Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 76246-76247 [2013-29916]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
BSAI according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (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 2013 Greenland turbot ITAC in
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is
1,369 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). In
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2013 Greenland
turbot ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea
of the BSAI will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 1,319 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 50 mt as incidental
catch. 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 Greenland turbot in
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 closure of directed fishing for
Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea
subarea of 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 December 11, 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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Dec 16, 2013
Jkt 232001
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 12, 2013.
Sean Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29924 Filed 12–12–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 121018563–3148–02]
RIN 0648–XD028
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish
Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment
of reserves; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS apportions amounts of
the non-specified reserve to the initial
total allowable catch of Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Alaska plaice
and the total allowable catch of BSAI
sculpins and BSAI skates in the BSAI
management area. This action is
necessary to allow the fisheries to
continue operating. It is intended to
promote the goals and objectives of the
fishery management plan for the BSAI
management area.
DATES: Effective December 12, 2013,
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time,
December 31, 2013. Comments must be
received at the following address no
later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time,
December 27, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by FDMS
Docket Number NOAA–NMFS–2012–
0210 by any of the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20120210, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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.
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. 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, etc.),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. 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, Excel, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
(BSAI) exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(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 2013 initial total allowable catch
(ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS) Greenland
turbot in the BSAI was established as
1,369 metric tons (mt), the 2013 ITAC of
BSAI Alaska plaice was established as
17,000 mt, the 2013 total allowable
catch (TAC) of BSAI sculpins was
established as 5,600 mt, and the 2013
TAC of BSAI skates was established as
24,000 mt by the final 2013 and 2014
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013).
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(3) the
Regional Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has reviewed the most current
available data and finds that the ITACs
for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
Alaska plaice and the total allowable
catch of BSAI sculpins and BSAI skates
in the BSAI need to be supplemented
from the non-specified reserve to
E:\FR\FM\17DER1.SGM
17DER1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
promote efficiency in the utilization of
fishery resources in the BSAI and allow
fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions from
the non-specified reserve of groundfish
69 mt to the BS Greenland turbot ITAC,
4,571 mt to the BSAI Alaska plaice
ITAC, 300 mt to the BSAI sculpins TAC
and 1,500 mt to the BSAI skates TAC in
the BSAI. These apportionments are
consistent with § 679.20(b)(1)(i) and do
not result in overfishing of any target
species because the revised ITACs and
TAC are equal to or less than the
specifications of the acceptable
biological catch in the final 2013 and
2014 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813,
March 1, 2013).
The harvest specification for the 2013
ITACs included in the harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI are revised as follows: 1,610 mt for
BS Greenland turbot, 21,571 mt for
BSAI Alaska plaice, 5,900 mt for BSAI
sculpins, and 25,500 mt for BSAI skates.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Dec 16, 2013
Jkt 232001
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) and
§ 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a
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
apportionment of the non-specified
reserves of groundfish to the BS
Greenland turbot, BSAI Alaska plaice,
BSAI sculpins, and BSAI skates
fisheries in the BSAI. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
76247
potential disruption to the fishing fleet
and 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 3, 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.
Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested
persons are invited to submit written
comments on this action (see
ADDRESSES) until December 27, 2013.
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 12, 2013.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29916 Filed 12–12–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\17DER1.SGM
17DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76246-76247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29916]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 121018563-3148-02]
RIN 0648-XD028
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several
Groundfish Species 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; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch of Bering Sea Greenland turbot and Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Alaska plaice and the total allowable
catch of BSAI sculpins and BSAI skates in the BSAI management area.
This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating.
It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery
management plan for the BSAI management area.
DATES: Effective December 12, 2013, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local
time, December 31, 2013. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, December 27, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by FDMS
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2012-0210 by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0210, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit 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.
Instructions: 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 by NMFS. 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, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. 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, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
(BSAI) exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(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 2013 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS)
Greenland turbot in the BSAI was established as 1,369 metric tons (mt),
the 2013 ITAC of BSAI Alaska plaice was established as 17,000 mt, the
2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of BSAI sculpins was established as
5,600 mt, and the 2013 TAC of BSAI skates was established as 24,000 mt
by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish of the
BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
reviewed the most current available data and finds that the ITACs for
Bering Sea Greenland turbot and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
Alaska plaice and the total allowable catch of BSAI sculpins and BSAI
skates in the BSAI need to be supplemented from the non-specified
reserve to
[[Page 76247]]
promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery resources in the BSAI
and allow fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish 69 mt to the BS Greenland
turbot ITAC, 4,571 mt to the BSAI Alaska plaice ITAC, 300 mt to the
BSAI sculpins TAC and 1,500 mt to the BSAI skates TAC in the BSAI.
These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) and do
not result in overfishing of any target species because the revised
ITACs and TAC are equal to or less than the specifications of the
acceptable biological catch in the final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013).
The harvest specification for the 2013 ITACs included in the
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows: 1,610 mt for BS Greenland turbot, 21,571 mt for BSAI Alaska
plaice, 5,900 mt for BSAI sculpins, and 25,500 mt for BSAI skates.
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) and Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a
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 apportionment of the non-specified
reserves of groundfish to the BS Greenland turbot, BSAI Alaska plaice,
BSAI sculpins, and BSAI skates fisheries in the BSAI. 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 and 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 3, 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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until December
27, 2013.
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 12, 2013.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29916 Filed 12-12-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
