82 FR 55953 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 226 (November 27, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 226 (November 27, 2017)
| Page Range | 55953-55953 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25562 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 55953] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25562] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF851 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of 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 Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 Pacific Ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 21, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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 Pacific ocean perch TAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is 9,350 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017). The Regional Administrator has determined that the 2017 TAC for Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 9,335 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 15 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. After the effective date 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 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 directed fishing closure of Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as November 14, 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 is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 21, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-25562 Filed 11-21-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 55953
opportunity for public comment would prevent exceeding the 2017 Pacific § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
require time and could potentially result Ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) during a trip.
in a harvest well in excess of the in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Classification
established commercial ACL for the DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
hook-and-line component. time (A.l.t.), November 21, 2017, This action responds to the best
For the aforementioned reasons, the through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, available information recently obtained
AA also finds good cause to waive the 2017. from the fishery. The Assistant
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Keaton, 907–586–7228. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS requirement to provide prior notice and
Dated: November 21, 2017. manages the groundfish fishery in the opportunity for public comment
Emily H. Menashes, BSAI according to the Fishery pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Management Plan for Groundfish of the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands impracticable and contrary to the public
Management Area (FMP) prepared by interest. This requirement is
[FR Doc. 2017–25559 Filed 11–21–17; 4:15 pm]
the North Pacific Fishery Management impracticable and contrary to the public
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Council under authority of the interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery responding to the most recent fisheries
Conservation and Management Act. data in a timely fashion and would
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Regulations governing fishing by U.S. delay the directed fishing closure of
National Oceanic and Atmospheric vessels in accordance with the FMP Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea
Administration appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable
and 50 CFR part 679. to publish a notice providing time for
50 CFR Part 679 The 2017 Pacific ocean perch TAC in public comment because the most
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is recent, relevant data only became
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 9,350 metric tons (mt) as established by available as November 14, 2017.
RIN 0648–XF851
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest The AA also finds good cause to
specifications for groundfish in the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017). date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch The Regional Administrator has 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
in the Bering Sea Subarea of the determined that the 2017 TAC for the reasons provided above for waiver of
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea prior notice and opportunity for public
Management Area subarea of the BSAI will soon be
comment.
reached. Therefore, the Regional
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Administrator is establishing a directed This action is required by § 679.20
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and fishing allowance of 9,335 mt, and is and is exempt from review under
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), setting aside the remaining 15 mt as Executive Order 12866.
Commerce. bycatch to support other anticipated Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. groundfish fisheries. Consequently, in
Dated: November 21, 2017.
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Emily H. Menashes,
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
and Aleutian Islands management area After the effective date of this closure [FR Doc. 2017–25562 Filed 11–21–17; 4:15 pm]
(BSAI). This action is necessary to the maximum retainable amounts at BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2017-11-25 01:08:38
Document Modified: 2017-11-25 01:08:38
| 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.), November 21, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 55953 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF85 |
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