[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 187 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58220-58221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24542]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE210


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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative 
quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 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 28, 2015, through December 31, 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 Amendment 80 
allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) specified in the BSAI 
are 16,655 metric tons (mt), 53,840 mt, and 111,892 mt as established 
by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). The 2015 flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves are 37,399 mt, 100,418 mt, 
and 89,121 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015).
    The Alaska Seafood cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 
5,620 mt of flathead sole and 1,450 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 
allocations of the TAC for 7,070 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves under Sec.  679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 5,620 mt of flathead sole and 1,450 mt of 
rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 7,070 mt of yellowfin 
sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases 
and increases the TACs and Amendment 80 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 as revised (80 FR 55562, September 16, 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]
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                                                                        Pacific ocean perch                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Sector                               Eastern         Central         Western
                                                             Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                                             district        district        district
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TAC.....................................................           8,000           7,000           9,000          18,355          67,475         156,670
CDQ.....................................................             856             749             963           2,320           7,085          16,543
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          11,035          52,390         118,962
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................           3,362           2,947           4,171           1,708          13,318          44,455
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................           2,978           2,611           3,695           9,327          39,072          74,507
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


[[Page 58221]]


 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]
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                                                           2015 Flathead                  2015 Yellowfin   2016 Flathead                  2016 Yellowfin
                         Sector                                sole       2015 Rock sole       sole            sole       2016 Rock sole       sole
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ABC.....................................................          66,130         181,700         248,800          63,711         164,800         245,500
TAC.....................................................          18,355          67,475         156,670          24,250          69,250         149,000
ABC surplus.............................................          47,775         114,225          92,130          39,461          95,550          96,500
ABC reserve.............................................          47,775         114,225          92,130          39,461          95,550          96,500
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           4,756          12,357          10,079           4,222          10,224          10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          43,019         101,868          82,051          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\.................          39,183          77,028          46,643             n/a             n/a             n/a
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\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 Alaska Seafood cooperative 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 September 17, 2015.
    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: September 22, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24542 Filed 9-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P