Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2021 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts, 83834-83836 [2020-28261]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
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endorsement when fishing
commercially for BFT.
Depending on the level of fishing
effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS
may determine that additional action
(e.g., quota adjustment, daily retention
limit adjustment, or closure) is
necessary to ensure available subquotas
are not exceeded or to enhance
scientific data collection from, and
fishing opportunities in, all geographic
areas. If needed, subsequent
adjustments will be published in the
Federal Register. As needed, NMFS will
close the General category fishery when
the adjusted January through March
period subquota has been reached. Even
if the adjusted subquota is not reached,
the General category fishery will close
automatically on March 31, 2021, and
will remain closed until it reopens on
June 1, 2021. Fishermen may call the
Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978)
281–9260, or access
hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on
quota monitoring and inseason
adjustments.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is consistent with
regulations at 50 CFR part 635, which
were issued pursuant to section 304(c)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and is
exempt from review under Executive
Order 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for
NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable
and contrary to the public interest to
provide prior notice of, and an
opportunity for public comment on, this
action for the following reasons:
The regulations implementing the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and
amendments provide for inseason quota
transfers to respond to the unpredictable
nature of BFT availability on the fishing
grounds, the migratory nature of this
species, and the regional variations in
the BFT fishery. Affording prior notice
and opportunity for public comment to
implement the quota transfer for the
January through March 2021 subquota
period is impracticable and contrary to
the public interest as NMFS could not
have proposed this action earlier, as it
needed to consider and respond to
updated landings data, including the
recently available December 2020 data,
in deciding to transfer a portion of the
December 2021 subquota to the January
through March 2021 subquota. If NMFS
was to offer a public comment period
now, after having appropriately
considered that data, it could preclude
fishermen from harvesting BFT that are
legally available consistent with all of
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the regulatory criteria, and/or could
result in selection of a retention limit
inappropriately high for the amount of
quota available for the period. This
action does not raise conservation and
management concerns. Transferring
quota within the General category does
not affect the overall U.S. BFT quota,
and available data shows the adjustment
would have a minimal risk of exceeding
the ICCAT-allocated quota. NMFS notes
that the public had an opportunity to
comment on the underlying
rulemakings that established the U.S.
BFT quota and the inseason adjustment
criteria. For all of the above reasons,
there is good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(d) to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801
et seq.
Dated: December 17, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–28215 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[[Docket No. 200221–0062]
RTID 0648–XA725
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment
to the 2021 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and
Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch
Amounts
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
adjustment; request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2021
total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and
Pacific cod fishery. This action is
necessary because NMFS has
determined these TACs are incorrectly
specified, and will ensure the GOA
pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the
appropriate amount based on the best
available scientific information for
pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA.
This action is consistent with the goals
and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2021, until
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
the effective date of the final 2021 and
2022 harvest specifications for GOA
groundfish, unless otherwise modified
or superseded through publication of a
notification in the Federal Register.
Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30
p.m., A.l.t., January 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2019–0102
by any of the following methods:
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20190102, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider
comments if they are sent by any other
method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the
comment period ends. All comments
received are a part of the public record,
and NMFS will post the comments for
public viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
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 final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and
revision to implement Amendment 109,
85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) set
the 2021 pollock TAC at 119,239 metric
tons (mt) in the GOA. In December
2020, the Council recommended a 2021
pollock TAC of 113,227 mt for the GOA,
which is less than the 119,239 mt
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
E:\FR\FM\23DER1.SGM
23DER1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
the GOA. The Council’s recommended
2021 TAC, and the area and seasonal
apportionments, is based on the Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
report (SAFE), dated November 2020.
The final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and
revision to implement Amendment 109,
85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) set
the 2021 Pacific cod TAC at 6,431 mt in
the GOA. In December 2020, the
Council recommended a 2021 Pacific
cod TAC of 17,321 mt for the GOA,
which is more than the 6,431 mt
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA. The Council’s recommended
2021 TAC, and the area and seasonal
apportionments, is based on the SAFE,
dated November 2020.
Steller sea lions occur in the same
location as the pollock and Pacific cod
fisheries and are listed as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act.
Pollock and Pacific cod are principal
prey species for Steller sea lions in the
GOA. The seasonal apportionment of
pollock and Pacific cod harvests are
necessary to ensure the groundfish
fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy
of extinction or adverse modification of
critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The
regulations at § 679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify
how the pollock TAC will be
apportioned and the regulations at
§ 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i) specify
how the Pacific cod TAC will be
apportioned.
In accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii),
(a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(iv) the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that, based on the best
available scientific information for this
fishery, the current GOA pollock and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly
specified. Consequently, pursuant to
§ 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator is adjusting the 2021
GOA pollock TAC to 113,227 mt and the
2021 Pacific cod TAC to 17,321 mt.
Therefore, Tables 4 and 6 of the final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020 and revision to
implement Amendment 109, 85 FR
74266, November 20, 2020) are revised
consistent with this adjustment.
NMFS published a final rule to
implement Amendment 109 to the FMP
(85 FR 38093, June 25, 2020). That rule
revised the pollock seasons in the GOA,
along with Pacific cod seasonal
83835
allocations, for the Central and Western
Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
Amendment 109 modified the existing
annual pollock TAC allocation to two
equal seasonal allocations (50 percent of
TAC), rather than four equal seasonal
allocations (25 percent of TAC). The
pollock A and B seasons were combined
into a January 20 through May 31 A
season, and the pollock C and D seasons
were combined into a September 1
through November 1 B season.
Additionally, Amendment 109 revised
the Pacific cod TAC seasonal allocations
to the trawl catcher vessel sector by
increasing the A season allocation and
decreasing the B season allocation. The
revisions implemented by Amendment
109, which are effective January 1, 2021,
are incorporated into this inseason
adjustment.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Table 4
of the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and
revision to implement Amendment 109,
85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) is
revised for the 2021 TACs of pollock in
the Central and Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2021 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA; AREA APPORTIONMENTS; 1 AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.01]
Shumigan
(area 610)
Season 2
Chirikof
(area 620)
Kodiak
(area 630)
Total 3
A (January 20–May 31) ...................................................................................
B (September 1–November 1) ........................................................................
799
17,677
41,737
13,133
6,297
18,023
48,833
48,833
Annual Total .............................................................................................
18,477
54,870
24,320
97,667
1 Area
apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (ii), the A and B season allowances are available from January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in
this table.
3 The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs
shown in this table.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and
(a)(12)(i), Table 6 of the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020 and revision to
implement Amendment 109, 85 FR
74266, November 20, 2020) is revised
for the 2021 TACs of Pacific cod in the
GOA.
TABLE 6—FINAL 2021 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC)
AMOUNTS IN THE GOA; ALLOCATIONS IN THE WESTERN GOA AND CENTRAL GOA SECTORS, AND THE EASTERN
GOA INSHORE AND OFFSHORE PROCESSING COMPONENTS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
A Season
Annual
allocation
(mt)
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Regulatory area and sector
Western GOA
Jig (3.5% of TAC) .........................................................
Hook-and-line CV .........................................................
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16:31 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Sector
percentage of
annual non-jig
TAC
196
76
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
B Season
Seasonal
allowances
(mt)
N/A
0.70
E:\FR\FM\23DER1.SGM
117
38
23DER1
Sector
percentage of
annual non-jig
TAC
N/A
0.70
Seasonal
allowances
(mt)
78
38
83836
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 6—FINAL 2021 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC)
AMOUNTS IN THE GOA; ALLOCATIONS IN THE WESTERN GOA AND CENTRAL GOA SECTORS, AND THE EASTERN
GOA INSHORE AND OFFSHORE PROCESSING COMPONENTS—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
A Season
Annual
allocation
(mt)
Regulatory area and sector
Sector
percentage of
annual non-jig
TAC
B Season
Seasonal
allowances
(mt)
Sector
percentage of
annual non-jig
TAC
Seasonal
allowances
(mt)
Hook-and-line CP .........................................................
Trawl CV .......................................................................
Trawl CP .......................................................................
All Pot CV and Pot CP .................................................
1,068
2,071
129
2,050
10.90
31.54
0.90
19.80
588
1,701
49
1,068
8.90
10.70
1.50
18.20
480
370
81
982
Total .......................................................................
5,590
63.84
3,561
36.16
2,029
Central GOA
Jig (1.0% of TAC) .........................................................
Hook-and-line <50 CV ..................................................
Hook-and-line ≥50 CV ..................................................
Hook-and-line CP .........................................................
Trawl CV 1 .....................................................................
Trawl CP .......................................................................
All Pot CV and Pot CP .................................................
102
1,481
680
518
4,216
426
2,819
N/A
9.32
5.61
4.11
21.14
2.00
17.83
61
945
569
416
2,565
203
1,808
N/A
5.29
1.10
1.00
20.45
2.19
9.97
41
536
111
101
1,652
223
1,011
Total .......................................................................
10,242
64.16
6,567
35.84
3,675
Eastern GOA ........................................................................
........................
1,489
Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
........................
1,340
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
........................
149
1 Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 390 mt, of the annual Central GOA TAC (see
Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season allowance (see Table 12. Final 2021 Apportionments of Rockfish
Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:31 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
recent fisheries data in a timely fashion
and would allow for harvests that
exceed the appropriate allocation for
pollock and Pacific cod based on the
best scientific information available.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of December
16, 2020.
Without this inseason adjustment,
NMFS could not allow the fishery for
pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod
in the BSAI to be harvested in an
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
expedient manner and in accordance
with the regulatory schedule. Under
§ 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on
this action to the above address until
January 7, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 17, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–28261 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\23DER1.SGM
23DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 23, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83834-83836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28261]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[[Docket No. 200221-0062]
RTID 0648-XA725
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2021 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total
Allowable Catch Amounts
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This
action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are
incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod
TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific
information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1,
2021, until the effective date of the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for GOA groundfish, unless otherwise modified or
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal
Register.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than
4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0102 by
any of the following methods:
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0102, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public
record, and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
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 final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and revision to implement
Amendment 109, 85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) set the 2021 pollock TAC
at 119,239 metric tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 2020, the Council
recommended a 2021 pollock TAC of 113,227 mt for the GOA, which is less
than the 119,239 mt established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in
[[Page 83835]]
the GOA. The Council's recommended 2021 TAC, and the area and seasonal
apportionments, is based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
report (SAFE), dated November 2020.
The final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and revision to implement
Amendment 109, 85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) set the 2021 Pacific cod
TAC at 6,431 mt in the GOA. In December 2020, the Council recommended a
2021 Pacific cod TAC of 17,321 mt for the GOA, which is more than the
6,431 mt established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA. The Council's recommended 2021 TAC, and the
area and seasonal apportionments, is based on the SAFE, dated November
2020.
Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act. Pollock and Pacific cod are principal prey species for
Steller sea lions in the GOA. The seasonal apportionment of pollock and
Pacific cod harvests are necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries
are not likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification
of critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify how the pollock TAC will be apportioned and
the regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i) specify how
the Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B), and
(a)(2)(iv) the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that, based on the best available
scientific information for this fishery, the current GOA pollock and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Consequently, pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the
2021 GOA pollock TAC to 113,227 mt and the 2021 Pacific cod TAC to
17,321 mt. Therefore, Tables 4 and 6 of the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020
and revision to implement Amendment 109, 85 FR 74266, November 20,
2020) are revised consistent with this adjustment.
NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 109 to the FMP
(85 FR 38093, June 25, 2020). That rule revised the pollock seasons in
the GOA, along with Pacific cod seasonal allocations, for the Central
and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Amendment 109 modified the
existing annual pollock TAC allocation to two equal seasonal
allocations (50 percent of TAC), rather than four equal seasonal
allocations (25 percent of TAC). The pollock A and B seasons were
combined into a January 20 through May 31 A season, and the pollock C
and D seasons were combined into a September 1 through November 1 B
season. Additionally, Amendment 109 revised the Pacific cod TAC
seasonal allocations to the trawl catcher vessel sector by increasing
the A season allocation and decreasing the B season allocation. The
revisions implemented by Amendment 109, which are effective January 1,
2021, are incorporated into this inseason adjustment.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Table 4 of the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020 and revision to implement Amendment 109, 85 FR 74266,
November 20, 2020) is revised for the 2021 TACs of pollock in the
Central and Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Table 4--Final 2021 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Area Apportionments; \1\ and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.01]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumigan (area Chirikof (area Kodiak (area
Season \2\ 610) 620) 630) Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)........................... 799 41,737 6,297 48,833
B (September 1-November 1)...................... 17,677 13,133 18,023 48,833
---------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total................................ 18,477 54,870 24,320 97,667
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (ii), the A and B season allowances are available from
January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for
processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i), Table 6 of the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020 and revision to implement Amendment 109,
85 FR 74266, November 20, 2020) is revised for the 2021 TACs of Pacific
cod in the GOA.
Table 6--Final 2021 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
Processing Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Season B Season
---------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Sector Sector
Regulatory area and sector allocation percentage of Seasonal percentage of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances annual non-jig allowances
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA
Jig (3.5% of TAC)........... 196 N/A 117 N/A 78
Hook-and-line CV............ 76 0.70 38 0.70 38
[[Page 83836]]
Hook-and-line CP............ 1,068 10.90 588 8.90 480
Trawl CV.................... 2,071 31.54 1,701 10.70 370
Trawl CP.................... 129 0.90 49 1.50 81
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 2,050 19.80 1,068 18.20 982
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................... 5,590 63.84 3,561 36.16 2,029
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA
Jig (1.0% of TAC)........... 102 N/A 61 N/A 41
Hook-and-line <50 CV........ 1,481 9.32 945 5.29 536
Hook-and-line >=50 CV....... 680 5.61 569 1.10 111
Hook-and-line CP............ 518 4.11 416 1.00 101
Trawl CV \1\................ 4,216 21.14 2,565 20.45 1,652
Trawl CP.................... 426 2.00 203 2.19 223
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 2,819 17.83 1,808 9.97 1,011
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................... 10,242 64.16 6,567 35.84 3,675
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA..................... .............. Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
1,489 .............. 1,340 .............. 149
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\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 390 mt, of the
annual Central GOA TAC (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season
allowance (see Table 12. Final 2021 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table
28c to 50 CFR part 679).
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 allow for harvests that exceed the
appropriate allocation for pollock and Pacific cod based on the best
scientific information available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant
data only became available as of December 16, 2020.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod in the BSAI to be harvested
in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule.
Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit
written comments on this action to the above address until January 7,
2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 17, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-28261 Filed 12-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
