[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
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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 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]
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