Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 17403-17405 [2023-06021]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
*
*
*
*
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 620 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective, the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
*
[FR Doc. 2023–05797 Filed 3–22–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
Classification
[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648–
XC726]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the A season allowance of the 2023 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 620 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 2023,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31,
2023.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abby Jahn, 907–586–7228.
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
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 A season allowance of the 2023
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is
58,039 metric tons (mt) as established
by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2023 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 620 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 57,839 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 200 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:18 Mar 22, 2023
Jkt 259001
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 closure of pollock
in Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of March 19,
2023.
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 and opportunity
for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–05998 Filed 3–20–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306–0065; RTID 0648–
XC857]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
ACTION:
17403
Temporary rule; reallocation.
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation’s and the Community
Development Quota (CDQ) pollock
directed fishing allowance (DFA) from
the Aleutian Islands subarea to the
Bering Sea subarea. This action is
necessary to provide the opportunity for
the harvest of the 2023 total allowable
catch of pollock, consistent with the
goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (BSAI).
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 23, 2023,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abby Jahn, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
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 (Council)
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2023 pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
Aleut Corporation and CDQ DFA is
14,600 mt and 1,900 mt, respectively, as
established by the final 2023 and 2024
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10,
2023).
As of March 17, 2023, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that 12,600 mt of the Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ DFA in the Aleutian
Islands subarea will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
reallocates 12,600 mt of the Aleut
Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea
subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ DFA is added to the 2023
Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The 12,600 mt of
pollock Aleut Corporation’s DFA is
apportioned to the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) Inshore sector (50 percent),
AFA catcher/processor sector (40
percent), and the AFA mothership
sector (10 percent). The 2023 Bering Sea
subarea pollock incidental catch
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23MRR1.SGM
23MRR1
17404
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
allowance (ICA) remains at 50,000 mt.
As a result, the 2023 harvest
specifications for pollock in the
Aleutian Islands subarea included in the
final 2023 and 2024 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) are
revised as follows: 0 mt to CDQ DFA
and 2,000 mt to the Aleut Corporation’s
DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 is revised to make
2023 pollock allocations consistent with
this reallocation. This reallocation
results in an adjustment to the 2023
CDQ pollock allocation established at
§ 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 4—FINAL 2023 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2023 A season 1
2023
Allocations
Area and sector
A season DFA
2023 B
season 1
Steller sea lion
conservation area
(SCA) harvest limit 2
B season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..................................................................
CDQ DFA .............................................................................................
ICA 1 .....................................................................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .........................................................
AFA Inshore .........................................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors: 3 ..................................................................
Catch by catchers/processors (CPs) ............................................
Catch by catcher vessels (CVs) 3 .................................................
Unlisted CP Limit 4 ........................................................................
AFA Motherships .................................................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ................................................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...............................................................
1,314,500
131,900
50,000
1,132,600
566,300
453,040
414,532
38,508
2,265
113,260
198,205
339,780
n/a
59,355
n/a
509,670
254,835
203,868
186,539
17,329
1,019
50,967
n/a
n/a
n/a
36,932
n/a
317,128
158,564
126,851
n/a
n/a
n/a
31,713
n/a
n/a
n/a
72,545
n/a
622,930
311,465
249,172
227,992
21,180
1,246
62,293
n/a
n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea acceptable biological catch (ABC) ..............
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ...........................................................
CDQ DFA .............................................................................................
ICA .......................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .................................................................................
Area harvest limit: 7 ..............................................................................
541 ................................................................................................
542 ................................................................................................
543 ................................................................................................
43,413
19,000
........................
2,500
2,000
n/a
13,024
6,512
2,171
n/a
n/a
........................
1,250
2,100
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
........................
1,250
(100)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ..........................................................................
300
n/a
n/a
n/a
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (50,000 mt,
4.27 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector—50 percent, CP sector—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the
Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFAs are allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFAs are allocated to
the B season (June 10–November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA
(10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,500 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the
SCA before 12 p.m. (noon), April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels
with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector cooperative for the year.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
processor sector’s allocation of pollock.
5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
7 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(*)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch
only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:18 Mar 22, 2023
Jkt 259001
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,
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
and would delay the reallocation of
Aleutian Islands pollock. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the
most recent, relevant data only became
available as of March 14, 2023.
E:\FR\FM\23MRR1.SGM
23MRR1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
The AA 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 and opportunity for public
comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–06021 Filed 3–22–23; 8:45 am]
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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16:18 Mar 22, 2023
Jkt 259001
PO 00000
17405
Frm 00041
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17403-17405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06021]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306-0065; RTID 0648-XC857]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation's and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock
directed fishing allowance (DFA) from the Aleutian Islands subarea to
the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide the
opportunity for the harvest of the 2023 total allowable catch of
pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (BSAI).
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 23,
2023, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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
(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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2023 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation and CDQ
DFA is 14,600 mt and 1,900 mt, respectively, as established by the
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI
(88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023).
As of March 17, 2023, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has determined that 12,600 mt of the Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ DFA in the Aleutian
Islands subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 12,600 mt of the Aleut
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ DFA from the Aleutian
Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of
pollock CDQ DFA is added to the 2023 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The 12,600 mt
of pollock Aleut Corporation's DFA is apportioned to the American
Fisheries Act (AFA) Inshore sector (50 percent), AFA catcher/processor
sector (40 percent), and the AFA mothership sector (10 percent). The
2023 Bering Sea subarea pollock incidental catch
[[Page 17404]]
allowance (ICA) remains at 50,000 mt. As a result, the 2023 harvest
specifications for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in
the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) are revised as follows: 0 mt to CDQ
DFA and 2,000 mt to the Aleut Corporation's DFA. Furthermore, pursuant
to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 is revised to make 2023 pollock
allocations consistent with this reallocation. This reallocation
results in an adjustment to the 2023 CDQ pollock allocation established
at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
Table 4--Final 2023 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 A season \1\ 2023 B season
-------------------------------------- \1\
2023 Steller sea lion ---------------
Area and sector Allocations conservation area
A season DFA (SCA) harvest limit B season DFA
\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\................ 1,314,500 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................... 131,900 59,355 36,932 72,545
ICA \1\................................... 50,000 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.............. 1,132,600 509,670 317,128 622,930
AFA Inshore............................... 566,300 254,835 158,564 311,465
AFA Catcher/Processors: \3\............... 453,040 203,868 126,851 249,172
Catch by catchers/processors (CPs).... 414,532 186,539 n/a 227,992
Catch by catcher vessels (CVs) \3\.... 38,508 17,329 n/a 21,180
Unlisted CP Limit \4\................. 2,265 1,019 n/a 1,246
AFA Motherships........................... 113,260 50,967 31,713 62,293
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\............ 198,205 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\............ 339,780 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea acceptable 43,413 n/a n/a n/a
biological catch (ABC)...................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\.......... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................... .............. .............. n/a ..............
ICA....................................... 2,500 1,250 n/a 1,250
Aleut Corporation......................... 2,000 2,100 n/a (100)
Area harvest limit: \7\................... n/a n/a n/a n/a
541................................... 13,024 n/a n/a n/a
542................................... 6,512 n/a n/a n/a
543................................... 2,171 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA \8\................. 300 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (50,000 mt, 4.27 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent,
CP sector--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFAs
are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFAs are allocated to the B season
(June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000
mt (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the Aleutian Islands subarea
pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,500 mt), is
allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A
season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12 p.m. (noon), April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for
harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP
sector cooperative for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processor sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(*)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
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 reallocation of Aleutian
Islands pollock. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of March 14, 2023.
[[Page 17405]]
The AA 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 and
opportunity for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 20, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06021 Filed 3-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
