Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 24253-24254 [2017-10861]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 101 / Friday, May 26, 2017 / Rules and Regulations Authority access to such results. Written authority provided under this paragraph must be signed by: (1) An applicant in the international application who is also an applicant in the application preserved in confidence; or (2) A person set forth in § 1.14(c) permitted to grant access to the application preserved in confidence. Dated: May 22, 2017. Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2017–10870 Filed 5–25–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] RIN 0648–XF458 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 AGENCY: Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. NMFS is exchanging unused yellowfin sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2017 total allowable catch of rock sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested. DATES: Effective May 26, 2017 through December 31, 2017. 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 2017 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are SUMMARY: 24253 5,040 metric tons (mt), and 16,478 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017). The 2017 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 11,556 mt and 11,428 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017). The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 700 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ reserves for 700 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserves under § 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 700 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ reserves for 700 mt of rock 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 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017), are revised as follows: TABLE 11—FINAL 2017 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 7,900 845 100 695 6,259 3,319 2,940 Flathead sole Western Aleutian District 7,000 749 60 619 5,572 2,954 2,617 9,000 963 10 161 7,866 4,171 3,695 Rock sole Yellowfin sole BSAI BSAI BSAI 14,500 1,552 4,000 0 8,949 918 8,031 47,800 5,740 5,000 0 37,060 9,168 27,893 153,300 15,778 4,500 18,151 114,871 45,638 69,233 Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. TABLE 13—FINAL 2017 AND 2018 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] 2017 Flathead sole mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES Sector ABC .......................................................... TAC .......................................................... ABC surplus ............................................. ABC reserve ............................................. CDQ ABC reserve ................................... Amendment 80 ABC reserve ................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:18 May 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 68,278 14,500 53,778 53,778 5,754 48,024 PO 00000 Frm 00043 2017 Rock sole 2017 Yellowfin sole 2018 Flathead sole 260,800 153,300 107,500 107,500 12,128 95,372 66,164 14,500 51,664 51,664 5,528 46,136 155,100 47,800 107,300 107,300 10,856 96,444 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\26MYR1.SGM 26MYR1 2018 Rock sole 143,100 47,100 96,000 96,000 10,272 85,728 2018 Yellowfin sole 250,800 154,000 96,800 96,800 10,358 86,442 24254 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 101 / Friday, May 26, 2017 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 13—FINAL 2017 AND 2018 ABC SURPLUS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC RESERVES, AND AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE—Continued [Amounts are in metric tons] 2017 Flathead sole Sector Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2017 1 ................................................... Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2017 1 .. 4,926 43,098 2017 Rock sole 2017 Yellowfin sole 2018 Flathead sole 37,891 57,481 n/a n/a 23,857 72,587 2018 Rock sole 2018 Yellowfin sole n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 The 2018 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, 2017. Classification mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 17:49 May 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 Aleutian Pribilof Island 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 May 18, 2017. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective PO 00000 Frm 00044 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: May 23, 2017. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–10861 Filed 5–25–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\26MYR1.SGM 26MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24253-24254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10861]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF458


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 yellowfin sole Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This 
action is necessary to allow the 2017 total allowable catch of rock 
sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be 
harvested.

DATES: Effective May 26, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

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 2017 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the 
BSAI are 5,040 metric tons (mt), and 16,478 mt as established by the 
final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017). The 2017 rock sole and yellowfin sole 
CDQ ABC reserves are 11,556 mt and 11,428 mt as established by the 
final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017).
    The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has 
requested that NMFS exchange 700 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ reserves for 
700 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, 
in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 700 mt of yellowfin 
sole CDQ reserves for 700 mt of rock 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 2017 and 
2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826; 
February 27, 2017), are revised as follows:

 Table 11--Final 2017 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.....................................................           7,900           7,000           9,000          14,500          47,800         153,300
CDQ.....................................................             845             749             963           1,552           5,740          15,778
ICA.....................................................             100              60              10           4,000           5,000           4,500
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             695             619             161               0               0          18,151
Amendment 80............................................           6,259           5,572           7,866           8,949          37,060         114,871
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................           3,319           2,954           4,171             918           9,168          45,638
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................           2,940           2,617           3,695           8,031          27,893          69,233
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2017 and 2018 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2017 Flathead                  2017 Yellowfin   2018 Flathead                  2018 Yellowfin
                         Sector                                sole       2017 Rock sole       sole            sole       2018 Rock sole       sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC.....................................................          68,278         155,100         260,800          66,164         143,100         250,800
TAC.....................................................          14,500          47,800         153,300          14,500          47,100         154,000
ABC surplus.............................................          53,778         107,300         107,500          51,664          96,000          96,800
ABC reserve.............................................          53,778         107,300         107,500          51,664          96,000          96,800
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           5,754          10,856          12,128           5,528          10,272          10,358
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          48,024          96,444          95,372          46,136          85,728          86,442

[[Page 24254]]

 
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2017 \1\..............           4,926          23,857          37,891             n/a             n/a             n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2017 \1\.................          43,098          72,587          57,481             n/a             n/a             n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2018 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, 2017.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 
Island 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 May 18, 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: May 23, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10861 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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