Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 43797 

and all that remains is to notify the 

public of the recreational closure for 

golden tilefish for the remainder of the 

2018 fishing year. Prior notice and 

opportunity for comment are contrary to 

the public interest because of the need 

to immediately implement this action to 

protect the golden tilefish resource. 

Time required for notice and public 

comment would allow for continued 

recreational harvest and further 

exceedance of the recreational ACL. 

For the aforementioned reasons, the 

AA also finds good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in the effectiveness of this 

action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 

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

Dated: August 23, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18621 Filed 8–23–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] 

RIN 0648–XG394 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal 

to 50 Feet Length Overall Using Hookand-Line Gear in the Central 

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 

greater than or equal to 50 feet length 

overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear 

in the Central Regulatory Area of the 

Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 

necessary to prevent exceeding the 

annual allowance of the 2018 Pacific 

cod total allowable catch apportioned to 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2018, 

through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 

2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 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 annual allowance of the 2018 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

apportioned to catcher vessels greater 

than or equal to 50 feet LOA using hookand-line gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 404 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 annual allowance of 

the 2018 Pacific cod TAC apportioned 

to catcher vessels greater than or equal 

to 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear 

in the Central Regulatory Area of the 

GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, 

the Regional Administrator is 

establishing a directed fishing 

allowance of 344 mt and is setting aside 

the remaining 60 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 greater than or equal to 

50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

While this closure is effective 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 greater 

than or equal to 50 feet LOA using hookand-line gear in the Central 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 August 22, 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 23, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18622 Filed 8–27–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] 

RIN 0648–XG429 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 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 

a closure; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 

less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length 

overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or 

pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Management Area (BSAI). This 

action is necessary to fully use the 2018 

total allowable catch of Pacific cod 

allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 

feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2018, 

through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 

2018. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., September 12, 2018. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES
43798 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2017–0108, 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;

D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0108, click the 

‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the 

required fields, and enter or attach your 

comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. 

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: NMFS may not consider 

comments if they are sent by any other 

method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the 

comment period ends. All comments 

received are a part of the public record, 

and NMFS will post the comments for 

public viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender is 

publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 

anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in 

the required fields if you wish to remain 

anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 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 parts 600 

and 679. 

NMFS closed directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 

60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the BSAI under 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 23, 2018 

(83 FR 3626, January 26, 2018). 

NMFS has determined that as of 

August 22, 2018, approximately 742 

metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 

2018 Pacific cod apportionment for 

catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA 

using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 

BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with 

§ 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2018 

total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 

cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating 

the previous closure and is opening 

directed fishing for Pacific cod by 

catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA 

using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 

BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska 

Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 

considered the following factors in 

reaching this decision: (1) The current 

catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels 

less than 60 feet LOA using hook-andline or pot gear 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) 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 directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 

60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the BSAI. 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 

and 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 22, 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. 

Without this inseason adjustment, 

NMFS could not allow the fishery for 

Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 

60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an 

expedient manner and in accordance 

with the regulatory schedule. Under 

§ 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

this action to the above address until 

September 12, 2018. 

This action is required by § 679.25 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: August 23, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18624 Filed 8–27–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES