82 FR 48204 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 199 (October 17, 2017)

Page Range		48204-48204
FR Document		2017-22454

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48204]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF756


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (ALT), October 12, 2017, 
through 2400 hours, ALT, 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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 439 
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 by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program 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 Regulatory Area of the 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 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 and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program 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 October 6, 
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: October 12, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22454 Filed 10-12-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$48204 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 17, 2017 / Rules and Regulations digit telephone numbers to hearing DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Program for the Central Regulatory Area individuals for the limited purpose of local time (ALT), October 12, 2017, of the GOA. making point-to-pint video calls, and (2) through 2400 hours, ALT, December 31, Classification gives VRS providers the option to 2017. participate in an at-home call handling FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh This action responds to the best pilot program, subject to certain Keaton, 907–586–7228. available information recently obtained limitations, as well as recordkeeping from the fishery. The Assistant and reporting requirements. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA manages the groundfish fishery in the (AA), finds good cause to waive the Federal Communications Commission. GOA exclusive economic zone requirement to provide prior notice and Marlene H. Dortch, according to the Fishery Management opportunity for public comment Secretary. Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 [FR Doc. 2017–22468 Filed 10–16–17; 8:45 am] Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Pacific Fishery Management Council impracticable and contrary to the public under authority of the Magnuson- interest. This requirement is Stevens Fishery Conservation and impracticable and contrary to the public DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Management Act. Regulations governing interest as it would prevent NMFS from National Oceanic and Atmospheric fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance responding to the most recent fisheries Administration with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 data in a timely fashion and would CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. delay prohibiting the retention of 50 CFR Part 679 The 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear not participating in the cooperative [Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the RIN 0648–XF756 fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is NMFS was unable to publish a notice Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 439 metric tons (mt) as established by providing time for public comment Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the the final 2017 and 2018 harvest because the most recent, relevant data Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of specifications for groundfish of the GOA only became available as of October 6, Alaska (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). 2017. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the The AA also finds good cause to Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS waive the 30-day delay in the effective Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (Regional Administrator), has date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Commerce. determined that the 2017 TAC of 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and the reasons provided above for waiver of not participating in the cooperative prior notice and opportunity for public SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention fishery of the Rockfish Program in the comment. of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has This action is required by § 679.20 and not participating in the cooperative been reached. Therefore, NMFS is and § 679.21 and is exempt from review fishery of the Rockfish Program in the requiring that sablefish by vessels using under Executive Order 12866. Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of trawl gear and not participating in the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary cooperative fishery of the Rockfish because the 2017 total allowable catch Program in the Central Regulatory Area Dated: October 12, 2017. of sablefish allocated to vessels using of the GOA be treated as prohibited Alan D. Risenhoover, trawl gear and not participating in the species in accordance with § 679.21(b). Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, cooperative fishery of the Rockfish This closure does not apply to fishing National Marine Fisheries Service. Program in the Central Regulatory Area by vessels participating in the [FR Doc. 2017–22454 Filed 10–12–17; 4:15 pm] of the GOA has been reached. cooperative fishery of the Rockfish BILLING CODE 3510–22–P nlaroche on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:55 Oct 16, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\17OCR1.SGM 17OCR1$

Document Created: 2017-10-17 01:11:19
Document Modified: 2017-10-17 01:11:19

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 (ALT), October 12, 2017, through 2400 hours, ALT, December 31, 2017.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 48204
RIN Number		0648-XF75

82 FR 48204 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 199 (October 17, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration