42228 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 162 / Tuesday, August 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) 

and inseason adjustment (83 FR 2932, 

January 22, 2018). 

The 2018 Pacific cod TAC specified 

for catcher vessels greater than or equal 

to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear in the BSAI is 363 mt as 

established by the final 2018 and 2019 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 

2018). 

The 2018 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 

catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) 

LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in 

the BSAI is 5,027 mt as established by 

final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) 

and inseason adjustment (83 FR 2932, 

January 22, 2018). 

The Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that jig vessels will not be 

able to harvest 900 mt of the 2018 

Pacific cod TAC allocated to those 

vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). 

The Regional Administrator has 

determined that catcher vessels greater 

than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA 

using hook-and-line gear will not be 

able to harvest 363 mt of the 2018 

Pacific cod TAC allocated to those 

vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). 

Therefore, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 

900 mt of Pacific cod from the jig vessel 

apportionment to the annual amount 

specified for catcher vessels less than 60 

feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear. Also, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 

363 mt of Pacific cod from the catcher 

vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet 

(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear 

apportionment to the annual amount 

specified for catcher vessels less than 60 

feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear. 

The harvest specifications for Pacific 

cod included in final 2018 and 2019 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 

2018) and inseason adjustment (83 FR 

2932, January 22, 2018) are revised as 

follows: 249 mt to the annual amount 

for vessels using jig gear, 0 mt to catcher 

vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet 

(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear, 

and 6,290 mt to catcher vessels less than 

60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline or pot gear. 

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 reallocation of Pacific cod 

specified from jig vessels and catcher 

vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet 

(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear 

to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 

m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. 

Since the fishery is currently open, it is 

important to immediately inform the 

industry as to the revised allocations. 

Immediate notification is necessary to 

allow for the orderly conduct and 

efficient operation of this fishery, to 

allow the industry to plan for the fishing 

season, and to avoid potential 

disruption to the fishing fleet as well as 

processors. NMFS was unable to 

publish a notice providing time for 

public comment because the most 

recent, relevant data only became 

available as of August 15, 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: August 16, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18014 Filed 8–16–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] 

RIN 0648–XG115 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 

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 directed 

fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the 

Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

management area (BSAI) by vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. This action is necessary 

to prevent exceeding the 2018 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean 

perch in the CAI allocated to vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), August 16, 2018, through 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. 

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. 

The 2018 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, 

in the CAI, allocated to vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery was established as a 

directed fishing allowance of 658 metric 

tons by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). 

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 

ocean perch in the CAI by vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. 

After the effective dates 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 a 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 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 162 / Tuesday, August 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 42229 

delay the closure of the Pacific ocean 

perch directed fishery in the CAI for 

vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 

limited access fishery. NMFS was 

unable to publish a notice providing 

time for public comment because the 

most recent, relevant data only became 

available as of August 15, 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: August 16, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17991 Filed 8–16–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES