82 FR 8906 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot Catcher/Processors 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 | 8906-8906 | |
| FR Document | 2017-02118 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 8906] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-02118] [[Page 8906]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863-6211-02] RIN 0648-XF189 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot Catcher/Processors 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; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI. DATES: Effective January 31, 2017 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2017. The compliance date is 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 25, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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. The A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,629 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). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in 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 Acting 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 closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of January 23, 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. 2017-02118 Filed 1-31-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![8906 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 20 / Wednesday, February 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE according to the Fishery Management from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Aleutian Islands Management Area (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Administration (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific requirement to provide prior notice and
Fishery Management Council under opportunity for public comment
50 CFR Part 679 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] Fishery Conservation and Management U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Act. Regulations governing fishing by impracticable and contrary to the public
RIN 0648–XF189 U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP interest. This requirement is
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
and 50 CFR part 679. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot
Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea The A season apportionment of the responding to the most recent fisheries
and Aleutian Islands Management Area 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch data in a timely fashion and would
(TAC) allocated to catcher/processors
delay the closure of directed fishing for
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,629
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in
metric tons (mt) as established by the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
Commerce. specifications for groundfish in the a notice providing time for public
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) comment because the most recent,
and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, relevant data only became available as
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed January 10, 2017). of January 23, 2017.
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), The AA also finds good cause to
processors using pot gear in the Bering the Administrator, Alaska Region, waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Sea and Aleutian Islands management NMFS (Regional Administrator), has date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to determined that the A season 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod the reasons provided above for waiver of
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed fishing prior notice and opportunity for public
total allowable catch allocated to allowance to catcher/processors using
catcher/processors using pot gear in the comment.
pot gear in the BSAI will soon be
BSAI. This action is required by § 679.20
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
DATES: Effective January 31, 2017 prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific and is exempt from review under
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, cod by pot catcher/processors in the Executive Order 12866.
2017. The compliance date is 1200 BSAI. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January After the effective date of this closure
25, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., Dated: January 27, 2017.
the maximum retainable amounts at
September 1, 2017. Emily H. Menashes,
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh during a trip. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Keaton, 907–586–7228. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Classification [FR Doc. 2017–02118 Filed 1–31–17; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the This action responds to the best BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
BSAI exclusive economic zone available information recently obtained
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2017-02-01 00:06:17
Document Modified: 2017-02-01 00:06:17
| 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 January 31, 2017 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2017. The compliance date is 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 25, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2017. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 8906 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF18 |
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