[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26708-26709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10933]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[Docket No. 130123063-3423-03]
RIN 0648-BC75
Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan; Correcting
Amendment
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.
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SUMMARY: This action corrects the text of a final rule published on
March 15, 2013, that implemented annual management measures governing
the Pacific halibut fishery. This final rule established season dates
off of Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. This action is
necessary to correct an error in the days of the week listed for the
fishing season in the area from Leadbetter Point, WA to Cape Falcon,
OR.
DATES: Effective May 8, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Williams, 206-526-4646.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final rule published March 15, 2013 (78 FR
16423), included annual management measures for managing the harvest of
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the sport fishery in
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Area 2A off
of Washington, Oregon and California. This correcting amendment revises
the season days of the week in the area from Leadbetter Point, WA to
Cape Falcon, OR.
Need for Correction
The final rule (78 FR 16423), Section 26, Sport Fishing for Halibut
Area 2A, describes dates and days of the week for sport fishing for
halibut off Washington, Oregon, and California. For the area from
Leadbetter Point, WA to Cape Falcon, OR the days of the week for the
season from May 3 to July 28 were listed as Thursday, Friday, Saturday
and should have been listed as Friday through Sunday. Friday through
Sunday is consistent with the 2013 Pacific Fishery Management Council's
Catch Sharing Plan which describes the structure of the fishery and the
proposed rule (78 FR 9660). The incorrect days of the week were
inadvertently included in the final rule. ``Thursday, Friday,
Saturday'' is corrected to read ``Friday through Sunday'' in the
corrected text set out below.
On page 16435, paragraph (8)(d)(i), in the third column, is
corrected to read as follows:
(i) The fishing season commences on May 3, and continues 3 days a
week (Friday through Sunday) until 9,516 lb (4.3 mt) are estimated to
have been taken and the season is closed by the Commission or until
July 28, whichever is earlier. The fishery will reopen on August 2 and
continue 3 days a week (Friday through Sunday) until 2,379 lb (1.1 mt)
have been taken and the season is closed by the Commission, or until
September 30, whichever is earlier. Subsequent to this closure, if
there is insufficient quota remaining in the Columbia River subarea for
another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred in-
season to another Washington and/or Oregon subarea by NMFS via an
update to the recreational halibut hotline. Any remaining quota would
be transferred to each state in proportion to its contribution.
Classification
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Acting Assistant Administrator
for
[[Page 26709]]
Fisheries finds there is good cause to waive prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment
would be unnecessary and contrary to public interest. Notice and
comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because
this action corrects an inadvertent error in regulations for a fishery
that commences on May 3, and immediate notice of the error and
correction is necessary to prevent confusion among participants in the
fishery that could result from the existing conflict between the Catch
Sharing Plan and proposed rule, and the final rule. In addition, this
action makes only minor changes to the dates of the fishery and does
not alter the total number of days the fishery will be open. These
corrections will not affect the results of analyses conducted to
support management decisions in the halibut fishery nor change the
total catch of halibut. No change in operating practices in the fishery
is required. For the same reasons, the Acting AA has determined that
good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
This final rule complies with the Halibut Act and the Pacific
Fishery Management Council's authority to implement allocation measures
for the management of the halibut fishery.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.
Dated: May 2, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-10933 Filed 5-3-13; 4:15 pm]
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