82 FR 8905 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 20 (February 1, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 20 (February 1, 2017)
| Page Range | 8905-8905 | |
| FR Document | 2017-02142 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 8905] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-02142] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XF169 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of 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; reallocation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective January 27, 2017, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,796 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017). The 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters(m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 4,259 mt as established by final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,700 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017) are revised as follows: 96 mt to the A season apportionment and 1,293 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 5,959 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. 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 as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of January 13, 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: January 27, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-02142 Filed 1-27-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 20 / Wednesday, February 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 8905
Classification length overall using hook-and-line or catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
This action responds to the best pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
available information recently obtained Islands management area. This action is
necessary to allow the A season Classification
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA apportionment of the 2017 total This action responds to the best
(AA), finds good cause to waive the allowable catch of Pacific cod to be available information recently obtained
requirement to provide prior notice and harvested.
from the fishery. The Assistant
opportunity for public comment DATES: Effective January 27, 2017, Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (AA), finds good cause to waive the
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is (A.l.t.), December 31, 2017. requirement to provide prior notice and
impracticable and contrary to the public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh opportunity for public comment
interest. This requirement is Keaton, 907–586–7228. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
impracticable and contrary to the public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
interest as it would prevent NMFS from manages the groundfish fishery in the impracticable and contrary to the public
responding to the most recent fisheries Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) interest. This requirement is
data in a timely fashion and would according to the Fishery Management impracticable and contrary to the public
delay the closure of directed fishing for Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater and Aleutian Islands Management Area responding to the most recent fisheries
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific data in a timely fashion and would
using pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS was Fishery Management Council under delay the reallocation of Pacific cod
unable to publish a notice providing authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
time for public comment because the specified from jig vessels to catcher
Fishery Conservation and Management
most recent, relevant data only became vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
available as of January 23, 2017. using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
The AA also finds good cause to appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 the fishery is currently open, it is
waive the 30-day delay in the effective and 50 CFR part 679. important to immediately inform the
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. The A season apportionment of the industry as to the revised allocations.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch Immediate notification is necessary to
the reasons provided above for waiver of (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear allow for the orderly conduct and
prior notice and opportunity for public in the BSAI is 1,796 metric tons (mt) as efficient operation of this fishery, to
comment. established by the final 2016 and 2017 allow the industry to plan for the fishing
This action is required by § 679.20 harvest specifications for groundfish in season, and to avoid potential
and is exempt from review under the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
Executive Order 12866. and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, processors. NMFS was unable to
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. January 10, 2017). publish a notice providing time for
The 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to public comment because the most
Dated: January 27, 2017. catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 recent, relevant data only became
Emily H. Menashes, meters(m)) length overall (LOA) using available as of January 13, 2017.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 4,259 mt as established by final 2016 The AA also finds good cause to
[FR Doc. 2017–02124 Filed 1–31–17; 8:45 am] and 2017 harvest specifications for waive the 30-day delay in the effective
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
March 18, 2016) and inseason 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, the reasons provided above for waiver of
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2017). prior notice and opportunity for public
The Administrator, Alaska Region, comment.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
Administration This action is required by § 679.20
determined that jig vessels will not be and is exempt from review under
able to harvest 1,700 mt of the A season Executive Order 12866.
50 CFR Part 679 apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod
TAC allocated to those vessels under Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in Dated: January 27, 2017.
RIN 0648–XF169
accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), Emily H. Menashes,
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of Pacific Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of cod from the A season jig gear Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and apportionment to the annual amount
[FR Doc. 2017–02142 Filed 1–27–17; 4:15 pm]
Aleutian Islands Management Area specified for catcher vessels less than 60
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries or pot gear.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The harvest specifications for Pacific
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), cod included in final 2016 and 2017
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
Commerce. harvest specifications for groundfish in
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916,
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the January 10, 2017) are revised as follows:
projected unused amount of Pacific cod 96 mt to the A season apportionment
from vessels using jig gear to catcher and 1,293 mt to the annual amount for
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) vessels using jig gear, and 5,959 mt to
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:00 Jan 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\01FER1.SGM 01FER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_8925/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-02-01 00:05:57
Document Modified: 2017-02-01 00:05:57
| 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; reallocation. | |
| Dates | Effective January 27, 2017, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 8905 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF16 |
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