Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 12959-12961 [2014-04995]
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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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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
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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:
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2014 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation’s directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 15,500 metric tons
(mt) and the Community Development
Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established
by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
As of March 4, 2014, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 7,750 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 7,750 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the 2014 Bering Sea subarea
allocations. The 1,900 mt of pollock
CDQ is added to the 2014 Bering Sea
CDQ DFA. The remaining 7,750 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 2014 pollock incidental
catch allowance remains at 38,770 mt.
As a result, the harvest specifications for
pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea
included in the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014)
are revised as follows: 7,350 mt to Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 0 mt to CDQ
pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5), Table 3 of the final 2014
and 2015 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108,
March 4, 2014) is revised to make 2014
pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in
adjustments to the 2013 Aleut
Corporation and CDQ pollock
allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 3—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE
CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014 A season 1
Area and sector
2014 B
season 1
SCA
harvest
limit 2
A season
DFA
B season
DFA
2015 A season 1
2015
Allocations
A season
DFA
2015 B
season 1
SCA
harvest
limit 2
B season
DFA
1,276,650
128,600
38,770
554,640
n/a
51,440
n/a
221,856
n/a
36,008
n/a
155,299
n/a
77,160
n/a
332,784
1,258,000
125,800
38,495
546,853
n/a
50,320
n/a
218,741
n/a
35,224
n/a
153,119
n/a
75,480
n/a
328,112
443,712
405,996
37,716
2,219
110,928
177,485
162,399
15,086
887
44,371
124,239
n/a
n/a
n/a
31,060
266,227
243,598
22,629
1,331
66,557
437,482
400,296
37,186
2,187
109,371
174,993
160,118
14,874
875
43,748
122,495
n/a
n/a
n/a
30,624
262,489
240,178
22,312
1,312
65,622
194,124
n/a
n/a
n/a
191,398
n/a
n/a
n/a
332,784
n/a
n/a
n/a
328,112
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total Bering Sea
DFA ...............
1,109,280
443,712
310,598
665,568
1,093,705
437,482
306,237
656,223
Aleutian Islands subarea 1 ....................
CDQ DFA .................
ICA ...........................
Aleut Corporation .....
9,350
0
2,000
7,350
n/a
0
1,000
7,350
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1,000
0
19,000
1,900
2,000
15,100
n/a
760
1,000
14,005
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,000
1,095
Bogoslof District
ICA 7 .....................
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
Bering Sea subarea
CDQ DFA .................
ICA 1 .........................
AFA Inshore .............
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 .................
Catch by C/Ps ..........
Catch by CVs 3 .........
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ..
AFA Motherships .....
Excessive Harvesting
Limit 5 ....................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ........
2014
Allocations
75
n/a
n/a
n/a
75
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.4 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 § 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 (2,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed 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 pollock directed 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.
3 Pursuant to § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 45 / Friday, March 7, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Classification
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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 AI 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 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.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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. 2014–04995 Filed 3–4–14; 4:15 pm]
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:29 Mar 06, 2014
Jkt 232001
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737–2141–02 and
1112113751–2102–02]
RIN 0648–XD159
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed
Under the Individual Fishing Quota
Program
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.
AGENCY:
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
8, 2014, and will close 1200 hours,
A.l.t., November 7, 2014. This period is
the same as the 2014 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 8, 2014, until 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
November 7, 2014.
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
§ 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the
SUMMARY:
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12961
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
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 8,
2014, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
November 7, 2014. This period runs
concurrently with the IFQ season for
Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC.
The IFQ halibut season will be specified
by a separate publication in the Federal
Register of annual management
measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62.
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 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 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 § 679.23
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\07MRR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12959-12961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04995]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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 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
[[Page 12960]]
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 2014 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's
directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 15,500 metric tons (mt) and the
Community Development Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established by the
final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
As of March 4, 2014, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 7,750 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 7,750 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the 2014 Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ is added to the 2014 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The remaining
7,750 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 2014 pollock incidental catch
allowance remains at 38,770 mt. As a result, the harvest specifications
for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in the final 2014
and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR
12108, March 4, 2014) are revised as follows: 7,350 mt to Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 0 mt to CDQ pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 3 of the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014)
is revised to make 2014 pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2013
Aleut Corporation and CDQ pollock allocations established at Sec.
679.20(a)(5).
Table 3--Final 2014 and 2015 Allocations of Pollock Tacs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 A season \1\ 2014 B 2015 A season \1\ 2015 B
-------------------------- season \1\ -------------------------- season \1\
Area and sector 2014 SCA ------------- 2015 SCA ------------
Allocations A season harvest B season Allocations A season harvest B season
DFA limit \2\ DFA DFA limit \2\ DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea........................ 1,276,650 n/a n/a n/a 1,258,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................... 128,600 51,440 36,008 77,160 125,800 50,320 35,224 75,480
ICA \1\................................... 38,770 n/a n/a n/a 38,495 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore............................... 554,640 221,856 155,299 332,784 546,853 218,741 153,119 328,112
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\................ 443,712 177,485 124,239 266,227 437,482 174,993 122,495 262,489
Catch by C/Ps............................. 405,996 162,399 n/a 243,598 400,296 160,118 n/a 240,178
Catch by CVs \3\.......................... 37,716 15,086 n/a 22,629 37,186 14,874 n/a 22,312
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.................... 2,219 887 n/a 1,331 2,187 875 n/a 1,312
AFA Motherships........................... 110,928 44,371 31,060 66,557 109,371 43,748 30,624 65,622
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\............ 194,124 n/a n/a n/a 191,398 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\............ 332,784 n/a n/a n/a 328,112 n/a n/a n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea DFA.................. 1,109,280 443,712 310,598 665,568 1,093,705 437,482 306,237 656,223
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.............. 9,350 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....................................... 2,000 1,000 n/a 1,000 2,000 1,000 n/a 1,000
Aleut Corporation......................... 7,350 7,350 n/a 0 15,100 14,005 n/a 1,095
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA \7\................. 75 n/a n/a n/a 75 n/a n/a n/a
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\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.4 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 (2,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed 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 pollock directed 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.
\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.
[[Page 12961]]
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 AI 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 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. 2014-04995 Filed 3-4-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
