[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 206 (Thursday, October 23, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63080-63081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25332]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 071106673-8011-02]
RIN 0648-XL44


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Yellowfin Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2008 
yellowfin sole total allowable catch (TAC) assigned to the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 
cooperative in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2008 total allowable 
catch of yellowfin sole to be fully harvested.

DATES: Effective October 20, 2008, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
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 2008 yellowfin sole TAC assigned to the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands trawl limited access sector is 44,512 metric tons (mt) and to 
the Amendment 80 cooperative is 92,982 mt in the BSAI as established by 
the 2008 and 2009 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (73 FR 10160, February 26, 2008).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 6,000 
mt of the yellowfin sole TAC assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access 
sector will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.91(f), NMFS reallocates 6,000 mt of yellowfin sole from the BSAI 
trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperative in the 
BSAI. In accordance with Sec.  679.91(f), NMFS will reissue cooperative 
quota permits for the reallocated yellowfin sole following the 
procedures set forth in Sec.  679.91(f)(3).
    The harvest specifications for yellowfin sole included in the 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (73 FR 10160, 
February 26, 2008) are revised as follows: 38,512 mt to the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector and 98,982 mt to the Amendment 80 cooperative in 
the in the BSAI. Table 7 is correctly revised and republished in its 
entirety as follows:

 TABLE 7-2008 AND 2009 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
                                         PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                   Pacific ocean perch                                  Flathead    Rock sole        Yellowfin sole
                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------     sole    --------------------------------------
                     Eastern Aleutian  District       Central Aleutian          Western Aleutian     -------------     BSAI               BSAI
       Sector       ----------------------------          District                  District              BSAI    --------------------------------------
                                                ------------------------------------------------------------------
                         2008          2009                                                             2008 and     2008 and       2008         2009
                                                     2008          2009         2008         2009         2009         2009
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TAC                        4,900         4,810         4,990        4,900        7,610        7,490       50,000       75,000      225,000      205,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDQ                          524           515           534          524          814          801        5,350        8,025       24,075       21,935
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ICA                          100           100            10           10           10           10        4,500        5,000        2,000        2,000
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BSAI trawl limited           214           420           222          437          136          134            0            0       38,512       37,368
 access
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[[Page 63081]]

 
Amendment 80               4,062         3,776         4,224        3,929        6,650        6,545       40,150       61,975      160,413      143,697
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Amendment 80               2,154             0         2,240            0        3,526            0        4,392       14,972       61,431            0
 limited access\1\
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Amendment 80               1,908             0         1,984            0        3,124            0       35,758       47,003       98,982            0
 cooperatives\1\
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\1\The 2009 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, 2008.

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 reallocation of yellowfin sole from the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperative in the BSAI. 
Since the fishery is 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 October 17, 2008.
    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 Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 20, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25332 Filed 10-20-08; 4:15 pm]
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