Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 10964-10965 [2017-03177]
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10964
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: February 13, 2017.
Michael M. Grimm,
Assistant Administrator for Mitigation,
Federal Insurance and Mitigation
Administration, Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
[FR Doc. 2017–03211 Filed 2–16–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–12–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
RIN 0648–XF229
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
SUMMARY:
As of February 10, 2017, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 9,000 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 6,764 mt of A season pollock
DFA and 2,236 mt of B season pollock
DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea
to the 2017 Bering Sea subarea DFAs.
The 9,000 mt of the Aleut Corporation
pollock DFA is added to the 2017 Bering
Sea non-CDQ DFAs. As a result, the
2017 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 an inseason
adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10,
2017) are revised as follows: 5,700 mt to
the annual Aleut Corporation pollock
DFA and 5,700 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 82 FR 2916,
January 10, 2017), is revised to make
2017 pollock allocations consistent with
this reallocation. This reallocation
results in adjustments to the 2017
pollock allocations established at
§ 679.20(a)(5).
opportunity for harvest of the 2017 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.), February 17, 2017, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2017 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 14,700 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 an
inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916,
January 10, 2017).
TABLE 5—FINAL 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017 A season 1
Area and sector
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES
A season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .....................................
AFA Inshore .....................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...............................................
Catch by C/Ps ..........................................................
Catch by CVs 3 .........................................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...................................................
AFA Motherships .............................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...........................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................
Area harvest limit:7
541 ............................................................................
542 ............................................................................
543 ............................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:06 Feb 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
2017 B season 1
2017 allocations
PO 00000
Frm 00006
SCA harvest limit 2
B season DFA
1,355,900
136,400
47,210
1,172,291
586,145
468,916
429,058
39,858
2,345
117,229
205,151
351,687
36,061
8,100
0
2,400
5,700
n/a
61,380
n/a
527,531
263,765
211,012
193,076
17,936
1,055
52,753
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
5,700
n/a
38,192
n/a
328,241
164,121
131,297
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,824
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
75,020
n/a
644,760
322,380
257,904
235,982
21,922
1,290
64,476
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
0
10,818
5,409
1,803
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
10965
TABLE 5—FINAL 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017 A season 1
Area and sector
2017 B season 1
2017 allocations
SCA harvest limit 2
A season DFA
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................
500
n/a
B season DFA
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.9 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
Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i)—(iii), the annual Aleutian Islands 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 Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated less than or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), 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 of no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of 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
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD 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
16:06 Feb 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
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 February 10, 2017.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
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: February 13, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03177 Filed 2–14–17; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 32 (Friday, February 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10964-10965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03177]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XF229
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 2017 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.), February 17,
2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
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 2017 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation directed
fishing allowance (DFA) is 14,700 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 an inseason
adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017).
As of February 10, 2017, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 9,000 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 6,764 mt of A season pollock DFA and 2,236 mt of B
season pollock DFA from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2017 Bering
Sea subarea DFAs. The 9,000 mt of the Aleut Corporation pollock DFA is
added to the 2017 Bering Sea non-CDQ DFAs. As a result, the 2017
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 an inseason adjustment (82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017) are revised as
follows: 5,700 mt to the annual Aleut Corporation pollock DFA and 5,700
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 82 FR 2916, January 10, 2017), is
revised to make 2017 pollock allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2017
pollock allocations established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
Table 5--Final 2017 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 A season \1\ 2017 B season \1\
-----------------------------------------------------------
Area and sector 2017 allocations SCA harvest limit
A season DFA \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...... 1,355,900 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................... 136,400 61,380 38,192 75,020
ICA \1\......................... 47,210 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.... 1,172,291 527,531 328,241 644,760
AFA Inshore..................... 586,145 263,765 164,121 322,380
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...... 468,916 211,012 131,297 257,904
Catch by C/Ps............... 429,058 193,076 n/a 235,982
Catch by CVs \3\............ 39,858 17,936 n/a 21,922
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...... 2,345 1,055 n/a 1,290
AFA Motherships................. 117,229 52,753 32,824 64,476
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.. 205,151 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.. 351,687 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.... 36,061 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\ 8,100 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................... 0 0 n/a 0
ICA............................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............... 5,700 5,700 n/a 0
Area harvest limit:\7\
541......................... 10,818 n/a n/a n/a
542......................... 5,409 n/a n/a n/a
543......................... 1,803 n/a n/a n/a
[[Page 10965]]
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....... 500 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.9 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 Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 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)--(iii), the annual Aleutian Islands
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 Aleutian Islands
subarea, the A season is allocated less than or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated
the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), 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 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of 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 February 10, 2017.
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: February 13, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03177 Filed 2-14-17; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
