2015-24542. 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 allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

    DATES:

    Effective September 28, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

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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 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) specified in the BSAI are 16,655 metric tons (mt), 53,840 mt, and 111,892 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves are 37,399 mt, 100,418 mt, and 89,121 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015).

    The Alaska Seafood cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 5,620 mt of flathead sole and 1,450 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 7,070 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves under § 679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 5,620 mt of flathead sole and 1,450 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 7,070 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and increases the TACs and Amendment 80 ABC reserves by the corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and as revised (80 FR 55562, September 16, 2015) are further revised as follows:

    Table 11—Final 2015 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
    TAC8,0007,0009,00018,35567,475156,670
    CDQ8567499632,3207,08516,543
    ICA10075105,0008,0005,000
    BSAI trawl limited access7046181610016,165
    Amendment 806,3405,5587,86611,03552,390118,962
    Alaska Groundfish Cooperative3,3622,9474,1711,70813,31844,455
    Alaska Seafood Cooperative2,9782,6113,6959,32739,07274,507
    Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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    Table 13—Final 2015 and 2016 ABC Surplus, 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]

    Sector2015 Flathead sole2015 Rock sole2015 Yellowfin sole2016 Flathead sole2016 Rock sole2016 Yellowfin sole
    ABC66,130181,700248,80063,711164,800245,500
    TAC18,35567,475156,67024,25069,250149,000
    ABC surplus47,775114,22592,13039,46195,55096,500
    ABC reserve47,775114,22592,13039,46195,55096,500
    CDQ ABC reserve4,75612,35710,0794,22210,22410,326
    Amendment 80 ABC reserve43,019101,86882,05135,23985,32686,175
    Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2015 13,83624,84035,408n/an/an/a
    Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 139,18377,02846,643n/an/an/a
    1 The 2016 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, 2015.

    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 Alaska Seafood cooperative 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 17, 2015.

    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 22, 2015.

    Emily H. Menashes,

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

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    [FR Doc. 2015-24542 Filed 9-25-15; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/28/2015
Published:
09/28/2015
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Temporary rule; reallocation.
Document Number:
2015-24542
Dates:
Effective September 28, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
Pages:
58220-58221 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 141021887-5172-02
RINs:
0648-XE21
PDF File:
2015-24542.Pdf
Supporting Documents:
» Oct 2013 BSAI Specs 2014-15.FRFA
» Jan 2013 AK Groundfish Harvest Specifications Supplementary Info Report (SIR)
» Record of Decision
» Jan 2007 AK Groundfish Harvest Specifications FINAL EIS
» Nov 2014 Final BSAI Safe
» 2014 Nov Draft BSAI SAFE
» 2013 Nov Final BSAI Safe
» Oct 2013 BSAI Specs 2014-15.FRFA
» Jan 2013 AK Groundfish Harvest Specifications Supplementary Info Report (SIR)
» Record of Decision
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679