83 FR 30369 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 125 (June 28, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 125 (June 28, 2018)
| Page Range | 30369-30369 | |
| FR Document | 2018-13917 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 30369] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-13917] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170817779-8161-02] RIN 0648-XG316 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Flatfish in 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 other flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 other flatfish total allowable catch (TAC) specified for the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 25, 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 exclusive economic zone 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 other flatfish TAC specified for the BSAI is 4,000 metric tons as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that the 2018 other flatfish TAC in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 1,000 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 Alaska plaice in the BSAI. While this closure is effective 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 fishery closure of other flatfish in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of June 22, 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: June 25, 2018. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-13917 Filed 6-25-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 125 / Thursday, June 28, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 30369
time for public comment because the area (BSAI). This action is necessary to While this closure is effective the
most recent, relevant data only became prevent exceeding the 2018 other maximum retainable amounts at
available as of June 22, 2018. flatfish total allowable catch (TAC) § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
The AA also finds good cause to specified for the BSAI. during a trip.
waive the 30-day delay in the effective DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
Classification
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. time (A.l.t.), June 25, 2018, through
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. This action responds to the best
the reasons provided above for waiver of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: available information recently obtained
prior notice and opportunity for public Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. from the fishery. The Assistant
comment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
This action is required by § 679.20 manages the groundfish fishery in the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
and is exempt from review under BSAI exclusive economic zone requirement to provide prior notice and
Executive Order 12866. according to the Fishery Management opportunity for public comment
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Dated: June 25, 2018. and Aleutian Islands Management Area U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific impracticable and contrary to the public
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Fishery Management Council under interest. This requirement is
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens impracticable and contrary to the public
National Marine Fisheries Service.
Fishery Conservation and Management interest as it would prevent NMFS from
[FR Doc. 2018–13918 Filed 6–25–18; 4:15 pm]
Act. Regulations governing fishing by responding to the most recent fisheries
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP data in a timely fashion and would
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 delay the directed fishery closure of
and 50 CFR part 679. other flatfish in the BSAI. NMFS was
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The 2018 other flatfish TAC specified unable to publish a notice providing
for the BSAI is 4,000 metric tons as time for public comment because the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
established by the final 2018 and 2019 most recent, relevant data only became
Administration
harvest specifications for groundfish in available as of June 22, 2018.
the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27,
50 CFR Part 679 The AA also finds good cause to
2018).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), waive the 30-day delay in the effective
[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02]
the Administrator, Alaska Region, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
RIN 0648–XG316
NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
determined that the 2018 other flatfish the reasons provided above for waiver of
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic prior notice and opportunity for public
Zone Off Alaska; Other Flatfish in the TAC in the BSAI will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is comment.
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area establishing a directed fishing This action is required by § 679.20
allowance of 3,000 mt, and is setting and is exempt from review under
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries aside the remaining 1,000 mt as bycatch Executive Order 12866.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and to support other anticipated groundfish Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), fisheries. In accordance with
Commerce. § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Dated: June 25, 2018.
Administrator finds that this directed Alan D. Risenhoover,
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
fishing allowance has been reached. Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting National Marine Fisheries Service.
fishing for other flatfish in the Bering directed fishing for Alaska plaice in the [FR Doc. 2018–13917 Filed 6–25–18; 4:15 pm]
Sea and Aleutian Islands management BSAI. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 09:55:34
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 09:55:34
| 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.), June 25, 2018, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 30369 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG31 |
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