80 FR 57105 - 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 183 (September 22, 2015)

Page Range		57105-57105
FR Document		2015-24025

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, Amendment 80 (A80) catcher processors (C/Ps), American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl C/Ps, and C/Ps using 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 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57105]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24025]



[[Page 57105]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE203


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 amounts of Pacific 
cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length 
overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher vessels using trawl gear to 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line 
or pot gear, Amendment 80 (A80) catcher processors (C/Ps), American 
Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl C/Ps, and C/Ps using 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 September 17, 2015, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local 
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than 
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI is 18,641 metric tons 
(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 60 feet 
(18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI will not be able to harvest 
1,000 mt of the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those 
vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5).
    The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels using trawl 
gear in the BSAI is 49,224 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 using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 6,000 mt of the 
remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 7,000 mt of Pacific cod to 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line 
or pot gear, A80 C/Ps, AFA trawl C/Ps, and C/Ps using pot gear in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.
    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 80 FR 51757, August 26, 2015) are revised as follows: 
17,641 mt for catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 
pot gear, 43,224 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, 12,380 mt for 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or 
pot gear, 30,846 mt to A80 C/Ps, 5,623 mt to AFA trawl C/Ps, and 4,329 
mt for C/Ps using 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 the trawl 
catcher vessel sector to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 
meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, AFA C/Ps, A80 C/Ps, and C/
Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area. 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 15, 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 17, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24025 Filed 9-17-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 183 / Tuesday, September 22, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 57105

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
for catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (AA), finds good cause to waive the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI requirement to provide prior notice and
Administration is 18,641 metric tons (mt) as established opportunity for public comment
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
50 CFR Part 679 specifications for groundfish in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The impracticable and contrary to the public
Regional Administrator has determined interest. This requirement is
RIN 0648–XE203 that catcher vessels greater than 60 feet impracticable and contrary to the public
(18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
will not be able to harvest 1,000 mt of responding to the most recent fisheries
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC data in a timely fashion and would
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and
allocated to those vessels under
Aleutian Islands Management Area delay the reallocation of Pacific cod
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5).
specified from the trawl catcher vessel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and for catcher vessels using trawl gear in sector to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the BSAI is 49,224 mt as established by (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line
Commerce. the final 2015 and 2016 harvest or pot gear, AFA C/Ps, A80 C/Ps, and C/
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. specifications for groundfish in the Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The Aleutian Islands management area.
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the Regional Administrator has determined Since these fisheries are currently open,
projected unused amounts of Pacific cod that catcher vessels using trawl gear will it is important to immediately inform
from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet not be able to harvest 6,000 mt of the the industry as to the revised
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocations. Immediate notification is
using pot gear and catcher vessels using allocated to those vessels under necessary to allow for the orderly
trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). conduct and efficient operation of this
feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and- Therefore, in accordance with fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
line or pot gear, Amendment 80 (A80) § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and the fishing season, and to avoid
catcher processors (C/Ps), American § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates potential disruption to the fishing fleet
Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl C/Ps, and C/ 7,000 mt of Pacific cod to catcher as well as processors. NMFS was unable
Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters)
Aleutian Islands management area. This to publish a notice providing time for
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, public comment because the most
action is necessary to allow the 2015 A80 C/Ps, AFA trawl C/Ps, and C/Ps
total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be recent, relevant data only became
using pot gear in the Bering Sea and available as of September 15, 2015.
harvested. Aleutian Islands management area.
DATES: Effective September 17, 2015, The harvest specifications for Pacific The AA also finds good cause to
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time cod included in the final 2015 harvest waive the 30-day delay in the effective
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2015. specifications for groundfish in the date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015 and 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
Keaton, 907–586–7228. 80 FR 51757, August 26, 2015) are the reasons provided above for waiver of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS revised as follows: 17,641 mt for catcher prior notice and opportunity for public
manages the groundfish fishery in the vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) comment.
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) LOA using pot gear, 43,224 mt for This action is required by § 679.20
according to the Fishery Management catcher vessels using trawl gear, 12,380 and is exempt from review under
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea mt for catcher vessels less than 60 feet Executive Order 12866.
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific pot gear, 30,846 mt to A80 C/Ps, 5,623 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Fishery Management Council under mt to AFA trawl C/Ps, and 4,329 mt for Dated: September 17, 2015.
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens C/Ps using pot gear. Alan D. Risenhoover,
Fishery Conservation and Management
Classification Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
Act. Regulations governing fishing by National Marine Fisheries Service.
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP This action responds to the best
[FR Doc. 2015–24025 Filed 9–17–15; 4:15 pm]
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 available information recently obtained
and 50 CFR part 679. from the fishery. The Assistant BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:50 Sep 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22SER1.SGM 22SER1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:36:02
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:36:02

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 17, 2015, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		80 FR 57105
RIN Number		0648-XE20

80 FR 57105 - 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 183 (September 22, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration