[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44283-44284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18722]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE



National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



50 CFR Part 679



[Docket No. 101126522-0640-02]

RIN 0648-XA594




Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 

Rockfish for Catcher/Processors Participating in the Rockfish Limited 

Access Fishery 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 directed fishing for northern rockfish by 

catcher/processors participating in the rockfish limited access fishery 

in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska



[[Page 44284]]



(GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2011 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of northern rockfish allocated to catcher/

processors participating in the rockfish limited access fishery in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.



DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 20, 2011, 

through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.



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 2011 TAC of northern rockfish allocated to catcher/processors 

participating in the rockfish limited access fishery in the Central GOA 

is 150 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2011 and 2012 

harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (76 FR 11111, March 1, 

2011), and as posted as the 2011 Rockfish Program Allocations at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm.

    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 

Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2011 TAC 

of northern rockfish allocated to catcher/processors participating in 

the rockfish limited access fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 

establishing a directed fishing allowance of 125 mt, and is setting 

aside the remaining 25 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated 

groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the 

Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has 

been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

northern rockfish by catcher/processors participating in the rockfish 

limited access fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

    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 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 northern rockfish for catcher/processors 

participating in the rockfish limited access fishery in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 

data only became available as of July 18, 2011.

    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: July 20, 2011.

Emily H. Menashes,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2011-18722 Filed 7-20-11; 4:15 pm]

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