Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 60073-60074 [2015-25291]
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 60073-60074] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-25291] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XE223 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 October 5, 2015 through 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 2,320 metric tons (mt), 7,085 mt, and 16,543 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 58220, September 28, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 4,756 mt, 12,357 mt, and 10,079 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 58220, September 28, 2015). The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 568 mt of flathead sole and 210 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 778 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 568 mt of flathead sole and 210 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 778 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 58220, September 28, 2015) are further revised as follows: 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 Rock sole Yellowfin sole ------------------------------------------------ sole ---------------------------- Sector Eastern Central Western ------------- Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI District District District BSAI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAC........................................................... 8,000 7,000 9,000 17,787 67,265 157,448 CDQ........................................................... 856 749 963 1,752 6,875 17,321 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 11,035 52,390 118,962 Alaska Groundfish Cooperative................................. 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455 Alaska Seafood Cooperative.................................... 2,978 2,611 3,695 9,327 39,072 74,507 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. [[Page 60074]] 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......................................... 17,787 67,265 157,448 24,250 69,250 149,000 ABC surplus................................. 48,343 114,435 91,352 39,461 95,550 96,500 ABC reserve................................. 48,343 114,435 91,352 39,461 95,550 96,500 CDQ ABC reserve............................. 5,324 12,567 9,301 4,222 10,224 10,326 Amendment 80 ABC reserve.................... 43,019 101,868 82,051 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\..... 39,183 77,028 46,643 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 24, 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 30, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-25291 Filed 10-2-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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