Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area, 76425 [2012-31228]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 249 / Friday, December 28, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
provided a mechanism for bluefish
quota to be transferred from one state to
another. Two or more states, under
mutual agreement and with the
concurrence of the Administrator,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), can transfer or combine
bluefish commercial quota under
§ 648.162(e). The Regional
Administrator is required to consider
the criteria in § 648.162(e)(1) in the
evaluation of requests for quota transfers
or combinations.
Florida has agreed to transfer 50,000
lb (22,680 kg) of its 2012 commercial
quota to New York. This transfer was
prompted by the diligent efforts of state
officials in New York not to exceed the
commercial bluefish quota. The
Regional Administrator has determined
that the criteria set forth in
§ 648.162(e)(1) have been met. The
revised bluefish quotas for calendar year
2012 are: Florida, 987,894 lb (448,101
kg); and New York, 1,121,466 lb
(508,688 kg).
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 21, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–31216 Filed 12–21–12; 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–XC415
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska Management
Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of Pacific cod
from catcher vessels using trawl gear to
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:32 Dec 27, 2012
Jkt 229001
vessels using pot gear and catcher
vessels less than 50 feet length overall
using hook-and-line gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
management area. This action is
necessary to allow the 2012 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective December 26, 2012,
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.L.t.), December 31, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Gulf of Alaska (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 specified for catcher vessels using
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 14,154 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2012 and
2013 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA (77 FR 15194,
March 14, 2012), after a 1,627 mt
apportionment to the trawl catcher
vessel sector under the Central GOA
Rockfish Program (§ 679.81(c)(4)(ii)) and
a 1,800 mt reallocation to the pot and
jig gear sectors (77 FR 67579, November
13, 2012). The Administrator, Alaska
Region (Regional Administrator) has
determined that catcher vessels using
trawl gear will not be able to harvest 950
mt of the 2012 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). In accordance
with § 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that
the pot sector and the less than 50 ft.
length overall (LOA) catcher vessel
using hook-and-line gear sector
currently have the capacity to harvest
this excess allocation and reallocates
750 mt to vessels using pot gear and 200
mt to less than 50 ft. LOA catcher
vessels using hook-and-line gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod included in the final 2012 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(77 FR 15194, March 14, 2012), as
adjusted by the 1,800 mt reallocation to
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
76425
the pot and jig gear sectors (77 FR
67579, November 13, 2012), are revised
as follows: 13,204 mt for catcher vessels
using trawl gear, 14,005 mt for vessels
using pot gear, and 6,374 mt to less than
50 ft. LOA catcher vessels using hookand-line gear. This action does not
reduce the Pacific cod apportionment
(1,627 mt) made to the trawl catcher
vessel sector operating under the
Central GOA Rockfish Program.
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 reallocation of Pacific cod
specified from catcher vessels using
trawl gear to vessels using pot gear and
less than 50 ft. LOA catcher vessels
using hook-and-line gear. Since the
fishery is currently open, it is important
to immediately inform the industry as to
the revised allocations. 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
as well as processors. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of December 20, 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 § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 21, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–31228 Filed 12–26–12; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\28DER1.SGM
28DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 76425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31228]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737-2141-02]
RIN 0648-XC415
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear and
catcher vessels less than 50 feet length overall using hook-and-line
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management
area. This action is necessary to allow the 2012 total allowable catch
of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 26, 2012, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.L.t.), December 31, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Gulf of Alaska (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 specified for catcher
vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is
14,154 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (77 FR 15194, March
14, 2012), after a 1,627 mt apportionment to the trawl catcher vessel
sector under the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Sec. 679.81(c)(4)(ii))
and a 1,800 mt reallocation to the pot and jig gear sectors (77 FR
67579, November 13, 2012). The Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear
will not be able to harvest 950 mt of the 2012 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional Administrator
has also determined that the pot sector and the less than 50 ft. length
overall (LOA) catcher vessel using hook-and-line gear sector currently
have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation and reallocates 750
mt to vessels using pot gear and 200 mt to less than 50 ft. LOA catcher
vessels using hook-and-line gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final
2012 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (77 FR 15194,
March 14, 2012), as adjusted by the 1,800 mt reallocation to the pot
and jig gear sectors (77 FR 67579, November 13, 2012), are revised as
follows: 13,204 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, 14,005 mt for
vessels using pot gear, and 6,374 mt to less than 50 ft. LOA catcher
vessels using hook-and-line gear. This action does not reduce the
Pacific cod apportionment (1,627 mt) made to the trawl catcher vessel
sector operating under the Central GOA Rockfish Program.
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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from catcher
vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear and less than 50 ft.
LOA catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear. Since the fishery is
currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as
to the revised allocations. 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 as well as processors. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
December 20, 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: December 21, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-31228 Filed 12-26-12; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
