[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 29, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68715-68717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30533]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02]
RIN 0648-XT40


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2010 Bering Sea Pollock Total Allowable Catch Amount

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

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) amount 
for the Bering Sea pollock fishery. This action is necessary because 
NMFS has determined this TAC is incorrectly specified. This action will 
ensure the Bering Sea pollock TAC does not exceed the appropriate 
amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock 
in the Bering Sea 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.), December 29, 
2009, until the effective date of the final 2010 and 2011 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish, unless otherwise modified or 
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 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 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-
XT40, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Fax: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    All comments received are a part of the public record. No comments 
will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until 
after the comment period has closed. Comment will generally be posted 
without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, 
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be 
publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.

[[Page 68716]]

    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 
(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 2010 pollock TAC in the Bering Sea subarea was set at 1,230,000 
metric tons (mt) by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specification for 
groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009).
    In December 2009, the Council recommended a 2010 pollock TAC of 
813,000 mt for the Bering Sea subarea. This amount is less than the 
1,230,000 mt established by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest 
specification for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 
2009). The TAC recommended by the Council is based on the Stock 
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2009, 
which NMFS has determined is the best available scientific information 
for this fishery.
    Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock fishery 
and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 
Pollock is a principal prey species for Steller sea lions in the BSAI. 
The seasonal apportionment of pollock 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)(5)(i)(A) specify how the pollock TAC 
shall be apportioned.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(2)(i)(B), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that, 
based on the November 2009 SAFE report for this fishery, the current 
Bering Sea pollock TAC is incorrectly specified. Consequently, the 
Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2010 pollock TAC to 813,000 mt 
in the Bering Sea subarea.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5), Table 3 of the final 2009 and 2010 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 
17, 2009) is revised for the 2010 pollock TACs consistent with this 
adjustment.

     TABLE 3--FINAL 2009 AND 2010 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA)\1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Area and sector               2009             2009 A season\1\            2009 B          2010             2010 A season\1\          2010 B
---------------------------------   Allocations  ------------------------------   season\1\      Allocations  -----------------------------   season\1\
                                 ----------------                 SCA harvest  -------------------------------                 SCA harvest -------------
                                                   A season DFA     limit\2\     B season DFA                   A season DFA    limit\2\    B season DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea                    815,000             n/a            n/a            n/a        813,000             n/a           n/a           n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDQ DFA                                81,500          32,600         22,820         48,900         81,300          32,520        22,764        48,780
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICA\1\                                 29,340             n/a            n/a            n/a         29,268             n/a           n/a           n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA Inshore                           352,080         140,832         98,582        211,248        351,216         140,486        98,340       210,730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA Catcher/Processors\3\             281,664         112,666         78,866        168,998        280,973         112,389        78,672       168,584
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catch by C/Ps                         257,723         103,089            n/a        154,634        257,090         102,836    ............     154,254
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catch by CVs\3\                        23,941           9,577            n/a         14,365         23,883           9,553    ............      14,330
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unlisted C/P Limit\4\                   1,408             563            n/a            845          1,405             562    ............         843
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA Motherships                        70,416          28,166         19,716         42,250         70,243          28,097        19,668        42,146
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excessive Harvesting Limit\5\         123,228             n/a            n/a            n/a        122,926             n/a           n/a           n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excessive Processing Limit            211,248             n/a            n/a            n/a        210,730             n/a           n/a           n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea DFA                  704,160         281,664        197,165        422,495        702,432         280,973       196,681       421,459
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea\1\            19,000             n/a            n/a            n/a         19,000             n/a           n/a           n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDQ DFA                                 1,900             760            n/a          1,140          1,900             760           n/a         1,140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICA                                     1,600             800            n/a            800          1,600             800           n/a           800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleut Corporation                      15,500          15,500            n/a              0         15,500          15,500           n/a             0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 68717]]

 
Bogoslof District ICA                      50             n/a            n/a            n/a             10             n/a           n/a          n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtraction for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4 percent), is
  allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector-50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)-40 percent, and mothership sector-10 percent. In the Bering
  Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-
  November 1). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing
  allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A
  season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector(s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of
  the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the
  annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
  only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
  catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
  pollock DFAs.

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 allow for harvests that exceed the appropriate allocations for 
pollock 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 14, 
2009, 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 13, 
2010.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.22 and Sec.  679.25 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: December 18, 2009.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30533 Filed 12-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S