Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 18152-18153 [2020-06813]
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18152
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), March 27, 2020, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
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 (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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2020 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation’s directed fishing
allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553,
March 9, 2020).
As of March 24, 2020, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has
determined that 10,000 mt of Aleut
DATES:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227–0066; RTID 0648–
XY098]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation’s pollock directed fishing
allowances from the Aleutian Islands
subarea to the Bering Sea subarea
directed fisheries. These actions are
necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2020 total allowable catch
of pollock, consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
SUMMARY:
Corporation’s DFA in the Aleutian
Islands subarea will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 10,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation’s DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea DFA allocations. The 10,000 mt
of pollock in the Bering Sea subarea is
apportioned to the AFA Inshore sector
(50 percent), AFA catcher/processor
sector (40 percent), and the AFA
mothership sector (10 percent). The
2020 Bering Sea subarea pollock
incidental catch allowance remains at
47,453 mt. As a result, the 2020 harvest
specifications for pollock in the
Aleutian Islands subarea included in the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020 and
85 FR 17034, March 26, 2020) are
revised as follows: 4,700 mt to Aleut
Corporation’s DFA. Furthermore,
pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020 and
85 FR 17034, March 26, 2020) is revised
to make 2020 pollock allocations
consistent with this reallocation.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2020 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020 A season 1
2020
Allocations
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Area and sector
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .....................................................................
AFA Inshore .....................................................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...............................................................................
Catch by C/Ps ..........................................................................................
Catch by CVs 3 .........................................................................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...................................................................................
AFA Motherships .............................................................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................
Area harvest limit 7 ...........................................................................................
541 ............................................................................................................
542 ............................................................................................................
543 ............................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................
1,436,900
144,400
47,453
1,245,047
622,524
498,019
455,687
42,332
2,490
124,505
217,883
373,514
55,120
7,100
........................
2,400
4,700
n/a
16,536
8,268
2,756
75
A season DFA
n/a
64,980
n/a
560,271
280,136
224,108
205,059
19,049
1,121
56,027
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
........................
1,200
4,700
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
40,432
n/a
348,613
174,307
139,445
n/a
n/a
n/a
34,861
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2020 B
season 1
B season
DFA
n/a
79,420
n/a
684,776
342,388
273,910
250,628
23,282
1,370
68,478
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
........................
1,200
........................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.7 percent),
is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In
the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock (AI pollock) TAC, after subtracting first
for the CDQ DFA (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 for AI pollock.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
18153
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), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
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)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch
only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Classification
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
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 reallocation of AI pollock.
Since the pollock fishery opened
January 20, 2020, it is important to
immediately inform the industry as to
the final Bering Sea subarea pollock
allocations. Immediate notification is
necessary to allow for the orderly
conduct and efficient operation of this
fishery; allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season and avoid potential
disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
processors; and provide opportunity to
harvest increased seasonal pollock
allocations while value is optimum.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of March 24,
2020.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:27 Mar 31, 2020
Jkt 250001
Dated: March 27, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–06813 Filed 3–27–20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221–0062; RTID 0648–
XF099]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in the West
Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in the West Yakutat
District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch
of pollock in the West Yakutat District
of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 28, 2020,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2020.
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.
SUMMARY:
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Frm 00049
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
The 2020 total allowable catch (TAC)
of pollock in the West Yakutat District
of the GOA is 5,554 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the 2020 TAC of
pollock in the West Yakutat District of
the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 5,304 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 250 mt as bycatch
to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in the West
Yakutat District of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
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 closure of directed fishing for
pollock in the West Yakutat District of
the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish
a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of March 26, 2020.
E:\FR\FM\01APR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18152-18153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06813]
[[Page 18152]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227-0066; RTID 0648-XY098]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowances from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These
actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2020
total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 27, 2020,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
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
(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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2020 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's
directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 14,700 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
As of March 24, 2020, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 10,000 mt of Aleut
Corporation's DFA in the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be
harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4),
NMFS reallocates 10,000 mt of Aleut Corporation's DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea DFA allocations. The 10,000
mt of pollock in the Bering Sea subarea is apportioned to the AFA
Inshore sector (50 percent), AFA catcher/processor sector (40 percent),
and the AFA mothership sector (10 percent). The 2020 Bering Sea subarea
pollock incidental catch allowance remains at 47,453 mt. As a result,
the 2020 harvest specifications for pollock in the Aleutian Islands
subarea included in the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020 and 85 FR 17034,
March 26, 2020) are revised as follows: 4,700 mt to Aleut Corporation's
DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR
13553, March 9, 2020 and 85 FR 17034, March 26, 2020) is revised to
make 2020 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation.
Table 4--Final 2020 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 A season \1\ 2020 B season
2020 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,436,900 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 144,400 64,980 40,432 79,420
ICA \1\......................................... 47,453 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,245,047 560,271 348,613 684,776
AFA Inshore..................................... 622,524 280,136 174,307 342,388
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 498,019 224,108 139,445 273,910
Catch by C/Ps............................... 455,687 205,059 n/a 250,628
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 42,332 19,049 n/a 23,282
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,490 1,121 n/a 1,370
AFA Motherships................................. 124,505 56,027 34,861 68,478
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 217,883 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 373,514 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 55,120 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 7,100 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... .............. .............. n/a ..............
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 4,700 4,700 n/a ..............
Area harvest limit \7\.......................... n/a n/a n/a n/a
541......................................... 16,536 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................... 8,268 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................... 2,756 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................... 75 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.7 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock
(AI pollock) TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (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 for AI pollock.
[[Page 18153]]
\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), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available
for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is
a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
\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)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch 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 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 AI pollock. Since the pollock fishery
opened January 20, 2020, it is important to immediately inform the
industry as to the final Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations.
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct
and efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet
as well as processors; and provide opportunity to harvest increased
seasonal pollock allocations while value is optimum. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of March 24, 2020.
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: March 27, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06813 Filed 3-27-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
