Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 69517-69518 [2020-24250]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 216
Administrative practice and
procedure, Exports, Marine Mammals,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: October 26, 2020.
Paul N. Doremus,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Operations, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 50 CFR part 216 is amended
as follows:
PART 216—REGULATIONS
GOVERNING THE TAKING AND
IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS
1. The authority citation for part 216
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
2. In § 216.3, revise the definition for
‘‘Exemption period’’ to read as follows:
■
§ 216.3
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Exemption period means the onetime, six-year period that commences
January 1, 2017 and ends December 31,
2022, during which commercial fishing
operations that are the source of exports
of commercial fish and fish products to
the United States will be exempt from
the prohibitions of § 216.24(h)(1).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. In § 216.24, paragraphs (h)(6)(i) and
(h)(8)(v) are revised to read as follows:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
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*
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(h) * * *
(6) * * *
(i) Procedures to apply for a
comparability finding. On November 30
of the year prior to when the exemption
period or comparability finding is to
expire, a harvesting nation, shall submit
to the Assistant Administrator an
application for each of its export and
exempt fisheries, along with
documentary evidence demonstrating
that the harvesting nation has met the
conditions specified in paragraph
(h)(6)(iii) of this section for each of such
fisheries, including reasonable proof as
to the effects on marine mammals of the
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BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221–0062; RTID 0648–
XA601]
§ 216.24 Taking and related acts in
commercial fishing operations including
tuna purse seine vessels in the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean.
*
commercial fishing technology in use in
the fishery for fish or fish products
exported from such nation to the United
States. The Assistant Administrator may
require the submission of additional
supporting documentation or other
verification of statements made in an
application for a comparability finding.
*
*
*
*
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(8) * * *
(v) Renewal of comparability finding.
To seek renewal of a comparability
finding, every 4 years or prior to the
expiration of a comparability finding,
the harvesting nation must submit to the
Assistant Administrator the application
and the documentary evidence required
pursuant to paragraph (h)(6)(i) of this
section, including, where applicable,
reasonable proof as to the effects on
marine mammals of the commercial
fishing technology in use in the fishery
for fish or fish products exported to the
United States, by November 30 of the
year prior to the expiration date of its
current comparability finding.
*
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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish
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 exchanging
allocations of Amendment 80
cooperative quota (CQ) for Amendment
80 acceptable biological catch (ABC)
reserves. This action is necessary to
allow the 2020 total allowable catch
(TAC) of flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and
SUMMARY:
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69517
Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI) to be harvested.
DATES: Effective November 2, 2020,
through December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
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 flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole Amendment 80
allocations of the TAC specified in the
BSAI are 12,884 metric tons (mt), 36,090
mt, and 114,903 mt, respectively, as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020)
and as revised (85 FR 64413, October
13, 2020). The 2020 flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80
ABC reserves are 44,960 mt, 94,807 mt,
and 96,895 mt, respectively, as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020)
and as revised (85 FR 64413, October
13, 2020).
The Alaska Seafood Cooperative has
requested that NMFS exchange 1,191 mt
of flathead sole and 4,527 mt of rock
sole Amendment 80 allocation of the
TAC for 5,718 mt of yellowfin sole
Amendment 80 ABC reserves under
§ 679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 1,191
mt of flathead sole and 4,527 mt of rock
sole Amendment 80 allocation of the
TAC for 5,718 mt of yellowfin sole
Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the
BSAI. This action also decreases and
increases the TACs and Amendment 80
ABC reserves by the corresponding
amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553,
March 9, 2020) and as revised (85 FR
64413, October 13, 2020) are further
revised as follows:
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69518
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 11—FINAL 2020 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
district
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
Central
Aleutian
district
10,613
1,136
100
938
8,440
Western
Aleutian
district
8,094
866
60
717
6,451
10,000
1,070
10
178
8,742
Flathead sole
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
16,654
1,962
3,000
........................
11,693
42,178
4,615
6,000
........................
31,563
158,518
16,725
4,000
17,172
120,621
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 13—FINAL 2020 AND 2021 ABC SURPLUS, ABC RESERVES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC
RESERVES, AND AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020
Flathead sole
Sector
ABC ..........................................................
TAC ..........................................................
ABC surplus .............................................
ABC reserve .............................................
CDQ ABC reserve ...................................
Amendment 80 ABC reserve ...................
68,134
16,654
51,480
51,480
5,329
46,151
2020
Rock sole
2020
Yellowfin sole
153,300
42,128
111,172
111,172
11,838
99,334
260,918
158,548
102,370
102,370
11,193
91,177
2021 1
Flathead sole
71,079
24,000
47,079
47,079
5,037
42,042
2021 1
Rock sole
2021 1
Yellowfin sole
230,700
49,000
181,700
181,700
19,442
162,258
261,497
168,900
92,597
92,597
9,908
82,689
1 The 2021 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2020.
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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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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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 flatfish exchange
by the Alaska Seafood Cooperative in
the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish
a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
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relevant data only became available as
of October 21, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 28, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–24250 Filed 11–2–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 3, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69517-69518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24250]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221-0062; RTID 0648-XA601]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of
Flatfish 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 exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative
quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves.
This action is necessary to allow the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC)
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) to be harvested.
DATES: Effective November 2, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
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 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80
allocations of the TAC specified in the BSAI are 12,884 metric tons
(mt), 36,090 mt, and 114,903 mt, respectively, as established by the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) and as revised (85 FR 64413, October 13,
2020). The 2020 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment
80 ABC reserves are 44,960 mt, 94,807 mt, and 96,895 mt, respectively,
as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) and as revised (85
FR 64413, October 13, 2020).
The Alaska Seafood Cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange
1,191 mt of flathead sole and 4,527 mt of rock sole Amendment 80
allocation of the TAC for 5,718 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC
reserves under Sec. 679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 1,191 mt of flathead sole and 4,527 mt of
rock sole Amendment 80 allocation of the TAC for 5,718 mt of yellowfin
sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases
and increases the TACs and Amendment 80 ABC reserves by the
corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March
9, 2020) and as revised (85 FR 64413, October 13, 2020) are further
revised as follows:
[[Page 69518]]
Table 11--Final 2020 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Tacs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
district district district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 10,613 8,094 10,000 16,654 42,178 158,518
CDQ..................................................... 1,136 866 1,070 1,962 4,615 16,725
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 938 717 178 .............. .............. 17,172
Amendment 80............................................ 8,440 6,451 8,742 11,693 31,563 120,621
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 13--Final 2020 and 2021 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Flathead 2020 Rock 2020 Yellowfin 2021 \1\ 2021 \1\ Rock 2021 \1\
Sector sole sole sole Flathead sole sole Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 68,134 153,300 260,918 71,079 230,700 261,497
TAC..................................................... 16,654 42,128 158,548 24,000 49,000 168,900
ABC surplus............................................. 51,480 111,172 102,370 47,079 181,700 92,597
ABC reserve............................................. 51,480 111,172 102,370 47,079 181,700 92,597
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,329 11,838 11,193 5,037 19,442 9,908
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 46,151 99,334 91,177 42,042 162,258 82,689
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2021 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2020.
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 flatfish exchange by the
Alaska Seafood Cooperative in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as of October 21, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 28, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-24250 Filed 11-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
