Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Rockfish, Other Flatfish, Sharks, and Skates in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 53840-53841 [2011-22139]
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srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
53840
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
limits authorize such fishing; and
provided a valid declaration report as
required at § 660.13(d), has been filed
with NMFS OLE.
(13) * * *
(iv) * * *
(B) When the shoreward line of the
trawl RCA is shallower than 100 fm (183
m), vessels using ridgeback prawn trawl
gear south of 34°27.00′ N. lat. may
operate out to the 100 fm (183 m)
boundary line specified at § 660.73,
when a valid declaration report as
required at § 660.13(d), has been filed
with NMFS OLE. Groundfish caught
with ridgeback prawn trawl gear are
subject to the limits in Table 3 (North)
and Table 3 (South) of this subpart.
*
*
*
*
*
(16)
(i) * * *
(A) Seaward of a boundary line
approximating the 700-fm (1280-m)
depth contour. Fishing with bottom
trawl gear is prohibited in waters of
depths greater than 700 fm (1280 m)
within the EFH, as defined by specific
latitude and longitude coordinates at
§ 660.76.
*
*
*
*
*
(E) EFHCAs for bottom contact gear,
which includes bottom trawl gear.
Fishing with bottom contact gear is
prohibited within the following
EFHCAs, which are defined by specific
latitude and longitude coordinates at
§§ 660.78 through 660.79: Thompson
Seamount, President Jackson Seamount,
Cordell Bank (50-fm (91-m) isobath),
Harris Point, Richardson Rock,
Scorpion, Painted Cave, Anacapa Island,
Carrington Point, Judith Rock, Skunk
Point, Footprint, Gull Island, South
Point, and Santa Barbara. Fishing with
bottom contact gear is also prohibited
within the Davidson Seamount EFH
Area, which is defined by specific
latitude and longitude coordinates at
§ 660.75.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Black rockfish fishery
management. The trip limit for black
rockfish (Sebastes melanops) for
commercial fishing vessels using hookand-line gear between the U.S.-Canada
border and Cape Alava (48°09.50′ N.
lat.), and between Destruction Island
(47°40′ N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point
(46°38.17′ N. lat.), is 100-lbs (45 kg) or
30 percent, by weight of all fish on
board, whichever is greater, per vessel
per fishing trip. These per trip limits
apply to limited entry and open access
fisheries, in conjunction with the
cumulative trip limits and other
management measures in §§ 660.230
and 660.330. The crossover provisions
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:46 Aug 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
in § 660.60(h)(7), do not apply to the
black rockfish per-trip limits.
[FR Doc. 2011–22162 Filed 8–29–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521–0640–02]
RIN 0648–XA672
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Other Rockfish, Other
Flatfish, Sharks, and Skates in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment
of reserves; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS apportions amounts of
the non-specified reserve to the initial
total allowable catch of other rockfish,
other flatfish, sharks, and skates in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to allow the fisheries to
continue operating. It is intended to
promote the goals and objectives of the
fishery management plan for the BSAI
management area.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2011
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time,
December 31, 2011. Comments must be
received at the following address no
later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time,
September 9, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Glenn
Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit
comments, identified by FDMS Docket
Number NOAA–NMFS–2011–0212, by
any one of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at
https://www.regulations.gov. To submit
comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon,
then enter [NOAA–NMFS–2011–0212]
in the keyword search. Locate the
document you wish to comment on
from the resulting list and click on the
‘‘Submit a Comment’’ icon on the right
of that line.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
• Fax: (907) 586–7557.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4700
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• Hand delivery to the Federal
Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room
420A, Juneau, AK.
Comments must be submitted by one
of the above methods to ensure that the
comments are received, documented,
and considered by NMFS. Comments
sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after
the end of the comment period, may not
be considered.
All comments received are a part of
the public record and will generally be
posted to https://www.regulations.gov
without change. All Personal Identifying
Information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter N/A in the required
fields, if you wish to remain
anonymous). Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft
Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe
portable document file (pdf) formats
only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(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 2011 initial total allowable catch
(ITAC) of Aleutian Islands (AI) other
rockfish, BSAI other flatfish, BSAI
sharks, and BSAI skates was established
as 425 metric tons (mt), 2,550 mt, 43 mt,
and 14,025 mt, respectively, by the final
2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the BSAI (76 FR 11139,
March 1, 2011). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(3) the Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
has reviewed the most current available
data and finds that the ITACs for AI
other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish, BSAI
sharks, and BSAI skates in the BSAI
need to be supplemented from the nonspecified reserve in order to promote
efficiency in the utilization of fishery
resources in the BSAI and allow fishing
operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions from
the non-specified reserve of groundfish
E:\FR\FM\30AUR1.SGM
30AUR1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
75 mt, 450 mt, 7 mt, and 2,475 mt to the
AI other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish,
BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates ITACs,
respectively. This apportionment is
consistent with § 679.20(b)(1)(i) and
does not result in overfishing of a target
species because the revised ITACs are
equal to or less than the specifications
of the acceptable biological catch in the
final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011).
The harvest specification for the 2011
AI other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish,
BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates ITACs
included in the harvest specifications
for groundfish in the BSAI is revised as
follows: 500 mt for AI other rockfish,
3,000 mt for BSAI other flatfish, 50 mt
for BSAI sharks, and 16,500 mt for BSAI
skates.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:46 Aug 29, 2011
Jkt 223001
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) and
§ 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a
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
apportionment of the non-specified
reserves of groundfish to the AI other
rockfish, BSAI other flatfish, BSAI
sharks, and BSAI skates fisheries in the
BSAI. Immediate notification is
necessary to allow for the orderly
conduct and efficient operation of this
fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season, and to avoid
potential disruption to the fishing fleet
and processors. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
53841
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of August 24, 2011.
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.
Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested
persons are invited to submit written
comments on this action (see
ADDRESSES) until September 9, 2011.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2011.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–22139 Filed 8–25–11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\30AUR1.SGM
30AUR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53840-53841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22139]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521-0640-02]
RIN 0648-XA672
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other
Rockfish, Other Flatfish, Sharks, and Skates in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch of other rockfish, other flatfish,
sharks, and skates in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to
continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives
of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2011 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time,
December 31, 2011. Comments must be received at the following address
no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, September 9, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may
submit comments, identified by FDMS Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2011-0212,
by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ``submit a comment'' icon, then enter [NOAA-NMFS-2011-
0212] in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on
from the resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on
the right of that line.
Mail: Submit written comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802.
Fax: (907) 586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure
that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS.
Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual,
or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered.
All comments received are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. All
Personal Identifying Information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily
submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
Adobe portable document file (pdf) formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(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 2011 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Aleutian Islands
(AI) other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish, BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates
was established as 425 metric tons (mt), 2,550 mt, 43 mt, and 14,025
mt, respectively, by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011). In accordance with
Sec. 679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
reviewed the most current available data and finds that the ITACs for
AI other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish, BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates in
the BSAI need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve in
order to promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery resources in
the BSAI and allow fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish
[[Page 53841]]
75 mt, 450 mt, 7 mt, and 2,475 mt to the AI other rockfish, BSAI other
flatfish, BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates ITACs, respectively. This
apportionment is consistent with Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) and does not
result in overfishing of a target species because the revised ITACs are
equal to or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological
catch in the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for groundfish
in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011).
The harvest specification for the 2011 AI other rockfish, BSAI
other flatfish, BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates ITACs included in the
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI is revised as
follows: 500 mt for AI other rockfish, 3,000 mt for BSAI other
flatfish, 50 mt for BSAI sharks, and 16,500 mt for BSAI skates.
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) and Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a
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 apportionment of the non-specified
reserves of groundfish to the AI other rockfish, BSAI other flatfish,
BSAI sharks, and BSAI skates fisheries in the BSAI. Immediate
notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and
efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing
fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of August 24, 2011.
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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until September
9, 2011.
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: August 25, 2011.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-22139 Filed 8-25-11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
