[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17114-17116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08123]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XG158


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; 2018 and 2019 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish; Correction

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is correcting the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). The amounts of Atka mackerel specified for the 
Amendment 80 sector in the Central Aleutian District (CAI) and the 
Western Aleutian District (WAI) were incorrect.

DATES: Effective April 18, 2018, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t) December 31, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for Correction

    NMFS published the final 2018 and 2019 BSAI groundfish harvest 
specifications on February 27, 2018 (83 FR 8365). The document contains 
incorrect amounts of Atka mackerel specified for the Amendment 80 
sector in the CAI and the WAI. These corrections are necessary to 
provide the correct information about the amount of Atka mackerel 
allocated to the Amendment 80 sector in these districts, and to avoid 
confusion by the fishery participants.

Correction

    In the Federal Register of February 27, 2018 (83 FR 8365) the 
Amendment 80 sector allocation in the CAI for 2018 and 2019 did not 
account for the 75 metric ton incidental catch allowance (ICA), and the 
Amendment 80 sector allocation in the WAI for 2018 and 2019 did not 
account for the 20 metric ton ICA. Therefore, Table 6 and Table 7 of 
the final 2018 and 2019 BSAI groundfish harvest specifications are 
republished as follows:

[[Page 17115]]



 Table 6--Final 2018 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
                             Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2018 Allocation by area
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
           Sector \1\                Season 2 3 4      Eastern Aleutian
                                                        District/Bering    Central Aleutian    Western Aleutian
                                                              Sea            District \5\          District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................  n/a...............              36,500              21,000              13,500
CDQ reserve.....................  Total.............               3,906               2,247               1,445
                                  A.................               1,953               1,124                 722
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 674                 433
                                  B.................               1,953               1,124                 722
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 674                 433
Non-CDQ TAC.....................  n/a...............              32,595              18,753              12,056
ICA.............................  Total.............                 800                  75                  20
Jig \6\.........................  Total.............                 159                   0                   0
BSAI trawl limited access.......  Total.............               3,164               1,868                   0
                                  A.................               1,582                 934                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 560                   0
                                  B.................               1,582                 934                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 560                   0
Amendment 80 sector.............  Total.............              28,472              16,810              12,036
                                  A.................              14,236               8,405               6,018
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               5,043               3,611
                                  B.................              14,236               8,405               6,018
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               5,043               3,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
  allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC
  for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50
  CFR part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
  Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
  fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
  January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
  be caught inside of Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
  annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.   679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
  requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
  subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS set the amount of
  this allocation for 2018 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 7--Final 2019 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
                              Amendment 80 Allocation of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2019 Allocation by area
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
           Sector \1\                Season 2 3 4      Eastern Aleutian
                                                        District/Bering    Central Aleutian    Western Aleutian
                                                              Sea            District \5\        District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................  n/a...............              33,780              24,895              13,825
CDQ reserve.....................  Total.............               3,614               2,664               1,479
                                  A.................               1,807               1,332                 740
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 799                 444
                                  B.................               1,807               1,332                 740
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 799                 444
non-CDQ TAC.....................  n/a...............              30,166              22,231              12,346
ICA.............................  Total.............                 800                  75                  20
Jig \6\.........................  Total.............                 147                   0                   0
BSAI trawl limited access.......  Total.............               2,922               2,216                   0
                                  A.................               1,461               1,108                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 665                   0
                                  B.................               1,461               1,108                   0
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a                 665                   0
Amendment 80 sectors\7\.........  Total.............              26,297              19,941              12,326
                                  A.................              13,148               9,970               6,163
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               5,982               3,698
                                  B.................              13,148               9,970               6,163
                                  Critical Habitat..                 n/a               5,982               3,698
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
  allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC
  for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50
  CFR part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
  Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).

[[Page 17116]]

 
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
  fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
  January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
  be caught inside of Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
  annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.   679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20 (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
  requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
  subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS set the amount of
  this allocation for 2019 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2019 allocations for Atka mackerel 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,
  2018. NMFS will post 2019 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2018.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Classification

    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 action corrects errors made in the allocations to 
the Amendment 80 sector of Atka mackerel in the CAI and WAI districts 
of the BSAI. This correction does not change operating practices in the 
fisheries. Corrections should be made as soon as possible to avoid 
confusion for participants in the fisheries.
    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.

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

    Dated: April 13, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08123 Filed 4-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P