Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 15755 [2018-07615]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
This action increases the commercial
skate wing possession limit from the
incidental limit of 500 lb (227 kg) of
skate wings (1,135 lb (515 kg) whole
weight) per trip to the seasonal 4,100 lb
(1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307 lb (4,222
kg) whole weight) per trip. This action
is being implemented to allow the skate
wing fishery an opportunity to fully
attain the annual TAL while minimizing
the possibility of exceeding it. Upon
filing of this notice, no person may
possess on board or land more than
4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of skate wings (9,307
lb (4,222 kg) whole weight) per trip for
the remainder of the 2017 fishing year,
unless under specific exemption. This
action applies to the skate wing fishery
only and does not affect vessels fishing
in accordance with a skate bait letter of
authorization. On May 1, 2018, the 2018
fishing year begins, and the commercial
skate wing possession limit will return
to the skate wing season 1 (May 1, 2018
through August 31, 2018) possession
limit of 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) of skate
wings or 5,902 lb (2,677 kg) whole
weight per trip.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive
prior notice and the opportunity for
public comment because it would be
contrary to the public interest. This
action ends the previous trip limit
reduction in the commercial skate bait
fishery, and raises the possession limit
from the incidental limit to the standard
season 2 limit in order to allow
fishermen the opportunity to fully
harvest the annual skate wing TAL. The
regulations at § 648.322(b)(2)(iii) allow
this by stating that trip limits should not
be reduced if they prevent the
attainment of the TAL. If
implementation of this adjustment were
delayed to solicit prior public comment,
this could further prevent the fishery’s
ability to harvest the full TAL, thereby
undermining the objectives of the
Northeast Skate Complex Fishery
Management Plan. This action also
relieves the restriction of the former trip
limit reduction in the wing fishery for
the remainder of the 2017 fishing year.
The Assistant Administrator further
finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3),
good cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period for the reason
stated above.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801et seq.
15:50 Apr 11, 2018
[FR Doc. 2018–07589 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
RIN 0648–XG159
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska; Sablefish 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 retention
of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear
and not participating in the cooperative
fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
because the 2018 total allowable catch
of sablefish allocated to vessels using
trawl gear and not participating in the
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
Program in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
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 2018 total allowable catch (TAC)
of sablefish allocated to vessels using
trawl gear and not participating in the
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
Program in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2018 and 2019
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018).
SUMMARY:
Classification
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
15755
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2018 TAC of
sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl
gear and not participating in the
cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
Program in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA will be reached. Therefore,
NMFS is requiring that sablefish by
vessels using trawl gear and not
participating in the cooperative fishery
of the Rockfish Program in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated
as prohibited species in accordance
with § 679.21(b). This closure does not
apply to fishing by vessels participating
in the cooperative fishery of the
Rockfish Program for the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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 prohibiting the retention of
sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and
not participating in the cooperative
fishery of the Rockfish Program 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 April 6,
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 § 679.20
and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–07615 Filed 4–9–18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\12APR1.SGM
12APR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07615]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG159
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish 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 retention of sablefish by vessels using
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 total allowable catch
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
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 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of sablefish allocated to
vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative
fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the
GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1,
2018).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2018 TAC
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is
requiring that sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(b). This closure does not apply to fishing
by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish
Program for the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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 prohibiting the retention of sablefish by vessels using
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the
Rockfish Program 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 April 6,
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. 679.20 and Sec. 679.21 and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07615 Filed 4-9-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
