[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 188-190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33149]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE383


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2016 Gulf of Alaska Pollock 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.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fisheries. This 
action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are 
incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod 
TACs are the appropriate amounts based on the best available scientific 
information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is 
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.

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 GOA 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superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 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 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2013-0147, 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-2013-0147, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries

[[Page 189]]

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). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

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 final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in 
the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) set the 2016 pollock TAC at 
257,178 metric tons (mt) and the 2016 Pacific cod TAC at 75,202 mt in 
the GOA. In December 2015, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) recommended a 2016 pollock TAC of 257,872 mt for the GOA, 
which is more than the 257,178 mt established by the final 2015 and 
2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA. The Council also 
recommended a 2016 Pacific cod TAC of 71,925 mt for the GOA, which is 
less than the 75,202 mt established by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the GOA. 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 and 
Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). Pollock and Pacific cod are a principal prey species 
for Steller sea lions in the GOA. The seasonal apportionment of pollock 
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. The regulations at Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify how the pollock TAC will be apportioned. The 
regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii) and Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i) 
specify how the Pacific cod 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 GOA pollock and Pacific cod TACs 
are incorrectly specified. Consequently, pursuant to Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2016 GOA 
pollock TAC to 257,872 mt and the 2016 GOA Pacific cod TAC to 71,925 
mt. Therefore, Table 2 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 
2015) is revised consistent with this adjustment.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv), Table 4 of the final 2015 and 
2016 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (80 FR 10250, 
February 25, 2015) is revised for the 2016 TACs of pollock in the 
Central and Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

 Table 4--Final 2016 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments;
                                                          and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                             [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.01]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Season \1\                              Shumagin (Area 610)
                                                                  Chirikof (Area 620)
                                                                   Kodiak (Area 630)       Total \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10)............................................        3,827        6.41%       43,374       72.71%       12,456       20.88%       59,651
B (Mar 10-May 31)............................................        3,826        6.41%       50,747       85.07%        5,083        8.52%       59,651
C (Aug 25-Oct 1).............................................       24,421       40.94%       15,404       25.82%       19,822       33.23%       59,651
D (Oct 1-Nov 1)..............................................       24,421       40.94%       15,402       25.82%       19,822       33.23%       59,651
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total.............................................       56,494  ...........      124,927  ...........       57,183  ...........      238,604
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to
  May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore
  components are not shown in this table.
\2\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Note: Seasonal allowances may not total precisely to annual TAC total due to rounding.

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii) and Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i), 
Table 6 of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015) is revised for 
the 2016 seasonal apportionments and allocation of Pacific cod TAC in 
the GOA consistent with this adjustment.

[[Page 190]]



 Table 6--Final 2016 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the
GOA; Allocations for the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing
                                                   Components
 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages to the nearest 0.01. Seasonal allowances may not
                                  total precisely to annual allocation amount]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual          Sector                          Sector
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation     percentage of     Seasonal      percentage of     Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA:
    Jig (3.5% of TAC)...........             992             N/A             595             N/A             397
    Hook-and-line CV............             383            0.70             192            0.70             192
    Hook-and-line C/P...........           5,417           10.90           2,982            8.90           2,435
    Trawl CV....................          10,506           27.70           7,579           10.70           2,927
    Trawl C/P...................             657            0.90             246            1.50             410
    All Pot CV and Pot C/P......          10,397           19.80           5,417           18.20           4,979
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          28,352           60.00          17,011           40.00          11,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA:
    Jig (1.0% of TAC)...........             370             N/A             222             N/A             148
    Hook-and-line <50 CV........           5,347            9.32           3,411            5.29           1,936
    Hook-and-line >=50 CV.......           2,456            5.61           2,054            1.10             402
    Hook-and-line C/P...........           1,869            4.11           1,504            1.00             365
    Trawl CV \1\................          15,226           21.14           7,738           20.45           7,487
    Trawl C/P...................           1,537            2.00             734            2.19             804
    All Pot CV and Pot C/P......          10,180           17.83           6,528            9.97           3,652
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          36,984           60.00          22,190           40.00          14,794
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Eastern GOA.........  ..............    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           6,589                   5,930
                                                     659
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal apportionments may not total precisely due to 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 
Pacific cod 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 20, 
2016.
    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. 2015-33149 Filed 12-30-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P