[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24399-24400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11011]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XH046


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 yellowfin sole Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This 
action is necessary to allow the 2019 total allowable catch of rock 
sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be 
harvested.

DATES: Effective May 28, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

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 2019 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the 
BSAI are 5,040 metric tons (mt) and 16,478 mt as established by the 
final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019). The 2019 rock sole and yellowfin sole CDQ 
ABC reserves are 7,683 mt and 11,684 mt as established by the final 
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 
9000, March 13, 2019).
    The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has 
requested that NMFS exchange 400 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ reserves for 
400 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, 
in accordance with Sec.  679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 400 mt of yellowfin 
sole CDQ reserves for 400 mt of rock 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 2019 and 
2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, 
March 13, 2019) are further revised as follows:

 Table 11--Final 2019 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.....................................................          11,009           8,385          10,000          14,500          47,500         153,600
CDQ.....................................................           1,178             897           1,070           1,552           5,440          16,078
ICA.....................................................             100              60              10           3,000           6,000           4,000
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             973             743             178  ..............  ..............          18,351
Amendment 80............................................           8,758           6,685           8,742           9,949          36,060         115,171
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 13--Final 2019 and 2020 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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                                                           2019 Flathead                  2019 Yellowfin     2020 \1\      2020 \1\ Rock     2020 \1\
                         Sector                                sole       2019 Rock sole       sole        Flathead sole       sole       Yellowfin sole
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ABC.....................................................          66,625         118,900         263,200          68,448         143,700         257,800
TAC.....................................................          14,500          47,500         153,600          14,500          57,100         166,425
ABC surplus.............................................          52,125          71,400         109,600          53,948          86,600          91,375
ABC reserve.............................................          52,125          71,400         109,600          53,948          86,600          91,375
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           5,577           7,283          12,084           5,772           9,266           9,777
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          46,548          64,117          97,516          48,176          77,334          81,598
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\1\ The 2020 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, 2019.


[[Page 24400]]

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 Aleutian Pribilof Island 
Community Development Association 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 May 
15, 2019.
    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: May 21, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-11011 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P