82 FR 42047 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 171 (September 6, 2017)

Page Range		42047-42048
FR Document		2017-18862

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 6feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook- and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 171 (Wednesday, September 6, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 6, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42047-42048]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18862]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF675


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
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; modification of a closure; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels less than 6feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-
and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2017 total 
allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels less than 
60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 
2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
September 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, by 
either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/
A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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.

[[Page 42048]]

    NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 
less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI under 
Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 7, 2017 (82 FR 9530, February 7, 
2017).
    NMFS has determined that as of August 30, 2017, approximately 1,175 
metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 2017 Pacific cod apportionment 
for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 
gear in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(i), 
(a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2017 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating 
the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear 
in the BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional 
Administrator) considered the following factors in reaching this 
decision: (1) The current catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels less 
than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI and, (2) 
the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of 
vessels in participating in this fishery.

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 opening of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 
BSAI. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly 
conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry 
to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to 
the fishing fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of August 30, 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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-
and-line or pot gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient manner 
and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.  
679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
on this action to the above address until September 21, 2017.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.25 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: August 31, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18862 Filed 8-31-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$42048 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 6, 2017 / Rules and Regulations NMFS closed directed fishing for Classification The AA also finds good cause to Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than waive the 30-day delay in the effective 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot This action responds to the best date of this action under 5 U.S.C. gear in the BSAI under available information recently obtained 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 7, 2017 from the fishery. The Assistant the reasons provided above for waiver of (82 FR 9530, February 7, 2017). Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA prior notice and opportunity for public NMFS has determined that as of (AA), finds good cause to waive the comment. August 30, 2017, approximately 1,175 requirement to provide prior notice and metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the opportunity for public comment Without this inseason adjustment, 2017 Pacific cod apportionment for pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 NMFS could not allow the fishery for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than using hook-and-line or pot gear in the impracticable and contrary to the public 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with interest. This requirement is gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and impracticable and contrary to the public expedient manner and in accordance (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2017 interest as it would prevent NMFS from with the regulatory schedule. Under total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific responding to the most recent fisheries § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating data in a timely fashion and would invited to submit written comments on the previous closure and is opening delay the opening of directed fishing for this action to the above address until directed fishing for Pacific cod by Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than September 21, 2017. catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot using hook-and-line or pot gear in the gear in the BSAI. Immediate notification This action is required by § 679.25 BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska is necessary to allow for the orderly and is exempt from review under Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) conduct and efficient operation of this Executive Order 12866. considered the following factors in fishery, to allow the industry to plan for Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. reaching this decision: (1) The current the fishing season, and to avoid Dated: August 31, 2017. catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels potential disruption to the fishing fleet less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and- and processors. NMFS was unable to Alan D. Risenhoover, line or pot gear in the BSAI and, (2) the publish a notice providing time for Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, harvest capacity and stated intent on public comment because the most National Marine Fisheries Service. future harvesting patterns of vessels in recent, relevant data only became [FR Doc. 2017–18862 Filed 8–31–17; 4:15 pm] participating in this fishery. available as of August 30, 2017. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P nlaroche on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:36 Sep 05, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\06SER1.SGM 06SER1$

Document Created: 2017-09-06 00:56:47
Document Modified: 2017-09-06 00:56:47

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; modification of a closure; request for comments.
Dates		Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Comments must be
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 42047
RIN Number		0648-XF67

82 FR 42047 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 171 (September 6, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration