Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 80290 [2015-32444]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
which to present the party’s or person’s
position.
§ 845.33
Investigation to remain open.
The Board never officially closes an
investigation, but provides for the
submission of new and pertinent
evidence by any interested person. If the
Board finds such evidence is relevant
and probative, the evidence shall be
made a part of the public docket and,
where appropriate, the Board will
provide parties an opportunity to
examine such evidence and to comment
thereon.
Christopher A. Hart,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2015–32264 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
RIN 0648–XE368
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of Pacific cod
from catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length
overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear to
catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hookand-line gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area. This
action is necessary to allow the 2015
total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), December 21, 2015,
through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:12 Dec 23, 2015
Jkt 238001
NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear
in the BSAI is 13,641 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015) and reallocations (80 FR
57105, September 22, 2015, 80 FR
65971, October 28, 2015, and 80 FR
76250, December 8, 2015). The Regional
Administrator has determined that
catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in
the BSAI will not be able to harvest
1,750 mt of the remaining 2015 Pacific
cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5).
The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear
in the BSAI is 12,380 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015) and reallocations (80 FR
51757, August 26, 2015, and 80 FR
57105, September 22, 2015). The
Regional Administrator has determined
that catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the BSAI will not be able to
harvest 1,750 mt of the remaining 2015
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(2).
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(C), NMFS reallocates
3,500 mt of Pacific cod to C/Ps using
hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod included in the final 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015, 80
FR 51757, August 26, 2015, 80 FR
57105, September 22, 2015 and 80 FR
65971, October 28, 2015, and 80 FR
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
76250, December 8, 2015) are revised as
follows: 11,891 mt for catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using pot gear, 10,630 mt for
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear,
and 118,871 mt for C/Ps using hookand-line gear.
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 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 reallocation of Pacific cod
specified from multiple sectors to C/Ps
using hook-and-line gear in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area. Since these fisheries are currently
open, it is important to immediately
inform the industry as to the revised
allocations. Immediate notification is
necessary to allow for the orderly
conduct and efficient operation of this
fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season, and to avoid
potential disruption to the fishing fleet
as well as processors. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of December 15, 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: December 21, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–32444 Filed 12–21–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\24DER1.SGM
24DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 80290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32444]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE368
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters
(m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher vessels less than
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear to catcher/
processors (C/Ps) using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the
2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 21,
2015, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI is 13,641
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015)
and reallocations (80 FR 57105, September 22, 2015, 80 FR 65971,
October 28, 2015, and 80 FR 76250, December 8, 2015). The Regional
Administrator has determined that catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI will not be able to
harvest 1,750 mt of the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5).
The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 12,380
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015)
and reallocations (80 FR 51757, August 26, 2015, and 80 FR 57105,
September 22, 2015). The Regional Administrator has determined that
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the BSAI will not be able to harvest 1,750 mt of the
remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(2).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(C), NMFS reallocates 3,500 mt of Pacific cod to C/Ps
using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015, 80 FR 51757, August 26, 2015, 80 FR 57105, September 22,
2015 and 80 FR 65971, October 28, 2015, and 80 FR 76250, December 8,
2015) are revised as follows: 11,891 mt for catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear, 10,630 mt for
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear, and 118,871 mt for C/Ps using hook-and-line gear.
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 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from multiple
sectors to C/Ps using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area. Since these fisheries are currently open, it
is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised
allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the
orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the
industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential
disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of December 15, 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: December 21, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32444 Filed 12-21-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
