Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49539-49540 [2017-23340]
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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 49539-49540] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2017-23340] [[Page 49539]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF767 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 flathead sole and rock sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin 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 yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested. DATES: Effective October 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 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 1,288 metric tons (mt), 5,310 mt, and 16,472 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) and revised by flatfish exchange (82 FR 48460; October 18, 2017). The 2017 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 6,018 mt, 11,286 mt and 11,434 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) and revised by flatfish exchange (82 FR 48460; October 18, 2017). The Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 60 mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves and 145 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 205 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 60 mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves and 145 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 205 mt of yellowfin 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), and revised by flatfish exchange (82 FR 48460; October 18, 2017) are further 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 14,176 47,225 154,199 CDQ..................................................... 845 749 963 1,228 5,165 16,677 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..................................................... 14,176 47,225 154,199 14,500 47,100 154,000 ABC surplus............................................. 54,102 107,875 106,601 51,664 96,000 96,800 ABC reserve............................................. 54,102 107,875 106,601 51,664 96,000 96,800 CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 6,078 11,431 11,229 5,528 10,272 10,358 Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 48,024 96,444 95,372 46,136 85,728 86,442 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. [[Page 49540]] 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 flatfish exchange by the Yukon Delta Fisheries 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 October 11, 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: October 23, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-23340 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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