80 FR 51757 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 165 (August 26, 2015)

Page Range		51757-51757
FR Document		2015-21137

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook- and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51757]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21137]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE139


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod 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 reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using jig gear and catcher vessels greater than or 
equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line 
gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-
and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch 
of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective August 21, 2015 through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for 
vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,418 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and one inseason 
adjustment (80 FR 3496, January 23, 2015).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,318 mt of 
the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under 
Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 1,318 mt of Pacific cod to the 
annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using 
hook-and-line or pot gear.
    The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than 
or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI is 444 mt 
as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The Regional 
Administrator has determined that catcher vessels greater than or equal 
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest 424 
mt of the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels 
under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 424 mt of Pacific cod to catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, 
March 5, 2015) and inseason adjustment (80 FR 3496, January 23, 2015) 
are revised as follows: 100 mt for vessels using jig gear, 20 mt for 
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-
line gear, and 7,880 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using 
hook-and-line or pot gear.

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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from other 
sectors to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or 
pot gear. Since the fishery is 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 August 20, 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: August 21, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21137 Filed 8-21-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 165 / Wednesday, August 26, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 51757

more than 10 percent greater than the DATES: Effective August 21, 2015 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot
baseline length overall of the transferor through 2400 hours, Alaska local time gear.
vessel. For the purposes of this program, (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.
the baseline horsepower and length Classification
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
overall are those associated with the Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. This action responds to the best
permit as of January 29, 2004. Upon SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS available information recently obtained
approval of the transfer, the baseline of manages the groundfish fishery in the from the fishery. The Assistant
the transferee vessel would be the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
smaller baseline of the two vessels or according to the Fishery Management (AA), finds good cause to waive the
the vessel owner could choose to adopt Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea requirement to provide prior notice and
the larger baseline of the two vessels and Aleutian Islands Management Area
provided such an upgrade is consistent opportunity for public comment
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
with provisions of this paragraph Fishery Management Council under
(l)(1)(ii). A vessel that has executed a U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens impracticable and contrary to the public
one-time downgrade of a DAS Leasing Fishery Conservation and Management
Program baseline in accordance with interest. This requirement is
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
paragraph (k)(4)(xi) of this section is impracticable and contrary to the public
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
subject to the restrictions of paragraph interest as it would prevent NMFS from
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
(k)(4)(xi)(C) of this section. responding to the most recent fisheries
and 50 CFR part 679.
(iii) The transferor vessel must The 2015 Pacific cod total allowable data in a timely fashion and would
transfer all of its Federal limited access catch (TAC) specified for vessels using delay the reallocation of Pacific cod
permits for which it is eligible to the jig gear in the BSAI is 1,418 metric tons specified from other sectors to catcher
transferee vessel in accordance with the (mt) as established by the final 2015 and vessels less than 60 feet LOA using
vessel replacement restrictions under 2016 harvest specifications for hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the
§ 648.4, or permanently cancel such groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, fishery is currently open, it is important
permits. When duplicate permits exist, March 5, 2015) and one inseason to immediately inform the industry as to
i.e., those permits for which both the adjustment (80 FR 3496, January 23, the revised allocations. Immediate
transferor and transferee vessel are 2015). notification is necessary to allow for the
eligible, one of the duplicate permits The Administrator, Alaska Region, orderly conduct and efficient operation
must be permanently cancelled. NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has of this fishery, to allow the industry to
* * * * * determined that jig vessels will not be plan for the fishing season, and to avoid
[FR Doc. 2015–21143 Filed 8–25–15; 8:45 am] able to harvest 1,318 mt of the potential disruption to the fishing fleet
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC as well as processors. NMFS was unable
allocated to those vessels under to publish a notice providing time for
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in public comment because the most
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), recent, relevant data only became
NMFS apportions 1,318 mt of Pacific available as of August 20, 2015.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric cod to the annual amount specified for
Administration catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA The AA also finds good cause to
using hook-and-line or pot gear. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
50 CFR Part 679 The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] for catcher vessels greater than or equal 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear the reasons provided above for waiver of
RIN 0648–XE139 in the BSAI is 444 mt as established by prior notice and opportunity for public
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest comment.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of specifications for groundfish in the This action is required by § 679.20
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The and is exempt from review under
Aleutian Islands Management Area Regional Administrator has determined Executive Order 12866.
that catcher vessels greater than or equal
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and will not be able to harvest 424 mt of the Dated: August 21, 2015.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC Alan D. Risenhoover,
Commerce. allocated to those vessels under Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in National Marine Fisheries Service.
accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A),
[FR Doc. 2015–21137 Filed 8–21–15; 4:15 pm]
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the NMFS apportions 424 mt of Pacific cod
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
projected unused amount of Pacific cod to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA
from vessels using jig gear and catcher using hook-and-line or pot gear.
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet The harvest specifications for Pacific
(18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using cod included in the final 2015 harvest
hook-and-line gear to catcher vessels specifications for groundfish in the
less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with RULES

using hook-and-line or pot gear in the inseason adjustment (80 FR 3496,
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands January 23, 2015) are revised as follows:
management area. This action is 100 mt for vessels using jig gear, 20 mt
necessary to allow the 2015 total for catcher vessels greater than or equal
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear,
harvested. and 7,880 mt to catcher vessels less than

VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:34 Aug 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\26AUR1.SGM 26AUR1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:58:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:58:39

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		Temporary rule; reallocation.
Dates		Effective August 21, 2015 through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.
Contact		Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		80 FR 51757
RIN Number		0648-XE13

80 FR 51757 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 165 (August 26, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration