[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65305-65306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22862]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150818742-6210-02]
RIN 0648-XE897


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker 
Rockfish 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 retention of shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary because the 2016 total allowable catch of shortraker rockfish 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. This 
closure does not apply to vessels participating in the catcher/
processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program.

[[Page 65306]]


DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 19, 
2016, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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.
    The 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA by vessels not participating in the 
catcher/processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program is 181 
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (81 FR 14740, March 18, 2016).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2016 TAC 
of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA by 
vessels not participating in the catcher/processor cooperative fishery 
in the Rockfish Program has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring 
that shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b). This 
closure does not apply to vessels participating in the catcher/
processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program.

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 prohibiting the retention of shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA for vessels not participating in the 
catcher/processor cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because 
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September 
16, 2016.
    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. Sec.  679.20 and 679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 19, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22862 Filed 9-19-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P