Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Federal Register: October 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 198)
Rules and Regulations
Page 52912-52913
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr15oc09-16
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679
Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02
RIN 0648-XS34
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern
Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of closure.
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of northern rockfish in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 11, 2009, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t.,
October 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by 0648-
XS34, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http:// www.regulations.gov.
Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
Fax: (907) 586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All
Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Enter ``N/A'' in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
Adobe portable document file (pdf) file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patty Britza, 907-586-7376.
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.
NMFS closed the directed fishery for northern rockfish in the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2009 (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009).
As of October 7, 2009, NMFS has determined that approximately 4,794 metric tons of northern rockfish remain unharvested in the BSAI.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2009 TAC of northern rockfish in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the BSAI. This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters in this area. The
Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) the current catch of northern rockfish in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in this fishery.
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) and 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 northern rockfish in the BSAI.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
October 7, 2009.
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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery for northern rockfish in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until October 26, 2009.
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and Sec. 679.25 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Page 52913
Dated: October 9, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. E9-24824 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
