Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 55562-55563 [2015-23276]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
overharvest or underharvest of the
common pool quotas. On June 15, 2015,
we adjusted the possession and trip
limit for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod to
zero for the remainder of the fishing
year, out of an abundance of caution, to
reduce the effort that had been directed
on cod, to prevent the common pool
from exceeding its Trimester 1 quota for
the stock, and to avoid triggering the
closure of portions of the Gulf of Maine,
which is mandatory if 90 percent of the
trimester quota is reached. Although the
zero possession limit was set for the
remainder of the fishing year, this does
not prevent the RA from subsequently
increasing it to prevent underharvest of
the stock.
As of August 25, 2015, the common
pool had caught approximately 31
percent of its sub-annual catch limit
(ACL) of GOM cod. To allow the
common pool fishery to catch more of
its quota for this stock, effective
September 16, 2015, the trip limit of
GOM cod for all common pool vessels
is increased from 0 lb per trip, to 25 lb
(11.3 kg) per trip. Allowing landings of
incidentally caught GOM cod up to 25
lb (11.3 kg) is projected to prevent
overharvest while reducing discards.
Weekly quota monitoring reports for
the common pool fishery can be found
on our Web site at: https://
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will
continue to monitor common pool catch
through vessel trip reports, dealerreported landings, vessel monitoring
system catch reports, and other
available information and, if necessary,
we will make additional adjustments to
common pool management measures.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
and the 30-day delayed effectiveness
period because it would be
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest.
The regulations at § 648.86(o)
authorize the RA to adjust the Northeast
multispecies possession and trip limits
for common pool vessels in order to
prevent the overharvest or underharvest
of the pertinent common pool sub-
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:48 Sep 15, 2015
Jkt 235001
ACLs. The catch data used to justify
increasing the possession and trip limit
for GOM cod only recently became
available. The possession and trip limit
increase implemented through this
action allows for increased harvest of
GOM cod, to help ensure that the
fishery may achieve the optimum yield
(OY) for this stock. As a result, the time
necessary to provide for prior notice and
comment, and a 30-day delay in
effectiveness, would prevent us from
increasing the possession and trip limit
for GOM cod in a timely manner, which
could prevent the fishery from
achieving the OY. This would
undermine management objectives of
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan and cause
unnecessary negative economic impacts
to the common pool fishery. There is
additional good cause to waive the
delayed effective period because this
action relieves restrictions on fishing
vessels by increasing a trip limit.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–23277 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
RIN 0648–XE183
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is exchanging unused
Community Development Quota (CDQ)
for CDQ acceptable biological catch
(ABC) reserves. This action is necessary
to allow the 2015 total allowable catch
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Islands management area to be
harvested.
Effective September 16, 2015
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI) according to
the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in
the BSAI are 2,420 metric tons (mt),
7,535 mt, and 15,993 mt as established
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and
following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2,
2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1,
2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
are 4,656 mt, 11,907 mt, and 10,629 mt
as established by the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015) and following revisions
(80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR
52673, September 1, 2015).
The Aleutian Pribilof Islands
Community Development Association
has requested that NMFS exchange 100
mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock
sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of
yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under
§ 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 100
mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock
sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of
yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves in the
BSAI. This action also decreases and
increases the TACs and CDQ ABC
reserves by the corresponding amounts.
Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
March 5, 2015) and following revisions
(80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR
52673, September 1, 2015) are further
revised as follows:
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
55563
TABLE 11—FINAL 2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern Aleutian district
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ...............
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...................
Central Aleutian district
8,000
856
100
704
6,340
3,362
2,978
Flathead sole
Western Aleutian district
7,000
749
75
618
5,558
2,947
2,611
9,000
963
10
161
7,866
4,171
3,695
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
23,975
2,320
5,000
0
16,655
1,708
14,947
68,925
7,085
8,000
0
53,840
13,318
40,522
149,600
16,543
5,000
16,165
111,892
44,455
67,437
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 13—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 ABC SURPLUS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC RESERVES, AND
AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2015 flathead
sole
Sector
2015 rock sole
2015 yellowfin
sole
2016 flathead
sole
2016 rock sole
2016 yellowfin
sole
66,130
23,975
42,155
42,155
4,756
37,399
181,700
68,925
112,775
112,775
12,357
100,418
248,800
149,600
99,200
99,200
10,079
89,121
63,711
24,250
39,461
39,461
4,222
35,239
164,800
69,250
95,550
95,550
10,224
85,326
245,500
149,000
96,500
96,500
10,326
86,175
3,836
33,563
24,840
75,578
35,408
53,713
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
ABC ..........................................................
TAC ..........................................................
ABC surplus .............................................
ABC reserve .............................................
CDQ ABC reserve ...................................
Amendment 80 ABC reserve ...................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for
2015 1 ...................................................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 1 ..
1 The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015.
Classification
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 flatfish exchange by the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:48 Sep 15, 2015
Jkt 235001
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community
Development Association in the BSAI.
Since these fisheries are currently open,
it is important to immediately inform
the industry as to the revised
allocations. Immediate notification is
necessary to allow for the orderly
conduct and efficient operation of this
fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season, and to avoid
potential 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 September 8, 2015.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
PO 00000
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Sfmt 9990
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: September 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–23276 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\16SER1.SGM
16SER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55562-55563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23276]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE183
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of
Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ)
for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is
necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area to be harvested.
DATES: Effective September 16, 2015 through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) according to the
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part
600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves
specified in the BSAI are 2,420 metric tons (mt), 7,535 mt, and 15,993
mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following
revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1,
2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC
reserves are 4,656 mt, 11,907 mt, and 10,629 mt as established by the
final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July
2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015).
The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association has
requested that NMFS exchange 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock
sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under
Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS
exchanges 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves
for 550 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action
also decreases and increases the TACs and CDQ ABC reserves by the
corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March
5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR
52673, September 1, 2015) are further revised as follows:
[[Page 55563]]
Table 11--Final 2015 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Tacs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
district district district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 8,000 7,000 9,000 23,975 68,925 149,600
CDQ..................................................... 856 749 963 2,320 7,085 16,543
ICA..................................................... 100 75 10 5,000 8,000 5,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 704 618 161 0 0 16,165
Amendment 80............................................ 6,340 5,558 7,866 16,655 53,840 111,892
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........................... 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.............................. 2,978 2,611 3,695 14,947 40,522 67,437
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 13--Final 2015 and 2016 ABC Surplus, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole,
Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 flathead 2015 yellowfin 2016 flathead 2016 yellowfin
Sector sole 2015 rock sole sole sole 2016 rock sole sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 66,130 181,700 248,800 63,711 164,800 245,500
TAC..................................................... 23,975 68,925 149,600 24,250 69,250 149,000
ABC surplus............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500
ABC reserve............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 4,756 12,357 10,079 4,222 10,224 10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 37,399 100,418 89,121 35,239 85,326 86,175
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2015 \1\.............. 3,836 24,840 35,408 n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 \1\................. 33,563 75,578 53,713 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015.
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 flatfish exchange by the Aleutian Pribilof Islands
Community Development Association in the BSAI. Since these fisheries
are currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry
as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to
allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery,
to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid
potential 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
September 8, 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: September 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23276 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
