Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan, 19207-19210 [2021-07520]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 13, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19207-19210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07520]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 210407-0077]
RIN 0648-BK42


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this proposed rule to revise regulations for the 
commercial individual fishing quota (IFQ) Pacific halibut (halibut) 
fisheries for the 2021 IFQ fishing year. This proposed rule would 
remove limits on the maximum amount of halibut IFQ that may be 
harvested by a vessel, commonly known as vessel use caps, in IFQ 
regulatory areas 4A (Eastern Aleutian Islands), 4B (Central and Western 
Aleutian Islands), 4C (Central Bering Sea), and 4D (Eastern Bering 
Sea). This action is needed to provide additional flexibility to IFQ 
participants in 2021 to ensure allocations of halibut IFQ can be 
harvested by the limited number of vessels operating in these areas. 
This action is within the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to 
establish additional regulations governing the taking of halibut which 
are in addition to, and not in conflict with, those adopted by the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). This action is 
intended to promote the goals and objectives of the IFQ Program, the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, and other applicable laws.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 28, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by FDMS Docket Number 
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0032, 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-2021-0032 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, Attn: Susan Meyer. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other 
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end 
of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on https://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 Categorical Exclusion and the Regulatory 
Impact Review (RIR) prepared for this action (referred to as the 
``Analysis'') are available from https://www.regulations.gov or from the 
NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
    Additional requests for information regarding halibut may be 
obtained by contacting the IPHC, 2320 W Commodore Way, Suite 300, 
Seattle, WA 98199-1287; or Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS Alaska 
Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802; Sustainable Fisheries 
Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for Action

    The IPHC and NMFS manage fishing for halibut through regulations 
established under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 
1982 (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. 
The 2021 IPHC annual management measures were published on March 9, 
2021 (86 FR 13475).
    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. The Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 773c(c), also provides the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) with authority to develop 
regulations, including limited access regulations, that are in addition 
to, and not in conflict with, approved IPHC regulations. Regulations 
recommended by the Council may be implemented by NMFS only after 
approval by the Secretary.
    The Council has exercised its authority in developing halibut 
management programs for the subsistence, sport, and commercial halibut 
fisheries. The Secretary exercised authority to implement the 
commercial IFQ halibut fishery management program (58 FR 59375; 
November 9, 1993). The IFQ Program for the halibut fishery is 
implemented by Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
    The halibut IFQ fishery is managed in specific areas defined by the 
IPHC. These IFQ regulatory areas (Areas) are: Area 2A (California, 
Oregon, and Washington); Area 2B (British Columbia); Area 2C (Southeast 
Alaska), Area 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska), Area 3B (Western Gulf of 
Alaska), and Area 4 (subdivided into five areas, 4A through 4E, in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of Western Alaska). These Areas are 
described at 50 CFR part 679, Figure 15. Halibut allocated under the 
IFQ program in Areas 2C, 3A, 3B, and Area 4 are subject to limits on 
the maximum amount of halibut IFQ that may be harvested by a vessel, 
commonly known as vessel use caps.
    NMFS also allocates halibut to the Western Alaska Community 
Development Quota (CDQ Program) in Areas 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E (Sec.  
679.31(a)(2)). Halibut is allocated to the CDQ Program in Areas 4B, 4C, 
4D, and 4E and those allocations are not subject to a vessel use cap. 
Throughout this preamble, the term ``vessel use cap''

[[Page 19208]]

refers to regulations applicable to the halibut IFQ fishery.

Background

    This proposed rule would implement regulations to temporarily 
remove vessel use caps in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D in 2021. The 
existing vessel use caps were recommended by the Council and 
implemented by NMFS as part of the IFQ Program (58 FR 59375; November 
9, 1993) as regulations that were in addition to, and not in conflict 
with, those adopted by the IPHC, consistent with the Halibut Act (16 
U.S.C. 773c(c)).
    The following sections describe the IFQ Program, halibut IFQ vessel 
use caps, the rationale and effects of temporarily removing vessel use 
caps in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, and the regulations that would be 
implemented under this proposed rule.

IFQ Program

    Commercial halibut and sablefish fisheries in Alaska are subject to 
regulation under the IFQ Program and the CDQ Program (50 CFR part 679). 
A key 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. For more information about the 
IFQ Program, please refer to Section 2.3.1 of the Analysis. Because 
this rule is specific to the halibut IFQ fishery, reference to the IFQ 
Program in this preamble is specific to halibut unless otherwise noted.
    Under the IFQ Program, access to the commercial halibut fisheries 
is limited to those persons holding quota share (QS). Quota share is an 
exclusive, revocable privilege that allows the holder to harvest a 
specific percentage of the annual commercial catch limit in the halibut 
fishery. In addition, QS is designated for specific geographic areas of 
harvest, a specific vessel operation type (catcher vessel (CV) or 
catcher/processor), and for a specific range of vessel sizes that may 
be used to harvest the sablefish or halibut (vessel category). Out of 
the four vessel categories of halibut QS, Category A shares are 
designated for catcher/processors that process their catch at sea 
(e.g., freezer longline vessels) and do not have a vessel length 
designation, whereas Category B, C, and D shares are designated to be 
fished on CVs that meet specific length designations (Sec.  
679.40(a)(5)).
    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 an Area from a specific operation type and vessel 
category. IFQ is expressed in pounds (lbs) and is based on the amount 
of QS held in relation to the total QS pool for each Area with an 
assigned catch.
    The IFQ Program established: (1) Limits on the maximum amount of QS 
that a person could use (i.e., be used to receive annual IFQ) (Sec.  
679.42(f)); (2) limits on the number of small amounts of indivisible QS 
units, known as QS blocks, that a person can hold (Sec.  679.42(g)); 
(3) limits on the ability of IFQ assigned to one CV vessel category 
(vessel category B, C, or D IFQ) to be fished on a different (larger) 
vessel category with some limited exceptions (Sec.  679.42(a)(2)); and 
(4) limits on the maximum amount of halibut IFQ that may be harvested 
by a vessel during an IFQ fishing year (Sec.  679.42(h)). Only 
qualified individuals and initial recipients of QS are eligible to hold 
CV QS and they are required to be on the vessel when the IFQ is being 
fished, with a few limited exceptions (Sec.  679.41(h)(2)). All of 
these limitations were established to retain the owner-operator nature 
of the CV halibut IFQ fisheries, limit consolidation of QS, and ensure 
the annual IFQ is not harvested on a small number of larger vessels.
    On March 30, 2021, NMFS published an emergency rule to modify the 
temporary transfer provision of the IFQ Program for the commercial 
halibut and sablefish fisheries for the 2021 IFQ fishing year (86 FR 
16542, March 30, 2021). That emergency rule allows QS holders to 
transfer IFQ to otherwise eligible recipients. This transfer 
flexibility promotes the complete and efficient harvest of the IFQ 
fisheries. Furthermore, that emergency rule temporarily alleviates 
impacts of unforeseen economic and social conditions in the IFQ 
fisheries. For example, QS holders would have more flexibility to 
select vessels to harvest their IFQ which may increase the number of 
vessels available to harvest (Section 2.6 of the Analysis). That 
emergency rule does not modify other provisions of the IFQ Program, 
including vessel use caps that may constrain fishing operations.

Halibut IFQ Vessel Use Caps

    The IFQ Program established vessel use caps to limit the maximum 
amount of halibut that could be harvested on any one vessel. The limits 
are intended to help ensure that a minimum number of vessels are 
engaged in the halibut fishery and to address concerns about the socio-
economic impacts of consolidation under the IFQ Program. For additional 
detail on vessel use caps, see the preamble to the proposed rule for 
the IFQ Program (57 FR 57130; December 3, 1992).
    This proposed rule refers to halibut catch limits, commercial 
halibut allocations, and vessel use caps in net pounds or net metric 
tons. Net pounds and net metric tons are defined as the weight of 
halibut from which the gills, entrails, head, and ice and slime have 
been removed. This terminology used in this proposed rule is consistent 
with the IPHC, which establishes catch limits and calculates mortality 
in net pounds.
    Relevant to this proposed rule, regulations at Sec.  679.42(h)(1) 
state: ``No vessel may be used, during any fishing year, to harvest 
more IFQ halibut than one-half percent of the combined total catch 
limits of halibut for IFQ regulatory areas 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 
and 4E.'' Applying this regulation to 2021 yields a vessel use cap of 
92,848 lbs (42.1 mt). This vessel use cap applies to vessels harvesting 
IFQ halibut in the areas subject to this proposed rule: Areas 4A, 4B, 
4C, and 4D.
    In addition, regulations at Sec.  679.42(h)(1)(ii) state that ``No 
vessel may be used, during any fishing year, to harvest more than 
50,000 lb (22.7 mt) of IFQ halibut derived from QS held by a CQE.'' 
Compared to Sec.  679.42(h)(1)'s vessel use cap, Sec.  679.42(h)(1)(ii) 
imposes an even more restrictive vessel use cap on vessels that are 
harvesting IFQ halibut derived from QS held by a community quota entity 
(CQE). A CQE is a NMFS-approved non-profit organization that represents 
small, remote, coastal communities that meet specific criteria to 
purchase and hold CV halibut QS on behalf of an eligible community. The 
CQE holds QS and leases the IFQ derived from the underlying QS to 
community residents. Relevant to this proposed rule, a CQE is 
authorized to hold halibut QS in Area 4B on behalf of the community of 
Adak, Alaska (79 FR 8870; February 14, 2014). Any vessel harvesting 
halibut IFQ derived from the QS held by the CQE representing the 
community of Adak is subject to this more restrictive 50,000 lb (22.7 
mt) vessel use cap.

Rationale and Effects of Temporarily Removing Vessel Use Caps in Areas 
4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D

    On February 10, 2021, at their regularly-scheduled meeting, the 
Council addressed requests from IFQ fishery stakeholders to remove 
vessel use caps applicable to the halibut IFQ fisheries (Sections 1 and 
2.3 of the Analysis). These requests were in part based on the success 
of the 2020 emergency rule for removing vessel use caps in Area 4 which 
provided flexibility to the IFQ halibut fleet: In

[[Page 19209]]

multiple areas, vessels harvested up to or over the vessel use cap. 
Based on stakeholder engagement and considering a range of factors, the 
Council recommended, and now NMFS issues, this proposed rule. These 
factors include, but are not limited to:
     The unforeseen complications of health advisories and 
government-issued travel policies impose on fishing operations in the 
2021 fishing year, particularly in the remote BSAI halibut IFQ fishery. 
These advisories and policies may restrict the ability for vessels and 
crew to operate and fully harvest their IFQ (Sections 2.3 and 2.5 of 
the Analysis);
     The relatively large proportion of vessels participating 
in the Area 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D halibut IFQ fishery that are operating 
near the current vessel use cap, thereby limiting the amount of 
additional IFQ that could be harvested on vessels operating in those 
Areas (Section 2.3 of the Analysis);
     The minimum number of vessels required to fully harvest 
the IFQ held by the affected CQE representing the community of Adak, 
Alaska, exceeds the number of vessels owned by residents of the 
community (Sections 2.3.1.6 and 2.3.1.7 of the Analysis);
     Reduced ex-vessel prices due to poor market conditions 
that may further limit the number of vessels that can economically 
harvest their halibut IFQ in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D (Sections 2.3.1.2 
and 2.3.1.8 of the Analysis); and
     Public health risks, combined with health measures at 
specific remote ports in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and/or 4D, which may further 
limit the ability of smaller vessels to operate because processing 
facilities and vessel services are not available. For example, in 2020, 
the local St. Paul fleet did not operate due to public health risk and 
adverse economic conditions (Section 2.3 of the Analysis).
    The reader is referred to the Analysis, particularly Sections 2.3 
and 2.6, for additional detail on the efficacy of the 2020 emergency 
rule, the range of factors considered for this proposed rule, and the 
anticipated effects of removing the vessel use caps in Areas 4A, 4B, 
4C, and 4D for both CQE-associated vessels and non-CQE-associated 
vessels.
    After considering these factors, the Council recommended 
``expedited action'' to remove vessel use caps for the halibut IFQ 
fishery in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. NMFS accordingly has established 
an expedited 15-day comment period for this proposed rule. Due to the 
widespread industry support and the Council's request for expedited 
rulemaking and NMFS determination that the final rule should take 
effect before fishing vessels approach their use caps, the benefits of 
providing a shortened comment period and potentially expedited 
implementation outweigh there is good cause to expedite this 
thoroughly-considered action.
    The Council did not recommend, and this proposed rule does not 
include, measures to relieve the vessel use caps for the sablefish IFQ 
fishery, or for other halibut IFQ Areas, due to the larger number of 
vessels that are currently active in the sablefish IFQ fishery and 
these other halibut Areas. Detailed information indicating that halibut 
harvests in these other IFQ Areas would not be constrained under the 
current vessel use caps is available in Section 2.3.1.4 of the 
Analysis.
    The Council and NMFS also considered the potential impacts on 
halibut conservation and management if vessel use caps vessels in Areas 
4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are relieved for the 2021 IFQ fishing year. The 
proposed regulatory amendments in this rule would temporarily add a 
regulation that would remove vessel use caps in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 
4D because the vessel use caps may restrict the harvest of halibut in 
these areas, and less restrictive management measures are needed as 
soon as practicable to ensure the more complete harvest of the halibut 
resource during the 2021 IFQ fishing year. This proposed rule is 
responsive to the uncommon circumstances in the fishery in 2021 and 
does not modify the vessel use cap provisions in future years, 
consistent with the Council's goals in implementing vessel use caps in 
this fishery (Section 2.3 in the Analysis). This proposed rule would 
not modify other elements of the IFQ Program. This proposed rule would 
not increase or otherwise modify the 2021 halibut catch limits adopted 
by the IPHC and implemented by NMFS (86 FR 13475, March 9, 2021). This 
proposed rule would not modify any other conservation measures 
recommended by the IPHC and adopted by NMFS, nor any other conservation 
measures implemented by NMFS independent of the IPHC. This proposed 
rule would not modify other limitations on the use of QS and IFQ 
described in the previous sections of this preamble.

Proposed Regulations

    After considering the best available information, the Convention, 
the status of the halibut resource, and the potential social and 
economic costs of maintaining the vessel use cap limits described in 
this preamble, this proposed rule would add a new, temporary provision 
at 50 CFR 679.42(h)(1)(iii) to remove vessel use caps for vessels 
harvesting IFQ halibut in Areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D during the 2021 IFQ 
fishing year. Because under existing regulations, vessel use caps are 
applied at the fishery level including harvest in all areas, the 
proposed regulations clarify that harvest of IFQ halibut in regulatory 
areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D is excluded from the calculation of vessel use 
caps in IFQ regulatory areas 2C, 3A, or 3B during the 2021 IFQ fishing 
year.

Classification

    Regulations governing the U.S. fisheries for Pacific halibut are 
developed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council), and the Secretary of Commerce. Section 5 
of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 
773c) allows the Regional Council with authority over a particular 
geographical area, to develop regulations governing the allocation and 
catch of halibut in U.S. Convention waters as long as those regulations 
do not conflict with IPHC regulations. This proposed action is 
consistent with the Council's authority to allocate halibut catches 
among fishery participants in the waters in and off Alaska.
    This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.
    A Regulatory Impact Review was prepared to assess costs and 
benefits of available regulatory alternatives. A copy of this analysis 
is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Specific aspects of the 
economic analysis are discussed below in the Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis section.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    This Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared 
for this proposed rule, as required by Section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 603), to describe the economic impact 
this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. The IRFA 
describes the action; the reasons why this proposed rule is proposed; 
the objectives and legal basis for this proposed rule; the number and 
description of directly regulated small entities to which this proposed 
rule would apply; the recordkeeping, reporting, and other compliance 
requirements of this proposed rule; and the relevant Federal rules that 
may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this proposed rule. The 
description of the proposed action, its purpose, and the

[[Page 19210]]

legal basis are explained in the preamble and are not repeated here.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by This Proposed 
Rule

    This proposed rule would directly regulate the owners and operators 
of vessels that have traditionally harvested halibut IFQ in IFQ Areas 
4A, 4B, 4C, or 4D. From 2014 through 2019, (the most recent year with 
complete data) 119 unique vessels harvested halibut IFQ in IFQ Areas 
4A, 4B, 4C, or 4D. Based on average annual gross revenue data, 
including affiliations, all but three of the vessels that landed 
halibut between 2014 and 2019 are considered small entities based on 
the $11 million threshold. Additional detail is included in Sections 
2.8 in the Analysis prepared for this proposed rule (see ADDRESSES).

Impacts of This Action on Small Entities

    This action would relieve a restriction which could lead to a 
larger total harvest of IFQ in Area 4 in fishing season 2021. Although 
it is difficult to predict the direct impact of the regulatory 
exemptions implemented for the 2020 IFQ seasons, harvest rates achieved 
in 2020 relative to all other years (2006-2020) likely indicates the 
regulatory flexibilities implemented in 2020 (both the temporary 
transfer provisions as well the vessel use cap exemption) had some 
positive impact on the harvest rates, as described in Section 2.6 of 
the Analysis prepared for this action (See ADDRESSES).

Description of Significant Alternatives That Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities

    The RFA requires identification of any significant alternatives to 
the proposed rule that accomplish the stated objectives of the proposed 
action, consistent with applicable statutes, and that would minimize 
any significant economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities. 
The Council requested an action alternative and in considering the 
Council's request NMFS analyzed the impacts of the action alternative 
compared to the status quo.
    The status quo alternative would retain the existing vessel use cap 
restrictions as defined under 50 CFR 679.42(h). Considering the 
existing social and economic conditions in the IFQ fishery since 2020, 
the supply of vessels available to prosecute Area 4 halibut IFQ 
fisheries could be limited such that a portion of the 2021 annual 
halibut allocation could be left unharvested if available vessels must 
comply with existing halibut IFQ vessel use limitations.
    The action alternative would remove limits on the maximum amount of 
halibut IFQ that may be harvested by a vessel in IFQ regulatory areas 
4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. The action alternative and the regulations proposed 
by this action would provide additional flexibility to IFQ participants 
in 2021 to ensure allocations of halibut IFQ can be harvested by the 
limited number of vessels operating in these areas.

Duplicate, Overlapping, or Conflicting Federal Rules

    NMFS has not identified any duplication, overlap, or conflict 
between this proposed rule and existing Federal rules.

Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Other Compliance Requirements

    This action does not contain additional recordkeeping, reporting, 
or other compliance requirements.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This proposed rule does not contain a change to a collection of 
information requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. The existing collection of information requirements would 
continue to apply under the following OMB Control Number(s): 0648-0272, 
Alaska Pacific Halibut & Sablefish Fisheries: Individual Fishing Quota 
(IFQ).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 7, 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 
proposed to be 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.  679.42, add paragraph (h)(1)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.42   Limitations on use of QS and IFQ.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Notwithstanding the vessel use caps specified in paragraphs 
(h)(1) introductory text and (h)(1)(ii) of this section, vessel use 
caps do not apply to vessels harvesting IFQ halibut in IFQ regulatory 
areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D during the 2021 IFQ fishing year. Harvest of 
IFQ halibut in regulatory areas 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D is excluded from the 
calculation of vessel use caps for IFQ regulatory areas 2C, 3A, or 3B 
during the 2021 IFQ fishing year.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2021-07520 Filed 4-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P