83 FR 51399 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 197 (October 11, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 197 (October 11, 2018)
| Page Range | 51399-51399 | |
| FR Document | 2018-22141 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 51399] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-22141] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769-8162-02] RIN 0648-XG529 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in 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 pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 6, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is 79,938 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018) and one in-season adjustment (83 FR 42609, August 23, 2018). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the 2018 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 79,838 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 pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. 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 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 pollock in Statistical Area 620 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 October 4, 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. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-22141 Filed 10-5-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 197 / Thursday, October 11, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 51399
notifying the public. The Purse Seine baseline annual fishery quota is 632.4 In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
category fishery closes on December 31 mt ww. The total quota, after any the Regional Administrator has
of each year. adjustments made per paragraph (e)(2) determined that the 2018 TAC of
* * * * * of this section, is the fishing year’s total pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the
(5) Harpoon category quota. The total amount of northern albacore tuna that GOA will soon be reached. Therefore,
amount of large medium and giant may be landed by persons and vessels the Regional Administrator is
bluefin tuna that may be caught, subject to U.S. jurisdiction. establishing a directed fishing
retained, possessed, landed, or sold by * * * * * allowance of 79,838 mt and is setting
vessels that possess Harpoon category [FR Doc. 2018–22034 Filed 10–10–18; 8:45 am] aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch
Atlantic Tunas permits is 46 mt. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P to support other anticipated groundfish
Harpoon category fishery commences on fisheries. In accordance with
June 1 of each year, and closes on § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
November 15 of each year. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Administrator finds that this directed
(6) Trap category quota. The total fishing allowance has been reached.
amount of large medium and giant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
bluefin tuna that may be caught, Administration
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
retained, possessed, or landed by Area 620 of the GOA.
vessels that possess Trap category 50 CFR Part 679
While this closure is effective the
Atlantic Tunas permits is 1.2 mt. [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] maximum retainable amounts at
(7) * * *
(i) The total amount of bluefin tuna RIN 0648–XG529 § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
that is held in reserve for inseason or during a trip.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
annual adjustments and research using Classification
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
quota or subquotas is 29.5 mt, which Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
may be augmented by allowable This action responds to the best
underharvest from the previous year, or AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries available information recently obtained
annual reallocation of Purse Seine Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and from the fishery. The Assistant
category quota as described under Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
paragraph (a)(4)(v) of this section. Commerce. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Consistent with paragraphs (a)(8) ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. requirement to provide prior notice and
through (10) of this section, NMFS may opportunity for public comment
allocate any portion of the Reserve SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
category quota for inseason or annual fishing for pollock in Statistical Area U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
adjustments to any fishing category 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This impracticable and contrary to the public
quota. action is necessary to prevent exceeding interest. This requirement is
(ii) The total amount of school bluefin the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock impracticable and contrary to the public
tuna that is held in reserve for inseason for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
or annual adjustments and fishery- DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska responding to the most recent fisheries
independent research is 18.5 percent local time (A.l.t.), October 6, 2018, data in a timely fashion and would
(23.5 mt) of the total school bluefin tuna through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, delay the closure of directed fishing for
Angling category quota as described 2018. pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the
under paragraph (a)(2) of this section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
This amount is in addition to the Keaton, 907–586–7228. notice providing time for public
amounts specified in paragraph (a)(7)(i) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS comment because the most recent,
of this section. Consistent with manages the groundfish fishery in the relevant data only became available as
paragraph (a)(8) of this section, NMFS GOA exclusive economic zone of October 4, 2018.
may allocate any portion of the school according to the Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to
bluefin tuna Angling category quota Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of waive the 30-day delay in the effective
held in reserve for inseason or annual Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
adjustments to the Angling category. Pacific Fishery Management Council 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
* * * * * under authority of the Magnuson- the reasons provided above for waiver of
(10) * * * Stevens Fishery Conservation and prior notice and opportunity for public
(iii) Regardless of the estimated Management Act. Regulations governing comment.
landings in any year, NMFS may adjust fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
the annual school bluefin tuna quota to with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 This action is required by § 679.20
ensure compliance with the ICCAT- CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. and is exempt from review under
recommended procedures for The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) Executive Order 12866.
addressing overharvest of school bluefin of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
tuna. GOA is 79,938 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2018 and 2019 Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
* * * * *
(e) * * * harvest specifications for groundfish in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
(1) Annual quota. Consistent with the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018)
ICCAT recommendations and domestic and one in-season adjustment (83 FR [FR Doc. 2018–22141 Filed 10–5–18; 4:15 pm]
management objectives, the total 42609, August 23, 2018). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:54 Oct 10, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\11OCR1.SGM 11OCR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_51596/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-10-11 15:35:42
Document Modified: 2018-10-11 15:35:42
| 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.), October 6, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 51399 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG52 |
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