[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54737-54738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22934]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE180
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska;
Reapportionment of the 2015 Gulf of Alaska Pacific Halibut Prohibited
Species Catch Limits for the Trawl Deep-Water and Shallow-Water Fishery
Categories
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reapportionment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reapportioning the seasonal apportionments of the 2015
Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the trawl
deep-water and shallow-water species fishery categories in the Gulf of
Alaska. This action is necessary to account for the actual halibut PSC
use by the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fishery
categories from May 15, 2015 through June 30, 2015. This action is
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 9,
2015 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
[[Page 54738]]
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) apportions the 2015 Pacific
halibut PSC limit for trawl gear in the GOA to two trawl fishery
categories: A deep-water species fishery and a shallow-water species
fishery. The halibut PSC limit for these two trawl fishery categories
is further apportioned by season, including four seasonal
apportionments to the shallow-water species fishery and three seasonal
apportionments to the deep-water species fishery. The two fishery
categories also are apportioned a combined, fifth seasonal halibut PSC
limit. Unused seasonal apportionments are added to the next season
apportionment during a fishing year.
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D) require NMFS to combine
management of the available trawl halibut PSC limits in the second
season (April 1 through July 1) deep-water and shallow-water species
fishery categories for use in either fishery from May 15 through June
30 of each year. Furthermore, NMFS is required to reapportion the
halibut PSC limit between the deep-water and shallow-water species
fisheries after June 30 to account for actual halibut PSC use by each
fishery category during May 15 through June 30. As of September 1,
2015, NMFS has determined that the trawl deep-water and shallow-water
fisheries used 75 metric tons (mt) and 1 mt of halibut PSC,
respectively, from May 15 through June 30. Accordingly, pursuant to
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D), the Regional Administrator is
reapportioning the combined first and second seasonal apportionments
(836 mt) of halibut PSC limit between the trawl deep-water and shallow-
water fishery categories to account for the actual PSC use in each
fishery. Therefore, Table 16 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25,
2015) is revised consistent with this adjustment.
Table 16--Final 2015 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-Water Species
Fishery and the Shallow-Water Species Fishery Categories
[Values are in metric tons]
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Season Shallow-water Deep-water \1\ Total
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January 20-April 1............................ 135 35.............................. 170
April 1-July 1................................ 291 375............................. 666
Subtotal of combined first and second season 426 410............................. 836
limit (January 20-July 1).
July 1-September 1............................ 352 176............................. 528
September 1-October 1......................... 132 Any remainder................... 132
Subtotal January 20-October 1................. 910 586............................. 1,496
October 1-December 31 \2\..................... .............. ................................ 264
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Total..................................... .............. ................................ 1,760
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\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third
season (July 1 through September 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fishery categories during the
fifth season (October 1 through December 31).
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 allow for harvests that exceed the originally specified
apportionment of the halibut PSC limits to the deep-water and shallow-
water fishery categories. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of September 3, 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 8, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-22934 Filed 9-8-15; 4:15 pm]
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