Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 16096-16097 [2016-06831]
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jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
16096
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 58 / Friday, March 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
On February 26, 2016 (81 FR 9786),
NMFS published a temporary rule in the
Federal Register to reduce the
commercial trip limit for vermilion
snapper in or from the EEZ of the South
Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted
weight, effective 12:01 a.m., local time,
March 2, 2016, until July 1, 2016, or
until the quota was reached and the
commercial sector closed, whichever
would occur first.
In accordance with regulations at 50
CFR 622.193(f)(1), NMFS is required to
close the commercial sector for
vermilion snapper when the commercial
quota for that portion of the fishing year
has been 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 quota for South Atlantic
vermilion snapper for the January
through June fishing period will be
reached by March 29, 2016.
Accordingly, the commercial sector for
South Atlantic vermilion snapper is
closed effective 12:01 a.m., local time,
March 29, 2016, until 12:01 a.m., local
time, July 1, 2016. The commercial
quota for vermilion snapper in the
South Atlantic is 388,703 lb (176,313
kg), gutted weight (431,460 lb (195,707
kg), round weight), for the July 1
through December 31, 2016, fishing
period, as specified in 50 CFR
622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D).
The operator of a vessel with a valid
commercial vessel permit for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper having
vermilion snapper on board must have
landed and bartered, traded, or sold
such vermilion snapper prior to 12:01
a.m., local time, March 29, 2016. During
the closure, the bag limit specified in 50
CFR 622.187(b)(5) and the possession
limits specified in 50 CFR 622.187(c)(1),
apply to all harvest or possession of
vermilion snapper in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ. During the closure, the
sale or purchase of vermilion snapper
taken from the EEZ is prohibited. As
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(i), the
prohibition on sale or purchase does not
apply to the sale or purchase of
vermilion snapper that were harvested,
landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01
a.m., local time, March 29, 2016, and
were held in cold storage by a dealer or
processor. 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 the sale and purchase
provisions of the commercial closure for
vermilion snapper would apply
regardless of whether the fish are
harvested in state or Federal waters, as
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii).
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12:26 Mar 24, 2016
Jkt 238001
Classification
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic
vermilion snapper and is consistent
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(f)(1) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
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
vermilion snapper 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 would be
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures would be
unnecessary because the rule itself has
been subject to notice and comment,
and all that remains is to notify the
public of the closure. Allowing prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment is contrary to the public
interest because of the need to
immediately implement this action to
protect vermilion snapper since the
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for
rapid harvest of the commercial quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and could
result in a harvest well in excess of the
established commercial quota.
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).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 21, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–06737 Filed 3–22–16; 4:15 pm]
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50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XE532
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
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 2016
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI.
SUMMARY:
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), March 22, 2016, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
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 2016
Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI is 11,465 metric
tons (mt) as established by the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016). In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined
that the non-CDQ allocation of the 2016
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 9,000 mt, and is
setting aside the remaining 2,465 mt as
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\25MRR1.SGM
25MRR1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 58 / Friday, March 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
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
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 March 21, 2016.
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: March 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–06831 Filed 3–22–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XE518
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation’s pollock directed fishing
allowance and the Community
Development Quota from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea directed fisheries. These actions
are necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2016 total allowable catch
of pollock, consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), March 25, 2016, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
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 (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.
SUMMARY:
16097
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2016 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation’s directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons
(mt) and the Community Development
Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016).
As of March 18, 2016, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea
allocations. The 1,900 mt of pollock
CDQ is added to the 2016 Bering Sea
CDQ DFA. The remaining 5,000 mt of
pollock is apportioned to the AFA
Inshore sector (50 percent), AFA
catcher/processor sector (40 percent),
and the AFA mothership sector (10
percent). The 2016 pollock incidental
catch allowance remains at 48,240 mt.
As a result, the harvest specifications for
pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea
included in the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
are revised as follows: 9,700 mt to Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 0 mt to CDQ
pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016) is revised to make 2016
pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in
adjustments to the 2016 Aleut
Corporation and CDQ pollock
allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 4—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season 1
Area and sector
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
A season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ......................................................
CDQ DFA .................................................................................
ICA 1 .........................................................................................
AFA Inshore .............................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ................................................
Catch by C/Ps ..................................................................
Catch by CVs 3 .................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
12:26 Mar 24, 2016
Jkt 238001
2016 B season 1
2016 Allocations
PO 00000
Frm 00039
1,346,900
135,900
48,240
581,380
465,104
425,570
39,534
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
SCA harvest limit 2
n/a
54,360
n/a
232,552
186,042
170,228
15,814
E:\FR\FM\25MRR1.SGM
n/a
38,052
n/a
162,786
130,229
n/a
n/a
25MRR1
B season DFA
n/a
81,540
n/a
348,828
279,062
255,342
23,720
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16096-16097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06831]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE532
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 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 22, 2016,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
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 2016 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the BSAI is 11,465 metric tons (mt) as established
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined
that the non-CDQ allocation of the 2016 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
9,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 2,465 mt as
[[Page 16097]]
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 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 March 21, 2016.
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: March 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06831 Filed 3-22-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
