E9-21170. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Subject to Amendment 80 Sideboard Limits in the Western 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 Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2009 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES:

Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 28, 2009, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

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 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. Regulations governing sideboard protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR part 679.

The 2009 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is two percent of the total allowable catch (TAC) according to § 679.20 table 37 (http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​rr/​tables/​tabl37.pdf). Two percent of the TAC for Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 324 metric tons (mt), as established by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (74 FR 7333, February 17, 2009) and revisions (74 FR 11041, March 16, 2009).

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(v)(A), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the Pacific cod sideboard limit established for Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is sufficient to support a directed fishing allowance. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a sideboard directed fishing allowance for Pacific cod as 319 mt in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. The remaining 5 mt in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be set aside as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(v)(C), the Regional Administrator finds that this Amendment 80 sideboard directed fishing allowance will be reached by the effective date of this temporary rule. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the 2009 Pacific cod sideboard limit by Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western 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 by Amendment 80 vessels subject to sideboard limits in the Western 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 26, 2009.

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 28, 2009.

Emily H. Menashes,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.