
public comment is also impracticable Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), This action responds to the best
for the retention limit adjustment to one Commerce. available information recently obtained
fish for the September and subsequent ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. from the fishery. The Assistant
subquota periods. By adopting the one- Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
fish limit for the remainder of the year SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed (AA) finds good cause to waive the
through this action, NMFS avoids fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the requirement to provide prior notice and
confusion that would arise for the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the opportunity for public comment
regulated community from two inseason Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
actions adopting the same limit. management area (BSAI) by vessels U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
participating in the BSAI trawl limited is impracticable and contrary to the
Therefore, the AA finds good cause
access fishery. This action is necessary public interest. This requirement is
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior
to prevent exceeding the 2017 total impracticable and contrary to the public
notice and the opportunity for public
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean interest as it would prevent NMFS from
comment. For these reasons, there is perch in the CAI allocated to vessels
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to responding to the most recent fisheries
participating in the BSAI trawl limited data in a timely fashion and would
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. access fishery. delay the closure of the Pacific ocean
This action is being taken under DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local perch directed fishery in the CAI for
§ 635.23(a)(4), and is exempt from time (A.l.t.), August 28, 2017, through vessels participating in the BSAI trawl
review under Executive Order 12866. 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. limited access fishery. NMFS was
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: unable to publish a document providing
et seq. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. time for public comment because the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS most recent, relevant data only became
Dated: August 28, 2017.
manages the groundfish fishery in the available as of August 25, 2017. The
Alan D. Risenhoover, BSAI exclusive economic zone Acting AA also finds good cause to
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, according to the Fishery Management waive the 30-day delay in the effective
National Marine Fisheries Service. Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
[FR Doc. 2017–18493 Filed 8–28–17; 4:15 pm] and Aleutian Islands Management Area 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific the reasons provided above for waiver of
Fishery Management Council under prior notice and opportunity for public
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens comment.
Fishery Conservation and Management This action is required by § 679.20
Act. Regulations governing fishing by and is exempt from review under
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP Executive Order 12866.
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2017 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, Dated: August 28, 2017.
in the CAI, allocated to vessels Alan D. Risenhoover,
participating in the BSAI trawl limited Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
access fishery was established as a National Marine Fisheries Service.
directed fishing allowance of 619 metric [FR Doc. 2017–18496 Filed 8–28–17; 4:15 pm]
tons by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
nlaroche on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:11 Aug 30, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\31AUR1.SGM 31AUR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_41526/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-09-23 10:08:12
Document Modified: 2017-09-23 10:08:12
| 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.), August 28, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 41358 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF65 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR