Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 51961-51962 [2015-21144]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES
BFT. General, HMS Charter/Headboat,
Harpoon, and Angling category vessel
owners are required to report the catch
of all BFT retained or discarded dead,
within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end
of each trip, by accessing
hmspermits.noaa.gov. Depending on the
level of fishing effort and catch rates of
BFT, NMFS may determine that
additional retention limit adjustment or
closure is necessary to ensure available
quota is not exceeded or to enhance
scientific data collection from, and
fishing opportunities in, all geographic
areas.
Closures or subsequent adjustments to
the daily retention limits, if any, will be
published in the Federal Register. In
addition, fishermen may call the
Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978)
281–9260, or access
hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on
quota monitoring and inseason
adjustments.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for
NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable
and contrary to the public interest to
provide prior notice of, and an
opportunity for public comment on, this
action for the following reasons.
The regulations implementing the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, as
amended, provide for inseason retention
limit adjustments to respond to the
unpredictable nature of BFT availability
on the fishing grounds, the migratory
nature of this species, and the regional
variations in the BFT fishery. Based on
available BFT quotas, fishery
performance in recent years, the
availability of BFT on the fishing
grounds, among other considerations,
adjustment to the General category BFT
daily retention limit from the default
level is warranted. Analysis of available
data shows that adjustment to the BFT
daily retention limit from the default
level would result in minimal risks of
exceeding the ICCAT-allocated quota.
NMFS provides notification of retention
limit adjustments by publishing the
notice in the Federal Register, emailing
individuals who have subscribed to the
Atlantic HMS News electronic
newsletter, and updating the
information posted on the Atlantic
Tunas Information Line and on
hmspermits.noaa.gov.
Delays in increasing these retention
limits would adversely affect those
General and Charter/Headboat category
vessels that would otherwise have an
opportunity to harvest more than the
default retention limit of one BFT per
day/trip and may exacerbate the
problem of low catch rates and quota
rollovers. Limited opportunities to
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14:03 Aug 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
harvest the respective quotas may have
negative social and economic impacts
for U.S. fishermen that depend upon
catching the available quota within the
time periods designated in the 2006
Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended.
Adjustment of the retention limit needs
to be effective September 1, 2015, or as
soon as possible thereafter, to minimize
any unnecessary disruption in fishing
patterns, to allow the impacted sectors
to benefit from the adjustment, and to
not preclude fishing opportunities for
fishermen in geographic areas with
access to the fishery only during this
time period. Therefore, the AA finds
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to
waive prior notice and the opportunity
for public comment. For these reasons,
there is good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(d) to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness.
This action is being taken under
§ 635.23(a)(4) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801
et seq.
Dated: August 24, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21251 Filed 8–24–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
RIN 0648–XE143
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 from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the Bering Sea subarea
directed fisheries. 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.
SUMMARY:
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51961
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), August 27, 2015, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
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 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’s directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 12,146 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015), and through
reallocation (80 FR 15695, March 25,
2015).
As of August 19, 2015, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 10,000 metric tons (mt)
of Aleut Corporation’s DFA will not be
harvested. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 10,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the 2015 Bering Sea
subarea allocations. The 10,000 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 2015 Bering Sea pollock
incidental catch allowance remains at
47,160 mt. As a result, the 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
revised (80 FR 15695, March 25, 2015),
are further revised as follows: 2,146 mt
to Aleut Corporation’s DFA.
Furthermore, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5),
Table 4 of the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015),
and revised (80 FR 15695, March 25,
2015), is further revised as follows to
make 2015 pollock allocations
consistent with this reallocation. This
reallocation results in an adjustment to
the 2015 Aleut Corporation allocation
established at § 679.20(a)(5).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 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 ......................................................................................
A season DFA
2015 B
season 1
SCA harvest
limit 2
B season DFA
1,324,454
132,900
47,160
572,197
457,758
418,848
38,909
2,289
114,439
200,269
343,318
1,144,394
29,659
4,546
0
2,400
2,146
n/a
53,160
n/a
228,879
183,103
167,539
15,564
916
45,776
n/a
n/a
457,758
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
2,146
n/a
37,212
n/a
160,215
128,172
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,043
n/a
n/a
320,430
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
79,740
n/a
343,318
274,655
251,309
23,346
1,373
68,664
n/a
n/a
686,636
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
0
8,898
4,449
1,483
100
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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.
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD 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 AI pollock.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:03 Aug 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
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 19, 2015.
PO 00000
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Sfmt 9990
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: August 21, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21144 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51961-51962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21144]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE143
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 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.), August 27, 2015,
until 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's
directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 12,146 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015), and through
reallocation (80 FR 15695, March 25, 2015).
As of August 19, 2015, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 10,000 metric tons (mt) of
Aleut Corporation's DFA will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance
with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 10,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2015 Bering
Sea subarea allocations. The 10,000 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 2015 Bering
Sea pollock incidental catch allowance remains at 47,160 mt. As a
result, the 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 revised (80 FR
15695, March 25, 2015), are further revised as follows: 2,146 mt to
Aleut Corporation's DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5),
Table 4 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015), and revised (80 FR
15695, March 25, 2015), is further revised as follows to make 2015
pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This
reallocation results in an adjustment to the 2015 Aleut Corporation
allocation established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
[[Page 51962]]
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\...................... 1,324,454 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..................................... 572,197 228,879 160,215 343,318
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 457,758 183,103 128,172 274,655
Catch by C/Ps............................... 418,848 167,539 n/a 251,309
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 38,909 15,564 n/a 23,346
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,289 916 n/a 1,373
AFA Motherships................................. 114,439 45,776 32,043 68,664
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 200,269 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 343,318 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA............................ 1,144,394 457,758 320,430 686,636
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 29,659 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 4,546 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 0 0 n/a 0
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 2,146 2,146 n/a 0
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 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 August 19, 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: August 21, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21144 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
