83 FR 13205 - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 60 (March 28, 2018)

Page Range		13205-13205
FR Document		2018-06145

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the first seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the deep-water species fishery in the GOA will be reached.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13205]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06145]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG109


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water 
Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 species that comprise 
the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the first seasonal 
apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for 
the deep-water species fishery in the GOA will be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time March 23, 2018, through 
1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 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 first seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the trawl deep-water species fishery in the GOA 
is 85 metric tons as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018), 
for the period 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, 2018, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2018.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(6)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the first seasonal apportionment of 
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl deep-
water species fishery in the GOA will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for the deep-water species fishery by 
vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The species and species groups 
that comprise the deep-water species fishery include sablefish, 
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
    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 the deep-water species fishery by vessels 
using trawl gear in 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 21, 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.  679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 22, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-06145 Filed 3-22-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 13205

PART 300—INTERNATIONAL deep-water species fishery by vessels flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth
FISHERIES REGULATIONS using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska flounder.
(GOA). This action is necessary because After the effective date of this closure
Subpart C—Eastern Pacific Tuna the first seasonal apportionment of the the maximum retainable amounts at
Fisheries Pacific halibut bycatch allowance § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
specified for the deep-water species during a trip.
■ 1. The authority citation for part 300, fishery in the GOA will be reached.
subpart C, continues to read as follows: Classification
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. local time March 23, 2018, through 1200 This action responds to the best
■ 2. In § 300.25, revise paragraph (g)(3) hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2018. available information recently obtained
to read as follows: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh from the fishery. The Assistant
Keaton, 907–586–7228. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
§ 300.25 Fisheries management.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS (AA), finds good cause to waive the
* * * * * requirement to provide prior notice and
(g) * * * manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone opportunity for public comment
(3) In 2018, a 1 metric ton trip limit pursuant to the authority set forth at
will be in effect, except for vessels using according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement
large-mesh (14 inch or greater stretched is impracticable and contrary to the
mesh) drift gillnet gear. In 2018, a 2 Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council public interest. This requirement is
metric ton trip limit will be in effect for impracticable and contrary to the public
vessels using large-mesh drift gillnet under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and interest as it would prevent NMFS from
gear. responding to the most recent fisheries
Management Act. Regulations governing
* * * * * data in a timely fashion and would
[FR Doc. 2018–06148 Filed 3–27–18; 8:45 am]
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 delay the closure of the deep-water
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P species fishery by vessels using trawl
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The first seasonal apportionment of gear in the GOA. NMFS was unable to
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance publish a notice providing time for
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE public comment because the most
specified for the trawl deep-water
National Oceanic and Atmospheric species fishery in the GOA is 85 metric recent, relevant data only became
Administration tons as established by the final 2018 and available as of March 21, 2018.
2019 harvest specifications for The AA also finds good cause to
50 CFR Part 679 groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, waive the 30-day delay in the effective
March 1, 2018), for the period 1200 date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
hours, A.l.t., January 20, 2018, through 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
RIN 0648–XG109 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2018. the reasons provided above for waiver of
In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(i), prior notice and opportunity for public
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive the Administrator, Alaska Region, comment.
Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species NMFS, has determined that the first This action is required by § 679.21
Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in seasonal apportionment of the Pacific and is exempt from review under
the Gulf of Alaska halibut bycatch allowance specified for Executive Order 12866.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the trawl deep-water species fishery in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the GOA will be reached. Consequently,
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Dated: March 22, 2018.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
the deep-water species fishery by Jennifer M. Wallace,
Commerce.
vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
species and species groups that Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed comprise the deep-water species fishery [FR Doc. 2018–06145 Filed 3–22–18; 4:15 pm]
fishing for species that comprise the include sablefish, rockfish, deep-water BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:22 Mar 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\28MRR1.SGM 28MRR1

Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:55:41
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:55:41

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 March 23, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2018.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 13205
RIN Number		0648-XG10

83 FR 13205 - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 60 (March 28, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration