[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5054-5055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01755]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE415


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel 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.

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[[Page 5055]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian district and the Bering Sea subarea (BSEAI) of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Island management area (BSAI) by vessels 
participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2016 Atka 
mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the BSEAI allocated to vessels 
participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 27, 
2016, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season allowance of the 2016 Atka mackerel TAC, in the BSEAI, 
allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access 
fishery was established as a directed fishing allowance of 1,216 metric 
tons by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish 
in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015), and as adjusted by an 
inseason adjustment (81 FR 184, January 5, 2016)
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, finds that this directed fishing allowance has 
been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
Atka mackerel in the BSEAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access fishery.
    After the effective dates of this closure, the maximum retainable 
amounts at Sec.  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 delay the directed fishing closure of the Atka mackerel fishery 
in the BSEAI 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 January 26, 2016. 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 Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 27, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01755 Filed 1-27-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P