80 FR 207 pgs. 65663-65665 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Type: RULEVolume: 80Number: 207Pages: 65663 - 65665
Pages: 65663, 65664, 65665Docket number: [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2015-27274 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE272
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish 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:
[top] NMFS is exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
DATES:
Effective October 27, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (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 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) specified in the BSAI are 11,035 metric tons (mt), 52,390 mt, and 118,962 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and as revised (80 FR 60073, October 5, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves are 43,019 mt, 101,868 mt, and 82,051 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and as revised (80 FR 60073, October 5, 2015).
The Alaska Seafood cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 600 mt of flathead sole and 1,350 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 1,950 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves under § 679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 600 mt of flathead sole and 1,350 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 1,950 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and increases the TACs and Amendment 80 ABC reserves by the corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and as revised (80 FR 60073, October 5, 2015) are further revised as follows:
Sector | Pacific ocean perch | Eastern Aleutian District | Central Aleutian District | Western Aleutian District | Flathead sole | BSAI | Rock sole | BSAI | Yellowfin sole | BSAI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TAC | 8,000 | 7,000 | 9,000 | 17,187 | 65,915 | 159,398 | ||||
CDQ | 856 | 749 | 963 | 1,752 | 6,875 | 17,321 | ||||
ICA | 100 | 75 | 10 | 5,000 | 8,000 | 5,000 | ||||
BSAI trawl limited access | 704 | 618 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 16,165 | ||||
Amendment 80 | 6,340 | 5,558 | 7,866 | 10,435 | 51,040 | 120,912 | ||||
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative | 3,362 | 2,947 | 4,171 | 1,708 | 13,318 | 44,455 | ||||
Alaska Seafood Cooperative | 2,978 | 2,611 | 3,695 | 8,727 | 37,722 | 76,457 | ||||
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. |
Sector | 2015 Flathead sole | 2015 Rock sole | 2015 Yellowfin sole | 2016 Flathead sole | 2016 Rock sole | 2016 Yellowfin sole |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | 66,130 | 181,700 | 248,800 | 63,711 | 164,800 | 245,500 |
TAC | 17,187 | 65,915 | 159,398 | 24,250 | 69,250 | 149,000 |
ABC surplus | 48,943 | 115,785 | 89,402 | 39,461 | 95,550 | 96,500 |
ABC reserve | 48,943 | 115,785 | 89,402 | 39,461 | 95,550 | 96,500 |
CDQ ABC reserve | 5,324 | 12,567 | 9,301 | 4,222 | 10,224 | 10,326 |
Amendment 80 ABC reserve | 43,619 | 103,218 | 80,101 | 35,239 | 85,326 | 86,175 |
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 20151 | 3,836 | 24,840 | 35,408 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 20151 | 39,783 | 78,378 | 44,693 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
1 The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015. |
Classification
[top] This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is 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 flatfish exchange by the Alaska Seafood cooperative the BSAI.
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.
This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 22, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-27274 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
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