[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5692-5693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD747


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel 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 Atka mackerel in 
critical habitat of the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Island management area (BSAI) by vessels participating 
in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2015 Atka mackerel 
total allowable catch (TAC) in critical habitat of the CAI allocated to 
vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 29, 
2015, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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 A season allowance of the 2015 Atka mackerel TAC, in critical 
habitat of the CAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI 
trawl limited access fishery was established as a directed fishing 
allowance of 453 metric tons by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014), 
Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for the BSAI Groundfish Fisheries 
Off Alaska (79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014), and as adjusted by an 
inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, January 5, 2015).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, finds that this directed fishing allowance has 
been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
Atka mackerel in critical habitat of the CAI by vessels participating 
in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
    After the effective dates 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 a 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 Atka mackerel fishery 
in critical habitat of the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI 
trawl limited access fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of January 28, 2015. 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.

[[Page 5693]]

    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: January 29, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02037 Filed 1-29-15; 4:15 pm]
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