83 FR 10406 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Hook-and-Line Catcher/Processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 47 (March 9, 2018)

Page Range		10406-10406
FR Document		2018-04826

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by hook- and-line catcher/processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to hook-and-line catcher/processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10406]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04826]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XF893


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Hook-and-Line Catcher/Processors 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 directed fishing for Pacific cod by hook-
and-line catcher/processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 
season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch 
apportioned to hook-and-line catcher/processors in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 2018, 
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2018.

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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to hook-and-line catcher/processors in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 248 metric tons (mt), as 
established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8786, March 1, 2018).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to hook-and-line 
catcher/processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 238 mt and is setting aside the remaining 
10 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
hook-and-line catcher/processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
GOA. 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 cod by hook-and-
line catcher/processors 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 
March 5, 2018.
    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: March 6, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04826 Filed 3-6-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

10406 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

Classification DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to hook-and-line catcher/
IPHC Regulations National Oceanic and Atmospheric processors in the Central Regulatory
These IPHC annual management Administration Area of the GOA will soon be reached.
measures are a product of an agreement Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
50 CFR Part 679 establishing a directed fishing
between the United States and Canada
and are published in the Federal [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] allowance of 238 mt and is setting aside
Register to provide notice of their the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to
RIN 0648–XF893 support other anticipated groundfish
effectiveness and content. Pursuant to
section 4 of the Northern Pacific Halibut fisheries. In accordance with
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Act of 1982, 16 U.S.C. 773c, the § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Hook-
Secretary of State, with the concurrence and-Line Catcher/Processors in the Administrator finds that this directed
of the Secretary of Commerce, may Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of fishing allowance has been reached.
‘‘accept or reject’’ but not modify these Alaska Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
recommendations of the IPHC. The directed fishing for Pacific cod by hook-
notice-and-comment and delay-in- AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries and-line catcher/processors in the
effectiveness date provisions of the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), After the effective date of this closure
U.S.C. 553(b) and (d), are inapplicable Commerce. the maximum retainable amounts at
to IPHC management measures because ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
this regulation involves a foreign affairs during a trip.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
function of the United States, 5 U.S.C. fishing for Pacific cod by hook-and-line Classification
553(a)(1). As stated above, the Secretary catcher/processors in the Central
of State has no discretion to modify the Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska This action responds to the best
recommendations of the IPHC. The (GOA). This action is necessary to available information recently obtained
additional time necessary to comply prevent exceeding the A season from the fishery. The Assistant
with the notice-and-comment and allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
delay-in-effectiveness requirements of allowable catch apportioned to hook- (AA), finds good cause to waive the
the APA would disrupt coordinated and-line catcher/processors in the requirement to provide prior notice and
international conservation and Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. opportunity for public comment
management of the halibut fishery DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
pursuant to the Convention. local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 2018, U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Furthermore, no other law requires prior through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, impracticable and contrary to the public
notice and public comment for this rule. 2018. interest. This requirement is
Because prior notice and an opportunity FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
impracticable and contrary to the public
for public comment are not required to Keaton, 907–586–7228. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
be provided for these portions of this responding to the most recent fisheries
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, data in a timely fashion and would
manages the groundfish fishery in the
the analytical requirements of the delay the directed fishing closure of
GOA exclusive economic zone
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 according to the Fishery Management Pacific cod by hook-and-line catcher/
et seq., are not applicable. Accordingly, Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of processors in the Central Regulatory
no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
required for this portion of the rule and Pacific Fishery Management Council publish a notice providing time for
none has been prepared. This final rule under authority of the Magnuson- public comment because the most
has been determined to be not Stevens Fishery Conservation and recent, relevant data only became
significant for the purposes of Executive Management Act. Regulations governing available as of March 5, 2018.
Order 12866. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance The AA also finds good cause to
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 waive the 30-day delay in the effective
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Dated: March 6, 2018.
Regulations governing sideboard 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Samuel D. Rauch III, protections for GOA groundfish the reasons provided above for waiver of
Deputy Assistant Administrator for fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR prior notice and opportunity for public
Regulatory Programs, National Marine part 680. comment.
Fisheries Service. The A season allowance of the 2018
[FR Doc. 2018–04818 Filed 3–8–18; 8:45 am] Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) This action is required by § 679.20
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P apportioned to hook-and-line catcher/ and is exempt from review under
processors in the Central Regulatory Executive Order 12866.
Area of the GOA is 248 metric tons (mt), Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
as established by the final 2018 and
Dated: March 6, 2018.
2019 harvest specifications for
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES

groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8786, Emily H. Menashes,
March 1, 2018). Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
the Administrator, Alaska Region, [FR Doc. 2018–04826 Filed 3–6–18; 4:15 pm]
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
determined that the A season allowance

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Document Created: 2018-03-09 03:48:31
Document Modified: 2018-03-09 03:48:31

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.), March 6, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2018.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 10406
RIN Number		0648-XF89

83 FR 10406 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Hook-and-Line Catcher/Processors in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 47 (March 9, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration