80 FR 65971 - 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 208 (October 28, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 208 (October 28, 2015)
| Page Range | 65971-65971 | |
| FR Document | 2015-27429 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 65971] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-27429] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 141021887-5172-02] RIN 0648-XE269 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher processors (C/Ps), and catcher vessels using trawl gear to Amendment 80 (A80) C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, 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 October 23, 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 17,641 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and reallocation (80 FR 57105, September 22, 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 43,224 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and reallocation (80 FR 57105, September 22, 2015). The Regional Administrator has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 3,870 mt of the remaining 2015 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified for AFA trawl C/Ps in the BSAI is 5,623 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and reallocation (80 FR 57105, September 22, 2015). The Regional Administrator has determined that AFA trawl C/Ps 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)(7). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 5,870 mt of Pacific cod to A80 C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, 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, 80 FR 51757, August 26, 2015, and 80 FR 57105, September 22, 2015) are revised as follows: 16,641 mt for catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear, 39,354 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, 4,623 mt to AFA trawl C/Ps, 32,216 mt to A80 C/Ps, 111,071 mt for C/Ps using hook-and-line, and 5,829 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 multiple sectors to A80 C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, 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 October 19, 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: October 23, 2015. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-27429 Filed 10-23-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 208 / Wednesday, October 28, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 65971
Dated: October 22, 2015. U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP using trawl gear, 4,623 mt to AFA trawl
Emily H. Menashes, appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 C/Ps, 32,216 mt to A80 C/Ps, 111,071 mt
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable and 50 CFR part 679. for C/Ps using hook-and-line, and 5,829
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified mt for C/Ps using pot gear.
[FR Doc. 2015–27421 Filed 10–26–15; 8:45 am] for catcher vessels greater than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI Classification
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
is 17,641 metric tons (mt) as established This action responds to the best
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest available information recently obtained
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE specifications for groundfish in the from the fishery. The Assistant
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric reallocation (80 FR 57105, September (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Administration 22, 2015). The Regional Administrator requirement to provide prior notice and
has determined that catcher vessels opportunity for public comment
50 CFR Part 679 greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] pot gear in the BSAI will not be able to U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
harvest 1,000 mt of the remaining 2015 impracticable and contrary to the public
RIN 0648–XE269 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those interest. This requirement is
vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5). impracticable and contrary to the public
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of interest as it would prevent NMFS from
for catcher vessels using trawl gear in responding to the most recent fisheries
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and the BSAI is 43,224 mt as established by
Aleutian Islands Management Area data in a timely fashion and would
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest delay the reallocation of Pacific cod
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries specifications for groundfish in the specified from multiple sectors to A80
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reallocation (80 FR 57105, September and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering
Commerce. 22, 2015). The Regional Administrator Sea and Aleutian Islands management
has determined that catcher vessels area. Since these fisheries are currently
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
using trawl gear will not be able to open, it is important to immediately
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the harvest 3,870 mt of the remaining 2015 inform the industry as to the revised
projected unused amounts of Pacific cod Pacific cod TAC allocated to those allocations. Immediate notification is
from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). necessary to allow for the orderly
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) The 2015 Pacific cod TAC specified conduct and efficient operation of this
using pot gear, American Fisheries Act for AFA trawl C/Ps in the BSAI is 5,623 fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
(AFA) trawl catcher processors (C/Ps), mt as established by the final 2015 and the fishing season, and to avoid
and catcher vessels using trawl gear to 2016 harvest specifications for potential disruption to the fishing fleet
Amendment 80 (A80) groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, as well as processors. NMFS was unable
C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, March 5, 2015) and reallocation (80 FR to publish a notice providing time for
and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering 57105, September 22, 2015). The public comment because the most
Sea and Aleutian Islands management Regional Administrator has determined recent, relevant data only became
area. This action is necessary to allow that AFA trawl C/Ps will not be able to available as of October 19, 2015.
the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific harvest 1,000 mt of the remaining 2015
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those The AA also finds good cause to
cod to be harvested. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(7).
DATES: Effective October 23, 2015, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Therefore, in accordance with
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2015. the reasons provided above for waiver of
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 5,870 mt of Pacific cod to A80 C/Ps, prior notice and opportunity for public
Keaton, 907–586–7228. C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, and C/Ps comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS using pot gear in the Bering Sea and This action is required by § 679.20
manages the groundfish fishery in the Aleutian Islands management area. and is exempt from review under
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) The harvest specifications for Pacific Executive Order 12866.
according to the Fishery Management cod included in the final 2015 harvest Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea specifications for groundfish in the
and Aleutian Islands Management Area BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015, 80 Dated: October 23, 2015.
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific FR 51757, August 26, 2015, and 80 FR Alan D. Risenhoover,
Fishery Management Council under 57105, September 22, 2015) are revised Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens as follows: 16,641 mt for catcher vessels National Marine Fisheries Service.
Fishery Conservation and Management greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using [FR Doc. 2015–27429 Filed 10–23–15; 4:15 pm]
Act. Regulations governing fishing by pot gear, 39,354 mt for catcher vessels BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2018-02-27 08:57:43
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 08:57:43
| 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 October 23, 2015, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 65971 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE26 |
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