[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72740-72741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25446]



[[Page 72740]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XE969


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 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 yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area to be harvested.

DATES: Effective October 21, 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 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves 
specified in the BSAI are 1,537 metric tons (mt), 5,215 mt, and 17,013 
mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and following 
revision (81 FR 69442, October 6, 2016). The 2016 flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,552 mt, 12,023 mt, and 
5,639 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) 
and following revision (81 FR 69442, October 6, 2016).
    The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation has requested that 
NMFS exchange 304 mt of flathead sole and 245 mt of rock sole CDQ 
reserves for 549 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  
679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS 
exchanges 304 mt of flathead sole, 245 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 
549 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), and following revision (81 FR 69442, October 6, 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            BSAI
                                                             District        District        District
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TAC.....................................................           7,900           7,000           9,000          16,086          54,935         151,079
CDQ.....................................................             845             749             963           1,233           4,970          17,562
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           9,853          43,965         115,038
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................           3,271           2,947           4,171           1,411          11,129          43,748
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................           2,898           2,611           3,695           8,442          32,836          71,290
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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 Yellowfin   2017 Flathead                  2017 Yellowfin
                         Sector                                sole       2016 Rock sole       sole            sole       2017 Rock sole       sole
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ABC.....................................................          66,250         161,100         211,700          64,580         145,000         203,500
TAC.....................................................          16,086          54,935         151,079          21,000          57,100         144,000
ABC surplus.............................................          50,164         106,165          60,621          43,580          87,900          59,500
ABC reserve.............................................          50,164         106,165          60,621          43,580          87,900          59,500
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           5,856          12,268           5,090           4,663           9,405           6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          44,308          93,897          55,531          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\.................          40,163          70,923          31,512             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.


[[Page 72741]]

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 Bristol Bay 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 
October 12, 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: October 17, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25446 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P