Revisions to Framework Adjustment 57 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and Sector Annual Catch Entitlements; Updated Annual Catch Limits for Sectors and the Common Pool for Fishing Year 2018, 1632-1640 [2019-00979]
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1632
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.388(d)(1)(i)
require NMFS to close the commercial
sector for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in
the southern zone when the commercial
quota is reached, or is projected to be
reached, by filing a notification to that
effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. NMFS has determined the
commercial quota of 2,667,330 lb
(1,209,881 kg) for Atlantic Spanish
mackerel in the southern zone will be
reached by February 5, 2019.
Accordingly, the commercial sector for
Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the
southern zone is closed effective at 6:00
a.m., local time, on February 5, 2019,
through February 28, 2019, the end of
the current fishing year. Commercial
harvest of Atlantic Spanish mackerel for
the 2019–2020 fishing year begins on
March 1, 2019.
During the commercial closure, a
person on board a vessel that has been
issued a valid Federal permit to harvest
Atlantic Spanish mackerel may
continue to retain this species in the
southern zone under the recreational
bag and possession limits specified in
50 CFR 622.382(a)(1)(iii) and (a)(2), as
long as the recreational sector for
Atlantic Spanish mackerel is open (50
CFR 622.384(e)(1)).
Also during the closure, Atlantic
Spanish mackerel from the closed zone,
including those harvested under the bag
and possession limits, may not be
purchased or sold. This prohibition
does not apply to Atlantic Spanish
mackerel from the closed zone that were
harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior
to the closure and were held in cold
storage by a dealer or processor (50 CFR
622.384(e)(2)).
Classification
The RA for the NMFS Southeast
Region has determined this temporary
rule is necessary for the conservation
and management of Atlantic Spanish
mackerel and is consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.8, 622.384(e), and 622.388(d)(1)(i)
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, because the temporary rule is
issued without opportunity for prior
notice and opportunity for comment.
This action responds to the best
scientific information available. The
Assistant Administrator for NOAA
Fisheries (AA) finds good cause to
waive the requirements 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
Jkt 247001
procedures are unnecessary and
contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the
rule implementing the commercial
quota and the associated AM has
already been subject to notice and
public comment, and all that remains is
to notify the public of the closure.
Additionally, allowing prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest because
of the need to immediately implement
this action to protect the Atlantic
Spanish mackerel stock, because the
capacity of the fishing fleet allows for
rapid harvest of the commercial quota.
Prior notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and could
potentially result in a harvest well in
excess of the established commercial
quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 31, 2019.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–01117 Filed 1–31–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 180921861–8861–01]
RIN 0648–XG503
Revisions to Framework Adjustment
57 to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan and Sector
Annual Catch Entitlements; Updated
Annual Catch Limits for Sectors and
the Common Pool for Fishing Year
2018
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; adjustment to
specifications.
AGENCY:
Under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSA), this final rule adjusts the
2018 fishing year allocations to sectors
and the common pool specified in
Framework Adjustment 57 to the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan; makes other minor
adjustments based on final 2017 catch
information; and distributes sector
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
allocation carried over from fishing year
2017 into fishing year 2018 as required
by the sector regulations. The revisions
are necessary to account for changes to
2018 sub-annual catch limits based on
final 2018 sector rosters. These
adjustments are routine and formulaic
and are intended to ensure that final
allocations are based on the best
scientific information available.
Effective February 4, 2019,
through April 30, 2019.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9255.
We
recently approved Framework
Adjustment 57, which set annual catch
limits for 20 groundfish stocks for the
2018 fishing year. This action became
effective on May 1, 2018 (83 FR 18985;
May 1, 2018). Framework 57 included
preliminary allocations for sectors and
the common pool based on final sector
enrollment for the 2017 fishing year. A
sector receives an allocation of each
stock, or annual catch entitlement
(referred to as ACE, or allocation), based
on its members’ catch histories. Stateoperated permit banks also receive an
allocation that can be transferred to
qualifying sector vessels. The sum of all
sector and state-operated permit bank
allocations is referred to as the sector
sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL). The
groundfish allocations remaining after
sectors and state-operated permit banks
receive their allocations are then
allocated to the common pool (i.e.,
vessels not enrolled in a sector), which
is referred to as the common pool subACL.
The MSA at section 305(d) gives us
the responsibility and authority to carry
out fishery management plans. Using
this authority, this rule adjusts the 2018
fishing year sector and common pool
sub-ACLs and sector ACEs based on
final sector membership as of May 1,
2018. Permits enrolled in a sector and
the vessels associated with those
permits have until April 30, the last day
prior to the beginning of a new fishing
year, to withdraw from a sector and fish
in the common pool. As a result, the
actual sector enrollment for the new
fishing year is unknown when the final
specifications are published. Each year,
we subsequently publish an adjustment
rule modifying sector and common pool
allocations based on final sector
enrollment. The Framework 57
proposed and final rules both explained
that sector enrollments may change and
that there would be a need to adjust the
sub-ACLs and sector ACEs accordingly.
Table 1 shows the changes to the sub-
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
ACLs between Framework 57 and this
adjustment rule.
In contrast to Framework 57, this
year’s sector rule provided sector ACE
for 17 sectors based on preliminary
fishing year 2018 potential sector
contributions and the preliminary
fishing year 2018 sector rosters that
were submitted on March 26, 2018 (83
FR 18965; May 1, 2018). An interim
final sector rule allocated ACE to the 2
remaining sectors on July 20, 2018 (83
FR 34492; July 20, 2018). There were no
changes to sector enrollment following
submission of the preliminary rosters.
Therefore, the sector-specific allocations
described in the sector rules are correct
and do not require adjustment.
TABLE 1—SUB-ACL COMPARISON BETWEEN FRAMEWORK 57 FINAL RULE AND ADJUSTMENT RULE (mt)
Final
Framework
57 sector
sub-ACL
Stock
GB Cod ............................................................................................................
GOM Cod .........................................................................................................
GB Haddock ....................................................................................................
GOM Haddock .................................................................................................
GB Yellowtail Flounder ....................................................................................
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ............................................................................
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ...........................................................................
American Plaice ...............................................................................................
Witch Flounder .................................................................................................
GB Winter Flounder .........................................................................................
GOM Winter Flounder .....................................................................................
SNE/MA Winter Flounder ................................................................................
Redfish .............................................................................................................
White Hake ......................................................................................................
Pollock .............................................................................................................
N. Windowpane Flounder ................................................................................
S. Windowpane Flounder ................................................................................
Ocean Pout ......................................................................................................
Atlantic Halibut .................................................................................................
Atlantic Wolffish ...............................................................................................
Sector regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(c)
require us to adjust ACE carryover to
ensure that the total unused ACE
combined with the overall sub-ACL
does not exceed the acceptable
biological catch (ABC) for the fishing
year in which the carryover may be
harvested. We have completed 2017
fishing year data reconciliation with
sectors and determined final 2017
fishing year sector catch and the amount
of allocation that sectors may carry over
from the 2017 to the 2018 fishing year.
A sector may carry over up to 10 percent
of unused ACE for each stock, except in
instances where the amount of unused
ACE was reduced so as not to exceed
the ABC. Accordingly, fishing year 2017
carryover to 2018 was reduced for the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:27 Feb 04, 2019
Jkt 247001
1,335
377
44,348
8,643
167
34
381
1,550
830
725
339
456
10,696
2,713
37,163
na
na
na
na
na
following stocks: Georges Bank
haddock; Gulf of Maine haddock;
Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic
yellowtail flounder; Cape Cod/Gulf of
Maine yellowtail flounder; American
plaice; witch flounder; Georges Bank
winter flounder; Gulf of Maine winter
flounder; Southern New England/MidAtlantic winter flounder; redfish; white
hake; and pollock. Complete details on
carryover reduction percentages can be
found at: https://
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
ro/fso/reports/Groundfish_Catch_
Accounting.htm. Table 2 includes the
maximum amount of allocation that
sectors may carry over from the 2017 to
the 2018 fishing year.
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Final adjusted
sector
sub-ACL
Final
Framework 57
common pool
sub-ACL
Final adjusted
common pool
sub-ACL
1,170
357
44,340
8,641
167
34
381
1,552
811
725
339
456
10,705
2,715
37,170
na
na
na
na
na
25
13
311
95
3
8
18
29
19
6
18
62
59
22
237
63
53
94
77
82
24
12
319
98
3
8
17
28
18
6
18
62
50
21
230
63
53
94
77
82
Table 3 includes the de minimis
amount of carryover for each sector for
the 2018 fishing year. If the overall ACL
for any allocated stock is exceeded for
the 2018 fishing year, the allowed
carryover harvested by a sector, minus
the pounds in the sector’s de minimis
amount, will be counted against its
allocation to determine whether an
overage subject to an accountability
measure occurred. Tables 4 and 5 list
the final ACE available to sectors for the
2018 fishing year, including finalized
carryover amounts for each sector, as
adjusted down when necessary to equal
each stock’s ABC.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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540,838
13,338
21,211
FGS
0
7,196
1,843
0
0
110
1,402
1,382
2,570
12 10,785
1,988
36,319
81,933
41,083
38,093
MCCS
0
145
2,832
0
0
382
1,489
17,417
8,922
288
2,468
1,264
77,548
29,965
NCCS
0
45
418
0
4,900
0
210
868
601
1,493
23
1,698
150
13,000
7,015
NEFS I
I
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3
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3
0
0
0
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0
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6,851
9,269
909,738 110,485
519
9,007
16,367
3,655
1,383 14,891
2,979
193,330
23,400
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0
0
0
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4,716
4,310
44,069
20
2,784
424
1,457
5,542
316
9,818
11,760
0
858
0
0
5
NEFS4
0
4,874
6,559
0
456,352
12,258
0
706
1,236
11,602
4,952
298
5,514
1,091
41,930
15,176
69,557
6,288
NEFS5
0
562
0
0
0
10,190
189
342
22
94
727
667
188
14
249,627
24,854
1,583
14,211
NEFS6
0
2,577
1,829
0
0
1,710
3,133
6,217
649
3,618
1,647
69,157
115,352
NEFS7
0
1,468
497
0
3,820
0
742
1,038
1,301
1,118
552
1,892
682
4,648
2,025
7,626
507,233
1,568
1,189
3,671
2,915
9,128
7,625
6,600
1,692
NEFS8
441
0
96
0
0
539
958,954
47,832
2,620
23,156
NEFS9
0 13,949
1,864
0
0
3,445
8,586
0 14,047
2,336
15,255
117,873
14,040
0
396
1,450
0
8,066
0
164
1,835
1,559
2,018
4
7,100
414
4,233
2,229
NEFS 10
NEFS 11
475
6,323
3,174
19,925
1,081
2,755
1,876
1
1,652
17
25,586
17,157
0
0
0
5
NEFS 12
8,018
6,764
2,750
6,078
171
2,310
1,072
0
565
859
0
0
3
886
679
0
NEFS 13
6,798
6,318
4,046
14,921 11,106
7,688
2,418
14,110
55,775
7,801
0 14,254
379
0 1,715,481
0
SHSI
0
3,127
3,686
0
215,159
30,836
0
94
1,474
11,052
5,092
1,678
3,706
568
71,461
30,544
34,257
SHS2
0
337
181
0
463
0
674
306
1,258
734
96
737
495
3,399
1,100
2,234
5,680
0 2,551,754 208,259
0
3,918
50,054 30,501
5,839
3,959
9,373
496,994 121,517
SHS3
0 19,251
24,240
48,484
39,673 147,699 85,972 41,879 74,948
68,335 1,230,170 339,501
Total
0 84,556
0 8,465,742 584,214
0
Georges Bank Cod Fixed Gear Sector (FGS), Maine Coast Community Sector (MCCS), Maine Permit Bank (MPB), New Hampshire Permit Bank (NHPB), Northeast
Coastal Communities Sector (NCCS), Northeast Fishery Sectors (NEFS), and Sustainable Harvest Sector (SHS)
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170,062
226,469
36,244
0
241,455
84,025
134,736
900
70,085
9,636
13,001
134,875
14,758
191,196
17,491
55,533
154,465
5,619
507,374
2,067,924
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
ER05FE19.011</GPH>
Table 2. Maximum Carryover ACE from Fishing Year 2017 to Fishing Year 2018 (lb
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0
7,196
335
0
64,475
6,253
0
8
400
464
530
12
1,189
325
7,942
4,199
76,366
MCCS
0
145
776
0
11,973
12,349
0
12
260
3,619
1,434
117
214
173
14,706
6,419
89,210
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1,312
1,108
0
2
49
48
27
4
81
39
1,081
495
3,917
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
NEFS2
0
1,645
1,735
0
105,241
36,838
0
18
1,957
3,709
2,618
518
1,717
461
35,620
4,596
104,093
NEFS3
0
90
568
0
274
8,957
0
0
307
260
109
1
317
34
1,364
1,246
22,549
NEFS4
0
1,097
862
0
52,680
12,258
0
21
532
3,270
1,592
Ill
547
99
15,939
4,878
52,424
NEFS5
0
127
0
0
8,030
7
0
197
18
151
103
70
1
1,383
34
57
350
7,411
1,358
12,607
2,362
27,275
NEFS6
0
760
240
0
28,867
0
50
328
953
243
359
225
NEFS7
0
1,468
245
0
110,945
3,820
0
80
927
1,301
1,118
552
232
682
4,648
2,025
9,636
NEFS8
0
1,981
67
0
71,367
441
0
74
424
1,003
630
3,483
230
1,158
2,041
618
8,869
NEFS9
0
10
0
0
256
0
0
0
1
0
0
14
0
1
0
0
6
NEFS 10
0
138
200
0
1,740
2,470
0
5
375
376
374
2
716
69
794
395
6,292
NEFS 11
0
107
1,010
0
366
5,949
0
0
221
725
363
1
168
2
4,659
2,852
74,409
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NCCS
NEFS 1
NEFS 12
0
166
232
0
923
1,953
0
0
687
175
104
0
593
25
538
170
6,391
NEFS 13
0
3,208
74
0
198,029
2,027
0
197
776
2,955
1,700
2,871
240
1,896
10,156
1,296
21,608
SHSI
0
554
255
0
23,550
7,437
0
1
275
1,679
680
921
355
63
10,060
2,621
22,994
SHS2
0
305
181
0
7,956
463
0
21
93
1,258
551
75
114
126
3,399
1,100
5,619
SHS3
0
4,193
617
0
289,108
57,303
0
69
739
8,941
4,280
2,169
365
1,972
86,150
18,452
181,265
Total
0
23,235
7,486
0
977,092
167,045
0
755
8,370
31,295
17,166
11,164
7,438
8,733
211,738
53,781
713,273
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
1 a me ..i. ve lVlmtmts
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E:\FR\FM\05FER1.SGM
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MCCS
MPB
NCCS
NEFS 1
NEFS2
NEFS3
NEFS4
NEFS5
NEFS6
NEFS7
NEFS 8
NEFS9
NEFS10
NEFS 11
NEFS12
NEFS 13
NHPB
SHS1
SHS2
SHS3
Total
ER05FE19.013</GPH>
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74 272
3
11
0
1
0
2
0
0
16 62
1
4
11
41
1
5
7 28
34 124
19 74
0
7
1
5
1
4
2
6
31 121
0
0
5 21
11
3
41 158
252
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4
0
83
28
42
0
12
11
3
1
10
49
11
4
4
13
17
31
1,022
190
7
21
0
1,668
4
835
127
457
1,758
1,131
4
28
6
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3,138
0
373
126
4,581
379
15,489
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0
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19
0
1
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0
0
1
0
1
12
3
4
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0
0
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0
0
1
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19
12
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15
25
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176 120
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47
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18
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134
0
43
3
101
59
11
2
4
0
85
17
27
0
18
11
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1
36
8
30
12
0
18
6
18
16
8
0
2
0
22
2
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67
11
91
56
7
3
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1
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0
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377
702
88
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1,703
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742
2
603
976
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486
2
489
403
4,133
200
308
45
26
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219
62
228
3
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175
29
11
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137
8
62
2
133
196
892
3,541
4,149
634
194
0
4,831
1,061
2,439
16
1,269
2,378
408
61
292
3,462
298
1,005
42
1,113
2,462
8,452
744
373
487
11,263
2,869
38,108
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
Table 4. Total ACE Available to Sectors in Fishin~ Year 2018 with Finalized Carryover (mt)
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05FER1
600
35
2,252
4,736
639
3
1
41
48
56
1
130
34
831
441
7,807
MCCS
7
24
80
418
861
1,276
6
2
28
379
152
12
24
19
1,548
680
9,148
MPB
1
3
9
15
28
217
0
0
3
41
13
0
3
0
195
100
1,397
NCCS
1
4
9
46
115
116
0
0
6
5
4
0
10
4
121
57
428
NEFS 1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
NEFS2
35
136
183
3,676
7,758
3,794
7
2
205
387
265
53
187
49
3,755
483
10,651
NEFS3
2
8
61
10
22
940
0
0
33
26
12
0
37
4
146
136
2,339
NEFS4
24
91
93
1,840
3,884
1,671
8
3
54
339
164
11
60
11
1,636
503
5,377
NEFS5
3
10
0
280
592
1
5
26
2
16
11
7
0
148
4
6
36
NEFS6
16
62
26
1,008
2,128
766
10
7
35
139
101
25
40
24
1,330
250
2,798
NEFS7
75
274
25
3,875
7,334
1,430
95
9
94
336
172
537
25
201
2,151
387
5,242
NEFS8
43
163
7
2,493
5,151
110
51
9
44
104
66
357
24
123
211
63
900
NEFS9
0
15
2
9
976
48
0
3
4
9
0
15
2
15
118
23
135
NEFS 10
3
11
21
61
127
255
0
1
39
39
39
0
79
7
84
42
644
0
0
23
75
38
0
18
0
491
302
7,632
18
11
657
NEFS 11
2
9
107
13
27
615
NEFS 12
4
14
24
32
68
202
0
0
71
0
65
3
56
18
NEFS 13
69
266
8
6,918
14,601
209
129
26
82
310
181
295
26
204
1,071
137
2,216
NHPB
0
0
9
0
0
6
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
5
5
92
SHSI
12
47
29
823
1,748
775
4
0
29
179
73
94
39
7
1,078
293
2,454
SHS2
7
24
37
278
552
626
8
3
10
172
56
8
12
13
889
431
5,429
SHS3
90
348
67
10,099
21,364
5,939
41
9
78
944
458
223
40
207
9,112
1,967
18,634
Total
555
2,109
835
34,147
72,072
19,634
368
100
880
3,569
1,875
1,640
822
1,074
24,830
6,324
84,014
1637
2018 final rosters. The common pool
sub-ACL for each stock (except for SNE/
E:\FR\FM\05FER1.SGM
This rule also adjusts the common
pool allocation based on fishing year
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ER05FE19.014</GPH>
==
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·;
.....
·;
~
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
BILLING CODE 3510–22–C
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
MA winter flounder, windowpane
flounder, ocean pout, Atlantic wolffish,
and Atlantic halibut) is divided into
trimester total allowable catches (TAC).
In addition, Framework 57 specified
incidental catch limits (or incidental
total allowable catches, ‘‘Incidental
TACs’’) applicable to the common pool
and groundfish Special Management
Programs for the 2018 fishing year,
including the B day-at-sea (DAS)
Program. Because the Trimester and
incidental TACs are based on the
common-pool allocation, they also must
be revised to match the final common
pool allocation. Final common pool
trimester quotas and incidental catch
limits are included in Tables 6–10
below.
TABLE 6—FINAL FISHING YEAR 2018 COMMON POOL TRIMESTER TACS
Percentage of sub-ACL
2018 Trimester TAC (mt)
Stock
Trimester 1
GB Cod ....................................................
GOM Cod .................................................
GB Haddock .............................................
GOM Haddock .........................................
GB Yellowtail Flounder ............................
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ....................
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ...................
American Plaice .......................................
Witch Flounder .........................................
GB Winter Flounder .................................
GOM Winter Flounder ..............................
Redfish .....................................................
White Hake ..............................................
Pollock ......................................................
Trimester 2
28
49
27
27
19
21
57
74
55
8
37
25
38
28
Trimester 3
34
33
33
26
30
28
26
8
20
24
38
31
31
35
Trimester 1
38
18
40
47
52
51
17
18
25
69
25
44
31
37
Trimester 2
6.8
5.8
86.1
26.3
0.5
1.7
9.7
20.6
10.1
0.5
6.5
12.5
7.8
64.4
Trimester 3
8.2
3.9
105.2
25.4
0.8
2.3
4.4
2.2
3.7
1.4
6.7
15.5
6.4
80.5
9.2
2.1
127.5
45.9
1.3
4.2
2.9
5.0
4.6
4.1
4.4
22.1
6.4
85.1
TABLE 7—FISHING YEAR 2018 COMMON POOL INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS
Percentage of
common pool
sub-ACL
Stock
GB cod .....................................................................................................................................................................
GOM cod .................................................................................................................................................................
GB yellowtail flounder ..............................................................................................................................................
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ....................................................................................................................................
American Plaice .......................................................................................................................................................
Witch Flounder .........................................................................................................................................................
SNE/MA winter flounder ..........................................................................................................................................
2018
(mt)
2
1
2
1
5
5
1
0.55
0.12
0.05
0.17
1.39
0.92
0.62
TABLE 8—DISTRIBUTION OF COMMON POOL INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS TO EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Regular B
DAS program
(%)
Stock
GB cod .............................................................................................................
GOM cod .........................................................................................................
GB yellowtail flounder ......................................................................................
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ............................................................................
American Plaice ...............................................................................................
Witch Flounder .................................................................................................
SNE/MA winter flounder ..................................................................................
Closed
area I
hook gear
haddock SAP
(%)
50
100
50
100
100
100
100
16
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Eastern
U.S./CA
haddock
SAP
(%)
Southern
closed
area II
haddock
SAP
34
NA
50
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
TABLE 9—FISHING YEAR 2018 COMMON POOL INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS FOR EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
(mt)
Regular B
DAS
program
Stock
GB cod .........................................................................................................................................
GOM cod .....................................................................................................................................
GB yellowtail flounder ..................................................................................................................
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ........................................................................................................
American Plaice ...........................................................................................................................
Witch Flounder .............................................................................................................................
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0.28
0.12
0.03
0.17
1.39
0.92
05FER1
Closed
area I
hook gear
haddock
SAP
0.09
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Eastern
U.S./Canada
haddock SAP
0.19
n/a
0.03
n/a
n/a
n/a
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
1639
TABLE 9—FISHING YEAR 2018 COMMON POOL INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS FOR EACH SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
(mt)—Continued
Regular B
DAS
program
Stock
SNE/MA winter flounder ..............................................................................................................
0.62
Closed
area I
hook gear
haddock
SAP
Eastern
U.S./Canada
haddock SAP
n/a
n/a
TABLE 10—FISHING YEAR 2018 COMMON POOL REGULAR B DAS PROGRAM QUARTERLY INCIDENTAL CATCH TACS (mt)
1st quarter
(13%)
Stock
GB cod .............................................................................................................
GOM cod .........................................................................................................
GB yellowtail flounder ......................................................................................
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder ............................................................................
American Plaice ...............................................................................................
Witch Flounder .................................................................................................
SNE/MA winter flounder ..................................................................................
This action adjusts the New
Hampshire Permit Bank’s (NHPB)
fishing year 2018 initial allocation. The
NHPB ended fishing year 2017 with a 3-
2nd quarter
(29%)
0.04
0.02
0.003
0.02
0.18
0.12
0.08
pound (1.36-kg) Georges Bank West cod
overage and a 1-pound (0.45-kg) Georges
Bank West haddock overage. Table 11
shows the adjustments to the NHPB’s
0.08
0.03
0.007
0.05
0.40
0.27
0.18
3rd quarter
(29%)
0.08
0.03
0.007
0.05
0.40
0.27
0.18
4th quarter
(29%)
0.08
0.03
0.007
0.05
0.40
0.27
0.18
initial allocation for fishing year 2018 to
account for these overages.
TABLE 11—ADJUSTMENTS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE PERMIT BANK’S INITIAL ALLOCATIONS FOR FISHING YEAR 2018 (lb)
Fishing year
2017 yearend balance
Stock
¥3
¥1
GB Cod West ...............................................................................................................................
GB Haddock West .......................................................................................................................
Last, this rule confirms the Northeast
Fishery Sector IX’s (NEFS 9) initial
allocation of witch flounder for the 2018
fishing year. On July 20, 2018, NOAA
Fisheries published an interim final rule
that approved sector operations plans
and allocated ACE to NEFS 7 and 9 for
the 2018 fishing year (83 FR 34492; July
20, 2018). The interim final rule
described the requirement for NEFS 9 to
payback 72,224-lb (32.7-mt) of witch
flounder to account for the quota
overage incurred in fishing year 2017.
The data used to determine the payback
amount announced in the interim final
rule were preliminary. After finalizing
the year-end catch data for sectors, we
determined that NEFS 9 ended the 2017
fishing year with a 71,716 lb (32.5 mt)
overage of witch flounder. NEFS 9
transferred in 71,716 lb (32.5 mt) of
witch flounder quota to reconcile the
overage during the fishing year 2017
post-year ACE trading window. NEFS 9
does not have any witch flounder to
carry over into fishing year 2018 and the
permits enrolled in NEFS 9 for fishing
year 2018 have zero ACE for witch
flounder. Therefore, the sector’s initial
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:04 Feb 04, 2019
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allocation of witch flounder for fishing
year 2018 remains at zero pounds.
Classification
The NMFS Assistant Administrator
has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan,
other provisions of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, and other applicable
law.
This action is exempt from the
procedures of Executive Order 12866
because this action contains no
implementing regulations.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), we
find good cause to waive prior public
notice and opportunity for public
comment on the catch limit and
allocation adjustments because allowing
time for notice and comment is
impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest. We also
find good cause to waive the 30-day
delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule
may become effective upon filing.
There are several reasons that notice
and comment and a 30-day delay in
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Fishing year
2018 initial
allocation
16
21
Fishing year
2018 adjusted
allocation
13
20
effectiveness are impracticable,
unnecessary, and contrary to the public
interest. First, the proposed and final
rules for Framework 57 explained the
need and likelihood for adjustments of
sector and common pool allocations
based on final sector rosters. No
comments were received on the
potential for these adjustments, which
provide an accurate accounting of a
sector’s or common pool’s allocation.
Second, this is an annual adjustment
action that is expected by industry.
These adjustments are routine and
formulaic, required by regulation, or
necessary to match allocations to sector
enrollment. Finally, immediate
implementation corrects the information
published in Framework 57 and
provides sector and common pool
vessels with catch limit information that
reflects their actual final allocations.
Delaying these adjustments, which
provide an accurate accounting of the
sector and common pool allocations,
could cause confusion to both sectors
and the common pool.
Also, because advanced notice and
the opportunity for public comment are
not required for this action under the
E:\FR\FM\05FER1.SGM
05FER1
1640
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Administrative Procedure Act, or any
other law, the analytical requirements of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.SC.
601, et seq., do not apply to this rule.
Therefore, no final regulatory flexibility
analysis is required and none has been
prepared.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–00979 Filed 2–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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05FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1632-1640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00979]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 180921861-8861-01]
RIN 0648-XG503
Revisions to Framework Adjustment 57 to the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and Sector Annual Catch
Entitlements; Updated Annual Catch Limits for Sectors and the Common
Pool for Fishing Year 2018
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; adjustment to specifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSA), this final rule adjusts the 2018 fishing year allocations to
sectors and the common pool specified in Framework Adjustment 57 to the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan; makes other minor
adjustments based on final 2017 catch information; and distributes
sector allocation carried over from fishing year 2017 into fishing year
2018 as required by the sector regulations. The revisions are necessary
to account for changes to 2018 sub-annual catch limits based on final
2018 sector rosters. These adjustments are routine and formulaic and
are intended to ensure that final allocations are based on the best
scientific information available.
DATES: Effective February 4, 2019, through April 30, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We recently approved Framework Adjustment
57, which set annual catch limits for 20 groundfish stocks for the 2018
fishing year. This action became effective on May 1, 2018 (83 FR 18985;
May 1, 2018). Framework 57 included preliminary allocations for sectors
and the common pool based on final sector enrollment for the 2017
fishing year. A sector receives an allocation of each stock, or annual
catch entitlement (referred to as ACE, or allocation), based on its
members' catch histories. State-operated permit banks also receive an
allocation that can be transferred to qualifying sector vessels. The
sum of all sector and state-operated permit bank allocations is
referred to as the sector sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL). The
groundfish allocations remaining after sectors and state-operated
permit banks receive their allocations are then allocated to the common
pool (i.e., vessels not enrolled in a sector), which is referred to as
the common pool sub-ACL.
The MSA at section 305(d) gives us the responsibility and authority
to carry out fishery management plans. Using this authority, this rule
adjusts the 2018 fishing year sector and common pool sub-ACLs and
sector ACEs based on final sector membership as of May 1, 2018. Permits
enrolled in a sector and the vessels associated with those permits have
until April 30, the last day prior to the beginning of a new fishing
year, to withdraw from a sector and fish in the common pool. As a
result, the actual sector enrollment for the new fishing year is
unknown when the final specifications are published. Each year, we
subsequently publish an adjustment rule modifying sector and common
pool allocations based on final sector enrollment. The Framework 57
proposed and final rules both explained that sector enrollments may
change and that there would be a need to adjust the sub-ACLs and sector
ACEs accordingly. Table 1 shows the changes to the sub-
[[Page 1633]]
ACLs between Framework 57 and this adjustment rule.
In contrast to Framework 57, this year's sector rule provided
sector ACE for 17 sectors based on preliminary fishing year 2018
potential sector contributions and the preliminary fishing year 2018
sector rosters that were submitted on March 26, 2018 (83 FR 18965; May
1, 2018). An interim final sector rule allocated ACE to the 2 remaining
sectors on July 20, 2018 (83 FR 34492; July 20, 2018). There were no
changes to sector enrollment following submission of the preliminary
rosters. Therefore, the sector-specific allocations described in the
sector rules are correct and do not require adjustment.
Table 1--Sub-ACL Comparison Between Framework 57 Final Rule and Adjustment Rule (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final
Final Final adjusted Framework 57 Final adjusted
Stock Framework 57 sector sub-ACL common pool common pool
sector sub-ACL sub-ACL sub-ACL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.......................................... 1,335 1,170 25 24
GOM Cod......................................... 377 357 13 12
GB Haddock...................................... 44,348 44,340 311 319
GOM Haddock..................................... 8,643 8,641 95 98
GB Yellowtail Flounder.......................... 167 167 3 3
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder...................... 34 34 8 8
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder...................... 381 381 18 17
American Plaice................................. 1,550 1,552 29 28
Witch Flounder.................................. 830 811 19 18
GB Winter Flounder.............................. 725 725 6 6
GOM Winter Flounder............................. 339 339 18 18
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.......................... 456 456 62 62
Redfish......................................... 10,696 10,705 59 50
White Hake...................................... 2,713 2,715 22 21
Pollock......................................... 37,163 37,170 237 230
N. Windowpane Flounder.......................... na na 63 63
S. Windowpane Flounder.......................... na na 53 53
Ocean Pout...................................... na na 94 94
Atlantic Halibut................................ na na 77 77
Atlantic Wolffish............................... na na 82 82
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(c) require us to adjust ACE
carryover to ensure that the total unused ACE combined with the overall
sub-ACL does not exceed the acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the
fishing year in which the carryover may be harvested. We have completed
2017 fishing year data reconciliation with sectors and determined final
2017 fishing year sector catch and the amount of allocation that
sectors may carry over from the 2017 to the 2018 fishing year. A sector
may carry over up to 10 percent of unused ACE for each stock, except in
instances where the amount of unused ACE was reduced so as not to
exceed the ABC. Accordingly, fishing year 2017 carryover to 2018 was
reduced for the following stocks: Georges Bank haddock; Gulf of Maine
haddock; Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder; Cape
Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder; American plaice; witch flounder;
Georges Bank winter flounder; Gulf of Maine winter flounder; Southern
New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder; redfish; white hake; and
pollock. Complete details on carryover reduction percentages can be
found at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/reports/Groundfish_Catch_Accounting.htm. Table 2 includes the maximum
amount of allocation that sectors may carry over from the 2017 to the
2018 fishing year.
Table 3 includes the de minimis amount of carryover for each sector
for the 2018 fishing year. If the overall ACL for any allocated stock
is exceeded for the 2018 fishing year, the allowed carryover harvested
by a sector, minus the pounds in the sector's de minimis amount, will
be counted against its allocation to determine whether an overage
subject to an accountability measure occurred. Tables 4 and 5 list the
final ACE available to sectors for the 2018 fishing year, including
finalized carryover amounts for each sector, as adjusted down when
necessary to equal each stock's ABC.
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This rule also adjusts the common pool allocation based on fishing
year 2018 final rosters. The common pool sub-ACL for each stock (except
for SNE/
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MA winter flounder, windowpane flounder, ocean pout, Atlantic wolffish,
and Atlantic halibut) is divided into trimester total allowable catches
(TAC). In addition, Framework 57 specified incidental catch limits (or
incidental total allowable catches, ``Incidental TACs'') applicable to
the common pool and groundfish Special Management Programs for the 2018
fishing year, including the B day-at-sea (DAS) Program. Because the
Trimester and incidental TACs are based on the common-pool allocation,
they also must be revised to match the final common pool allocation.
Final common pool trimester quotas and incidental catch limits are
included in Tables 6-10 below.
Table 6--Final Fishing Year 2018 Common Pool Trimester TACs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of sub-ACL 2018 Trimester TAC (mt)
Stock -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod.................................................. 28 34 38 6.8 8.2 9.2
GOM Cod................................................. 49 33 18 5.8 3.9 2.1
GB Haddock.............................................. 27 33 40 86.1 105.2 127.5
GOM Haddock............................................. 27 26 47 26.3 25.4 45.9
GB Yellowtail Flounder.................................. 19 30 52 0.5 0.8 1.3
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.............................. 21 28 51 1.7 2.3 4.2
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder.............................. 57 26 17 9.7 4.4 2.9
American Plaice......................................... 74 8 18 20.6 2.2 5.0
Witch Flounder.......................................... 55 20 25 10.1 3.7 4.6
GB Winter Flounder...................................... 8 24 69 0.5 1.4 4.1
GOM Winter Flounder..................................... 37 38 25 6.5 6.7 4.4
Redfish................................................. 25 31 44 12.5 15.5 22.1
White Hake.............................................. 38 31 31 7.8 6.4 6.4
Pollock................................................. 28 35 37 64.4 80.5 85.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7--Fishing Year 2018 Common Pool Incidental Catch TACs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of
Stock common pool 2018 (mt)
sub-ACL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod.................................. 2 0.55
GOM cod................................. 1 0.12
GB yellowtail flounder.................. 2 0.05
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder.............. 1 0.17
American Plaice......................... 5 1.39
Witch Flounder.......................... 5 0.92
SNE/MA winter flounder.................. 1 0.62
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 8--Distribution of Common Pool Incidental Catch TACs to Each Special Management Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closed area I
Regular B DAS hook gear Eastern U.S./ Southern
Stock program (%) haddock SAP CA haddock SAP closed area II
(%) (%) haddock SAP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod.......................................... 50 16 34 NA
GOM cod......................................... 100 NA NA NA
GB yellowtail flounder.......................... 50 NA 50 NA
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder...................... 100 NA NA NA
American Plaice................................. 100 NA NA NA
Witch Flounder.................................. 100 NA NA NA
SNE/MA winter flounder.......................... 100 NA NA NA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 9--Fishing Year 2018 Common Pool Incidental Catch TACs for Each Special Management Program (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closed area I Eastern U.S./
Stock Regular B DAS hook gear Canada haddock
program haddock SAP SAP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod.......................................................... 0.28 0.09 0.19
GOM cod......................................................... 0.12 n/a n/a
GB yellowtail flounder.......................................... 0.03 n/a 0.03
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder...................................... 0.17 n/a n/a
American Plaice................................................. 1.39 n/a n/a
Witch Flounder.................................................. 0.92 n/a n/a
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SNE/MA winter flounder.......................................... 0.62 n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 10--Fishing year 2018 Common Pool Regular B DAS Program Quarterly Incidental Catch TACs (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter
Stock (13%) (29%) (29%) (29%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB cod.......................................... 0.04 0.08 0.08 0.08
GOM cod......................................... 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03
GB yellowtail flounder.......................... 0.003 0.007 0.007 0.007
CC/GOM yellowtail flounder...................... 0.02 0.05 0.05 0.05
American Plaice................................. 0.18 0.40 0.40 0.40
Witch Flounder.................................. 0.12 0.27 0.27 0.27
SNE/MA winter flounder.......................... 0.08 0.18 0.18 0.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This action adjusts the New Hampshire Permit Bank's (NHPB) fishing
year 2018 initial allocation. The NHPB ended fishing year 2017 with a
3-pound (1.36-kg) Georges Bank West cod overage and a 1-pound (0.45-kg)
Georges Bank West haddock overage. Table 11 shows the adjustments to
the NHPB's initial allocation for fishing year 2018 to account for
these overages.
Table 11--Adjustments to New Hampshire Permit Bank's Initial Allocations for Fishing Year 2018 (lb)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishing year Fishing year Fishing year
Stock 2017 year- end 2018 initial 2018 adjusted
balance allocation allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Cod West..................................................... -3 16 13
GB Haddock West................................................. -1 21 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last, this rule confirms the Northeast Fishery Sector IX's (NEFS 9)
initial allocation of witch flounder for the 2018 fishing year. On July
20, 2018, NOAA Fisheries published an interim final rule that approved
sector operations plans and allocated ACE to NEFS 7 and 9 for the 2018
fishing year (83 FR 34492; July 20, 2018). The interim final rule
described the requirement for NEFS 9 to payback 72,224-lb (32.7-mt) of
witch flounder to account for the quota overage incurred in fishing
year 2017. The data used to determine the payback amount announced in
the interim final rule were preliminary. After finalizing the year-end
catch data for sectors, we determined that NEFS 9 ended the 2017
fishing year with a 71,716 lb (32.5 mt) overage of witch flounder. NEFS
9 transferred in 71,716 lb (32.5 mt) of witch flounder quota to
reconcile the overage during the fishing year 2017 post-year ACE
trading window. NEFS 9 does not have any witch flounder to carry over
into fishing year 2018 and the permits enrolled in NEFS 9 for fishing
year 2018 have zero ACE for witch flounder. Therefore, the sector's
initial allocation of witch flounder for fishing year 2018 remains at
zero pounds.
Classification
The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this final
rule is consistent with the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management
Plan, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, and other applicable law.
This action is exempt from the procedures of Executive Order 12866
because this action contains no implementing regulations.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), we find good cause to waive
prior public notice and opportunity for public comment on the catch
limit and allocation adjustments because allowing time for notice and
comment is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public
interest. We also find good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule
may become effective upon filing.
There are several reasons that notice and comment and a 30-day
delay in effectiveness are impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to
the public interest. First, the proposed and final rules for Framework
57 explained the need and likelihood for adjustments of sector and
common pool allocations based on final sector rosters. No comments were
received on the potential for these adjustments, which provide an
accurate accounting of a sector's or common pool's allocation. Second,
this is an annual adjustment action that is expected by industry. These
adjustments are routine and formulaic, required by regulation, or
necessary to match allocations to sector enrollment. Finally, immediate
implementation corrects the information published in Framework 57 and
provides sector and common pool vessels with catch limit information
that reflects their actual final allocations. Delaying these
adjustments, which provide an accurate accounting of the sector and
common pool allocations, could cause confusion to both sectors and the
common pool.
Also, because advanced notice and the opportunity for public
comment are not required for this action under the
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Administrative Procedure Act, or any other law, the analytical
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.SC. 601, et seq.,
do not apply to this rule. Therefore, no final regulatory flexibility
analysis is required and none has been prepared.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-00979 Filed 2-4-19; 8:45 am]
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