[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 29, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68717-68719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30534]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02]
RIN 0648-XT41


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2010 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod 
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.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS is adjusting the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) amount 
for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific cod fishery. 
This action is necessary because NMFS has determined this TAC is 
incorrectly specified. This action will ensure the BSAI Pacific cod TAC 
does not exceed the appropriate amount based on the best available 
scientific information for Pacific cod in the BSAI. 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superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 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-
XT41, 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 68718]]

    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 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 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI was set at 193,030 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 Pacific cod TAC of 
168,780 mt for the BSAI. This amount is less than the 193,030 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 Pacific cod 
fishery and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA). Pacific cod is a principal prey species for Steller sea lions in 
the BSAI. The seasonal apportionment of Pacific cod 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)(7)(i)(B) specify 
how the Pacific cod 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 
BSAI Pacific cod TAC is incorrectly specified. Consequently, the 
Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2010 Pacific cod TAC to 168,780 
mt in the Bering Sea subarea.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7), Table 5b of the final 2009 and 2010 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 
17, 2009) is revised for the 2010 Pacific cod TACs consistent with this 
adjustment.

              TABLE 5bB FINAL 2010 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                            2010 share of                       2010 seasonal apportionment
         Gear sector             Percent     gear sector    2010 share of --------------------------------------
                                                total       sector total            Dates              Amount
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Total TAC                           100         168,780             n/a                      n/a           n/a
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CDQ                                10.7          18,059             n/a                 see Sec.           n/a
                                                                              679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)
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Total hook-and-line/pot gear       60.8          91,638             n/a                      n/a           n/a
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Hook-and-line/pot ICA\1\            n/a             500             n/a                 see Sec.           n/a
                                                                             679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B)
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Hook-and-line/pot sub-total         n/a          91.138             n/a                      n/a           n/a
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Hook-and-line catcher/             48.7             n/a          73,000             Jan 1-Jun 10        37,230
 processor                                                                         Jun 10-Dec 31        35,770
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Hook-and-line catcher vessel        0.2             n/a             300             Jan 1-Jun 10           153
 [gteqt] 60 ft LOA                                                                 Jun 10-Dec 31           147
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Pot catcher/processor               1.5             n/a           2,248             Jan 1-Jun 10         1,147
                                                                                   Sept 1-Dec 31         1,102
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Pot catcher vessel [gteqt] 60       8.4             n/a          12,591             Jan 1-Jun 10         6,422
 ft LOA                                                                            Sept 1-Dec 31         6,170
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Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA            2             n/a           2,998                      n/a           n/a
 using hook-and-line or pot
 gear
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Trawl catcher vessel               22.1          33,309             n/a             Jan 20-Apr 1        24,649
                                                                                    Apr 1-Jun 10         3,664
                                                                                    Jun 10-Nov 1         4,996
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AFA trawl catcher/processor         2.3           3,467             n/a             Jan 20-Apr 1         2,600
                                                                                    Apr 1-Jun 10           867
                                                                                    Jun 10-Nov 1             0
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Amendment 80                       13.4          20,197             n/a             Jan 20-Apr 1        15,844
                                                                                   Apr 1- Jun 10          5281
                                                                                    Jun 10-Nov 1             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amendment 80 limited access         n/a             n/a           3,319             Jan 20-Apr 1         2,489
                                                                                   Apr 1- Jun 10           830
                                                                                    Jun 10-Nov 1             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 68719]]

 
Amendment 80 cooperatives           n/a             n/a          16,878             Jan 20-Apr 1        12,659
                                                                                   Apr 1- Jun 10         4,220
                                                                                    Jun 10-Nov 1             0
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Jig                                 1.4           2.110             n/a             Jan 1-Apr 30         1,266
                                                                                   Apr 30-Aug 31           422
                                                                                   Aug 31-Dec 31           422
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\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2010
  based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.

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 
Pacific cod 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 H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-30534 Filed 12-28-09; 8:45 am]
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