80 FR 31858 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2015-2016 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 107 (June 4, 2015)

Page Range		31858-31863
FR Document		2015-13635

This final rule announces inseason changes to management measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. This action, which is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), is intended to protect overfished and depleted stocks while allowing fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31858-31863]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13635]



[[Page 31858]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 140904754-5188-02]
RIN 0648-BF08


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2015-2016 Biennial Specifications and 
Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; inseason adjustments to biennial groundfish 
management measures.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule announces inseason changes to management 
measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. This action, which 
is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan 
(PCGFMP), is intended to protect overfished and depleted stocks while 
allowing fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks.

DATES: This final rule is effective June 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206-526-6147, 
fax: 206-526-6736, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access

    This rule is accessible via the Internet at the Office of the 
Federal Register Web site at https://www.federalregister.gov. 
Background information and documents are available at the Pacific 
Fishery Management Council's Web site at http://www.pcouncil.org/. 
Copies of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the 
Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures for 2015-2016 and 
Biennial Periods Thereafter are available from Donald McIsaac, 
Executive Director, Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 7700 
NE. Ambassador Place, Portland, OR 97220, phone: 503-820-2280.

Background

    The PCGFMP and its implementing regulations at title 50 in the Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 660, subparts C through G, regulate 
fishing for over 90 species of groundfish off the coasts of Washington, 
Oregon, and California. Groundfish specifications and management 
measures are developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council), and are implemented by NMFS.
    The final rule to implement the 2015-2016 harvest specifications 
and management measures for most species of the Pacific coast 
groundfish fishery was published on March 10, 2015 (80 FR 12567).
    The Council, in coordination with Pacific Coast Treaty Indian 
Tribes and the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, 
recommended changes to current groundfish management measures at its 
April 10-16, 2015, meeting. Specifically, the Council recommended 
implementing a trip limit for big skate in the Shorebased Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and scheduled re-consideration of the 
stocks ecosystem component (EC) species designation. Consistent with 
the Council's recommendation and regulations at Sec.  660.12, NMFS is 
implementing the trip limit and a sorting requirement for big skate in 
the Shorebased IFQ Program.

Harvest and Management of Big Skate

    Up until 2015, big skate was managed as a component stock within 
the Other Fish complex. The Other Fish complex was comprised of several 
skate species and other species where catch was low and little 
information was available to inform stock status. Best available 
estimates of the overfishing limit (OFL) for component stocks 
contributed to the OFL harvest specification that was set at for the 
Other Fish complex. For additional description of the methods used for 
calculating OFLs for component stocks that are managed in a complex, 
see proposed rule for the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and 
management measures (75 FR 67810, November 3, 2010).
    During development of the 2015-2016 harvest specifications and 
management measures the Council, based on the best information 
available when they made their final recommendation, recommended 
removing skates except for longnose skate from the Other Fish complex 
and designating most of the skates including big skate as EC species. 
NMFS approved and implemented that recommendation. Best estimates of 
mortality at that time indicated that harvest of big skate was 18 
percent of the big skate contribution to the Other Fish OFL. Big skate 
was designated as an EC species because best available scientific 
information indicated that it was not in need of conservation and 
management and that it generally met many of the criteria for EC 
species designation outlined in the National Standard 1 Guidelines.
    Since that time, new information indicates that mortality of big 
skate is approaching or exceeding the 2014 big skate contribution to 
the Other Fish OFL and therefore big skate may not be appropriately 
designated as an EC species. Therefore, at the April meeting, the 
Council considered management measures to reduce mortality of big skate 
to a level at or below its 2014 OFL contribution while the Council, its 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and NMFS determine how and 
when to reclassify big skate.
    In conjunction with the EC species designation, impacts to the 
species are monitored to inform whether the designation should be 
reconsidered based on new information. At its 2015 April meeting, the 
Council considered new information indicating landings of ``unspecified 
skate'' were predominantly big skate (over 90 percent) and therefore 
recent mortality of big skate may be much closer to the 2014 big skate 
contribution to the Other Fish OFL than previously believed.
    Big skate landings are currently sorted and accounted for at a 
species-specific level in California, but the states of Oregon and 
Washington report big skate landings combined with other skate species 
within ``unspecified'' and ``other'' skate categories. As described in 
statements from the Council's Groundfish Management Team at the April 
meeting, a coastwide total mortality estimate for big skate was 
developed using a methodology endorsed by the SSC. Based on this 
estimate, harvest of big skate in 2014 may have been as high as 500 mt, 
exceeding the 2014 big skate contribution to the Other Fish OFL of 458 
mt. Because in 2014 big skate contributed to the Other Fish complex 
OFL, and estimated catch of other species in the complex was lower than 
their respective contributions, the OFL for the Other Fish complex was 
not exceeded. Therefore, this level of catch of big skate is not 
overfishing by definition. However, it raised concerns that harvest of 
the stock may be above the fishing level that would maintain maximum 
sustainable yield (MSY), and that the designation of this stock as an 
EC species may not be appropriate.

Reducing Impacts to Big Skate

    To reduce the risk of overfishing big skate, the Council considered 
options for taking inseason action to reduce harvest to a level below 
the best estimate of the OFL; the 2014 OFL contribution of 458 mt. The 
Council also considered what changes to

[[Page 31859]]

management measures would be necessary to reduce catch to a level below 
the big skate acceptable biological catch (ABC) contribution of 318 mt 
to the Other Fish ABC.
    Based on available information from the Pacific Fisheries 
Information Network (PacFIN), catch of big skate occurs predominantly 
by vessels using bottom trawl gear, which is used primarily in the 
Shorebased IFQ Program. The Council and NMFS may implement trip limits 
for big skate as a routine management measure for the Shorebased IFQ 
Program. Since an action to reduce big skate landings in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program is anticipated to reduce total impacts to the stock, and 
because the Council and NMFS can take swift inseason action, the 
Council dismissed alternatives involving creation of new management 
measures for other sectors of the groundfish fishery that harvest less 
big skate. Therefore, the changes to management measures described in 
this action will apply only to vessels participating in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program.
    The Council considered setting a trip limit for big skate in the 
Shorebased IFQ Program, beginning in June 2015. A range of trip limits 
was considered: Unlimited, a high trip limit (37,500 lb per two months) 
estimated to bring total mortality just below the OFL contribution, and 
a low trip limit (2,000 lb per two months) estimated to bring total 
mortality just below the ABC contribution. The Council's recommended a 
trip limit that was more precautionary than 37,000 lbs per two months 
but much less restrictive than the 2,000 lbs per two months trip limit 
to maximize opportunity, while keeping mortality estimates below the 
OFL contribution. The Council recommended and NMFS is implementing a 
trip limit reduction from ``unlimited'' to ``15,000 lb per month'' for 
the month of June, and ``20,000 lbs per two months'' in periods 4-6 
(from July through December). Best estimates indicate that total 
mortality of big skate through the end of 2015 under this trip limit 
structure would be 441 mt, 17 mt lower than the 2014 OFL contribution 
of 458 mt. The Council-recommended trip limits are added to Tables 1 
(North) and 1 (South) to Subpart C.
    It is prohibited for first receivers and catcher vessels in the 
Shorebased IFQ Program to fail to sort any species with a trip limit 
(though timing and weighing methods may vary, as described in Sec.  
660.140(j)). This is because sorting must occur to account for catch of 
each species or species group against the applicable trip limit. 
Analyses presented to the Council at its April 2015 meeting indicated 
that sorting is necessary for trip limits to be effectively 
implemented. Therefore, in order to effectively implement the Council's 
recommended trip limits, NMFS is including in this inseason action the 
addition of big skate to the list of species required to be sorted 
under the Shorebased IFQ Program, at Sec.  660.130(d).
    The Council acknowledged that the mortality estimates and the OFL 
contribution have a high degree of uncertainty, and recommended these 
precautionary management measures described above to reduce the risk of 
overfishing big skate. Additionally, these measures will increase the 
amount of species-specific landings information, thereby reducing the 
uncertainty in estimated landings for both big skate and 
``unspecified'' skates. This information will likely prove useful when 
the Council considers reclassifying big skate in the future.

Reconsideration of EC Species Designation

    The Council recommended that reconsideration of the stock's EC 
species designation be incorporated into development of the 2017-2018 
harvest specifications and management measures. That 2017-2018 biennial 
management process begins at the Council's June 2015 meeting, and will 
continue into the following year. If a change is made to re-designate 
big skate as ``in the fishery,'' then harvest specifications for this 
species would be necessary; therefore it is opportune to consider re-
designation of big skate within the biennial harvest specifications 
process.

Classification

    This final rule makes routine inseason adjustments to groundfish 
fishery management measures, based on the best available information, 
consistent with the PCGFMP and its implementing regulations.
    This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.60(c) and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
    The aggregate data upon which these actions are based are available 
for public inspection at the Office of the Administrator, West Coast 
Region, NMFS, during business hours.
    NMFS finds good cause to waive prior public notice and comment on 
the revisions to groundfish management measures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) 
because notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the 
public interest. Also, for the same reasons, NMFS finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 
so that this final rule may become effective June 1, 2015.
    New information regarding the likely historical catch of big skate 
was presented to the Council at its April 2015 meeting. At that 
meeting, the Council recommended that these changes be implemented June 
1, 2015, which is the beginning of a cumulative limit period in the 
commercial groundfish fishery off the West Coast. These restrictions to 
the amount of landings must be implemented at the start of a cumulative 
limit period to allow fishermen in the Shorebased IFQ Program an 
opportunity to continue harvesting big skate, but at a level that will 
not exceed the new, lower trip limit that will be imposed for the 
cumulative limit period. If this limit is not in place by the start of 
the cumulative limit period, a vessel that landed an amount greater 
than these limits early in the cumulative limit period would find 
themselves in violation of this new, lower trip limit. The trip limits 
recommended by the Council and implemented by NMFS in this action are 
anticipated to keep catch of big skate below its contribution to the 
Other Fish OFL, if implemented on June 1. If the recommended limits are 
not in place June 1, more restrictive measures may be necessary later 
in the year to keep catch of big skate below its contribution to the 
Other Fish OFL. There was not sufficient time after the April meeting 
to undergo proposed and final rulemaking before June 1. For the actions 
to be implemented in this final rule, affording the time necessary for 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment would prevent NMFS from 
managing fisheries using the best available science to prevent 
overfishing in accordance with the PCGFMP and applicable law. It would 
be contrary to the public interest to delay implementation of these 
changes until after public notice and comment, because making this 
regulatory change by June 1, 2015, allows harvest as intended by the 
Council, consistent with the best scientific information available. 
These changes allow continued harvest in fisheries that are important 
to coastal communities while continuing to prevent potential 
overfishing.
    No aspect of this action is controversial, and changes of this 
nature were anticipated in the biennial harvest specifications and 
management measures established for 2015-2016.
    Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, NMFS finds good cause to 
waive

[[Page 31860]]

prior notice and comment and to waive the delay in effectiveness.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian fisheries.

    Dated: June 1, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended 
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., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  660.130, revise paragraph (d)(1)(i) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.130  Trawl fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Coastwide. Widow rockfish, canary rockfish, darkblotched 
rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, black rockfish, blue 
rockfish, minor nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, minor slope 
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye/blackspotted rockfish, 
shortspine and longspine thornyhead, Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, 
petrale sole, starry flounder, English sole, other flatfish, lingcod, 
sablefish, Pacific cod, spiny dogfish, other fish, longnose skate, and 
Pacific whiting; and big skate in the Shorebased IFQ Program;
* * * * *
0
3. Table 1 (North) and 1 (South) to part 660, subpart D, are revised to 
read as follows:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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[FR Doc. 2015-13635 Filed 6-1-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

31858 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 107 / Thursday, June 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and management measures are designation outlined in the National
developed by the Pacific Fishery Standard 1 Guidelines.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Management Council (Council), and are Since that time, new information
Administration implemented by NMFS. indicates that mortality of big skate is
The final rule to implement the 2015– approaching or exceeding the 2014 big
50 CFR Part 660 2016 harvest specifications and skate contribution to the Other Fish OFL
management measures for most species and therefore big skate may not be
[Docket No. 140904754–5188–02]
of the Pacific coast groundfish fishery appropriately designated as an EC
RIN 0648–BF08 was published on March 10, 2015 (80 species. Therefore, at the April meeting,
FR 12567). the Council considered management
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; measures to reduce mortality of big
Fisheries Off West Coast States; The Council, in coordination with
Pacific Coast Treaty Indian Tribes and skate to a level at or below its 2014 OFL
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; contribution while the Council, its
2015–2016 Biennial Specifications and the States of Washington, Oregon, and
California, recommended changes to Scientific and Statistical Committee
Management Measures; Inseason (SSC), and NMFS determine how and
Adjustments current groundfish management
measures at its April 10–16, 2015, when to reclassify big skate.
National Marine Fisheries In conjunction with the EC species
AGENCY: meeting. Specifically, the Council
designation, impacts to the species are
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and recommended implementing a trip limit
monitored to inform whether the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for big skate in the Shorebased
designation should be reconsidered
Commerce. Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program
based on new information. At its 2015
ACTION: Final rule; inseason adjustments and scheduled re-consideration of the
April meeting, the Council considered
to biennial groundfish management stocks ecosystem component (EC)
new information indicating landings of
measures. species designation. Consistent with the
‘‘unspecified skate’’ were
Council’s recommendation and
SUMMARY: This final rule announces predominantly big skate (over 90
regulations at § 660.12, NMFS is percent) and therefore recent mortality
inseason changes to management implementing the trip limit and a
measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish of big skate may be much closer to the
sorting requirement for big skate in the 2014 big skate contribution to the Other
fisheries. This action, which is Shorebased IFQ Program.
authorized by the Pacific Coast Fish OFL than previously believed.
Harvest and Management of Big Skate Big skate landings are currently sorted
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
and accounted for at a species-specific
(PCGFMP), is intended to protect Up until 2015, big skate was managed level in California, but the states of
overfished and depleted stocks while as a component stock within the Other Oregon and Washington report big skate
allowing fisheries to access more Fish complex. The Other Fish complex landings combined with other skate
abundant groundfish stocks. was comprised of several skate species species within ‘‘unspecified’’ and
DATES: This final rule is effective June and other species where catch was low ‘‘other’’ skate categories. As described in
1, 2015. and little information was available to statements from the Council’s
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: inform stock status. Best available Groundfish Management Team at the
Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206–526– estimates of the overfishing limit (OFL) April meeting, a coastwide total
6147, fax: 206–526–6736, or email: for component stocks contributed to the mortality estimate for big skate was
gretchen.hanshew@noaa.gov. OFL harvest specification that was set at developed using a methodology
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: for the Other Fish complex. For endorsed by the SSC. Based on this
additional description of the methods estimate, harvest of big skate in 2014
Electronic Access used for calculating OFLs for may have been as high as 500 mt,
This rule is accessible via the Internet component stocks that are managed in exceeding the 2014 big skate
at the Office of the Federal Register Web a complex, see proposed rule for the contribution to the Other Fish OFL of
site at https://www.federalregister.gov. 2011–2012 harvest specifications and 458 mt. Because in 2014 big skate
Background information and documents management measures (75 FR 67810, contributed to the Other Fish complex
are available at the Pacific Fishery November 3, 2010). OFL, and estimated catch of other
Management Council’s Web site at During development of the 2015–2016 species in the complex was lower than
http://www.pcouncil.org/. Copies of the harvest specifications and management their respective contributions, the OFL
final environmental impact statement measures the Council, based on the best for the Other Fish complex was not
(FEIS) for the Groundfish Specifications information available when they made exceeded. Therefore, this level of catch
and Management Measures for 2015– their final recommendation, of big skate is not overfishing by
2016 and Biennial Periods Thereafter recommended removing skates except definition. However, it raised concerns
are available from Donald McIsaac, for longnose skate from the Other Fish that harvest of the stock may be above
Executive Director, Pacific Fishery complex and designating most of the the fishing level that would maintain
Management Council (Council), 7700 skates including big skate as EC species. maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and
NE. Ambassador Place, Portland, OR NMFS approved and implemented that that the designation of this stock as an
97220, phone: 503–820–2280. recommendation. Best estimates of EC species may not be appropriate.
mortality at that time indicated that
Background harvest of big skate was 18 percent of Reducing Impacts to Big Skate
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES

The PCGFMP and its implementing the big skate contribution to the Other To reduce the risk of overfishing big
regulations at title 50 in the Code of Fish OFL. Big skate was designated as skate, the Council considered options
Federal Regulations (CFR), part 660, an EC species because best available for taking inseason action to reduce
subparts C through G, regulate fishing scientific information indicated that it harvest to a level below the best
for over 90 species of groundfish off the was not in need of conservation and estimate of the OFL; the 2014 OFL
coasts of Washington, Oregon, and management and that it generally met contribution of 458 mt. The Council also
California. Groundfish specifications many of the criteria for EC species considered what changes to

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 107 / Thursday, June 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 31859

management measures would be applicable trip limit. Analyses interest. Also, for the same reasons,
necessary to reduce catch to a level presented to the Council at its April NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-
below the big skate acceptable biological 2015 meeting indicated that sorting is day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5
catch (ABC) contribution of 318 mt to necessary for trip limits to be effectively U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final rule
the Other Fish ABC. implemented. Therefore, in order to may become effective June 1, 2015.
Based on available information from effectively implement the Council’s New information regarding the likely
the Pacific Fisheries Information recommended trip limits, NMFS is historical catch of big skate was
Network (PacFIN), catch of big skate including in this inseason action the presented to the Council at its April
occurs predominantly by vessels using addition of big skate to the list of 2015 meeting. At that meeting, the
bottom trawl gear, which is used species required to be sorted under the Council recommended that these
primarily in the Shorebased IFQ Shorebased IFQ Program, at changes be implemented June 1, 2015,
Program. The Council and NMFS may § 660.130(d). which is the beginning of a cumulative
implement trip limits for big skate as a The Council acknowledged that the limit period in the commercial
routine management measure for the mortality estimates and the OFL groundfish fishery off the West Coast.
Shorebased IFQ Program. Since an contribution have a high degree of These restrictions to the amount of
action to reduce big skate landings in uncertainty, and recommended these landings must be implemented at the
the Shorebased IFQ Program is precautionary management measures start of a cumulative limit period to
anticipated to reduce total impacts to described above to reduce the risk of allow fishermen in the Shorebased IFQ
the stock, and because the Council and overfishing big skate. Additionally, Program an opportunity to continue
NMFS can take swift inseason action, these measures will increase the amount harvesting big skate, but at a level that
the Council dismissed alternatives of species-specific landings information, will not exceed the new, lower trip limit
involving creation of new management thereby reducing the uncertainty in that will be imposed for the cumulative
measures for other sectors of the estimated landings for both big skate limit period. If this limit is not in place
groundfish fishery that harvest less big and ‘‘unspecified’’ skates. This by the start of the cumulative limit
skate. Therefore, the changes to information will likely prove useful period, a vessel that landed an amount
management measures described in this when the Council considers greater than these limits early in the
action will apply only to vessels reclassifying big skate in the future. cumulative limit period would find
participating in the Shorebased IFQ themselves in violation of this new,
Program. Reconsideration of EC Species
Designation lower trip limit. The trip limits
The Council considered setting a trip
recommended by the Council and
limit for big skate in the Shorebased IFQ The Council recommended that implemented by NMFS in this action
Program, beginning in June 2015. A reconsideration of the stock’s EC species are anticipated to keep catch of big skate
range of trip limits was considered: designation be incorporated into below its contribution to the Other Fish
Unlimited, a high trip limit (37,500 lb development of the 2017–2018 harvest OFL, if implemented on June 1. If the
per two months) estimated to bring total specifications and management recommended limits are not in place
mortality just below the OFL measures. That 2017–2018 biennial
contribution, and a low trip limit (2,000 June 1, more restrictive measures may
management process begins at the be necessary later in the year to keep
lb per two months) estimated to bring Council’s June 2015 meeting, and will
total mortality just below the ABC catch of big skate below its contribution
continue into the following year. If a to the Other Fish OFL. There was not
contribution. The Council’s change is made to re-designate big skate
recommended a trip limit that was more sufficient time after the April meeting to
as ‘‘in the fishery,’’ then harvest undergo proposed and final rulemaking
precautionary than 37,000 lbs per two specifications for this species would be
months but much less restrictive than before June 1. For the actions to be
necessary; therefore it is opportune to implemented in this final rule, affording
the 2,000 lbs per two months trip limit consider re-designation of big skate
to maximize opportunity, while keeping the time necessary for prior notice and
within the biennial harvest opportunity for public comment would
mortality estimates below the OFL specifications process.
contribution. The Council prevent NMFS from managing fisheries
recommended and NMFS is Classification using the best available science to
implementing a trip limit reduction This final rule makes routine inseason prevent overfishing in accordance with
from ‘‘unlimited’’ to ‘‘15,000 lb per adjustments to groundfish fishery the PCGFMP and applicable law. It
month’’ for the month of June, and management measures, based on the would be contrary to the public interest
‘‘20,000 lbs per two months’’ in periods best available information, consistent to delay implementation of these
4–6 (from July through December). Best with the PCGFMP and its implementing changes until after public notice and
estimates indicate that total mortality of regulations. comment, because making this
big skate through the end of 2015 under This action is taken under the regulatory change by June 1, 2015,
this trip limit structure would be 441 authority of 50 CFR 660.60(c) and is allows harvest as intended by the
mt, 17 mt lower than the 2014 OFL exempt from review under Executive Council, consistent with the best
contribution of 458 mt. The Council- Order 12866. scientific information available. These
recommended trip limits are added to The aggregate data upon which these changes allow continued harvest in
Tables 1 (North) and 1 (South) to actions are based are available for public fisheries that are important to coastal
Subpart C. inspection at the Office of the communities while continuing to
It is prohibited for first receivers and Administrator, West Coast Region, prevent potential overfishing.
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES

catcher vessels in the Shorebased IFQ NMFS, during business hours. No aspect of this action is
Program to fail to sort any species with NMFS finds good cause to waive prior controversial, and changes of this nature
a trip limit (though timing and weighing public notice and comment on the were anticipated in the biennial harvest
methods may vary, as described in revisions to groundfish management specifications and management
§ 660.140(j)). This is because sorting measures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) because measures established for 2015–2016.
must occur to account for catch of each notice and comment would be Accordingly, for the reasons stated
species or species group against the impracticable and contrary to the public above, NMFS finds good cause to waive

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$31860 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 107 / Thursday, June 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations prior notice and comment and to waive PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST black rockfish, blue rockfish, minor the delay in effectiveness. COAST STATES nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, minor slope rockfish, shortraker List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 ■ 1. The authority citation for part 660 rockfish, rougheye/blackspotted continues to read as follows: rockfish, shortspine and longspine Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian fisheries. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. thornyhead, Dover sole, arrowtooth 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. flounder, petrale sole, starry flounder, Dated: June 1, 2015. English sole, other flatfish, lingcod, ■ 2. In § 660.130, revise paragraph Emily H. Menashes, sablefish, Pacific cod, spiny dogfish, (d)(1)(i) to read as follows: Acting Director, Office of Sustainable other fish, longnose skate, and Pacific Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. § 660.130 Trawl fishery—management whiting; and big skate in the Shorebased measures. IFQ Program; For the reasons set out in the * * * * * preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended * * * * * (d) * * * as follows: (1) * * * ■ 3. Table 1 (North) and 1 (South) to (i) Coastwide. Widow rockfish, canary part 660, subpart D, are revised to read rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, as follows: yelloweye rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:16 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\04JNR1.SGM 04JNR1$

Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:23:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:23:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final rule; inseason adjustments to biennial groundfish management measures.
Dates		This final rule is effective June 1, 2015.
Contact		Gretchen Hanshew, phone: 206-526-6147, fax: 206-526-6736, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 31858
RIN Number		0648-BF08
CFR Associated		Fisheries; Fishing and Indian Fisheries

80 FR 31858 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2015-2016 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 107 (June 4, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration