Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 66297-66298 [2023-20976]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
The 2023 ITAC of BS Pacific ocean
perch was established as 10,118 metric
tons (mt), the 2023 ITAC of BSAI
Kamchatka flounder was established as
6,442 mt, the 2023 ITAC of BSAI
northern rockfish was established as
9,350 mt, the 2023 ITAC of BSAI sharks
was established as 213 mt, and the 2023
ITAC of CAI/WAI blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish was established as
141 mt by the final 2023 and 2024
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023)
and correction (88 FR 18258, March 28,
2023). In accordance with § 679.20(a)(3)
the Regional Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has reviewed the most
current available data and finds that the
ITACs for BS Pacific ocean perch, BSAI
Kamchatka flounder, BSAI northern
rockfish, BSAI sharks, and CAI/WAI
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish need to
be supplemented from the non-specified
reserve to promote efficiency in the
utilization of fishery resources in the
BSAI and allow fishing operations to
continue.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions from
the non-specified reserve of groundfish
to ITACs in the BSAI management area
as follows: 1,785 mt to BS Pacific ocean
perch, 1,137 mt to BSAI Kamchatka
flounder, 1,650 mt to BSAI northern
rockfish, 120 mt to BSAI sharks, and 25
mt to CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish. These apportionments are
consistent with § 679.20(b)(1)(i) and do
not result in overfishing of any target
species because the revised ITACs and
total allowable catches (TACs) are equal
to or less than the specifications of the
acceptable biological catch in the final
2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926,
March 10, 2023) and correction (88 FR
18258, March 28, 2023).
The harvest specification for the 2023
ITACs and TACs included in the harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI are revised as follows 11,903 mt
for BS Pacific ocean perch, 7,579 mt for
BSAI Kamchatka flounder, 11,000 mt for
BSAI northern rockfish, 333 mt for BSAI
sharks, and 166 mt for CAI/WAI
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
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
16:31 Sep 26, 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
and would delay the apportionment of
the non-specified reserves of groundfish
to BS Pacific ocean perch, BSAI
Kamchatka flounder, BSAI northern
rockfish, BSAI sharks, and CAI/WAI
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of September
5, 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.
Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested
persons are invited to submit written
comments on this action (see
ADDRESSES) until October 11, 2023.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 22, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–21051 Filed 9–26–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306–0065; RTID 0648–
XD359]
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
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of the 2023
Atka mackerel incidental catch
allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
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66297
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 2023 total
allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the
BSAI to be fully harvested.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), September 25, 2023
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
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
(Magnuson-Stevens 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 2023 Atka mackerel ICA for the
BS/EAI is 800 metric tons (mt) and the
2023 Atka mackerel total allowable
catch allocated to the Amendment 80
cooperative for the BS/EAI is 21,083 mt
as established by the final 2023 and
2024 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926,
March 10, 2023) and correction (88 FR
18258, March 28, 2023).
The Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that 700 mt of
the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI
will not be harvested. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.91(f), NMFS
reallocates 700 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 the
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 (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023)
and corrected (88 FR 18258, March 28,
2023) are revised as follows: 100 mt of
Atka mackerel for the BS/EAI ICA and
21,783 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:
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66298
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 6—FINAL 2023 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]
2023 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
100
118
2,343
1,171
n/a
1,171
n/a
21,783
10,892
n/a
10,892
n/a
Central
Aleutian District 5
Western
Aleutian District
17,351
1,857
928
557
928
557
15,494
75
......................................
1,542
771
463
771
463
13,877
6,939
4,163
6,939
4,163
24,671
2,640
1,320
792
1,320
792
22,031
20
..................................
..................................
..................................
..................................
..................................
..................................
22,011
11,006
6,603
11,006
6,603
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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)).
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 protection areas; 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 2023 at 0.5 percent. The jig
gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
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; and, (2) the
harvest capacity and stated intent on
future harvesting patterns of the
Amendment 80 cooperative that
participates in this BS/EAI fishery.
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.
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:31 Sep 26, 2023
Jkt 259001
mackerel in the BS/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 September
21, 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 21, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–20976 Filed 9–22–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648–
XD069]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 Pacific ocean perch in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
to prevent exceeding the 2023 total
allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch
in the Western Regulatory Area of the
GOA.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27SER1.SGM
27SER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66297-66298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20976]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306-0065; RTID 0648-XD359]
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 2023
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
2023 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully
harvested.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 25,
2023 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 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 (Magnuson-
Stevens 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 2023 Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI is 800 metric tons (mt)
and the 2023 Atka mackerel total allowable catch allocated to the
Amendment 80 cooperative for the BS/EAI is 21,083 mt as established by
the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) and correction (88 FR 18258, March
28, 2023).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 700 mt
of the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI will not be harvested.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.91(f), NMFS reallocates 700 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 the 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 (88 FR 14926, March
10, 2023) and corrected (88 FR 18258, March 28, 2023) are revised as
follows: 100 mt of Atka mackerel for the BS/EAI ICA and 21,783 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 66298]]
Table 6--Final 2023 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 Allocation by area
Season 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Eastern Aleutian Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
District/Bering Sea District \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC......................... n/a............ 27,260 17,351 24,671
CDQ reserve................. Total.......... 2,917 1,857 2,640
A.............. 1,458 928 1,320
Critical n/a 557 792
Habitat.
B.............. 1,458 928 1,320
Critical n/a 557 792
Habitat.
Non-CDQ TAC................. n/a............ 24,343 15,494 22,031
ICA......................... Total.......... 100 75 20
Jig \6\..................... Total.......... 118 ..................... ...................
BSAI trawl limited access... Total.......... 2,343 1,542 ...................
A.............. 1,171 771 ...................
Critical n/a 463 ...................
Habitat.
B.............. 1,171 771 ...................
Critical n/a 463 ...................
Habitat.
Amendment 80 sector......... Total.......... 21,783 13,877 22,011
A.............. 10,892 6,939 11,006
Critical n/a 4,163 6,603
Habitat.
B.............. 10,892 6,939 11,006
Critical n/a 4,163 6,603
Habitat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\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)).
\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 protection areas; 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 2023 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
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; and, (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 BS/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 September 21, 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 21, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-20976 Filed 9-22-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
