83 FR 47846 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

Page Range		47846-47847
FR Document		2018-20625

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 northern rockfish initial total allowable catch (ITAC) specified for the BSAI.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47846-47847]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20625]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XG492


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action 
is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 northern rockfish initial 
total allowable catch (ITAC) specified for the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs., Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 18, 
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 northern rockfish ITAC specified for the BSAI is 5,185 
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 
northern rockfish ITAC in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 
5,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 185 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 northern rockfish in the BSAI.
    While this closure is in effect 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 northern rockfish 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 September 14, 2018.

[[Page 47847]]

    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: September 18, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20625 Filed 9-18-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

47846 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: fishing year may reduce fishing effort, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management and could also prevent the annual quota manages the groundfish fishery in the
Specialist, (978) 281–9180; or from being fully harvested. This would BSAI exclusive economic zone
Cynthia.Hanson@noaa.gov. conflict with the agency’s legal according to the Fishery Management
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS obligation under the Magnuson-Stevens Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
published a final rule for Framework Fishery Conservation and Management and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Adjustment 3 to the Summer Flounder, Act to achieve the optimum yield from (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery a fishery on a continuing basis, resulting Fishery Management Council under
Management Plan in the Federal in a negative economic impact on authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Register on November 3, 2003 (68 FR vessels permitted to fish in this fishery. Fishery Conservation and Management
62250), implementing a process to roll Moreover, the rollover process being Act. Regulations governing fishing by
over unused Winter I commercial scup applied here was the subject of notice U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
quota (January 1 through April 30) to be and comment rulemaking, and the range appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
added to the Winter II period quota of potential trip limit changes were and 50 CFR part 679.
(October 1 through December 31).1 The outlined in the final 2018 scup
The 2018 northern rockfish ITAC
framework also allows adjustment of the specifications that were published
specified for the BSAI is 5,185 metric
commercial possession limit for the December 22, 2017; which were
developed through public notice and tons as established by the final 2018 and
Winter II period dependent on the 2019 harvest specifications for
amount of quota rolled over from the comment. Based on these
considerations, NMFS further finds, groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365,
Winter I period. February 27, 2018).
For 2018, the initial Winter II quota is pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good
3,822,816 lb (1,734 mt). The best cause to waive the 30-day delayed In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
available landings information indicates effectiveness period for the reasons the Administrator, Alaska Region,
that 5,943,861 lb (2,696 mt) remain of stated above. NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
the 10,820,000-lb (4,908-mt) Winter I Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. determined that the 2018 northern
quota. Consistent with Framework 3, the rockfish ITAC in the BSAI will soon be
Dated: September 18, 2018. reached. Therefore, the Regional
full amount of unused 2018 Winter I Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
quota is being transferred to Winter II, Administrator is establishing a directed
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable fishing allowance of 5,000 mt, and is
resulting in a revised 2018 Winter II Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
quota of 9,766,677 lb (4,430 mt). setting aside the remaining 185 mt as
[FR Doc. 2018–20624 Filed 9–20–18; 8:45 am] bycatch to support other anticipated
Because the amount transferred is
between 5.5 and 6.0 million lb (2,495 to
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
2,722 mt), the Federal per trip § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
possession limit will increase from Administrator finds that this directed
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE fishing allowance has been reached.
12,000 lb (5.4 mt) to 28,500 lb (13 mt),
as outlined in the final rule that Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
established the possession limit and directed fishing for northern rockfish in
Administration
quota rollover procedures for this year, the BSAI.
published on December 22, 2017 (82 FR 50 CFR Part 679 While this closure is in effect the
60682). maximum retainable amounts at
[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02]
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Classification RIN 0648–XG492 during a trip.
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Classification
Executive Order 12866. Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in
This action responds to the best
The Assistant Administrator for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
available information recently obtained
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause Management Area
from the fishery. The Assistant
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
notice and the opportunity for public Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and (AA), finds good cause to waive the
comment on this in-season adjustment Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), requirement to provide prior notice and
because it would be contrary to the Commerce. opportunity for public comment
public interest. This action transfers pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
unused quota from Winter I Period to U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
the remaining Winter II Period to make SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed impracticable and contrary to the public
it accessible to the commercial scup fishing for northern rockfish in the interest. This requirement is
fishery. If implementation of this in- Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands impracticable and contrary to the public
season action is delayed to solicit prior management area (BSAI). This action is interest as it would prevent NMFS from
public comment, the objective of the necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 responding to the most recent fisheries
fishery management plan to achieve the northern rockfish initial total allowable data in a timely fashion and would
optimum yield from the fishery could be catch (ITAC) specified for the BSAI. delay the directed fishery closure of
compromised. Deteriorating weather DATES: Effective 1200 hrs., Alaska local northern rockfish in the BSAI. NMFS
conditions during the latter part of the time (A.l.t.), September 18, 2018,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES

was unable to publish a notice
through 2400 hrs., A.l.t., December 31, providing time for public comment
1 Effective May 21, 2018, the Winter II period start
2018. because the most recent, relevant data
date was changed from November 1 to October 1
as a part of Framework Adjustment 12 (83 FR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: only became available as of September
17314; April 19, 2018). Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. 14, 2018.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Sep 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM 21SER1

$Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 47847 The AA also finds good cause to prior notice and opportunity for public Dated: September 18, 2018. waive the 30-day delay in the effective comment. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, date of this action under 5 U.S.C. This action is required by § 679.20 Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon and is exempt from review under Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. the reasons provided above for waiver of Executive Order 12866. [FR Doc. 2018–20625 Filed 9–18–18; 4:15 pm] Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Sep 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM 21SER1$

Document Created: 2018-09-21 00:23:49
Document Modified: 2018-09-21 00:23:49

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.), September 18, 2018, through 2400 hrs., A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
Contact		Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 47846
RIN Number		0648-XG49

83 FR 47846 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration