[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55053-55055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25121]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF842


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 allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative 
quota (CQ) for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves. 
This action is necessary to allow the 2017 total allowable catch of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.

[[Page 55054]]


DATES: Effective November 20, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

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 2017 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 
allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) specified in the BSAI 
are 8,949 metric tons (mt), 37,060 mt, and 114,871 mt as established by 
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017). The 2017 flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves are 48,024 mt, 
96,444 mt, and 95,372 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, 
February 27, 2017).
    The Alaska Seafood cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 
2,500 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 500 mt of 
flathead sole and 2,000 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves 
under Sec.  679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.91(i), 
NMFS exchanges 2,500 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the 
TAC for 500 mt of flathead sole and 2,000 mt of yellowfin sole 
Amendment 80 ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also decreases and 
increases the TACs and Amendment 80 ABC reserves by the corresponding 
amounts. Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 
2017) and as revised (82 FR 51168, November 3, 2017) are further 
revised as follows:

 Table 11--Final 2017 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          14,576          44,325         156,699
CDQ.....................................................             845             749             963           1,128           4,765          17,177
ICA.....................................................             100              60              10           4,000           5,000           4,500
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             695             619             161               0               0          18,151
Amendment 80............................................           6,259           5,572           7,866           9,449          34,560         116,871
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................           3,319           2,954           4,171             918           9,168          45,638
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................           2,940           2,617           3,695           8,531          25,393          71,233
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2017 and 2018 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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                                                           2017 Flathead                  2017 Yellowfin   2018 Flathead                  2018 Yellowfin
                         Sector                                sole       2017 Rock sole       sole            sole       2018 Rock sole       sole
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ABC.....................................................          68,278         155,100         260,800          66,164         143,100         250,800
TAC.....................................................          14,576          44,325         156,699          14,500          47,100         154,000
ABC surplus.............................................          53,702         110,775         104,101          51,664          96,000          96,800
ABC reserve.............................................          53,702         110,775         104,101          51,664          96,000          96,800
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           6,178          11,831          10,729           5,528          10,272          10,358
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          47,524          98,944          93,372          46,136          85,728          86,442
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2017 \1\..............           4,926          23,857          37,891             n/a             n/a             n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2017 \1\.................          42,598          75,087          55,481             n/a             n/a             n/a
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\1\ The 2018 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, 2017.

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 Alaska Seafood cooperative 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

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public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became 
available as of November 7, 2017.
    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: November 15, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25121 Filed 11-15-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P