2019-21570. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area  

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    AGENCY:

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

    ACTION:

    Temporary rule; reallocation.

    SUMMARY:

    NMFS is exchanging unused yellowfin sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2019 total allowable catch of flathead sole and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

    DATES:

    Effective October 7, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

    The 2019 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 1,552 metric tons (mt), 5,440 mt, and 16,078 mt as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) and flatfish exchange (84 FR 49067, September 18, 2019). The 2019 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,577 mt, 7,283 mt, and 12,084 mt as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) and flatfish exchange (84 FR 49067, September 18, 2019).

    The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 50 mt of flathead sole CDQ ABC reserves and 350 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under § 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 50 mt of flathead sole CDQ ABC reserves and 350 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and increases the TACs and CDQ ABC reserves by the corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) and revised in flatfish exchanges (84 FR 49067, September 18, 2019), are further revised as follows:

    Table 11—Final 2019 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Tacs

    [Amounts are in metric tons]

    SectorPacific ocean perchFlathead soleRock soleYellowfin sole
    Eastern Aleutian DistrictCentral Aleutian DistrictWestern Aleutian DistrictBSAIBSAIBSAI
    TAC11,0098,38510,00021,35039,000155,250
    CDQ1,1788971,0701,6025,04016,428
    ICA10060103,0006,0004,000
    BSAI trawl limited access97374317818,351
    Amendment 808,7586,6858,74216,74927,960116,471
    Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

    Table 13—Final 2019 and 2020 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole

    [Amounts are in metric tons]

    Sector2019 Flathead sole2019 Rock sole2019 Yellowfin sole2020 1 Flathead sole2020 1 Rock sole2020 1 Yellowfin sole
    ABC66,625118,900263,20068,448143,700257,800
    TAC21,35039,000155,25014,50057,100166,425
    ABC surplus45,27579,900107,95053,94886,60091,375
    ABC reserve45,27579,900107,95053,94886,60091,375
    CDQ ABC reserve5,5277,68311,7345,7729,2669,777
    Amendment 80 ABC reserve39,74872,21796,21648,17677,33481,598
    1 The 2020 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2019.
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    Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the flatfish exchange by the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association in the BSAI. Since these fisheries are currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September 24, 2019.

    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment.

    This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

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    Dated: September 30, 2019.

    Alan D. Risenhoover,

    Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

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    [FR Doc. 2019-21570 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/7/2019
Published:
10/07/2019
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Temporary rule; reallocation.
Document Number:
2019-21570
Dates:
Effective October 7, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
Pages:
53344-53345 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 180713633-9174-02
RINs:
0648-XY04
PDF File:
2019-21570.Pdf
Supporting Documents:
» BSAI GOA Specs SIR 2019-2020
» Oct-2018 Draft Sec Rev bsai-specs-2019-20-irfa
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679