Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2014 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments, 68805-68806 [2014-27408]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 223 / Wednesday, November 19, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
The third alternative would set the
king mackerel trip limit in the Florida
east coast subzone at 75 fish for the
entire fishing season. This alternative
was not adopted because it would likely
increase the king mackerel harvest prior
to the Lenten season, reduce landings of
king mackerel and associated revenues
when demand is high during the Lenten
season, and result in earlier closure,
potentially even before the period of
heightened demand.
Finally, this rule also removes
language in the codified text regarding
prevention of gear conflicts between
hook-and-line and gillnet vessels in the
South Atlantic EEZ. This change
corrects an inadvertent error in the text,
as discussed in the preamble. The
regulation contained in § 622.387 was
necessary before separate quotas, trip
limits, and gillnet permits were
implemented for the harvest of king
mackerel off Florida. Since
implementation of those management
measures, the impact and relevance of
§ 622.387 have been zero. Consequently,
its removal would have no impact on
small businesses.
Section 212 of the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996 states that, for each rule or group
of related rules for which an agency is
required to prepare a FRFA, the agency
shall publish one or more guides to
assist small entities in complying with
the rule, and shall designate such
publications as small entity compliance
guides. As part of the rulemaking
process, NMFS prepared a fishery
bulletin, which also serves as a small
entity compliance guide. The fishery
bulletin will be sent to all CMP vessel
permit holders in the Atlantic region.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622
Fisheries, Fishing, Gillnet, Mackerel,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, South Atlantic, Trip
limits.
Dated: November 12, 2014,
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended
as follows:
PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE
CARIBBEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND
SOUTH ATLANTIC
1. The authority citation for part 622
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
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14:12 Nov 18, 2014
Jkt 235001
2. In § 622.377, paragraph (b)(2)(iii) is
revised and paragraph (b)(2)(vi) is added
to read as follows:
■
§ 622.377
Gillnet restrictions.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(2) * * *
(iii) No more than two gillnets,
including any net in use, may be
possessed at any one time, except for a
vessel with a valid commercial vessel
permit for Spanish mackerel engaged in
a transfer as specified in paragraph
(b)(2)(vi) of this section. If two gillnets,
including any net in use, are possessed
at any one time, they must have
stretched mesh sizes (as allowed under
the regulations) that differ by at least .25
inch (.64 cm), except for a vessel with
a valid commercial vessel permit for
Spanish mackerel engaged in a transfer
as specified in paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of
this section, in which case the vessel
may possess two gillnets of the same
mesh size provided that one of the nets
is transferred to that vessel.
*
*
*
*
*
(vi) A portion of a gillnet may be
transferred at sea only in the EEZ and
only from a vessel with a valid
commercial vessel permit for Spanish
mackerel that has exceeded a trip limit
specified in § 622.385 (b) to another
vessel with a valid commercial vessel
permit for Spanish mackerel that has
not yet reached the trip limit (the
receiving vessel). Only one such transfer
is allowed per vessel per day. In
addition, to complete a legal transfer at
sea, all of the following must apply:
(A) All fish exceeding the applicable
commercial trip limit may not be
removed from the gillnet until the
transfer is complete (i.e., the gillnet is
onboard the receiving vessel). The fish
transferred to the receiving vessel may
not exceed the applicable commercial
trip limit.
(B) The receiving vessel may possess
no more than three gillnets on board
after the transfer is complete.
(C) Prior to cutting the gillnet and
prior to any transfer of Spanish
mackerel from one vessel to another, the
owner or operator of both vessels must
contact NMFS Office for Law
Enforcement, Port Orange, Florida,
phone: 1–386–492–6686.
3. In § 622.385, the third sentence in
the introductory text and paragraph
(a)(2)(i) are revised to read as follows:
■
§ 622.385
Commercial trip limits.
* * * Except for Atlantic migratory
group Spanish mackerel harvested by
gillnet, as specified in
§ 622.377(b)(2)(vi), a species subject to a
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
68805
trip limit specified in this section taken
in the EEZ may not be transferred at sea,
regardless of where such transfer takes
place, and such species may not be
transferred in the EEZ. * * *
*
*
*
*
*
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) Eastern zone—Florida east coast
subzone. In the Florida east coast
subzone, king mackerel in or from the
EEZ may be possessed on board at any
time or landed in a day from a vessel
with a commercial permit for king
mackerel as required under
§ 622.370(a)(1) as follows:
(A) From November 1 through the end
of February—not to exceed 50 fish.
(B) Beginning on March 1 and
continuing through March 31—
(1) If 70 percent or more of the Florida
east coast subzone quota as specified in
§ 622.384(b)(1)(i)(A) has been taken—
not to exceed 50 fish.
(2) If less than 70 percent of the
Florida east coast subzone quota as
specified in § 622.384(b)(1)(i)(A) has
been taken—not to exceed 75 fish.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 622.387
■
[Removed and Reserved]
4. Remove and reserve § 622.387.
[FR Doc. 2014–27280 Filed 11–18–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 130925836–4174–02]
RIN 0648–XD627
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment
to the 2014 Gulf of Alaska Pollock
Seasonal Apportionments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
adjustment.
AGENCY:
NMFS is adjusting the 2014
seasonal apportionments of the total
allowable catch (TAC) in the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA) by re-apportioning
unharvested pollock TAC from
Statistical Areas 610 to Statistical Areas
620 and 630 of the GOA. This action is
necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2014 pollock TAC,
consistent with the goals and objectives
of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
SUMMARY:
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68806
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 223 / Wednesday, November 19, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), November 14, 2014,
until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31,
2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (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.
The annual pollock TACs in
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of
the GOA are apportioned among four
seasons, in accordance with
§ 679.23(d)(2). Regulations at
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the
underharvest of a seasonal
apportionment to be added to
subsequent seasonal apportionments,
provided that any revised seasonal
apportionment does not exceed 20
percent of the seasonal apportionment
for a given statistical area. Therefore,
NMFS is increasing the D season
apportionment of pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA to reflect the
underharvest of pollock in that area
during the A, B, and C seasons. In
addition, any underharvest remaining
beyond 20 percent of the originally
specified seasonal apportionment in a
particular area may be further
apportioned to other statistical areas.
Therefore, NMFS also is increasing the
D season apportionments of pollock to
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 based on
the underharvest of pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. These
adjustments are described below.
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:12 Nov 18, 2014
Jkt 235001
The D season apportionment of the
2014 total allowable catch (TAC) of
pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the
GOA is 13,235 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014).
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), hereby
increases the D season apportionment
for Statistical Area 610 by 2,647 mt to
account for the underharvest of the TAC
in Statistical Area 610 in the C season.
Therefore, the revised D season
apportionment of the pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 610 is 15,882 mt (13,235
mt plus 2,647 mt).
The pollock D season apportionment
in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is
12,448 mt as established by the final
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890,
March 6, 2014). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional
Administrator hereby increases the D
season apportionment for Statistical
Area 620 by 2,490 mt to account for the
underharvest of the TAC in Statistical
Area 610. This increase is in proportion
to the estimated pollock biomass and is
not greater than 20 percent of the
seasonal TAC apportionment in
Statistical Area 620. Therefore, the
revised D season apportionment of the
pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 is
14,938 mt (12,448 mt plus 2,490 mt).
The pollock D season apportionment
in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is
13,720 mt as established by the final
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890,
March 6, 2014). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional
Administrator hereby increases the D
season apportionment for Statistical
Area 630 by 2,696 mt to reflect the total
underharvest of the TAC in Statistical
Area 610. This increase is in proportion
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Sfmt 9990
to the estimated pollock biomass and is
not greater than 20 percent of the
seasonal TAC apportionment in
Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the
revised D season apportionment of
pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is
16,416 mt (13,720 mt plus 2,696 mt).
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
provide opportunity to harvest
increased pollock seasonal
apportionments. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of November 13, 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: November 14, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–27408 Filed 11–14–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\19NOR1.SGM
19NOR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68805-68806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27408]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 130925836-4174-02]
RIN 0648-XD627
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2014 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2014 seasonal apportionments of the
total allowable catch (TAC) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by re-
apportioning unharvested pollock TAC from Statistical Areas 610 to
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 of the GOA. This action is necessary to
provide opportunity for harvest of the 2014 pollock TAC, consistent
with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
[[Page 68806]]
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 14,
2014, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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.
The annual pollock TACs in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of
the GOA are apportioned among four seasons, in accordance with Sec.
679.23(d)(2). Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the
underharvest of a seasonal apportionment to be added to subsequent
seasonal apportionments, provided that any revised seasonal
apportionment does not exceed 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment
for a given statistical area. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the D
season apportionment of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA to
reflect the underharvest of pollock in that area during the A, B, and C
seasons. In addition, any underharvest remaining beyond 20 percent of
the originally specified seasonal apportionment in a particular area
may be further apportioned to other statistical areas. Therefore, NMFS
also is increasing the D season apportionments of pollock to
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 based on the underharvest of pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. These adjustments are described below.
The D season apportionment of the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC)
of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 13,235 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications
for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). In accordance
with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), hereby increases the D season apportionment
for Statistical Area 610 by 2,647 mt to account for the underharvest of
the TAC in Statistical Area 610 in the C season. Therefore, the revised
D season apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is
15,882 mt (13,235 mt plus 2,647 mt).
The pollock D season apportionment in Statistical Area 620 of the
GOA is 12,448 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional
Administrator hereby increases the D season apportionment for
Statistical Area 620 by 2,490 mt to account for the underharvest of the
TAC in Statistical Area 610. This increase is in proportion to the
estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20 percent of the
seasonal TAC apportionment in Statistical Area 620. Therefore, the
revised D season apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area
620 is 14,938 mt (12,448 mt plus 2,490 mt).
The pollock D season apportionment in Statistical Area 630 of the
GOA is 13,720 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional
Administrator hereby increases the D season apportionment for
Statistical Area 630 by 2,696 mt to reflect the total underharvest of
the TAC in Statistical Area 610. This increase is in proportion to the
estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20 percent of the
seasonal TAC apportionment in Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the
revised D season apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630
is 16,416 mt (13,720 mt plus 2,696 mt).
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 provide opportunity to harvest increased pollock seasonal
apportionments. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of November 13, 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: November 14, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-27408 Filed 11-14-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
