[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 195 (Thursday, October 8, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60807-60808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE224


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Atka Mackerel 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 reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2015 
Atka mackerel incidental catch allowance (ICA) for the Bering Sea 
subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) to the Amendment 80 
cooperative allocations in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2015 
total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in the BSAI to be fully 
harvested.

DATES: Effective 12 hrs Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 5, 2015 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
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 Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI is 1,000 metric tons (mt) 
and 2015 Atka mackerel total allowable catch allocated to the Amendment 
80 cooperatives is 20,696 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 700 mt 
of the Atka mackerel ICA for the BS/EAI will not be harvested. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.91(f), NMFS reallocates 700 mt 
of Atka mackerel from the BS/EAI ICA to the Amendment 80 cooperatives 
in the BSAI. In accordance with Sec.  679.91(f), NMFS will reissue 
cooperative quota permits for the reallocated Atka mackerel following 
the procedures set forth in Sec.  679.91(f)(3).
    The harvest specifications for Atka mackerel included in the 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015) are revised as follows: 300 mt of Atka mackerel for the BS/EAI 
ICA and 21,395 mt of Atka mackerel for the Amendment 80 cooperative 
allocations in the BS/EAI. Table 6 is revised and republished in its 
entirety as follows:

[[Page 60808]]



 Table 6--Final 2015 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
                             Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2015 Allocation by area
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
            Sector 1                 Season 2 3 4      Eastern Aleutian
                                                        District/Bering    Central Aleutian    Western Aleutian
                                                              Sea             District 5           District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................  n/a...............              27,000              17,000              10,500
CDQ reserve.....................  Total.............               2,889               1,819               1,124
                                  A.................               1,445                 910                 562
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 546                 337
                                  B.................               1,445                 910                 562
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 546                 337
ICA.............................  Total.............                 300                  75                  40
Jig 6...........................  Total.............                 116                   0                   0
BSAI trawl limited access.......  Total.............               2,301               1,511                   0
                                  A.................               1,150                 755                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 453                   0
                                  B.................               1,150                 755                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 453                   0
Amendment 80 sectors............  Total.............              21,395              13,595               9,337
                                  A.................              10,697               6,798               4,668
                                  B.................              10,697               6,798               4,668
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...  Total 6...........              12,030               8,111               5,741
                                  A.................               6,015               4,056               2,871
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               2,433               1,722
                                  B.................               6,015               4,056               2,871
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               2,433               1,722
Alaska Seafood Cooperative......  Total 6...........               9,365               5,484               3,595
                                  A.................               4,683               2,742               1,798
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               1,645               1,079
                                  B.................               4,683               2,742               1,798
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               1,645               1,079
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
  allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
  Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679
  and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.  Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for
  the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
  January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
  be caught inside of critical habitat; (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B
  seasons as defined at Sec.   679.23(e)(3); and (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more
  than 65 percent of ABC.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
  subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation
  is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

    This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters 
dependent upon Atka mackerel in this area. The Regional Administrator 
considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The 
current catch of Atka mackerel ICA in the BS/EAI, (2) the harvest 
capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of the 
Amendment 80 cooperatives that participate in this BS/EAI fishery.

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 reallocation of Atka mackerel from the BS/EAI ICA to 
the Amendment 80 cooperatives in the BSAI. Since the fishery is 
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 25, 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.  679.91 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 5, 2015
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25676 Filed 10-5-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P