Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 15695-15696 [2015-06851]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
proposed rule and does not repeat it
here. NMFS received no comments
regarding this certification. As a result,
a regulatory flexibility analysis was not
required and none was prepared.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 665
Administrative practice and
procedure, Commercial fishing,
Fisheries, Monuments and memorials,
Pacific Remote Islands.
Dated: March 13, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part
665 as follows:
§ 665.932
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Monument means the waters and
submerged and emergent lands of the
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National
Monument and the Pacific Remote
Islands Marine National Monument
Expansion, as defined in § 665.931.
Proclamations means Presidential
Proclamation 8336 of January 6, 2009,
‘‘Establishment of the Pacific Remote
Islands Marine National Monument,’’
and Presidential Proclamation 9173 of
September 29, 2014, ‘‘Pacific Remote
Islands Marine National Monument
Expansion.’’
[FR Doc. 2015–06402 Filed 3–24–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
PART 665—FISHERIES IN THE
WESTERN PACIFIC
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR
part 665 continues to read as follows:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
■
2. Revise § 665.930 to read as follows:
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
§ 665.930
Scope and purpose.
The regulations in this subpart codify
certain provisions of the Proclamations,
and govern the administration of fishing
in the Monument.
■ 3. In § 665.931, revise paragraphs (a),
(c), and (d) to read as follows:
§ 665.931
Boundaries.
*
*
*
*
(a) Wake Island. The Wake Island unit
of the Monument includes the waters
and submerged and emergent lands
around Wake Island to the seaward limit
of the U.S. EEZ.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Jarvis Island. The Jarvis Island unit
of the Monument includes the waters
and submerged and emergent lands
around Jarvis Island to the seaward limit
of the U.S. EEZ.
(d) Johnston Atoll. The Johnston Atoll
unit of the Monument includes the
waters and submerged and emergent
lands around Johnston Atoll to the
seaward limit of the U.S. EEZ.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. In § 665.932, revise the definition of
‘‘Monument’’, remove the definition of
‘‘Proclamation’’, and add the definition
of ‘‘Proclamations’’ in alphabetical order
to read as follows:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
*
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 235001
RIN 0648–XD846
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 pollock directed fishing
allowance from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This
action is necessary to provide
opportunity for harvest of the 2015 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 25, 2015, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
15695
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 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 2015 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015).
As of March 17, 2015, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 2,554 mt of the A
season allowance of the Aleut
Corporation pollock DFA in the
Aleutian Islands subarea will not be
harvested. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 2,554 mt of A season pollock
DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea
to the 2015 Bering Sea subarea DFAs.
The 2,554 mt of the A season Aleut
Corporation pollock DFA is added to the
2015 Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA. As a
result, the 2015 harvest specifications
for pollock in the Aleutian Islands
subarea included in the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015, and 80 FR 12781, March
11, 2015) are revised as follows: 12,146
mt to the annual Aleut Corporation
pollock DFA and 7,350 mt to the A
season Aleut Corporation pollock DFA.
Furthermore, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5),
Table 4 of the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (80
FR 11919, March 5, 2015, and 80 FR
12781, March 11, 2015), is revised to
make 2015 pollock allocations
consistent with this reallocation. This
reallocation results in adjustments to
the 2015 pollock allocations established
at § 679.20(a)(5).
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 4—FINAL 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2015 A season 1
2015
Allocations
Area and sector
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................................................................
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 ...........................................................................
Total Bering Sea DFA ..............................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................
Area harvest limit 541 ......................................................................................
542 ............................................................................................................
543 ............................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 7 ......................................................................................
1,314,454
132,900
47,160
567,197
453,758
415,188
38,569
2,269
113,439
198,519
340,318
1,134,394
29,659
14,546
0
2,400
12,146
8,898
4,449
1,483
100
A season DFA
n/a
53,160
n/a
226,879
181,503
166,075
15,428
908
45,376
n/a
n/a
453,758
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
7,350
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
2015 B
season 1
B season DFA
n/a
37,212
n/a
158,815
127,052
n/a
n/a
n/a
31,763
n/a
n/a
317,630
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
79,740
n/a
340,318
272,255
249,113
23,142
1,361
68,064
n/a
n/a
680,636
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
4,796
n/a
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 (4.0 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 (2,400 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 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
8 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.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 Aleutian Island
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 235001
subarea pollock. Since the pollock
fishery is currently underway, it is
important to immediately inform the
industry as to the final Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands 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 March 17, 2015.
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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 20, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–06851 Filed 3–24–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15695-15696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06851]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XD846
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 pollock directed fishing allowance from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to
provide opportunity for harvest of the 2015 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 25, 2015,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 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 2015 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation directed
fishing allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015).
As of March 17, 2015, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 2,554 mt of the A season
allowance of the Aleut Corporation pollock DFA in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 2,554 mt of A season pollock
DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2015 Bering Sea subarea
DFAs. The 2,554 mt of the A season Aleut Corporation pollock DFA is
added to the 2015 Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA. As a result, the 2015 harvest
specifications for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015, and 80 FR 12781, March 11, 2015) are
revised as follows: 12,146 mt to the annual Aleut Corporation pollock
DFA and 7,350 mt to the A season Aleut Corporation pollock DFA.
Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final 2015
and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015, and 80 FR 12781, March
11, 2015), is revised to make 2015 pollock allocations consistent with
this reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2015
pollock allocations established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
[[Page 15696]]
Table 4--Final 2015 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 A season \1\ 2015 B season
2015 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,314,454 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 132,900 53,160 37,212 79,740
ICA \1\......................................... 47,160 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore..................................... 567,197 226,879 158,815 340,318
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 453,758 181,503 127,052 272,255
Catch by C/Ps............................... 415,188 166,075 n/a 249,113
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 38,569 15,428 n/a 23,142
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,269 908 n/a 1,361
AFA Motherships................................. 113,439 45,376 31,763 68,064
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 198,519 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 340,318 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA........................ 1,134,394 453,758 317,630 680,636
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 29,659 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 14,546 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 0 0 n/a 0
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 12,146 7,350 n/a 4,796
Area harvest limit 541.......................... 8,898 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................... 4,449 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................... 1,483 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \7\....................... 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 (4.0 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 (2,400 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\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ 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 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 Island subarea pollock. Since
the pollock fishery is currently underway, it is important to
immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands 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 March 17, 2015.
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 20, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06851 Filed 3-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
