[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39209-39210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17114]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
[RTID 0648-XY005]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska;
Blackspotted/Rougheye Rockfish in the Western and Central Aleutian
Districts 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 retention of blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands
[[Page 39210]]
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2019
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the
Western and Central Districts of the BSAI has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 6,
2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
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 2019 blackspotted/rougheye rockfish TAC in the Western and
Central Aleutian Districts of the BSAI is 173 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019). In accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that the 2019 blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish TAC in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts of the BSAI
has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts of the
BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with 679.21(b).
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 retention of blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in
the Western and Central Aleutian Districts 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 August 5, 2019.
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: August 6, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17114 Filed 8-6-19; 4:15 pm]
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