[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49067-49068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20170]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XY033


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 2019 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 September 18, 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 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 
allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) specified in the BSAI 
are 13,149 metric tons (mt); 30,860 mt; and 117,171 mt; respectively, 
as established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) and flatfish 
exchange (84 FR 34070, July 17, 2019).

[[Page 49068]]

    The 2019 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole Amendment 80 
ABC reserves are 43,348 mt; 69,317 mt; and 95,516 mt; respectively, as 
established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000; March 13, 2019) and flatfish 
exchange (84 FR 34070, July 17, 2019).
    The Alaska Seafood Cooperative has requested that NMFS exchange 
2,900 mt of rock sole and 700 mt of yellowfin sole Amendment 80 
allocation of the TAC for 3,600 mt of flathead sole Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves under Sec.  679.91(i). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.91(i), NMFS exchanges 2,900 mt of rock sole and 700 mt of yellowfin 
sole Amendment 80 allocation of the TAC for 3,600 mt of flathead 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 2019 and 2020 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) 
and as revised (84 FR 34070; July 17, 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          21,300          39,400          154,900
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          16,749          27,960          116,471
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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 Rock    2019 Yellowfin     2020 \1\      2020 \1\ Rock      2020 \1\
                         Sector                               sole            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....................................................          21,300          39,400         154,900          14,500          57,100          166,425
ABC surplus............................................          45,325          79,500         108,300          53,948          86,600           91,375
ABC reserve............................................          45,325          79,500         108,300          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...............................          39,748          72,217          96,216          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.

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 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 9, 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: September 13, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20170 Filed 9-13-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P