Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; In Season Adjustment to the 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments, 49606 [2020-17846]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[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]


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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.

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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]
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