Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 12958-12959 [2014-04992]
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12958
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
thereby requiring a quota transfer to
account for an increase in Virginia’s
landings that would have otherwise
accrued against the North Carolina
quota. The Regional Administrator has
determined that the criteria set forth in
§ 648.102(c)(2)(i) have been met. The
revised summer flounder commercial
quotas for calendar year 2014 are: North
Carolina, 2,993,041 lb (1,357,621 kg);
and Virginia, 2,560,571 lb (1,161,455
kg).
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 121009528–2729–02]
RIN 0648–XD116
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Summer Flounder Fishery;
Quota Transfer
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces that the
State of North Carolina is transferring a
portion of its 2014 commercial summer
flounder quota to the Commonwealth of
Virginia. NMFS is adjusting the quotas
and announcing the revised commercial
quota for each state involved.
DATES: Effective March 4, 2014, through
December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carly Bari, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9224.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the summer
flounder fishery are in 50 CFR part 648,
and require annual specification of a
commercial quota that is apportioned
among the coastal states from North
Carolina through Maine. The process to
set the annual commercial quota and the
percent allocated to each state are
described in § 648.102.
The final rule implementing
Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder,
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery
Management Plan, which was published
on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936),
provided a mechanism for summer
flounder quota to be transferred from
one state to another. Two or more states,
under mutual agreement and with the
concurrence of the Administrator,
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), can transfer or
combine summer flounder commercial
quota under § 648.102(c)(2). The
Regional Administrator is required to
consider the criteria in § 648.102(c)(2)(i)
to evaluate requests for quota transfers
or combinations.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer
132,788 lb (60,232 kg) of its 2014
commercial quota to Virginia. This
transfer was prompted by summer
flounder landings of a number of North
Carolina vessels that were granted safe
harbor in Virginia due to mechanical
failure and hazardous weather between
January 1, 2014, and January 31, 2014,
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:29 Mar 06, 2014
Jkt 232001
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 4, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–04993 Filed 3–4–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878–4158–02]
RIN 0648–XD160
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of Pacific cod
from vessels using jig gear to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters)
length overall using hook-and-line or
pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area. This action is
necessary to allow the A season
apportionment of the 2014 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be
harvested.
SUMMARY:
Effective March 4, 2014, through
2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(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.
The A season apportionment of the
2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch
(TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear
in the BSAI is 1,905 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
The Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
determined that jig vessels will not be
able to harvest 1,700 mt of the A season
apportionment of the 2014 Pacific cod
TAC allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C),
NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of Pacific
cod from the A season jig gear
apportionment to the annual amount
specified for catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 meters(m)) length overall
(LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod included in the final 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) are
revised as follows: 205 mt to the A
season apportionment and 1,474 mt to
the annual amount for vessels using jig
gear, and 6,218 mt to catcher vessels
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line or pot gear.
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 reallocation of Pacific cod
specified from jig vessels to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since
the fishery is currently open, it is
important to immediately inform the
industry as to the revised allocations.
Immediate notification is necessary to
allow for the orderly conduct and
efficient operation of this fishery, to
allow the industry to plan for the fishing
season, and to avoid potential
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
processors. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of March 3, 2014.
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: March 4, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–04992 Filed 3–4–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 120918468–3111–02]
RIN 0648–XD157
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher/Processors Using Hook-andLine Gear in the Western Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/
processors using hook-and-line gear in
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf
of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the A
season allowance of the 2014 Pacific
cod total allowable catch apportioned to
catcher/processors using hook-and-line
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2014,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10,
2014.
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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15:29 Mar 06, 2014
Jkt 232001
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 680.
The A season allowance of the 2014
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to catcher/processors using
hook-and-line gear in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,436
metric tons (mt), as established by the
final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013) and
inseason adjustment (79 FR 601, January
6, 2014).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2014 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to catcher/processors using
hook-and-line gear in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon
be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 2,406 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 30 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher/processors using hook-and-line
gear 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 catcher/processors using
hook-and-line gear in the Western
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
12959
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 March 3, 2014.
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: March 4, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–04994 Filed 3–4–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878–4158–02]
RIN 0648–XD158
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation’s pollock directed fishing
allowance and the Community
Development Quota from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea directed fisheries. These actions
are necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2014 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.), March 7, 2014, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269.
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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\07MRR1.SGM
07MRR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12958-12959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04992]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD160
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is
necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2014 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective March 4, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) 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 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.
The A season apportionment of the 2014 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,905
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,700 mt of
the A season apportionment of the 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 1,700 mt of
Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual
amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters(m))
length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final
2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108,
March 4, 2014) are revised as follows: 205 mt to the A season
apportionment and 1,474 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig
gear, and 6,218 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from jig vessels
to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to
immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations.
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct
and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan
for the fishing season, and to avoid potential
[[Page 12959]]
disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of March 3, 2014.
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: March 4, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-04992 Filed 3-4-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
