Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 52367-52368 [2016-18763]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 152 / Monday, August 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
lb (680 kg) when landings have been
projected to reach or exceed 45 percent
of the total allowable landings (TAL).
The northern red hake possession limit
is required to be further reduced to 400
lb (181 kg) if landings are projected to
reach or exceed 62.5 percent of the TAL,
unless such a reduction would be
expected to prevent the TAL from being
reached. The setting of these inseason
adjustment thresholds were established
in the final rule implementing the
small-mesh multispecies specifications
for 2015–2017, published in the Federal
Register on May 28, 2015 (80 FR 30379).
These measures were imposed
because the annual catch limits (ACL)
for northern red hake were exceeded for
the 2012 and 2013 fishing years, and
northern red hake was experiencing
overfishing. To reduce the risk of
continued overfishing on the stock and
to better constrain catch to the ACL, we
implemented this possession limit
reduction trigger.
Based on commercial landings data
reported through July 23, 2016, the
northern red hake fishery is projected to
reach 45 percent of the TAL on July 31,
2016. Based on this projection, reducing
the commercial northern red hake
possession limit to 1,500 lb (680 kg) is
required to prevent the TAL from being
exceeded. Upon the effective date of this
action, no person may possess on board
or land more than 1,500 lb (680 kg) of
northern red hake, per trip for the
remainder of the fishing year.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 2, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–18715 Filed 8–5–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XE789
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 pollock directed fishing
allowance from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This
action is 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.), August 8, 2016, through
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
SUMMARY:
52367
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 directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 9,700 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016), and as adjusted by
reallocations (81 FR 16097, March 25,
2016).
As of August 1, 2016, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 8,000 mt of the Aleut
Corporation pollock DFA in the
Aleutian Islands subarea will not be
harvested. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 8,000 mt of A season pollock
DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea
to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea DFAs.
The 8,000 mt of the Aleut Corporation
pollock DFA is added to the 2016 Bering
Sea non-CDQ DFAs. As a result, the
2016 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),
and as adjusted by reallocations (81 FR
16097, March 25, 2016) are revised as
follows: 1,700 mt to the annual Aleut
Corporation pollock DFA and 1,700 mt
to the A season Aleut Corporation
pollock DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5), Table 5 of the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (81 FR 14773, March
18, 2016, and 81 FR 16097, March 25,
2016), is revised to make 2016 pollock
allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in
adjustments to the 2016 pollock
allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 5—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
Allocations
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 .............................................................................................
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13:12 Aug 05, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
1,354,900
135,900
48,240
585,380
468,304
428,498
39,806
2,342
117,076
A season DFA
n/a
54,360
n/a
234,152
187,322
171,399
15,922
937
46,830
E:\FR\FM\08AUR1.SGM
08AUR1
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
38,052
n/a
163,906
131,125
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,781
2016
B season 1
B season DFA
n/a
81,540
n/a
351,228
280,982
257,099
23,884
1,405
70,246
52368
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 152 / Monday, August 8, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 5—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
2016
Allocations
Area and sector
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 ......................................................................................
A season DFA
2016
B season 1
SCA harvest
limit 2
B season DFA
205,216
351,798
1,170,760
32,227
4,100
0
2,400
1,700
n/a
n/a
468,304
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
1,700
n/a
n/a
327,813
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
702,456
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
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD 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 Aleutian Island
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:12 Aug 05, 2016
Jkt 238001
subarea pollock. Since the pollock
fishery is currently underway, it is
important to immediately inform the
industry as to the final Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands 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 August 1, 2016.
PO 00000
Frm 00044
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: August 3, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–18763 Filed 8–5–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\08AUR1.SGM
08AUR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 152 (Monday, August 8, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52367-52368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18763]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE789
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 pollock directed fishing allowance from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This action is 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.), August 8, 2016,
through 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 directed
fishing allowance (DFA) is 9,700 metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016), and as adjusted by reallocations (81 FR
16097, March 25, 2016).
As of August 1, 2016, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 8,000 mt of the Aleut
Corporation pollock DFA in the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be
harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4),
NMFS reallocates 8,000 mt of A season pollock DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the 2016 Bering Sea subarea DFAs. The 8,000 mt of
the Aleut Corporation pollock DFA is added to the 2016 Bering Sea non-
CDQ DFAs. As a result, the 2016 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), and as adjusted by reallocations (81 FR 16097, March 25,
2016) are revised as follows: 1,700 mt to the annual Aleut Corporation
pollock DFA and 1,700 mt to the A season Aleut Corporation pollock DFA.
Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 5 of the final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016, and 81 FR 16097, March
25, 2016), is revised to make 2016 pollock allocations consistent with
this reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2016
pollock allocations established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
Table 5--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
2016 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,354,900 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..................................... 585,380 234,152 163,906 351,228
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 468,304 187,322 131,125 280,982
Catch by C/Ps............................... 428,498 171,399 n/a 257,099
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 39,806 15,922 n/a 23,884
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,342 937 n/a 1,405
AFA Motherships................................. 117,076 46,830 32,781 70,246
[[Page 52368]]
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 205,216 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 351,798 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA............................ 1,170,760 468,304 327,813 702,456
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 32,227 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 4,100 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 0 0 n/a 0
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 1,700 1,700 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 Aleutian Island subarea pollock. Since
the pollock fishery is currently underway, it is important to
immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands 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 August 1, 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: August 3, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18763 Filed 8-5-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
