Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod by Pot Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 6663-6664 [2015-02417]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Rules and Regulations asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES landings in other CPS fisheries and other sources of mortality. For the remainder of the fishing year, incidental landings would also be constrained to a 45-percent incidental catch allowance when Pacific mackerel are landed with other CPS (in other words, no more than 45 percent by weight of the CPS landed per trip may be Pacific mackerel), except that up to 1 mt of Pacific mackerel could be landed without landing any other CPS. Upon attainment of the HG (29,170 mt), no retention of Pacific mackerel would be allowed in CPS fisheries. The purpose of the incidental set-aside and allowance of an incidental fishery is to allow for the restricted incidental landings of Pacific mackerel in other fisheries, particularly other CPS fisheries, when the directed fishery is closed to reduce potential discard of Pacific mackerel and allow for continued prosecution of other important CPS fisheries. The NMFS West Coast Regional Administrator will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the date of any closure to either directed or incidental fishing. Additionally, to ensure the regulated community is informed of any closure, NMFS will also make announcements through other means available, including fax, email, and mail to fishermen, processors, and state fishery management agencies. On October 20, 2014, a proposed rule was published for this action and public comments solicited (79 FR 62590). No comments were received. Detailed information on the fishery and the stock assessment are found in the reports ‘‘Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus) Stock Assessment for USA Management in the 2011–12 Fishing Year’’ and ‘‘Pacific Mackerel Biomass Projection Estimate for USA Management (2014–15)’’ (see ADDRESSES). Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Assistant Administrator, NMFS, has determined that this final rule is consistent with the CPS FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable law. These specifications are exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Feb 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 certification was published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared. There are no reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance requirements required by this rule. Additionally, no other Federal rules duplicate, overlap or conflict with this rule. This action does not contain a collection-of-information requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. 6663 lobsters (50 CFR 404.10(a)). Accordingly, NMFS establishes the harvest guideline for the NWHI commercial lobster fishery for calendar year 2015 at zero lobsters. Thus, no harvest of NWHI lobster resources is allowed. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 3, 2015 H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–02419 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 3, 2015. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [FR Doc. 2015–02421 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am] 50 CFR Part 679 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P [Docket No. 131021878–4158–02] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD758 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod by Pot Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 50 CFR Part 665 AGENCY: RIN 0648–XD745 Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Harvest Guideline; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Lobster National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of lobster harvest guideline. AGENCY: NMFS establishes the annual harvest guideline for the commercial lobster fishery in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for calendar year 2015 at zero lobsters. DATES: February 6, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Harman, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, tel 808–725–5170. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) commercial lobster fishery is managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian Archipelago. The regulations at 50 CFR 665.252(b) require NMFS to publish an annual harvest guideline for lobster Permit Area 1, comprised of Federal waters around the NWHI. Regulations governing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the NWHI prohibit the unpermitted removal of monument resources (50 CFR 404.7), and establish a zero annual harvest guideline for SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06FER1.SGM 06FER1 6664 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Rules and Regulations asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,698 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). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in the BSAI. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Feb 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 § 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) 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 Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of February 2, 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 § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 3, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–02417 Filed 2–3–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\06FER1.SGM 06FER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6663-6664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02417]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD758


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod 
by Pot Catcher/Processors 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; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total 
allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the 
BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 
2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch

[[Page 6664]]

(TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI is 
1,698 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).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A 
season apportionment of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a 
directed fishing allowance to catcher/processors using pot gear in the 
BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in the BSAI.
    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) 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 Pacific cod 
by pot catcher/processors in 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 February 2, 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: February 3, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02417 Filed 2-3-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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