Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Operating as Catcher Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 5736-5737 [2018-02614]
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5736
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 28 / Friday, February 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Effective February 6, 2018,
through December 31, 2018.
DATES:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the summer
flounder fishery are found in 50 CFR
648.100 through 648.110. These
regulations require annual specification
of a commercial quota that is
apportioned among the coastal states
from Maine through North Carolina. The
process to set the annual commercial
quota and the percent allocated to each
state is described in § 648.102, and the
initial 2018 allocations were published
on December 22, 2017 (82 FR 60682),
and corrected January 30, 2018 (83 FR
4165).
The final rule implementing
Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder
Fishery Management Plan, as published
in the Federal Register on December 17,
1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a
mechanism for transferring summer
flounder commercial quota from one
state to another. Two or more states,
under mutual agreement and with the
concurrence of the NMFS Greater
Atlantic Regional Administrator, can
transfer or combine summer flounder
commercial quota under § 648.102(c)(2).
The Regional Administrator is required
to consider the criteria in
§ 648.102(c)(2)(i)(A) through (C) in the
evaluation of requests for quota transfers
or combinations.
North Carolina is transferring 5,008 lb
(2,272 kg) of summer flounder
commercial quota to Rhode Island. This
transfer was requested to repay landings
by North Carolina-permitted vessels that
landed in Rhode Island under safe
harbor agreements. The revised summer
flounder quotas for calendar year 2018
are now: North Carolina, 1,761,439 lb
(798,975 kg); and Rhode Island,
1,001,381 lb (454,219 kg); based on the
initial quotas published in the 2018
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea
Bass Specifications and subsequent
adjustments.
Classification
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 6, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–02660 Filed 2–6–18; 4:15 pm]
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50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02]
RIN 0648–XF940
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by NonAmerican Fisheries Act Crab Vessels
Operating as Catcher Vessels Using
Pot Gear 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; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by non-American
Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are
subject to sideboard limits, and
operating as catcher vessels (CVs) using
pot gear, in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A
season allowance of the 2018 Pacific
cod sideboard limit established for nonAFA crab vessels that are operating as
CVs using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), February 6, 2018,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10,
2018.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
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.
Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The A season allowance of the 2018
Pacific cod sideboard limit established
for non-AFA crab vessels, and that are
operating as CVs using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA, is
174 metric tons (mt), as established by
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017) and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
one inseason adjustment (82 FR 60327,
December 20, 2017).
In accordance with § 680.22(e)(2)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit
established for non-AFA crab vessels
that are operating as CVs using pot gear
in the Central Regulatory Area of the
GOA will soon be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is
establishing a sideboard directed fishing
allowance of 164 mt, and is setting aside
the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 680.22(e)(3), the Regional
Administrator finds that this sideboard
directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by non-AFA crab vessels that are
operating as CVs using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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 sideboard directed fishing
closure of Pacific cod for non-AFA crab
vessels that are subject to sideboard
limits, and that are operating as CVs
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of 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 February 5, 2018.
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 § 680.22
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\09FER1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 28 / Friday, February 9, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: February 6, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–02614 Filed 2–6–18; 4:15 pm]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
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PO 00000
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5737
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5736-5737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02614]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF940
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Operating as Catcher Vessels
Using Pot Gear 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-
American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard
limits, and operating as catcher vessels (CVs) using pot gear, in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018
Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels that
are operating as CVs using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 6,
2018, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2018.
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. Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit
established for non-AFA crab vessels, and that are operating as CVs
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA, is 174 metric
tons (mt), as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27,
2017) and one inseason adjustment (82 FR 60327, December 20, 2017).
In accordance with Sec. 680.22(e)(2)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season
allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-
AFA crab vessels that are operating as CVs using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a sideboard directed fishing
allowance of 164 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 680.22(e)(3), the Regional Administrator finds
that this sideboard directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
non-AFA crab vessels that are operating as CVs using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the 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 sideboard directed fishing closure of Pacific cod for
non-AFA crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits, and that are
operating as CVs using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of 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 February 5, 2018.
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. 680.22 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 5737]]
Dated: February 6, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02614 Filed 2-6-18; 4:15 pm]
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