[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 81875-81876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33436]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 101126521-0640-02]
RIN 0648-XA903


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2012 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 2012 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 
is 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.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 29, 
2011, until the effective date of the final 2012 and 2013 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superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 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, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2011-0299, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2011-0299 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on that line.
     Mail: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
     Fax: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: Address written 
comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator, 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen 
Sebastian. Deliver comments to 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, 
AK.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, (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 2012 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI was set at 229,608 metric tons 
(mt) by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specification for groundfish in 
the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011).
    In December 2011, the Council recommended a 2012 Pacific cod TAC of 
261,000 mt for the BSAI. This amount is more than the 229,608 mt 
established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specification for 
groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011). The TAC 
recommended by the Council is based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2011, which NMFS has 
determined is the best available scientific information for this 
fishery.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) apportion the Pacific cod 
TAC allocated to the Bering Sea directed Pacific cod fisheries 
seasonally to distribute catch over time because Pacific cod is a 
principal prey species for Steller sea lions listed as endangered under 
the Endangered Species Act. The first seasonal apportionment can be 
harvested quickly, and must reflect the TAC based on the best available 
scientific information to provide the opportunity to harvest available 
TAC in a manner consistent with the established Steller sea lion 
protection measures.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(iii) and (a)(2)(i)(B), the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that, based on the November 2011 SAFE report for this 
fishery, the current BSAI Pacific cod TAC is incorrectly specified. 
Consequently, the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2012 Pacific 
cod TAC to 261,000 mt in the BSAI.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7), Table 5b of the final 2011 and 2012 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (75 FR 11778, March 
12, 2010) is revised for the 2012 Pacific cod TAC consistent with this 
adjustment.

[[Page 81876]]



                                  Table 5b--Final 2012 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                                                                                      Seasonal apportionment
            Gear sector                    Percent          Share of gear sector  Share of sector total ------------------------------------------------
                                                                   total                                           Dates                   Amount
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Total TAC.........................  100..................  261,000..............  n/a..................  n/a......................  n/a.
CDQ...............................  10.7.................  27,927...............  n/a..................  see Sec.                   n/a.
                                                                                                          679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......  60.8.................  141,708..............  n/a..................  n/a......................  n/a.
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \1\.........  n/a..................  500..................  n/a..................  see Sec.                   n/a.
                                                                                                          679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......  n/a..................  141,208..............  n/a..................  n/a......................  n/a.
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...  48.7.................  n/a..................  113,106..............  Jan 1-Jun 10.............  57,684.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Dec 31............  55,422.
Hook-and-line catcher vessel        0.2..................  n/a..................  465..................  Jan 1-Jun 10.............  237.
 [gteqt] 60 ft LOA.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Dec 31............  228.
Pot catcher/processor.............  1.5..................  n/a..................  3,484................  Jan 1-Jun 10.............  1,777.
                                                                                                         Sept 1-Dec 31............  1,707.
Pot catcher vessel [gteqt] 60 ft    8.4..................  n/a..................  19,509...............  Jan 1-Jun 10.............  9,950.
 LOA.
                                                                                                         Sept 1-Dec 31............  9,559.
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using    2....................  n/a..................  4,645................  n/a......................  n/a.
 hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel..............  22.1.................  51,509...............  n/a..................  Jan 20-Apr 1.............  38,117.
                                                                                                         Apr 1-Jun 10.............  5,666.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Nov 1.............  7,726.
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......  2.3..................  5,3610...............  n/a..................  Jan 20-Apr 1.............  4,021.
                                                                                                         Apr 1-Jun 10.............  1,340.
                                                           ;                                             Jun 10-Nov 1.............  0.
Amendment 80......................  13.4.................  31,232...............  n/a..................  Jan 20-Apr 1.............  23,424.
                                                                                                         Apr 1-Jun 10.............  7,808.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Nov 1.............  0.
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.....  n/a..................  n/a..................  5,816................  Jan 20-Apr 1.............  4,362.
                                                                                                         Apr 1-Jun 10.............  1,454.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Nov 1.............  0.
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........  n/a..................  n/a..................  25,416...............  Jan 20-Apr 1.............  19,062.
                                                                                                         Apr 1-Jun 10.............  6,354.
                                                                                                         Jun 10-Nov 1.............  0.
Jig...............................  1.4..................  3,263................  n/a..................  Jan 1-Apr 30.............  1,958.
                                                                                                         Apr 30-Aug 31............  653.
                                                                                                         Aug 31-Dec 31............  653.
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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 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

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 Sec.  679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 require harvests lower than 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 13, 2011, 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, 
2012.
    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 22, 2011.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-33436 Filed 12-28-11; 8:45 am]
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