Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska:

Federal Register: July 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 141)

Rules and Regulations

Page 43090-43091

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr23jy10-17

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 0910131362-0087-02

RIN 0648-XX77

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific

Ocean Perch in the Western Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch by catcher/processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries that are subject to sideboard limits established under the

Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program in the Western Yakutat district of the GOA. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2010 sideboard limit of Pacific ocean perch established for catcher/ processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries in the Western Yakutat district of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 20, 2010, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 31, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

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

Page 43091

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 2010 Pacific ocean perch sideboard limit established for catcher/processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries that are subject to sideboard limits in the Central GOA

Rockfish Program in the Western Yakutat district is 1,099 metric tons

(mt). The sideboard limit is established by the final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (75 FR 11749, March 12, 2010) and as posted as the 2010 Rockfish Program Catcher/Processor

Sideboards at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/ goarat/default.htm.

In accordance with Sec. 679.82(d)(7)(i)(A), the Administrator,

Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2010 Pacific ocean perch sideboard limit established for catcher processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries in the Western Yakutat district will soon be reached. Therefore, the

Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 999 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.82(d)(7)(ii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the Pacific ocean perch sideboard limit established for catcher/processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries in the Western Yakutat district of the Gulf of

Alaska.

After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

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 closure of Pacific ocean perch sideboard limit for catcher/processors participating in the limited access or opt-out fisheries in the Western Yakutat district. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of July 19, 2010.

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. 679.82 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

Dated: July 20, 2010.

Carrie Selberg,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2010-18114 Filed 7-20-10; 4:15 pm

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