[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10807-10808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02 and 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XG019


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 
Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear 
managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the 
Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 24, 2018, and will close 1200 
hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period is the same as the 2018 
commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified 
by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management 
measures.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 2018, until 1200 hours, 
A.l.t., November 7, 2018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific 
halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas 
defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ 
Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and 
management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an 
annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ 
are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations. 
Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the 
rationale

[[Page 10808]]

supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final rule 
implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register, 
November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments.
    This announcement is consistent with Sec.  679.23(g)(1), which 
requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under 
the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and 
announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season 
announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the 
sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the 
halibut season, adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC). The directed fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear 
managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 24, 
2018, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 7, 2018. This period 
runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut announced by 
the IPHC. The IFQ halibut season will be specified by a separate 
publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures 
pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62.

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 opening of the sablefish fishery thereby increasing 
bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish fishery and the 
halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of the management 
objective for simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because 
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 7, 
2018.
    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.  679.23 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-05059 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P