Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure, 22926 [2015-09562]
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22926
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
1. The authority citation for part 73
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336,
and 339.
§ 73.202
[Amended]
2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM
Allotments under New York, is
amended by adding Sagaponack,
Channel 233A.
■
[FR Doc. 2015–09568 Filed 4–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 140417346–4575–02]
RIN 0648–XD916
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries;
Closure
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
Through this action NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
sardine off the coasts of Washington,
Oregon and California. This action is
necessary because the adjusted nontribal directed harvest allocation of
approximately 5084 metric tons (mt) for
the third harvest allocation period from
January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2015,
is projected to be reached by the date of
closure. From the effective date of this
rule through June 30, 2015, Pacific
sardine may be harvested only as part of
either the live bait or tribal fishery or
incidental to other fisheries; the
incidental harvest of Pacific sardine is
limited to 45-percent by weight of all
fish per trip. Fishing vessels must cease
fishing (be at shore and in the process
of offloading) at or before the effective
date of this closure.
DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m. Pacific
Daylight Time (PDT) April 28, 2015,
through 11:59 p.m., June 30, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region,
NMFS, (562) 980–4034.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:47 Apr 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
This
document announces that—based on the
best available information recently
obtained on the status of the fishery and
information on past fishing effort—the
adjusted non-tribal directed fishing
harvest allocation for the third harvest
allocation period from January 1,
through June 30, 2015, of 5,084 mt will
be reached and therefore directed
fishing for Pacific sardine is being
closed per the final rule establishing the
2014–2015 Pacific sardine fishing
season (July 25, 2014, 79 FR 43269). In
accordance with that rule, the initial
directed harvest allocation for the third
period of 6,252 mt was adjusted to 5,084
mt to account for excess harvest in the
second harvest allocation period.
Fishing vessels must cease fishing (be at
shore and in the process of offloading)
at or before the effective date of this
closure. From the effectiveness of this
closure, through June 30, 2015, Pacific
sardine may be harvested only as part of
either the live bait or tribal fishery or
incidental to other fisheries, with the
incidental harvest of Pacific sardine
limited to 45-percent by weight of all
fish caught during a trip.
NMFS manages the Pacific sardine
fishery in the U.S. exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast
(California, Oregon, and Washington) in
accordance with the Coastal Pelagic
Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). Annual specifications published
in the Federal Register establish the
allowable harvest levels (i.e. annual
catch limit (ACL)/harvest guideline
(HG)) for each Pacific sardine fishing
season. If during any of the seasonal
allocation periods the applicable
directed harvest allocation is projected
to be taken, and the fishery is closed,
only incidental harvest is allowed. For
the remainder of the period, any
incidental Pacific sardine landings will
be counted against that period’s
incidental set aside. In the event that an
incidental set-aside is projected to be
attained, all fisheries will be closed to
the retention of Pacific sardine for the
remainder of the period via appropriate
rulemaking.
Under 50 CFR 660.509, if the total
allocation or any specific apportionment
levels for Pacific sardine are reached at
any time, NMFS is required to close the
Pacific sardine fishery via appropriate
rulemaking and the fishery remains
closed until it re-opens either per the
allocation scheme or the beginning of
the next fishing season. In accordance
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST
SERVICES
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
with § 660.509, the Regional
Administrator shall publish a notice in
the Federal Register announcing the
date of the closure of the directed
fishery for Pacific sardine.
The above in-season harvest
restrictions are not intended to affect the
prosecution of the live bait or tribal
portions of the Pacific sardine fishery.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR
660.509 and is exempt from Office of
Management and Budget review under
Executive Order 12866.
NMFS 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) for the closure of the
directed harvest of Pacific sardine. For
the reasons set forth below, notice and
comment procedures are impracticable
and contrary to the public interest. For
the same reasons, NMFS also finds good
cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive
the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this
action. This measure responds to the
best available information and is
necessary for the conservation and
management of the Pacific sardine
resource. A delay in effectiveness would
cause the fishery to exceed the
allocation for the directed fishery during
the 2014–2015 fishing season, which is
an important mechanism to prevent
fishing in excess of the 2014–2105
annual catch limit. These seasonal
harvest levels are important
mechanisms in preventing overfishing
and managing the fishery at optimum
yield. The established directed and
incidental harvest allocations are
designed to allow fair and equitable
opportunity to the resource by all
sectors of the Pacific sardine fishery and
to allow access to other profitable CPS
fisheries, such as squid and Pacific
mackerel. Many of the same fishermen
who harvest Pacific sardine rely on
these other fisheries for a significant
portion of their income.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 21, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–09562 Filed 4–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\24APR1.SGM
24APR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 22926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09562]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 140417346-4575-02]
RIN 0648-XD916
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species
Fisheries; Closure
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Through this action NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California.
This action is necessary because the adjusted non-tribal directed
harvest allocation of approximately 5084 metric tons (mt) for the third
harvest allocation period from January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2015,
is projected to be reached by the date of closure. From the effective
date of this rule through June 30, 2015, Pacific sardine may be
harvested only as part of either the live bait or tribal fishery or
incidental to other fisheries; the incidental harvest of Pacific
sardine is limited to 45-percent by weight of all fish per trip.
Fishing vessels must cease fishing (be at shore and in the process of
offloading) at or before the effective date of this closure.
DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) April 28, 2015,
through 11:59 p.m., June 30, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region,
NMFS, (562) 980-4034.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that--based on the
best available information recently obtained on the status of the
fishery and information on past fishing effort--the adjusted non-tribal
directed fishing harvest allocation for the third harvest allocation
period from January 1, through June 30, 2015, of 5,084 mt will be
reached and therefore directed fishing for Pacific sardine is being
closed per the final rule establishing the 2014-2015 Pacific sardine
fishing season (July 25, 2014, 79 FR 43269). In accordance with that
rule, the initial directed harvest allocation for the third period of
6,252 mt was adjusted to 5,084 mt to account for excess harvest in the
second harvest allocation period. Fishing vessels must cease fishing
(be at shore and in the process of offloading) at or before the
effective date of this closure. From the effectiveness of this closure,
through June 30, 2015, Pacific sardine may be harvested only as part of
either the live bait or tribal fishery or incidental to other
fisheries, with the incidental harvest of Pacific sardine limited to
45-percent by weight of all fish caught during a trip.
NMFS manages the Pacific sardine fishery in the U.S. exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast (California, Oregon, and
Washington) in accordance with the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS)
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Annual specifications published in the
Federal Register establish the allowable harvest levels (i.e. annual
catch limit (ACL)/harvest guideline (HG)) for each Pacific sardine
fishing season. If during any of the seasonal allocation periods the
applicable directed harvest allocation is projected to be taken, and
the fishery is closed, only incidental harvest is allowed. For the
remainder of the period, any incidental Pacific sardine landings will
be counted against that period's incidental set aside. In the event
that an incidental set-aside is projected to be attained, all fisheries
will be closed to the retention of Pacific sardine for the remainder of
the period via appropriate rulemaking.
Under 50 CFR 660.509, if the total allocation or any specific
apportionment levels for Pacific sardine are reached at any time, NMFS
is required to close the Pacific sardine fishery via appropriate
rulemaking and the fishery remains closed until it re-opens either per
the allocation scheme or the beginning of the next fishing season. In
accordance with Sec. 660.509, the Regional Administrator shall publish
a notice in the Federal Register announcing the date of the closure of
the directed fishery for Pacific sardine.
The above in-season harvest restrictions are not intended to affect
the prosecution of the live bait or tribal portions of the Pacific
sardine fishery.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 660.509 and is exempt from Office
of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS 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) for the closure of the directed harvest of
Pacific sardine. For the reasons set forth below, notice and comment
procedures are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. For
the same reasons, NMFS also finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)
to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this action. This
measure responds to the best available information and is necessary for
the conservation and management of the Pacific sardine resource. A
delay in effectiveness would cause the fishery to exceed the allocation
for the directed fishery during the 2014-2015 fishing season, which is
an important mechanism to prevent fishing in excess of the 2014-2105
annual catch limit. These seasonal harvest levels are important
mechanisms in preventing overfishing and managing the fishery at
optimum yield. The established directed and incidental harvest
allocations are designed to allow fair and equitable opportunity to the
resource by all sectors of the Pacific sardine fishery and to allow
access to other profitable CPS fisheries, such as squid and Pacific
mackerel. Many of the same fishermen who harvest Pacific sardine rely
on these other fisheries for a significant portion of their income.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 21, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-09562 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P