Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49976 [2020-17924]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 159 / Monday, August 17, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
statement for the Pacific Islands Region
Logbook Family of Forms (OMB Control
No. 0648–0214) for reporting related to
observer safety on longline vessels is
estimated to average 5 minutes per
reporting incident. These estimates
include time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data
needed, and completing and reviewing
the collection of information.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the law, no person is required to
respond to, and no person shall be
subject to penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection-of-information subject
to the requirements of the PRA, unless
that collection-of-information displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. and 16
U.S.C. 951 et seq.
Dated: July 28, 2020.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–16730 Filed 8–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227–0066; RTID 0648–
XA383]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of Pacific cod
from vessels using jig gear and catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA)
using hook-and-line gear to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) length
overall using hook-and-line or pot gear
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) management area. This action is
necessary to allow the 2020 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to
be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 14, 2020,
through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Milani, 907–581–2062.
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:18 Aug 14, 2020
Jkt 250001
NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 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 2020 Pacific cod TAC specified
for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is
1,278 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) and
reallocation (85 FR 4601, January 27,
2020).
The 2020 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear in the BSAI is 277 mt as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
The 2020 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in
the BSAI is 3,433 mt as established by
final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) and
reallocation (85 FR 4601, January 27,
2020).
The Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
determined that jig vessels will not be
able to harvest 1,100 mt of the 2020
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1) and
catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear will not be able to harvest 274
mt of the 2020 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3).
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions
1,100 mt of Pacific cod from the jig gear
apportionment to the annual amount
specified for catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear. Also, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates
274 mt from the catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line gear apportionment
to the annual amount specified for
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2020
Pacific cod included in final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553,
March 9, 2020) and reallocation (85 FR
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
4601, January 27, 2020) are revised as
follows: 178 mt to vessels using jig gear,
3 mt to catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line gear, and 4,807 mt to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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. 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
allow for harvests that exceed the
originally specified apportionment of
the Pacific cod TAC.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of August 7,
2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 12, 2020.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–17924 Filed 8–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227–0066; RTID 0648–
XA385]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish
Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment
of reserves; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS apportions amounts of
the non-specified reserve to the initial
total allowable catch (ITAC) of Aleutian
Islands (AI) Greenland turbot, AI trawl
sablefish, Bering Sea (BS) trawl
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 159 (Monday, August 17, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17924]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227-0066; RTID 0648-XA383]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear and catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-
line gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) length overall
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2020
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 14, 2020, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 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 2020 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in
the BSAI is 1,278 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553,
March 9, 2020) and reallocation (85 FR 4601, January 27, 2020).
The 2020 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI
is 277 mt as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
The 2020 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 3,433
mt as established by final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) and reallocation
(85 FR 4601, January 27, 2020).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,100 mt of
the 2020 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1) and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest
274 mt of the 2020 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS
apportions 1,100 mt of Pacific cod from the jig gear apportionment to
the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Also, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates 274 mt from the catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear
apportionment to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less
than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2020 Pacific cod included in final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR
13553, March 9, 2020) and reallocation (85 FR 4601, January 27, 2020)
are revised as follows: 178 mt to vessels using jig gear, 3 mt to
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line gear, and 4,807 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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.
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 allow for harvests that exceed the
originally specified apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as
of August 7, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 12, 2020.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17924 Filed 8-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
