Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 197 / Thursday, October 11, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 51399

notifying the public. The Purse Seine baseline annual fishery quota is 632.4 In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), category fishery closes on December 31 mt ww. The total quota, after any the Regional Administrator has of each year. adjustments made per paragraph (e)(2) determined that the 2018 TAC of * * * * * of this section, is the fishing year’s total pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the (5) Harpoon category quota. The total amount of northern albacore tuna that GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, amount of large medium and giant may be landed by persons and vessels the Regional Administrator is bluefin tuna that may be caught, subject to U.S. jurisdiction. establishing a directed fishing retained, possessed, landed, or sold by * * * * * allowance of 79,838 mt and is setting vessels that possess Harpoon category [FR Doc. 2018–22034 Filed 10–10–18; 8:45 am] aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch Atlantic Tunas permits is 46 mt. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P to support other anticipated groundfish Harpoon category fishery commences on fisheries. In accordance with June 1 of each year, and closes on § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional November 15 of each year. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Administrator finds that this directed (6) Trap category quota. The total fishing allowance has been reached. National Oceanic and Atmospheric amount of large medium and giant Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Administration bluefin tuna that may be caught, directed fishing for pollock in Statistical retained, possessed, or landed by Area 620 of the GOA. vessels that possess Trap category 50 CFR Part 679 While this closure is effective the Atlantic Tunas permits is 1.2 mt. [Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] maximum retainable amounts at (7) * * * (i) The total amount of bluefin tuna RIN 0648–XG529 § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. that is held in reserve for inseason or Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic annual adjustments and research using Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Classification quota or subquotas is 29.5 mt, which Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska may be augmented by allowable This action responds to the best underharvest from the previous year, or AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries available information recently obtained annual reallocation of Purse Seine Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and from the fishery. The Assistant category quota as described under Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA paragraph (a)(4)(v) of this section. Commerce. (AA), finds good cause to waive the Consistent with paragraphs (a)(8) ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. requirement to provide prior notice and through (10) of this section, NMFS may opportunity for public comment allocate any portion of the Reserve SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 category quota for inseason or annual fishing for pollock in Statistical Area U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is adjustments to any fishing category 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This impracticable and contrary to the public quota. action is necessary to prevent exceeding interest. This requirement is (ii) The total amount of school bluefin the 2018 total allowable catch of pollock impracticable and contrary to the public tuna that is held in reserve for inseason for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA. interest as it would prevent NMFS from or annual adjustments and fishery- DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska responding to the most recent fisheries independent research is 18.5 percent local time (A.l.t.), October 6, 2018, data in a timely fashion and would (23.5 mt) of the total school bluefin tuna through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, delay the closure of directed fishing for Angling category quota as described 2018. pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the under paragraph (a)(2) of this section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a This amount is in addition to the Keaton, 907–586–7228. notice providing time for public amounts specified in paragraph (a)(7)(i) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS comment because the most recent, of this section. Consistent with manages the groundfish fishery in the relevant data only became available as paragraph (a)(8) of this section, NMFS GOA exclusive economic zone of October 4, 2018. may allocate any portion of the school according to the Fishery Management The AA also finds good cause to bluefin tuna Angling category quota Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of waive the 30-day delay in the effective held in reserve for inseason or annual Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North date of this action under 5 U.S.C. adjustments to the Angling category. Pacific Fishery Management Council 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon * * * * * under authority of the Magnuson- the reasons provided above for waiver of (10) * * * Stevens Fishery Conservation and prior notice and opportunity for public (iii) Regardless of the estimated Management Act. Regulations governing comment. landings in any year, NMFS may adjust fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance the annual school bluefin tuna quota to with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 This action is required by § 679.20 ensure compliance with the ICCAT- CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. and is exempt from review under recommended procedures for The 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) Executive Order 12866. addressing overharvest of school bluefin of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. tuna. GOA is 79,938 metric tons (mt) as Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, * * * * * established by the final 2018 and 2019 (e) * * * harvest specifications for groundfish in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable (1) Annual quota. Consistent with the GOA (83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018) Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. ICCAT recommendations and domestic and one in-season adjustment (83 FR [FR Doc. 2018–22141 Filed 10–5–18; 4:15 pm] management objectives, the total 42609, August 23, 2018). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

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