[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65305-65306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22862]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE897
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker
Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
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 shortraker rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. This
closure does not apply to vessels participating in the catcher/
processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program.
[[Page 65306]]
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 19,
2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA 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.
The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA by vessels not participating in the
catcher/processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program is 181
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2016 TAC
of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA by
vessels not participating in the catcher/processor cooperative fishery
in the Rockfish Program has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring
that shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b). This
closure does not apply to vessels participating in the catcher/
processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program.
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 prohibiting the retention of shortraker rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA for vessels not participating in the
catcher/processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September
16, 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. Sec. 679.20 and 679.21 and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 19, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22862 Filed 9-19-16; 4:15 pm]
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