This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

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are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

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The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

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Rules and Regulations Federal Register

49 

Vol. 84, No. 4 

Monday, January 7, 2019 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] 

RIN 0648–XG714 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Using Hook-and-Line 

Gear 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; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 

using hook-and-line gear in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the A season 

allowance of the 2019 Pacific cod total 

allowable catch apportioned to catcher 

vessels using hook-and-line gear in the 

Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 0000 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2019, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 

2019. 

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 MagnusonStevens 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. 

Regulations governing sideboard 

protections for GOA groundfish 

fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 

part 680. 

The A season allowance of the 2019 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

apportioned to catcher vessels using 

hook-and-line gear in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA is 36 metric 

tons (mt), as established by the final 

2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, 

March 1, 2018). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2019 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to catcher vessels using 

hook-and-line gear in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA is necessary 

to account for the anticipated incidental 

catch in other fisheries. Therefore, the 

Regional Administrator is establishing a 

directed fishing allowance of 0 mt and 

is setting aside the remaining 36 mt as 

bycatch to support other anticipated 

groundfish fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this directed 

fishing allowance has been reached. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for Pacific cod by 

catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear 

in the Western Regulatory Area of the 

GOA. After the effective date of this 

closure the maximum retainable 

amounts at § 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 directed fishing closure of 

Pacific cod by catcher vessels using 

hook-and-line gear in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was 

unable to publish a notice providing 

time for public comment because the 

most recent, relevant data only became 

available as of December 21, 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 § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: December 31, 2018. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–28472 Filed 12–31–18; 4:15 pm] 

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