8816 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

take reasonable steps for its safe release, 

without compromising the safety of any 

persons. This paragraph does not apply 

to the territorial seas or archipelagic 

waters of any nation, as defined by the 

domestic laws and regulations of that 

nation and recognized by the United 

States. 

■ 6. Section 300.226 is added to read as 

follows: 

§ 300.226 Oceanic whitetip shark and silky 

shark. 

(a) The crew, operator, and owner of 

a fishing vessel of the United States 

used for commercial fishing for HMS 

cannot retain on board, transship, store, 

or land any part or whole carcass of an 

oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus 

longimanus) or silky shark 

(Carcharhinus falciformis) that is caught 

in the Convention Area, unless subject 

to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this 

section. 

(b) The crew, operator, and owner of 

a fishing vessel of the United States 

used for commercial fishing for HMS 

must release any oceanic whitetip shark 

or silky shark caught in the Convention 

Area as soon as possible after the shark 

is caught and brought alongside the 

vessel, and take reasonable steps for its 

safe release, without compromising the 

safety of any persons, unless subject to 

the provisions of paragraph (c) of this 

section. 

(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 

section do not apply in the event that a 

WCPFC observer collects, or requests 

the assistance of the vessel crew, 

operator, or owner in the observer’s 

collection of, samples of oceanic 

whitetip shark or silky shark in the 

Convention Area. 

(d) The crew, operator, and owner of 

a fishing vessel of the United States 

used for commercial fishing for HMS in 

the Convention Area must allow and 

assist a WCPFC observer to collect 

samples of oceanic whitetip shark or 

silky shark in the Convention Area, if 

requested to do so by the WCPFC 

observer. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03388 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 130925836–4174–02] 

RIN 0648–XD714 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Vessels Using Pot 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 vessels using 

pot 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 2015 Pacific 

cod total allowable catch apportioned to 

vessels using pot gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), February 16, 2015, 

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

2015. 

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 2015 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

apportioned to vessels using pot gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

is 8,036 metric tons (mt), as established 

by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 

specifications for groundfish of the GOA 

(79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014) and 

inseason adjustment (80 FR 192, January 

5, 2015). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to vessels using pot gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

will soon be reached. Therefore, the 

Regional Administrator is establishing a 

directed fishing allowance of 8,026 mt 

and is setting aside the remaining 10 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 

vessels using pot 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 vessels using pot 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 February 12, 

2015. 

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: February 13, 2015. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03447 Filed 2–13–15; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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