[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41253-41254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15001]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE694


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 flathead sole and yellowfin sole 
Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock 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 in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area to be harvested.

DATES: Effective June 24, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves 
specified in the BSAI are 2,247 mt, 5,710 mt, and 15,808 mt as 
established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016), and one flatfish 
exchange (81 FR 21482, April 12, 2016). The 2016 flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 4,842 mt, 11,528 mt, and 
6,844 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 
2016), and one flatfish exchange (81 FR 21482, April 12, 2016).
    The Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association has requested 
that NMFS exchange 15 mt of flathead sole and 35 mt of yellowfin sole 
CDQ reserves for 50 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserve under Sec.  
679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS 
exchanges 15 mt of flathead sole and 35 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ 
reserves for 50 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserves in the BSAI. This 
action also decreases and increases the associated total annual catches 
(TAC) 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), as revised by one flatfish 
exchange (81 FR 21842, April 12, 2016), are revised as follows:

 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]
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                                                                        Pacific ocean perch               Flathead  sole    Rock  sole       Yellowfin
                                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------      sole
                         Sector                               Eastern         Central         Western                                    ---------------
                                                             Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI
                                                             district        district        district                                          BSAI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.....................................................           7,900           7,000           9,000          20,985          56,750         144,365

[[Page 41254]]

 
CDQ.....................................................             845             749             963           2,232           5,760          15,773
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
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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]
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                                                           2016 Flathead    2016  Rock         2016       2017  Flathead    2017  Rock         2017
                         Sector                                sole            sole       Yellowfin sole       sole            sole       Yellowfin sole
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ABC.....................................................          66,250         161,100         211,700          64,580         145,000         203,500
TAC.....................................................          20,985          56,750         144,365          21,000          57,100         144,000
ABC surplus.............................................          45,265         104,350          67,335          43,580          87,900          59,500
ABC reserve.............................................          45,265         104,350          67,335          43,580          87,900          59,500
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           4,857          11,478           6,879           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 2016 \1\..............           4,145          22,974          24,019             n/a             n/a             n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 \1\.................          36,263          69,898          36,437             n/a             n/a             n/a
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\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 Yukon Delta Fisheries 
Development Association 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 June 
20, 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: June 21, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-15001 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am]
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