[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53344-53345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21570]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XY041


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 flathead 
sole and yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area to be harvested.

DATES: Effective October 7, 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 CDQ reserves 
specified in the BSAI are 1,552 metric tons (mt), 5,440 mt, and 16,078 
mt 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 49067, September 18, 2019). The 2019 flathead sole, 
rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,577 mt, 7,283 mt, 
and 12,084 mt 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 49067, September 18, 2019).
    The Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association has 
requested that NMFS exchange 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 50 mt 
of flathead sole CDQ ABC reserves and 350 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC 
reserves under Sec.  679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 400 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 50 mt of 
flathead sole CDQ ABC reserves and 350 mt of yellowfin 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) and revised in flatfish exchanges (84 
FR 49067, September 18, 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            21,350            39,000           155,250
CDQ..............................................................      1,178        897      1,070             1,602             5,040            16,428
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 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...............................................           21,350           39,000          155,250           14,500           57,100          166,425
ABC surplus.......................................           45,275           79,900          107,950           53,948           86,600           91,375
ABC reserve.......................................           45,275           79,900          107,950           53,948           86,600           91,375
CDQ ABC reserve...................................            5,527            7,683           11,734            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.


[[Page 53345]]

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 
September 24, 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 30, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-21570 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P