Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharks in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 59924 [2011-24970]
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59924
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 28, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521–0640–2]
RIN 0648–XA733
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Sharks in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting retention
of sharks in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This
action is necessary because the 2011
total allowable catch (TAC) of sharks in
the BSAI has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), September 24, 2011,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7269.
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 MagnusonStevens 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 TAC of sharks in the BSAI
is 50 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) and
apportionment of non-specified reserves
(76 FR 53840, August 30, 2011).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2011 TAC of sharks
in the BSAI has been reached.
Therefore, NMFS is requiring that
sharks caught in the BSAI be treated as
prohibited species in accordance with
§ 679.21(b).
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:23 Sep 27, 2011
Jkt 223001
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 sharks
in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of September 22, 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.
This action is required by § 679.20
and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 23, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–24970 Filed 9–23–11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521–0640–2]
RIN 0648–XA731
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; 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; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting retention
of skates in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This
action is necessary because the 2011
total allowable catch (TAC) of skates in
the BSAI has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), September 24, 2011,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2011.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Josh
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 MagnusonStevens 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 TAC of skates in the BSAI
is 16,500 metric tons (mt) as established
by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) and
apportionment of non-specified reserves
(76 FR 53840, August 30, 2011).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2011 TAC of skates
in the BSAI has been reached.
Therefore, NMFS is requiring that skates
caught in the BSAI be treated as
prohibited species in accordance with
§ 679.21(b).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 skates
in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of September 22, 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.
This action is required by § 679.20
and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Keaton, 907–586–7269.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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28SER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24970]
[[Page 59924]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521-0640-2]
RIN 0648-XA733
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharks 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of sharks in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary
because the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) of sharks in the BSAI has
been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 24,
2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7269.
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 2011 TAC of sharks in the BSAI is 50 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) and apportionment of
non-specified reserves (76 FR 53840, August 30, 2011).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2011 TAC
of sharks in the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring
that sharks caught in the BSAI 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 sharks in the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September
22, 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.
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: September 23, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-24970 Filed 9-23-11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P