Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program, 10807-10808 [2018-05059]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations (4) Adjustments to the quota. If the incidental harvest exceeds the incidental TAL for a given fishing year, the incidental trip limit specified at § 648.295(a)(2) may be reduced in the following fishing year. If an adjustment is required, a notification of adjustment of the quota will be published in the Federal Register. * * * * * ■ 6. In § 648.293, paragraph (a)(1) is revised to read as follows: § 648.293 Tilefish accountability measures. (a) * * * (1) Commercial incidental fishery closure. See § 648.295(a)(3). * * * * * ■ 7. In § 648.294, paragraph (b)(4) is revised to read as follows: § 648.294 Golden tilefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES * * * * * (b) * * * (4) IFQ vessel. (i) All Federal vessel permit numbers listed on the IFQ allocation permit are authorized to possess golden tilefish pursuant to the IFQ allocation permit. (ii) An IFQ allocation permit holder who wishes to authorize an additional vessel(s) to possess golden tilefish pursuant to the IFQ allocation permit must send written notification to NMFS. This notification must include: (A) The vessel name and permit number, and (B) The dates on which the IFQ allocation permit holder desires the vessel to be authorized to land golden tilefish pursuant to the IFQ allocation permit. (iii) A vessel listed on the IFQ allocation permit is authorized to possess golden tilefish pursuant to the subject permit, until the end of the fishing year or until NMFS receives written notification from the IFQ allocation permit holder to remove the vessel. (iv) A single vessel may not be listed on more than one IFQ allocation permit at the same time. (v) A copy of the IFQ allocation permit must be carried on board each vessel so authorized to possess IFQ golden tilefish. * * * * * ■ 8. Amend § 648.295 by: ■ a. Revising the section heading; ■ b. Revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(1); and ■ c. Adding paragraph (c). The revisions and addition read as follows: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 § 648.295 Tilefish commercial trip limits and landing condition. (a) Golden tilefish—(1) IFQ landings. Any golden tilefish landed by a vessel fishing under an IFQ allocation permit as specified at § 648.294(a), on a given fishing trip, count as landings under the IFQ allocation permit. (2) Incidental trip limit for vessels not fishing under an IFQ allocation. Any vessel of the United States fishing under a tilefish vessel permit, as described at § 648.4(a)(12), unless the vessel is fishing under a tilefish IFQ allocation permit, is prohibited from possessing more than: (i) 500 lb (226.8 kg) of golden tilefish at any time, or (ii) 50 percent, by weight, of the total of all species being landed; whichever is less. (3) In-season closure of the incidental fishery. The Regional Administrator will monitor the harvest of the golden tilefish incidental TAL based on dealer reports and other available information, and shall determine the date when the incidental golden tilefish TAL has been landed. The Regional Administrator shall publish a notice in the Federal Register notifying vessel and dealer permit holders that, effective upon a specific date, the incidental golden tilefish fishery is closed for the remainder of the fishing year. (b) Blueline tilefish—(1) Commercial possession limit. Any vessel of the United States fishing under a tilefish permit, as described at § 648.4(a)(12), is prohibited from possessing more than 300 lb (136 kg) of gutted blueline tilefish per trip in or from the Tilefish Management Unit. * * * * * (c) Landing condition. Commercial golden or blueline tilefish must be landed with head and fins naturally attached, but may be gutted. 9. In § 648.296, the section heading and paragraph (a) are revised to read as follows: ■ § 648.296 Tilefish recreational possession limits and gear restrictions. (a) Golden tilefish. (1) Any person fishing from a vessel that is not fishing under a tilefish commercial vessel permit issued pursuant to § 648.4(a)(12), may land up to eight golden tilefish per trip. Anglers fishing onboard a charter/ party vessel shall observe the recreational possession limit. (2) Any vessel engaged in recreational fishing may not retain golden tilefish, unless exclusively using rod and reel fishing gear, with a maximum limit of PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 10807 five hooks per rod. Anglers may use either a manual or an electric reel. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2018–04974 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02 and 170817779–8161–02] RIN 0648–XG019 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; opening. AGENCY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 24, 2018, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period is the same as the 2018 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 2018, until 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations. Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the rationale SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM 13MRR1 10808 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final rule implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments. This announcement is consistent with § 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the halibut season, adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The directed fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 2018, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 The IFQ halibut season will be specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. 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 opening of the sablefish fishery thereby increasing bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish fishery and the halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 the management objective for simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 7, 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 § 679.23 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 8, 2018. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–05059 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM 13MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10807-10808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02 and 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XG019


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 
Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear 
managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the 
Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 24, 2018, and will close 1200 
hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period is the same as the 2018 
commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified 
by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management 
measures.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 2018, until 1200 hours, 
A.l.t., November 7, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific 
halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas 
defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ 
Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and 
management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an 
annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ 
are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations. 
Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the 
rationale

[[Page 10808]]

supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final rule 
implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register, 
November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments.
    This announcement is consistent with Sec.  679.23(g)(1), which 
requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under 
the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and 
announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season 
announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the 
sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the 
halibut season, adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC). The directed fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear 
managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 
2018, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period 
runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut announced by 
the IPHC. The IFQ halibut season will be specified by a separate 
publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures 
pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62.

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 opening of the sablefish fishery thereby increasing 
bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish fishery and the 
halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of the management 
objective for simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because 
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 7, 
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.  679.23 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-05059 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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