82 FR 12747 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 43 (March 7, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 43 (March 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 12747-12749 | |
| FR Document | 2017-04439 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 12747-12749] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-04439] [[Page 12747]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 [Docket No. 150121066-5717-02] RIN 0648-XF259 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason General category bluefin tuna quota transfer and retention limit adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is transferring 40 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the General category January 2017 subquota period (which lasts from January 1 through March 31, 2017, or until the available subquota for this period is reached, whichever comes first). This transfer results in an adjusted subquota of 81 mt for the January 2017 subquota period and 78 mt for the Reserve category quota. NMFS also is adjusting the Atlantic tunas General category BFT daily retention limit for the January 2017 subquota period to one large medium or giant BFT from the current retention limit of three. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels when fishing commercially for BFT. DATES: The quota transfer is effective March 2, 2017 through March 31, 2017. The General category retention limit adjustment is effective March 5, 2017, through March 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, 978- 281-9260. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and as implemented by the United States among the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006), as amended by Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 7) (79 FR 71510, December 2, 2014). NMFS is required under ATCA and the Magnuson- Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest the ICCAT-recommended quota. The base quota for the General category is 466.7 mt. See Sec. 635.27(a). Each of the General category time periods (January, June through August, September, October through November, and December) is allocated a portion of the annual General category quota. Although it is called the ``January'' subquota, the regulations allow the General category fishery under this quota to continue until the subquota is reached or March 31, whichever comes first. Based on the General category base quota of 466.7 mt, the subquotas for each time period are as follows: 24.7 mt for January; 233.3 mt for June through August; 123.7 mt for September; 60.7 mt for October through November; and 24.3 mt for December. Any unused General category quota rolls forward within the fishing year, which coincides with the calendar year, from one time period to the next, and is available for use in subsequent time periods. Effective January 1, 2017, NMFS transferred 16.3 mt of the 24.3-mt General category quota allocated for the December 2017 period to the January 2017 period, resulting in a subquota of 41 mt for the January period and a subquota of 8 mt for the December 2017 period (81 FR 91873, December 19, 2016). Effective February 28, 2017, NMFS reallocated 138.2 mt of the 2017 Purse Seine category quota to the Reserve and transferred 45 mt from the Reserve category quota to the Longline category, resulting in an adjusted 2017 Reserve category quota of 118 mt (82 FR 12296, March 2, 2017). Quota Transfer Under Sec. 635.27(a)(9), NMFS has the authority to transfer quota among fishing categories or subcategories, after considering regulatory determination criteria at Sec. 635.27(a)(8). NMFS has considered all of the relevant determination criteria and their applicability to this inseason quota transfer and change in retention limit in the General category fishery. The criteria and their application are discussed below. Transfer of 40 mt From the Reserve Category to the General Category For the inseason quota transfer, NMFS considered the usefulness of information obtained from catches in the particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of the status of the stock (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(i)). Biological samples collected from BFT landed by General category fishermen and provided by tuna dealers provide NMFS with valuable parts and data for ongoing scientific studies of BFT age and growth, migration, and reproductive status. Additional opportunity to land BFT in the General category would support the continued collection of a broad range of data for these studies and for stock monitoring purposes. NMFS also considered the catches of the General category quota to date (including during the winter fishery in the last several years), and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no adjustment is made (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(ii)). As of February 27, 2017, the General category landed approximately 52 mt of its adjusted January subquota of 41 mt. Without a quota transfer, NMFS would have to close the January 2017 General category fishery, while unused quota remains in the Reserve category and while commercial-sized BFT may remain available in the areas where General category permitted vessels operate at this time of year. Transferring 40 mt of BFT quota from the Reserve category would result in 81 mt being available for the January subquota period. This quota transfer would provide additional opportunities to harvest the U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it, while preserving the opportunity for General category fishermen to participate in the winter BFT fishery. Regarding the projected ability of the vessels fishing under the particular category quota (here, the General category) to harvest the additional amount of BFT before the end of the fishing year (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(iii)), NMFS considered General category landings in the last several years. General category landings in the winter BFT fishery tend to be highly variable and depend on access to commercial-sized BFT and fishing conditions, among other factors. Any unused General category quota from the January subperiod that remains as of March 31 will roll forward to the next subperiod within the calendar year (i.e., the June-August time period). In 2016, NMFS transferred the entire 24.3-mt December subquota to the January time period, for an adjusted January 2016 subquota of 49 mt. Under a three-fish General category daily retention [[Page 12748]] limit, that adjusted subquota allowed the fishery to continue through the end of March 2016. This year, fishing conditions have resulted in highly variable landings, with higher landings rates in recent days. NMFS also considered the estimated amounts by which quotas for other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(iv)) and the ability to account for all 2017 landings and dead discards. In the last several years, total U.S. BFT landings have been below the available U.S. quota such that the United States has carried forward the maximum amount of underharvest allowed by ICCAT from one year to the next. In 2016, the General category exceeded its adjusted quota (discussed below) but sufficient quota was available to cover the exceedance without affecting the other categories. NMFS will need to account for 2017 landings and dead discards within the adjusted U.S. quota, consistent with ICCAT recommendations, and anticipates having sufficient quota to do that. This quota transfer would provide additional opportunities to harvest the U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it, while preserving the opportunity for General category fishermen to participate in the winter BFT fishery. This transfer would be consistent with the current quotas, which were established and analyzed in the 2015 BFT quota final rule (80 FR 52198, August 28, 2015), and with objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments. (Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(v) and (vi)). Another principal consideration is the objective of providing opportunities to harvest the full annual U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it based on the goals of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and Amendment 7, including to achieve optimum yield on a continuing basis and to optimize the ability of all permit categories to harvest their full BFT quota allocations (related to Sec. 635.27(a)(8)(x)). NMFS also anticipates that some underharvest of the 2016 adjusted U.S. BFT quota will be carried forward to 2017 and placed in the Reserve category, in accordance with the regulations. This, in addition to the fact that any unused General category quota will roll forward to the next subperiod within the calendar year, along with NMFS' plan to actively manage the subquotas to avoid any exceedances, makes it likely that General category quota will remain available through the end of 2017. NMFS also may conduct other allowable transfers among categories throughout the year after considering the regulatory determination criteria for such adjustments. In 2016, NMFS closed the General category quota effective November 4 to prevent further overharvest of the adjusted General category quota. General category landings were relatively high in the fall of 2016, due to a combination of fish availability, favorable fishing conditions, and higher daily retention limits (described below). NMFS anticipates that General category participants in all areas and time periods will have opportunities to harvest the General category quota in 2017, through active inseason management such as retention limit adjustments and/or the timing of quota transfers, as practicable. Thus, this quota transfer would allow fishermen to take advantage of the availability of fish on the fishing grounds, consider the expected increases in available 2017 quota later in the year, and provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the full U.S. BFT quota. Based on the considerations above, NMFS is transferring 40 mt of BFT quota from the Reserve category, resulting in a subquota of 81 mt for the January 2017 subquota period and a subquota of 78 mt for the Reserve category. NMFS will close the General category fishery when the adjusted January period subquota of 81 mt has been reached, or it will close automatically on March 31, 2017, whichever comes first, and it will remain closed until the General category fishery reopens on June 1, 2017. Adjustment of General Category Daily Retention Limit Under Sec. 635.23(a)(4), NMFS may increase or decrease the daily retention limit of large medium and giant BFT over a range of zero to a maximum of five per vessel based on consideration of the relevant criteria provided under Sec. 635.27(a)(8), and listed above. NMFS has considered the relevant criteria and their applicability to the General category BFT retention limit for the remainder of the January subquota period. As described above with regard to the quota transfer, additional opportunity to land BFT (i.e., keeping the fishery open at a lower daily retention limit) would support the collection of a broad range of data for biological studies and for stock monitoring purposes. Regarding the effects of the adjustment on bluefin tuna rebuilding and overfishing and the effects of the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives of the fishery management plan, this action is needed to ensure that the fishery operates within the previously implemented quotas and retention limits analyzed in the Environmental Assessment for the 2011 final rule regarding General and Harpoon category management measures (76 FR 74003, November 30, 2011). As described above, a principal consideration in reducing the daily retention limit is the objective of providing opportunities to harvest the available U.S. BFT quota without exceeding that quota, based on the goals of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended. The retention limit currently is three fish and would continue to be three fish if NMFS were to take no action. NMFS is setting the retention limit at one fish through this action because, given the expected level of fishing effort and catch rates, a continued level of three fish may lead to exceeding the adjusted category quota. Regarding the catches of the particular category quota to date and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no adjustment is made, NMFS notes that in 2012, 2013, and 2014, the available January subquota (23.1 mt) was reached on January 22, February 15, and March 21, respectively, under a limit of two large medium or giant BFT. In each of these years, the General category did not reach its available quota by the end of the year. For 2015, the adjusted January subquota of 45.7 was not met under a daily retention limit of three large medium or giant BFT, whereas for 2016, the adjusted subquota of 49 mt was reached, and slightly exceeded, as of March 31 under a three-fish limit. For the January 2017 subquota period, NMFS allowed a three-fish limit for most of the subquota period, and is decreasing it only in the final third of the period, to try to best utilize available quota and keep the fishery open for the rest of the subquota period, if possible. Based on these considerations, NMFS has determined that a General category retention limit of one fish is warranted for the remainder of the January 2017 subquota period. It would provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the U.S. quota of BFT without exceeding it, help optimize the ability of the General category to harvest its available quota, allow collection of a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes, and be consistent with the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the General category retention limit from three to one large medium or giant BFT per vessel per day/trip, effective March 5, 2017, through March 31, 2017, or until the 81-mt January subquota is harvested, whichever comes first. [[Page 12749]] Regardless of the duration of a fishing trip, the daily retention limit applies upon landing. For example, during the remainder of the January 2017 subquota period, whether a vessel fishing under the General category limit takes a two-day trip or makes two trips in one day, the day/trip limit of one fish applies and may not be exceeded upon landing. This General category retention limit is effective in all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico, where NMFS prohibits targeted fishing for BFT, and applies to those vessels permitted in the General category, as well as to those HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels fishing commercially for BFT. Monitoring and Reporting NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fishery closely. Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of a dealer receiving BFT. General, HMS Charter/Headboat, Harpoon, and Angling category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all BFT retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing hmspermits.noaa.gov or by using the Android or iPhone app. Depending on the level of fishing effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS may determine that additional action (i.e., quota and/or daily retention limit adjustment, or closure) is necessary to ensure available quota is not exceeded or to enhance scientific data collection from, and fishing opportunities in, all geographic areas. If needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal Register. In addition, fishermen may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978) 281-9260, or access hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on quota monitoring and inseason adjustments. Classification The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior notice of, and an opportunity for public comment on, this action for the following reasons: The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments provide for inseason retention limit adjustments to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in the BFT fishery. Affording prior notice and opportunity for public comment to implement the quota transfer and daily retention limit for the remainder of the January 2017 subquota period at this time is impracticable. NMFS could not have proposed these actions earlier, as it needed to consider and respond information about landings and availability of fish and other conditions outside the agency's control that then require immediate action to be effective on the fishing grounds and thus efficiently manage the fishery. Daily landings rates increased substantially the week of February 20, 2017, pushing total landings toward the available 41-mt quota. This information became available on February 24, 2017. NMFS could not effectively react to these landings data if, in implementing the retention limit, it allowed a public comment period, which would preclude fishermen from harvesting BFT that are legally available consistent with all of the regulatory criteria. Delays in adjusting the retention limit may result in the available quota being exceeded and NMFS needing to close the fishery earlier than otherwise would be necessary under a lower limit. This could adversely affect those General and HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels that would otherwise have an opportunity to harvest BFT under retention limits set in response to the most recent data available. Limited opportunities to harvest the respective quotas may have negative social and economic impacts for U.S. fishermen that depend upon catching the available quota within the time periods designated in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended. Adjustment of the retention limit needs to be effective as soon as possible to extend fishing opportunities for fishermen in geographic areas with access to the fishery only during this time period. Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment. For these reasons, there also is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. This action is being taken under Sec. Sec. 635.23(a)(4) and 635.27(a)(9), and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq. Dated: March 2, 2017. Emily D. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-04439 Filed 3-2-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 12747
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Transfer of 40 mt From the Reserve
and as implemented by the United Category to the General Category
National Oceanic and Atmospheric States among the various domestic For the inseason quota transfer, NMFS
Administration fishing categories, per the allocations considered the usefulness of
established in the 2006 Consolidated information obtained from catches in
50 CFR Part 635 Highly Migratory Species Fishery the particular category for biological
Management Plan (2006 Consolidated sampling and monitoring of the status of
[Docket No. 150121066–5717–02]
HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058, October 2, the stock (§ 635.27(a)(8)(i)). Biological
RIN 0648–XF259 2006), as amended by Amendment 7 to samples collected from BFT landed by
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP General category fishermen and
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; (Amendment 7) (79 FR 71510, December provided by tuna dealers provide NMFS
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries 2, 2014). NMFS is required under ATCA with valuable parts and data for ongoing
and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to scientific studies of BFT age and
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries provide U.S. fishing vessels with a
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and growth, migration, and reproductive
reasonable opportunity to harvest the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), status. Additional opportunity to land
ICCAT-recommended quota.
Commerce. The base quota for the General BFT in the General category would
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason category is 466.7 mt. See § 635.27(a). support the continued collection of a
General category bluefin tuna quota Each of the General category time broad range of data for these studies and
transfer and retention limit adjustment. periods (January, June through August, for stock monitoring purposes.
NMFS also considered the catches of
September, October through November,
SUMMARY: NMFS is transferring 40 the General category quota to date
and December) is allocated a portion of
metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (including during the winter fishery in
the annual General category quota.
(BFT) quota from the Reserve category Although it is called the ‘‘January’’ the last several years), and the
to the General category January 2017 subquota, the regulations allow the likelihood of closure of that segment of
subquota period (which lasts from General category fishery under this the fishery if no adjustment is made
January 1 through March 31, 2017, or quota to continue until the subquota is (§ 635.27(a)(8)(ii)). As of February 27,
until the available subquota for this reached or March 31, whichever comes 2017, the General category landed
period is reached, whichever comes first. Based on the General category base approximately 52 mt of its adjusted
first). This transfer results in an adjusted quota of 466.7 mt, the subquotas for January subquota of 41 mt. Without a
subquota of 81 mt for the January 2017 each time period are as follows: 24.7 mt quota transfer, NMFS would have to
subquota period and 78 mt for the for January; 233.3 mt for June through close the January 2017 General category
Reserve category quota. NMFS also is August; 123.7 mt for September; 60.7 mt fishery, while unused quota remains in
adjusting the Atlantic tunas General for October through November; and 24.3 the Reserve category and while
category BFT daily retention limit for mt for December. Any unused General commercial-sized BFT may remain
the January 2017 subquota period to one category quota rolls forward within the available in the areas where General
large medium or giant BFT from the fishing year, which coincides with the category permitted vessels operate at
current retention limit of three. This calendar year, from one time period to this time of year. Transferring 40 mt of
action is based on consideration of the the next, and is available for use in BFT quota from the Reserve category
regulatory determination criteria subsequent time periods. Effective would result in 81 mt being available for
regarding inseason adjustments and January 1, 2017, NMFS transferred 16.3 the January subquota period. This quota
applies to Atlantic tunas General mt of the 24.3-mt General category quota transfer would provide additional
category (commercial) permitted vessels allocated for the December 2017 period opportunities to harvest the U.S. BFT
and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) to the January 2017 period, resulting in quota without exceeding it, while
Charter/Headboat category permitted a subquota of 41 mt for the January preserving the opportunity for General
vessels when fishing commercially for period and a subquota of 8 mt for the category fishermen to participate in the
BFT. December 2017 period (81 FR 91873, winter BFT fishery.
December 19, 2016). Effective February Regarding the projected ability of the
DATES: The quota transfer is effective vessels fishing under the particular
March 2, 2017 through March 31, 2017. 28, 2017, NMFS reallocated 138.2 mt of
the 2017 Purse Seine category quota to category quota (here, the General
The General category retention limit category) to harvest the additional
adjustment is effective March 5, 2017, the Reserve and transferred 45 mt from
the Reserve category quota to the amount of BFT before the end of the
through March 31, 2017. fishing year (§ 635.27(a)(8)(iii)), NMFS
Longline category, resulting in an
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: considered General category landings in
adjusted 2017 Reserve category quota of
Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, the last several years. General category
118 mt (82 FR 12296, March 2, 2017).
978–281–9260. landings in the winter BFT fishery tend
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quota Transfer to be highly variable and depend on
Regulations implemented under the Under § 635.27(a)(9), NMFS has the access to commercial-sized BFT and
authority of the Atlantic Tunas authority to transfer quota among fishing conditions, among other factors.
Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et fishing categories or subcategories, after Any unused General category quota
seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery considering regulatory determination from the January subperiod that remains
Conservation and Management Act criteria at § 635.27(a)(8). as of March 31 will roll forward to the
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
(Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 NMFS has considered all of the next subperiod within the calendar year
et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by relevant determination criteria and their (i.e., the June–August time period). In
persons and vessels subject to U.S. applicability to this inseason quota 2016, NMFS transferred the entire 24.3-
jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part transfer and change in retention limit in mt December subquota to the January
635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. the General category fishery. The time period, for an adjusted January
BFT quota recommended by the criteria and their application are 2016 subquota of 49 mt. Under a three-
International Commission for the discussed below. fish General category daily retention
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 12749
Regardless of the duration of a fishing proposed these actions earlier, as it DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
trip, the daily retention limit applies needed to consider and respond
upon landing. For example, during the information about landings and National Oceanic and Atmospheric
remainder of the January 2017 subquota availability of fish and other conditions Administration
period, whether a vessel fishing under outside the agency’s control that then
the General category limit takes a two- require immediate action to be effective 50 CFR Part 679
day trip or makes two trips in one day, on the fishing grounds and thus [Docket No. 160920866–7167–02]
the day/trip limit of one fish applies and efficiently manage the fishery. Daily
may not be exceeded upon landing. This RIN 0648–XF268
landings rates increased substantially
General category retention limit is the week of February 20, 2017, pushing Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
effective in all areas, except for the Gulf
total landings toward the available 41- Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
of Mexico, where NMFS prohibits
targeted fishing for BFT, and applies to mt quota. This information became Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear
those vessels permitted in the General available on February 24, 2017. NMFS in the Western Regulatory Area of the
category, as well as to those HMS could not effectively react to these Gulf of Alaska
Charter/Headboat permitted vessels landings data if, in implementing the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
fishing commercially for BFT. retention limit, it allowed a public
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
comment period, which would preclude
Monitoring and Reporting Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
fishermen from harvesting BFT that are
Commerce.
NMFS will continue to monitor the legally available consistent with all of
BFT fishery closely. Dealers are required ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of
the regulatory criteria.
to submit landing reports within 24 a closure.
Delays in adjusting the retention limit
hours of a dealer receiving BFT. SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed
may result in the available quota being
General, HMS Charter/Headboat, fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/
Harpoon, and Angling category vessel exceeded and NMFS needing to close
the fishery earlier than otherwise would processors using trawl gear in the
owners are required to report the catch Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
of all BFT retained or discarded dead, be necessary under a lower limit. This
could adversely affect those General and Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end to fully use the A season allowance of
of each trip, by accessing HMS Charter/Headboat category vessels
that would otherwise have an the 2017 total allowable catch
hmspermits.noaa.gov or by using the apportioned to catcher/processors using
Android or iPhone app. Depending on opportunity to harvest BFT under
trawl gear in the Western Regulatory
the level of fishing effort and catch rates retention limits set in response to the
Area of the GOA.
of BFT, NMFS may determine that most recent data available. Limited
additional action (i.e., quota and/or DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
opportunities to harvest the respective
daily retention limit adjustment, or quotas may have negative social and local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2017,
closure) is necessary to ensure available through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10,
economic impacts for U.S. fishermen
quota is not exceeded or to enhance 2017. Comments must be received at the
that depend upon catching the available
scientific data collection from, and following address no later than 4:30
quota within the time periods
fishing opportunities in, all geographic p.m., A.l.t., March 17, 2017.
designated in the 2006 Consolidated
areas. If needed, subsequent ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
HMS FMP, as amended. Adjustment of
adjustments will be published in the on this document, identified by NOAA–
the retention limit needs to be effective
Federal Register. In addition, fishermen NMFS–2016–0127, by any of the
as soon as possible to extend fishing
may call the Atlantic Tunas Information following methods:
opportunities for fishermen in • Electronic Submission: Submit all
Line at (978) 281–9260, or access
geographic areas with access to the electronic public comments via the
hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on
fishery only during this time period. Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
quota monitoring and inseason
Therefore, the AA finds good cause www.regulations.gov/
adjustments.
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-
Classification notice and the opportunity for public 0127, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
The Assistant Administrator for comment. For these reasons, there also complete the required fields, and enter
NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to or attach your comments.
and contrary to the public interest to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. • Mail: Submit written comments to
provide prior notice of, and an This action is being taken under Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
opportunity for public comment on, this §§ 635.23(a)(4) and 635.27(a)(9), and is Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
action for the following reasons: exempt from review under Executive Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
The regulations implementing the Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
Order 12866.
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
amendments provide for inseason Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 Instructions: Comments sent by any
retention limit adjustments to respond et seq. other method, to any other address or
to the unpredictable nature of BFT Dated: March 2, 2017. individual, or received after the end of
availability on the fishing grounds, the Emily D. Menashes, the comment period, may not be
migratory nature of this species, and the considered by NMFS. All comments
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
regional variations in the BFT fishery. received are a part of the public record
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Affording prior notice and opportunity and will generally be posted for public
[FR Doc. 2017–04439 Filed 3–2–17; 4:15 pm]
for public comment to implement the viewing on www.regulations.gov
quota transfer and daily retention limit BILLING CODE 3510–22–P without change. All personal identifying
for the remainder of the January 2017 information (e.g., name, address),
subquota period at this time is confidential business information, or
impracticable. NMFS could not have otherwise sensitive information
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:49:21
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:49:21
| 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; inseason General category bluefin tuna quota transfer and retention limit adjustment. | |
| Dates | The quota transfer is effective March 2, 2017 through March 31, 2017. The General category retention limit adjustment is effective March 5, 2017, through March 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, 978- 281-9260. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 12747 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF25 |
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