Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 95063 [2016-31155]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
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 20, 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: December 21, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–31151 Filed 12–21–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
RIN 0648–XF103
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of Pacific cod
from catcher vessels using trawl gear to
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary to allow
the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific
cod in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 21, 2016
through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:06 Dec 23, 2016
Jkt 241001
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 2016 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) specified for catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 15,226
metric tons (mt), as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016). The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that catcher vessels using
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA will not be able to
harvest 1,000 mt of the 2016 Pacific cod
TAC allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B).
In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA currently
have the capacity to harvest this excess
allocation and reallocates 1,000 mt to
vessels using pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod included in the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016)
and one reallocation (81 FR 15650,
March 24, 2016) are revised as follows:
14,226 mt to the annual amount for
catcher vessels using trawl gear and
12,680 mt for vessels using pot 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 catcher vessels using
trawl gear to vessels using pot gear.
Since the fishery is 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
PO 00000
Frm 00155
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
95063
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 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: December 21, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–31155 Filed 12–21–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742–6210–02]
RIN 0648–XF104
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment
to the 2017 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and
Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch
Amounts
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
adjustment; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS is adjusting the 2017
total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries. This action is
necessary because NMFS has
determined these TACs are incorrectly
specified, and will ensure the GOA
pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the
appropriate amounts based on the best
available scientific information for
pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA.
This action is consistent with the goals
and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), December 27, 2016,
until the effective date of the final 2017
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27DER1.SGM
27DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 95063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31155]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XF103
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific cod in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 21, 2016 through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the
GOA is 15,226 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (81 FR 14740,
March 18, 2016). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will not be able to harvest
1,000 mt of the 2016 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under
Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that vessels using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA currently have the capacity to
harvest this excess allocation and reallocates 1,000 mt to vessels
using pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR
14740, March 18, 2016) and one reallocation (81 FR 15650, March 24,
2016) are revised as follows: 14,226 mt to the annual amount for
catcher vessels using trawl gear and 12,680 mt for vessels using pot
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 catcher
vessels using trawl gear to vessels using pot gear. Since the fishery
is 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 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: December 21, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-31155 Filed 12-21-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
