83 FR 18743 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 83 (April 30, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 83 (April 30, 2018)
| Page Range | 18743-18743 | |
| FR Document | 2018-09018 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 18743] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-09018] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170817779-8161-02] RIN 0648-XG193 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2018, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (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 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 144 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). The Regional Administrator has determined that the 2018 ITAC for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is necessary to account for the incidental catch of this species in other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2018 fishing year. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowance for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. 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 Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as April 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: April 25, 2018. Kelly L. Denit, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-09018 Filed 4-27-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 18743
GYE grizzly bear population is discrete DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE account for the incidental catch of this
from other grizzly bear populations and species in other anticipated groundfish
significant to the remainder of the taxon National Oceanic and Atmospheric fisheries for the 2018 fishing year.
(i.e., Ursus arctos horribilis) and, Administration Therefore, in accordance with
therefore, a listable entity under the Act § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
in accordance with our DPS Policy; the 50 CFR Part 679 Administrator establishes the directed
GYE population has recovered to the [Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] fishing allowance for Greenland turbot
point at which protection under the Act in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
RIN 0648–XG193 BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in
is no longer required; and the best
scientific and commercial data available accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
indicate that the GYE grizzly bear DPS NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in
is not endangered or threatened Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the
subarea of the BSAI.
throughout all or a significant portion of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
After the effective date of this closure
its range. Finally, we determined in the Management Area
the maximum retainable amounts at
Final Rule, and affirm here, that we will
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
not revisit the 1975 final rule, and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and during a trip.
grizzly bears, outside the GYE DPS, in Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
the lower 48 States remain listed as Classification
Commerce.
threatened. Accordingly, the Service ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. This action responds to the best
does not plan to initiate further available information recently obtained
regulatory action for the GYE grizzly SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed from the fishery. The Assistant
bear population, or for the lower 48 fishing for Greenland turbot in the Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
States population at this time. Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Sea and Aleutian Islands management requirement to provide prior notice and
References Cited area (BSAI). This action is necessary to opportunity for public comment
A complete list of all reference cited prevent exceeding the 2018 Greenland pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
turbot initial total allowable catch U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
herein is available at https://
(ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea impracticable and contrary to the public
www.regulations.gov in Docket No.
of the BSAI. interest. This requirement is
FWS–R6–ES–2017–0089, or upon
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local impracticable and contrary to the public
request from the Grizzly Bear Recovery
time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2018, through 2400 interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. responding to the most recent fisheries
CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: data in a timely fashion and would
Authority Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. delay the directed fishing closure of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
This document is published under the manages the groundfish fishery in the subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable
authority of the Endangered Species BSAI according to the Fishery to publish a notice providing time for
Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et Management Plan for Groundfish of the public comment because the most
seq.). Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands recent, relevant data only became
Dated: April 24, 2018. Management Area (FMP) prepared by available as April 5, 2018.
James W. Kurth the North Pacific Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to
Council under authority of the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Exercising the Authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation and Management Act. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Regulations governing fishing by U.S. the reasons provided above for waiver of
[FR Doc. 2018–09095 Filed 4–27–18; 8:45 am]
vessels in accordance with the FMP prior notice and opportunity for public
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 comment.
and 50 CFR part 679. This action is required by § 679.20
The 2018 Greenland turbot ITAC in and is exempt from review under
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI Executive Order 12866.
is 144 metric tons (mt) as established by Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the Dated: April 25, 2018.
BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). Kelly L. Denit,
The Regional Administrator has Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
determined that the 2018 ITAC for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands [FR Doc. 2018–09018 Filed 4–27–18; 8:45 am]
subarea of the BSAI is necessary to BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:01 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\30APR1.SGM 30APR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_18826/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-04-28 01:04:19
Document Modified: 2018-04-28 01:04:19
| 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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2018, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 18743 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG19 |
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