83 FR 52332 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 201 (October 17, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 201 (October 17, 2018)
| Page Range | 52332-52332 | |
| FR Document | 2018-22642 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 52332] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-22642] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769-8162-02] RIN 0648-XG528 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 13, 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 610 of the GOA is 30,799 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 610 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 30,699 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 610 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 610 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 11, 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: October 12, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-22642 Filed 10-12-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![52332 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 201 / Wednesday, October 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Fishery Bulletins, and other appropriate Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
means. All that remains is to notify the Commerce. Area 610 of the GOA.
public that catastrophic conditions exist ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. While this closure is effective the
and that paper forms may be utilized by maximum retainable amounts at
IFQ dealers in the affected area and that SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
Federal dealers may submit delayed
610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This during a trip.
reports. Additionally, delaying this
temporary rule to provide prior notice action is necessary to prevent exceeding Classification
and opportunity for public comment the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock
would be contrary to the public interest for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. This action responds to the best
because affected dealers are still fishing DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska available information recently obtained
for and receiving these species in the local time (A.l.t.), October 13, 2018, from the fishery. The Assistant
affected area and need a means of through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
completing their landing transactions. 2018. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
With the power outages and damages to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh requirement to provide prior notice and
infrastructure that have occurred in the Keaton, 907–586–7228. opportunity for public comment
affected area due to Hurricane Michael, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
numerous businesses are unable to manages the groundfish fishery in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
complete landings transactions and impracticable and contrary to the public
GOA exclusive economic zone
dealer reports electronically. In order to interest. This requirement is
according to the Fishery Management
continue with their businesses, IFQ impracticable and contrary to the public
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
dealers need to be aware they can still
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North interest as it would prevent NMFS from
complete landing transactions and
Pacific Fishery Management Council responding to the most recent fisheries
dealer reports using the paper forms.
For the aforementioned reasons, the under authority of the Magnuson- data in a timely fashion and would
AA also finds good cause to waive the Stevens Fishery Conservation and delay the closure of directed fishing for
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this Management Act. Regulations governing pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 notice providing time for public
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. comment because the most recent,
Dated: October 12, 2018. The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) relevant data only became available as
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the of October 11, 2018.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable GOA is 30,799 metric tons (mt) as
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. established by the final 2018 and 2019 The AA also finds good cause to
[FR Doc. 2018–22647 Filed 10–12–18; 4:15 pm] harvest specifications for groundfish in waive the 30-day delay in the effective
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018) date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
and one in-season adjustment (83 FR 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
42609, August 23, 2018). the reasons provided above for waiver of
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), prior notice and opportunity for public
the Regional Administrator has comment.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric determined that the 2018 TAC of This action is required by § 679.20
Administration pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the and is exempt from review under
GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, Executive Order 12866.
50 CFR Part 679 the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
allowance of 30,699 mt and is setting Dated: October 12, 2018.
RIN 0648–XG528 aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
to support other anticipated groundfish
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
fisheries. In accordance with
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska [FR Doc. 2018–22642 Filed 10–12–18; 4:15 pm]
Administrator finds that this directed
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries fishing allowance has been reached. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-10-17 01:47:05
Document Modified: 2018-10-17 01:47:05
| 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 13, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 52332 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG52 |
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