83 FR 15755 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

Page Range		15755-15755
FR Document		2018-07615

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15755]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07615]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG159


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish 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 retention of sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 total allowable catch 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 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 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of sablefish allocated to 
vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative 
fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 
2018).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2018 TAC 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec.  679.21(b). This closure does not apply to fishing 
by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish 
Program for the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

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 prohibiting the retention of sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program 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 April 6, 
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 Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07615 Filed 4-9-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 15755

This action increases the commercial Dated: April 9, 2018. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
skate wing possession limit from the Jennifer M. Wallace, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of Acting Director, Office of Sustainable (Regional Administrator), has
skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. determined that the 2018 TAC of
weight) per trip to the seasonal 4,100 lb [FR Doc. 2018–07589 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm] sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl
(1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb (4,222 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P gear and not participating in the
kg) whole weight) per trip. This action cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
is being implemented to allow the skate Program in the Central Regulatory Area
wing fishery an opportunity to fully DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the GOA will be reached. Therefore,
attain the annual TAL while minimizing NMFS is requiring that sablefish by
the possibility of exceeding it. Upon National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration vessels using trawl gear and not
filing of this notice, no person may participating in the cooperative fishery
possess on board or land more than of the Rockfish Program in the Central
4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 50 CFR Part 679
Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated
lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip for [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] as prohibited species in accordance
the remainder of the 2017 fishing year, with § 679.21(b). This closure does not
unless under specific exemption. This RIN 0648–XG159 apply to fishing by vessels participating
action applies to the skate wing fishery in the cooperative fishery of the
only and does not affect vessels fishing Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska; Sablefish in the Rockfish Program for the Central
in accordance with a skate bait letter of Regulatory Area of the GOA.
authorization. On May 1, 2018, the 2018 Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
fishing year begins, and the commercial Alaska Classification
skate wing possession limit will return AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018 This action responds to the best
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and available information recently obtained
through August 31, 2018) possession Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate from the fishery. The Assistant
Commerce.
wings or 5,902 lb (2,677 kg) whole Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
weight per trip.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention requirement to provide prior notice and
Classification opportunity for public comment
of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear
and not participating in the cooperative pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
This action is taken under 50 CFR
fishery of the Rockfish Program in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866. Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of impracticable and contrary to the public
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary interest. This requirement is
The Assistant Administrator for because the 2018 total allowable catch impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause of sablefish allocated to vessels using interest as it would prevent NMFS from
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive trawl gear and not participating in the responding to the most recent fisheries
prior notice and the opportunity for cooperative fishery of the Rockfish data in a timely fashion and would
public comment because it would be Program in the Central Regulatory Area delay prohibiting the retention of
contrary to the public interest. This of the GOA has been reached. sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and
action ends the previous trip limit not participating in the cooperative
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
reduction in the commercial skate bait
local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018, through fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
fishery, and raises the possession limit
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
from the incidental limit to the standard
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh NMFS was unable to publish a notice
season 2 limit in order to allow
Keaton, (907) 586–7228. providing time for public comment
fishermen the opportunity to fully
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS because the most recent, relevant data
harvest the annual skate wing TAL. The
manages the groundfish fishery in the only became available as of April 6,
regulations at § 648.322(b)(2)(iii) allow
GOA exclusive economic zone 2018.
this by stating that trip limits should not
be reduced if they prevent the according to the Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to
attainment of the TAL. If Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of waive the 30-day delay in the effective
implementation of this adjustment were Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
delayed to solicit prior public comment, Pacific Fishery Management Council 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
this could further prevent the fishery’s under authority of the Magnuson- the reasons provided above for waiver of
ability to harvest the full TAL, thereby Stevens Fishery Conservation and prior notice and opportunity for public
undermining the objectives of the Management Act. Regulations governing comment.
Northeast Skate Complex Fishery fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 This action is required by § 679.20
Management Plan. This action also and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
relieves the restriction of the former trip under Executive Order 12866.
The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC)
limit reduction in the wing fishery for
of sablefish allocated to vessels using Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
the remainder of the 2017 fishing year.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

trawl gear and not participating in the Dated: April 9, 2018.
The Assistant Administrator further
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), Jennifer M. Wallace,
Program in the Central Regulatory Area
good cause to waive the 30-day delayed of the GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
effectiveness period for the reason established by the final 2018 and 2019 Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
stated above. harvest specifications for groundfish of [FR Doc. 2018–07615 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801et seq. the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:50 Apr 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\12APR1.SGM 12APR1

Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:15:14
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:15:14

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.), April 9, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
Contact		Josh Keaton, (907) 586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 15755
RIN Number		0648-XG15

83 FR 15755 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration