80 FR 179 pgs. 55562-55563 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Type: RULEVolume: 80Number: 179Pages: 55562 - 55563
Pages: 55562, 55563Docket number: [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2015-23276 Filed 9-15-15; 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-XE183
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:
NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.
DATES:
Effective September 16, 2015 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., 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 CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 2,420 metric tons (mt), 7,535 mt, and 15,993 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 4,656 mt, 11,907 mt, and 10,629 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015).
[top] The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under § 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and increases the TACs and CDQ 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 following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 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 | 23,975 | 68,925 | 149,600 | ||||
| CDQ | 856 | 749 | 963 | 2,320 | 7,085 | 16,543 | ||||
| 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 | 16,655 | 53,840 | 111,892 | ||||
| Alaska Groundfish Cooperative | 3,362 | 2,947 | 4,171 | 1,708 | 13,318 | 44,455 | ||||
| Alaska Seafood Cooperative | 2,978 | 2,611 | 3,695 | 14,947 | 40,522 | 67,437 | ||||
| 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 | 23,975 | 68,925 | 149,600 | 24,250 | 69,250 | 149,000 |
| ABC surplus | 42,155 | 112,775 | 99,200 | 39,461 | 95,550 | 96,500 |
| ABC reserve | 42,155 | 112,775 | 99,200 | 39,461 | 95,550 | 96,500 |
| CDQ ABC reserve | 4,756 | 12,357 | 10,079 | 4,222 | 10,224 | 10,326 |
| Amendment 80 ABC reserve | 37,399 | 100,418 | 89,121 | 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 | 33,563 | 75,578 | 53,713 | 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
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 Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association in the BSAI. Since these fisheries are currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September 8, 2015.
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: September 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23276 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
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