82_FR_12793 82 FR 12750 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

82 FR 12750 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 43 (March 7, 2017)

Page Range12750-12752
FR Document2017-04435

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock and the Community Development Quota directed fishing allowance from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2017 total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12750-12752]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04435]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF262


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut 
Corporation's pollock and the Community Development Quota directed 
fishing allowance from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea 
subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide 
opportunity for harvest of the 2017 total allowable catch of pollock, 
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 7, 2017, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 
(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.
    In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2017 pollock 
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's is 
14,700 metric tons (mt) and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 1,900 mt as established by the 
final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017).
    As of March 1, 2017, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
(Regional Administrator) has determined that 9,000 mt of Aleut 
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ DFA in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS reallocates 9,000 mt of Aleut 
Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ DFA from the Aleutian 
Islands subarea to the 2017 Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 1,900 
mt of pollock CDQ DFA is added to the 2017 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The 
remaining 9,000 mt of pollock is apportioned to the AFA Inshore sector 
(50 percent), AFA catcher/processor sector (40 percent), and the AFA 
mothership sector (10 percent). The 2017 pollock incidental catch 
allowance remains at 47,210 mt. As a result, the harvest specifications 
for pollock in the

[[Page 12751]]

Aleutian Islands subarea included in the final 2017 and 2018 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 
2017) are revised as follows: 5,700 mt to Aleut Corporation's DFA and 0 
mt to CDQ DFA pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5), 
Table 4 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) is revised to 
make 2017 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This 
reallocation results in adjustments to the 2017 Aleut Corporation and 
CDQ pollock allocations established at Sec.  679.20(a)(5).

    Table 4--Final 2017 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
                                          Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         2017 A season \1\        2017 B  season
                                                       2017      --------------------------------       \1\
                 Area and sector                    Allocations                     SCA harvest  ---------------
                                                                   A season DFA      limit \2\     B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\......................       1,355,900             n/a             n/a             n/a
CDQ DFA.........................................         136,400          61,380          38,192          75,020
ICA \1\.........................................          47,210             n/a             n/a             n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA....................       1,172,291         527,531         328,241         644,760
AFA Inshore.....................................         586,145         263,765         164,121         322,380
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\......................         468,916         211,012         131,297         257,904
    Catch by C/Ps...............................         429,058         193,076             n/a         235,982
    Catch by CVs \3\............................          39,858          17,936             n/a          21,922
    Unlisted C/P Limit \4\......................           2,345           1,055             n/a           1,290
AFA Motherships.................................         117,229          52,753          32,824          64,476
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\..................         205,151             n/a             n/a             n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\..................         351,687             n/a             n/a             n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC....................          36,061             n/a             n/a             n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................           8,100             n/a             n/a             n/a
CDQ DFA.........................................               0               0             n/a               0
ICA.............................................           2,400           1,200             n/a           1,200
Aleut Corporation...............................           5,700           5,700             n/a               0
Area harvest limit \7\
    541.........................................          10,818             n/a             n/a             n/a
    542.........................................           5,409             n/a             n/a             n/a
    543.........................................           1,803             n/a             n/a             n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\.......................             500             n/a             n/a             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
  percent) and the ICA (3.9 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
  processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
  of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
  season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i)-(iii), the annual Aleutian Islands
  pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA
  (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands
  subarea, the A season is allocated less than or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated
  the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
  annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
  processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/
  processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
  not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
  Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
  percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The
  amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 Aleutians Islands pollock. 
Since the pollock fishery is currently open, it is important to 
immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea subarea and 
Aleutian Islands subarea pollock allocations. Immediate notification is 
necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of 
this fishery; allow the industry to plan for the fishing season and 
avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors; 
and provide opportunity to harvest increased seasonal pollock 
allocations while value is optimum. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of March 1, 2017.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective

[[Page 12752]]

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: March 2, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04435 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                12750               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                submitted voluntarily by the sender will                opportunity for public comment                        SUMMARY:     NMFS is reallocating the
                                                be publicly accessible. NMFS will                       pursuant to the authority set forth at 5              projected unused amounts of the Aleut
                                                accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/                   U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is               Corporation’s pollock and the
                                                A’’ in the required fields if you wish to               impracticable and contrary to the public              Community Development Quota
                                                remain anonymous).                                      interest. This requirement is                         directed fishing allowance from the
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        impracticable and contrary to the public              Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering
                                                Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.                              interest as it would prevent NMFS from                Sea subarea directed fisheries. These
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS                         responding to the most recent fisheries               actions are necessary to provide
                                                manages the groundfish fishery in the                   data in a timely fashion and would                    opportunity for harvest of the 2017 total
                                                GOA exclusive economic zone                             delay the opening of directed fishing for             allowable catch of pollock, consistent
                                                according to the Fishery Management                     Pacific cod by catcher/processors using               with the goals and objectives of the
                                                Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of                      trawl gear in the Western Regulatory                  Fishery Management Plan for
                                                Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North                      Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to                   Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
                                                Pacific Fishery Management Council                      publish a notice providing time for                   Aleutian Islands Management Area.
                                                under authority of the Magnuson-                        public comment because the most                       DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
                                                Stevens Fishery Conservation and                        recent, relevant data only became                     time (A.l.t.), March 7, 2017, until 2400
                                                Management Act. Regulations governing                   available as of March 1, 2017.                        hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
                                                fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance                      The AA also finds good cause to                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50                  waive the 30-day delay in the effective               Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
                                                CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.                       date of this action under 5 U.S.C.                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
                                                Regulations governing sideboard                         553(d)(3). This finding is based upon                 manages the groundfish fishery in the
                                                protections for GOA groundfish                          the reasons provided above for waiver of              BSAI exclusive economic zone
                                                fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR                 prior notice and opportunity for public               according to the Fishery Management
                                                part 680.                                               comment.                                              Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
                                                   NMFS closed directed fishing for                        Without this inseason adjustment,                  and Aleutian Islands Management Area
                                                Pacific cod by catcher/processors using                 NMFS could not allow the fishery for                  (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
                                                trawl gear in the Western Regulatory                    Pacific cod by catcher/processors using               Fishery Management Council (Council)
                                                Area of the GOA under                                   trawl gear in the Western Regulatory                  under authority of the Magnuson-
                                                § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2017                  Area of the GOA to be harvested in an                 Stevens Fishery Conservation and
                                                pursuant to the final 2017 and 2018                     expedient manner and in accordance                    Management Act. Regulations governing
                                                harvest specifications for groundfish of                with the regulatory schedule. Under                   fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
                                                the Gulf of Alaska (82 FR 12032,                        § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are                with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
                                                February 27, 2017).                                     invited to submit written comments on                 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
                                                   NMFS has determined that as of                       this action to the above address until                   In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the
                                                March 1, 2017, approximately 200                        March 17, 2017.                                       portion of the 2017 pollock total
                                                metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the                   This action is required by § 679.25                allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the
                                                A season allowance of the 2017 Pacific                  and is exempt from review under                       Aleut Corporation’s is 14,700 metric
                                                cod apportionment for catcher/                          Executive Order 12866.                                tons (mt) and the Community
                                                processors using trawl gear in the                        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.                   Development Quota (CDQ) directed
                                                Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.                       Dated: March 2, 2017.                               fishing allowance (DFA) is 1,900 mt as
                                                Therefore, in accordance with                           Karen H. Abrams,
                                                                                                                                                              established by the final 2017 and 2018
                                                § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and                                                                          harvest specifications for groundfish in
                                                                                                        Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
                                                (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2017               Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                                                                                              the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27,
                                                total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific                                                                        2017).
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2017–04446 Filed 3–2–17; 4:15 pm]
                                                cod in the Western Regulatory Area of                                                                            As of March 1, 2017, the
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,
                                                the GOA, NMFS is terminating the
                                                previous closure and is opening                                                                               (Regional Administrator) has
                                                directed fishing for Pacific cod by                                                                           determined that 9,000 mt of Aleut
                                                                                                        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                catcher/processors using trawl gear in                                                                        Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
                                                the Western Regulatory Area of the                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      pollock CDQ DFA in the Aleutian
                                                GOA. The Administrator, Alaska                          Administration                                        Islands subarea will not be harvested.
                                                Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)                                                                        Therefore, in accordance with
                                                considered the following factors in                     50 CFR Part 679                                       § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS
                                                reaching this decision: (1) The current                                                                       reallocates 9,000 mt of Aleut
                                                catch of Pacific cod by catcher/                        [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02]                        Corporation’s DFA and 1,900 mt of
                                                processors using trawl gear in the                                                                            pollock CDQ DFA from the Aleutian
                                                Western Regulatory Area of the GOA                      RIN 0648–XF262                                        Islands subarea to the 2017 Bering Sea
                                                and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated                                                                      subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of
                                                intent on future harvesting patterns of                 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic                   pollock CDQ DFA is added to the 2017
                                                vessels in participating in this fishery.               Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of                      Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The remaining
                                                                                                        Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian                9,000 mt of pollock is apportioned to
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                Classification                                          Islands                                               the AFA Inshore sector (50 percent),
                                                   This action responds to the best                     AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    AFA catcher/processor sector (40
                                                available information recently obtained                 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  percent), and the AFA mothership
                                                from the fishery. The Acting Assistant                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    sector (10 percent). The 2017 pollock
                                                Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA                       Commerce.                                             incidental catch allowance remains at
                                                (AA), finds good cause to waive the                                                                           47,210 mt. As a result, the harvest
                                                                                                        ACTION: Temporary rule.
                                                requirement to provide prior notice and                                                                       specifications for pollock in the


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                                     12751

                                                Aleutian Islands subarea included in the                                     DFA pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to                            this reallocation. This reallocation
                                                final 2017 and 2018 harvest                                                  § 679.20(a)(5), Table 4 of the final 2017                        results in adjustments to the 2017 Aleut
                                                specifications for groundfish in the                                         and 2018 harvest specifications for                              Corporation and CDQ pollock
                                                BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017)                                        groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826,                             allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
                                                are revised as follows: 5,700 mt to Aleut                                    February 27, 2017) is revised to make
                                                Corporation’s DFA and 0 mt to CDQ                                            2017 pollock allocations consistent with

                                                       TABLE 4—FINAL 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
                                                                                     DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
                                                                                                                                           [Amounts are in metric tons]

                                                                                                                                                                                                  2017 A season 1                 2017 B
                                                                                                                                                                             2017                                                season 1
                                                                                              Area and sector                                                             Allocations                          SCA harvest
                                                                                                                                                                                            A season DFA         limit 2       B season DFA

                                                Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................................................................                         1,355,900             n/a                n/a             n/a
                                                CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................                 136,400         61,380             38,192          75,020
                                                ICA 1 .................................................................................................................            47,210            n/a                 n/a             n/a
                                                Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .....................................................................                              1,172,291        527,531            328,241         644,760
                                                AFA Inshore .....................................................................................................                 586,145        263,765            164,121         322,380
                                                AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...............................................................................                          468,916        211,012            131,297         257,904
                                                    Catch by C/Ps ..........................................................................................                      429,058        193,076                 n/a        235,982
                                                    Catch by CVs 3 .........................................................................................                       39,858         17,936                 n/a         21,922
                                                    Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...................................................................................                        2,345          1,055                 n/a          1,290
                                                AFA Motherships .............................................................................................                     117,229         52,753             32,824          64,476
                                                Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................                         205,151             n/a                n/a             n/a
                                                Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...........................................................................                          351,687             n/a                n/a             n/a
                                                Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................................................                             36,061             n/a                n/a             n/a
                                                Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................                              8,100             n/a                n/a             n/a
                                                CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................                       0               0                n/a               0
                                                ICA ...................................................................................................................             2,400          1,200                 n/a          1,200
                                                Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................                     5,700          5,700                 n/a               0
                                                Area harvest limit 7
                                                    541 ............................................................................................................              10,818               n/a              n/a                 n/a
                                                    542 ............................................................................................................               5,409               n/a              n/a                 n/a
                                                    543 ............................................................................................................               1,803               n/a              n/a                 n/a
                                                Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................                       500               n/a              n/a                 n/a
                                                  1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.9 percent), is al-
                                                located as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the
                                                Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
                                                season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i)–(iii), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the
                                                CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
                                                In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated less than or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remain-
                                                der of the pollock directed fishery.
                                                  2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the
                                                SCA before April 1.
                                                  3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
                                                only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
                                                  4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
                                                processors sector’s allocation of pollock.
                                                  5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
                                                pollock DFAs.
                                                  6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
                                                pollock DFAs.
                                                  7 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in
                                                Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
                                                  8 The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and
                                                are not apportioned by season or sector.
                                                  Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


                                                Classification                                                               impracticable and contrary to the public                         fishery; allow the industry to plan for
                                                                                                                             interest as it would prevent NMFS from                           the fishing season and avoid potential
                                                   This action responds to the best                                          responding to the most recent fisheries                          disruption to the fishing fleet as well as
                                                available information recently obtained                                      data in a timely fashion and would                               processors; and provide opportunity to
                                                from the fishery. The Acting Assistant                                       delay the reallocation of Aleutians                              harvest increased seasonal pollock
                                                Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA                                            Islands pollock. Since the pollock                               allocations while value is optimum.
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                (AA), finds good cause to waive the                                          fishery is currently open, it is important                       NMFS was unable to publish a notice
                                                requirement to provide prior notice and                                      to immediately inform the industry as to                         providing time for public comment
                                                opportunity for public comment                                               the final Bering Sea subarea and                                 because the most recent, relevant data
                                                pursuant to the authority set forth at 5                                     Aleutian Islands subarea pollock                                 only became available as of March 1,
                                                U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is                                      allocations. Immediate notification is                           2017.
                                                impracticable and contrary to the public                                     necessary to allow for the orderly                                  The AA also finds good cause to
                                                interest. This requirement is                                                conduct and efficient operation of this                          waive the 30-day delay in the effective


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                                                12752               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                date of this action under 5 U.S.C.                        This action is required by § 679.20                   Dated: March 2, 2017.
                                                553(d)(3). This finding is based upon                   and is exempt from review under                       Karen H. Abrams,
                                                the reasons provided above for waiver of                Executive Order 12866.                                Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
                                                prior notice and opportunity for public                                                                       Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                                          Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
                                                comment.                                                                                                      [FR Doc. 2017–04435 Filed 3–6–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:48:44
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:48:44
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule.
DatesEffective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 7, 2017, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
ContactSteve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation82 FR 12750 
RIN Number0648-XF26

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