Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 59588-59589 [2019-24153]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: October 29, 2019.
Margaret E. Everson,
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Exercising the Authority of
the Director, For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–24124 Filed 11–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[RTID 0648–XX020]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Summer Flounder Fishery;
Quota Transfer From NC to RI and VA
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of quota transfer.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces that the
State of North Carolina is transferring a
portion of its 2019 commercial summer
flounder quota to the State of Rhode
Island and the Commonwealth of
Virginia. This quota adjustment is
necessary to comply with the Summer
Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Fishery Management Plan quota transfer
provisions. This announcement informs
the public of the revised commercial
quotas for North Carolina, Virginia, and
Rhode Island.
DATES: Effective November 4, 2019,
through December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the summer
flounder fishery are found in 50 CFR
648.100 through 648.110. These
regulations require annual specification
of a commercial quota that is
apportioned among the coastal states
from Maine through North Carolina. The
process to set the annual commercial
quota and the percent allocated to each
state is described in § 648.102 and final
2019 allocations were published on May
17, 2019 (84 FR 22392).
The final rule implementing
Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder
Fishery Management Plan, as published
in the Federal Register on December 17,
1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a
mechanism for transferring summer
flounder commercial quota from one
state to another. Two or more states,
under mutual agreement and with the
concurrence of the NMFS Greater
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SUMMARY:
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Atlantic Regional Administrator, can
transfer or combine summer flounder
commercial quota under § 648.102(c)(2).
The Regional Administrator is required
to consider three criteria in the
evaluation of requests for quota transfers
or combinations: The transfer or
combinations would preclude the
overall annual quota from being fully
harvested, the transfer addresses an
unforeseen variation or contingency in
the fishery, and the transfer is consistent
with the objectives of the GMP and the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
North Carolina is transferring 23,481
lb (10,651 kg) and 7,706 lb (3,495 kg) of
summer flounder commercial quota to
Rhode Island and Virginia, respectively,
through mutual agreement of the states.
These transfers were requested to repay
landings made by North Carolinapermitted vessels in Rhode Island and
Virginia under safe harbor agreements.
Based on the revised Summer Flounder,
Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Specifications, the revised summer
flounder quotas for fishing year 2019 are
now: North Carolina, 2,926,555 lb
(1,327,463 kg); Rhode Island, 1,745,943
lb (9,1946 kg); and Virginia, 2,398,416 lb
(1,087,903 kg).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 29, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–23966 Filed 11–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180831813–9170–02]
RIN 0648–XY053
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of Pacific cod
total allowable catch (TAC) from catcher
vessels using trawl gear to catcher
vessels using hook-and-line gear,
catcher/processors using trawl gear,
vessels using jig gear, and vessels using
pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area
SUMMARY:
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of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to allow the 2019 TAC of
Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA to be harvested.
DATES: Effective November 1, 2019
through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels using hook-and-line
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA is 73 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher/processors using trawl gear
in the Western Regulatory Area of the
GOA is 125 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified
for vessel using jig gear in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 134
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified
for vessels using pot gear in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,980
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to catcher vessels using
trawl gear in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 2,000 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2019
and 2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416,
March 14, 2019). The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional
Administrator) has determined that
catcher vessels using trawl gear will not
be able to harvest 330 mt of the 2019
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(3).
In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that
catcher vessels using hook-and-line
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
gear, catcher/processors using trawl
gear, vessels using jig gear, and vessels
using pot gear currently have the
capacity to harvest this excess
allocation. Therefore, NMFS apportions
330 mt of Pacific cod from the trawl
catcher vessel apportionment to catcher
vessels using hook-and-line gear,
catcher/processors using trawl gear,
vessels using jig gear, and vessels using
pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area
of the GOA.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA included in the final 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416,
March 14, 2019) are revised as follows:
1,670 mt to catcher vessels using trawl
gear, 155 mt to catcher/processors using
trawl gear, 108 mt to vessels using hookand-line gear, 184 mt to vessels using jig
gear, and 2,195 mt to vessels using pot
gear.
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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 reallocations of Pacific cod in
the Western Regulatory Area of the
GOA. Since the fishery is 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
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59589
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 28, 2019.
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 § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 31, 2019.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–24153 Filed 10–31–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59588-59589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24153]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180831813-9170-02]
RIN 0648-XY053
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific
cod total allowable catch (TAC) from catcher vessels using trawl gear
to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors using
trawl gear, vessels using jig gear, and vessels using pot gear in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to allow the 2019 TAC of Pacific cod in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested.
DATES: Effective November 1, 2019 through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels using hook-
and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 73 metric
tons (mt) as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher/processors using
trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 125 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
for groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessel using jig gear in the
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 134 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using pot gear in
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,980 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019).
The 2019 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,000 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
for groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019). The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to
harvest 330 mt of the 2019 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(3).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels using hook-and-
line
[[Page 59589]]
gear, catcher/processors using trawl gear, vessels using jig gear, and
vessels using pot gear currently have the capacity to harvest this
excess allocation. Therefore, NMFS apportions 330 mt of Pacific cod
from the trawl catcher vessel apportionment to catcher vessels using
hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors using trawl gear, vessels using
jig gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019)
are revised as follows: 1,670 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear,
155 mt to catcher/processors using trawl gear, 108 mt to vessels using
hook-and-line gear, 184 mt to vessels using jig gear, and 2,195 mt to
vessels using pot gear.
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 reallocations of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA. Since the fishery is 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 28, 2019.
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 31, 2019.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-24153 Filed 10-31-19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
