Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 16097-16098 [2016-06832]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 58 / Friday, March 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
incidental catch in directed fishing for
other species. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod in the
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
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 directed fishing closure of
non-CDQ Pacific cod in the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the
most recent, relevant data only became
available as of March 21, 2016.
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 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–06831 Filed 3–22–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XE518
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 and the Community
Development Quota from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea directed fisheries. These actions
are necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2016 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, 2016, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
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 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.
SUMMARY:
16097
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2016 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation’s directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons
(mt) and the Community Development
Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established
by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016).
As of March 18, 2016, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea
allocations. The 1,900 mt of pollock
CDQ is added to the 2016 Bering Sea
CDQ DFA. The remaining 5,000 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 2016 pollock incidental
catch allowance remains at 48,240 mt.
As a result, the harvest specifications for
pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea
included in the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
are revised as follows: 9,700 mt to Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 0 mt to CDQ
pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016) is revised to make 2016
pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in
adjustments to the 2016 Aleut
Corporation and CDQ pollock
allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 4—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season 1
Area and sector
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
A season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ......................................................
CDQ DFA .................................................................................
ICA 1 .........................................................................................
AFA Inshore .............................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ................................................
Catch by C/Ps ..................................................................
Catch by CVs 3 .................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
12:26 Mar 24, 2016
Jkt 238001
2016 B season 1
2016 Allocations
PO 00000
Frm 00039
1,346,900
135,900
48,240
581,380
465,104
425,570
39,534
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
SCA harvest limit 2
n/a
54,360
n/a
232,552
186,042
170,228
15,814
E:\FR\FM\25MRR1.SGM
n/a
38,052
n/a
162,786
130,229
n/a
n/a
25MRR1
B season DFA
n/a
81,540
n/a
348,828
279,062
255,342
23,720
16098
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 58 / Friday, March 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 4—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season 1
Area and sector
2016 B season 1
2016 Allocations
A season DFA
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: 7
541 ....................................................................................
542 ....................................................................................
543 ....................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ..............................................................
SCA harvest limit 2
B season DFA
2,326
116,276
203,816
349,398
1,162,760
32,227
12,100
0
2,400
9,700
930
46,510
n/a
n/a
465,104
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
9,700
n/a
32,557
n/a
n/a
325,573
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,395
69,766
n/a
n/a
697,656
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
0
9,668
4,834
1,611
500
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.
Classification
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD 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 reallocation of AI pollock.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
12:26 Mar 24, 2016
Jkt 238001
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 March 15, 2016.
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4700
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: March 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–06832 Filed 3–24–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\25MRR1.SGM
25MRR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16097-16098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06832]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE518
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 and the Community
Development Quota from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide
opportunity for harvest of the 2016 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, 2016,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
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 2016 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's
directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons (mt) and the
Community Development Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016).
As of March 18, 2016, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands
subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 5,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ is added to the 2016 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The remaining
5,000 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 2016 pollock incidental catch
allowance remains at 48,240 mt. As a result, the harvest specifications
for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR
14773, March 18, 2016) are revised as follows: 9,700 mt to Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 0 mt to CDQ pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
is revised to make 2016 pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2016
Aleut Corporation and CDQ pollock allocations established at Sec.
679.20(a)(5).
Table 4--Final 2016 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 A season \1\ 2016 B season \1\
--------------------------------------------------------
Area and sector 2016 Allocations SCA harvest limit
A season DFA \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\.......... 1,346,900 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................. 135,900 54,360 38,052 81,540
ICA \1\............................. 48,240 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore......................... 581,380 232,552 162,786 348,828
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...... 465,104 186,042 130,229 279,062
Catch by C/Ps................... 425,570 170,228 n/a 255,342
Catch by CVs \3\................ 39,534 15,814 n/a 23,720
[[Page 16098]]
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.......... 2,326 930 n/a 1,395
AFA Motherships..................... 116,276 46,510 32,557 69,766
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\...... 203,816 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\...... 349,398 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA................ 1,162,760 465,104 325,573 697,656
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC........ 32,227 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\.... 12,100 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................. 0 0 n/a 0
ICA................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation................... 9,700 9,700 n/a 0
Area harvest limit: \7\
541............................. 9,668 n/a n/a n/a
542............................. 4,834 n/a n/a n/a
543............................. 1,611 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\........... 500 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 March 15, 2016.
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 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06832 Filed 3-24-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
