83 FR 48560 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 187 (September 26, 2018)

Page Range		48560-48560
FR Document		2018-20955

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48560]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20955]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG505


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky 
Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 dusky rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch of dusky 
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 21, 
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 dusky rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 146 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the (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 dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 100 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 46 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 dusky 
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    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 closure of directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the 
Western 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 September 21, 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: September 21, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20955 Filed 9-21-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

48560 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is GOA exclusive economic zone the reasons provided above for waiver of
impracticable and contrary to the public according to the Fishery Management prior notice and opportunity for public
interest. This requirement is Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of comment.
impracticable and contrary to the public Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North This action is required by § 679.20
interest as it would prevent NMFS from Pacific Fishery Management Council and is exempt from review under
responding to the most recent fisheries under authority of the Magnuson- Executive Order 12866.
data in a timely fashion and would Stevens Fishery Conservation and Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
delay the closure of directed fishing for Management Act. Regulations governing
Pacific ocean perch in the Western fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance Dated: September 21, 2018.
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
unable to publish a notice providing CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
time for public comment because the The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
most recent, relevant data only became of dusky rockfish in the Western [FR Doc. 2018–20955 Filed 9–21–18; 4:15 pm]
available as of September 20, 2018. Regulatory Area of the GOA is 146 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
The AA also finds good cause to metric tons (mt) as established by the
waive the 30-day delay in the effective final 2018 and 2019 harvest
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. specifications for groundfish of the (83 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon FR 8768, March 1, 2018).
the reasons provided above for waiver of In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
prior notice and opportunity for public the Administrator, Alaska Region, Administration
comment. NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
This action is required by § 679.20 determined that the 2018 TAC of dusky 50 CFR Part 679
and is exempt from review under rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
Executive Order 12866. of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is RIN 0648–XG504
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
establishing a directed fishing
Dated: September 21, 2018.
allowance of 100 mt, and is setting aside Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Alan D. Risenhoover, the remaining 46 mt as bycatch to Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, support other anticipated groundfish the Western Regulatory Area of the
National Marine Fisheries Service. fisheries. In accordance with Gulf of Alaska
[FR Doc. 2018–20928 Filed 9–21–18; 4:15 pm] § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Administrator finds that this directed Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
fishing allowance has been reached. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Commerce.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE directed fishing for dusky rockfish in ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
the Western Regulatory Area of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration GOA. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
While this closure is in effect the fishing for northern rockfish in the
maximum retainable amounts at Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
50 CFR Part 679
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] during a trip. to prevent exceeding the 2018 total
RIN 0648–XG505 Classification allowable catch of northern rockfish in
the Western Regulatory Area of the
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic This action responds to the best GOA.
Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of local time (A.l.t.), September 21, 2018,
Alaska Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries requirement to provide prior notice and 2018.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and opportunity for public comment FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
Commerce. U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. impracticable and contrary to the public manages the groundfish fishery in the
interest. This requirement is GOA exclusive economic zone
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed impracticable and contrary to the public according to the Fishery Management
fishing for dusky rockfish in the interest as it would prevent NMFS from Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of responding to the most recent fisheries Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary data in a timely fashion and would Pacific Fishery Management Council
to prevent exceeding the 2018 total delay the closure of directed fishing for under authority of the Magnuson-
allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the dusky rockfish in the Western Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was Management Act. Regulations governing
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska unable to publish a notice providing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
local time (A.l.t.), September 21, 2018,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES

time for public comment because the with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, most recent, relevant data only became CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
2018. available as of September 21, 2018. The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The AA also finds good cause to of northern rockfish in the Western
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. waive the 30-day delay in the effective Regulatory Area of the GOA is 420
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS date of this action under 5 U.S.C. metric tons (mt) as established by the
manages the groundfish fishery in the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon final 2018 and 2019 harvest

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Sep 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\26SER1.SGM 26SER1

Document Created: 2018-09-26 00:46:44
Document Modified: 2018-09-26 00:46:44

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.), September 21, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
Contact		Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 48560
RIN Number		0648-XG50

83 FR 48560 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 187 (September 26, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration