Adjustment to Sector Annual Catch Entitlements Under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, 84243-84248 [2023-26655]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 231129–0282; RTID 0648–
XD485]
Adjustment to Sector Annual Catch
Entitlements Under the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
AGENCY:
Sector Carryover Allocations From
Fishing Year 2022
This final rule announces
allocation carryover from fishing year
2022 into fishing year 2023 for the
Northeast Multispecies sectors program.
This action is necessary to distribute
carryover quota to sectors. The
carryover adjustments in this rule are
routine and formulaic, and industry
expects them each year.
DATES: Effective January 4, 2024,
through April 30, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz
Sullivan, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978)
282–8493.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
18, 2023, NMFS published a final rule
approving Framework Adjustment 65 to
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Carryover regulations at 50 CFR
648.87(b)(1)(i)(C) allow each groundfish
sector to carry over an amount of
unused annual catch entitlement (ACE)
up to 10 percent of the sector’s original
ACE for each stock (except for Georges
Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder) that is
unused at the end of the fishing year
into the following fishing year. NMFS is
required to adjust ACE carryover to
ensure that the total unused ACE
combined with the overall sub-ACL
does not exceed the acceptable
biological catch (ABC) for the fishing
year in which the carryover may be
harvested. NMFS completed the 2022
fishing year data reconciliation with
sectors and determined final 2022
fishing year sector catch and the amount
of allocation that sectors may carry over
from the 2022 to the 2023 fishing year.
Accordingly, the available carryover of
unused ACE from fishing year 2022 to
fishing year 2023 has been reduced for
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary final rule;
adjustment to specifications.
SUMMARY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
Management Plan (FMP) (88 FR 56527),
which revised the rebuilding plan for
Gulf of Maine cod, set annual catch
limits (ACL) for 16 of the 20 groundfish
stocks and 2023 ACLs for 3 shared U.S./
Canada stocks, and made a temporary
modification to the accountability
measures for Georges Bank cod. This
rule distributes unused sector quota
carried over from fishing year 2022 to
fishing year 2023.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
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84243
the following stocks: GB cod; GB
haddock; Gulf of Maine (GOM)
haddock; Cape Cod/GOM yellowtail
flounder; witch flounder; GB winter
flounder; Southern New England/MidAtlantic (SNE/MA) winter flounder;
redfish; white hake; and pollock. The
stocks for which carryover is the full 10
percent of the original quota allocation
from fishing year 2022 are GOM cod,
SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, plaice,
and GOM winter flounder. Complete
details on carryover reduction
percentages can be found at: https://
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
ro/fso/reports/h/groundfish_catch_
accounting.
Table 1 includes the maximum
amount of allocation that sectors may
carry over from the 2022 to the 2023
fishing year. Table 2 includes the de
minimis amount of carryover for each
sector for the 2023 fishing year. If the
overall ACL for any allocated stock is
exceeded for the 2023 fishing year, the
allowed carryover harvested by a sector,
minus the pounds in the sector’s de
minimis amount, will be counted
against its allocation to determine
whether an overage subject to an
accountability measure occurred. Tables
3 and 4 list the final ACE available to
sectors for the 2023 fishing year,
including finalized carryover amounts
for each sector, as adjusted down when
necessary to equal each stock’s ABC.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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ER05DE23.027</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
Table 1 -- Finalized C
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
Table 2 -- De Minimis C
84245
ER05DE23.028</GPH>
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
ER05DE23.029</GPH>
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Table 3 -- Total ACE Available to Sect
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4,578
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88
101
65
54
968
139
913
SHS3
45
87
33
697
4,732
594
26
6
231
1,626
365
724
41
215
4,130
598
4,216
Total
289
556
645
3,275
21,922
3,528
176
58
2,166
12,043
2,567
3,606
1,201
905
21,754
3,988
30,186
84247
Conservation and Management Act
(MSA), which provides specific
authority for implementing this action.
E:\FR\FM\05DER1.SGM
NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to
305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
BILLING CODE 3510–22–C
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Table 4 -- Total ACE Available to Sectors in Fishing Year 2023 including Final Carryover (1 1000 lb)
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
84248
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / Rules and Regulations
Section 305(d) authorizes NMFS to take
action to carry out provisions in FMPs
and of the MSA. In a previous action
taken pursuant to section 304(b), NMFS
approved the Council designed
provisions in the FMP to authorize
NMFS to annually adjust and distribute
sector carryover consistent with MSA
requirements to prevent overfishing and
achieve optimum yield. See
§ 648.87(b)(1)(i)(C). The NMFS Assistant
Administrator has determined that this
final rule is consistent with the
Northeast Multispecies FMP, other
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, and other applicable laws.
This final rule is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B),
NMFS finds good cause to waive prior
public notice and opportunity for public
comment on the allocation adjustments
because allowing time for notice and
comment is impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest.
Notice and comment would be
impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest, as the
distribution of unused quota carried
over from the previous fishing year is an
annual adjustment action that is
expected by industry. These
adjustments increase available catch,
and sector vessels will be able to fish for
this additional catch as soon as this
action is in effect, which will provide
increased operational flexibility and
ability to catch its available allocation.
They are routine, formulaic, and
authorized by regulation. The public
had prior notice and opportunity to
participate in the development of and
comment on the regulations
implementing this process and expects
this adjustment each year. Delaying
these adjustments would result in a
delay in the distribution of unused
carryover to sectors, and could negate or
reduce the intended economic benefits
and increased operational flexibility
provided by these adjustments.
Carryover from 2022 was only recently
finalized because it is based on data that
was not available until the fall upon the
conclusion of the catch accounting
process for fishing year 2022.
Also, because advanced notice and
the opportunity for public comment are
not required for this action under the
Administrative Procedure Act, or any
other law, the analytical requirements of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
601, et seq., do not apply to this rule.
Therefore, no final regulatory flexibility
analysis is required and none has been
prepared.
This final rule contains no
information collection requirements
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:35 Dec 04, 2023
Jkt 262001
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 30, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–26655 Filed 12–4–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648–
XD343]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher/Processors Using Hook-andLine Gear in the Central 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 cod by catcher/
processors using hook-and-line (HAL)
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to catcher/processors using
HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), December 1, 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
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 (Magnuson-Stevens
Act). Regulations governing fishing by
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subparts H of 50 CFR parts
600 and 679.
The 2023 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to catcher/processors using
HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA is 562 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2023 and 2024
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
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 2023 Pacific cod
TAC apportioned to catcher/processors
using HAL gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon
be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 552 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 10 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher/processors using HAL gear in
the Central Regulatory Area 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.
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 closure of Pacific
cod by catcher/processors using HAL
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish
a notification providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of November 29, 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: November 30, 2023.
Michael P. Ruccio,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–26660 Filed 11–30–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\05DER1.SGM
05DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84243-84248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26655]
[[Page 84243]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 231129-0282; RTID 0648-XD485]
Adjustment to Sector Annual Catch Entitlements Under the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary final rule; adjustment to specifications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This final rule announces allocation carryover from fishing
year 2022 into fishing year 2023 for the Northeast Multispecies sectors
program. This action is necessary to distribute carryover quota to
sectors. The carryover adjustments in this rule are routine and
formulaic, and industry expects them each year.
DATES: Effective January 4, 2024, through April 30, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Sullivan, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 282-8493.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 18, 2023, NMFS published a final
rule approving Framework Adjustment 65 to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (88 FR 56527), which revised the
rebuilding plan for Gulf of Maine cod, set annual catch limits (ACL)
for 16 of the 20 groundfish stocks and 2023 ACLs for 3 shared U.S./
Canada stocks, and made a temporary modification to the accountability
measures for Georges Bank cod. This rule distributes unused sector
quota carried over from fishing year 2022 to fishing year 2023.
Sector Carryover Allocations From Fishing Year 2022
Carryover regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(1)(i)(C) allow each
groundfish sector to carry over an amount of unused annual catch
entitlement (ACE) up to 10 percent of the sector's original ACE for
each stock (except for Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder) that is
unused at the end of the fishing year into the following fishing year.
NMFS is required to adjust ACE carryover to ensure that the total
unused ACE combined with the overall sub-ACL does not exceed the
acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the fishing year in which the
carryover may be harvested. NMFS completed the 2022 fishing year data
reconciliation with sectors and determined final 2022 fishing year
sector catch and the amount of allocation that sectors may carry over
from the 2022 to the 2023 fishing year. Accordingly, the available
carryover of unused ACE from fishing year 2022 to fishing year 2023 has
been reduced for the following stocks: GB cod; GB haddock; Gulf of
Maine (GOM) haddock; Cape Cod/GOM yellowtail flounder; witch flounder;
GB winter flounder; Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) winter
flounder; redfish; white hake; and pollock. The stocks for which
carryover is the full 10 percent of the original quota allocation from
fishing year 2022 are GOM cod, SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, plaice, and
GOM winter flounder. Complete details on carryover reduction
percentages can be found at: https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ro/fso/reports/h/groundfish_catch_accounting.
Table 1 includes the maximum amount of allocation that sectors may
carry over from the 2022 to the 2023 fishing year. Table 2 includes the
de minimis amount of carryover for each sector for the 2023 fishing
year. If the overall ACL for any allocated stock is exceeded for the
2023 fishing year, the allowed carryover harvested by a sector, minus
the pounds in the sector's de minimis amount, will be counted against
its allocation to determine whether an overage subject to an
accountability measure occurred. Tables 3 and 4 list the final ACE
available to sectors for the 2023 fishing year, including finalized
carryover amounts for each sector, as adjusted down when necessary to
equal each stock's ABC.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[[Page 84244]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR05DE23.027
[[Page 84245]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR05DE23.028
[[Page 84246]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR05DE23.029
[[Page 84247]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR05DE23.030
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
Classification
NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which provides
specific authority for implementing this action.
[[Page 84248]]
Section 305(d) authorizes NMFS to take action to carry out provisions
in FMPs and of the MSA. In a previous action taken pursuant to section
304(b), NMFS approved the Council designed provisions in the FMP to
authorize NMFS to annually adjust and distribute sector carryover
consistent with MSA requirements to prevent overfishing and achieve
optimum yield. See Sec. 648.87(b)(1)(i)(C). The NMFS Assistant
Administrator has determined that this final rule is consistent with
the Northeast Multispecies FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable
laws.
This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), NMFS finds good cause to waive
prior public notice and opportunity for public comment on the
allocation adjustments because allowing time for notice and comment is
impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest.
Notice and comment would be impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest, as the distribution of unused quota
carried over from the previous fishing year is an annual adjustment
action that is expected by industry. These adjustments increase
available catch, and sector vessels will be able to fish for this
additional catch as soon as this action is in effect, which will
provide increased operational flexibility and ability to catch its
available allocation. They are routine, formulaic, and authorized by
regulation. The public had prior notice and opportunity to participate
in the development of and comment on the regulations implementing this
process and expects this adjustment each year. Delaying these
adjustments would result in a delay in the distribution of unused
carryover to sectors, and could negate or reduce the intended economic
benefits and increased operational flexibility provided by these
adjustments. Carryover from 2022 was only recently finalized because it
is based on data that was not available until the fall upon the
conclusion of the catch accounting process for fishing year 2022.
Also, because advanced notice and the opportunity for public
comment are not required for this action under the Administrative
Procedure Act, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., do not apply to this
rule. Therefore, no final regulatory flexibility analysis is required
and none has been prepared.
This final rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 30, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26655 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
