Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 62464-62465 [2012-25260]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
Additionally, a seasonal closure is in
place for the recreational and
commercial sectors for gag and all other
SASWG from January through April
each fishing year as specified in 50 CFR
622.35(j). Therefore, the commercial
harvest of gag and all other SASWG will
not commence until May 1, 2013.
The operator of a vessel with a valid
commercial vessel permit for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper having gag or
other SASWG onboard must have
landed and bartered, traded, or sold
such gag or other SASWG prior to 12:01
a.m., local time, October 20, 2012.
During this commercial closure, the bag
limit and possession limits specified in
50 CFR 622.39(d)(1) and (d)(2),
respectively, apply to all harvest or
possession of gag or other SASWG in or
from the South Atlantic EEZ, and the
sale or purchase of gag or other SASWG
taken from the EEZ is prohibited. The
prohibition on sale or purchase does not
apply to the sale or purchase of gag or
other SASWG that were harvested,
landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01
a.m., local time, October 20, 2012, and
were held in cold storage by a dealer or
processor. For a person on board a
vessel for which a Federal commercial
permit for the South Atlantic snappergrouper fishery has been issued, the sale
and purchase provisions of the
commercial closure for gag or other
SASWG would apply regardless of
whether the fish are harvested in state
or Federal waters, as specified in 50
CFR 622.43(a)(5)(iii).
During the seasonal closure for the
recreational and commercial sectors for
gag and all other SASWG from January
through April each fishing year, no
person may fish for, harvest, or possess
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ any
SASWG. In addition, for a person on
board a vessel for which a valid Federal
commercial or charter vessel/headboat
permit for South Atlantic snappergrouper has been issued, the provisions
of this closure apply in the South
Atlantic, regardless of where such fish
are harvested, i.e., in state or Federal
waters as specified in 50 CFR 622.35(j).
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
(AA), finds that the need to immediately
implement this action to close the
commercial sector for gag and other
SASWG constitutes good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures
would be unnecessary and contrary to
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15:18 Oct 12, 2012
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the public interest. Such procedures
would be unnecessary because the rule
itself has been subject to notice and
comment, and all that remains is to
notify the public of the closure.
Allowing prior notice and opportunity
for public comment is contrary to the
public interest because of the need to
immediately implement this action to
protect gag since the capacity of the
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of
the quota. Prior notice and opportunity
for public comment would require time
and would potentially result in a
harvest well in excess of the established
commercial ACL (commercial quota).
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.43(a) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 10, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–25262 Filed 10–10–12; 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–XC288
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of 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 Pacific cod by vessels using
pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the
2012 Pacific cod total allowable catch
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), October 12, 2012, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
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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.
Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The 2012 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 11,755 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2012
and 2013 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (77 FR 15194,
March 14, 2012).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the 2012 Pacific cod
TAC apportioned to vessels using pot
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 11,755 mt and is setting
aside the remaining 0 mt as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA. After the
effective date of this closure the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 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 directed fishing closure of
Pacific cod for vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
E:\FR\FM\15OCR1.SGM
15OCR1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of October 9,
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
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15:18 Oct 12, 2012
Jkt 229001
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.
Dated: October 10, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–25260 Filed 10–10–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
PO 00000
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62465
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15OCR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62464-62465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25260]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737-2141-02]
RIN 0648-XC288
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Using Pot 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2012
Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using pot gear
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 12,
2012, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
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. Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The 2012 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is
11,755 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (77 FR 15194, March
14, 2012).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the 2012
Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of
11,755 mt and is setting aside the remaining 0 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 Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 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 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 directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for vessels
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
[[Page 62465]]
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
October 9, 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: October 10, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25260 Filed 10-10-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
