[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50036-50037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170817779-8186-02]
RIN 0648-XG508


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 
and Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserves in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 
2018 total allowable catch of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be 
harvested.

DATES: Effective October 4, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

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 2018 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), 36,060 mt, and 115,171 mt as established by 
the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). The 2018 flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves are 46,680 mt, 
85,728 mt, and 110,286 mt as established by the final 2018 and 2019 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 
27, 2018). The 2018 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ 
reserves specified in the BSAI are 1,552 mt, 5,040 mt, and 16,478 mt as 
established by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). The 2018 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,593 
mt, 10,272 mt, and 13,215 mt as established by the final 2018 and 2019 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 
27, 2018).
    The Alaska Seafood Cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 
3,650 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC for 2,650 mt 
of flathead sole and 1,000 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves under Sec.  679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 3,650 mt of rock sole Amendment 80 
allocations of the TAC for 2,650 mt of flathead sole and 1,000 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.
    The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has 
requested that NMFS exchange 250 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 250 
mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, 
in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 250 mt of rock sole 
CDQ reserves for 250 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.
    The Coastal Villages Regional Fund has requested that NMFS exchange 
45 mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves and 250 mt of rock sole CDQ 
reserves for 295 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  
679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS 
exchanges 45 mt of flathead sole CDQ reserves and 250 mt of rock sole 
CDQ reserves for 295 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 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications 
for groundfish in the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018), are revised 
as follows:

[[Page 50037]]



 Table 11--Final 2018 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.....................................................           9,000           7,500           9,000          17,105          42,950         155,545
CDQ.....................................................             963             803             963           1,507           4,540          17,023
ICA.....................................................             100             120              10           4,000           6,000           4,000
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             794             658             161               0               0          18,351
Amendment 80............................................           7,143           5,920           7,866          11,599          32,410         116,171
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2018 and 2019 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, 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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                                                           2018 Flathead                  2018 Yellowfin     2019 \1\      2019 \1\ Rock     2019 \1\
                         Sector                                sole       2018 Rock sole       sole        Flathead sole       sole       Yellowfin sole
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ABC.....................................................          66,773         143,100         277,500          65,227         132,000         267,500
TAC.....................................................          17,105          42,950         155,545          16,500          49,100         156,000
ABC surplus.............................................          49,668         100,150         121,955          48,727          82,900         111,500
ABC reserve.............................................          49,668         100,150         121,955          48,727          82,900         111,500
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           5,638          10,772          12,670           5,214           8,870          11,931
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          44,030          89,378         109,286          43,513          74,030          99,570
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\1\ The 2019 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, 2018.

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 Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association, and the 
Coastal Villages Regional Fund 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 
September 21, 2018.
    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: September 28, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21600 Filed 10-3-18; 8:45 am]
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