82_FR_41737 82 FR 41568 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

82 FR 41568 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 169 (September 1, 2017)

Page Range41568-41569
FR Document2017-18607

NMFS is prohibiting retention of the incidental catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41568-41569]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18607]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF671


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area 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 the incidental catch 
allowance for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total 
allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch apportioned to the incidental 
catch allowance in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been 
reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 29, 
2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 
apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA is 2,000 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 Pacific ocean perch apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is requiring that catches of the incidental catch allowance for 
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b). This 
closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program for the Central GOA.

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

[[Page 41569]]

interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent 
fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay prohibiting 
retention of the incidental catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch in 
the Central Regulatory Area 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 22, 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 29, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18607 Filed 8-29-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

41568 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations reflect the underharvest of pollock in seasonal apportionment of the TAC in SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention those areas during the B season. In Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the of the incidental catch allowance for addition, any underharvest remaining revised C seasonal apportionment of Pacific ocean perch in the Central beyond 20 percent of the originally pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska specified seasonal apportionment in a 19,063 mt (15,886 mt plus 3,177 mt). (GOA). This action is necessary because particular area may be further the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific apportioned to other statistical areas. Classification ocean perch apportioned to the Therefore, NMFS also is increasing the This action responds to the best incidental catch allowance in the C season apportionment of pollock to available information recently obtained Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has Statistical Areas 610 and 630 based on from the fishery. The Assistant been reached. the underharvest of pollock in Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Statistical Areas 620 of the GOA. These (AA), finds good cause to waive the local time (A.l.t.), August 29, 2017, adjustments are described below. requirement to provide prior notice and through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, The C seasonal apportionment of the opportunity for public comment 2017. 2017 pollock TAC in Statistical Area pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 610 of the GOA is 19,569 metric tons U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Keaton, 907–586–7228. (mt) as established by the final 2017 and impracticable and contrary to the public 2018 harvest specifications for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS interest. This requirement is groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032; impracticable and contrary to the public manages the groundfish fishery in the February 27, 2017). In accordance with interest as it would prevent NMFS from GOA exclusive economic zone § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, responding to the most recent fisheries according to the Fishery Management Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional data in a timely fashion and would Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Administrator), hereby increases the C provide opportunity to harvest Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North season apportionment for Statistical increased pollock seasonal Pacific Fishery Management Council Area 610 by 3,914 mt to account for the apportionments. NMFS was unable to under authority of the Magnuson- underharvest of the TAC in Statistical publish a notice providing time for Stevens Fishery Conservation and Areas 610 and 620 in the B season. This public comment because the most Management Act. Regulations governing increase is in proportion to the recent, relevant data only became fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance estimated pollock biomass and is not available as of August 25, 2017. with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 greater than 20 percent of the C seasonal The AA also finds good cause to CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. apportionment of the TAC in Statistical waive the 30-day delay in the effective The 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) Area 610. Therefore, the revised C date of this action under 5 U.S.C. of Pacific ocean perch apportioned to seasonal apportionment of the pollock 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the incidental catch allowance in the TAC in Statistical Area 610 is 23,483 mt the reasons provided above for waiver of Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is (19,569 mt plus 3,914 mt). prior notice and opportunity for public 2,000 metric tons (mt) as established by The C seasonal apportionment of the comment. the final 2017 and 2018 harvest pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of This action is required by § 679.20 specifications for groundfish of the GOA the GOA is 12,341 mt as established by and is exempt from review under (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). the final 2017 and 2018 harvest Executive Order 12866. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the specifications for groundfish of the GOA Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (Regional Administrator), has (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), Dated: August 29, 2017. determined that the 2017 TAC of Pacific the Regional Administrator hereby Alan D. Risenhoover, ocean perch apportioned to the increases the C seasonal apportionment Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, incidental catch allowance in the for Statistical Area 620 by 2,468 mt to National Marine Fisheries Service. Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has account for the underharvest of the TAC [FR Doc. 2017–18575 Filed 8–29–17; 4:15 pm] been reached. Therefore, NMFS is in Statistical Areas 620 in the B season. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P requiring that catches of the incidental This increase is not greater than 20 catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch percent of the C seasonal apportionment in the Central Regulatory Area of the of the TAC in Statistical Area 620. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GOA be treated as prohibited species in Therefore, the revised C seasonal accordance with § 679.21(b). This apportionment of the pollock TAC in National Oceanic and Atmospheric closure does not apply to fishing by Statistical Area 620 is 14,809 mt (12,341 Administration vessels participating in the cooperative mt plus 2,468 mt). fishery of the Rockfish Program for the The C seasonal apportionment of 50 CFR Part 679 Central GOA. pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of [Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] Classification the GOA is 15,886 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest RIN 0648–XF671 This action responds to the best specifications for groundfish of the GOA available information recently obtained (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). In Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic from the fishery. The Assistant accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA the Regional Administrator hereby in the Central Regulatory Area of the (AA), finds good cause to waive the sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES increases the C seasonal apportionment Gulf of Alaska requirement to provide prior notice and for Statistical Area 630 by 3,177 mt to AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries opportunity for public comment account for the underharvest of the TAC Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 in Statistical Areas 620 and 630 in the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is B season. This increase is in proportion Commerce. impracticable and contrary to the public to the estimated pollock biomass and is interest. This requirement is ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. not greater than 20 percent of the C impracticable and contrary to the public VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\01SER1.SGM 01SER1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 41569 interest as it would prevent NMFS from The AA also finds good cause to Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. responding to the most recent fisheries waive the 30-day delay in the effective Dated: August 29, 2017. data in a timely fashion and would date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Alan D. Risenhoover, delay prohibiting retention of the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon incidental catch allowance for Pacific Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, the reasons provided above for waiver of National Marine Fisheries Service. ocean perch in the Central Regulatory prior notice and opportunity for public Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to [FR Doc. 2017–18607 Filed 8–29–17; 4:15 pm] comment. publish a notice providing time for BILLING CODE 3510–22–P public comment because the most This action is required by § 679.20 recent, relevant data only became and § 679.21 and is exempt from review available as of August 22, 2017. under Executive Order 12866. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:20 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\01SER1.SGM 01SER1


Document Created: 2017-09-01 01:50:47
Document Modified: 2017-09-01 01:50:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 29, 2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
ContactJosh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation82 FR 41568 
RIN Number0648-XF67
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