80 FR 55562 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 179 (September 16, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 179 (September 16, 2015)
| Page Range | 55562-55563 | |
| FR Document | 2015-23276 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 55562-55563] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-23276] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XE183 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested. DATES: Effective September 16, 2015 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. 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 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 2,420 metric tons (mt), 7,535 mt, and 15,993 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 4,656 mt, 11,907 mt, and 10,629 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015). The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 100 mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 550 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 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1, 2015) are further revised as follows: [[Page 55563]] Table 11--Final 2015 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] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sector Eastern Central Western Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI district district district -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAC..................................................... 8,000 7,000 9,000 23,975 68,925 149,600 CDQ..................................................... 856 749 963 2,320 7,085 16,543 ICA..................................................... 100 75 10 5,000 8,000 5,000 BSAI trawl limited access............................... 704 618 161 0 0 16,165 Amendment 80............................................ 6,340 5,558 7,866 16,655 53,840 111,892 Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........................... 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455 Alaska Seafood Cooperative.............................. 2,978 2,611 3,695 14,947 40,522 67,437 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. Table 13--Final 2015 and 2016 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] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 flathead 2015 yellowfin 2016 flathead 2016 yellowfin Sector sole 2015 rock sole sole sole 2016 rock sole sole -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABC..................................................... 66,130 181,700 248,800 63,711 164,800 245,500 TAC..................................................... 23,975 68,925 149,600 24,250 69,250 149,000 ABC surplus............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500 ABC reserve............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500 CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 4,756 12,357 10,079 4,222 10,224 10,326 Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 37,399 100,418 89,121 35,239 85,326 86,175 Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2015 \1\.............. 3,836 24,840 35,408 n/a n/a n/a Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 \1\................. 33,563 75,578 53,713 n/a n/a n/a -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The 2016 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, 2015. 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 Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association 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 September 8, 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 11, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-23276 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![55562 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
overharvest or underharvest of the ACLs. The catch data used to justify Islands management area to be
common pool quotas. On June 15, 2015, increasing the possession and trip limit harvested.
we adjusted the possession and trip for GOM cod only recently became
DATES: Effective September 16, 2015
limit for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod to available. The possession and trip limit
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31,
zero for the remainder of the fishing increase implemented through this
2015.
year, out of an abundance of caution, to action allows for increased harvest of
reduce the effort that had been directed GOM cod, to help ensure that the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
on cod, to prevent the common pool fishery may achieve the optimum yield Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
from exceeding its Trimester 1 quota for (OY) for this stock. As a result, the time SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
the stock, and to avoid triggering the necessary to provide for prior notice and manages the groundfish fishery in the
closure of portions of the Gulf of Maine, comment, and a 30-day delay in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
which is mandatory if 90 percent of the effectiveness, would prevent us from management area (BSAI) according to
trimester quota is reached. Although the increasing the possession and trip limit the Fishery Management Plan for
zero possession limit was set for the for GOM cod in a timely manner, which Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
remainder of the fishing year, this does could prevent the fishery from Aleutian Islands Management Area
not prevent the RA from subsequently achieving the OY. This would (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
increasing it to prevent underharvest of undermine management objectives of Fishery Management Council under
the stock. the Northeast Multispecies Fishery authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
As of August 25, 2015, the common Management Plan and cause Fishery Conservation and Management
pool had caught approximately 31 unnecessary negative economic impacts Act. Regulations governing fishing by
percent of its sub-annual catch limit to the common pool fishery. There is U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
(ACL) of GOM cod. To allow the additional good cause to waive the appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
common pool fishery to catch more of delayed effective period because this and 50 CFR part 679.
its quota for this stock, effective action relieves restrictions on fishing The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and
September 16, 2015, the trip limit of vessels by increasing a trip limit. yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in
GOM cod for all common pool vessels
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. the BSAI are 2,420 metric tons (mt),
is increased from 0 lb per trip, to 25 lb
Dated: September 11, 2015.
7,535 mt, and 15,993 mt as established
(11.3 kg) per trip. Allowing landings of
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
incidentally caught GOM cod up to 25 Emily H. Menashes,
specifications for groundfish in the
lb (11.3 kg) is projected to prevent Acting Director, Office of Sustainable BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and
overharvest while reducing discards. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2,
Weekly quota monitoring reports for [FR Doc. 2015–23277 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am]
2015 and 80 FR 52673, September 1,
the common pool fishery can be found BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole,
on our Web site at: http://
and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
are 4,656 mt, 11,907 mt, and 10,629 mt
ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE as established by the final 2015 and
continue to monitor common pool catch
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 2016 harvest specifications for
through vessel trip reports, dealer-
Administration groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
reported landings, vessel monitoring
March 5, 2015) and following revisions
system catch reports, and other
50 CFR Part 679 (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR
available information and, if necessary,
52673, September 1, 2015).
we will make additional adjustments to
common pool management measures. [Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] The Aleutian Pribilof Islands
Community Development Association
Classification RIN 0648–XE183 has requested that NMFS exchange 100
This action is required by 50 CFR part mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
648 and is exempt from review under sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of
Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish
Executive Order 12866. yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
The Assistant Administrator for § 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance
Management Area
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 100
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries mt of flathead sole and 450 mt of rock
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sole CDQ reserves for 550 mt of
and the opportunity for public comment Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves in the
and the 30-day delayed effectiveness Commerce. BSAI. This action also decreases and
period because it would be ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. increases the TACs and CDQ ABC
impracticable and contrary to the public reserves by the corresponding amounts.
interest. SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2015 and
The regulations at § 648.86(o) Community Development Quota (CDQ) 2016 harvest specifications for
authorize the RA to adjust the Northeast for CDQ acceptable biological catch groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919,
multispecies possession and trip limits (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary March 5, 2015) and following revisions
for common pool vessels in order to to allow the 2015 total allowable catch (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015 and 80 FR
prevent the overharvest or underharvest of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 52673, September 1, 2015) are further
of the pertinent common pool sub- sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian revised as follows:
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 55563
TABLE 11—FINAL 2015 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]
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
Sector Eastern Aleu- Central Aleu- Western Aleu- BSAI BSAI BSAI
tian district tian district tian district
TAC .......................................................... 8,000 7,000 9,000 23,975 68,925 149,600
CDQ ......................................................... 856 749 963 2,320 7,085 16,543
ICA ........................................................... 100 75 10 5,000 8,000 5,000
BSAI trawl limited access ........................ 704 618 161 0 0 16,165
Amendment 80 ......................................... 6,340 5,558 7,866 16,655 53,840 111,892
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ............... 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................... 2,978 2,611 3,695 14,947 40,522 67,437
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 13—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 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]
2015 flathead 2015 yellowfin 2016 flathead 2016 yellowfin
Sector 2015 rock sole 2016 rock sole
sole sole sole sole
ABC .......................................................... 66,130 181,700 248,800 63,711 164,800 245,500
TAC .......................................................... 23,975 68,925 149,600 24,250 69,250 149,000
ABC surplus ............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500
ABC reserve ............................................. 42,155 112,775 99,200 39,461 95,550 96,500
CDQ ABC reserve ................................... 4,756 12,357 10,079 4,222 10,224 10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve ................... 37,399 100,418 89,121 35,239 85,326 86,175
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for
2015 1 ................................................... 3,836 24,840 35,408 n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 1 .. 33,563 75,578 53,713 n/a n/a n/a
1 The 2016 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, 2015.
Classification Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Development Association in the BSAI. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
This action responds to the best Since these fisheries are currently open, the reasons provided above for waiver of
available information recently obtained it is important to immediately inform prior notice and opportunity for public
from the fishery. The Assistant the industry as to the revised comment.
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA allocations. Immediate notification is
(AA), finds good cause to waive the This action is required by § 679.20
necessary to allow for the orderly
requirement to provide prior notice and conduct and efficient operation of this and is exempt from review under
opportunity for public comment fishery, to allow the industry to plan for Executive Order 12866.
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 the fishing season, and to avoid Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is potential disruption to the fishing fleet Dated: September 11, 2015.
impracticable and contrary to the public as well as processors. NMFS was unable
interest. This requirement is Emily H. Menashes,
to publish a notice providing time for
impracticable and contrary to the public public comment because the most Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
interest as it would prevent NMFS from recent, relevant data only became Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
responding to the most recent fisheries available as of September 8, 2015. [FR Doc. 2015–23276 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am]
data in a timely fashion and would The AA also finds good cause to BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
delay the flatfish exchange by the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
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Document Created: 2018-02-26 10:16:45
Document Modified: 2018-02-26 10:16:45
| 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 September 16, 2015 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 55562 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE18 |
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