Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska, 57318 [2013-22704]

Download as PDF 57318 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 18, 2013 / Rules and Regulations harvest on October 1, 2013, is necessary. In addition, some fishermen have already booked their fishing trips for an October 1 re-opening and planned their business practices accordingly. Therefore, if NMFS were to delay the effectiveness of this final rule to a date after October 1, 2013, those trips would need to be re-booked and fishing opportunities could be foregone. This could cause confusion among fishermen, disrupt their business plans, and cause them to incur additional expenses. Further, this rule provides benefits to the public because it increases commercial and recreational quotas for Gulf red snapper and it will benefit fishermen to realize these increases without delay. The commercial sector will realize these increases through additional shares and allocation towards their IFQs and the recreational sector will realize these increases in additional fishing days. This final rule provides fishermen the opportunity to harvest additional red snapper without jeopardizing the rebuilding plan. For all of these reasons, the AA waives the 30day delay in effectiveness of this final rule. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622 Fisheries, Fishing, Gulf, Quotas, Red Snapper. Dated: September 12, 2013. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. 1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. In § 622.39, paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(2)(i) are revised to read as follows: Quotas. pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES * * * * (a) * * * (1) * * * (i) Commercial quota for red snapper—5.610 million lb (1.957 million kg), round weight. * * * * * (2) * * * VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:23 Sep 17, 2013 Jkt 229001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 120918468–3111–02] RIN 0648–XC875 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 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 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2013 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 2013, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., October 1, 2013. SUMMARY: 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 C season allowance of the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 9,378 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013). In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), hereby decreases the C season pollock allowance by 915 mt to reflect the total overharvest of the B season allowance in Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ■ * BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Keaton, 907–586–7228. PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC § 622.39 [FR Doc. 2013–22701 Filed 9–13–13; 4:15 pm] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended as follows: ■ (i) Recreational quota for red snapper—5.390 million lb (1.880 million kg), round weight. * * * * * PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 revised C season allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 8,463 mt (9,378 mt minus 915 mt). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the C season allowance of the 2013 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 8,263 mt and is setting aside the remaining 200 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630 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 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 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 630 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 12, 2013. 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 13, 2013. James P. Burgess, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–22704 Filed 9–13–13; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\18SER1.SGM 18SER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22704]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 120918468-3111-02]
RIN 0648-XC875


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2013 total 
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 
2013, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., October 1, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 C season allowance of the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 9,378 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the GOA (78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013). In accordance 
with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), hereby decreases the C season pollock 
allowance by 915 mt to reflect the total overharvest of the B season 
allowance in Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the revised C season 
allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 8,463 mt (9,378 
mt minus 915 mt).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator has determined that the C season allowance of the 2013 
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 8,263 mt and is setting aside the remaining 200 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 pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 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 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 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 630 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 12, 2013.
    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 13, 2013.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22704 Filed 9-13-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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