Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 21683 

degrees and cut 15 points on an even row 

toward the back of the extension webbing. At 

this point turn and cut 18 bars toward the 

bottom front of the extension webbing. Finish 

the escape opening by cutting 6 points 

toward the original starting point. The top 

escape openings start 5 meshes above and 

mirror the lower openings. Starting at the 

leading edge of the composite panel and 5 

meshes above the lower escape opening, cut 

9 meshes in the extension on an even row of 

meshes toward the top of the extension. Next, 

turn 90 degrees, and cut 6 points on an even 

row toward the back of the extension 

webbing. Then cut 18 bars toward the bottom 

back of the extension. To complete the 

escape opening, cut 15 points forward toward 

the original starting point. The area of each 

escape opening must total at least 212 in2

(1,368 cm2). The four escape openings must 

be double selvaged for strength. 

(d) SMP. The SMP is constructed from a 

single piece of square mesh webbing with a 

minimum dimension of 5 squares wide and 

12 squares in length with a minimum mesh 

size of 3-inch (76-mm) stretched mesh. The 

maximum twine diameter of the square mesh 

is number 96 twine (4 mm). 

(e) Cutting the SMP escape opening. The 

escape opening is a rectangular hole cut in 

the top center of the cod end webbing. The 

posterior edge of the escape opening must be 

placed no farther forward that 8 ft (2.4 m) 

from the cod end drawstring (tie-off rings). 

The width of the escape opening, as 

measured across the cod end, must be four 

cod end meshes per square of the SMP (i.e., 

a cut of 20 cod end meshes for a SMP that 

is 5 meshes wide). The stretched mesh length 

of the escape opening must be equal to the 

total length of the SMP. No portion of the 

SMP escape opening may be covered with 

additional material or netting such as 

chaffing webbing, which might impede or 

prevent fish escapement. 

(f) Installation of the SMP. The SMP must 

be attached to the edge of the escape opening 

evenly around the perimeter of the escape 

opening cut with heavy twine. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8730 Filed 4–10–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 111207737–2141–02] 

RIN 0648–XB174 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher/processors Using Trawl 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/ 

processors (C/Ps) using trawl gear in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 

Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 

to prevent exceeding the A season 

allowance of the 2012 Pacific cod total 

allowable catch apportioned to C/Ps 

using trawl gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), April 8, 2012, through 1200 

hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2012. 

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 A season allowance of the 2012 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

apportioned to C/Ps using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

is 847 metric tons (mt), as established by 

the final 2012 and 2013 harvest 

specifications for groundfish of the GOA 

(77 FR 15194, March 14, 2012). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2012 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to C/Ps using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

will soon be reached. Therefore, the 

Regional Administrator is establishing a 

directed fishing allowance of 547 mt, 

and is setting aside the remaining 300 

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 C/Ps using trawl gear in the 

Central 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 for C/Ps using trawl 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 April 5, 

2012. 

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: April 6, 2012. 

Carrie Selberg, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–8710 Filed 4–6–12; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES