81 FR 69442 - 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 81, Issue 194 (October 6, 2016)

Page Range		69442-69443
FR Document		2016-24185

NMFS is exchanging unused flathead sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69442-69443]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24185]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE935

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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused flathead sole Community Development
Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC)
reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This
action is necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of
yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
to be harvested.

DATES: Effective October 6, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

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 2016 flathead sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in
the BSAI are 1,617 metric tons (mt), and 16,933 mt as established by
the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and following revision (81 FR 64782,
September 21, 2016). The 2016 flathead sole and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC
reserves are 5,472 mt and 5,719 mt as established by the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016) and following revision (81 FR 64782, September 21,
2016).
The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has
requested that NMFS exchange 80 mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves for 80
mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec. 679.31(d). Therefore,
in accordance with Sec. 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 80 mt of flathead
sole CDQ reserves for 80 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
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR
14773, March 18, 2016), and following revision (81 FR 64782, September
21, 2016), are revised as follows:

Table 11--Final 2016 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..................................................... 7,900 7,000 9,000 16,390 55,180 150,530
CDQ..................................................... 845 749 963 1,537 5,215 17,013
ICA..................................................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 685 618 161 0 0 14,979
Amendment 80............................................ 6,169 5,558 7,866 9,853 43,965 115,038
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........................... 3,271 2,947 4,171 1,411 11,129 43,748
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.............................. 2,898 2,611 3,695 8,442 32,836 71,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 13--Final 2016 and 2017 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Flathead 2016 Rock 2016 2017 Flathead 2017 Rock 2017
Sector sole sole Yellowfin sole sole sole Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 66,250 161,100 211,700 64,580 145,000 203,500
TAC..................................................... 16,390 55,180 150,530 21,000 57,100 144,000
ABC surplus............................................. 49,860 105,920 61,170 43,580 87,900 59,500
ABC reserve............................................. 49,860 105,920 61,170 43,580 87,900 59,500
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,552 12,023 5,639 4,663 9,405 6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 44,308 93,897 55,531 38,917 78,495 53,134

[[Page 69443]]

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 \1\.............. 4,145 22,974 24,019 n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 \1\................. 40,163 70,923 31,512 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2017 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, 2016.

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 Island
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 30, 2016.
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 3, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24185 Filed 10-5-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

69442 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 194 / Thursday, October 6, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

Authors Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are 1,617 metric tons (mt), and 16,933
The primary authors of this document Commerce. mt as established by the final 2016 and
are the staff members of the Unified ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. 2017 harvest specifications for
Listing Team, Ecological Services groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
Program. SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused March 18, 2016) and following revision
flathead sole Community Development (81 FR 64782, September 21, 2016). The
Authority Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ 2016 flathead sole and yellowfin sole
The authority for this action is section acceptable biological catch (ABC) CDQ ABC reserves are 5,472 mt and
4 of the Endangered Species Act of reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 5,719 mt as established by the final 2016
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et Islands management area. This action is and 2017 harvest specifications for
seq.). necessary to allow the 2016 total groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
allowable catch of yellowfin sole in the
Dated: September 26, 2016. March 18, 2016) and following revision
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Stephen Guertin, (81 FR 64782, September 21, 2016).
management area to be harvested.
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife The Aleutian Pribilof Island
Service. DATES: Effective October 6, 2016
through December 31, 2016. Community Development Association
[FR Doc. 2016–24142 Filed 10–5–16; 8:45 am]
has requested that NMFS exchange 80
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves for 80
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
under § 679.31(d). Therefore, in
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE manages the groundfish fishery in the accordance with § 679.31(d), NMFS
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
National Oceanic and Atmospheric exchanges 80 mt of flathead sole CDQ
management area (BSAI) according to
Administration reserves for 80 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ
the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action
50 CFR Part 679 Aleutian Islands Management Area also decreases and increases the TACs
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific and CDQ ABC reserves by the
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
Fishery Management Council under corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and
RIN 0648–XE935 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 13 of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
Fishery Conservation and Management specifications for groundfish in the
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016),
Act. Regulations governing fishing by
Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish and following revision (81 FR 64782,
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands September 21, 2016), are revised as
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
Management Area follows:
and 50 CFR part 679.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries The 2016 flathead sole and yellowfin
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI

TABLE 11—FINAL 2016 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 .......................................................... 7,900 7,000 9,000 16,390 55,180 150,530
CDQ ......................................................... 845 749 963 1,537 5,215 17,013
ICA ........................................................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access ........................ 685 618 161 0 0 14,979
Amendment 80 ......................................... 6,169 5,558 7,866 9,853 43,965 115,038
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ............... 3,271 2,947 4,171 1,411 11,129 43,748
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................... 2,898 2,611 3,695 8,442 32,836 71,290
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

TABLE 13—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 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]

2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017
Sector
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole

ABC .......................................................... 66,250 161,100 211,700 64,580 145,000 203,500
TAC .......................................................... 16,390 55,180 150,530 21,000 57,100 144,000
ABC surplus ............................................. 49,860 105,920 61,170 43,580 87,900 59,500
ABC reserve ............................................. 49,860 105,920 61,170 43,580 87,900 59,500
CDQ ABC reserve ................................... 5,552 12,023 5,639 4,663 9,405 6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve ................... 44,308 93,897 55,531 38,917 78,495 53,134

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 194 / Thursday, October 6, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 69443

TABLE 13—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 ABC SURPLUS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC RESERVES, AND
AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]

2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017
Sector Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for
2016 1 ................................................... 4,145 22,974 24,019 n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 1 .. 40,163 70,923 31,512 n/a n/a n/a
1 The 2017 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, 2016.

Classification Dated: October 3, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Emily H. Menashes, manages the groundfish fishery in the
This action responds to the best BSAI according to the Fishery
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
available information recently obtained Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Management Plan for Groundfish of the
from the fishery. The Assistant Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
[FR Doc. 2016–24185 Filed 10–5–16; 8:45 am]
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Management Area (FMP) prepared by
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
the North Pacific Fishery Management
requirement to provide prior notice and
Council under authority of the
opportunity for public comment DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Conservation and Management Act.
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is National Oceanic and Atmospheric Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
impracticable and contrary to the public Administration vessels in accordance with the FMP
interest. This requirement is
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
impracticable and contrary to the public 50 CFR Part 679 and 50 CFR part 679.
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries [Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] The 2016 Atka mackerel ICA for the
data in a timely fashion and would RIN 0648–XE932 BS/EAI is 1,000 metric tons (mt) and
delay the flatfish exchange by the 2016 Atka mackerel total allowable
Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic catch allocated to the Amendment 80
Development Association in the BSAI. Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Atka cooperatives is 21,895 mt as established
Since these fisheries are currently open, Mackerel in the Bering Sea and by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
it is important to immediately inform Aleutian Islands Management Area specifications for groundfish in the
the industry as to the revised BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016).
allocations. Immediate notification is AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The Administrator, Alaska Region,
necessary to allow for the orderly NMFS, has determined that 775 mt of
conduct and efficient operation of this Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce. the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI
fishery, to allow the industry to plan for will not be harvested. Therefore, in
the fishing season, and to avoid ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
accordance with § 679.91(f), NMFS
potential disruption to the fishing fleet reallocates 775 mt of Atka mackerel
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the
as well as processors. NMFS was unable projected unused amount of the 2016 from the BS/EAI ICA to the Amendment
to publish a notice providing time for Atka mackerel incidental catch 80 cooperatives in the BSAI. In
public comment because the most allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea accordance with § 679.91(f), NMFS will
recent, relevant data only became subarea and Eastern Aleutian district reissue cooperative quota permits for
available as of September 30, 2016. (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80 the reallocated Atka mackerel following
The AA also finds good cause to cooperative allocations in the Bering the procedures set forth in § 679.91(f)(3).
waive the 30-day delay in the effective Sea and Aleutian Islands management The harvest specifications for Atka
date of this action under 5 U.S.C. area (BSAI). This action is necessary to mackerel included in the harvest
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon allow the 2016 total allowable catch of specifications for groundfish in the
the reasons provided above for waiver of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) are
prior notice and opportunity for public harvested. revised as follows: 225 mt of Atka
comment. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs Alaska local mackerel for the BS/EAI ICA and 22,670
This action is required by § 679.20 time (A.l.t.), October 3, 2016 through mt of Atka mackerel for the Amendment
and is exempt from review under 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. 80 cooperative allocations in the BS/
Executive Order 12866. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EAI. Table 6 is revised and republished
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. in its entirety as follows:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Oct 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\06OCR1.SGM 06OCR1

Document Created: 2016-10-06 02:37:52
Document Modified: 2016-10-06 02:37:52

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 6, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
Contact		Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		81 FR 69442
RIN Number		0648-XE93

81 FR 69442 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 194 (October 6, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration