Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 49200-49201 [2013-19611]
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2013)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 49200-49201] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-19611] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 121018563-3148-02] RIN 0648-XC803 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowance from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2013 total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 13, 2013, until 2400 hrs, December 31, 2013, Alaska local time. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (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. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2013 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 5,000 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013) and reallocation (78 FR 14932, March 8, 2013). As of August 6, 2013, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that 2,500 mt of Aleut Corporation's DFA in the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 2,500 mt of Aleut Corporation's DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2013 Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 2,500 mt of pollock is apportioned to the AFA inshore sector (50 percent), AFA catcher/processor sector (40 percent), and the AFA mothership sector (10 percent). The 2013 Bering Sea pollock incidental catch allowance remains at 33,699 mt. As a result, the harvest specifications for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013, 78 FR 14932, March 8, 2013) are revised as follows: 2,500 mt to Aleut Corporation's DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 3 of the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013, 78 FR 14932, March 8, 2013) is revised to make 2013 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2013 Aleut Corporation and AFA pollock allocations established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5). Table 3--Final 2013 and 2014 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\ [Amounts are in metric tons] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 A season \1\ 2013 B 2014 A season \1\ 2014 B -------------------------- season \1\ -------------------------- season \1\ Area and sector 2013 SCA ------------- 2014 SCA ------------ Allocations A season harvest B season Allocations A season harvest B season DFA limit \2\ DFA DFA limit \2\ DFA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bering Sea subarea.............................. 1,261,900 n/a n/a n/a 1,247,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA......................................... 126,600 50,640 35,448 75,960 124,700 49,880 34,916 74,820 ICA \1\......................................... 33,699 n/a n/a n/a 33,669 n/a n/a n/a AFA Inshore..................................... 550,801 220,320 154,224 330,480 544,316 217,726 152,408 326,589 AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 440,640 176,256 123,379 264,384 435,452 174,181 121,927 261,271 Catch by C/Ps................................... 403,186 161,274 n/a 241,912 398,439 159,376 n/a 239,063 Catch by CVs \3\................................ 37,454 14,982 n/a 22,473 37,013 14,805 n/a 22,208 Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.......................... 2,203 881 n/a 1,322 2,177 871 n/a 1,306 AFA Motherships................................. 110,160 44,064 30,845 66,096 108,863 43,545 30,482 65,318 Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 192,780 n/a n/a n/a 190,510 n/a n/a n/a Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 330,480 n/a n/a n/a 326,589 n/a n/a n/a Total Bering Sea DFA............................ 1,101,601 440,640 308,448 660,961 1,088,631 435,452 304,817 653,179 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.................... 4,100 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA......................................... 0 0 n/a 0 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 ICA............................................. 1,600 800 n/a 800 1,600 800 n/a 800 Aleut Corporation............................... 2,500 2,500 n/a 0 15,500 14,360 n/a 1,140 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 49201]] Bogoslof District ICA \7\....................... 100 n/a n/a n/a 100 n/a n/a n/a -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery. \2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1. \3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors. \4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock. \5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. \6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. \7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector. Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 reallocation of Aleutian Islands subarea pollock. Since the pollock fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to plan for the fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors; and provide opportunity to harvest increased seasonal pollock allocations while value is optimum. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 6, 2013. 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 8, 2013. James P. Burgess, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013-19611 Filed 8-12-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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