Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 8906 [2017-02118]
Download as PDF
8906
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 20 / Wednesday, February 1, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XF189
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot
Catcher/Processors in 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 by catcher/
processors using pot gear in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the A season
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod
total allowable catch allocated to
catcher/processors using pot gear in the
BSAI.
DATES: Effective January 31, 2017
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1,
2017. The compliance date is 1200
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January
25, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
September 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:00 Jan 31, 2017
Jkt 241001
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 A season apportionment of the
2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch
(TAC) allocated to catcher/processors
using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,629
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916,
January 10, 2017).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the A season
apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod
TAC allocated as a directed fishing
allowance to catcher/processors using
pot gear in the BSAI will soon be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by pot catcher/processors in 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
Frm 00014
Fmt 4700
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–02118 Filed 1–31–17; 8:45 am]
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
PO 00000
from the fishery. The Acting 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 directed fishing for
Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in
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 January 23, 2017.
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.
Sfmt 9990
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\01FER1.SGM
01FER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02118]
[[Page 8906]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XF189
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Pot Catcher/Processors 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total
allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the
BSAI.
DATES: Effective January 31, 2017 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September
1, 2017. The compliance date is 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
January 25, 2017, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 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 A season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI
is 1,629 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March
18, 2016) and inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A
season apportionment of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a
directed fishing allowance to catcher/processors using pot gear in the
BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in 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 Acting 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 directed fishing for Pacific cod
by pot catcher/processors in 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 January 23, 2017.
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: January 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-02118 Filed 1-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P