Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery and Shallow-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska, 33151-33152 [2016-12354]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email:
mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish and is
managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council and
NMFS prepared the FMP, and the FMP
is implemented under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622.
In Amendment 32 to the FMP
(Amendment 32), NMFS implemented
management measures to end
overfishing of blueline tilefish. The final
rule for Amendment 32 was effective on
March 30, 2015 (80 FR 16583, March 30,
2015).
NMFS is required to close the
commercial sector for blueline tilefish
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, as
specified in 50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i). For
2016, the commercial ACL for blueline
tilefish is 26,766 lb (12,141 kg), round
weight. NMFS has projected that the
commercial ACL for South Atlantic
blueline tilefish will be reached by June
1, 2016. Accordingly, the commercial
sector for South Atlantic blueline
tilefish is closed effective at 12:01 a.m.,
local time, June 1, 2016, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2017.
The operator of a vessel with a valid
commercial vessel permit for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper having
blueline tilefish on board must have
landed and bartered, traded, or sold
such blueline tilefish prior to June 1,
2016. During the closure, all sale or
purchase of blueline tilefish is
prohibited and harvest or possession of
blueline tilefish in or from the South
Atlantic EEZ is limited to the bag and
possession limits specified in 50 CFR
622.187(b)(2)(iv) and 622.187(c)(1),
respectively. These bag and possession
limits apply in the South Atlantic on
board a vessel for which a valid Federal
commercial or charter vessel/headboat
permit for South Atlantic snappergrouper has been issued, without regard
to where such species were harvested,
i.e., in state or Federal waters.
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.193(z)(1)(i) 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 NOAA
Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to
immediately implement this action to
close the commercial sector for blueline
tilefish 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 prior notice
and opportunity for public comment are
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the regulations at
50 CFR 622.193(z)(1)(i) and (iii) have
already been subject to notice and
comment, and all that remains is to
notify the public of the closure. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment are contrary to the public
interest because there is a need to
immediately implement this action to
protect blueline tilefish, 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).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–12351 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Classification
The Regional Administrator for the
NMFS Southeast Region has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the
conservation and management of
blueline tilefish and the South Atlantic
snapper-grouper fishery and is
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:51 May 24, 2016
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33151
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
RIN 0648–XE644
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive
Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species
Fishery and Shallow-Water Species
Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in
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 species that comprise the
deep-water species fishery and the
shallow-water species fishery by vessels
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary because
the second seasonal apportionment of
the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance
specified for each of these trawl fishery
categories in the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), May 20, 2016, through
1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1, 2016.
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 second seasonal apportionments
of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance
specified for the deep-water species and
the shallow-water species fisheries in
the GOA are 256 metric tons (mt) and
85 mt, respectively. These
apportionments were established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016), for the
period 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2016,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1, 2016.
In accordance with § 679.21(d)(6)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that the second
seasonal apportionment of the
combined Pacific halibut bycatch
allowance specified for the trawl deepwater species and shallow-water species
SUMMARY:
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33152
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
fishery categories in the GOA has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for the
deep-water species and the shallowwater species fisheries by vessels using
trawl gear in the GOA. The species and
species groups that comprise the deepwater species fishery include sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
and arrowtooth flounder. The species
and species groups that comprise the
shallow-water species fishery are
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water
flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel,
skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins. This closure does not apply to
fishing by vessels participating in the
cooperative fishery in the Rockfish
Program for the Central GOA.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:51 May 24, 2016
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§ 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 closure of the deep-water
species fishery and the shallow-water
species fishery by vessels using trawl
gear in the GOA. NMFS was unable to
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publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of May 19, 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 § 679.21
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 20, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–12354 Filed 5–20–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33151-33152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12354]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE644
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water
Species Fishery and Shallow-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using
Trawl Gear in 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 species that comprise
the deep-water species fishery and the shallow-water species fishery by
vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary because the second seasonal apportionment of the Pacific
halibut bycatch allowance specified for each of these trawl fishery
categories in the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 20, 2016,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1, 2016.
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 second seasonal apportionments of the Pacific halibut bycatch
allowance specified for the deep-water species and the shallow-water
species fisheries in the GOA are 256 metric tons (mt) and 85 mt,
respectively. These apportionments were established by the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740,
March 18, 2016), for the period 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1, 2016,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1, 2016.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(6)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of
the combined Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl
deep-water species and shallow-water species
[[Page 33152]]
fishery categories in the GOA has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for the deep-water species and the
shallow-water species fisheries by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.
The species and species groups that comprise the deep-water species
fishery include sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and
arrowtooth flounder. The species and species groups that comprise the
shallow-water species fishery are pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water
flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins. This closure does not apply to fishing by
vessels participating in the cooperative fishery in the Rockfish
Program for the Central GOA.
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 closure of the deep-water species fishery and the
shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in 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 May
19, 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 20, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12354 Filed 5-20-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
