82 FR 48667 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)

Page Range		48667-48667
FR Document		2017-22704

NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48667]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22704]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF761


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Shortraker 
Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area 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 retention of shortraker rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 16, 
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 shortraker rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 38 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 shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that shortraker rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species 
in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b).

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 shortraker rockfish in the 
Western 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 10, 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. Sec.  679.20 and 679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 16, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22704 Filed 10-16-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 48667 from April 1 through October 15; is (GOA). This action is necessary because Classification prohibited seaward of a boundary line the 2017 total allowable catch of approximating the 40 fm (73 m) depth shortraker rockfish in the Western This action responds to the best contour along the mainland coast and Regulatory Area of the GOA has been available information recently obtained along islands and offshore seamounts reached. from the fishery. The Assistant from October 16 through December Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 31and is closed entirely from January 1 (AA), finds good cause to waive the local time (A.l.t.), October 16, 2017, requirement to provide prior notice and through March 31 (i.e., prohibited through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, seaward of the shoreline). Coordinates opportunity for public comment 2017. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 for the boundary line approximating the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 40 fm (73 m) depth contour are U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Keaton, 907–586–7228. impracticable and contrary to the public specified at § 660.71 and the 50 fm (91 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS interest. This requirement is m) depth contour are specified in manages the groundfish fishery in the impracticable and contrary to the public § 660.72. GOA exclusive economic zone interest as it would prevent NMFS from * * * * * according to the Fishery Management [FR Doc. 2017–22695 Filed 10–18–17; 8:45 am] responding to the most recent fisheries Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of data in a timely fashion and would BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North delay prohibiting the retention of Pacific Fishery Management Council shortraker rockfish in the Western under authority of the Magnuson- Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Stevens Fishery Conservation and unable to publish a notice providing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Management Act. Regulations governing time for public comment because the Administration fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance most recent, relevant data only became with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 available as of October 10, 2017. 50 CFR Part 679 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) The AA also finds good cause to [Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] of shortraker rockfish in the Western waive the 30-day delay in the effective Regulatory Area of the GOA is 38 metric date of this action under 5 U.S.C. RIN 0648–XF761 tons (mt) as established by the final 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for the reasons provided above for waiver of Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic prior notice and opportunity for public Zone off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). comment. in the Western Regulatory Area of the In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the This action is required by §§ 679.20 Gulf of Alaska Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS and 679.21 and is exempt from review AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries (Regional Administrator), has under Executive Order 12866. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and determined that the 2017 TAC of Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shortraker rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been Dated: October 16, 2017. Commerce. reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring Emily H. Menashes, ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. that shortraker rockfish in the Western Acting Director, Office of Sustainable SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. of shortraker rockfish in the Western as prohibited species in accordance [FR Doc. 2017–22704 Filed 10–16–17; 4:15 pm] Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska with § 679.21(b). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:12 Oct 18, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\19OCR1.SGM 19OCR1$

Document Created: 2017-10-19 02:56:41
Document Modified: 2017-10-19 02:56:41

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.), October 16, 2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 48667
RIN Number		0648-XF76

82 FR 48667 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration