[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35958-35959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14735]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD347


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; 
Reapportionment of Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limit in the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Temporary rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reapportioning the projected unused amounts of the 
halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit from the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod 
fishery to the BSAI trawl limited access yellowfin sole fishery. This 
action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2014 
total allowable catch of yellowfin sole by the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector, 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.), June 25, 2014, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

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.
    In the BSAI, the halibut PSC limit apportioned as a bycatch 
allowance for the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod 
fishery is 453 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014).
    As of June 12, 2014, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
(Regional Administrator), has determined that 60 mt of the 2014 halibut 
bycatch allowance for the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific 
cod fishery will not be used. Therefore, after consultation with the 
Council, and in accordance with Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(i)(B), NMFS 
reapportions 60 mt of halibut bycatch allowance from the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector's Pacific cod fishery, to the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector's yellowfin sole fishery. The revised 2014 halibut 
bycatch allowances are 393 mt for the BSAI trawl limited access 
sector's Pacific cod fishery and 227 mt for the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector's yellowfin sole fishery. Table 12 of the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014) is revised consistent with this reapportionment.

[[Page 35959]]



                      Table 12--Final 2014 and 2015 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
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                                                                                          Prohibited species and area \1\
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           BSAI trawl limited access fisheries             2014 Halibut    2015 Halibut    Red king crab     C. opilio          C. bairdi (animals)
                                                          mortality (mt)  mortality (mt)     (animals)       (animals)   -------------------------------
                                                               BSAI            BSAI           Zone 1           COBLZ          Zone 1          Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..........................................             227             167          23,338       3,026,465         346,228       1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\..............               0               0               0               0               0               0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\.........................               0               0               0               0               0               0
Rockfish April 15-December 31...........................               5               5               0           5,000               0           1,000
Pacific cod.............................................             393             453           2,954         129,000          60,000          50,000
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\.................             250             250             197          50,000           5,000           5,000
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC.................             875             875          26,489       3,210,465         411,228       1,241,500
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\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot,
  rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
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 and consultation with the Council. 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 
reapportionment of the BSAI trawl limited access sector's halibut PSC 
limit. It is important to immediately inform the industry as to the 
reapportionment of the BSAI trawl limited access sector's halibut PSC 
limit. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly 
conduct and efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to 
plan for the fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the 
fishing fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of June 12, 2014.
    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: June 19, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14735 Filed 6-24-14; 8:45 am]
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