83 FR 3282 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 16 (January 24, 2018)

Page Range		3282-3282
FR Document		2018-01268

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3282]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01268]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF896


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Trawl Catcher Vessels 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch 
apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 
2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,274 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 
60327, December 20, 2017).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to trawl catcher 
vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is necessary to 
account for the incidental catch in other anticipated fisheries. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting aside the remaining 1,274 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 Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area 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. 
This closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the 
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program for the Central 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 the directed fishing closure of Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels using trawl gear 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 
January 18, 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: January 19, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01268 Filed 1-19-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

3282 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

determined that the A season DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in
apportionment of the 2018 Pacific cod the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
TAC allocated as a directed fishing National Oceanic and Atmospheric is necessary to account for the
allowance to catcher vessels greater than Administration incidental catch in other anticipated
or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using fisheries. Therefore, the Regional
pot gear in the BSAI will soon be 50 CFR Part 679 Administrator is establishing a directed
reached. Consequently, NMFS is [Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific aside the remaining 1,274 mt as bycatch
RIN 0648–XF896 to support other anticipated groundfish
cod by catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using pot fisheries. In accordance with
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
gear in the BSAI. Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Administrator finds that this directed
After the effective date of this closure Catcher Vessels in the Central fishing allowance has been reached.
the maximum retainable amounts at Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries directed fishing for Pacific cod by
during a trip. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
Classification Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Commerce. After the effective date of this closure
This action responds to the best ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. the maximum retainable amounts at
available information recently obtained § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
from the fishery. The Assistant SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed during a trip. This closure does not
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels apply to fishing by vessels participating
(AA), finds good cause to waive the using trawl gear in the Central in the cooperative fishery of the
requirement to provide prior notice and Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program for the Central GOA.
(GOA). This action is necessary to
opportunity for public comment Classification
prevent exceeding the A season
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total This action responds to the best
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is allowable catch apportioned to trawl
impracticable and contrary to the public available information recently obtained
catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory from the fishery. The Assistant
interest. This requirement is Area of the GOA.
impracticable and contrary to the public Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska (AA), finds good cause to waive the
interest as it would prevent NMFS from local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2018,
responding to the most recent fisheries requirement to provide prior notice and
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, opportunity for public comment
data in a timely fashion and would 2018. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
delay the closure of directed fishing for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater Keaton, 907–586–7228. impracticable and contrary to the public
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS interest. This requirement is
using pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS was manages the groundfish fishery in the impracticable and contrary to the public
unable to publish a notice providing GOA exclusive economic zone interest as it would prevent NMFS from
time for public comment because the according to the Fishery Management responding to the most recent fisheries
most recent, relevant data only became Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of data in a timely fashion and would
available as of January 17, 2018. Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North delay the directed fishing closure of
The AA also finds good cause to Pacific Fishery Management Council Pacific cod by catcher vessels using
waive the 30-day delay in the effective under authority of the Magnuson- trawl gear in the Central Regulatory
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Stevens Fishery Conservation and Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon Management Act. Regulations governing publish a notice providing time for
the reasons provided above for waiver of fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance public comment because the most
prior notice and opportunity for public with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 recent, relevant data only became
comment. CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. available as of January 18, 2018.
Regulations governing sideboard The AA also finds good cause to
This action is required by § 679.20 protections for GOA groundfish
and is exempt from review under waive the 30-day delay in the effective
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Executive Order 12866. part 680. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The A season allowance of the 2018 the reasons provided above for waiver of
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) prior notice and opportunity for public
Dated: January 19, 2018.
apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in comment.
Emily H. Menashes, the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable is 1,274 metric tons (mt), as established This action is required by § 679.20
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest and is exempt from review under
[FR Doc. 2018–01286 Filed 1–19–18; 4:15 pm] specifications for groundfish of the GOA Executive Order 12866.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017) and Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES

inseason adjustment (82 FR 60327, Dated: January 19, 2018.
December 20, 2017).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), Emily H. Menashes,
the Administrator, Alaska Region, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
determined that the A season allowance [FR Doc. 2018–01268 Filed 1–19–18; 4:15 pm]
of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:32 Jan 23, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\24JAR1.SGM 24JAR1

Document Created: 2018-10-26 10:00:55
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 10:00:55

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.), January 20, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2018.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 3282
RIN Number		0648-XF89

83 FR 3282 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 16 (January 24, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration