83 FR 5053 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Operating as Catcher Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

Page Range		5053-5054
FR Document		2018-02248

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non- American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits, and operating as catcher vessels (CVs) using pot gear, in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels that are operating as CVs using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5053-5054]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02248]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF941


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Operating as Catcher Vessels 
Using Pot Gear 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 Pacific cod by non-
American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard 
limits, and operating as catcher vessels (CVs) using pot gear, in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018 
Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels that 
are operating as

[[Page 5054]]

CVs using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 
2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 sideboard limit 
established for non-AFA crab vessels, and that are operating as CVs 
using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA, is 338 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 one inseason adjustment (82 FR 60327, December 20, 2017).
    In accordance with Sec.  680.22(e)(2)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-
AFA crab vessels that are operating as CVs using pot gear in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing a sideboard directed fishing 
allowance of 328 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec.  680.22(e)(3), the Regional Administrator finds 
that this sideboard directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
non-AFA crab vessels that are operating as CVs using pot gear in the 
Western 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.

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 sideboard directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for 
non-AFA crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits, and that are 
operating as CVs using pot gear 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 January 30, 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.  680.22 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 31, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02248 Filed 1-31-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

$5054 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Rules and Regulations CVs using pot gear in the Western In accordance with § 680.22(e)(2)(i), pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 Regulatory Area of the GOA. the Administrator, Alaska Region, U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska NMFS (Regional Administrator) has impracticable and contrary to the public local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 2018, determined that the A season allowance interest. This requirement is through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit impracticable and contrary to the public 2018. established for non-AFA crab vessels interest as it would prevent NMFS from FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: that are operating as CVs using pot gear responding to the most recent fisheries Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. in the Western Regulatory Area of the data in a timely fashion and would GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, delay the sideboard directed fishing SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS the Regional Administrator is closure of Pacific cod for non-AFA crab manages the groundfish fishery in the establishing a sideboard directed fishing vessels that are subject to sideboard GOA exclusive economic zone allowance of 328 mt, and is setting aside limits, and that are operating as CVs according to the Fishery Management the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of support other anticipated groundfish Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North fisheries. In accordance with publish a notice providing time for Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson- § 680.22(e)(3), the Regional public comment because the most Stevens Fishery Conservation and Administrator finds that this sideboard recent, relevant data only became Management Act. Regulations governing directed fishing allowance has been available as of January 30, 2018. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance reached. Consequently, NMFS is The AA also finds good cause to with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific waive the 30-day delay in the effective CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. cod by non-AFA crab vessels that are date of this action under 5 U.S.C. Regulations governing sideboard operating as CVs using pot gear in the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon protections for GOA groundfish Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. the reasons provided above for waiver of fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR After the effective date of this closure prior notice and opportunity for public part 680. the maximum retainable amounts at comment. The A season allowance of the 2018 § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time This action is required by § 680.22 Pacific cod sideboard limit established during a trip. and is exempt from review under for non-AFA crab vessels, and that are Classification Executive Order 12866. operating as CVs using pot gear in the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Western Regulatory Area of the GOA, is This action responds to the best 338 metric tons (mt), as established by available information recently obtained Dated: January 31, 2018. the final 2017 and 2018 harvest from the fishery. The Assistant Emily H. Menashes, specifications for groundfish of the GOA Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Acting Director, Office of Sustainable (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017) and (AA), finds good cause to waive the Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. one inseason adjustment (82 FR 60327, requirement to provide prior notice and [FR Doc. 2018–02248 Filed 1–31–18; 4:15 pm] December 20, 2017). opportunity for public comment BILLING CODE 3510–22–P nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:20 Feb 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\05FER1.SGM 05FER1$

Document Created: 2018-02-03 01:24:43
Document Modified: 2018-02-03 01:24:43

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.), February 1, 2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2018.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 5053
RIN Number		0648-XF94

83 FR 5053 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Operating as Catcher Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration