[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21482-21483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08419]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE558
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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused 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 2016 total allowable catch of rock
sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area to be harvested.
DATES: Effective April 12, 2016, through December 31, 2016.
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 2016 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the
BSAI are 6,110 mt, and 15,408 mt as established by the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016). The 2016 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
are 11,128 mt and 7,244 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March
18, 2016).
The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation has requested
that NMFS exchange 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 400 mt of
yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 400 mt of rock sole CDQ
reserves for 400 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 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016) are revised as follows:
[[Page 21483]]
Table 11--Final 2016 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment
80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin
Sole Tacs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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Pacific Ocean perch Flathead Rock sole Yellowfin
--------------------------------------- sole ------------- sole
Sector Eastern Central Western ------------- ------------
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI
District District District BSAI BSAI
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TAC............................... 7,900 7,000 9,000 21,000 56,700 144,400
CDQ............................... 845 749 963 2,247 5,710 15,808
ICA............................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access......... 685 618 161 0 0 14,979
Amendment 80...................... 6,169 5,558 7,866 13,753 44,990 110,113
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative..... 3,271 2,947 4,171 1,411 11,129 43,748
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........ 2,898 2,611 3,695 12,342 33,861 66,365
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 13--Final 2016 and 2017 ABC Surplus, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC
Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2016 2016 2017 2017
Sector Flathead 2016 Rock Yellowfin Flathead 2017 Rock Yellowfin
sole sole sole sole sole sole
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ABC............................... 66,250 161,100 211,700 64,580 145,000 203,500
TAC............................... 21,000 56,700 144,400 21,000 57,100 144,000
ABC surplus....................... 45,250 104,400 67,300 43,580 87,900 59,500
ABC reserve....................... 45,250 104,400 67,300 43,580 87,900 59,500
CDQ ABC reserve................... 4,842 11,528 6,844 4,663 9,405 6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve.......... 40,408 92,872 60,456 38,917 78,495 53,134
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 4,145 22,974 24,019 n/a n/a n/a
2016 \1\.........................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 36,263 69,898 36,437 n/a n/a n/a
2016 \1\.........................
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\1\ The 2017 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, 2016.
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 Norton Sound Economic
Development Corporation 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
March 31, 2016.
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: April 7, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08419 Filed 4-11-16; 8:45 am]
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