[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64333-64334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25698]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 130925836-4174-02]
RIN 0648-XD589
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using
hook-and-line gear, vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear
in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area
(GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch
of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective October 24, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Gulf of Alaska 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. Regulations governing
sideboard protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B
of 50 CFR part 680.
The 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the
GOA is 8,582 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (79 FR 12890,
March 6, 2014). The Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear
will not be able to harvest 900 mt of the 2014 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the
Regional Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels using
hook-and-line gear, vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear
currently have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation and
reallocates 50 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, 550 mt
to vessels using pot gear, and 300 mt to vessels using jig gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014)
are revised as follows: 7,682 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear,
363 mt for vessels using hook-and-line gear, 9,042 mt for vessels using
pot gear, and 873 mt for vessels using jig gear.
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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from catcher
vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear,
vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear. Since the fishery
is currently ongoing, it is important to immediately inform the
industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is
necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of
this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and
to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of October 23, 2014.
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.
[[Page 64334]]
Dated: October 24, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25698 Filed 10-24-14; 4:15 pm]
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