83 FR 42455 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 163 (August 22, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 163 (August 22, 2018)
| Page Range | 42455-42455 | |
| FR Document | 2018-18129 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 42455] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-18129] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170817779-8161-02] RIN 0648-XG426 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel 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 Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 17, 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 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 TAC of Atka mackerel, in the CAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery was established as a directed fishing allowance of 1,868 metric tons 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)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. 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 a 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 the Atka mackerel directed fishery in the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 16, 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 17, 2018. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-18129 Filed 8-17-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 22, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 42455
undertaken to address overfishing, and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), While this closure is effective the
if they expire before longer term Commerce. maximum retainable amounts at
measures are adopted, overfishing may ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
occur during the lapse in regulation, during a trip.
contrary to the public interest in SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
effective management of the stock and fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Classification
compliance with domestic and Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea This action responds to the best
international legal obligations. As and Aleutian Islands management area
available information recently obtained
described more fully in the interim final (BSAI) by vessels participating in the
emergency rule (March 2, 2018; 83 FR from the fishery. The Assistant
BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This
8946), the reasons justifying Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
promulgation of the rule on an the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of (AA) finds good cause to waive the
emergency basis make a delay in Atka mackerel in this area allocated to requirement to provide prior notice and
effectiveness contrary to the public vessels participating in the BSAI trawl opportunity for public comment
interest. The measures implemented for limited access fishery. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
the shortfin mako shark fishery are U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
needed to address overfishing of the local time (A.l.t.), August 17, 2018, is impracticable and contrary to the
stock. through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, public interest. This requirement is
This action is being taken pursuant to impracticable and contrary to the public
2018.
the emergency provision of the interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Magnuson-Stevens Act and is exempt FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
responding to the most recent fisheries
from OMB review. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
data in a timely fashion and would
This rule is exempt from the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS delay the closure of the Atka mackerel
otherwise applicable requirement of the manages the groundfish fishery in the directed fishery in the CAI for vessels
Regulatory Flexibility Act to prepare a BSAI exclusive economic zone participating in the BSAI trawl limited
regulatory flexibility analysis because according to the Fishery Management
access fishery. NMFS was unable to
the rule is issued without opportunity Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
for prior public comment. publish a notice providing time for
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
public comment because the most
Dated: August 17, 2018. (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council under recent, relevant data only became
Donna S. Wieting, available as of August 16, 2018. The AA
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management also finds good cause to waive the 30-
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service. Act. Regulations governing fishing by day delay in the effective date of this
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This
[FR Doc. 2018–18095 Filed 8–21–18; 8:45 am]
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 finding is based upon the reasons
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
and 50 CFR part 679. provided above for waiver of prior
The 2018 TAC of Atka mackerel, in notice and opportunity for public
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the CAI, allocated to vessels comment.
participating in the BSAI trawl limited This action is required by § 679.20
National Oceanic and Atmospheric access fishery was established as a and is exempt from review under
Administration directed fishing allowance of 1,868 Executive Order 12866.
metric tons by the final 2018 and 2019
50 CFR Part 679 harvest specifications for groundfish in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, Dated: August 17, 2018.
2018). Alan D. Risenhoover,
RIN 0648–XG426 In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
the Regional Administrator finds that National Marine Fisheries Service.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
this directed fishing allowance has been
Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the [FR Doc. 2018–18129 Filed 8–17–18; 4:15 pm]
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka
Management Area
mackerel in the CAI by vessels
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries participating in the BSAI trawl limited
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and access fishery.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-08-22 00:38:11
Document Modified: 2018-08-22 00:38:11
| 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 17, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 42455 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG42 |
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