Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rougheye Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 42891-42892
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2013-17257
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
Docket No. 121018563-3148-02
RIN 0648-XC761
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rougheye 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of rougheye rockfish in the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2013 total allowable catch of rougheye rockfish in the BS/EAI will soon be reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 15, 2013, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone 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.
Page 42892
The 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of rougheye rockfish in the BS/EAI is 169 metric tons as established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2013 TAC of rougheye rockfish in the BS/EAI of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that rougheye rockfish in the BS/EAI of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 rougheye rockfish in the BS/EAI 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 of July 11, 2013.
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. Sec. 679.20 and 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 15, 2013.
Kelly Denit,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 2013-17257 Filed 7-15-13; 4:15 pm
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
