[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52673-52675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21540]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE152


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of 
Flatfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
for CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. This action is 
necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of flathead sole, 
rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area to be harvested.

DATES: Effective September 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) 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 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 2015 flathead sole, rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves 
specified in the BSAI are 2,545 metric tons (mt),

[[Page 52674]]

7,710 mt, and 15,693 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015). The 2015 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 4,531 
mt, 11,732 mt, and 10,929 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 38017, July 2, 2015).
    The Coastal Villages Regional Fund has requested that NMFS exchange 
125 mt of flathead sole and 175 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 300 mt 
of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, in 
accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 125 mt of flathead sole 
and 175 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 300 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ 
ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and increases the 
TACs and CDQ ABC reserves by the corresponding amounts. Tables 11 and 
13 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in 
the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) and following revisions (80 FR 
38017, July 2, 2015) are further revised as follows:

 Table 11--Final 2015 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
                                     Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Pacific ocean perch                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Sector                               Eastern         Central         Western
                                                             Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                                             district        district        district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.....................................................           8,000           7,000           9,000          24,075          69,375         149,050
CDQ.....................................................             856             749             963           2,420           7,535          15,993
ICA.....................................................             100              75              10           5,000           8,000           5,000
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             704             618             161               0               0          16,165
Amendment 80............................................           6,340           5,558           7,866          16,655          53,840         111,892
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................           3,362           2,947           4,171           1,708          13,318          44,455
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................           2,978           2,611           3,695          14,947          40,522          67,437
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2015 and 2016 ABC Surplus, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole,
                                                              Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2015 Flathead                  2015 Yellowfin   2016 Flathead                  2016 Yellowfin
                         Sector                                sole       2015 Rock sole       sole            sole       2016 Rock sole       sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC.....................................................          66,130         181,700         248,800          63,711         164,800         245,500
TAC.....................................................          24,075          69,375         149,050          24,250          69,250         149,000
ABC surplus.............................................          42,055         112,325          99,750          39,461          95,550          96,500
ABC reserve.............................................          42,055         112,325          99,750          39,461          95,550          96,500
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           4,656          11,907          10,629           4,222          10,224          10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          37,399         100,418          89,121          35,239          85,326          86,175
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2015\1\...............           3,836          24,840          35,408             n/a             n/a             n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015\1\..................          33,563          75,578          53,713             n/a             n/a             n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
  eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015.

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 delay the flatfish exchange by the Coastal Villages Regional Fund 
in the BSAI. Since these fisheries are currently open, it is important 
to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. 
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct 
and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan 
for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the 
fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of August 21, 2015.

[[Page 52675]]

    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: August 26, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21540 Filed 8-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P