83 FR 58754 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 225 (November 21, 2018)

Page Range		58754-58754
FR Document		2018-25399

NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by catcher/ processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58754]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25399]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG639


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Central 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 retention of Pacific cod by catcher/
processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 Pacific cod 
apportionment for catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 19, 
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 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher/processors using 
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 253 metric tons 
(mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications 
for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2018 Pacific cod apportionment 
for catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area 
of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that Pacific 
cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with 
Sec.  679.21(b).

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 prohibiting the retention of Pacific cod by catcher/
processors using trawl gear in the Central 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 
November 15, 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 Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: November 16, 2018.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-25399 Filed 11-16-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

58754 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 225 / Wednesday, November 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

Common name Scientific name Where listed Status Listing citations and applicable rules

* * * * * * *
Fishes

* * * * * * *
Darter, candy ................... Etheostoma osburni ....... Wherever found .............. E 83 FR [insert Federal Register page where the
document begins], 11/21/2018.

* * * * * * *

* * * * * DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska from the fishery. The Assistant
Dated: September 6, 2018. local time (A.l.t.), November 19, 2018, Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
James W. Kurth,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, (AA), finds good cause to waive the
2018. requirement to provide prior notice and
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Exercising the Authority of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh opportunity for public comment
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Keaton, 907–586–7228. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
[FR Doc. 2018–25316 Filed 11–20–18; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
manages the groundfish fishery in the impracticable and contrary to the public
GOA exclusive economic zone interest. This requirement is
according to the Fishery Management impracticable and contrary to the public
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North responding to the most recent fisheries
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Pacific Fishery Management Council data in a timely fashion and would
Administration under authority of the Magnuson- delay prohibiting the retention of Pacific
Stevens Fishery Conservation and cod by catcher/processors using trawl
50 CFR Part 679 Management Act. Regulations governing
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. a notice providing time for public
The 2018 Pacific cod apportionment comment because the most recent,
RIN 0648–XG639
for catcher/processors using trawl gear relevant data only became available as
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic in the Central Regulatory Area of the of November 15, 2018.
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by GOA is 253 metric tons (mt) as The AA also finds good cause to
Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear established by the final 2018 and 2019 waive the 30-day delay in the effective
in the Central Regulatory Area of the harvest specifications for groundfish of date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Gulf of Alaska the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the the reasons provided above for waiver of
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and prior notice and opportunity for public
has determined that the 2018 Pacific
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), comment.
cod apportionment for catcher/
Commerce. processors using trawl gear in the This action is required by § 679.20
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
be reached. Therefore, NMFS is under Executive Order 12866.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention requiring that Pacific cod by catcher/ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
of Pacific cod by catcher/processors processors using trawl gear in the
using trawl gear in the Central Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be Dated: November 16, 2018.
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska treated as prohibited species in Karen H. Abrams,
(GOA). This action is necessary because accordance with § 679.21(b). Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
the 2018 Pacific cod apportionment for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
catcher/processors using trawl gear in Classification
[FR Doc. 2018–25399 Filed 11–16–18; 4:15 pm]
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA This action responds to the best
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
has been reached. available information recently obtained
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:51 Nov 20, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21NOR1.SGM 21NOR1

Document Created: 2018-11-21 03:11:40
Document Modified: 2018-11-21 03:11:40

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.), November 19, 2018, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		83 FR 58754
RIN Number		0648-XG63

83 FR 58754 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 225 (November 21, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration