[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 184-188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33145]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 141021887-5172-02]
RIN 0648-XE367


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2016 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pollock, Atka 
Mackerel, and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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[[Page 185]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) pollock, Atka mackerel, 
and Pacific cod fisheries. This action is necessary because NMFS has 
determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the 
BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate 
amounts based on the best available scientific information. This action 
is 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.), January 1, 2016, 
until the effective date of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish, unless otherwise modified or 
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 
Register.
    Comments must be received at the following address no later than 
4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2014-0134, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0134, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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 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 final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in 
the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) set the 2016 Bering Sea (BS) 
pollock TAC at 1,310,000 metric tons (mt), the 2016 BSAI Atka mackerel 
TAC at 54,817 mt, the 2016 BS Pacific cod TAC at 240,000 mt, and the AI 
Pacific cod TAC at 9,422 mt. In December 2015, the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a 2016 BS pollock TAC 
of 1,340,000 mt, which is more than the 1,310,000 mt TAC established by 
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI. The Council also recommended a 2016 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 
55,000 mt, which is more than the 54,817 mt TAC established by the 
final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. 
Furthermore, the Council recommended a 2016 BS Pacific cod TAC of 
238,680 mt, and an AI Pacific cod TAC of 12,839 mt, which is less than 
the BS Pacific cod TAC of 240,000 mt, and more than the AI Pacific cod 
TAC of 9,422 mt established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. The Council's recommended 
2016 TACs, and the area and seasonal apportionments, are based on the 
Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 
2015, which NMFS has determined is the best available scientific 
information for these fisheries.
    Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock, Atka 
mackerel, and Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific 
cod are a principal prey species for Steller sea lions in the BSAI. The 
seasonal apportionment of pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 
harvest is necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries are not likely 
to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat for Steller sea lions. NMFS published regulations and the 
revised harvest limit amounts for Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and 
pollock fisheries to implement Steller sea lion protection measures to 
insure that groundfish fisheries of the BSAI are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of the western distinct population 
segment of Steller sea lions or destroy or adversely modify their 
designated critical habitat (79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014). The 
regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i) specify how the BS pollock TAC 
will be apportioned. The regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7) specify how 
the BSAI Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned. The regulations at Sec.  
679.20(a)(8) specify how the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC will be 
apportioned.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B), and 
(a)(2)(iv), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator), has determined that, based on the November 2015 SAFE 
report for this fishery, the current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, and 
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2016 BS 
pollock TAC to 1,340,000 mt, the 2016 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC to 55,000, 
the 2016 BS Pacific cod TAC to 238,680 mt, and the AI Pacific cod TAC 
to 12,839 mt. Therefore, Table 2 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) 
is revised consistent with this adjustment.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i), Table 5 of the final 2015 and 
2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, 
March 5, 2015) is revised for the 2016 BS allocations of pollock TAC to 
the directed pollock fisheries and to the Community Development Quota 
(CDQ) directed fishing allowances consistent with this adjustment. The 
Steller sea lion protection measure final rule (79 FR 70286, November 
25, 2014), sets harvest limits for pollock in the A season (January 20 
to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541, see Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 541, the 2016 A season pollock harvest 
limit is no more than 30 percent, or 9,668 mt, of the AI ABC of 32,227 
mt. In Area 542, the 2016 A season pollock harvest limit is no more 
than 15 percent, or 4,834 mt, of the AI ABC of 32,227 mt. In Area 543, 
the 2016 A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent, or 
1,611 mt, of the AI pollock ABC of 32,227 mt.

[[Page 186]]



    Table 5--Final 2016 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
                                          Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   2016 A season \1\           2016 B season \1\
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
           Area and sector             2016 Allocations                     SCA harvest limit
                                                            A season DFA           \2\            B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\..........          1,340,000                n/a                n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA.............................            134,000             53,600             37,520             80,400
ICA \1\.............................             48,240                n/a                n/a                n/a
AFA Inshore.........................            578,880            231,552            162,086            347,328
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\..........            463,104            185,242            129,669            277,862
    Catch by C/Ps...................            423,740            169,496                n/a            254,244
    Catch by CVs \3\................             39,364             15,746                n/a             23,618
    Unlisted C/P Limit \4\..........              2,316                926                n/a              1,389
AFA Motherships.....................            115,776             46,310             32,417             69,466
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\......            202,608                n/a                n/a                n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\......            347,328                n/a                n/a                n/a
    Total Bering Sea DFA............          1,157,760            463,104            324,173            694,656
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC........             32,227                n/a                n/a                n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\....             19,000                n/a                n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA.............................              1,900                760                n/a              1,140
ICA.................................              2,400              1,200                n/a              1,200
Aleut Corporation...................             14,700             10,931                n/a              3,769
Area harvest limit \7\ 541..........              9,668                n/a                n/a                n/a
    542.............................              4,834                n/a                n/a                n/a
    543.............................              1,611                n/a                n/a                n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\...........                500                n/a                n/a                n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent)
  and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor
  sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is
  allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-
  November 1). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after
  subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is
  allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
  allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before
  April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
  processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/
  processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
  not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
  Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent
  of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The
  amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8), Table 7 of the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015) is revised for the 2016 seasonal and spatial allowances, gear 
shares, CDQ reserve, incidental catch allowance, and Amendment 80 
allocation of the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC consistent with this 
adjustment.

 Table 7--Final 2016 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          2016 Allocation by area
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
            Sector \1\                  Season \2 3 4\                                Central         Western
                                                             Eastern  Aleutian       Aleutian        Aleutian
                                                            District/ Bering Sea   District \5\      District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC...............................  n/a..................  28,500...............          16,000          10,500
CDQ reserve.......................  Total................  3,050................           1,712           1,124
                                    A....................  1,525................             856             562
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................             514             337
                                    B....................  1,525................             856             562
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................             514             337
ICA...............................  Total................  1,000................              75              40
Jig \6\...........................  Total................  122..................               0               0
BSAI trawl limited access.........  Total................  2,433................           1,421               0

[[Page 187]]

 
                                    A....................  1,216................             711               0
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................             426               0
                                    B....................  1,216................             711               0
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................             426               0
Amendment 80 sectors..............  Total................  21,895...............          12,792           9,337
                                    A....................  10,948...............           6,396           4,668
                                    B....................  10,948...............           6,396           4,668
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.....  Total \6\............  12,349...............           7,615           5,742
                                    A....................  6,175................           3,808           2,871
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................           2,285           1,723
                                    B....................  6,175................           3,808           2,871
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................           2,285           1,723
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........  Total \6\............  9,546................           5,177           3,595
                                    A....................  4,773................           2,589           1,798
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................           1,553           1,079
                                    B....................  4,773................           2,589           1,798
                                    Critical Habitat.....  n/a..................           1,553           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.

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7), Table 9 of the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, March 
5, 2015) is revised for the 2016 gear shares and seasonal allowances of 
the BSAI Pacific cod TAC consistent with this adjustment.

               Table 9--Final 2016 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 2016 Share of                     2016 Seasonal apportionment
          Gear sector               Percent       gear sector    2016 Share of ---------------------------------
                                                     total       sector total        Seasons          Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................             n/a         238,680             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
BS CDQ........................             n/a          25,539             n/a  see Sec.                     n/a
                                                                                 679.20(a)(7)(i)
                                                                                 (B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................             n/a         213,141             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
AI TAC........................             n/a          12,839             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
AI CDQ........................             n/a           1,374             n/a  see Sec.                     n/a
                                                                                 679.20(a)(7)(i)
                                                                                 (B).
AI non-CDQ TAC................             n/a          11,465             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit.             n/a           3,377             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\....             100         224,606             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear..            60.8         136,561             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.....             n/a             500             n/a  see Sec.                     n/a
                                                                                 679.20(a)(7)(ii
                                                                                 )(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total...             n/a         136,061             n/a  n/a.............             n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/                    48.7             n/a         108,983  Jan 1-Jun 10....          55,581
 processor.
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...          53,402
Hook-and-line catcher vessel               0.2             n/a             448  Jan 1-Jun 10....             228
 =60 ft LOA.
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...             219
Pot catcher/processor.........             1.5             n/a           3,357  Jan 1-Jun 10....           1,712
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...           1,645
Pot catcher vessel =60 ft LOA.
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...           9,211
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA                    2             n/a           4,476  n/a.............             n/a
 using hook-and-line or pot
 gear.

[[Page 188]]

 
Trawl catcher vessel..........            22.1          49,638             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1....          36,732
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10....           5,460
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1....           7,446
AFA trawl catcher/processor...             2.3           5,166             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1....           3,874
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10....           1,291
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1....               0
Amendment 80..................            13.4          30,097             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1....          22,573
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10....           7,524
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1....               0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.             n/a             n/a           4,751  Jan 20-Apr 1....           3,563
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10....           1,188
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...               0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative....             n/a             n/a          25,346  Jan 20-Apr 1....          19,010
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10....           6,337
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...               0
Jig...........................             1.4           3,144             n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30....           1,887
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Apr 30-Aug 31...             629
                                ..............  ..............  ..............  Aug 31-Dec 31...             629
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
  Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
  then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2016
  based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
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. 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 allow for harvests that exceed the appropriate allocations for 
pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod in the BSAI based on the best 
scientific information available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of December 28, 2015, and additional time 
for prior public comment would result in conservation concerns for the 
ESA-listed Steller sea lions.
    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.
    Under Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on this action to the above address until January 16, 
2015.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and Sec.  679.25 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: December 30, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-33145 Filed 12-30-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P