Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; IFQ Program; Modify Temporary Transfer Provisions, 16542-16547 [2021-06509]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16542-16547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06509]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No.: 210319-0060]
RIN 0648-BK41


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; IFQ Program; 
Modify Temporary Transfer Provisions

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; emergency action; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this temporary rule (referred to herein as 
``emergency rule'') to modify the temporary transfer provision of the 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial 
Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries for the 2021 IFQ fishing year. 
This emergency rule is intended to provide flexibility to quota share 
(QS) holders in 2021, while preserving the Program's long-standing 
objective of maintaining an owner-operated IFQ fishery in future years. 
This emergency rule will not modify other provisions of the IFQ 
Program. This emergency rule is intended to promote the goals and 
objectives of the IFQ Program, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 
1982, and other applicable laws.

DATES: Effective March 30, 2021 through September 27, 2021, except for 
Sec.  679.41(h)(2), which is effective September 27, 2021. Comments 
must be received by April 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0022, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0022 in the search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' 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. P.O. Box 21668, Juneau AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted 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).
    Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (referred to as 
the ``Analysis'') and the Categorical Exclusion prepared for this 
emergency rule may be obtained from https://www.regulations.gov or from 
the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
emergency rule may be submitted to NMFS at the above address and to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7445, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for Action

    The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) developed 
the IFQ Program for the commercial Pacific halibut (halibut) and 
sablefish fisheries. The IFQ Program for the sablefish fishery is 
implemented by the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and Federal regulations 
at 50 CFR part 679 under the authority of section 303(b) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). The IFQ Program for the halibut fishery is implemented by 
Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 under the authority of section 5 
of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act).
    The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and NMFS manage 
fishing for Pacific halibut through regulations established under the 
authority of the Halibut Act. The IPHC promulgates regulations 
governing the halibut fishery under the Convention between the United 
States and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the 
Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The IPHC's 
regulations are subject to approval by the Secretary of State with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). NMFS publishes 
the IPHC's regulations as annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 
300.62.
    Section 5 of the Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 773c(a) and (b), provides 
the Secretary with general responsibility to carry out the Convention 
and the Halibut Act. Section 5(c) of the Halibut Act also provides the 
Council with authority to develop regulations, including limited access 
regulations that are in addition to, and not in conflict with, approved 
IPHC regulations. Regulations developed by the Council may be 
implemented by NMFS only after approval by the Secretary.

Background

    On February 10, 2021, the Council requested the Secretary 
promulgate emergency regulations under the authority of section 305(c) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to allow the temporary transfer of catcher 
vessel (CV) halibut and sablefish IFQ for individuals who hold B, C, or 
D vessel class QS for the 2021 fishing season.
    The following sections describe the IFQ Program, the existing IFQ 
transfer

[[Page 16543]]

provisions, this emergency rule, and justification for emergency 
action.

The IFQ Program

    NMFS implemented the IFQ Program for the management of the fixed 
gear (hook-and-line and pot gear) halibut and sablefish fisheries off 
Alaska in 1995 (58 FR 59375; November 9, 1993). A central objective of 
the IFQ Program is to support the social and economic character of the 
fisheries and the coastal fishing communities where many of these 
fisheries are based.
    Under the IFQ Program, access to the fixed gear sablefish and 
halibut fisheries is limited to those persons holding QS. NMFS issued 
separate QS for sablefish and halibut to qualified applicants based on 
their historical participation during a set of qualifying years in the 
sablefish and halibut fisheries. QS is an exclusive, revocable 
privilege that allows the holder to harvest a specific percentage of 
either the total allowable catch (TAC) in the sablefish fishery or the 
annual commercial catch limit in the halibut fishery. In addition to 
being specific to sablefish or halibut, QS is designated for specific 
geographic areas of harvest, a specific vessel operation type (CV or 
catcher/processor), and for a specific range of vessel sizes that may 
be used to harvest the sablefish or halibut (vessel category). There 
are four vessel categories of halibut QS: Category A shares are 
designated for catcher/processors, which process their catch at sea 
(i.e., freezer longline vessels) and do not have a vessel length 
restriction; Category B shares are designated to be fished on CVs 
greater than 60 feet length overall (LOA); Category C shares are 
designated to be fished on CVs greater than 35 feet, but less than or 
equal to 60 feet, LOA; and Category D shares are designated to be 
fished on CVs less than or equal to 35 feet LOA.
    NMFS annually issues IFQ permits to each QS holder. An annual IFQ 
permit authorizes the permit holder to harvest a specified amount of 
the IFQ species in a regulatory area from a specific operation type and 
vessel category. IFQ is expressed in pounds and is based on the amount 
of QS held in relation to the total QS pool for each regulatory area 
with an assigned catch limit.
    Another goal of the IFQ Program is to promote an owner-operator 
fleet. To meet these goals, the IFQ Program includes restrictions on 
the ability of QS holders to transfer their annual IFQ. The Council and 
NMFS recognized that, at the time the IFQ Program was implemented, some 
QS holders had long-standing business arrangements with hired masters 
who harvested IFQ on behalf of the QS holder. Therefore, the IFQ 
Program authorizes the use of hired masters in certain instances. Since 
the implementation of the IFQ Program, the Council has recommended and 
NMFS has approved further regulatory amendments to limit the ability of 
QS holders to designate a hired master to discourage absentee ownership 
and move towards an owner-operated program.
    Halibut and sablefish are managed in separate geographic areas of 
harvest. The sablefish IFQ regulatory areas are defined and shown in 
Figure 14 to 50 CFR part 679 and in Section 3 of the Analysis. The 
halibut IFQ areas are consistent with the IPHC's regulatory areas. 
NMFS's IFQ regulatory areas are described in Figure 15 to 50 CFR part 
679. This emergency rule uses the term ``Area'' to refer to a specific 
IFQ regulatory area (e.g., Area 2C).

Temporary IFQ Transfer Provisions

    The Council developed transfer restrictions to retain the owner-
operator nature of the CV fisheries and limit consolidation of QS. Only 
persons who were originally issued CV QS (B and C for sablefish; B, C, 
and D for halibut) or who qualified as crew members are allowed to hold 
or purchase CV QS. Only individuals and initial recipients are eligible 
to hold CV QS, and they are required to be on the vessel when the IFQ 
is being fished (with a few exceptions). Since 1998, transfers of CV 
IFQ have generally been prohibited except under a few specific 
conditions. Temporary transfers of CV IFQ are allowed under six special 
circumstances: (1) Medical transfers; (2) beneficiary (survivorship) 
transfers; (3) military transfers: (4) transfers through Community 
Quota Entities: (5) transfers to Guided Angler Fish program; and (6) 
transfers to Community Development Quota groups in years of low halibut 
abundance. IFQ permits, and any associated transfers, are valid for a 
calendar fishing year.

Medical Transfer Provision

    The IFQ Program includes a temporary medical transfer provision at 
50 CFR 679.42(d)(2) that allows a QS holder not otherwise qualified to 
hire a master to temporarily transfer their annual IFQ if the QS holder 
or their immediate family member has a temporary medical condition that 
prevents them from fishing. The medical transfer provision is intended 
to provide a mechanism for QS holders who are experiencing a temporary 
medical condition that would prevent them from fishing during a season 
to transfer their annual IFQ to another individual.
    An applicant for a temporary medical transfer must document a 
medical condition by submitting an affidavit to NMFS from a healthcare 
provider that describes the medical condition affecting the applicant 
and attests to the inability of the applicant to participate in the IFQ 
fishery for which she or he holds QS. In the case of a family member's 
medical emergency, the affidavit must describe the necessity for the QS 
holder to tend to an immediate family member who suffers from the 
medical condition. The Council recommended and NMFS implemented 
regulations that limit the number of instances that QS holders may use 
the provision for any medical condition. As of March 16, 2020, NMFS 
will not approve a medical transfer if the QS holder has been granted a 
medical transfer in any three of the previous seven years for a medical 
condition (85 FR 8477; February 14, 2020).

Hired Master Provision

    Initial recipients (excluding Areas 2C for halibut or SE for 
sablefish, which correspond to Southeast Alaska) of CV QS may be absent 
from the vessel conducting IFQ fishing of QS, provided the QS holder 
can demonstrate ownership of the vessel that harvests the IFQ halibut 
or sablefish (a minimum of at least 20 percent ownership interest in 
the vessel harvesting the IFQ for the 12 months prior to submitting the 
hired master application) and representation of the QS holder on the 
vessel by a hired master. This exception allows fishermen who 
traditionally operated their fishing businesses using hired masters 
prior to the IFQ Program implementation to continue to hire a master. 
By limiting the hired master provision to initial recipients, the use 
of this owner-on-board exception will decline and eventually cease with 
the transfer of all QS from initial recipients to new entrants 
(``second generation'').
    The use of a hired master is not classified as a transfer of IFQ 
since the QS holder does not submit a transfer application and is 
responsible for the hired master staying within the harvest limits. 
While not technically a transfer, use of a hired master provides the 
flexibility of a transfer in that it allows an individual's IFQ to be 
harvested by another person without requiring the QS holder to directly 
participate in the fisheries.
    Under existing regulations, individuals who can hire a master to 
fish their IFQ are not eligible to use the medical transfer provision. 
Those who can typically hire a master include initial recipients in all 
areas, except for Southeast Alaska. Both initial recipients

[[Page 16544]]

of Southeast Alaska halibut and sablefish QS and second generation QS 
holders are eligible to use the medical transfer provision. QS holders 
who own QS in multiple areas often make landings in different parts of 
the State to fish their QS. Many QS holders live outside of Alaska and 
travel to the State of Alaska to fish their IFQ.

This Emergency Rule and Justification for Emergency Action

    This emergency rule implements a temporary IFQ transfer provision 
for the 2021 IFQ fishing year and corrects a regulation that was 
inadvertently removed on December 22, 2020. Specifically, this 
emergency rule adds regulations at Sec.  679.41(h)(3) and (p) to allow 
temporary IFQ transfers in 2021. New paragraph (h)(3) prohibits IFQ 
resulting from categories B, C, or D QS from being transferred 
separately from its originating QS holder, except as specified under 
existing temporary transfer provisions and adds Sec.  679.41(p) to the 
list of exceptions. New paragraph (p) describes the process for 
obtaining a temporary IFQ transfer for the 2021 IFQ fishing year.
    This emergency rule also adds Sec.  679.41(h)(2) back into the 
regulations, thus correcting an error that arose from the expiration of 
the 2020 temporary final rule, which published in the Federal Register 
on June 25, 2020 (85 FR 38100). Paragraph (h)(2) prohibited IFQ 
resulting from categories B, C, or D QS from being transferred 
separately from its originating QS, except as provided for in the 
temporary transfer provisions, including the 2020 temporary final rule. 
The temporary final rule was effective for 180 days: From June 25, 
2020, through December 22, 2020. Upon expiration of the temporary final 
rule, Sec.  679.41(h)(2) and (p) were removed in their entirety, 
resulting in the inadvertent deletion of the previously effective 
regulatory text at 50 CFR 679.41(h)(2). This action corrects that 
inadvertent deletion of the previously effective Sec.  679.41(h)(2). 
With this temporary/emergency rule, new Sec.  679.41(h)(2) will become 
effective upon expiration of this emergency rule (see DATES), thereby 
restoring the previously effective regulatory text.
    The temporary IFQ transfer process described at Sec.  679.41(p) is 
separate and distinct from the hired master and medical transfer 
provisions previously described, as well as any other IFQ transfer 
provisions in existing regulations. Any temporary IFQ transfer under 
Sec.  679.41(p) will be applicable only during the 2021 IFQ fishing 
year. This action allows certain QS holders to transfer their IFQ for 
the 2021 fishing year. This action authorizes only a one-time transfer 
of IFQ from the QS holder to the IFQ recipient (transferee); IFQ cannot 
be returned to the QS holder or transferred a second time after a 
temporary transfer is approved by NMFS. The transferred IFQ may only be 
fished by the transferee receiving it (see Section 3.1 of the 
Analysis).
    QS holders wishing to transfer their IFQ under this emergency rule 
need to complete an Application for Temporary Transfer of Halibut/
Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) found on https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. A temporary IFQ transfer is valid 
only for the calendar year in which it is approved. Individuals who 
hold B, C, or D vessel class QS will be eligible to use this temporary 
provision. Corporations, partnerships, or other non-individual entities 
are not eligible to use this temporary IFQ transfer provision.
    Although the temporary IFQ transfer provision described in Sec.  
679.41(p) is distinct from other IFQ transfer provisions in the 
regulations, the process for QS holders to apply for a transfer, and 
the NMFS review and approval process, is similar to those used for 
other IFQ transfer procedures in Sec.  679.41. This emergency rule also 
removes the requirement for a notary certification and authorizes NMFS 
to approve an Application for Temporary Transfer of Halibut/Sablefish 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) in the 2021 IFQ fishing year without a 
notary certification. Removal of the notary requirement reduces the 
logistical and administrative burden on IFQ participants and NMFS 
staff.
    This emergency rule is effective for 180 days from March 30, 2021 
through September 27, 2021. However, the 2021 IFQ Fishing season closes 
on December 7, 2021, and NMFS is soliciting public comment on this 
emergency rule. As a result, NMFS will consider any comments received 
as it evaluates whether the effective period of this action should be 
extended up to an additional 186 days in the event that the Council 
prepares an action that would address this emergency on a permanent 
basis consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act section 305(c)(3)(B). In 
consultation with the Council, NMFS will continue to monitor conditions 
in the fisheries, and NMFS will take additional action if recommended 
and necessary.
    Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes the Secretary 
to promulgate regulations to address an emergency. Under that section, 
a regional fishery management council may request that the Secretary 
promulgate emergency rules if it finds an emergency exists. NMFS's 
Policy Guidelines for the Use of Emergency Rules require that an 
emergency must exist and that NMFS have an administrative record 
justifying emergency regulatory action and demonstrating compliance 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the National Standards (see NMFS 
Procedure 01-101-07 (renewed October 3, 2018), (62 FR 44421, August 21, 
1997). Emergency rulemaking is intended for circumstances that are 
``extremely urgent,'' where ``substantial harm to or disruption of the 
. . . fishery . . . would be caused in the time it would take to follow 
standard rulemaking procedures (62 FR 44421; August 21, 1997).''
    Under NMFS's Policy Guidelines for the Use of Emergency Rules, the 
phrase ``an emergency exists involving any fishery'' is defined as a 
situation that meets the following three criteria:
    1. Results from recent, unforeseen events or recently discovered 
circumstances;
    2. Presents serious conservation or management problems in the 
fishery; and
    3. Can be addressed through emergency regulations for which the 
immediate benefits outweigh the value of advance notice, public 
comment, and deliberative consideration of the impacts on participants 
to the same extent as would be expected under the normal rule making 
process.
    The following sections describe why the Council and NMFS determined 
that allowing transfer flexibility to all IFQ Program participants for 
the 2021 IFQ fishing year meets the three criteria above.

Criterion 1--Recent, Unforeseen Events or Recently Discovered 
Circumstances

    Government health advisories and travel policies implemented to 
minimize spread of the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place and are likely 
to continue through the 2021 fishing year. In May 2020, when the 
Council first requested that the Secretary promulgate an emergency 
transfer regulation (85 FR 38100, June 25, 2020), the Council did not 
foresee the extended duration of the virus and subsequent impacts to 
the fishery, and the need to extend the 2020 temporary transfer 
emergency rule beyond the end of the 2020 IFQ Program fishing season. 
At the time that the Council recommended, and NMFS implemented, an 
emergency rule in 2020, there was a reasonable expectation that a 
COVID-19 vaccine could be developed and then broadly distributed such 
that additional emergency management measures would not be needed in 
2021. Based on

[[Page 16545]]

this expectation, the Council chose to not request that the Secretary 
seek public comment on the June 25, 2020 emergency rule, and create the 
opportunity for the Secretary to extend the emergency IFQ Program 
temporary transfer rule's effectiveness another 186 days and well into 
2021. However, the continued dissemination of vaccines along with the 
existence of new virus variants necessitate the continuation of 
pandemic precautions that impede IFQ Program participant's travel and 
fishing operations.
    In 2020, IFQ Program fishery participants stated that health 
mandates and travel restrictions increased costs to QS holders who live 
outside of Alaska. In addition to increased costs, ex-vessel prices for 
halibut and sablefish have decreased substantially in many Alaskan 
ports due to recent and unforeseen deteriorating market conditions (see 
Section 3 of the Analysis). Additionally, health advisories and travel 
policies limit IFQ Program participant's ability to access remote 
Alaska fishing ports in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
    Even if health advisories and restrictive travel policies are 
relieved during the 2021 IFQ fishing year, fishery participants may not 
be able to conduct fishing operations due to limited air travel to many 
Alaskan ports. Alternatively, health advisories and travel policies may 
possibly become more restrictive in response to the rapidly changing 
pandemic. Because of these circumstances it is important to provide 
maximum flexibility to the IFQ fishery.
    As noted previously, existing hired master and medical transfer 
provisions are only available under specific conditions (e.g., an 
individual may not receive a medical transfer unless a health care 
provider attests that their medical condition precludes their 
participation in IFQ fisheries). Due to these limitations, and the 
recent and unforeseen limitations on the IFQ fisheries, an emergency 
action is required to provide individual CV QS holders the ability to 
transfer IFQ during the 2021 fishing season. Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of 
the Analysis provides additional detail on medical transfer and hired 
master provisions, respectively.

Criterion 2--Presents Serious Conservation or Management Problems in 
the Fishery

    Ongoing health advisories and travel policies present serious 
management problems in the IFQ fisheries. If there is not additional 
flexibility to transfer IFQ, some fishery participants may forego 
harvesting catch due to additional costs and logistical challenges.
    If harvesters forego catch, this could result in the under-harvest 
of IFQ accounts. Under existing IFQ regulations, harvesters may ``roll 
over'' up to 10 percent of an IFQ permit's remaining balance to the 
following year (Sec.  679.40 (c)). However, anyone unable to harvest at 
least 90 percent of their allocation of IFQ would be at risk of 
foregoing harvests. This occurred during the first two months of the 
IFQ season in 2020; from March 14 to May 7, there were 54 percent less 
halibut harvested and 11 percent less sablefish harvested than in 2019 
over the same period (see Section 3 of the Analysis).
    Given ongoing health advisories, travel policies and other related 
logistical challenges facing the IFQ fisheries, additional flexibility 
in IFQ transfer provisions will increase the ability for harvesters to 
harvest, and processors to process, a larger proportion of the overall 
TACs. This will directly address a serious management concern: Foregone 
harvest due to recent, unforeseen, and recently discovered events.
    NMFS notes that this emergency rule will not cause a conservation 
concern by increasing the risk of overharvest of IFQ. This emergency 
rule will not increase the halibut catch limits or the sablefish TACs. 
The total amount of IFQ issued will not increase. This emergency rule 
will not modify existing requirements on the types of vessels and gear 
that may be used, monitoring requirements, record keeping regulations, 
or other aspects of the IFQ Program.

Criterion 3--Can Be Addressed Through Emergency Rulemaking for Which 
the Immediate Benefits Outweigh the Value of Notice and Comment 
Rulemaking

    Ongoing health advisories and travel policies impacting the IFQ 
fisheries can be addressed through emergency regulations for which the 
immediate benefits outweigh the value of our normal rulemaking process. 
As explained previously, not all QS holders are able to use existing 
regulatory provisions to transfer IFQ. Providing for a temporary 
transfer of IFQ for all CV QS holders for the 2021 IFQ fishing year 
will not create conservation or management concerns and is consistent 
with the overall goals of the IFQ Program--namely, to provide for the 
complete and efficient harvest of the halibut and sablefish resource 
and promote an owner-operated IFQ fishery (see Section 5 of the 
Analysis for additional detail).
    To address the emergency, NMFS must implement an emergency rule 
that waives the prior notice-and-comment rulemaking period. The 
benefits of waiving prior notice-and-comment rulemaking will serve the 
industry and public by providing flexibility for IFQ participants. Any 
delay in implementing rulemaking may reduce opportunities to harvest 
halibut and sablefish. (see Section 4.2 of the Analysis).
    Without immediate implementation, many IFQ Program participants may 
not have the flexibility in place to plan for the upcoming season, 
which may limit their ability to prosecute these fisheries as intended. 
The halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries are harvested from numerous 
ports from hundreds of vessels that must be coordinated with other 
harvesting and processing activities. Increasing the flexibility for QS 
holders to transfer IFQ expeditiously provides additional opportunity 
for halibut and sablefish to be harvested in the 2021 fishing season. 
Vessel owners need time to secure crew, which may shift into other 
groundfish fisheries, non-groundfish fisheries, or other activities if 
they are unable to secure adequate IFQ to support their fishing 
operations. In addition, vessel owners need sufficient lead time to 
revise fishing plans, restock vessels, change gear, and have the vessel 
travel to and from the fishing grounds to prosecute the IFQ fisheries.
    This emergency rule will not impose additional restrictions on the 
IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries, but will alleviate one limitation 
relating to transfers. This emergency rule will not increase the amount 
of available harvests, increase any risk of overharvest, or otherwise 
modify conservation measures. This emergency rule is needed to allow 
for the complete and efficient harvest of the IFQ fisheries and to 
temporarily alleviate the unforeseen economic, social, and public 
health impacts on the IFQ fisheries that are detailed in this preamble.
    The emergency rule considerations discussed herein also warrant 
instituting these IFQ temporary transfer measures in the halibut 
fisheries under the Halibut Act. The Halibut Act authorizes the Council 
to develop limited access program regulations for the halibut fisheries 
that, in another step, must then be approved by the Secretary. As 
discussed further below, emergency-based halibut fishery regulations 
that waive prior notice and comment and a 30-day delay in effectiveness 
period must be consistent with the requirements of the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA).

[[Page 16546]]

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) of the APA to waive prior notice and the 
opportunity for public comment because it would be impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This emergency rule provides 
flexibility for QS holders to temporarily transfer their IFQ to an 
eligible individual to harvest their IFQ for the 2021 IFQ fishing year. 
This emergency rule applies only to CV QS that is held by individuals. 
This emergency rule will not modify any additional restrictions on IFQ 
transfers. Without the increased flexibility to temporarily transfer 
IFQ, there may be unforeseen challenges for harvesting and processing. 
The associated loss in harvesting and processing revenues would likely 
impact the harvesters, crew, and communities that are active in the IFQ 
Program.
    Emergency action is necessary because the time required to follow 
the standard notice-and-comment rulemaking process prescribed by the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and required by the APA will not provide 
sufficient time before the start of the 2021 IFQ fishing season (which 
was March 6, 2021), and will substantially cut into the season itself. 
NMFS has no other way than this emergency rule to amend these IFQ 
transfer provisions to provide additional flexibility to CV QS holders 
to mitigate negative impacts of the ongoing economic and operational 
challenges in 2021. Allowing for flexibility for 2021 will provide 
immediate economic benefits that outweigh the value of the deliberative 
notice-and-comment rulemaking process.
    The need for emergency action, as described above also supports the 
need to waive the prior notice and comment period. For those reasons, 
and in the interest of implementing this emergency rule in a timely 
manner, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries finds good cause 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in the date of 
effectiveness provision of the APA and make this emergency rule 
effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. As 
stated above, NMFS anticipates that this emergency rule will allow for 
harvest of the remaining IFQ and should prevent prolonged economic 
losses from the potential forgone harvests.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    This emergency/interim rule is exempt from the procedures of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act because the rule is not subject to the 
requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law. Accordingly, no regulatory 
flexibility analysis is required and none has been prepared.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This emergency rule contains a collection-of-information 
requirement subject to review and approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). NMFS has 
submitted an emergency information request for this requirement to OMB 
for approval under a new control number. Due to the need to begin 
collecting this information immediately, NMFS is unable to allow for 
the time periods normally required for clearance under the PRA. This 
new collection will be discontinued after the 2021 fishing season, 
which ends December 7, 2021.
    This information collection adds a checkbox to the Application for 
Temporary Transfer of Halibut/Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ), 
which is approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0272. The checkbox will 
indicate the application is being submitted for a temporary transfer 
for the 2021 fishing year only. It also removes the notary 
certification for this application because this emergency rule does not 
require it for NMFS to approve this application for the 2021 IFQ 
fishing year. Additionally, NMFS will request that the revised 
Application for Temporary Transfer of Halibut/Sablefish Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) be added to OMB Control Number 0648-0272 to allow 
for future use of the form if necessary.
    The public reporting burden for this form will remain at two hours, 
which includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing 
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing 
and reviewing the collection of information.
    The new information collection will cover the additional QS holders 
that NMFS estimates may use this form to request this temporary 
transfer. NMFS estimates 1,300 respondents, 650 total responses, 1,300 
total burden hours, and $6,500 total recordkeeping and reporting costs 
to the public for the new collection.
    We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment 
on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us 
assess the impact of our information collection requirements and 
minimize the public's reporting burden. Written comments and 
recommendations for this information collection should be submitted on 
the following website: www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 
Review'' or by using the search function and entering the title of the 
collection.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirement of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 25, 2021.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended 
as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 111-281.


0
2. In Sec.  679.41, add paragraphs (h)(3) and (p) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.41  Transfer of quota shares and IFQ.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (3) IFQ resulting from categories B, C, or D QS may not be 
transferred separately from its originating QS, except as provided in 
paragraph (d), (f), (k), (l), (m), (o), or (p) of this section.
* * * * *
    (p) Temporary IFQ transfer for 2021. During the 2021 IFQ fishing 
year only, the Regional Administrator may approve a temporary transfer 
for IFQ derived from categories B, C, or D QS.
    (1) A QS holder may apply for a temporary transfer by submitting an 
Application for Temporary Transfer of Halibut/Sablefish Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) to the Alaska Region, NMFS. NMFS will transfer, 
upon approval of the application, the applicable IFQ from the applicant 
(transferor) to the recipient (transferee). The application is 
available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or by calling 1-800-304-
4846. A certification from a notary is not required for NMFS to approve 
an Application for Temporary

[[Page 16547]]

Transfer of Halibut/Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota.
    (2) [Reserved]

0
3. Effective September 27, 2021, Sec.  679.41 is further amended by 
adding paragraph (h)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.41  Transfer of quota shares and IFQ.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (2) IFQ resulting from categories B, C, or D QS may not be 
transferred separately from its originating QS, except as provided in 
paragraph (d), (f), (k), (l), (m), or (o) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2021-06509 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P