Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 67832-67833 [2022-24563]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
PART 648—FISHERIES OF THE
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
1. The authority citation for part 648
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
2. In § 648.2, revise the ‘‘Fishing year’’
definition to read as follows:
■
§ 648.2
Definitions.
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Fishing year means:
(1) For the Atlantic deep-sea red crab
fishery, from March 1 through the last
day of February of the following year.
(2) Beginning in 2018, for the Atlantic
sea scallop fishery, from April 1 through
March 31 of the following year (for
2017, the Atlantic sea scallop fishing
year will be from March 1, 2017,
through March 31, 2018).
(3) For the NE multispecies, monkfish
and skate fisheries, from May 1 through
April 30 of the following year.
(4) For all other fisheries in this part,
from January 1 through December 31.
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■ 3. In § 648.292, revise paragraph (a)
introductory text and paragraph (a)(1) to
read as follows:
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§ 648.292
Tilefish specifications.
(a) Golden Tilefish. The golden
tilefish fishing year is the 12-month
period beginning with January 1,
annually.
(1) Annual specification process. The
Tilefish Monitoring Committee shall
review the ABC recommendation of the
SSC, golden tilefish landings and
discards information, and any other
relevant available data to determine if
the golden tilefish ACL, ACT, or total
allowable landings (TAL) for the IFQ
and/or incidental sectors of the fishery
require modification to respond to any
changes to the golden tilefish stock’s
biological reference points or to ensure
any applicable rebuilding schedule is
maintained. The Monitoring Committee
will consider whether any additional
management measures or revisions to
existing measures are necessary to
ensure that the IFQ and/or incidental
TAL will not be exceeded. Based on that
review, the Monitoring Committee will
recommend the golden tilefish ACL,
ACTs, and TALs to the Tilefish
Committee of the MAFMC. Based on
these recommendations and any public
comment received, the Tilefish
Committee shall recommend to the
MAFMC the appropriate golden tilefish
ACL, ACT, TAL, and other management
measures for both the IFQ and the
incidental sectors of the fishery for a
single fishing year or up to the
maximum number of years needed to be
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16:26 Nov 09, 2022
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consistent with the Northeast Regional
Coordinating Council-approved stock
assessment schedule. The MAFMC shall
review these recommendations and any
public comments received, and
recommend to the Regional
Administrator, at least 120 days prior to
the beginning of the next fishing year,
the appropriate golden tilefish ACL,
ACT, TAL, the percentage of TAL
allocated to research quota, and any
management measures to ensure that the
TAL will not be exceeded, for both the
IFQ and the incidental sectors of the
fishery, for the next fishing year, or up
to the maximum number of fishing years
consistent with the Northeast Regional
Coordinating Council-approved stock
assessment schedule. The MAFMC’s
recommendations must include
supporting documentation, as
appropriate, concerning the
environmental and economic impacts of
the recommendations. The Regional
Administrator shall review these
recommendations and, after such
review, NMFS will publish a proposed
rule in the Federal Register specifying
the annual golden tilefish ACL, ACT,
TAL, and any management measures to
ensure that the TAL will not be
exceeded for the upcoming fishing year
or years for both the IFQ and the
incidental sectors of the fishery. After
considering public comments, NMFS
will publish a final rule in the Federal
Register to implement the golden
tilefish ACL, ACTs, TALs and any
management measures. The previous
year’s specifications will remain
effective unless revised through the
specification process and/or the
research quota process described in
paragraph (a)(5) of this section. NMFS
will issue notification in the Federal
Register if the previous year’s
specifications will not be changed.
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[FR Doc. 2022–24540 Filed 11–9–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220223–0054; RTID 0648–
XC322]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka
Mackerel in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of the 2022
Atka mackerel incidental catch
allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea
subarea and Eastern Aleutian district
(BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80
cooperative allocation for the BS/EAI in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to allow the 2022 total
allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the
BSAI to be fully harvested.
DATES: Effective 12:00 p.m. Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), November 7, 2022, through
12:00 a.m., A.l.t., January 1, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP) prepared by
the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2022 Atka mackerel ICA for the
BS/EAI is 800 metric tons (mt) and the
2022 Atka mackerel total allowable
catch allocated to the Amendment 80
cooperative for the BS/EAI is 21,083 mt
as established by the final 2022 and
2023 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (87 FR 11626,
March 2, 2022).
The Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that 609 mt of
the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI
will not be harvested. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.91(f), NMFS
reallocates 609 mt of Atka mackerel
from the BS/EAI ICA to the BS/EAI
Amendment 80 cooperative allocation
in the BSAI. In accordance with
§ 679.91(f), NMFS will reissue
cooperative quota permit for the
reallocated Atka mackerel following the
procedures set forth in § 679.91(f)(3).
The harvest specifications for Atka
mackerel included in the harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (87 FR 11626, March 2, 2022) are
revised as follows: 191 mt of Atka
mackerel for the BS/EAI ICA and 21,692
mt of Atka mackerel for the Amendment
80 cooperative allocation for the BS/
EAI. Table 6 is revised and republished
in its entirety as follows:
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
67833
TABLE 6—FINAL 2022 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2022 Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC ........................................................
CDQ reserve ..........................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
Non-CDQ TAC .......................................
ICA .........................................................
Jig 6 ........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ......................
Amendment 80 sector ............................
Eastern Aleutian
district/Bering Sea
27,260
2,917
1,458
n/a
1,458
n/a
24,343
191
118
2,343
1,171
n/a
1,171
n/a
21,692
10,846
n/a
10,846
n/a
Central Aleutian
district 5
Western Aleutian
district
16,880
1,806
903
542
903
542
15,074
75
..............................
1,500
750
450
750
450
13,499
6,749
4,050
6,749
4,050
22,341
2,390
1,195
717
1,195
717
19,951
20
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
19,931
9,965
5,979
9,965
5,979
1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
2 Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
3 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
4 Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B
season from June 10 to December 31.
5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of Steller sea
lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3);
and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
6 Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be
allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2022 at 0.5 percent. The jig
gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
This will enhance the socioeconomic
well-being of harvesters dependent
upon Atka mackerel in this area. The
Regional Administrator considered the
following factors in reaching this
decision: (1) the current catch of Atka
mackerel ICA in the BS/EAI, (2) the
harvest capacity and stated intent on
future harvesting patterns of the
Amendment 80 cooperative that
participates in this BS/EAI fishery.
Classification
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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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:26 Nov 09, 2022
Jkt 259001
section 304(b), and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there
is good cause to waive prior notice and
an opportunity for public comment on
this action, as notice and comment
would be impracticable and contrary to
the public interest, as it would prevent
NMFS from responding to the most
recent fisheries data in a timely fashion,
and would delay the harvest of Atka
mackerel in the BE/EAI fishery. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of November 4,
2022.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA also finds good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in the
effective date of this action under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based
upon the reasons provided above for
waiver of prior notice.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 7, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–24563 Filed 11–7–22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67832-67833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24563]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220223-0054; RTID 0648-XC322]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2022
Atka mackerel incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea
subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80
cooperative allocation for the BS/EAI in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the
2022 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully
harvested.
DATES: Effective 12:00 p.m. Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 7,
2022, through 12:00 a.m., A.l.t., January 1, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations
governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2022 Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI is 800 metric tons (mt)
and the 2022 Atka mackerel total allowable catch allocated to the
Amendment 80 cooperative for the BS/EAI is 21,083 mt as established by
the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (87 FR 11626, March 2, 2022).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 609 mt
of the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.91(f), NMFS reallocates 609 mt
of Atka mackerel from the BS/EAI ICA to the BS/EAI Amendment 80
cooperative allocation in the BSAI. In accordance with Sec. 679.91(f),
NMFS will reissue cooperative quota permit for the reallocated Atka
mackerel following the procedures set forth in Sec. 679.91(f)(3).
The harvest specifications for Atka mackerel included in the
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (87 FR 11626, March
2, 2022) are revised as follows: 191 mt of Atka mackerel for the BS/EAI
ICA and 21,692 mt of Atka mackerel for the Amendment 80 cooperative
allocation for the BS/EAI. Table 6 is revised and republished in its
entirety as follows:
[[Page 67833]]
Table 6--Final 2022 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel Tac
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Eastern Aleutian
district/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea district \5\ district
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 27,260 16,880 22,341
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,917 1,806 2,390
A................... 1,458 903 1,195
Critical Habitat.... n/a 542 717
B................... 1,458 903 1,195
Critical Habitat.... n/a 542 717
Non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a................. 24,343 15,074 19,951
ICA.............................. Total............... 191 75 20
Jig \6\.......................... Total............... 118 ................. .................
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 2,343 1,500 .................
A................... 1,171 750 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 450 .................
B................... 1,171 750 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 450 .................
Amendment 80 sector.............. Total............... 21,692 13,499 19,931
A................... 10,846 6,749 9,965
Critical Habitat.... n/a 4,050 5,979
B................... 10,846 6,749 9,965
Critical Habitat.... n/a 4,050 5,979
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig
gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50 CFR
part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and
the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets
the amount of this allocation for 2022 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters
dependent upon Atka mackerel in this area. The Regional Administrator
considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) the
current catch of Atka mackerel ICA in the BS/EAI, (2) the harvest
capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of the
Amendment 80 cooperative that participates in this BS/EAI fishery.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest,
as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion, and would delay the harvest of Atka mackerel
in the BE/EAI fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of November 4, 2022.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA also finds good
cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons
provided above for waiver of prior notice.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 7, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24563 Filed 11-7-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
