[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5692-5693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02037]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD747
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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in
critical habitat of the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Island management area (BSAI) by vessels participating
in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2015 Atka mackerel
total allowable catch (TAC) in critical habitat of the CAI allocated to
vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 29,
2015, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2015.
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 A season allowance of the 2015 Atka mackerel TAC, in critical
habitat of the CAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI
trawl limited access fishery was established as a directed fishing
allowance of 453 metric tons by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014),
Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for the BSAI Groundfish Fisheries
Off Alaska (79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014), and as adjusted by an
inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, finds that this directed fishing allowance has
been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
Atka mackerel in critical habitat of the CAI by vessels participating
in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
After the effective dates of this closure, 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 directed fishing closure of the Atka mackerel fishery
in critical habitat of the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI
trawl limited access fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant
data only became available as of January 28, 2015. 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.
[[Page 5693]]
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: January 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02037 Filed 1-29-15; 4:15 pm]
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