[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64333-64334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25698]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 130925836-4174-02]
RIN 0648-XD589


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
Management Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using 
hook-and-line gear, vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area 
(GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch 
of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA to be 
harvested.

DATES: Effective October 24, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local 
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Gulf of Alaska 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 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
GOA is 8,582 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (79 FR 12890, 
March 6, 2014). The Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional 
Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear 
will not be able to harvest 900 mt of the 2014 Pacific cod TAC 
allocated to those vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the 
Regional Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels using 
hook-and-line gear, vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear 
currently have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation and 
reallocates 50 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, 550 mt 
to vessels using pot gear, and 300 mt to vessels using jig gear.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 2014 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014) 
are revised as follows: 7,682 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, 
363 mt for vessels using hook-and-line gear, 9,042 mt for vessels using 
pot gear, and 873 mt for vessels using jig gear.

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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from catcher 
vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, 
vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear. Since the fishery 
is currently ongoing, it is important to immediately inform the 
industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is 
necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of 
this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and 
to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as 
processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for 
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became 
available as of October 23, 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.


[[Page 64334]]


    Dated: October 24, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25698 Filed 10-24-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P