[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6459-6460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02391]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE429
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Directed
Fishing With Trawl Gear by Fisheries Act Catcher Processors in Bycatch
Limitation Zone 1 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 directed fishing with trawl gear, other
than pelagic trawl gear for walleye pollock, by American Fisheries Act
(AFA) trawl catcher processors in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the sideboard limit of the 2016 bycatch
allowance of red king crab in Zone 1 specified for AFA trawl catcher
processors in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 3,
2016, though 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
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 sideboard limit of the 2016 bycatch allowance of red king crab
in Zone 1 specified for the AFA trawl catcher processors in the BSAI is
606 crab as established by the final 2015 and
[[Page 6460]]
2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015).
In accordance with Sec. 679.64(a)(2) and (3), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the
sideboard limit of red king crab in Zone 1 specified for the AFA
catcher processors in the BSAI will be caught. Therefore, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing with trawl gear in Zone 1, other than
pelagic trawl gear for walleye pollock, by AFA trawl catcher processors
in the BSAI.
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 closure of directed fishing with trawl gear, other than
pelagic trawl gear for walleye pollock, by AFA trawl catcher processors
in Zone 1 of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notification
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant
data only became available as of February 1, 2016.
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. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 3, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-02391 Filed 2-3-16; 4:15 pm]
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