Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; “Other Rockfish” in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 45807-45808 [2020-16533]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Rules and Regulations Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements The action does not contain any new collection-of-information requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes The economic impacts of each measure are discussed in more detail in sections 6.5 and 7.12 of the Framework 59 EA and are not repeated here. The economic impacts of this action are predicted to generate $70.1 million in gross revenues on the sector portion of the commercial groundfish trips, $4.8 million more than No Action. Fisherywide operating profits are predicted to be $3.7 million more than No Action. Therefore, there are no alternatives that would have lower economic impacts. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Small Entity Compliance Guide Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency will publish one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, and will designate such publications as ‘‘small entity compliance guides.’’ The agency will explain the actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. As part of this rulemaking process, a bulletin to permit holders that also serves as a small entity compliance guide was prepared. This final rule and the guide (i.e. bulletin) will be sent via email to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Northeast multispecies fishery email list, as well as the email lists for scallop and herring fisheries, which receive an allocation of some groundfish stocks. The final rule and the guide are available from NMFS at the following website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ management-plan/northeastmultispecies-management-plan. Hard copies of the guide and this final rule will be available upon request (see ADDRESSES). List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648 Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Jul 29, 2020 Jkt 250001 Dated: July 23, 2020. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons stated in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended as follows: PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 2. Section 648.85 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(5)(ii) and adding (b)(6)(iv)(J)(2)(iii) to read as follows: ■ § 648.85 Special management programs. * * * * (b) * * * (5) * * * (ii) GB cod. The Incidental Catch TAC for GB cod specified in this paragraph (b)(5) shall be subdivided as follows: 60 percent to the Regular B DAS Program described in paragraph (b)(6) of this section and 40 percent to the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP described in paragraph (b)(7) of this section. (6) * * * (iv) * * * (J) * * * (2) * * * (iii) The Council may recommend to the Regional Administrator an addition or modification to the gear standards specified in paragraph (b)(6)(iv)(J)(2)(i) or (ii) of this section, and the Regional Administrator may approve the Council’s recommendation in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act. If the Regional Administrator does not approve an addition or modification to the gear standards as recommended by the Council, NMFS must provide a written rationale to the Council regarding its decision not to do so. * * * * * ■ 3. In § 648.90, revise paragraph (a)(5)(i)(E)(5) to read as follows: 45807 Council, is greater than the most recent fishing year’s catch, then only the small AM may be implemented as described in this paragraph (a)(5)(i)(E), consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act. This provision applies to a limited access NE multispecies permitted vessel fishing on a NE multispecies DAS or sector trip, and to all vessels fishing with trawl gear with a codend mesh size equal to or greater than 5 inches (12.7 cm) in other, non-specified subcomponents of the fishery, including, but not limited to, exempted fisheries that occur in Federal waters and fisheries harvesting exempted species specified in § 648.80(b)(3). * * * * * [FR Doc. 2020–16424 Filed 7–28–20; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P * § 648.90 NE multispecies assessment, framework procedures and specifications, and flexible area action system. * * * * * (a) * * * (5) * * * (i) * * * (E) * * * (5) Reducing the size of an AM. If the overall northern or southern windowpane flounder ACL is exceeded by more than 20 percent and NMFS determines that the stock is rebuilt, and the biomass criterion, as defined by the PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 200227–0066]RTID 0648–XA326 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ‘‘Other Rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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 retention of ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2020 ‘‘other rockfish’’ total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been reached. SUMMARY: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 28, 2020, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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 DATES: E:\FR\FM\30JYR1.SGM 30JYR1 45808 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Rules and Regulations khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2020 ‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 388 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2020 ‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be treated in the same manner as a prohibited species, as described under § 679.21(a), for the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Jul 29, 2020 Jkt 250001 remainder of the year, except ‘‘other rockfish’’ species in the Aleutian Islands subarea caught by catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in § 679.20(j). Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest, as it would prevent PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the prohibited retention of ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 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 July 23, 2020. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: July 27, 2020. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–16533 Filed 7–27–20; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\30JYR1.SGM 30JYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 147 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45807-45808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16533]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 200227-0066]RTID 0648-XA326


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ``Other 
Rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2020 
``other rockfish'' total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea of the BSAI has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 28, 2020, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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

[[Page 45808]]

appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2020 ``other rockfish'' TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 
the BSAI is 388 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, 
March 9, 2020). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that the 2020 ``other rockfish'' TAC in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea of the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be 
treated in the same manner as a prohibited species, as described under 
Sec.  679.21(a), for the remainder of the year, except ``other 
rockfish'' species in the Aleutian Islands subarea caught by catcher 
vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in Sec.  
679.20(j).

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was 
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under 
Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment would be 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 prohibited retention of 
``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 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 July 
23, 2020.

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

    Dated: July 27, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16533 Filed 7-27-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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