Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 43728 [2019-18103]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180713633–9174–02]
RIN 0648–XY010
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel 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:
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central
Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI) by vessels participating in the
BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the 2019 total allowable catch
(TAC) of Atka mackerel in the CAI
allocated to vessels participating in the
BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2019, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:03 Aug 21, 2019
Jkt 247001
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 2019 TAC of Atka mackerel, in
the CAI, allocated to vessels
participating in the BSAI trawl limited
access sector fishery was established as
a directed fishing allowance of 1,278
metric tons by the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
the Regional Administrator finds that
this directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel in the CAI by vessels
participating in the BSAI trawl limited
access sector fishery. While this closure
is effective, the maximum retainable
amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
any time during a trip.
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 a 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 the Atka mackerel
directed fishing in the CAI for vessels
participating in the BSAI trawl limited
access sector fishery. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of August 16, 2019.
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.
Classification
Dated: August 19, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
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
PO 00000
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[FR Doc. 2019–18103 Filed 8–19–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18103]
[[Page 43728]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XY010
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel 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 Atka mackerel in the
Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl
limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the 2019 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the
CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access
sector fishery.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2019,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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 2019 TAC of Atka mackerel, in the CAI, allocated to vessels
participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery was
established as a directed fishing allowance of 1,278 metric tons by the
final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel in the CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited
access sector fishery. While this closure is effective, 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 a 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 the Atka mackerel directed fishing in the
CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector
fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as
of August 16, 2019.
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: August 19, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18103 Filed 8-19-19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P