[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1671-1676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-120]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216044-6044-01; I.D. 010807A]


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

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 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modified or superceded through publication of a notification in the 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 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: 
620PLCKADJUSTMENT (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: 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 Sec.  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 Sec.  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.

[[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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Shumagin       Chirikof     Kodiak (Area
    Season       (Area 610)     (Area 620)        630)          Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A              3,352          7,357          3,234          13,943
                (21.63%)       (52.76%)       (20.87%)       (100%)
B              3,352          8,924          1,481 (9.56%)  13,757
                (21.63%)       (64.87%)                      (100%)
C              8,159          2,351          4,986          15,496
                (52.65%)       (15.17%)       (32.18%)       (100%)
D              8,159          2,351          4,986          15,496
                (52.65%)       (15.17%)       (32.18%)       (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]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Ratio of 1995-             2007 non-
              Apportionments and    1997 non-                exempt AFA
  Species    allocations by area/ exempt AFA CV  2007 TAC     catcher
              season/processor/   catch to 1995-               vessel
                     gear            1997 TAC                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 Season\1\          .............  ........  .............
             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 Season\2\          .............  ........  .............
             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     W                    0.0000         421       .............
 deep-water
             C                    0.0670         4,145     278
             E                    0.0171         4,111     70
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 1673]]

 
Rex sole     W                    0.0010         1,096     1
             C                    0.0402         5,207     209
             E                    0.0153         2,397     37
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead     W                    0.0036         2,000     7
 sole
             C                    0.0261         5,000     131
             E                    0.0048         2,153     10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish     W                    0.0156         4,500     70
 shallow-
 water
             C                    0.0598         13,000    777
             E                    0.0126         2,472     31
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth   W                    0.0021         8,000     17
 flounder
             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      W                    0.0623         4,290     267
 ocean
 perch
             C                    0.0866         7,660     663
             E                    0.0466         2,776     129
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker   W                    0.0000         153       0
 rockfish
             C                    0.0237         353       8
             E                    0.0124         337       4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye     W                    0.0000         133       0
 rockfish
             C                    0.0237         596       14
             E                    0.0124         235       3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other        W                    0.0034         577       2
 rockfish
             C                    0.2065         386       80
             E                    0.0000         517       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern     W                    0.0003         1,483     0
 rockfish
             C                    0.0336         3,608     121
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic      W                    0.0001         1,463     0
 shelf
 rockfish
             C                    0.0000         3,318     0
             E                    0.0067         749       5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead   W                    0.0308         513       16
 rockfish
             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     W                    0.0090         65        1
 skates
             C                    0.0090         1,969     18
             E                    0.0090         861       8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other        GW                   0.0090         1,617     15
 skates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal     SEO                  0.0020         410       1
 shelf
 rockfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 1674]]

 
Atka         Gulfwide             0.0309         1,500     46
 mackerel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other        Gulfwide             0.0090         12,229    110
 species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Ratio of 1996-
              Apportionments and   2000 non-AFA             2007 non-AFA
  Species    allocations by area/  CV catch to   2007 TAC   crab vessel
              season/processor/     1996-2000                sideboard
                     gear         total harvest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Season\1\          .............  ........  .............
             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 Season\2\          .............  ........  .............
             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     W                    0.0035         421       1
 deep-water
             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

[[Page 1675]]

 
             E                    0.0000         2,397     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead     W                    0.0002         2,000     0
 sole
             C                    0.0004         5,000     2
             E                    0.0000         2,153     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish     W                    0.0059         4,500     27
 shallow-
 water
             C                    0.0001         13,000    1
             E                    0.0000         2,472     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth   W                    0.0004         8,000     3
 flounder
             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      W                    0.0000         4,290     0
 ocean
 perch
             C                    0.0000         7,660     0
             E                    0.0000         2,776     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker   W                    0.0013         153       0
 rockfish
             C                    0.0012         353       0
             E                    0.0009         337       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye     W                    0.0067         133       1
 rockfish
             C                    0.0047         596       3
             E                    0.0008         235       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other        W                    0.0035         577       2
 rockfish
             C                    0.0033         386       1
             E                    0.0000         517       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern     W                    0.0005         1,483     1
 rockfish
             C                    0.0000         3,608     0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic      W                    0.0017         1,463     2
 shelf
 rockfish
             C                    0.0000         3,318     0
             E                    0.0000         749       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead   W                    0.0047         513       2
 rockfish
             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     W                    0.0392         65        3
 skate
             C                    0.0159         1,969     36
             E                    0.0000         861       0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other        GW                   0.0176         1,617     28
 skates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal     SEO                  0.0000         410       0
 shelf
 rockfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka         Gulfwide             0.0000         1,500     0
 mackerel
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 1676]]

 
Other        Gulfwide             0.0176         12,229    215
 species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 Sec.  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 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. 07-120 Filed 1-10-07; 12:43 pm]
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