83_FR_37594 83 FR 37446 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Adjustments to 2018 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas

83 FR 37446 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Adjustments to 2018 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 148 (August 1, 2018)

Page Range37446-37448
FR Document2018-16388

NMFS adjusts the North and South Atlantic swordfish baseline quotas for 2018 based on available underharvest from the 2017 adjusted U.S. quotas. This action is necessary to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37446-37448]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16388]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 180517485-8649-01]
RIN 0648--XG262


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Adjustments to 2018 North and 
South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas

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

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS adjusts the North and South Atlantic swordfish baseline 
quotas for 2018 based on available underharvest from the 2017 adjusted 
U.S. quotas. This action is necessary to implement binding 
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention 
Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).

DATES: Effective August 31, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Supporting documents, such as the 2012 and 2007 
Environmental Assessments (EA) and the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan and its 
amendments described below, may be downloaded from the HMS website at 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species. 
These documents also are available upon request from Chant[eacute] 
Davis or Steve Durkee at the telephone numbers below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chant[eacute] Davis, (301) 427-8503, 
or, Steve Durkee, (202) 670-6637.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq., governing the harvest of swordfish by persons and vessels 
subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part 635. Section

[[Page 37447]]

635.27(c) describes the quota adjustment process for both North and 
South Atlantic swordfish. 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 quotas.
    The North Atlantic swordfish quota adjustment process was 
previously analyzed in the EA, Final Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), 
and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) that were prepared for 
the 2012 Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule (July 31, 2012; 77 FR 45273). 
The South Atlantic swordfish quota adjustment process was previously 
analyzed in the EA, RIR, and FRFA that were prepared for the 2007 
Swordfish Quota Specification Final Rule (October 5, 2007; 72 FR 
56929). In the 2016 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas 
Adjustment Final Rule (July 26, 2016, 81 FR 48719), after inviting and 
considering public comment on the issue, NMFS in the final rule 
determined it would no longer issue proposed and final specifications/
rules for North and South Atlantic swordfish quotas adjustments in 
cases where the quota adjustment follows previously codified and 
analyzed formulas. As a result, in 2017, NMFS issued a temporary final 
rule to adjust the quota for the 2017 North and South Atlantic 
Swordfish fishery (September 18, 2017, 82 FR 43500). Consistent with 
the determination made in the 2016 final rule, NMFS is issuing this 
temporary final rule to adjust the North and South Atlantic swordfish 
quotas for 2018.

North and South Atlantic Swordfish Annual Quota and Adjustment Process

North Atlantic Swordfish

    At the 2017 ICCAT annual meeting, ICCAT finalized Recommendation 
17-02, which slightly reduced the overall North Atlantic swordfish TAC 
from 10,300.8 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) to 9,924.8 mt dw 
(376 .0 mt dw reduction) through 2018 in response to a recommendation 
by ICCAT's Standing Committee for Research and Statistics (SCRS) given 
updated stock status information While the overall TAC was reduced, the 
U.S. baseline quota was maintained at 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt whole 
weight (ww)) per year, as was the allowable underharvest carryover of 
15 percent of a Contracting Party's baseline quota. This means that the 
United States may carry over a maximum of 440.6 mt dw (586.0 mt ww) of 
underharvest from 2017 to 2018. Additionally, under Recommendation 17-
02, the United States is no longer required to transfer 18.8 mt dw to 
Mauritania, as it has under previous recommendations since 2013 (ICCAT 
Recommendation 13-02).
    Per Recommendation 17-02, the 2018 U.S. North Atlantic swordfish 
baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt ww). The 2017 North Atlantic 
swordfish landings and dead discards were 1,011.9 mt dw, leaving an 
underharvest of 1,925.7 mt dw. This underharvest exceeds the 440.6 mt 
dw underharvest carryover limit allowed under Recommendation 17-02; 
thus, NMFS is carrying forward 440.6 mt dw, which is the maximum 
allowed. Because Recommendation 17-02 removed the transfer to 
Mauritania, NMFS is not transferring any quota to any country. 
Therefore, the resulting final adjusted North Atlantic swordfish quota 
for the 2018 fishing year is 3,378.2 mt dw (2,937.6 baseline quota + 
440.6 overharvest carryover-0 transfer to another country = 3,378.2 mt 
dw). From that adjusted quota, 50 mt dw will be allocated to the 
reserve category for inseason adjustments and research, and 300 mt dw 
will be allocated to the incidental category, which includes 
recreational landings and landings by incidental swordfish permit 
holders, in accordance with regulations at 50 CFR 635.27(c)(1)(i). The 
remainder, 3,028.2 mt dw, would be allocated to the directed category 
(3,378.2 adjusted quota -50 to reserve -300 to the incidental category 
= 3,028.2 mt dw), which would be split equally between two seasons in 
2018 (January through June and July through December) (Table 1).

South Atlantic Swordfish

    In 2017, ICCAT also finalized Recommendation 17-03, which 
maintained the overall South Atlantic swordfish TAC at 10,526.3 mt dw 
(14,000 mt ww) through 2018, and maintained the U.S. allocation at 75.2 
mt dw (100 mt ww). Recommendation 17-03 continues to limit the amount 
of South Atlantic swordfish underharvest that can be carried forward 
from one year to the next; the United States may carry forward up to 
100 percent of its baseline quota (75.2 mt dw). Recommendation 17-03 
also continues to require the United States to transfer a total of 75.2 
mt dw (100 mt ww) to other countries. These transfers are 37.6 mt dw 
(50 mt ww) to Namibia, 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, 
and 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Belize.
    U.S. fishermen landed no South Atlantic swordfish in 2017. The 
adjusted 2017 South Atlantic swordfish quota was 75.1 mt dw due to 
nominal landings in previous years. Therefore, 75.1 mt dw of 
underharvest is available to carry over to 2018. NMFS is carrying 
forward 75.1 mt dw to be added to the 75.2 mt dw baseline quota. The 
quota is then reduced by the 75.2 mt dw of annual international quota 
transfers outlined above, resulting in an adjusted South Atlantic 
swordfish quota of 75.1 mt dw for the 2018 fishing year (Table 1).

    Table 1--2017 and 2018 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          2017                2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Atlantic Swordfish Quota
 (mt dw):
    Baseline Quota..............  2,937.6............            2,937.6
    International Quota Transfer  (-) 18.8 (to                         0
                                   Mauritania).
    Total Underharvest from       2,215.0............            1,925.7
     Previous Year.
    Underharvest Carryover from   (+) 440.6..........          (+) 440.6
     Previous Year\+\.
    Adjusted Quota..............  3,359.4............            3,378.2
    Quota Allocation:
        Directed Category.......  3,009.4............            3,028.2
        Incidental Category.....  300................                300
        Reserve Category........  50.................                 50
South Atlantic Swordfish Quota
 (mt dw):
    Baseline Quota..............  75.2...............               75.2
    International Quota           (-) 75.2...........           (-) 75.2
     Transfers*.
    Total Underharvest from       75.1...............               75.1
     Previous Year.
    Underharvest Carryover from   75.1...............               75.1
     Previous Year\+\.

[[Page 37448]]

 
    Adjusted quota..............  75.1...............               75.1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Allowable underharvest carryover is capped at 15 percent of the
  baseline quota allocation for the North Atlantic and 75.2 dw (100 mt
  ww) for the South Atlantic.
* Under Recommendation 17-03, the United States transfers 75.2 mt dw
  (100 mt ww) annually to Namibia (37.6 mt dw, 50 mt ww), C[ocirc]te
  d'Ivoire (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww), and Belize (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww).

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) has determined that this 
temporary final rule is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments, other provisions 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and other applicable law. Pursuant 
to section 553(b)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B)), the AA finds that it would be unnecessary and contrary to 
the public interest to provide prior notice of, and an opportunity for 
public comment on, this action for the reasons described below.
    In the 2016 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quota Adjustment 
Rule (81 FR 48719, July 26, 2016), NMFS announced the intent to no 
longer issue proposed and final specifications/rules for North and 
South Atlantic swordfish quota adjustments in cases where the quota 
adjustment simply follows previously codified and analyzed formulas. 
Public comments on this process change were generally supportive; as a 
result, in 2017, NMFS issued a temporary final rule to adjust the 
swordfish quota.
    This action to adjust the 2018 North and South Atlantic Swordfish 
quotas applies the formula that the public received notice of in the 
2016 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule, using 
the best available data regarding 2017 catch and underharvest, and 
calculating allowable underharvest consistent with ICCAT 
recommendations. The rulemaking for the 2016 North and South Atlantic 
Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule specifically provided prior notice of, 
and accepted public comment on, these formulaic quota adjustment 
processes and the manner in which they occur. The application of this 
formula in this action does not have discretionary aspects requiring 
additional agency consideration and thus it would be unnecessarily 
duplicative to accept public comment for this action. Because there are 
no new quotas for 2018 and the quota formula is the same as in previous 
years, NMFS is issuing this temporary final rule to adjust the North 
and South Atlantic swordfish quotas for 2018.
    This action is being taken under Sec.  635.27(c) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    This action does not contain a collection-of-information 
requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., are inapplicable.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 26, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16388 Filed 7-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                              37446            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                              responsibilities among the various                        Dated: July 23, 2018.                                § 355.61   [Amended]
                                              levels of government. Because this final                 Andrew R. Wheeler,                                    ■ 6. Section 355.61 is amended by
                                              rule is not subject to review under                      Acting Administrator.                                 removing the definitions for ‘‘Animal
                                              Executive Order 12866, this final rule is                  For the reasons stated in the                       waste’’ and ‘‘Farm’’.
                                              not subject to Executive Order 13211,                    preamble, EPA is amending 40 CFR                      [FR Doc. 2018–16379 Filed 7–31–18; 8:45 am]
                                              entitled Actions Concerning Regulations                  parts 302 and 355 as follows:                         BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                              That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                              Distribution, or Use (66 FR 28355, May                   PART 302—DESIGNATION,
                                              22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045,                      REPORTABLE QUANTITIES, AND                            DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                              entitled Protection of Children from                     NOTIFICATION
                                              Environmental Health Risks and Safety                                                                          National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                       ■  1. The authority citation for part 302
                                              Risks (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997).                                                                           Administration
                                                                                                       is revised to read as follows:
                                              This final rule does not contain any
                                              information collections subject to OMB                     Authority: 42 U.S.C. 9602, 9603, and 9604;          50 CFR Part 635
                                                                                                       33 U.S.C. 1321 and 1361.
                                              approval under the Paperwork                                                                                   [Docket No. 180517485–8649–01]
                                              Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et                   ■ 2. Section 302.3 is amended by
                                              seq., nor does it require any special                    revising the definitions for ‘‘Animal                 RIN 0648—XG262
                                              considerations under Executive Order                     waste’’ and ‘‘Farm’’ to read as follows:
                                                                                                                                                             Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
                                              12898, entitled Federal Actions to                       § 302.3    Definitions.                               Adjustments to 2018 North and South
                                              Address Environmental Justice in                         *       *    *     *     *                            Atlantic Swordfish Quotas
                                              Minority Populations and Low-Income                         Animal waste means feces, urine, or
                                              Populations (59 FR 7629, February 16,                    other excrement, digestive emission,                  AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                              1994). This action does not involve                      urea, or similar substances emitted by                Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                              technical standards; thus, the                           animals (including any form of                        Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                              requirements of section 12(d) of the                     livestock, poultry, or fish). The term                Commerce.
                                              National Technology Transfer and                         ‘‘animal waste’’ includes animal waste                ACTION: Temporary final rule.
                                              Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.                       that is mixed or commingled with
                                                                                                                                                             SUMMARY:   NMFS adjusts the North and
                                              272 note) do not apply.                                  bedding, compost, feed, soil, or any
                                                                                                                                                             South Atlantic swordfish baseline
                                                                                                       other material typically found with such
                                              Congressional Review Act                                                                                       quotas for 2018 based on available
                                                                                                       waste.
                                                                                                                                                             underharvest from the 2017 adjusted
                                                 This action is subject to the                         *       *    *     *     *                            U.S. quotas. This action is necessary to
                                              Congressional Review Act (CRA), and                         Farm means a site or area (including               implement binding recommendations of
                                              the EPA will submit a rule report to                     associated structures) that—                          the International Commission for the
                                                                                                          (1) Is used for—
                                              each House of Congress and to the                                                                              Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT),
                                                                                                          (i) The production of a crop; or
                                              Comptroller General of the United                           (ii) The raising or selling of animals             as required by the Atlantic Tunas
                                              States. The CRA allows the issuing                       (including any form of livestock,                     Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve
                                              agency to make a rule effective sooner                   poultry, or fish); and                                domestic management objectives under
                                              than otherwise provided by the CRA if                       (2) Under normal conditions,                       the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                              the agency makes a good cause finding                    produces during a farm year any                       Conservation and Management Act
                                              that notice and comment rulemaking                       agricultural products with a total value              (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
                                              procedures are impracticable,                            equal to not less than $1,000.                        DATES: Effective August 31, 2018,
                                              unnecessary or contrary to the public                    *       *    *     *     *                            through December 31, 2018.
                                              interest (5 U.S.C. 808(2)). The EPA has                  ■ 3. Section 302.6 is amended by                      ADDRESSES: Supporting documents,
                                              made a good cause finding for this rule                  revising paragraph (e)(3) to read as                  such as the 2012 and 2007
                                              as discussed in Section I.B of the                       follows:                                              Environmental Assessments (EA) and
                                              preamble, including the basis for that                                                                         the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly
                                              finding. This action is not a ‘‘major                    § 302.6    Notification requirements.                 Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery
                                              rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                    *      *    *     *     *                             Management Plan and its amendments
                                                                                                          (e) * * *                                          described below, may be downloaded
                                              List of Subjects                                            (3) Air emissions from animal waste                from the HMS website at https://
                                              40 CFR Part 302                                          (including decomposing animal waste)                  www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-
                                                                                                       at a farm.                                            highly-migratory-species. These
                                                Environmental protection, Air                                                                                documents also are available upon
                                              pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous                  PART 355—EMERGENCY PLANNING                           request from Chanté Davis or Steve
                                              substances, Hazardous waste, Reporting                   AND NOTIFICATION                                      Durkee at the telephone numbers below.
                                              and recordkeeping requirements,                          ■ 4. The authority citation for part 355              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              Superfund, Water pollution control,                      continues to read as follows:                         Chanté Davis, (301) 427–8503, or, Steve
                                              Water supply.                                                                                                  Durkee, (202) 670–6637.
                                                                                                         Authority: Sections 302, 303, 304, 325,
                                                                                                       327, 328, and 329 of the Emergency Planning           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              40 CFR Part 355
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                                                                                                       and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986               Regulations implemented under the
                                                Environmental protection, Chemicals,                   (EPCRA) (42 U.S.C. 11002, 11003, 11004,               authority of ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et
                                              Disaster assistance, Hazardous                           11045, 11047, 11048, and 11049).                      seq., and the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16
                                              substances, Hazardous waste, Natural                                                                           U.S.C. 1801 et seq., governing the
                                                                                                       § 355.31    [Amended]                                 harvest of swordfish by persons and
                                              resources, Penalties, Reporting and
                                              recordkeeping requirements, Superfund.                   ■ 5. Section 355.31 is amended by                     vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are
                                                                                                       removing paragraphs (g) and (h).                      found at 50 CFR part 635. Section


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                                                37447

                                              635.27(c) describes the quota                                         North Atlantic swordfish TAC from                                       incidental swordfish permit holders, in
                                              adjustment process for both North and                                 10,300.8 metric tons (mt) dressed weight                                accordance with regulations at 50 CFR
                                              South Atlantic swordfish. NMFS is                                     (dw) to 9,924.8 mt dw (376 .0 mt dw                                     635.27(c)(1)(i). The remainder, 3,028.2
                                              required under ATCA and the                                           reduction) through 2018 in response to                                  mt dw, would be allocated to the
                                              Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S.                                  a recommendation by ICCAT’s Standing                                    directed category (3,378.2 adjusted
                                              fishing vessels with a reasonable                                     Committee for Research and Statistics                                   quota ¥50 to reserve ¥300 to the
                                              opportunity to harvest the ICCAT-                                     (SCRS) given updated stock status                                       incidental category = 3,028.2 mt dw),
                                              recommended quotas.                                                   information While the overall TAC was                                   which would be split equally between
                                                 The North Atlantic swordfish quota                                 reduced, the U.S. baseline quota was                                    two seasons in 2018 (January through
                                              adjustment process was previously                                     maintained at 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt                                   June and July through December)
                                              analyzed in the EA, Final Regulatory                                  whole weight (ww)) per year, as was the                                 (Table 1).
                                              Impact Review (RIR), and Final                                        allowable underharvest carryover of 15
                                              Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)                                percent of a Contracting Party’s baseline                               South Atlantic Swordfish
                                              that were prepared for the 2012                                       quota. This means that the United States
                                              Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule (July                                                                                                            In 2017, ICCAT also finalized
                                                                                                                    may carry over a maximum of 440.6 mt
                                              31, 2012; 77 FR 45273). The South                                                                                                             Recommendation 17–03, which
                                                                                                                    dw (586.0 mt ww) of underharvest from
                                              Atlantic swordfish quota adjustment                                                                                                           maintained the overall South Atlantic
                                                                                                                    2017 to 2018. Additionally, under
                                              process was previously analyzed in the                                                                                                        swordfish TAC at 10,526.3 mt dw
                                                                                                                    Recommendation 17–02, the United
                                              EA, RIR, and FRFA that were prepared                                                                                                          (14,000 mt ww) through 2018, and
                                                                                                                    States is no longer required to transfer
                                              for the 2007 Swordfish Quota                                                                                                                  maintained the U.S. allocation at 75.2
                                                                                                                    18.8 mt dw to Mauritania, as it has
                                              Specification Final Rule (October 5,                                                                                                          mt dw (100 mt ww). Recommendation
                                                                                                                    under previous recommendations since
                                              2007; 72 FR 56929). In the 2016 North                                                                                                         17–03 continues to limit the amount of
                                                                                                                    2013 (ICCAT Recommendation 13–02).
                                              and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas                                      Per Recommendation 17–02, the 2018                                   South Atlantic swordfish underharvest
                                              Adjustment Final Rule (July 26, 2016,                                 U.S. North Atlantic swordfish baseline                                  that can be carried forward from one
                                              81 FR 48719), after inviting and                                      quota is 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt ww).                                   year to the next; the United States may
                                              considering public comment on the                                     The 2017 North Atlantic swordfish                                       carry forward up to 100 percent of its
                                              issue, NMFS in the final rule                                         landings and dead discards were 1,011.9                                 baseline quota (75.2 mt dw).
                                              determined it would no longer issue                                   mt dw, leaving an underharvest of                                       Recommendation 17–03 also continues
                                              proposed and final specifications/rules                               1,925.7 mt dw. This underharvest                                        to require the United States to transfer
                                              for North and South Atlantic swordfish                                exceeds the 440.6 mt dw underharvest                                    a total of 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) to
                                              quotas adjustments in cases where the                                 carryover limit allowed under                                           other countries. These transfers are 37.6
                                              quota adjustment follows previously                                   Recommendation 17–02; thus, NMFS is                                     mt dw (50 mt ww) to Namibia, 18.8 mt
                                              codified and analyzed formulas. As a                                  carrying forward 440.6 mt dw, which is                                  dw (25 mt ww) to Côte d’Ivoire, and
                                              result, in 2017, NMFS issued a                                        the maximum allowed. Because                                            18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Belize.
                                              temporary final rule to adjust the quota                              Recommendation 17–02 removed the                                           U.S. fishermen landed no South
                                              for the 2017 North and South Atlantic                                 transfer to Mauritania, NMFS is not                                     Atlantic swordfish in 2017. The
                                              Swordfish fishery (September 18, 2017,                                transferring any quota to any country.                                  adjusted 2017 South Atlantic swordfish
                                              82 FR 43500). Consistent with the                                     Therefore, the resulting final adjusted                                 quota was 75.1 mt dw due to nominal
                                              determination made in the 2016 final                                  North Atlantic swordfish quota for the                                  landings in previous years. Therefore,
                                              rule, NMFS is issuing this temporary                                  2018 fishing year is 3,378.2 mt dw                                      75.1 mt dw of underharvest is available
                                              final rule to adjust the North and South                              (2,937.6 baseline quota + 440.6                                         to carry over to 2018. NMFS is carrying
                                              Atlantic swordfish quotas for 2018.                                   overharvest carryover¥0 transfer to                                     forward 75.1 mt dw to be added to the
                                              North and South Atlantic Swordfish                                    another country = 3,378.2 mt dw). From                                  75.2 mt dw baseline quota. The quota is
                                              Annual Quota and Adjustment Process                                   that adjusted quota, 50 mt dw will be                                   then reduced by the 75.2 mt dw of
                                                                                                                    allocated to the reserve category for                                   annual international quota transfers
                                              North Atlantic Swordfish                                              inseason adjustments and research, and                                  outlined above, resulting in an adjusted
                                                At the 2017 ICCAT annual meeting,                                   300 mt dw will be allocated to the                                      South Atlantic swordfish quota of 75.1
                                              ICCAT finalized Recommendation 17–                                    incidental category, which includes                                     mt dw for the 2018 fishing year (Table
                                              02, which slightly reduced the overall                                recreational landings and landings by                                   1).

                                                                                   TABLE 1—2017 AND 2018 NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC SWORDFISH QUOTAS
                                                                                                                                                                                                 2017                                   2018

                                              North Atlantic Swordfish Quota (mt dw):
                                                  Baseline Quota ..................................................................................................   2,937.6 ....................................................          2,937.6
                                                  International Quota Transfer .............................................................................          (¥) 18.8 (to Mauritania) .........................                          0
                                                  Total Underharvest from Previous Year ...........................................................                   2,215.0 ....................................................          1,925.7
                                                  Underharvest Carryover from Previous Year+ ..................................................                       (+) 440.6 .................................................         (+) 440.6
                                                  Adjusted Quota ..................................................................................................   3,359.4 ....................................................          3,378.2
                                                  Quota Allocation:
                                                       Directed Category ......................................................................................       3,009.4 ....................................................         3,028.2
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                                                       Incidental Category ....................................................................................       300 ..........................................................           300
                                                       Reserve Category ......................................................................................        50 ............................................................           50
                                              South Atlantic Swordfish Quota (mt dw):
                                                  Baseline Quota ..................................................................................................   75.2 .........................................................          75.2
                                                  International Quota Transfers* ..........................................................................           (¥) 75.2 ..................................................         (¥) 75.2
                                                  Total Underharvest from Previous Year ...........................................................                   75.1 .........................................................          75.1
                                                  Underharvest Carryover from Previous Year+ ..................................................                       75.1 .........................................................          75.1



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                                              37448               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                       TABLE 1—2017 AND 2018 NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC SWORDFISH QUOTAS—Continued
                                                                                                                                                                                                  2017                                  2018

                                                   Adjusted quota ..................................................................................................   75.1 .........................................................          75.1
                                                 + Allowable underharvest carryover is capped at 15 percent of the baseline quota allocation for the North Atlantic and 75.2 dw (100 mt ww) for
                                              the South Atlantic.
                                                 * Under Recommendation 17–03, the United States transfers 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) annually to Namibia (37.6 mt dw, 50 mt ww), Côte
                                              d’Ivoire (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww), and Belize (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww).


                                              Classification                                                           This action is being taken under                                      DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
                                                 The Assistant Administrator for                                    § 635.27(c) and is exempt from review                                    time (A.l.t.), July 27, 2018, through 2400
                                              NMFS (AA) has determined that this                                    under Executive Order 12866.                                             hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2018.
                                              temporary final rule is consistent with                                  This action does not contain a                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                              the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 2006                                    collection-of-information requirement                                    Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
                                              Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its                                 for purposes of the Paperwork                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
                                              amendments, other provisions of the                                   Reduction Act.                                                           manages the groundfish fishery in the
                                              Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and                                          Because prior notice and opportunity                                  BSAI exclusive economic zone
                                              other applicable law. Pursuant to                                     for public comment are not required for                                  according to the Fishery Management
                                              section 553(b)(B) of the Administrative                               this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other                                  Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
                                              Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B)), the                               law, the analytical requirements of the                                  and Aleutian Islands Management Area
                                              AA finds that it would be unnecessary                                 Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601                                 (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific
                                              and contrary to the public interest to                                et seq., are inapplicable.                                               Fishery Management Council under
                                              provide prior notice of, and an                                          Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801                             authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
                                              opportunity for public comment on, this                               et seq.                                                                  Fishery Conservation and Management
                                              action for the reasons described below.                                 Dated: July 26, 2018.                                                  Act. Regulations governing fishing by
                                                 In the 2016 North and South Atlantic                                                                                                        U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP
                                                                                                                    Samuel D. Rauch, III,
                                              Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule (81                                                                                                            appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
                                              FR 48719, July 26, 2016), NMFS                                        Deputy Assistant Administrator for
                                                                                                                    Regulatory Programs, National Marine                                     and 50 CFR part 679.
                                              announced the intent to no longer issue                               Fisheries Service.                                                          The 2018 TAC of Pacific ocean perch,
                                              proposed and final specifications/rules                                                                                                        in the WAI, allocated to vessels
                                                                                                                    [FR Doc. 2018–16388 Filed 7–31–18; 8:45 am]
                                              for North and South Atlantic swordfish                                                                                                         participating in the BSAI trawl limited
                                                                                                                    BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                              quota adjustments in cases where the                                                                                                           access fishery was established as a
                                              quota adjustment simply follows                                                                                                                directed fishing allowance of 161 metric
                                              previously codified and analyzed                                                                                                               tons by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
                                                                                                                    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                              formulas. Public comments on this                                                                                                              specifications for groundfish in the
                                              process change were generally                                         National Oceanic and Atmospheric                                         BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018).
                                              supportive; as a result, in 2017, NMFS                                Administration                                                              In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
                                              issued a temporary final rule to adjust                                                                                                        the Regional Administrator finds that
                                              the swordfish quota.                                                  50 CFR Part 679                                                          this directed fishing allowance has been
                                                 This action to adjust the 2018 North                                                                                                        reached. Consequently, NMFS is
                                              and South Atlantic Swordfish quotas                                                                                                            prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
                                                                                                                    [Docket No. 170817779–8161–02]
                                              applies the formula that the public                                                                                                            ocean perch in the WAI by vessels
                                              received notice of in the 2016 North and                                                                                                       participating in the BSAI trawl limited
                                              South Atlantic Swordfish Quota                                        RIN 0648–XG114
                                                                                                                                                                                             access fishery. While this closure is
                                              Adjustment Rule, using the best                                                                                                                effective, the maximum retainable
                                                                                                                    Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
                                              available data regarding 2017 catch and                                                                                                        amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
                                                                                                                    Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch
                                              underharvest, and calculating allowable                                                                                                        any time during a trip.
                                                                                                                    in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
                                              underharvest consistent with ICCAT
                                                                                                                    Management Area                                                          Classification
                                              recommendations. The rulemaking for
                                              the 2016 North and South Atlantic                                     AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                                          This action responds to the best
                                              Swordfish Quota Adjustment Rule                                       Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                                     available information recently obtained
                                              specifically provided prior notice of,                                Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                                       from the fishery. The Assistant
                                              and accepted public comment on, these                                 Commerce.                                                                Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
                                              formulaic quota adjustment processes                                  ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.                                         (AA) finds good cause to waive the
                                              and the manner in which they occur.                                                                                                            requirement to provide prior notice and
                                              The application of this formula in this                               SUMMARY:   NMFS is prohibiting directed                                  opportunity for public comment
                                              action does not have discretionary                                    fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the                                   pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
                                              aspects requiring additional agency                                   Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the                                   U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
                                              consideration and thus it would be                                    Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands                                          is impracticable and contrary to the
                                              unnecessarily duplicative to accept                                   management area (BSAI) by vessels                                        public interest. This requirement is
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES




                                              public comment for this action. Because                               participating in the BSAI trawl limited                                  impracticable and contrary to the public
                                              there are no new quotas for 2018 and                                  access fishery. This action is necessary                                 interest as it would prevent NMFS from
                                              the quota formula is the same as in                                   to prevent exceeding the 2018 total                                      responding to the most recent fisheries
                                              previous years, NMFS is issuing this                                  allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean                                   data in a timely fashion and would
                                              temporary final rule to adjust the North                              perch in the WAI allocated to vessels                                    delay the closure of the Pacific ocean
                                              and South Atlantic swordfish quotas for                               participating in the BSAI trawl limited                                  perch directed fishery in the WAI for
                                              2018.                                                                 access fishery.                                                          vessels participating in the BSAI trawl


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Document Created: 2018-08-01 01:22:38
Document Modified: 2018-08-01 01:22:38
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 final rule.
DatesEffective August 31, 2018, through December 31, 2018.
ContactChant[eacute] Davis, (301) 427-8503, or, Steve Durkee, (202) 670-6637.
FR Citation83 FR 37446 
RIN Number0648-XG26

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