Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea, 42802-42804 [2018-18348]

Download as PDF 42802 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Rules and Regulations (bb) Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Aquinnah, Massachusetts (Tribal Members Only). Daily Bag Limit for Ducks: 10 ducks, including no more than 2 female mallards, 2 pintail, and 2 canvasback. Teal Season Dates: Open October 8, 2018, through February 16, 2019. Daily Bag Limits: 10 teal. Mergansers Ducks Season Dates: Open October 8, 2018, through February 16, 2019. Daily Bag Limits: Six ducks, including no more than four hen mallards, six black ducks, four mottled ducks, one fulvous whistling duck, four mergansers, three scaup, two hooded merganser, three wood ducks, one canvasback, two redheads, and two pintail. The season is closed for harlequin ducks. Sea Ducks Season Dates: Open October 1, 2018, through February 16, 2019. Daily Bag Limits: Seven ducks including no more than four of any one species (only one of which may be a hen eider). Woodcock Season Dates: Open October 8 through November 24, 2018. Daily Bag Limits: Three woodcock. Geese Season Dates: Open September 1 through December 15, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 10 geese through September 221, and 5 thereafter. Coots Snow Geese Season Dates: Open September 3 through 13, 2018, and open November 19, 2018, through February 16, 2019. Daily Bag Limits: 15 snow geese. Sora and Virginia Rails Season Dates: Open September 3 through November 3, 2018. Daily Bag Limits: 5 sora and 10 Virginia rails. Snipe Season Dates: Open September 3 through December 8, 2018. Daily Bag Limits: Eight snipe. General Conditions: Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Nontoxic shot is required. All other basic Federal migratory bird hunting regulations contained in 50 CFR part 20 will be observed. (cc) White Earth Band of Ojibwe, White Earth, Minnesota (Tribal Members Only). Snipe Season Dates: Open September 1 through November 30, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 10 snipe. Season Dates: Open September 1 through November 30, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 25 mourning dove. Woodcock Season Dates: Open September 1 through November 30, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 10 woodcock. Rail Season Dates: Open September 1 through November 30, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 25 rail. General Conditions: Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to onehalf hour after sunset. Nontoxic shot is required. All other basic Federal migratory bird hunting regulations contained in 50 CFR part 20 will be observed. Dated: August 17, 2018. Andrea Travnicek, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Water and Science, Exercising the Authority of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks . [FR Doc. 2018–18382 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P Ducks Season Dates: Open September 8 through December 16, 2018. VerDate Sep<11>2014 00:53 Aug 24, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] RIN 0648–XG444 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 pollock from the incidental catch allowance to the directed fisheries. This action is necessary to allow the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock to be harvested. DATES: Effective August 21, 2018, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018. 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 2018 pollock incidental catch allowance in the Bering Sea subarea was established as 47,888 metric tons (mt) by the 2018 and 2019 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018), and as adjusted by reallocations (83 FR 9235, March 5, 2018), 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 16, 2018, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that approximately 19,700 (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 2,500 mt of pollock specified in the incidental catch allowance will not be necessary as incidental catch. Therefore, NMFS is SUMMARY: Season Dates: Open September 1 through November 30, 2018. Daily Bag Limit: 20 coots. Mourning Dove Canada Geese Season Dates: Open September 3 through 15, 2018, and open October 22, 2018, through February 16, 2019. Daily Bag Limits: Eight Canada geese. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES Season Dates: Open September 8 through December 16, 2018. Daily Bag Limit for Mergansers: Five mergansers, including no more than two hooded mergansers. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\24AUR1.SGM 24AUR1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Rules and Regulations apportioning the projected unused amount, 2,500 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 1,250 mt, to catcher/processors and catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by catcher/processors in the offshore component by 1,000 mt, and to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by motherships in the offshore component by 250 mt. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(ii), 8.5 percent of the 915 mt allocated to catcher/ processors in the offshore component, 85 mt, will be available for harvest only 42803 by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), an additional 5 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), Table 5 of the 2018 and 2019 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as follows: 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 Area and sector 2018 Allocations A season DFA 2018 B season 1 SCA harvest limit 2 B 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 ........................................................... 1,378,441 138,334 45,388 1,194,719 597,359 477,888 437,267 40,620 2,389 119,472 209,076 358,416 n/a 62,250 n/a 537,624 268,812 215,049 196,770 18,279 1,075 53,762 n/a n/a n/a 38,734 n/a 334,521 167,261 133,809 n/a n/a n/a 33,452 n/a n/a n/a 76,084 n/a 657,095 328,548 262,838 240,497 22,341 1,314 65,710 n/a n/a Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ......................................................... Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ....................................................... CDQ DFA ......................................................................................... ICA ................................................................................................... Aleut Corporation ............................................................................. Area harvest limit 7 ........................................................................... 541 ............................................................................................ 542 ............................................................................................ 543 ............................................................................................ 40,788 4,900 0 2,400 2,500 n/a 12,236 6,118 2,039 n/a n/a 0 1,200 2,500 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 1,200 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a Bogoslof District ICA 8 ...................................................................... 450 n/a n/a n/a 1 Pursuant sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (45,388 mt), 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) through (iii), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for 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 up 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 noon, 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 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 00:53 Aug 24, 2018 Jkt 244001 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 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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 Bering Sea subarea E:\FR\FM\24AUR1.SGM 24AUR1 42804 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Rules and Regulations sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES 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 16, 2018. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective VerDate Sep<11>2014 00:53 Aug 24, 2018 Jkt 244001 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. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 21, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–18348 Filed 8–21–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\24AUR1.SGM 24AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42802-42804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18348]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XG444


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 pollock from the incidental catch allowance to the directed 
fisheries. This action is necessary to allow the 2018 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of pollock to be harvested.

DATES: Effective August 21, 2018, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 
2018.

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 2018 pollock incidental catch allowance in the Bering Sea 
subarea was established as 47,888 metric tons (mt) by the 2018 and 2019 
final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, 
February 27, 2018), and as adjusted by reallocations (83 FR 9235, March 
5, 2018), 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 16, 2018, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has 
determined that approximately 19,700 (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 2,500 
mt of pollock specified in the incidental catch allowance will not be 
necessary as incidental catch. Therefore, NMFS is

[[Page 42803]]

apportioning the projected unused amount, 2,500 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 1,250 mt, 
to catcher/processors and catcher vessels harvesting pollock for 
processing by catcher/processors in the offshore component by 1,000 mt, 
and to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by motherships 
in the offshore component by 250 mt. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(ii), 8.5 percent of the 915 mt allocated to 
catcher/processors in the offshore component, 85 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 5 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), Table 5 of the 2018 and 2019 
final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as 
follows:

    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
                                                           ------------------------------------        \1\
             Area and sector              2018 Allocations                       SCA harvest   -----------------
                                                              A season DFA        limit \2\       B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\..............         1,378,441               n/a               n/a               n/a
CDQ DFA.................................           138,334            62,250            38,734            76,084
ICA \1\.................................            45,388               n/a               n/a               n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA............         1,194,719           537,624           334,521           657,095
AFA Inshore.............................           597,359           268,812           167,261           328,548
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\..............           477,888           215,049           133,809           262,838
    Catch by C/Ps.......................           437,267           196,770               n/a           240,497
    Catch by CVs \3\....................            40,620            18,279               n/a            22,341
    Unlisted C/P Limit \4\..............             2,389             1,075               n/a             1,314
AFA Motherships.........................           119,472            53,762            33,452            65,710
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\..........           209,076               n/a               n/a               n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\..........           358,416               n/a               n/a               n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC............            40,788               n/a               n/a               n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\........             4,900               n/a               n/a               n/a
CDQ DFA.................................                 0                 0               n/a                 0
ICA.....................................             2,400             1,200               n/a             1,200
Aleut Corporation.......................             2,500             2,500               n/a                 0
Area harvest limit \7\..................               n/a               n/a               n/a               n/a
    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\...............               450               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 (45,388 mt), 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) through (iii), the annual Aleutian
  Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
  for 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 up 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 noon, 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\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(i)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed 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 Bering Sea 
subarea

[[Page 42804]]

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 16, 2018.
    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 21, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-18348 Filed 8-21-18; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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