Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 3496-3497 [2015-01081]

Download as PDF 3496 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 15 / Friday, January 23, 2015 / Rules and Regulations emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES coast subzone’s hook-and-line gear quota has been harvested until a closure of the subzone’s commercial sector of the hook-and-line component has been effected or the fishing year ends, king mackerel in or from the EEZ may be possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts not exceeding 500 lb (227-kg) per day. NMFS has projected that 75 percent of the hook-and-line gear quota for Gulf group king mackerel from the southern Florida west coast subzone will be harvested by January 24, 2015. Accordingly, a 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit applies to vessels in the hook-and-line component of the commercial sector for king mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern Florida west coast subzone effective 12:01 a.m., local time, January 24, 2015. The 500-lb (227-kg) trip limit will remain in effect until the component closes or until the end of the current fishing year (June 30, 2015), whichever occurs first. From November 1 through March 31, the southern subzone encompasses an area of the EEZ south of a line extending due west of the Lee and Collier County, FL, boundary on the Florida west coast, and south of a line extending due east of the Monroe and Miami-Dade County, FL, boundary on the Florida east coast, which includes the EEZ off Collier and Monroe Counties, FL. From April 1 through October 31, the southern subzone is reduced to the EEZ off Collier County, and the EEZ off Monroe County becomes part of the Atlantic migratory group area. Classification The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of Gulf migratory group king mackerel and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.385(a)(2)(ii)(B) and 622.385(a)(2)(iii) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and comment. This action responds to the best scientific information available. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds that the need to immediately implement this trip limit reduction for the hook-and-line component of the commercial sector constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Jan 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the commercial trip limit for hook-and-line gear at 50 CFR 622.385(a)(2)(ii)(B) has already has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. They are contrary to the public interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action to protect the king mackerel resource, since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action would require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established quota. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 20, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–01151 Filed 1–20–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 131021878–4158–02] RIN 0648–XD725 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. AGENCY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Effective January 20, 2015, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,871 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015). The 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 4,438 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014), inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015), The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,700 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters(m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015) are revised as follows: 171 mt to the A season apportionment and 1,418 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 6,138 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. DATES: Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA E:\FR\FM\23JAR1.SGM 23JAR1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 15 / Friday, January 23, 2015 / Rules and Regulations emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES (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 jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Jan 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 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 January 15, 2015. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 3497 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: January 16, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–01081 Filed 1–20–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\23JAR1.SGM 23JAR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3496-3497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01081]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD725


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is 
necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2015 total 
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective January 20, 2015, through 2400 hours, Alaska local 
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,871 
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) 
and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015).
    The 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or 
pot gear in the BSAI is 4,438 mt as established by the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014), inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015),
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,700 mt of 
the A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
those vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of 
Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual 
amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters(m)) 
length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 
12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 
2015) are revised as follows: 171 mt to the A season apportionment and 
1,418 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 6,138 mt 
to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line 
or pot gear.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA

[[Page 3497]]

(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 jig vessels to catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot 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 January 15, 2015.
    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: January 16, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-01081 Filed 1-20-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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