85 FR 183 pgs. 59204-59205 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Type: RULEVolume: 85Number: 183Pages: 59204 - 59205
Pages: 59204, 59205Docket number: [Docket No. 200221-0062; RTID 0648-XA485]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2020-20654 Filed 9-17-20; 4:15 pm]
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. 200221-0062; RTID 0648-XA485]
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 flathead sole and rock sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.
DATES:
Effective September 17, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
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 2020 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 2,087 metric tons (mt), 5,040 mt, and 16,125 mt as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020). The 2020 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,204 mt, 11,363 mt, and 11,793 mt as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
[top] The Coastal Villages Regional Fund has requested that NMFS exchange 125 mt of flathead sole and 175 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 300 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under
| Sector | Pacific ocean perch | Eastern Aleutian District | Central Aleutian District | Western Aleutian District | Flathead sole | BSAI | Rock sole | BSAI | Yellowfin sole | BSAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAC | 10,613 | 8,094 | 10,000 | 19,375 | 46,925 | 151,000 | ||||
| CDQ | 1,136 | 866 | 1,070 | 1,962 | 4,865 | 16,425 | ||||
| ICA | 100 | 60 | 10 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 4,000 | ||||
| BSAI trawl limited access | 938 | 717 | 178 | 17,172 | ||||||
| Amendment 80 | 8,440 | 6,451 | 8,742 | 14,414 | 36,060 | 113,403 | ||||
| Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. | ||||||||||
| Sector | 2020 Flathead sole | 2020 Rock sole | 2020 Yellowfin sole | 2021? 1 Flathead sole | 2021? 1 Rock sole | 2021? 1 Yellowfin sole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | 68,134 | 153,300 | 260,918 | 71,079 | 230,700 | 261,497 |
| TAC | 19,375 | 46,925 | 151,000 | 24,000 | 49,000 | 168,900 |
| ABC surplus | 48,759 | 106,375 | 109,918 | 47,079 | 181,700 | 92,597 |
| ABC reserve | 48,759 | 106,375 | 109,918 | 47,079 | 181,700 | 92,597 |
| CDQ ABC reserve | 5,329 | 11,538 | 11,493 | 5,037 | 19,442 | 9,908 |
| Amendment 80 ABC reserve | 43,430 | 94,837 | 98,425 | 42,042 | 162,258 | 82,689 |
| 1 The 2021 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, 2020. | ||||||
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 flatfish exchange by the Coastal Villages Regional Fund in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September 4, 2020.
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 15, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20654 Filed 9-17-20; 4:15 pm]
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