83 FR 11429 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 51 (March 15, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 51 (March 15, 2018)
| Page Range | 11429-11430 | |
| FR Document | 2018-05211 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 11429-11430] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-05211] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769-8162-02] RIN 0648-XG076 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 610 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 610 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 12, 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 610 of the GOA is 1,317 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 610 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,217 mt and is setting aside the remaining 100 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 [[Page 11430]] directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 610 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. 2018-05211 Filed 3-12-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 11429
implementing the Atlantic Herring England Catch Cap Closure Area with DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Fishery Management Plan and is more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring
intended to limit the harvest of river on board, provided all herring in excess National Oceanic and Atmospheric
herring and shad in the Mid-Atlantic/ of 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) was caught outside Administration
Southern New England Catch Cap Area. of this area and all fishing gear is
DATES: Effective 00:01 hr local time, stowed and not available for immediate 50 CFR Part 679
March 14, 2018, through December 31, use as defined by § 648.2. [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Classification RIN 0648–XG076
Daniel Luers, Fishery Management This action is required by 50 CFR part
Specialist, (978) 282–8457. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
648 and is exempt from review under Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866. Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
Regulations governing the Atlantic
herring fishery can be found at 50 CFR NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
part 648, including requirements for U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
setting annual catch cap allocations for and the opportunity for public comment
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
river herring and shad. NMFS set the because it would be contrary to the Commerce.
2018 catch cap in the Mid-Atlantic/ public interest and impracticable. This
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
Southern New England Catch Cap Area action restricts the catch of herring in
at 129.6 mt. NMFS established this the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
value in the 2016 through 2018 herring England Catch Cap Closure Area for the fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
specifications (81 FR 75731, November remainder of the fishing year. Data have 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
1, 2016). only recently become available action is necessary to prevent exceeding
The NMFS Administrator of the indicating that herring midwater trawl the B season allowance of the 2018 total
Greater Atlantic Region (Regional vessels will have caught 95 percent of allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Administrator) monitors the herring the river herring and shad catch cap Area 610 in the GOA.
fishery in each of the catch cap areas allocated to that gear type in the Catch DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
based on vessel and dealer reports, state Cap Area. Once NMFS projects that local time (A.l.t.), March 12, 2018,
data, and other available information. river herring and shad catch will reach through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31,
The regulations at § 648.201 require that 95 percent of the cap for the Catch Cap 2018.
when the Regional Administrator Area, NMFS is required by Federal
projects that river herring and shad FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
regulation to implement a 2,000-lb Keaton, 907–586–7228.
catch will reach 95 percent of a catch (907.2-kg) herring trip and calendar day
cap for vessels fishing with a specified SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
possession limit for Cap Closure Area
gear type in a specified catch cap area, manages the groundfish fishery in the
through December 31, 2018. The GOA exclusive economic zone
NMFS must prohibit, through
regulations at § 648.201(a)(4)(ii) require according to the Fishery Management
notification in the Federal Register,
federally permitted herring vessels such action to ensure that herring Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
fishing with that gear type from fishing vessels do not exceed the river herring Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
for, possessing, catching, transferring, or and shad catch cap allocated to Pacific Fishery Management Council
landing more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of midwater trawl vessels in the Mid- under authority of the Magnuson-
herring per trip or calendar day in or Atlantic/Southern New England Catch Stevens Fishery Conservation and
from that specified catch cap closure Cap Area. If implementation of this Management Act. Regulations governing
area for the remainder of the fishing closure is delayed to solicit prior public fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
year. comment, the midwater trawl catch cap with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
The Regional Administrator has for the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
determined, based on available England Catch Cap Area for this fishing The B season allowance of the 2018
information, that the herring midwater year will be exceeded, thereby total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
trawl vessels will have caught 95 undermining the conservation Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 1,317
percent of the river herring and shad objectives of the Atlantic Herring metric tons (mt) as established by the
catch cap allocated to the Mid-Atlantic/ Fishery Management Plan. For the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
Southern New England Catch Cap Area reasons stated above, NMFS further specifications for groundfish in the GOA
by March 14, 2018. Therefore, effective finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3), (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018).
00:01 hr local time, March 14, 2018, good cause to waive the 30-day delayed In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
federally permitted vessels fishing with effectiveness period. the Regional Administrator has
midwater trawl gear may not fish for, determined that the B season allowance
catch, possess, transfer, or land more Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. of the 2018 TAC of pollock in Statistical
than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring per Dated: March 12, 2018. Area 610 of the GOA will soon be
trip or calendar day, in or from the Mid- Emily H. Menashes, reached. Therefore, the Regional
Atlantic/Southern New England Catch Administrator is establishing a directed
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Cap Closure Area through December 31, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
fishing allowance of 1,217 mt and is
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
2018. Midwater trawl vessels that have setting aside the remaining 100 mt as
[FR Doc. 2018–05288 Filed 3–12–18; 4:15 pm]
entered port before 00:01 hr local time, bycatch to support other anticipated
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
March 14, 2018, may land and sell more groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of herring from § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
the Cap Closure Area from that trip. Administrator finds that this directed
Midwater trawl vessels may transit fishing allowance has been reached.
through the Mid-Atlantic/Southern New Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:08 Mar 14, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\15MRR1.SGM 15MRR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_11480/page/1.svg)
![11430 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Area 610 of the GOA. impracticable and contrary to the public 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
After the effective date of this closure interest. This requirement is the reasons provided above for waiver of
the maximum retainable amounts at impracticable and contrary to the public prior notice and opportunity for public
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time interest as it would prevent NMFS from comment.
during a trip. responding to the most recent fisheries This action is required by § 679.20
data in a timely fashion and would and is exempt from review under
Classification delay the closure of directed fishing for Executive Order 12866.
This action responds to the best pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
available information recently obtained GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
from the fishery. The Assistant notice providing time for public Dated: March 9, 2018.
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA comment because the most recent, Emily H. Menashes,
(AA), finds good cause to waive the relevant data only became available as Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
requirement to provide prior notice and of March 8, 2018. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
opportunity for public comment The AA also finds good cause to [FR Doc. 2018–05211 Filed 3–12–18; 4:15 pm]
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 waive the 30-day delay in the effective BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:08 Mar 14, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\15MRR1.SGM 15MRR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_11480/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-03-15 02:38:08
Document Modified: 2018-03-15 02:38:08
| 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 12, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 11429 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG07 |
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