[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21482-21483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE558


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 unused rock sole Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This 
action is necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area to be harvested.

DATES: Effective April 12, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

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 2016 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the 
BSAI are 6,110 mt, and 15,408 mt as established by the final 2016 and 
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, 
March 18, 2016). The 2016 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves 
are 11,128 mt and 7,244 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 
18, 2016).
    The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation has requested 
that NMFS exchange 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 400 mt of 
yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, in 
accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 400 mt of rock sole CDQ 
reserves for 400 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 2016 and 
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, 
March 18, 2016) are revised as follows:

[[Page 21483]]



 Table 11--Final 2016 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    Rock sole    Yellowfin
                                   ---------------------------------------     sole    -------------     sole
              Sector                  Eastern      Central      Western   -------------             ------------
                                      Aleutian     Aleutian     Aleutian                    BSAI
                                      District     District     District       BSAI                      BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC...............................        7,900        7,000        9,000       21,000       56,700      144,400
CDQ...............................          845          749          963        2,247        5,710       15,808
ICA...............................          200           75           10        5,000        6,000        3,500
BSAI trawl limited access.........          685          618          161            0            0       14,979
Amendment 80......................        6,169        5,558        7,866       13,753       44,990      110,113
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.....        3,271        2,947        4,171        1,411       11,129       43,748
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........        2,898        2,611        3,695       12,342       33,861       66,365
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2016 and 2017 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        2016                      2016         2017                      2017
              Sector                  Flathead    2016  Rock   Yellowfin     Flathead    2017  Rock   Yellowfin
                                        sole         sole         sole         sole         sole         sole
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC...............................       66,250      161,100      211,700       64,580      145,000      203,500
TAC...............................       21,000       56,700      144,400       21,000       57,100      144,000
ABC surplus.......................       45,250      104,400       67,300       43,580       87,900       59,500
ABC reserve.......................       45,250      104,400       67,300       43,580       87,900       59,500
CDQ ABC reserve...................        4,842       11,528        6,844        4,663        9,405        6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve..........       40,408       92,872       60,456       38,917       78,495       53,134
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for         4,145       22,974       24,019          n/a          n/a          n/a
 2016 \1\.........................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for           36,263       69,898       36,437          n/a          n/a          n/a
 2016 \1\.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2017 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, 2016.

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 Norton Sound Economic 
Development Corporation 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 
March 31, 2016.
    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: April 7, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-08419 Filed 4-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P