83 FR 11153 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 50 (March 14, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 50 (March 14, 2018)
| Page Range | 11153-11153 | |
| FR Document | 2018-05167 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 11153] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-05167] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769-8162-02] RIN 0648-XG078 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in 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 directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31, 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. The B season allowance of the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 4,184 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the B season allowance of the 2018 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,684 mt and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630 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 closure of directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 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 8, 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 9, 2018. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-05167 Filed 3-9-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 11153
Dated: March 9, 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Classification
Emily H. Menashes, manages the groundfish fishery in the This action responds to the best
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable GOA exclusive economic zone available information recently obtained
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. according to the Fishery Management from the fishery. The Assistant
[FR Doc. 2018–05133 Filed 3–9–18; 4:15 pm] Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Pacific Fishery Management Council requirement to provide prior notice and
under authority of the Magnuson- opportunity for public comment
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Stevens Fishery Conservation and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Management Act. Regulations governing U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
National Oceanic and Atmospheric fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
Administration impracticable and contrary to the public
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 interest. This requirement is
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. impracticable and contrary to the public
50 CFR Part 679 The B season allowance of the 2018 interest as it would prevent NMFS from
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in responding to the most recent fisheries
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 4,184 data in a timely fashion and would
RIN 0648–XG078 metric tons (mt) as established by the delay the closure of directed fishing for
final 2018 and 2019 harvest pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic specifications for groundfish in the GOA GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). notice providing time for public
Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), comment because the most recent,
the Regional Administrator has relevant data only became available as
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries determined that the B season allowance
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and of March 8, 2018.
of the 2018 TAC of pollock in Statistical The AA also finds good cause to
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Area 630 of the GOA will soon be
Commerce. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
reached. Therefore, the Regional date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Administrator is establishing a directed 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
fishing allowance of 3,684 mt and is the reasons provided above for waiver of
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
setting aside the remaining 500 mt as prior notice and opportunity for public
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
bycatch to support other anticipated comment.
630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with This action is required by § 679.20
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional and is exempt from review under
the B season allowance of the 2018 total
Administrator finds that this directed Executive Order 12866.
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
fishing allowance has been reached.
Area 630 in the GOA. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Dated: March 9, 2018.
local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2018, Area 630 of the GOA. Emily H. Menashes,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31, After the effective date of this closure Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
2018. the maximum retainable amounts at Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time [FR Doc. 2018–05167 Filed 3–9–18; 4:15 pm]
Keaton, 907–586–7228. during a trip. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-03-14 01:06:30
Document Modified: 2018-03-14 01:06:30
| 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 10, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 11153 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG07 |
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