[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49722-49723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19955]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 130925836-4174-02]
RIN 0648-XD450


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rex Sole 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 the rex sole 
sideboard limit by non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher 
vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary because the 2014 rex sole sideboard limit for 
non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 
2014,

[[Page 49723]]

through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The 2014 rex sole sideboard limit for non-exempt AFA catcher 
vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 239 metric tons 
(mt), as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications 
for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the 
2014 rex sole sideboard limit for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 
300 mt and is setting aside the remaining 29 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 the 2014 rex sole sideboard limit for non-exempt 
AFA catcher vessels 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 directed fishing closure of the rex sole sideboard 
limit by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels 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 August 18, 2014.
    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: August 19, 2014.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-19955 Filed 8-19-14; 4:15 pm]
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