Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 179 / Monday, September 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 43503 

tuna annual catch and measures the 

annual catch data against the applicable 

available quotas. Delaying the effective 

date of these quota adjustments would 

complicate the management of the 

northern albacore, North and South 

Atlantic swordfish, and bluefin tuna 

fisheries, all of which rely on 

management flexibility to respond 

quickly to fishery conditions to ensure 

that fishermen have a reasonable 

opportunity to catch the available 

quotas. For example, under the northern 

albacore fishery closure regulations, 

NMFS must close the fishery when the 

annual fishery quota is reached. Closure 

of the fishery based only on the baseline 

(codified) quota versus the adjusted 

northern albacore quota could preclude 

the fishery from harvesting northern 

albacore that are legally available 

consistent with the ICCAT 

recommendations and the 2006 

Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended. 

Adjusting the North and South Atlantic 

swordfish quota allows the United 

States to comply with the ICCAT 

allowance to carry over quota 

underharvest and the obligation of 

international quota transfers. Adjusting 

the bluefin tuna Reserve category as 

soon as possible provides NMFS the 

flexibility to transfer quota from the 

Reserve to other fishing categories 

inseason after considering the regulatory 

determination criteria, including fishery 

conditions at the time of the transfer. 

The amount of quota currently in the 

Reserve category is relatively low, and 

NMFS may need to transfer quota soon 

in order to reduce the likelihood of 

fishery closure during the September or 

subsequent subquota time periods. 

NMFS could not appropriately adjust 

the annual quotas for 2017 sooner 

because the data needed to make the 

determination did not become available 

until August, and additional time was 

needed for agency analysis and 

consideration of the data. 

Additionally, to prevent confusion 

and potential overharvests, these 

adjustments should be in place as soon 

as possible in order to allow the 

impacted sectors to benefit from any 

subsequent quota adjustments to the 

fishing categories, give them a 

reasonable opportunity to catch 

available quota, and provide them the 

opportunity for planning operations 

accordingly. 

This action is being taken under 

§ 635.27(e) and § 635.27(a)(10), and is 

exempt from review under Executive 

Order 12866. 

This action does not contain a 

collection-of-information requirement 

for purposes of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act. 

Because prior notice and opportunity 

for public comment are not required for 

this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other 

law, the analytical requirements of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq., are inapplicable. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 

et seq. 

Dated: September 13, 2017. 

Samuel D. Rauch, III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–19777 Filed 9–15–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 

RIN 0648–XF654 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of 

Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands Management Area; 

Correction 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocations; 

correction. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is correcting a 

temporary rule that reallocated Pacific 

cod from vessels using jig gear and 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall 

(LOA) using hook-and-line gear to 

catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 

meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands management area. The amount 

reallocated from vessels using jig gear 

was incorrect. 

DATES: Effective September 18, 2017 

through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 

(A.l.t) December 31, 2017, and is 

applicable beginning August 30, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Correction 

NMFS published the reallocation of 

Pacific cod on September 5, 2017 (82 FR 

41899). The document contains 

incorrect amounts of Pacific cod to be 

transferred to catcher vessels less than 

60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear from vessels using jig gear. These 

corrections will not affect the fishing 

operations. These corrections are 

necessary to provide the correct 

information about the amount of the 

Pacific cod transferred from vessels 

using jig gear and eliminate potential 

avoid confusion by fishery participants. 

Correction 

In the Federal Register of September 

5, 2017, (82 FR 41899) in FR Doc. 2017– 

18733, on page 41900, column 1, 

paragraph 2, sentences 1 and 2 are 

corrected to read as follows: 

‘‘The Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that jig vessels will not be 

able to harvest 1,186 mt of the 

remaining 2017 Pacific cod TAC 

allocated to those vessels under 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), 

NMFS apportions 1,186 mt of Pacific 

cod to the annual amount specified for 

catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA 

using hook-and-line or pot gear.’’ 

Classification 

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 

actions corrects an error that attributed 

the total amount of Pacific cod being 

transferred to catcher vessels less than 

60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear from multiple sectors (1,612 mt), 

rather than the amount of Pacific cod 

being reallocated from vessels using jig 

gear (1,186 mt). This correction does not 

change operating practices in the 

fisheries. Corrections should be made as 

soon as possible to avoid confusion for 

participants in the fisheries. 

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. 

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

Dated: September 12, 2017. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–19628 Filed 9–15–17; 8:45 am] 

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