[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9530-9531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02486]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XF204
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet (18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using
Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear 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 Pacific cod by
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall
(LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2,
2017, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the BSAI is 5,959 metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016), inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January
10, 2017), and reallocation (82 FR 8905, February 1, 2017).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
[[Page 9531]]
determined that the 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed
fishing allowance to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI will soon be reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the BSAI.
After the effective date 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 Acting 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 for Pacific cod
by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of January 31, 2017.
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.
Dated: February 2, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-02486 Filed 2-2-17; 4:15 pm]
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