[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07615]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG159


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Sablefish 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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary because the 2018 total allowable catch 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2018, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, (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 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of sablefish allocated to 
vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative 
fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the 
GOA is 501 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2018 and 2019 
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 
2018).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2018 TAC 
of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that sablefish by vessels using trawl gear and not 
participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program 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 fishing 
by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish 
Program for the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the 
Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because 
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of April 6, 
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.  679.20 and Sec.  679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: April 9, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07615 Filed 4-9-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P