Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2007 A and B Season Allowances of Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
NMFS is adjusting the A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the current A and B season allow...
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
NMFS is adjusting the A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the current A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA are incorrectly specified and to ensure the A and B season catch of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA does not exceed the appropriate amount, based on the best available scientific information for pollock in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES:
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 16, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2007, unless otherwise modified or superceded through publication of a notification in the
Federal Register
.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 31, 2007.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Comments may be submitted by:
Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
FAX to 907-586-7557;
E-mail to620PLCKADJUSTMENT@noaa.gov
and include the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: 620PLCKADJUSTMENT (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or
Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal:www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2007 total allowable catch of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is 24,275 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). The A season allowance is 8,910 mt and the B season allowance is 10,663 mt for pollock in Statistical area 620 of the GOA as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006).
In December 2006, the Council recommended 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of 7,357 mt and 8,924 mt, respectively. This amount is less than the A and B season allowances currently established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). The A and B season allowances as recommended by the Council are based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2006, which is the best available scientific information for this fishery.
In accordance with § 679.25(a)(2)(i)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined, based on the November 2006 SAFE report for this fishery, that the current A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA are incorrectly specified. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA to 7,357 mt and 8,924 mt, respectively.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Tables 6, 13, and 16 of the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006) are revised for the 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA consistent with this adjustment.
( printed page 1672)
Table 6 - Final 2007 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC.
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass
Season
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Kodiak
(Area 630)
Total
A
3,352 (21.63%)
7,357 (52.76%)
3,234 (20.87%)
13,943 (100%)
B
3,352 (21.63%)
8,924 (64.87%)
1,481 (9.56%)
13,757 (100%)
C
8,159 (52.65%)
2,351 (15.17%)
4,986 (32.18%)
15,496 (100%)
D
8,159 (52.65%)
2,351 (15.17%)
4,986 (32.18%)
15,496 (100%)
Annual Total
23,022
20,983
14,687
58,692
Table 13 - Final 2007 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations.
[Values are in metric tons]
Species
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/gear
Ratio of 1995-1997 non-exempt AFA CV catch to 1995-1997 TAC
2007 TAC
2007 non-exempt AFA catcher vessel sideboard
Pollock
A Season (W/C areas only)
January 20 - February 25
Shumagin (610)
0.6112
3,352
2,049
Chirikof (620)
0.1427
7,357
1,050
Kodiak (630)
0.2438
3,234
788
B Season (W/C areas only)
March 10 - May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.6112
3,352
2,049
Chirikof (620)
0.1427
8,924
1,274
Kodiak (630)
0.2438
1,481
361
C Season (W/C areas only)
August 25 - September 15
Shumagin (610)
0.6112
8,159
4,987
Chirikof (620)
0.1427
2,351
335
Kodiak (630)
0.2438
4,986
1,216
D Season (W/C areas only)
October 1 - November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.6112
8,159
4,987
Chirikof (620)
0.1427
2,351
335
Kodiak (630)
0.2438
4,986
1,216
Annual
WYK (640)
0.3499
1,426
499
SEO (650)
0.3499
6,157
2,154
Pacific cod
A Season1
January 1 - June 10
W inshore
0.1423
7,813
1,112
W offshore
0.1026
868
89
C inshore
0.0722
11,019
796
C offshore
0.0721
1,224
88
B Season2
September 1 - December 31
W inshore
0.1423
5,209
741
W offshore
0.1026
579
59
C inshore
0.0722
7,346
530
C offshore
0.0721
816
59
Annual
E inshore
0.0079
2,404
19
E offshore
0.0078
267
2
Flatfish deep-water
W
0.0000
421
C
0.0670
4,145
278
E
0.0171
4,111
70
( printed page 1673)
Rex sole
W
0.0010
1,096
1
C
0.0402
5,207
209
E
0.0153
2,397
37
Flathead sole
W
0.0036
2,000
7
C
0.0261
5,000
131
E
0.0048
2,153
10
Flatfish shallow-water
W
0.0156
4,500
70
C
0.0598
13,000
777
E
0.0126
2,472
31
Arrowtooth flounder
W
0.0021
8,000
17
C
0.0309
25,000
773
E
0.0020
5,000
10
Sablefish
W trawl gear
0.0000
472
0
C trawl gear
0.0720
1,126
81
E trawl gear
0.0488
257
13
Pacific ocean perch
W
0.0623
4,290
267
C
0.0866
7,660
663
E
0.0466
2,776
129
Shortraker rockfish
W
0.0000
153
0
C
0.0237
353
8
E
0.0124
337
4
Rougheye rockfish
W
0.0000
133
0
C
0.0237
596
14
E
0.0124
235
3
Other rockfish
W
0.0034
577
2
C
0.2065
386
80
E
0.0000
517
0
Northern rockfish
W
0.0003
1,483
0
C
0.0336
3,608
121
Pelagic shelf rockfish
W
0.0001
1,463
0
C
0.0000
3,318
0
E
0.0067
749
5
Thornyhead rockfish
W
0.0308
513
16
C
0.0308
989
30
E
0.0308
707
22
Big skates
W
0.0090
695
6
C
0.0090
2,250
20
E
0.0090
599
5
Longnose skates
W
0.0090
65
1
C
0.0090
1,969
18
E
0.0090
861
8
Other skates
GW
0.0090
1,617
15
Demersal shelf rockfish
SEO
0.0020
410
1
( printed page 1674)
Atka mackerel
Gulfwide
0.0309
1,500
46
Other species
Gulfwide
0.0090
12,229
110
1
The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
2
The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Table 16 - Final 2007 GOA Non American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations.
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/gear
Ratio of 1996-2000 non-AFA CV catch to 1996-2000 total harvest
2007 TAC
2007 non-AFA crab vessel sideboard
Pollock
A Season (W/C areas only)
January 20 - March 10
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
3,352
33
Chirikof (620)
0.0031
7,357
23
Kodiak (630)
0.0002
3,234
1
B Season (W/C areas only)
March 10 - May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
3,352
33
Chirikof (620)
0.0031
8,924
28
Kodiak (630)
0.0002
1,481
0
C Season (W/C areas only)
August 25 - October 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
8,159
80
Chirikof (620)
0.0031
2,351
7
Kodiak (630)
0.0002
4,986
1
D Season (W/C areas only)
October 1 - November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
8,159
80
Chirikof (620)
0.0031
2,351
7
Kodiak (630)
0.0002
4,986
1
Annual
WYK (640)
0.0000
1,426
0
SEO (650)
0.0000
6,157
0
Pacific cod
A Season1
January 1 - June 10
W inshore
0.0902
7,813
705
W offshore
0.2046
868
178
C inshore
0.0383
11,019
422
C offshore
0.2074
1,224
254
B Season2
September 1 - December 31
W inshore
0.0902
5,209
470
W offshore
0.2046
579
118
C inshore
0.0383
7,346
281
C offshore
0.2074
816
169
Annual
E inshore
0.0110
2,404
26
E offshore
0.0000
267
0
Flatfish deep-water
W
0.0035
421
1
C
0.0000
4,145
0
E
0.0000
4,111
0
Rex sole
W
0.0000
1,096
0
C
0.0000
5,207
0
( printed page 1675)
E
0.0000
2,397
0
Flathead sole
W
0.0002
2,000
0
C
0.0004
5,000
2
E
0.0000
2,153
0
Flatfish shallow-water
W
0.0059
4,500
27
C
0.0001
13,000
1
E
0.0000
2,472
0
Arrowtooth flounder
W
0.0004
8,000
3
C
0.0001
25,000
3
E
0.0000
5,000
0
Sablefish
W trawl gear
0.0000
472
0
C trawl gear
0.0000
1,126
0
E trawl gear
0.0000
257
0
Pacific ocean perch
W
0.0000
4,290
0
C
0.0000
7,660
0
E
0.0000
2,776
0
Shortraker rockfish
W
0.0013
153
0
C
0.0012
353
0
E
0.0009
337
0
Rougheye rockfish
W
0.0067
133
1
C
0.0047
596
3
E
0.0008
235
0
Other rockfish
W
0.0035
577
2
C
0.0033
386
1
E
0.0000
517
0
Northern rockfish
W
0.0005
1,483
1
C
0.0000
3,608
0
Pelagic shelf rockfish
W
0.0017
1,463
2
C
0.0000
3,318
0
E
0.0000
749
0
Thornyhead rockfish
W
0.0047
513
2
C
0.0066
989
7
E
0.0045
707
3
Big skates
W
0.0392
695
27
C
0.0159
2,250
36
E
0.0000
599
0
Longnose skate
W
0.0392
65
3
C
0.0159
1,969
36
E
0.0000
861
0
Other skates
GW
0.0176
1,617
28
Demersal shelf rockfish
SEO
0.0000
410
0
Atka mackerel
Gulfwide
0.0000
1,500
0
( printed page 1676)
Other species
Gulfwide
0.0176
12,229
215
1
The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
2
The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 679.25(c)(2) 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 allow for harvests that exceed the appropriate A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA based on the best scientific information available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of December 19, 2006, and additional time for prior public comment would result in conservation concerns.
The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment.
Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until January 31, 2007.
This action is required by § 679.22 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
72 FR 1671
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2007 A and B Season Allowances of Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska,” thefederalregister.org (January 16, 2007), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/07-120/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-inseason-adjustment-to-the-2007-a-and-b-season-allowances-of-pollock.
www.regulations.gov
50 CFR part 600
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B)