Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; In Season Adjustment to the 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments, 49606 [2020-17846]
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49606
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 158 / Friday, August 14, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (c)—Continued
Species
Open season
Atlantic Halibut ......................................
Atlantic Wolffish .....................................
*
*
*
*
Closed ...................................................
*
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221–0062; RTID 0648–
XA310]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; In Season
Adjustment to the 2020 Gulf of Alaska
Pollock Seasonal Apportionments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; in season
adjustment.
AGENCY:
NMFS is adjusting the 2020 C
seasonal apportionments of the total
allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by re-apportioning
unharvested pollock TAC in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA. This action is
necessary to provide opportunity for
harvest of the 2020 pollock TAC,
consistent with the goals and objectives
of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), August 13, 2020, until
2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 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
(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 annual pollock TACs in
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of
the GOA are apportioned among four
seasons, in accordance with
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:38 Aug 13, 2020
Jkt 250001
Closed season
See Paragraph (c)(3) of this section
[FR Doc. 2020–17707 Filed 8–13–20; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY:
Possession limit
No retention ..........
§ 679.23(d)(2). Regulations at
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the
underharvest of a seasonal
apportionment to be added to
subsequent seasonal apportionments,
provided that any revised seasonal
apportionment does not exceed 20
percent of the seasonal apportionment
for a given statistical area. Therefore,
NMFS is increasing the C season
apportionment of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA to reflect the
underharvest of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 during the B season. In
addition, any underharvest remaining
beyond 20 percent of the originally
specified seasonal apportionment in a
particular area may be further
apportioned to other statistical areas.
Therefore, NMFS also is increasing the
C season apportionment of pollock to
Statistical Areas 610 and 620 based on
the underharvest of pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. These
adjustments are described below.
The C seasonal apportionment of the
2020 pollock TAC in Statistical Area
610 of the GOA is 9,070 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), hereby increases the C
season apportionment for Statistical
Area 610 by 287 mt to account for the
underharvest of the TAC in Statistical
Area 630 in the B season. This increase
is in proportion to the estimated pollock
biomass and is not greater than 20
percent of the C seasonal apportionment
of the TAC in Statistical Area 610.
Therefore, the revised C seasonal
apportionment of the pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 610 is 9,357mt (9,070 mt
plus 287 mt).
The C seasonal apportionment of the
2020 pollock TAC in Statistical Area
620 of the GOA is 6,739 mt as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B),
the Regional Administrator hereby
increases the C seasonal apportionment
for Statistical Area 620 by 213 mt to
account for the underharvest of the TAC
in Statistical Area 630 in the B season.
This increase is not greater than 20
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
All Year.
percent of the C seasonal apportionment
of the TAC in Statistical Area 620.
Therefore, the revised C seasonal
apportionment of the pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 620 is 6,952 mt (6,739
mt plus 213 mt).
The C seasonal apportionment of the
2020 pollock TAC in Statistical Area
630 of the GOA is 9,248 mt as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B),
the Regional Administrator hereby
increases the C seasonal apportionment
for Statistical Area 630 by 1,850 mt to
account for the underharvest of the TAC
in Statistical Area 630 in the B season.
This increase is in proportion to the
estimated pollock biomass and is not
greater than 20 percent of the C seasonal
apportionment of the TAC in Statistical
Area 630. Therefore, the revised C
seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC
in Statistical Area 630 is 11,098 mt
(9,248 mt plus 1,850 mt).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
part 679, which was issued pursuant to
section 304(b), and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there
is good cause to waive prior notice and
an opportunity for public comment on
this action, as notice and comment
would be 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 reapportionment of
pollock in Statistical Areas 610, 620,
and 630 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 August 10, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 11, 2020.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–17846 Filed 8–13–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\14AUR1.SGM
14AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 158 (Friday, August 14, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17846]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221-0062; RTID 0648-XA310]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; In Season
Adjustment to the 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; in season adjustment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2020 C seasonal apportionments of the
total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by
re-apportioning unharvested pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of the
GOA. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the
2020 pollock TAC, consistent with the goals and objectives of the
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 13,
2020, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 (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 annual pollock TACs in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of
the GOA are apportioned among four seasons, in accordance with Sec.
679.23(d)(2). Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the
underharvest of a seasonal apportionment to be added to subsequent
seasonal apportionments, provided that any revised seasonal
apportionment does not exceed 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment
for a given statistical area. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the C
season apportionment of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA to
reflect the underharvest of pollock in Statistical Area 630 during the
B season. In addition, any underharvest remaining beyond 20 percent of
the originally specified seasonal apportionment in a particular area
may be further apportioned to other statistical areas. Therefore, NMFS
also is increasing the C season apportionment of pollock to Statistical
Areas 610 and 620 based on the underharvest of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA. These adjustments are described below.
The C seasonal apportionment of the 2020 pollock TAC in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA is 9,070 metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), hereby increases the C season apportionment for
Statistical Area 610 by 287 mt to account for the underharvest of the
TAC in Statistical Area 630 in the B season. This increase is in
proportion to the estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20
percent of the C seasonal apportionment of the TAC in Statistical Area
610. Therefore, the revised C seasonal apportionment of the pollock TAC
in Statistical Area 610 is 9,357mt (9,070 mt plus 287 mt).
The C seasonal apportionment of the 2020 pollock TAC in Statistical
Area 620 of the GOA is 6,739 mt as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the
Regional Administrator hereby increases the C seasonal apportionment
for Statistical Area 620 by 213 mt to account for the underharvest of
the TAC in Statistical Area 630 in the B season. This increase is not
greater than 20 percent of the C seasonal apportionment of the TAC in
Statistical Area 620. Therefore, the revised C seasonal apportionment
of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 is 6,952 mt (6,739 mt plus
213 mt).
The C seasonal apportionment of the 2020 pollock TAC in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA is 9,248 mt as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the
Regional Administrator hereby increases the C seasonal apportionment
for Statistical Area 630 by 1,850 mt to account for the underharvest of
the TAC in Statistical Area 630 in the B season. This increase is in
proportion to the estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20
percent of the C seasonal apportionment of the TAC in Statistical Area
630. Therefore, the revised C seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 630 is 11,098 mt (9,248 mt plus 1,850 mt).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be 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 reapportionment of pollock
in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 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 August 10, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 11, 2020.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17846 Filed 8-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P