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]
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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
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18:11 May 05, 2015
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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]
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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:
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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
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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
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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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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