Rule2022-04659
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 4, 2022
Effective
March 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 2022, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2022. This period is the same as the 2022 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 43 (Friday, March 4, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12406-12407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04659]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220216-0049 and 220223-0054;RTID 0648-XB808]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish
Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear
managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the
Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 2022, and will close 1200
hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2022. This period is the same as the 2022
commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International
Pacific Halibut Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season is specified
by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management
measures.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 6, 2022, until 1200 hours,
A.l.t., December 7, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific
halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas
defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ
Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and
management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the
Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an
annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ
are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations.
Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the
rationale supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final
rule implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register,
November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments.
This announcement is consistent with Sec. 679.23(g)(1), which
requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under
the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and
announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season
announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the
sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the
halibut season, adopted by the
[[Page 12407]]
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The directed fishing
season for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program will
open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 6, 2022, and will close 1200 hours,
A.l.t., December 7, 2022. This period runs concurrently with the IFQ
season for Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC. The IFQ and CDQ
halibut season will be specified by a separate publication in the
Federal Register of annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR
300.62.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest,
as it would delay the opening of the sablefish fishery thereby
increasing bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish
fishery and the halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of
the management objective for simultaneous opening of these two
fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of February 28, 2022.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 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: March 1, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04659 Filed 3-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 4, 2022.
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