[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
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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]
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