Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska, 60321-60322 [2012-24400]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
According to 50 CFR 229.33(f)(2), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
may revise the requirements of the Plan
through notification published in the
Federal Register if NMFS determines
that the boundaries or timing of a closed
area is inappropriate. After
consideration of this recent information,
NMFS will temporarily shift the
implementation of year 1 of the Coastal
Gulf of Maine Closure Area from
October 1, 2012 through November 30,
2012, to February 1, 2013 through
March 31, 2013. This temporary shift
will be for year 1 only, and will include
the entire Coastal Gulf of Maine Closure
Area as identified in the regulations for
the full two-month time period. This
temporary shift of the closure will
provide greater conservation benefits to
harbor porpoises. During October, the
Team will convene to consider data
generated since the last Team meeting
in late 2007. New information includes:
new harbor porpoise abundance
estimates, the most recent harbor
porpoise bycatch information that
indicates that harbor porpoise bycatch is
exceeding allowable levels under the
MMPA, and fishing effort and
distribution information within the
consequence closure area boundaries as
well as throughout the entire range of
the Plan. The Team will also assess how
the implementation of groundfish
sectors has affected gillnet effort and
distribution and any related effects on
harbor porpoise bycatch. This
information will allow the Team to
develop a comprehensive management
strategy to further reduce the bycatch of
harbor porpoises to acceptable levels
under the MMPA. After year 1, the
closure area timing will revert to
October and November, pending the
implementation of revised conservation
measures resulting from the Team’s
deliberations this fall.
Despite the shift in the timing of the
Coastal Gulf of Maine Closure to
February and March of 2013, NMFS
stresses the importance of fully
complying with the Plan’s pinger
requirements (i.e., proper number of
fully functional pingers present on each
net string) to reduce harbor porpoise
bycatch. Pingers are still required on
gillnet fishing gear in the Mid-Coast
Management Area from September 15
through May 31 and the Massachusetts
Bay and Stellwagen Bank Management
Areas from November 1 through May
31. Additionally, the entire
Massachusetts Bay Management Area is
closed during March.
References
Orphanides C.D. 2012. New England
harbor porpoise bycatch rates during
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:51 Oct 02, 2012
Jkt 229001
2010–2012 associated with
Consequence Closure Areas. US Dept. of
Commerce, Northeast Fisheries Science
Center Reference Doc 12–19; 15 pp.
Dated: September 27, 2012.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, performing the
functions and duties of the, Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–24410 Filed 9–28–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737–2141–02]
RIN 0648–XC270
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
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 2012 total allowable catch of pollock
for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), October 1, 2012, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30
p.m., A.l.t., October 15, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2012–0187,
by any one of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.
regulations.gov. To submit comments
via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click
the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon, then
enter NOAA–NMFS–2012–0187 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 that line.
• Mail: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
• Fax: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
60321
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907–
586–7557.
• Hand delivery to the Federal
Building: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Deliver comments to
709 West 9th Street, Room 420A,
Juneau, AK.
Instructions: 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 for public viewing
on www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will 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 or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe
PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 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 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 2012 total allowable catch (TAC)
of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the
GOA is 45,808 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (77 FR 15194, March 14, 2012).
As of September 27, 2012,
approximately 5,200 mt of pollock
remain in the 2012 TAC for pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. Based
on fleet capacity and potentially high
levels of fleet participation in this
fishery, the Administrator, Alaska
Region (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the pollock TAC for
Statistical Area 620 of the GOA could be
E:\FR\FM\03OCR1.SGM
03OCR1
60322
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
exceeded if a fishery were allowed to
occur. NMFS, in accordance with
§ 679.25(a)(1)(i), § 679.25(a)(2)(i)(A), and
§ 679.25(a)(2)(iii)(B) is issuing an
inseason adjustment prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 620 of the GOA. The Regional
Administrator has determined that this
action is the least restrictive necessary
to ensure that the TAC not be exceeded.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:51 Oct 02, 2012
Jkt 229001
(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 § 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 September
27, 2012.
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
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 is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 28, 2012.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–24400 Filed 9–28–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60321-60322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24400]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737-2141-02]
RIN 0648-XC270
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 2012 total allowable catch of
pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 2012,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012. Comments must be received
at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 15,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2012-0187,
by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0187 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 that line.
Mail: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
Fax: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907-586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: Address written
comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator,
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen
Sebastian. Deliver comments to 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau,
AK.
Instructions: 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 for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will 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 or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 2012 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in Statistical Area
620 of the GOA is 45,808 metric tons (mt) as established by the final
2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (77 FR
15194, March 14, 2012).
As of September 27, 2012, approximately 5,200 mt of pollock remain
in the 2012 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. Based
on fleet capacity and potentially high levels of fleet participation in
this fishery, the Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator)
has determined that the pollock TAC for Statistical Area 620 of the GOA
could be
[[Page 60322]]
exceeded if a fishery were allowed to occur. NMFS, in accordance with
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(A), and Sec.
679.25(a)(2)(iii)(B) is issuing an inseason adjustment prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. The
Regional Administrator has determined that this action is the least
restrictive necessary to ensure that the TAC not be exceeded.
After the effective date of this closure 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 Acting 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. 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 September 27, 2012.
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: September 28, 2012.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24400 Filed 9-28-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
