Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 49721

implemented to conserve juvenile Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE swordfish habitat in a region where 1801 et seq. fishing grounds are easily accessible to Dated: August 18, 2014. National Oceanic and Atmospheric a large number of fishermen. The initial Administration Samuel D. Rauch III, retention limit of zero swordfish was implemented in part upon consideration Deputy Assistant Administrator for 50 CFR Part 679 of public comments on Amendment 8, Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [Docket No. 130925836–4174–02] including a comment from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation For reasons set out in the preamble, RIN 0648–XD451 Commission indicating a high potential 50 CFR part 635 is amended as follows: for the rapid growth of a commercial Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic fishery in the Florida Swordfish PART 635—ATLANTIC HIGHLY Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Management Area. MIGRATORY SPECIES Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear Currently, NMFS is observing the in the Central Regulatory Area of the patterns of harvest, including how ■ 1. The authority citation for part 635 Gulf of Alaska continues to read as follows: fishing for swordfish changes AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries throughout the fishing year in different Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and regions, and seeing how changes in 1801 et seq. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), patterns of harvest relate to other Commerce. portions of the U.S. fishery in overall ■ 2. In § 635.27, paragraph (c)(3)(ii) is ACTION: landings. NMFS does not feel that the revised to read as follows: Temporary rule; closure. low harvest levels to date indicate a § 635.27 Quotas. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention need to adjust the regional retention of Pacific cod by catcher/processors * * * * * limits at this time. NMFS will continue using trawl gear in the Central to monitor the fishery and, based upon (c) * * * Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska the inseason adjustment criteria (3) * * * (GOA). This action is necessary because specified at 50 CFR 635.24 (b)(4)(iv), the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific (ii) If consistent with applicable will consider whether to adjust regional cod apportioned to trawl catcher/ ICCAT recommendations, total landings retention limits in the future. processors in the Central Regulatory above or below the specific North Area of the GOA has been reached. Changes From the Proposed Rule Atlantic or South Atlantic swordfish DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska The final rule contains no changes annual quota will be subtracted from, or local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2014, from the proposed rule, except for added to, the following year’s quota for through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, minor landings updates based on more that area. As necessary to meet 2014. recent 2013 landings reports and dead management objectives, such discard estimates. adjustments may be apportioned to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. Classification fishing categories and/or to the reserve. Carryover adjustments for the North SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Atlantic shall be limited to 25 percent manages the groundfish fishery in the Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator of the baseline quota allocation through GOA exclusive economic zone has determined that the final rule is 2014. Starting in the 2015 fishing year, according to the Fishery Management consistent with the 2006 Consolidated carryover adjustments shall be limited Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North HMS FMP and its amendments, other to 15 percent of the annual baseline provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Pacific Fishery Management Council quota allocation. Carryover adjustments Act, and other applicable law. under authority of the Magnuson- for the South Atlantic shall be limited This final rule has been determined to Stevens Fishery Conservation and to 100 mt ww (75.2 mt dw). Any be not significant for purposes of Management Act. Regulations governing adjustments to the 12-month directed Executive Order 12866. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance fishery quota will be apportioned The Chief Counsel for Regulation of with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 equally between the two semiannual the Department of Commerce certified CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the fishing seasons. NMFS will file with the Regulations governing sideboard Small Business Administration during Office of the Federal Register for protections for GOA groundfish the proposed rule stage that this action publication any adjustment or fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR would not have a significant economic apportionment made under this part 680. impact on a substantial number of small paragraph. The 2014 Pacific cod TAC entities. The factual basis for the * * * * * apportioned to catcher/processors using certification was published in the [FR Doc. 2014–19890 Filed 8–21–14; 8:45 am] trawl gear in the Central Regulatory proposed rule and is not repeated here. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Area of the GOA is 1,638 metric tons No comments were received regarding (mt), as established by the final 2014 this certification. As a result, a and 2015 harvest specifications for regulatory flexibility analysis was not groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, required and none was prepared. March 6, 2014). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 635 Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels, (Regional Administrator) has Foreign relations, Imports, Penalties, determined that the 2014 Pacific cod Reporting and recordkeeping TAC apportioned to catcher/processors requirements, Treaties. using trawl gear in the Central

VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:40 Aug 21, 2014 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\22AUR1.SGM 22AUR1 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES 49722 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 2014 / Rules and Regulations

Regulatory Area of the GOA has been Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring Commerce. impracticable and contrary to the public that of Pacific cod caught by catcher/ ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. interest. This requirement is processors using trawl gear in the impracticable and contrary to the public Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention interest as it would prevent NMFS from treated as prohibited species in of the incidental catch allowance for responding to the most recent fisheries accordance with § 679.21(b). Pacific ocean perch in the Central data in a timely fashion and would Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska delay the prohibition of retention of Classification (GOA). This action is necessary because catches of the incidental catch This action responds to the best the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific allowance for Pacific ocean perch in the available information recently obtained ocean perch apportioned to the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. from the fishery. The Assistant incidental catch allowance in the NMFS was unable to publish a notice Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has providing time for public comment (AA), finds good cause to waive the been reached. because the most recent, relevant data requirement to provide prior notice and DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska only became available as of August 18, opportunity for public comment local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2014, 2014. pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, The AA also finds good cause to U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is 2014. waive the 30-day delay in the effective impracticable and contrary to the public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: date of this action under 5 U.S.C. interest. This requirement is Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon impracticable and contrary to the public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS the reasons provided above for waiver of interest as it would prevent NMFS from manages the groundfish fishery in the prior notice and opportunity for public responding to the most recent fisheries GOA exclusive economic zone comment. data in a timely fashion and would according to the Fishery Management This action is required by § 679.20 delay the prohibition of retention of Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of and is exempt from review under Pacific cod by catcher/processors using Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Executive Order 12866. trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Pacific Fishery Management Council Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to under authority of the Magnuson- publish a notice providing time for Dated: August 19, 2014. Stevens Fishery Conservation and public comment because the most Alan D. Risenhoover, Management Act. Regulations governing recent, relevant data only became Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance available as of August 18, 2014. National Marine Fisheries Service. with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 The AA also finds good cause to [FR Doc. 2014–19943 Filed 8–19–14; 4:15 pm] CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. waive the 30-day delay in the effective BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Regulations governing sideboard date of this action under 5 U.S.C. protections for GOA groundfish 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR the reasons provided above for waiver of DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE part 680. prior notice and opportunity for public The 2014 Pacific ocean perch TAC comment. National Oceanic and Atmospheric apportioned to the incidental catch This action is required by § 679.20 Administration allowance for Pacific ocean perch in the and is exempt from review under Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is Executive Order 12866. 50 CFR Part 679 1,200 metric tons (mt), as established by Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. the final 2014 and 2015 harvest [Docket No. 130925836–4174–02] Dated: August 19, 2014. specifications for groundfish of the GOA RIN 0648–XD450 Alan D. Risenhoover, (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic National Marine Fisheries Service. Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS Zone Off Alaska; Rex Sole in the [FR Doc. 2014–19959 Filed 8–19–14; 4:15 pm] (Regional Administrator) has Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of determined that the 2014 Pacific ocean BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Alaska perch TAC apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric requiring that catches of the incidental Commerce. Administration catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. in the Central Regulatory Area of the 50 CFR Part 679 GOA be treated as prohibited species in SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed accordance with § 679.21(b). fishing for the rex sole sideboard limit [Docket No. 130925836–4174–02] by non-exempt American Fisheries Act Classification (AFA) catcher vessels in the Central RIN 0648–XD449 This action responds to the best Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska available information recently obtained (GOA). This action is necessary because Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic the 2014 rex sole sideboard limit for Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the in the Central Regulatory Area of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has Gulf of Alaska (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and been reached. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries opportunity for public comment DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 local time (A.l.t.), August 19, 2014,

VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:40 Aug 21, 2014 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\22AUR1.SGM 22AUR1 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES