[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65108-65109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27438]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170816769-8162-02]
RIN 0648-XG676
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific
cod total allowable catch (TAC) from catcher vessels using trawl gear
to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, vessels using jig gear,
and vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2018 TAC of
Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 14, 2018 through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (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 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,140 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications
for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018). The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to
harvest 725 mt of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(3).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels using hook-and-
line gear, vessels using jig gear, and vessels using pot gear currently
have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation. Therefore, NMFS
apportions 725 mt of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher vessel
apportionment to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, vessels
using jig gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018)
are revised as follows: 1,415 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear,
85 mt to vessels using hook-and-line gear, 125 mt to vessels using jig
gear, and 2,795 mt to vessels using pot gear.
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
[[Page 65109]]
delay the reallocations of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area
of the GOA. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to
immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations.
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct
and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan
for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the
fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as of December 11, 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 is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 14, 2018.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-27438 Filed 12-14-18; 4:15 pm]
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