[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 8 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1463-1466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 010807B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2007 Aleutian Islands Atka Mackerel Total Allowable 
Catch Amounts

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the annual total allowable catch amount 
(TAC) for the Central and Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel 
fisheries. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these 
TACs are incorrectly specified. This action will ensure the A and B 
season harvests of Central and Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel 
do not exceed the appropriate amount based on the best available 
scientific information for Atka mackerel in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (FMP).

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 12, 
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modified or superceded through publication of a notification in the 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 29, 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 9\th\ 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
     FAX to 907-586-7557;
     E-mail to [email protected] and include the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: AIATKAMACK-
TAC07 (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes); or
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http/
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) according to the 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.
    The 2007 TAC of Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of 
the BSAI is 38,000 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2006 and 2007 
harvest specification for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 19894, March 3, 
2006). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii), the 2007 A and B 
season allowances of Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of 
the BSAI are each 17,575 mt, and the 2007 A and B season Harvest Limit 
Area (HLA) limits of Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of 
the BSAI are each 10,545 mt.
    The 2007 TAC of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of 
the BSAI is 17,500 mt as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest 
specification for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 19894, March 3, 2006). 
In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii), the 2007 A and B season 
allowances of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the 
BSAI are each 8,750 mt, and the 2007 A and B season Harvest Limit Area 
(HLA) limits of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the 
BSAI are each 5,250 mt.
    In December 2006, the Council recommended a 2007 Atka mackerel TAC 
of 29,600 mt for the Central Aleutian District and 9,600 mt for the 
Western Aleutian District. These amounts are less than the TACs as 
established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish 
in the BSAI (71 FR 19894, March 3, 2006). The TACs recommended by the 
Council are based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report 
(SAFE), dated November 2006, which NMFS has determined is the best 
available scientific information for this fishery.
    Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the Aleutian 
Islands Atka mackerel fishery and are listed as endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). Atka mackerel is a principal prey species 
for Steller sea lions in the Aleutian Islands subarea. The seasonal 
apportionment of Atka mackerel harvest is necessary to ensure the 
groundfish fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or 
adverse modification of critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The 
regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(ii)(8)(A) require the Atka

[[Page 1464]]

mackerel TAC specified for each subarea or district of the BSAI to be 
divided equally, after subtraction of the jig gear allocation and 
reserves, into two seasonal allowances corresponding to the A and B 
seasons defined at Sec.  679.23(e)(3).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(2)(i)(B), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that, 
based on the November 2006 SAFE report for this fishery, the current 
Central and Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel TACs are 
incorrectly specified. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is 
adjusting the 2007 Atka mackerel TAC to 29,600 mt in the Central 
Aleutian District and 9,600 mt in the Western Aleutian District of the 
BSAI. In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii) the 2007 A and B season 
apportionments for Atka mackerel after deducting the CDQ reserve are 
each adjusted to 13,690 mt in the Central Aleutian District and 4,440 
mt in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. Consequently, the 2007 
A and B season HLA limits are each adjusted to 8,214 mt for the Central 
Aleutian District and 2,664 mt for the Western Aleutian District of the 
BSAI.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8), Tables 4, 12, and 14 of the 2006 
and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 
10894, March 3, 2006) are revised for the 2007 Atka mackerel TACs 
consistent with this adjustment.

                  Table 4--2006 and 2007 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, and CDQ Reserve of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC\1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                              2006 Seasonal allowances\2\
                                                                   2006 CDQ                  -----------------------------------------------------------
     Subarea and component         2006 TAC        2006 CDQ      reserve HLA     2006 ITAC             A season\3\                   B season\3\
                                                    reserve        limit\4\                  -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total       HLA limit\4\      Total       HLA limit\4\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western AI District             15,500          1,163           698            14,338         7,169          4,301          7,169          4,301
Central AI District             40,000          3,000           1,800          37,000         18,500         11,100         18,500         11,100
EAI/BS subarea\5\               7,500           563             n/a            6,938          n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
  Jig (1%)\6\                   n/a             n/a             n/a            69             n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
  Other gear (99%)              n/a             n/a             n/a            6,868          3,434          n/a            3,434          n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                           63,000          n/a             n/a            n/a            29,103         n/a            29,103         n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western AI District             9,600           720             432            8,880          4,440          2,664          4,440          2,664
Central AI District             29,600          2,220           1,332          27,380         13,690         8,214          13,690         8,214
EAI/BS subarea\5\               7,500           563             n/a            6,938          n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
  Jig (1%)\6\                   n/a             n/a             n/a            69             n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
Other gear (99%)                n/a             n/a             n/a            6,868          3,434          n/a            3,434          n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                           46,700          n/a             n/a            n/a            21,564         10,878         21,564         10,878
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\1\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\2\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\3\ The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\4\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\5\ Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
\6\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20 (a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated to
  jig gear. The amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.


                        Table 12--2006 and 2007 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                                 1995 - 1997
                                                ---------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Ratio of      2006 ITAC       2006 C/P      2007 ITAC       2007 C/P
        Target species               Area           Retained                      retained     available to    sideboard     available to    sideboard
                                                     catch       Total catch      catch to      trawl C/Ps       limit        trawl C/Ps       limit
                                                                                total catch
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Pacific cod trawl              BSAI              12,424         48,177         0.258          42,171         10,880         32,171         8,300
Sablefish trawl                BS                8              497            0.016          1,199          19             1,148          18
                               AI                0              145            0.000          638            0              582            0
Atka mackerel                  Central AI        n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
                                 A season\1\     n/a            n/a            0.115          18,500         2,128          13,690         1,574
                                  HLA limit\2\   n/a            n/a            n/a            11,100         1,277          8,214          945
                                 B season\1\     n/a            n/a            0.115          18,500         2,128          13,690         1,574
                                  HLA limit\2\   n/a            n/a            n/a            11,100         1,277          8,214          945
                               Western AI        n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a            n/a
                                 A season\1\     n/a            n/a            0.200          7,169          1,434          4,440          888
                                  HLA limit\2\   n/a            n/a            n/a            4,301          860            2,664          533
                                 B season\1\     n/a            n/a            0.200          7,169          1,434          4,440          888
                                  HLA limit\2\   n/a            n/a            n/a            4,301          860            2,664          533
Yellowfin sole                 BSAI              100,192        435,788        0.230          81,346         18,710         91,495         21,044
Rock sole                      BSAI              6,317          169,362        0.037          35,275         1,305          37,400         1,384

[[Page 1465]]

 
Greenland turbot               BS                121            17,305         0.007          1,607          11             1,543          11
                               AI                23             4,987          0.005          723            4              693            3
Arrowtooth flounder            BSAI              76             33,987         0.002          11,050         22             15,300         31
Flathead sole                  BSAI              1,925          52,755         0.036          16,575         597            18,700         673
Alaska plaice                  BSAI              14             9,438          0.001          6,800          7              12,750         13
Other flatfish                 BSAI              3,058          52,298         0.058          2,975          173            4,250          247
Pacific ocean perch            BS                12             4,879          0.002          1,190          2              2,516          5
                               Eastern AI        125            6,179          0.020          2,849          57             3,012          60
                               Central AI        3              5,698          0.001          2,808          3              2,971          3
                               Western AI        54             13,598         0.004          4,703          19             4,969          20
Northern rockfish              BSAI              91             13,040         0.007          4,163          29             4,625          32
Shortraker rockfish            BSAI              50             2,811          0.018          537            10             537            10
Rougheye rockfish              BSAI              50             2,811          0.018          207            4              207            4
Other rockfish                 BS                18             621            0.029          426            12             750            22
                               AI                22             806            0.027          502            14             502            14
Squid                          BSAI              73             3,328          0.022          1,084          24             1,084          24
Other species                  BSAI              553            68,672         0.008          24,650         197            22,950         184
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\1\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
  catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
  specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
\2\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.


                                   Table 14--2006 and 2007 BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                              Ratio of 1995-                         2006 Catcher                         2007 Catcher
             Species               Fishery by area/season/  1997 AFA CV catch   2006 initial TAC   vessel sideboard   2007 initial TAC  vessel sideboard
                                        processor/gear       to 1995 1997 TAC                           limits                               limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                        BSAI                     n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                     Jig gear               0.0000             3,589              0                  2,738              0
                                     Hook-and-line CV       n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan 1 - Jun 10        0.0006             164                0                  125                0
                                      Jun 10 - Dec 31       0.0006             109                0                  83                 0
                                     Pot gear CV            n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan 1 - Jun 10        0.0006             8,192              5                  6,239              4
                                      Sept 10 - Dec 31      0.0006             5,461              3                  4,159              2
                                     CV < 60 feet LOA       0.0006             1,274              1                  970                1
                                   using hook-and-line or
                                   pot gear
                                     Trawl gear CV          n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan 20 - Apr 1        0.8609             29,520             25,414             22,520             19,387
                                      Apr 1 - Jun 10        0.8609             4,217              3,630              3,217              2,770
                                      Jun 10 - Nov 1        0.8609             8,434              7,261              6,434              5,539
Sablefish                          BS trawl gear            0.0906             1,199              109                1,148              104
                                   AI trawl gear            0.0645             638                41                 582                38
Atka mackerel                      Eastern AI/BS            n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                     Jig gear               0.0031             69                 0                  69                 0
                                     Other gear             n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan 1 - Apr 15        0.0032             3,434              11                 3,434              11
                                      Sept 1 - Nov 1        0.0032             3,434              11                 3,434              11
                                   Central AI               n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan - Apr 15          0.0001             18,500             2                  13,690             1
                                        HLA limit           0.0001             11,100             1                  8,214              1
                                      Sept 1 - Nov 1        0.0001             18,500             2                  13,690             1
                                        HLA limit           0.0001             11,100             1                  8,214              1
                                   Western AI               n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a                n/a
                                      Jan - Apr 15          0.0000             7,169              0                  4,440              0
                                        HLA limit           n/a                4,301              0                  2,664              0
                                      Sept 1 - Nov 1        0.0000             7,169              0                  4,440              0
                                        HLA limit           n/a                4,301              0                  2,664              0
Yellowfin sole                     BSAI                     0.0647             81,346             5,263              91,495             5,920

[[Page 1466]]

 
Rock sole                          BSAI                     0.0341             35,275             1,203              37,400             1,275
Greenland Turbot                   BS                       0.0645             1,607              104                1,543              100
                                   AI                       0.0205             723                15                 693                14
Arrowtooth flounder                BSAI                     0.0690             11,050             762                15,300             1,056
Alaska plaice                      BSAI                     0.0441             6,800              300                12,750             562
Other flatfish                     BSAI                     0.0441             2,975              131                4,250              187
Pacific ocean perch                BS                       0.1000             1,190              119                2,516              252
                                   Eastern AI               0.0077             2,849              22                 3,012              23
                                   Central AI               0.0025             2,808              7                  2,971              7
                                   Western AI               0.0000             4,703              0                  4,969              0
Northern rockfish                  BSAI                     0.0084             4,163              35                 4,625              39
Shortraker rockfish                BSAI                     0.0037             537                2                  537                2
Rougheye rockfish                  BSAI                     0.0037             207                1                  207                1
Other rockfish                     BS                       0.0048             426                2                  750                4
                                   AI                       0.0095             502                5                  502                5
Squid                              BSAI                     0.3827             1,084              415                1,084              415
Other species                      BSAI                     0.0541             24,650             1,334              22,950             1,242
Flathead Sole                      BS trawl gear            0.0505             16,575             837                18,700             944
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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) 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 apportionments for Atka mackerel based on the best scientific 
information available. The Atka mackerel fishery is harvested rapidly 
and completely in the early part of the A season. NMFS was unable to 
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of December 13, 2006, 
and additional time for prior public comment would result in 
conservation concerns for the ESA-listed Steller sea lions.
    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 Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on this action to the above address until January 29, 
2007.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.22 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 8, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-107 Filed 1-9-07; 2:49 pm]
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