Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 25967-25968 [2015-10601]

Download as PDF tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Rules and Regulations announces the start of the next fishing season by publishing a document in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hayslip, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– 5305, email: catherine.hayslip@ noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic includes gray triggerfish and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. The commercial ACL for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic is 272,880 lb (123,776 kg), round weight, for the current fishing year, January 1 through December 31, 2015, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1)(i). Under 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1)(i), NMFS is required to close the commercial sector for gray triggerfish when the commercial ACL is reached, or is projected to be reached, by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS has determined that the commercial ACL for South Atlantic gray triggerfish will be reached on May 8, 2015. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic gray triggerfish is closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time, May 8, 2015, until NMFS announces the start of the next fishing season. The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having gray triggerfish on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, May 8, 2015. During the closure, the bag limit specified in 50 CFR 622.187(b)(8), applies to all harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ. During the closure, the possession limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c), apply to all harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in or from the South Atlantic EEZ. During the closure, the sale or purchase of gray triggerfish taken from the South Atlantic EEZ is prohibited. For a person on board a vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery has been issued, the bag and possession limits and sale and purchase provisions of the commercial closure for gray VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 May 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 triggerfish would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1)(i). DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Classification 50 CFR Part 679 The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of gray triggerfish and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery and is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1) 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 action to close the commercial sector for gray triggerfish constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the rule itself has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect gray triggerfish since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established commercial ACL. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 25967 [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 1, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–10595 Filed 5–1–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD929 Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch limit established for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear and directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 3, 2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 2015 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for nonRockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 2,700 Chinook salmon (§ 679.21(i)(3)(i)(C)). In accordance with § 679.21(i)(7), the Regional Administrator has determined that the 2015 Chinook salmon PSC limit established for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06MYR1.SGM 06MYR1 25968 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Rules and Regulations Regulatory Areas of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish (except for pollock) by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD 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 a requirement VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 May 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 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 closing directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, by nonRockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of April 30, 2015. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 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 § 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 1, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–10601 Filed 5–1–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\06MYR1.SGM 06MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25967-25968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10601]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XD929


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 groundfish, other 
than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2015 Chinook 
salmon prohibited species catch limit established for non-Rockfish 
Program catcher vessels using trawl gear and directed fishing for 
groundfish, other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 3, 2015, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 2015 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for 
non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, 
other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 2,700 Chinook salmon (Sec.  
679.21(i)(3)(i)(C)).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.21(i)(7), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the 2015 Chinook salmon PSC limit established for 
non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, 
other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central

[[Page 25968]]

Regulatory Areas of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish (except for pollock) by 
non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western 
and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

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 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 closing directed fishing for groundfish, other than 
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. NMFS was unable to 
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of April 30, 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.  679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 1, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-10601 Filed 5-1-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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