[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62052-62053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD557


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland 
Turbot in the Bering Sea Subarea 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 for non-CDQ Greenland 
turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 12, 
2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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 2014 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the 
BSAI is 1,410 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i) and (ii)(B), 
the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2014 
Greenland turbot ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will be 
needed as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 0 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 1,410 mt 
as incidental catch. 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 
Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of 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 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 Greenland turbot in the 
Bering Sea subarea of 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 October 9, 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.


[[Page 62053]]


    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 10, 2014.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-24621 Filed 10-10-14; 4:15 pm]
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