[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49960-49962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20248]



[[Page 49960]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 190913-0028]
RIN 0648-BJ21


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2019-2020 Biennial Specifications and 
Management Measures; Correction

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action contains corrections to the final rules related to 
2019-2020 Biennial Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for 
groundfish harvested in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts 
of Washington, Oregon, and California published on December 12, 2018, 
and May 10, 2019. These corrections are necessary so the regulations 
accurately implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council's intent.

DATES: This correction is effective September 24, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Hooper, phone: 206-526-6117 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS published a final rule on December 12, 
2018, (83 FR 63970), that implemented the 2019-2020 harvest 
specifications and management measures for groundfish harvested in the 
U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 
California. That final rule was effective January 1, 2019. After 
publication of the final rule, the need for four corrections was noted 
by NMFS.
    This action corrects: (1) The definition of groundfish for 
nearshore rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N latitude; (2) the depth 
restrictions in the Cowcod Conservation Area; (3) language describing 
the use of small footrope gear inside the Columbia and Klamath River 
Salmon Conservation Zones; and (4) the 2019 yellowtail rockfish 
allocations north of 40[deg]10' N latitude.

Corrections

    The final rule for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest specifications 
and management measures (83 FR 63970; December 12, 2018) contained an 
error in the amendatory instructions for the definition of 
``Groundfish'' in 50 CFR 660.11. In adding new subparagraphs to 
describe stock complex changes, the portion of the definition for 
nearshore rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N latitude was inadvertently 
deleted. This rule restores the deleted text. The substance of the text 
is unchanged from what was previously in the regulations.
    The final rule contained a revision to the depth boundary within 
which commercial fixed gear and recreational gear is allowed to operate 
in the Western Cowcod Conservation Area. Fishing was permitted 
shoreward of the 20 fathom (fm) (36.6 m) depth contour prior to the 
2019-2020 biennial harvest specifications final rule. The final rule 
revised the depth boundary to allow fishing shoreward of the 40 fm (73 
m) depth contour. In the regulations for this change at Sec. Sec.  
660.230(d)(10)(ii) and 660.330(d)(11)(ii), NMFS did not explicitly 
describe how the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour is delineated, or cross 
reference the depth contour definition in existing regulations. This 
rule corrects these regulations to note that a coordinate list 
describing the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour can be found in Sec.  660.71.
    The final rule also contained an error at Sec.  660.130(c)(2)(iii) 
when describing use of small footrope gear inside the Columbia and 
Klamath River Salmon Conservation Zones. In the rule, NMFS 
inadvertently substituted the word ``required'' for ``prohibited'' when 
describing the use of selective flatfish trawl (SFFT), a type of small 
footrope trawl gear, in the area. The final rule for a separate action, 
revising Federal regulations that restricted the use and configuration 
of bottom and midwater trawl gear for vessels fishing under the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl Rationalization Program (83 FR 62269; 
December 3, 2018), also erroneously used the word ``required'' rather 
than ``prohibited.'' Language describing the use of small footrope 
trawl gear, inside the Columbia and Klamath River Salmon Conservation 
Zones is being corrected to state that small footrope trawl gears other 
than SFFT are ``prohibited,'' consistent with the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's intent for regulations in this area.
    The final rule for Annual Specifications and Management Measures 
for the 2019 Tribal and Non-Tribal Fisheries for Pacific Whiting (84 FR 
20578; May 10, 2019) inadvertently changed the yellowtail rockfish 
allocation north of 40[deg]10' N latitude at Table 1b to Part 600, 
Subpart C. The Pacific Whiting specifications final rule incorrectly 
stated the yellowtail rockfish fishery harvest guideline (HG) as 
4,951.9 metric tons (mt), as well as the trawl and non-trawl 
allocations as 4,357.7 mt and 594.2 mt respectively. To be consistent 
with the yellowtail rockfish allocations established in the final rule 
for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest specifications and management 
measures (83 FR 63970), this rule corrects the fishery HG to 5,233.9 
mt, as well as the trawl and non-trawl allocations to 4,605.8 mt and 
678.1 mt respectively.
    All of these corrections are consistent with the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council action for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest 
specifications and are minor corrections to correctly implement the 
Council's intent in their final action taken in June 2018.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries (AA) finds there is good cause to waive prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment 
would be unnecessary and contrary to public interest. Notice and 
comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because 
this action corrects inadvertent errors related to the December 12, 
2018, final rule. Immediate correction of the errors is necessary to 
prevent confusion among participants in the fishery that could result 
in issues with enforcement of area management. To effectively correct 
the errors, the changes in this action must be effective upon 
publication as the fishery has already begun. Thus, there is not 
sufficient time for notice and comment. In addition, notice and comment 
is unnecessary because this notice makes only minor changes to correct 
inadvertent errors related to the December 12, 2018, final rule. These 
corrections will not affect the results of analyses conducted to 
support management decisions in the Pacific coast groundfish fishery. 
These corrections are consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's intent for regulations and the public expects the regulations 
to be written as in the correction. No change in operating practices in 
the fishery is required.
    For the same reasons stated above, the AA has determined good cause 
exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d). This notice makes only minor corrections to the final rule 
which was effective January 1, 2019. Delaying effectiveness of these 
corrections would result in conflicts in the regulations and confusion 
among fishery participants. Because prior

[[Page 49961]]

notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be 
provided for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., are not applicable. Accordingly, no Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis is required for this rule and none has been prepared.
    This final rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.

    Dated: September 16, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is 
corrected by making the following correcting amendments:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  660.11, in the definition for ``Groundfish'', add paragraph 
(7)(i)(D) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.11  General definitions.

* * * * *
    Groundfish * * *
    (7) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (D) South of 40[deg]10' N lat. (Southern California): Nearshore 
rockfish are divided into three management categories:
    (1) Shallow nearshore rockfish consists of black and yellow 
rockfish, S. chrysomelas; China rockfish, S. nebulosus; gopher 
rockfish, S. carnatus; grass rockfish, S. rastrelliger; kelp rockfish, 
S. atrovirens.
    (2) Deeper nearshore rockfish consists of black rockfish, S. 
melanops; blue rockfish, S. mystinus; brown rockfish, S. auriculatus; 
calico rockfish, S. dalli; copper rockfish, S. caurinus; deacon 
rockfish, S. diaconus; olive rockfish, S. serranoides; quillback 
rockfish, S. maliger; treefish, S. serriceps.
    (3) California scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata.
* * * * *

0
3. Revise Table 1b to part 660, subpart C, to read as follows:

                                     Table 1b to Part 660, Subpart C--2019, Allocations by Species or Species Group
                                                                 [Weight in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Trawl                         Non-trawl
          Stocks/stock complexes                        Area               Fishery HG or ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              ACT a b            %              Mt               %              Mt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.......................  Coastwide...................        13,479.1              95        12,805.1               5           674.0
Big skate \a\.............................  Coastwide...................           452.1              95           429.5               5            22.6
Bocaccio \a\..............................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         2,050.9              39           800.7              61         1,250.2
Canary rockfish a d.......................  Coastwide...................         1,382.9              72           999.6              28           383.3
Chilipepper...............................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         2,451.1              75         1,838.3              25           612.8
COWCOD a b................................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......             6.0              36             2.2              64             3.8
Darkblotched rockfish \c\.................  Coastwide...................           731.2              95           694.6               5            36.6
Dover sole................................  Coastwide...................        48,404.4              95        45,984.2               5         2,420.2
English sole..............................  Coastwide...................         9,873.8              95         9,380.1               5           493.7
Lingcod...................................  N of 40'10[deg] N lat.......         4,593.0              45         2,066.9              55         2,526.2
Lingcod...................................  S of 40'10[deg] N lat.......         1,027.7              45           462.5              55           565.2
Longnose skate \a\........................  Coastwide...................         1,851.7              90         1,666.5              10           185.2
Longspine thornyhead......................  N of 34[deg]27' N lat.......         2,552.6              95         2,425.0               5           127.6
Pacific cod...............................  Coastwide...................         1,093.8              95         1,039.1               5            54.7
Pacific whiting \g\.......................  Coastwide...................       362,682.0             100       362,682.0               0             0.0
Pacific ocean perch \e\...................  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         4,317.6              95         4,101.7               5           215.9
Petrale sole..............................  Coastwide...................         2,587.4              95         2,458.0               5           129.4
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................................  N of 36[deg] N lat..........              NA                           See Table 1c
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................................  S of 36[deg] N lat..........         1,985.8              42           834.0              58         1,151.8
Shortspine thornyhead.....................  N of 34[deg]27' N lat.......         1,617.7              95         1,536.8               5            80.9
Shortspine thornyhead.....................  S of 34[deg]27' N lat.......           888.8              NA            50.0              NA           838.8
Splitnose rockfish........................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         1,733.4              95         1,646.7               5            86.7
Starry flounder...........................  Coastwide...................           433.2              50           216.6              50           216.6
Widow rockfish \f\........................  Coastwide...................        11,582.6              91        10,540.2               9         1,042.4
YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH........................  Coastwide...................            41.9               8             3.4              92            38.6
Yellowtail rockfish.......................  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         5,233.9              88         4,605.8              12           628.1
Minor Shelf Rockfish North \a\............  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         1,977.1            60.2         1,190.2            39.8           786.9
Minor Shelf Rockfish South \a\............  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         1,545.9            12.2           188.6            87.8         1,357.3
Minor Slope Rockfish North................  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          1665.2              81         1,348.8              19           316.4
Minor Slope Rockfish South................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......           723.8              63           456.0              37           267.8
Other Flatfish............................  Coastwide...................         6,248.5              90         5,623.7              10           624.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Allocations decided through the biennial specificaton process.
\b\ The cowcod fishery harvest guideline is further reduced to an ACT of 6.0 mt.
\c\ Consistent with regulations at Sec.   660.55(c), 9 percent (62.5 mt) of the total trawl allocation for darkblotched rockfish is allocated to the
  Pacific whiting fishery, as follows: 26.3 mt for the Shorebased IFQ Program, 15.0 mt for the MS sector, and 21.3 mt for the C/P sector. The tonnage
  calculated here for the Pacific whiting IFQ fishery contributes to the total shorebased trawl allocation, which is found at Sec.
  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D).
\d\ 46 mt of the total trawl allocation of canary rockfish is allocated to the MS and C/P sectors, as follows: 30 mt for the MS sector, and 16 mt for
  the C/P sector.

[[Page 49962]]

 
\e\ Consistent with regulations at Sec.   660.55(c), 17 percent (697.3 mt) of the total trawl allocation for Pacific ocean perch is allocated to the
  Pacific whiting fishery, as follows: 292.9 mt for the Shorebased IFQ Program, 167.4 mt for the MS sector, and 237.1 mt for the C/P sector. The tonnage
  calculated here for the Pacific whiting IFQ fishery contributes to the total shorebased trawl allocation, which is found at Sec.
  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D).
\f\ Consistent with regulations at Sec.   660.55(c), 10 percent (1,054 mt) of the total trawl allocation for widow rockfish is allocated to the whiting
  fisheries, as follows: 442.7 mt for the shorebased IFQ fishery, 253 mt for the mothership fishery, and 358.4 mt for the catcher/processor fishery. The
  tonnage calculated here for the whiting portion of the shorebased IFQ fishery contributes to the total shorebased trawl allocation, which is found at
  Sec.   660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D).
\g\ Consistent with regulations at Sec.   660.55(i)(2), the commercial harvest guideline for Pacific whiting is allocated as follows: 34 percent
  (123,312 mt) for the C/P Coop Program; 24 percent (87,044 mt) for the MS Coop Program; and 42 percent (152,326.5 mt) for the Shorebased IFQ Program.
  No more than 5 percent of the Shorebased IFQ Program allocation (7,616 mt) may be taken and retained south of 42[deg] N lat. before the start of the
  primary Pacific whiting season north of 42[deg] N lat.


0
4. In Sec.  660.130, revise paragraph (c)(2)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.130   Trawl fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Salmon conservation area restrictions. The use of small 
footrope trawl, other than selective flatfish trawl gear, is prohibited 
inside the Klamath River Salmon Conservation Zone (defined at Sec.  
660.131(c)(1)) and the Columbia River Salmon Conservation Zone (defined 
at Sec.  660.131(c)(2)).
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  660.230, revise paragraph (d)(10)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.230   Fixed gear fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (10) * * *
    (ii) Fishing for rockfish and lingcod is permitted shoreward of the 
boundary line approximating the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour within the 
CCAs when trip limits authorize such fishing and provided a valid 
declaration report as required at Sec.  660.13(d) has been filed with 
NMFS OLE. Coordinates for the boundary line approximating the 40 fm (73 
m) depth contour are listed in Sec.  660.71.
* * * * *

0
6. In Sec.  660.330, revise paragraph (d)(11)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.330  Open access fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (11) * * *
    (ii) Fishing for rockfish and lingcod is permitted shoreward of the 
boundary line approximating the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour within the 
CCAs when trip limits authorize such fishing and provided a valid 
declaration report as required at Sec.  660.13(d) has been filed with 
NMFS OLE. Coordinates for the boundary line approximating the 40 fm (73 
m) depth contour are listed in Sec.  660.71.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-20248 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P