Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea, 39366-39368 [2017-17501]
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39366
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS
Assistant Administrator (AA) has
determined that this final rule is
consistent with the NE Multispecies
FMP, other provisions of the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable law.
This action is exempt from the
procedures of Executive Order 12866
because this action contains no
implementing regulations.
This final rule is not an E.O. 13771
regulatory action because it is not
significant under E.O. 12866.
This final rule does not contain
policies with Federalism or ‘‘takings’’
implications as those terms are defined
in E.O. 13132 and E.O. 12630,
respectively.
The AA finds good cause, under
authority provided in 5. U.S.C.
553(d)(1), to waive the 30-day delay in
effective date because a delay in
effectiveness would be contrary to the
public interest. This rule does not
impose any new requirements or costs
on industry for which industry needs
time to prepare to comply. Groundfish
sectors requested this exemption to
provide greater operational flexibility
and to increase fishing opportunities.
Delaying its effectiveness would
unnecessarily restrict their fishing and
lead to lost economic opportunity and
efficiencies for sector vessels.
Additionally, the small-mesh exemption
is typically used by sector vessels in the
fall. Because this rule changes the
exemption area to increase use of the
exemption, a delay in effectiveness
would prevent sector vessels from the
benefit of this change for the fall 2017
season, thus undermining the intent of
the rule. The interim final rule, which
proposed this action, was originally
delayed as a result of the untimely
submission of Framework Adjustment
56 by the New England Fishery
Management Council, which prevented
us from coordinating the publishing of
the sector rule and the Framework 56
rulemaking in time for May 1, 2017 start
of the 2017 fishing year. For all of these
reasons, a 30-day delay in effectiveness
of this rule would be contrary to the
public interest.
This final rule is exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
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Act because the preceding interim final
rule was issued without opportunity for
prior notice and comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Chris Oliver,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–17522 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02]
RIN 0648–XF614
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating
projected unused amounts of Bering Sea
subarea (BS) pollock from the incidental
catch allowance to the directed
fisheries. This action is necessary to
allow the 2017 total allowable catch
(TAC) of pollock to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 15, 2017, until
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 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 pollock incidental catch
allowance in the BS was established as
SUMMARY:
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47,210 metric tons (mt) by the 2017 and
2018 final harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826,
February 27, 2017), and as adjusted by
reallocations (82 FR 31925, July 11,
2017), in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1) and the American
Fisheries Act (AFA) (Pub. L. 105–277,
Division C, Title II).
As of August 9, 2017, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
has determined that approximately
21,000 (mt) of pollock remain in the
incidental catch allowance. Based on
projected harvest rates of other
groundfish species and the expected
incidental catch of pollock in those
fisheries, the Regional Administrator
has determined that 4,000 mt of pollock
specified in the incidental catch
allowance will not be necessary as
incidental catch. Therefore, NMFS is
apportioning the projected unused
amount, 4,000 mt, of pollock from the
incidental catch allowance to the
directed fishing allowances established
pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A).
Pursuant to the pollock allocation
requirements set forth in
§ 679.20(a)(5)(i), this transfer will
increase the allocation to catcher vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by the
inshore component by 2,000 mt, to
catcher/processors and catcher vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by
catcher/processors in the offshore
component by 1,600 mt, and to catcher
vessels harvesting pollock for
processing by motherships in the
offshore component by 400 mt. Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of
the 1,600 mt allocated to catcher/
processors in the offshore component,
136 mt, will be available for harvest
only by eligible catcher vessels
delivering to listed catcher/processors.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), an
additional 8 mt or 0.5 percent of the
catcher/processor sector allocation of
pollock will be available to unlisted
AFA catcher/processors.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A),
Tables 4 and 5 of the 2017 and 2018
final harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
39367
TABLE 4—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
Allocations
Area and sector
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 ............................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................
A season DFA
2017 B
season 1
SCA harvest
limit 2
B season DFA
1,361,600
136,400
43,210
1,181,991
590,995
472,796
432,609
40,188
2,364
118,199
206,848
354,597
36,061
2,400
0
2,400
0
n/a
61,380
n/a
531,896
265,948
212,758
194,674
18,084
1,064
53,190
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
0
n/a
38,192
n/a
330,957
165,479
132,383
n/a
n/a
n/a
33,096
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
75,020
n/a
650,095
325,047
260,038
237,935
22,103
1,300
65,009
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0
1,200
0
10,818
5,409
1,803
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 Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA, 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.
TABLE 5—FINAL 2018 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2018 A season 1
2018
Allocations
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
Area and sector
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 .......................................................................
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1,345,000
134,500
47,210
1,163,291
581,645
465,316
425,764
39,552
2,327
116,329
203,576
348,987
40,788
19,000
A season DFA
n/a
60,525
n/a
523,481
261,740
209,392
191,594
17,798
1,047
52,348
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
E:\FR\FM\18AUR1.SGM
18AUR1
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
37,660
n/a
325,721
162,861
130,289
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,572
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2018 B
season 1
B season DFA
n/a
73,975
n/a
639,810
319,905
255,924
234,170
21,754
1,280
63,981
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
39368
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 5—FINAL 2018 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2018 A season 1
2018
Allocations
Area and sector
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................
Area harvest limit 7
541 ............................................................................................................
542 ............................................................................................................
543 ............................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................
A season DFA
2018 B
season 1
SCA harvest
limit 2
B season DFA
1,900
2,400
14,700
760
1,200
14,355
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,200
345
12,236
6,118
2,039
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 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.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
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 a 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
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responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the reallocation of projected
unused amounts of BS pollock from the
incidental catch allowance to the
directed fisheries. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of August 9, 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
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the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
679.20, and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–17501 Filed 8–15–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\18AUR1.SGM
18AUR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39366-39368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17501]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF614
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating projected unused amounts of Bering Sea
subarea (BS) pollock from the incidental catch allowance to the
directed fisheries. This action is necessary to allow the 2017 total
allowable catch (TAC) of pollock to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 15, 2017, until 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 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 pollock incidental catch allowance in the BS was
established as 47,210 metric tons (mt) by the 2017 and 2018 final
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826,
February 27, 2017), and as adjusted by reallocations (82 FR 31925, July
11, 2017), in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1) and the
American Fisheries Act (AFA) (Pub. L. 105-277, Division C, Title II).
As of August 9, 2017, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
determined that approximately 21,000 (mt) of pollock remain in the
incidental catch allowance. Based on projected harvest rates of other
groundfish species and the expected incidental catch of pollock in
those fisheries, the Regional Administrator has determined that 4,000
mt of pollock specified in the incidental catch allowance will not be
necessary as incidental catch. Therefore, NMFS is apportioning the
projected unused amount, 4,000 mt, of pollock from the incidental catch
allowance to the directed fishing allowances established pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A). Pursuant to the pollock allocation
requirements set forth in Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), this transfer will
increase the allocation to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for
processing by the inshore component by 2,000 mt, to catcher/processors
and catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by catcher/
processors in the offshore component by 1,600 mt, and to catcher
vessels harvesting pollock for processing by motherships in the
offshore component by 400 mt. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4),
8.5 percent of the 1,600 mt allocated to catcher/processors in the
offshore component, 136 mt, will be available for harvest only by
eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), an additional 8 mt or 0.5
percent of the catcher/processor sector allocation of pollock will be
available to unlisted AFA catcher/processors.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), Tables 4 and 5 of the 2017
and 2018 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are
revised as follows:
[[Page 39367]]
Table 4--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
2017 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,361,600 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 136,400 61,380 38,192 75,020
ICA \1\......................................... 43,210 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,181,991 531,896 330,957 650,095
AFA Inshore..................................... 590,995 265,948 165,479 325,047
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 472,796 212,758 132,383 260,038
Catch by C/Ps............................... 432,609 194,674 n/a 237,935
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 40,188 18,084 n/a 22,103
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,364 1,064 n/a 1,300
AFA Motherships................................. 118,199 53,190 33,096 65,009
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 206,848 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 354,597 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 36,061 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 2,400 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 0 0 n/a 0
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 0 0 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
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, 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.
Table 5--Final 2018 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018 A season \1\ 2018 B season
2018 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,345,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 134,500 60,525 37,660 73,975
ICA \1\......................................... 47,210 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,163,291 523,481 325,721 639,810
AFA Inshore..................................... 581,645 261,740 162,861 319,905
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 465,316 209,392 130,289 255,924
Catch by C/Ps............................... 425,764 191,594 n/a 234,170
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 39,552 17,798 n/a 21,754
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,327 1,047 n/a 1,280
AFA Motherships................................. 116,329 52,348 32,572 63,981
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 203,576 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 348,987 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 40,788 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
[[Page 39368]]
CDQ DFA......................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 14,700 14,355 n/a 345
Area harvest limit \7\
541......................................... 12,236 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................... 6,118 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................... 2,039 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 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 a 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 projected unused amounts of BS pollock
from the incidental catch allowance to the directed fisheries. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 9,
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 taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 15, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-17501 Filed 8-15-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
