[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11332-11333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04378]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD803


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Aleutian Islands 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 Pacific cod, except 
for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ 
allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 27, 
2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7269.

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 non-CDQ allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea of the BSAI is 8,414 metric tons (mt) as established by 
the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 188, 
January 5, 2015). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the non-CDQ 
allocation of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea 
of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator 
is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,414 mt, and is 
setting aside the remaining 2,000 mt as incidental catch in directed 
fishing for other species. 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 Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands 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

[[Page 11333]]

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 non-CDQ Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands 
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 February 25, 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.
    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: February 26, 2015.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04378 Filed 2-26-15; 4:15 pm]
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