83 FR 41020 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 160 (August 17, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 160 (August 17, 2018)
| Page Range | 41020-41020 | |
| FR Document | 2018-17797 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 41020] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-17797] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769-8162-02] RIN 0648-XG400 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District 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 ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 14, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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 Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA is 3,371 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)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2018 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,271 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100 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 ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. While this closure remains 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 closure of directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District 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 August 13, 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: August 14, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-17797 Filed 8-14-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![41020 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Classification DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
This action responds to the best National Oceanic and Atmospheric establishing a directed fishing
available information recently obtained Administration allowance of 3,271 mt, and is setting
from the fishery. The Assistant aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 50 CFR Part 679 to support other anticipated groundfish
(AA), finds good cause to waive the fisheries. In accordance with
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
requirement to provide prior notice and § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
opportunity for public comment RIN 0648–XG400 Administrator finds that this directed
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 fishing allowance has been reached.
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
impracticable and contrary to the public Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch
interest. This requirement is in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
impracticable and contrary to the public of Alaska While this closure remains effective the
interest as it would prevent NMFS from AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries maximum retainable amounts at
responding to the most recent fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
data in a timely fashion and would Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), during a trip.
delay prohibiting the retention of Commerce. Classification
sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
This action responds to the best
the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed available information recently obtained
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the from the fishery. The Assistant
providing time for public comment Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
because the most recent, relevant data West Yakutat District of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary (AA), finds good cause to waive the
only became available as of August 13, requirement to provide prior notice and
2018. to prevent exceeding the 2018 total
allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch opportunity for public comment
The AA also finds good cause to in the West Yakutat District of the GOA. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
waive the 30-day delay in the effective U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. impracticable and contrary to the public
local time (A.l.t.), August 14, 2018,
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon interest. This requirement is
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
the reasons provided above for waiver of impracticable and contrary to the public
2018.
prior notice and opportunity for public interest as it would prevent NMFS from
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: responding to the most recent fisheries
comment.
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. data in a timely fashion and would
This action is required by §§ 679.20 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS delay the closure of directed fishing for
and 679.21 and is exempt from review manages the groundfish fishery in the Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat
under Executive Order 12866. GOA exclusive economic zone District of the GOA. NMFS was unable
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. according to the Fishery Management to publish a notice providing time for
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of public comment because the most
Dated: August 14, 2018.
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North recent, relevant data only became
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Pacific Fishery Management Council available as of August 13, 2018.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable under authority of the Magnuson- The AA also finds good cause to
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Stevens Fishery Conservation and waive the 30-day delay in the effective
[FR Doc. 2018–17798 Filed 8–14–18; 4:15 pm] Management Act. Regulations governing date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 the reasons provided above for waiver of
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. prior notice and opportunity for public
The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) comment.
of Pacific ocean perch in the West This action is required by § 679.20
Yakutat District of the GOA is 3,371 and is exempt from review under
metric tons (mt) as established by the Executive Order 12866.
final 2018 and 2019 harvest Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). Dated: August 14, 2018.
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
the Administrator, Alaska Region, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
determined that the 2018 TAC of Pacific [FR Doc. 2018–17797 Filed 8–14–18; 4:15 pm]
ocean perch in the West Yakutat District BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-08-17 03:25:52
Document Modified: 2018-08-17 03:25:52
| 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.), August 14, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 41020 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG40 |
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