Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 8349-8351 [2024-02493]
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8349
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
whales. Ecology and Evolution 7:8730–
8741.
Pace, R.M. 2021. Revisions and Further
Evaluations of the Right Whale
Abundance Model: Improvements for
Hypothesis Testing. NOAA Technical
Memorandum NMFS–NE–269. Northeast
Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole,
MA.
Pace, R.M., R. Williams, S.D. Kraus, A.R.
Knowlton, and H.M. Pettis. 2021. Cryptic
mortality of North Atlantic right whales.
Conservation Science and Practice
2021:e346.
Pendleton, D., A. Pershing, M. Brown, C.
Mayo, R. Kenney, N. Record, and T.
Cole. 2009. Regional-scale mean copepod
concentration indicates relative
abundance of North Atlantic right
whales. Marine Ecology Progress Series,
378, 211–225.
Pendleton, D.E., M.W. Tingley, L.C. Ganley,
K.D. Friedland, C. Mayo, M.W. Brown,
B.E. McKenna, A. Jordaan, and M.D.
Staudinger. 2022. Decadal-scale
phenology and seasonal climate drivers
of migratory baleen whales in a rapidly
warming marine ecosystem. Global
Change Biology, 28(16), 4989–5005.
Plourde, S., C. Lehoux, C.L. Johnson, G.
Perrin, and V. Lesage. 2019. North
Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena
glacialis) and its food: (I) a spatial
climatology of Calanus biomass and
potential foraging habitats in Canadian
waters. Journal of Plankton Research
41(5): 667–685.
Record, N.R., J. Runge, D. Pendleton, W.
Balch, K. Davies, A. Pershing, C.
Johnson, K. Stamieszkin, R. Ji, Z. Feng,
S. Kraus, R. Kenney, C. Hudak, C. Mayo,
C. Chen, J. Salisbury, and C. Thompson.
2019a. Rapid Climate-Driven Circulation
Changes Threaten Conservation of
Endangered North Atlantic Right
Whales. Oceanography. 32.
Record, N.R., W.M. Balch, and K.
Stamieszkin. 2019b. Century-scale
changes in phytoplankton phenology in
the Gulf of Maine. PeerJ. 7:e6735.
Roberts, J.J., B.D. Best, L. Mannocci, E.
Fujioka, P.N. Halpin, D.L. Palka, L.P.
Garrison, K.D. Mullin, T.V.N. Cole, C.B.
Khan, W.A. McLellan, D.A. Pabst, and
G.G. Lockhart. 2016a. Habitat-based
cetacean density models for the U.S.
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Scientific
Reports 6:22615.
Roberts J.J., L. Mannocci, and P.N. Halpin.
2016b. Final Project Report: Marine
Species Density Data Gap Assessments
and Update for the AFTT Study Area,
2015–2016 (Base Year). Document
version 1.0. Report prepared for Naval
Facilities Engineering Command,
Atlantic by the Duke University Marine
Geospatial Ecology Lab, Durham, NC.
Roberts J.J. and P.N. Halpin. 2022. North
Atlantic right whale v12 model
overview. Duke University Marine
Geospatial Ecology Lab, Durham, NC.
Roberts J.J., R.S. Schick, P.N. Halpin. 2020.
Final Project Report: Marine Species
Density Data Gap Assessments and
Update for the AFTT Study Area, 2018–
2020 (Option Year 3). Document version
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15:42 Feb 06, 2024
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1.4. Report prepared for Naval Facilities
Engineering Command, Atlantic by the
Duke University Marine Geospatial
Ecology Lab, Durham, NC.
Roberts J.J., R.S. Schick, and P.N. Halpin.
2021. Final Project Report: Marine
Species Density Data Gap Assessments
and Update for the AFTT Study Area,
2020 (Option Year 4). Document version
2.2. Report prepared for Naval Facilities
Engineering Command, Atlantic by the
Duke University Marine Geospatial
Ecology Lab, Durham, NC.
Runge, M.C., D.W. Linden, J.A. Hostetler,
D.L. Borggaard, L.P. Garrison, A.R.
Knowlton, V. Lesage, R. Williams, R.M.
Pace III. 2023. A management-focused
population viability analysis for North
Atlantic right whales. US Dept Commer
Northeast Fish Sci Cent Tech Memo 307.
93 p.
SHRM. 2021. The COVID–19 Labor Shortage:
Exploring the disconnect between
businesses and unemployed Americans.
Online Report accessed on Nov 20, 2023.
Slay, C. K. and S.D. Kraus. 1997. Right whale
satellite tagging and habitat use patterns
in the coastal waters of the southeastern
United States. Final Report to the
National Marine Fisheries Service,
Charleston, South Carolina. 24 pg.
Watkins, W.A., and W.E. Schevill. 1976.
Right whale feeding and baleen rattle.
Journal of Mammalogy. 57:58–66.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 229
Administrative practice and
procedure, Confidential business
information, Endangered Species,
Fisheries, Marine mammals, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: February 1, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part
229 as follows:
PART 229—AUTHORIZATION FOR
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES UNDER THE
MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT
OF 1972
1. The authority citation for part 229
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.;
§ 229.32(f) also issued under 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.
2. Amend § 229.32 by revising
paragraph (c)(3)(i) to read as follows:
■
§ 229.32 Atlantic large whale take
reduction plan regulations.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) * * *
(3) * * *
(i) Area. The Massachusetts Restricted
Area is bounded landward by the
Massachusetts shoreline, from points
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MRA1 through MRA3 bounded seaward
by the designated Massachusetts State
waters boundary, and then bounded by
a rhumb line connecting points MRA3
through MRA10 in order as detailed in
table 11 to this paragraph (c)(3)(i);
TABLE 11 TO PARAGRAPH (c)(3)(i)
Point
N Lat.
MRA1 ...............
MRA2 ...............
MRA3 ...............
MRA4 ...............
MRA5 ...............
MRA6 ...............
MRA7 ...............
MRA8 ...............
MRA9 ...............
MRA10 .............
42°52.32′
42°52.58′
42°39.77′
42°30′
42°30′
41°56.5′
41°21.5′
41°15.3′
41°20.3′
41°40.2′
*
*
*
*
W Long.
70°48.98′
70°43.94′
70°30′
70°30′
69°45′
69°45′
69°16′
69°57.9′
70°00′
70°00′
*
[FR Doc. 2024–02438 Filed 2–6–24; 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–
XD706]
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.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of the Aleut
Corporation 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 2024 total allowable
catch (TAC) 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.), February 7, 2024,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
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 (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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
portion of the 2024 pollock TAC
allocated to the Aleut Corporation and
CDQ DFA is 14,600 metric tons (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)
and inseason adjustment (88 FR 88836,
December 26, 2023).
As of January 30, 2024, the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has
determined that 11,680 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 11,680 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 2024
Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The 11,680 mt of
pollock Aleut Corporation’s DFA is
apportioned to the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) inshore sector (50 percent),
AFA catcher/processor (CP) sector (40
percent), and the AFA mothership
sector (10 percent). The 2024 Bering Sea
subarea pollock incidental catch
allowance remains at 50,000 mt. As a
result, the 2024 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) and adjustment (88 FR
88836, December 26, 2023) are revised
as follows: 0 mt to CDQ DFA and 2,920
mt to the Aleut Corporation’s DFA.
Furthermore, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5),
table 5 is revised to make 2024 pollock
allocations consistent with this
reallocation. This reallocation results in
an adjustment to the 2024 CDQ pollock
allocation established at § 679.20(a)(5).
TABLE 5—FINAL 2024 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2024 A season 1
2024
Allocations
Area and sector
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..................................................................
CDQ DFA .............................................................................................
Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) 1 ......................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .........................................................
AFA Inshore .........................................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...................................................................
Catch by CPs ...............................................................................
Catch by Catcher Vessels (CVs)3 ................................................
Unlisted CP Limit 4 ........................................................................
AFA Motherships .................................................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ................................................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...............................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea acceptable biological catch (ABC) ..............
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ...........................................................
CDQ DFA .............................................................................................
ICA .......................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .................................................................................
Area harvest limit 7 ...............................................................................
541 ................................................................................................
542 ................................................................................................
543 ................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ..........................................................................
A season DFA
1,313,580
131,900
50,000
1,131,680
565,840
452,672
414,195
38,477
2,263
113,168
198,044
339,504
43,092
5,420
........................
2,500
2,920
n/a
12,928
6,464
2,155
300
2024
B season 1
Steller sea lion
conservation area
(SCA) harvest limit 2
n/a
59,355
n/a
509,256
254,628
203,702
186,388
17,315
1,019
50,926
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
........................
1,250
2,920
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
36,932
n/a
316,870
158,435
126,748
n/a
n/a
n/a
31,687
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
B season DFA
n/a
72,545
n/a
622,424
311,212
248,970
227,807
21,162
1,245
62,242
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
........................
1,250
........................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the Bering
Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20 to June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ
DFA are allocated to the B season (June 10 to November 1). When the Aleutian Islands (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 AI 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 AI
subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI 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 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 contract for the year.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the CP 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 30.0 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 AI pollock ABC.
8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(i)(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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / Rules and Regulations
8351
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Classification
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:42 Feb 06, 2024
Jkt 262001
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 notificiation
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of January 30,
2024.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA also finds good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in the
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Sfmt 9990
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: February 2, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–02493 Filed 2–6–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8349-8351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02493]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306-0065; RTID 0648-XD706]
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 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 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) 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.), February 7,
2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
[[Page 8350]]
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 (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.
In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2024 pollock
TAC allocated to the Aleut Corporation and CDQ DFA is 14,600 metric
tons (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) and inseason adjustment (88 FR 88836, December
26, 2023).
As of January 30, 2024, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has determined that 11,680 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 11,680 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 2024 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The 11,680 mt
of pollock Aleut Corporation's DFA is apportioned to the American
Fisheries Act (AFA) inshore sector (50 percent), AFA catcher/processor
(CP) sector (40 percent), and the AFA mothership sector (10 percent).
The 2024 Bering Sea subarea pollock incidental catch allowance remains
at 50,000 mt. As a result, the 2024 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) and adjustment (88 FR 88836, December 26, 2023) are revised
as follows: 0 mt to CDQ DFA and 2,920 mt to the Aleut Corporation's
DFA. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5), table 5 is revised to
make 2024 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This
reallocation results in an adjustment to the 2024 CDQ pollock
allocation established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5).
Table 5--Final 2024 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 A season \1\ 2024 B season
-------------------------------------- \1\
2024 Steller sea lion ---------------
Area and sector Allocations conservation area
A season DFA (SCA) harvest limit B season DFA
\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\................ 1,313,580 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................... 131,900 59,355 36,932 72,545
Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) \1\...... 50,000 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.............. 1,131,680 509,256 316,870 622,424
AFA Inshore............................... 565,840 254,628 158,435 311,212
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\................ 452,672 203,702 126,748 248,970
Catch by CPs.......................... 414,195 186,388 n/a 227,807
Catch by Catcher Vessels (CVs)\3\..... 38,477 17,315 n/a 21,162
Unlisted CP Limit \4\................. 2,263 1,019 n/a 1,245
AFA Motherships........................... 113,168 50,926 31,687 62,242
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\............ 198,044 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\............ 339,504 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea acceptable 43,092 n/a n/a n/a
biological catch (ABC)...................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\.......... 5,420 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA................................... .............. .............. n/a ..............
ICA....................................... 2,500 1,250 n/a 1,250
Aleut Corporation......................... 2,920 2,920 n/a ..............
Area harvest limit \7\.................... n/a n/a n/a n/a
541................................... 12,928 n/a n/a n/a
542................................... 6,464 n/a n/a n/a
543................................... 2,155 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\................. 300 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ
DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20 to June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated
to the B season (June 10 to November 1). When the Aleutian Islands (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 AI 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 AI
subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI 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 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 contract for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
0.5 percent of the CP 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 30.0
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 AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(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.
[[Page 8351]]
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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 notificiation providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of January 30, 2024.
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: February 2, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02493 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
