Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 66839-66840 [2015-27694]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area to be harvested.
DATES: Effective October 30, 2015
through December 31, 2015.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02]
RIN 0648–XE274
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 rock sole and yellowfin sole in the
SUMMARY:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
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 rock sole and yellowfin sole
CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are
6,875 metric tons (mt) and 17,321 mt as
established by the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
66839
and following revisions (80 FR 65663,
October 27, 2015). The 2015 rock sole,
and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
are 12,567 mt and 9,301 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 65663,
October 27, 2015).
The Bristol Bay Economic
Development Corporation has requested
that NMFS exchange 600 mt of rock sole
CDQ reserves for 600 mt of yellowfin
sole CDQ ABC reserves under
§ 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 600
mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 600 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 65663, October 27, 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
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
17,187
1,752
5,000
0
10,435
1,708
8,727
65,315
6,275
8,000
0
51,040
13,318
37,722
159,998
17,921
5,000
16,165
120,912
44,455
76,457
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
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
Sector
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 ..
2015 Rock
sole
2015 Yellowfin
sole
2016 Flathead
sole
2016 Rock
sole
2016 Yellowfin
sole
66,130
17,187
48,943
48,943
5,324
43,619
181,700
65,315
116,385
116,385
13,167
103,218
248,800
159,998
88,802
88,802
8,701
80,101
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
39,783
24,840
78,378
35,408
44,693
n/a
n/a
n/a
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:35 Oct 29, 2015
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66840
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
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
14:41 Oct 29, 2015
Jkt 238001
Bristol Bay Economic Development
Corporation 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 October 20, 2015.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4700
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: October 27, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–27694 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\30OCR1.SGM
30OCR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66839-66840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27694]
[[Page 66839]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE274
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 rock sole and
yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
to be harvested.
DATES: Effective October 30, 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 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the
BSAI are 6,875 metric tons (mt) and 17,321 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 65663,
October 27, 2015). The 2015 rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC
reserves are 12,567 mt and 9,301 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 65663, October 27,
2015).
The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation has requested that
NMFS exchange 600 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 600 mt of yellowfin
sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance
with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 600 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves
for 600 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 65663, October 27, 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 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 17,187 65,315 159,998
CDQ..................................................... 856 749 963 1,752 6,275 17,921
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 10,435 51,040 120,912
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........................... 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.............................. 2,978 2,611 3,695 8,727 37,722 76,457
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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..................................................... 17,187 65,315 159,998 24,250 69,250 149,000
ABC surplus............................................. 48,943 116,385 88,802 39,461 95,550 96,500
ABC reserve............................................. 48,943 116,385 88,802 39,461 95,550 96,500
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,324 13,167 8,701 4,222 10,224 10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 43,619 103,218 80,101 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\................. 39,783 78,378 44,693 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.
[[Page 66840]]
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 Bristol Bay Economic
Development Corporation 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
October 20, 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: October 27, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27694 Filed 10-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P