[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11343-11344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04376]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 130822744-4144-02]
RIN 0648-BD63
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species
Fisheries; Change to Start of Pacific Sardine Fishing Year
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to change the starting date of the
annual Pacific sardine fishery from January 1 to July 1. This changes
the annual fishing season from one based on the calendar year to one
based on a July 1 through the following June 30th schedule. No other
changes to the annual allocation structure are being made and the
existing seasonal allocation percentages will remain as specified in
the FMP, as would the current quota roll-over provisions. This rule
also establishes a one-time interim harvest allocation period from
January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014 to allow for continued fishing
during the transition from a January to July start of the fishing
season. The purpose of this final rule is to better align the timing of
the research and science that is used in the annual stock assessments
with the annual management schedule. To enable this transition in
fishing years, this action also establishes a one-time interim harvest
period for the 6 months from January 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014.
DATES: Effective March 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region,
NMFS, (562) 980-4034.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule changes the start date of
the 12-month Pacific sardine fishery from January 1 to July 1, thus
changing the fishing season for Pacific sardine from one based on the
calendar year to one beginning on July 1 and continuing through June
30th of the following year. The purpose of this change is to better
align the timing of the research and science used in the annual stock
assessments with the annual management schedule, as the present
schedule imposes substantial challenges in terms of survey data
availability relative to the timing of stock assessments.
[[Page 11344]]
Because the 2013 fishing season ended on December 31, 2013, this
rule also establishes a one-time interim harvest allocation period from
January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014 to allow for continued fishing
during the transition from a January to July start of the fishing
season. At the November 2013 Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) meeting, the Council took action on setting the quota for the
January 2014 through June 2014 period. The harvest specifications for
this interim allocation period are being implemented through a separate
rulemaking action, for which a proposed rule published on February 4,
2014. (79 FR 6527) Although the interim harvest specifications will
include an Overfishing Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)
and Annual Catch Limit (ACL) for calendar year 2014, those
specifications are expected to be replaced based on the new stock
assessment and Council action in April 2014.
On December 23, 2013, a proposed rule was published for this action
and public comments solicited (78 FR 77413). NMFS received no comments
on the proposed rule. For further background about this rule, please
refer to the proposed rule.
Classification
Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the Assistant Administrator, NMFS, has
determined that this final rule is consistent with the CPS FMP, other
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, and other applicable laws.
This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the
proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received
regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility
analysis was not required and none was prepared.
This action does not contain a collection-of-information
requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, Indians.
Dated: February 21, 2014.
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
660 as follows:
PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec. 660.510, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 660.510 Fishing seasons.
* * * * *
(a) Pacific sardine. July 1 to June 30, or until closed under Sec.
660.509.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec. 660.511, paragraphs (f) through (h) are revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 660.511 Catch restrictions.
* * * * *
(f) On July 1, 40 percent of the initial harvest guideline for
Pacific sardine is allocated coastwide within the fishery management
area.
(g) On September 15, 25 percent of the initial harvest guideline
for Pacific sardine plus the remaining unharvested portion of the July
1 allocation in paragraph (f) of this section is allocated coastwide
within the fishery management area.
(h) On January 1, 35 percent of the initial harvest guideline for
Pacific sardine plus the remaining unharvested portion of the September
15 allocation is allocated coastwide within the fishery management
area.
[FR Doc. 2014-04376 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
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