Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 11332-11333 [2015-04378]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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Area 1 and 2 Exempted Areas, as
described at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(9).
Because these areas were omitted from
the regulatory text, groundfish vessels
would be unable to fish in the portions
of the Small Mesh 1 and 2 Exemption
Areas that overlap with the GOM cod
seasonal interim closure areas. This
correction adds the Small Mesh Area 1
and 2 Exempted Areas to the list of
exempted fishery areas that are exempt
from the GOM cod seasonal interim
closure areas. As a result, vessels can
now fish with small mesh nets with
raised footrope trawls in the Small Mesh
Area 2 Exemption Area in March and
April, and, if the interim rule were to be
extended another six months, in the
Small Mesh Area 1 Exemption Area July
15 through November 15. This
correction is consistent with the original
intent of the GOM cod interim rule.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator (AA) for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds that pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause
to waive prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment on this
action, as notice and comment would be
contrary to the public interest. This
temporary rule adds the Small Mesh
Area 1 and 2 Exempted Areas to the list
of exempted fisheries that are exempt
from the GOM cod seasonal interim
closure areas. These two areas were
inadvertently left out of the GOM cod
interim action and adding these areas
does not substantively change the
regulations. Providing notice and
comment on these changes is contrary to
the public interest because any
additional delay would cause economic
harm to fishery participants by denying
them opportunities to fish in the
specified areas, which would have been
permitted but for the previous
inadvertent omission. Moreover, this
action reduces a regulatory restriction
and provides fishermen with greater
fishing opportunities while maintaining
the goals and objectives of the GOM cod
interim rule and the groundfish fishery
management plan.
The Assistant Administrator also
finds good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness and makes this rule
effective immediately upon filing for
public inspection. In addition to the
reasons stated above, an area within
Small Mesh Area 2 will close on March
1, 2015. Vessels fishing with raised
footrope trawls would then be
prohibited from fishing in that area
unnecessarily. Waiving the 30-day delay
avoids this unnecessary closure and
allows fishery participants to fish in
Small Mesh Area 2 without
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15:05 Mar 02, 2015
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interruption, as was originally intended
when the interim management measures
were published.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648
Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and
reporting requirements.
Dated: February 24, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Therefore, NOAA amends 50 CFR part
648 as follows:
PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. Section 648.81 is amended by:
A. Suspending from February 26,
2015, unti May 12, 2015, paragraph
(o)(2)(iv), and
■ B. Temporarily adding from February
26, 2015, until May 12, 2015, paragraph
(o)(2)(vi).
The addition reads as follows:
■
■
§ 648.81 NE multispecies closed area and
measures to protect EFH.
*
*
*
*
*
(o) * * *
(2) * * *
(vi) That are fishing in the Raised
Footrope Trawl Exempted Whiting
Fishery, ass specified in § 648.80(a)(15),
or the Small Mesh Area 1 and 2
Exemption Areas as specified in
§ 648.80(a)(9).
[FR Doc. 2015–04319 Filed 2–26–15; 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–XD803
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the
Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod, except for the
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
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Community Development Quota
program (CDQ), in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the non-CDQ allocation of the 2015
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 27, 2015, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
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 non-CDQ allocation of the 2015
Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI is 8,414 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)(i), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
has determined that the non-CDQ
allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 6,414 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 2,000 mt as
incidental catch in directed fishing for
other species. 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 Pacific cod in the
Aleutian Islands 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.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 directed fishing closure of
non-CDQ Pacific cod in the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing
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15:05 Mar 02, 2015
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time for public comment because the
most recent, relevant data only became
available as of February 25, 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.
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11333
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 26, 2015.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–04378 Filed 2–26–15; 4:15 pm]
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11332-11333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04378]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD803
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, except
for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ
allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 27,
2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
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 non-CDQ allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the BSAI is 8,414 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)(i), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the non-CDQ
allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea
of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator
is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,414 mt, and is
setting aside the remaining 2,000 mt as incidental catch in directed
fishing for other species. 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 Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 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 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
[[Page 11333]]
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
directed fishing closure of non-CDQ Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands
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 February 25, 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 26, 2015.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04378 Filed 2-26-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P