[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68805-68806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27408]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 130925836-4174-02]
RIN 0648-XD627


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2014 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2014 seasonal apportionments of the 
total allowable catch (TAC) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by re-
apportioning unharvested pollock TAC from Statistical Areas 610 to 
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 of the GOA. This action is necessary to 
provide opportunity for harvest of the 2014 pollock TAC, consistent 
with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

[[Page 68806]]


DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 14, 
2014, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 annual pollock TACs in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of 
the GOA are apportioned among four seasons, in accordance with Sec.  
679.23(d)(2). Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the 
underharvest of a seasonal apportionment to be added to subsequent 
seasonal apportionments, provided that any revised seasonal 
apportionment does not exceed 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment 
for a given statistical area. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the D 
season apportionment of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA to 
reflect the underharvest of pollock in that area during the A, B, and C 
seasons. In addition, any underharvest remaining beyond 20 percent of 
the originally specified seasonal apportionment in a particular area 
may be further apportioned to other statistical areas. Therefore, NMFS 
also is increasing the D season apportionments of pollock to 
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 based on the underharvest of pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. These adjustments are described below.
    The D season apportionment of the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC) 
of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 13,235 metric tons 
(mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications 
for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). In accordance 
with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), hereby increases the D season apportionment 
for Statistical Area 610 by 2,647 mt to account for the underharvest of 
the TAC in Statistical Area 610 in the C season. Therefore, the revised 
D season apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is 
15,882 mt (13,235 mt plus 2,647 mt).
    The pollock D season apportionment in Statistical Area 620 of the 
GOA is 12,448 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). 
In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional 
Administrator hereby increases the D season apportionment for 
Statistical Area 620 by 2,490 mt to account for the underharvest of the 
TAC in Statistical Area 610. This increase is in proportion to the 
estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in Statistical Area 620. Therefore, the 
revised D season apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 
620 is 14,938 mt (12,448 mt plus 2,490 mt).
    The pollock D season apportionment in Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA is 13,720 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). 
In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional 
Administrator hereby increases the D season apportionment for 
Statistical Area 630 by 2,696 mt to reflect the total underharvest of 
the TAC in Statistical Area 610. This increase is in proportion to the 
estimated pollock biomass and is not greater than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the 
revised D season apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 
is 16,416 mt (13,720 mt plus 2,696 mt).

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 provide opportunity to harvest increased pollock seasonal 
apportionments. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for 
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became 
available as of November 13, 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: November 14, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-27408 Filed 11-14-14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P