[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 40 (Thursday, March 2, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12296-12300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04141]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket Nos. 120328229-4949-02 and 150121066-5717-02]
RIN 0648-XF210


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; annual adjustment of Atlantic bluefin tuna 
Purse Seine and Reserve category quotas; inseason quota transfer from 
the Reserve category to the Longline category.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Purse Seine 
and Reserve category quotas for 2017, as it does annually. NMFS is also 
transferring inseason 45 metric tons (mt) of BFT quota from the Reserve 
category to the Longline category. This action is based on 
consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding 
inseason adjustments. NMFS has decided that the transfer to the 
Longline category will be distributed to permitted Atlantic Tunas 
Longline vessels with recent fishing activity, rather than to all 
qualified Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) shares recipients. As a result 
of this transfer, the associated IBQ accounts will each receive 1,102 
lb (0.5 mt) of IBQ.

DATES: Effective February 28, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah McLaughlin, Tom Warren, or Brad 
McHale, 978-281-9260, or Carrie Soltanoff, 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implemented under the authority 
of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.) and 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by 
persons and vessels subject to U.S. jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR 
part 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. BFT quota recommended by 
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT) among the various domestic fishing categories, per the 
allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) 
(71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006), as amended by Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 7) (79 FR 71510, December 2, 2014). 
NMFS is required under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide 
U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest the 
ICCAT-recommended quota.

Annual Adjustment of the BFT Purse Seine and Reserve Category Quotas

    In 2015, NMFS implemented a final rule that increased the U.S. BFT 
quota and subquotas consistent with ICCAT Recommendation 14-05 (80 FR 
52198, August 28, 2015). As a result, based on the currently codified 
U.S. quota of 1,058.79 mt (not including the 25 mt allocated by ICCAT 
to the United States to account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline 
fisheries in the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area), the baseline 
Purse Seine, Longline, and Reserve category quotas are codified as 
184.3 mt, 148.3 mt, and 24.8 mt, respectively. See Sec.  635.27(a).
    Pursuant to Sec.  635.27(a)(4), NMFS has determined the amount of 
quota available to individual Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category 
participants in 2017, based on their BFT catch (landings and dead 
discards) in 2016. In accordance with the regulations, NMFS is making 
available to each Purse Seine category participant either 100 percent, 
75 percent, 50 percent, or 25 percent of the individual baseline quota

[[Page 12297]]

allocations based on the previous year's catch, as described in Sec.  
635.27(a)(4)(ii), and is reallocating the remainder to the Reserve 
category for 2017. NMFS has calculated the amounts of quota available 
to individual Purse Seine fishery participants based on their 
individual catch levels in 2016 and the codified process adopted in 
Amendment 7. Total Purse Seine category BFT catches were 0 mt in 2016. 
NMFS did not open (i.e., announce a start date for) the Purse Seine 
fishery in 2016 because there were no active vessels permitted to fish 
for tunas with purse seine gear in 2016. Consistent with Sec.  
635.27(a)(4)(v)(C), NMFS will notify Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine fishery 
participants of the amount of quota available for their use this year 
through the IBQ electronic system established under Sec.  635.15 and in 
writing.
    Based on the procedures described above and by summing the 
individual available allocations, NMFS has determined the 2017 Purse 
Seine category quota available to Purse Seine fishery participants is 
46.1 mt. Thus, the amount of Purse Seine category quota to be 
reallocated to the Reserve category is 138.2 mt (184.3 mt-46.1 mt). 
This reallocation results in a 2017 Reserve category quota of 163 mt 
(24.8 mt + 138.2 mt), before any transfers to other categories.
    NMFS anticipates that it will consider additional BFT quota 
adjustments during 2017. For example, when complete 2016 BFT catch 
information is available and finalized, NMFS may augment the Reserve 
category quota further by carrying forward underharvest, if any, from 
2016, consistent with ICCAT limits. Subsequent notices will be 
published in the Federal Register. In addition, fishermen may call the 
Atlantic Tunas Information Line at (978) 281-9260, or access 
hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates.

Quota Transfer

    Under Sec.  635.15(b), additional BFT quota may be distributed 
within the Longline category, after the initial annual allocations if 
the U.S. baseline quota increases as a result of an ICCAT 
recommendation or as a result of a transfer of quota from the Reserve 
category to the Longline category, pursuant to criteria for quota 
adjustments.
    Under Sec.  635.27(a)(9), NMFS has the authority to transfer quota 
among fishing categories or subcategories, after considering the 14 
regulatory determination criteria provided under Sec.  635.27(a)(8), 
which are:
    The usefulness of information obtained from catches in the 
particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of the 
status of the stock; the catches of the particular category quota to 
date and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no 
adjustment is made; the projected ability of the vessels fishing under 
the particular category quota to harvest the additional amount of BFT 
before the end of the fishing year; the estimated amounts by which 
quotas for other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded; 
effects of the adjustment on BFT rebuilding and overfishing; effects of 
the adjustment on accomplishing the objectives of the fishery 
management plan; variations in seasonal distribution, abundance, or 
migration patterns of BFT; effects of catch rates in one area 
precluding vessels in another area from having a reasonable opportunity 
to harvest a portion of the category's quota; review of dealer reports, 
daily landing trends, and the availability of BFT on the fishing 
grounds; optimizing fishing opportunity; accounting for dead discards, 
facilitating quota monitoring, supporting other fishing monitoring 
programs through quota allocations and/or generation of revenue; and 
support of research through quota allocations and/or generation of 
revenue. Since implementing Amendment 7, NMFS has transferred quota 
inseason from the Reserve category to the Longline category twice, once 
in 2015 and once in 2016 (80 FR 45098, July 29, 2015; 81 FR 19, January 
4, 2016).
    NMFS has considered the determination criteria regarding inseason 
adjustments and their applicability to the Longline category fishery 
and has determined that a quota transfer is warranted, as explained 
below. Consistent with the criteria for quota adjustments, this 
transfer is intended to increase the amount of quota available to 
individual vessels, and therefore help vessel owners account for BFT 
landings and dead discards while fostering conditions in which permit 
holders become more willing to lease IBQ. The revised Longline category 
quota would support the broader objectives of Amendment 7, which 
include reducing BFT interactions and dead discards while maintaining 
an economically viable swordfish and yellowfin tuna directed fishery.
    Vessels using pelagic longline gear must have IBQ to account for 
BFT landings and dead discards. If a vessel has insufficient IBQ to 
account for such landings and dead discards, it goes into ``quota 
debt.'' A permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessel is not allowed to 
fish with pelagic longline gear if it has outstanding quota debt or 
does not have the minimum amount of quota (i.e., 276 lb (0.125 mt) to 
depart on a fishing trip in the Atlantic and 551 lb (0.25 mt) to depart 
on a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico). These minimum amounts were 
specified to allow the landing and accounting of one BFT, based on 
average fish weight for each area (e.g., 551 lb of quota would allow 
for the landing and accounting of one BFT in the Gulf of Mexico).
    With respect to the effects of the adjustment on BFT rebuilding and 
overfishing, and accomplishing the objectives of the fishery management 
plan (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(v) and (vi)), this action is consistent with 
the previously implemented and analyzed quotas and the existing 
rebuilding plan, and it is not expected to lead to overfishing or 
negatively impact stock health or otherwise affect the stock in ways 
not previously analyzed. The transfer of 45 mt of BFT quota from the 
Reserve category to the Longline category will result in an adjusted 
Longline category quota of 193.3 mt (148.3 mt + 45 mt), which remains 
within the ICCAT quota. NMFS also considered the estimated amounts by 
which quotas for other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded 
(Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(iv)) and the ability to account for all 2017 
landings and dead discards. Overall, less than 4 percent of the total 
of the currently available quota for the other commercial quota 
categories has been harvested as of February 22, 2017. NMFS will need 
to account for all 2017 landings and dead discards within the adjusted 
U.S. quota, consistent with ICCAT recommendations, and anticipates 
having sufficient quota to do that even with this transfer from the 
Reserve category. This action is consistent with the rebuilding 
objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP as amended.
    Regarding the determination criteria ``optimizing fishing 
opportunity'' (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(x)), the ability of pelagic longline 
vessel owners to account for BFT with quota allocations or to lease IBQ 
at an affordable price is key to the success of the IBQ Program and 
thus to optimize fishing opportunity by moving quota to where it is 
needed. An inseason transfer of quota to the Longline category would 
facilitate accomplishing the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP by optimizing fishing opportunity, contributing to full accounting 
for landings and dead discards, and reducing uncertainty in the fishery 
as a whole. Quota transferred from the Reserve category and distributed 
directly to active vessels (discussed below) should reduce

[[Page 12298]]

situations where fishing opportunity for target species is constrained 
by the unavailability of quota (e.g., because of BFT quota debt or a 
low IBQ balance) or, in the case of vessels with recent fishing 
activity that are not associated with IBQ shares, by not finding 
affordable quota (or sufficient quota) for lease. It will also reduce 
vessel owner uncertainty about whether a vessel owner will have 
sufficient quota to account for future BFT catch. Without this inseason 
quota transfer, permit holders may be unnecessarily conservative at the 
beginning of the year, in a way that does not optimize fishing 
opportunities nor encourage the appropriate functioning of the IBQ 
leasing program. For example, vessel owners may fear that they will not 
have enough IBQ to depart on as many trips as they have planned and 
enough IBQ to account for BFT retained or discarded dead, and thus may 
feel they cannot lease IBQ to other vessels. If they do lease out 
quota, they may set the lease prices unnecessarily high to offset their 
perceived risks. An inseason distribution of IBQ to active vessels 
(discussed below) will reduce the perceived risk associated with 
leasing a portion of their IBQ to other vessels early in the year and 
will reduce uncertainty in their business plans for the year.
    Regarding the determination criteria about accounting for dead 
discards (Sec.  635.27(a)(8)(xi)) and variations in seasonal 
distribution or abundance, a quota transfer from the Reserve category 
to the Longline category would contribute to full accounting of BFT 
catch by vessels that accrue quota debt (i.e., reduce quota debt), 
enhance the likelihood that share recipients will lease IBQ to others, 
and reduce uncertainty in the fishery as a whole. Transferring quota in 
early 2017 helps to address the diversity of the fishery with respect 
to the timing of fishing activities in different geographic areas. A 
quota transfer later in the year may disadvantage those fishing early 
in the year. For example, a vessel that fishes only during the first 
quarter of the year would not benefit from such a quota transfer if it 
happened at any time after the first quarter. In contrast, a vessel 
that fishes only during the fourth quarter would not be disadvantaged 
by a quota transfer during the first quarter, because they would 
receive the quota distribution during the first quarter, and could keep 
the IBQ until they are ready to fish. Additional inseason transfers 
could occur later in the year and the additional quota at the beginning 
of the year helps equalize the distribution among the active vessels.
    Based on the considerations above, NMFS is transferring 45 mt of 
the adjusted Reserve category quota to the Longline category. As a 
result of this quota transfer, the adjusted 2017 Reserve category quota 
is 118 mt (163 mt-45 mt), and the adjusted 2017 Longline category quota 
is 193.3 mt.

Distribution of Transferred Quota Within the Longline Category

    For each of the 34-mt quota transfers in 2015 and 2016, NMFS 
distributed 551 lb (0.25 mt) of IBQ equally to each of the 136 
qualified IBQ share recipients. In a recent final rule (the ``IBQ 
inseason transfer rule''), NMFS modified the HMS regulations regarding 
the distribution of inseason BFT quota transfers to the Longline 
category (81 FR 95903, December 29, 2016; 82 FR 8821, January 31, 2017; 
82 FR 9530, February 7, 2017). That final rule provided NMFS the 
ability to distribute quota inseason either to all qualified IBQ share 
recipients (i.e., share recipients who have associated their permit 
with a vessel) or only to permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels 
with recent fishing activity, whether or not they are associated with 
IBQ shares. The final rule described how, in deciding whether to 
transfer additional quota to the Longline category inseason from the 
Reserve category, NMFS would first consider the existing 14 regulatory 
determination criteria, including the need to ``optimize fishing 
opportunity'' (as described above), and then would decide whether to 
distribute that quota to all qualified IBQ share recipients or only to 
permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels with recent fishing activity. 
The final rule indicated that this decision would be based on 
information for the subject year and previous year, including the 
number of BFT landings and dead discards, the number of IBQ lease 
transactions, the average amount of IBQ leased, the average amount of 
quota debt, the annual amount of IBQ allocation, any previous inseason 
allocations of IBQ, the amount of BFT quota in the Reserve category, 
the percentage of BFT quota harvested by the other quota categories, 
the remaining number of days in the year, the number of active vessels 
fishing not associated with IBQ share, and the number of vessels that 
have incurred quota debt or that have low levels of IBQ allocation. The 
final rule further indicated that NMFS would determine which approach 
best meets the specific objectives of the IBQ Program, including the 
objective of providing flexibility in the quota system to enable 
pelagic longline vessels to obtain BFT quota from other vessels with 
available individual quota in order to enable full accounting for BFT 
landings and dead discards, and minimize constraints on fishing for 
target species. Discussion of the relevant information and 
justification for how NMFS is distributing the transferred quota 
follows.
    NMFS has examined the logbook, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), 
dealer, and electronic monitoring data for 2016 and for 2017 as of 
February 22, 2017, and has determined that 90 vessels have recent 
fishing activity and that, of those, 86 were IBQ share recipients. As 
described in the final IBQ inseason transfer rule, any vessel activity 
in the pelagic longline fishery during this date range is sufficient to 
qualify as ``recent fishing activity.'' For comparison, there are 136 
IBQ share recipients under Amendment 7.
    Preliminary data indicate that, in 2016, 55 Atlantic Tunas Longline 
vessels landed a total of 447 BFT (196,142 lb) and 30 Atlantic Tunas 
Longline vessels discarded dead 175 BFT (19,575 lb). In 2017 through 
February 22, 18 Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels landed a total of 35 
BFT (16,909 lb) and 5 vessels discarded dead 8 BFT (935 lb). These 
landings and dead discards (as well as VMS data that document BFT 
released alive) indicate that pelagic longline vessels have been 
interacting with BFT in 2016 (and early 2017). The vessels have been 
accounting for BFT using IBQ, as required by the regulations. It is 
likely that there will continue to be pelagic longline interactions 
with BFT and a need for vessels to account for the BFT retained and 
discarded dead in 2017. Distributing only to active vessels provides a 
focused, more efficient distribution of quota to those that need it 
(i.e., the active vessels) will help reduce uncertainty and facilitate 
better business decisions and a more effective leasing program for the 
remainder of the year. We note that this is only a small influx of 
quota to facilitate effective leasing and more certainty in operational 
decisions at the beginning of the year; the baseline category quota is 
still distributed to all IBQ share recipients, which includes those 
that are inactive.
    There were 103 IBQ lease transactions (81 in 2016; 22 in 2017 
through February 22), with 72 distinct share recipients leasing and a 
total of 170,507 lb leased (127,666 lb in 2016 and 42,841 lb in 2017 
through February 22). Nineteen IBQ lessors did not have recent fishing 
activity. Overall, the average amount of IBQ leased was 1,481

[[Page 12299]]

lb and average lease price was $2.42 per pound (weighted average). In 
discussions with vessel operators, some have indicated that the ex-
vessel price of BFT was variable, and relatively low, and that they 
essentially made little or no money from BFT given expenses including 
the cost to lease BFT. NMFS data indicate that the ex-vessel price of 
BFT from pelagic longline vessels from January 1, 2016, through 
February 22, 2017, ranged from zero to $17/lb, with an average of 
$4.90/lb. There were four active vessels that were not associated with 
IBQ shares that leased quota from share recipients in order to fish 
with pelagic longline gear. Seventeen distinct vessels had quota debt 
at any given point in 2016, with an average of 708 lb. No vessels had 
quota debt going into 2017. This price and leasing information 
demonstrates that the leasing market is active, vessels are paying out 
of pocket to obtain additional IBQ as needed, and that BFT landings are 
generally not profitable. It also indicates that influxes of quota 
inseason by NMFS were helpful in facilitating the effective functioning 
of the Program and system. Furthermore, share recipients that are not 
actively fishing are earning some revenue through leasing to those 
vessels that are fishing (i.e., from 5 such vessels in 2015 to 19 
vessels from January 1, 2016 through February 22, 2017). These trends 
further support distribution of quota to Atlantic Tunas Longline 
vessels with recent fishing activity in order to facilitate accounting 
for BFT catch or reducing the likelihood of accrued quota debt, while 
helping to lower any additional cost of leasing.
    The annual amount of Longline category quota allocated in the IBQ 
system for 2016 was the baseline Longline category quota of 148.3 mt 
plus the 34-mt transfer that was effective January 1, 2016, for a total 
of 182.3 mt. The annual amount of Longline category quota currently 
allocated in the IBQ system for 2017 is the baseline Longline category 
quota of 148.3 mt. NMFS has not made any inseason transfers thus far in 
2017. As described above, the amount of quota in the Reserve category 
following this action's reallocation from the Purse Seine category is 
163 mt. As described in the Quota Transfer section above, commercial 
landings for categories other than the Longline category total less 
than 4 percent of available 2017 quota for those categories. Thus, 
substantial quota remains available in the Reserve category for future 
transfers, as appropriate.
    NMFS has determined that distribution of quota only to Atlantic 
Tunas Longline vessels with recent fishing activity fulfills IBQ 
Program objectives. Such a distribution would provide transferred quota 
only to the vessels that have recently fished and are therefore most 
likely to need quota in order to account for BFT interactions. One of 
the principal objectives of the IBQ Program is to require increased 
individual accountability for BFT catch. Vessels that are not fishing 
(i.e., not active) do not need IBQ to account for BFT catch. Of the 136 
IBQ share recipients, only 86 (63 percent) have recent fishing 
activity, and a majority of IBQ share recipients with no recent 
activity are not leasing out their quota (i.e., 31 of 50 inactive share 
recipients did not lease out quota in the period analyzed). In 
addition, there are four Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels with recent 
fishing activity that are not associated with IBQ shares. Efficient 
distribution of quota to those that need it (i.e., the active vessels) 
supports the objectives of the IBQ Program, i.e., balance the 
objectives of limiting bluefin landings and dead discards with the 
objective of optimizing fishing opportunities and maintaining 
profitability; and provide flexibility in the quota system to enable 
pelagic longline vessels to obtain BFT quota from other vessels with 
available individual quota in order to enable full accounting for BFT 
landings and dead discards, and minimize constraints on fishing for 
target species. Vessels with IBQ share that have not been active and 
would not be given any inseason IBQ through this action, may 
nevertheless become active if they desire, because such vessels were 
allocated the annual amount of IBQ for 2017, and may lease additional 
IBQ if necessary. After considering this information, NMFS has decided 
to distribute the 45 mt of quota transferred from the Reserve to the 
Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels with recent fishing activity.
    As a result of this quota transfer, 1,102 lb (0.5 mt) of quota is 
being distributed to each of the 90 permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline 
vessels with recent fishing activity. For comparison, if the 45 mt were 
distributed to all qualified IBQ share recipients, each would receive 
729 lb (0.33 mt). For those vessels with recent fishing activity that 
are not associated with valid (i.e., unexpired) permits at the time of 
the quota transfer, the IBQ will be transferred, but will not be usable 
by the vessel owner (i.e., may not be leased or used to account for 
BFT) unless and until the vessel is associated with a valid permit. 
When a qualified IBQ share recipient with recent fishing activity 
receives inseason quota, the quota will be designated as either Gulf of 
Mexico (GOM) IBQ, Atlantic (ATL) IBQ, or both GOM and ATL IBQ, 
according to the share recipient's regional designations. Those vessels 
that are participating in the voluntary Deepwater Horizon Oceanic Fish 
Restoration Project repose period through June 30, 2017, and that have 
recent fishing activity, would receive a distribution of inseason quota 
once the repose period ends. For vessels with recent fishing activity 
that are not qualified IBQ share recipients, NMFS will assign the 
distributed quota a regional designation based on where the majority of 
the vessel's ``recent fishing activity'' occurred for the relevant 
period analyzed (either GOM or ATL). This action is supported by the 
Amendment 7 Final Environmental Impact Statement and final rule, which 
analyzed and anticipated inseason quota transfers from the Reserve to 
the Longline category, and the final IBQ inseason transfer rule. NMFS 
anticipates that this action will enhance the ability of vessel owners 
to account for BFT catch, reduce quota debt, facilitate quota leasing, 
and reduce uncertainty in the fishery.

Monitoring and Reporting

    NMFS will continue to monitor the BFT fisheries, including the 
pelagic longline fishery, closely through the mandatory landings and 
catch reports. Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 
hours of a dealer receiving BFT through the electronic BFT dealer 
reporting system as well as through the online IBQ system. Pelagic 
longline vessels are required to enter BFT dead discard information 
through the IBQ system and confirm the accuracy of dealer-reported 
data. Pelagic longline vessels are also required to report BFT catch 
through VMS, as well as through the online IBQ system.
    Longline category permit holders are reminded that all BFT 
discarded dead must be reported through VMS, and accounted for in the 
online IBQ system, consistent with requirements at Sec.  635.15(a).
    If needed, subsequent adjustments will be published in the Federal 
Register. In addition, fishermen may call the Atlantic Tunas 
Information Line at (978) 281-9260, or access hmspermits.noaa.gov for 
updates on quota monitoring and inseason adjustments.

Classification

    The Acting Assistant Administrator for NMFS (AA) finds that it is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide prior 
notice of, and

[[Page 12300]]

an opportunity for public comment on, the transfer from the Reserve 
category to the Longline category for the following reasons:
    The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, as 
amended, provide for inseason adjustments to quotas and other aspects 
of BFT fishery management, to respond to the diverse range of factors 
which may affect BFT fisheries, including ecological (e.g., rebuilding, 
or the migratory nature of HMS) and commercial (e.g., optimizing 
fishing opportunity, or reducing bycatch). Specifically, Amendment 7 
stated that NMFS may need to consider providing additional quota to the 
Longline category as a whole in order to increase the amount of quota 
available to permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels via the IBQ 
Program, and balance the need to have an operational directed pelagic 
longline fishery with the need to reduce BFT bycatch.
    NMFS has determined that adjustments to the Reserve and Longline 
category BFT quotas are warranted. Analysis of available data shows 
that adjustment to the Longline category quota from the initial level 
would result in minimal risks of exceeding the ICCAT-allocated quota. 
The regulations implementing the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, as amended, 
provide the flexibility to provide additional quota to the Longline 
category in order to optimize fishing opportunity, account for dead 
discards, and accomplish the objectives of the fishery management plan. 
A quota transfer effective in early 2017 helps to address the diversity 
of the fishery with respect to the timing of fishing activities in 
different geographic areas. A quota transfer later in the year may 
disadvantage those fishing early in the year.
    Affording prior notice and opportunity for public comment to 
implement the quota transfer is impracticable. The decision on whether 
to transfer 45 mt of quota from the Reserve category to the Longline 
category, and whether to distribute that quota to all qualified IBQ 
share recipients or only to permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels 
with recent fishing activity, needs to happen at the beginning of the 
year to facilitate effective leasing and more certainty in operational 
decisions. NMFS only recently received updated data from the 2016 
fishery, as it recently closed, and from the first several weeks of the 
2017 fishery. If NMFS were to offer an opportunity for public comment, 
it would unnecessarily preclude fishing opportunities for some vessel 
operators, particularly those that fish early in the fishing season. 
Precluding fishing opportunities is contrary to the public interest 
because of increased operating costs due to low quota balances. As 
explained earlier, NMFS conducted notice-and-comment rulemaking on the 
underlying regulations that set forth the criteria used for this 
action.
    Delays in adjusting the Reserve and Longline category quotas would 
adversely affect those permitted Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels that 
would otherwise have an opportunity to reduce or resolve quota debt, 
lease quota to other vessels, as well as delay potential beneficial 
effects on the ability for vessel operators to make business plans for 
their future. NMFS is trying to balance providing opportunity to the 
pelagic longline fishery, with the reduction of BFT bycatch, and 
delaying this action would be contrary to the public interest. 
Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive 
prior notice and the opportunity for public comment. For all of the 
above reasons, there is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to waive the 
30-day delay in effectiveness.
    This action is being taken under Sec. Sec.  635.15(b) and (f) and 
635.27(a)(8) and (9) and (a)(4) and (7), and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 28, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries. National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04141 Filed 2-28-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P