[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70436-70438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27539]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180831813-9170-02; RTID 0648-XY058]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2020 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total
Allowable Catch Amounts
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This
action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are
incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod
TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific
information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1,
2020, until the effective date of the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for GOA groundfish, unless otherwise modified or
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal
Register.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than
4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 7, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0103 by
any of the following methods:
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0103, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public
record, and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council (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 final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019) set the 2020 pollock TAC at
114,943 metric tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 2019, the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a 2020 pollock
TAC of 115,930 mt for the GOA, which is more than the 114,943 mt
established by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA. The Council's recommended 2020 TAC, and the area
and seasonal apportionments, is based on the Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2019.
The final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019) set the 2020 Pacific cod TAC at
15,709 metric tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 2019, the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a 2020 Pacific cod TAC
of 6,431 mt for the GOA, which is less than the 15,709 mt established
by the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
GOA. The Council's recommended 2020 TAC, and the area and seasonal
apportionments, is based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
report (SAFE), dated November 2019.
Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). Pollock and Pacific cod are principal prey species
for Steller sea lions in the GOA. The seasonal apportionment of pollock
and Pacific
[[Page 70437]]
cod harvests are necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries are not
likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification of
critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify how the pollock TAC will be apportioned and
the regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i) specify how
the Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B), and
(a)(2)(iv) the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that, based on the best available
scientific information for this fishery, the current GOA pollock and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Consequently, pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the
2020 GOA pollock TAC to 115,930 mt and the 2020 Pacific cod TAC to
6,431 mt. Therefore, Tables 4 and 6 of the final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019)
are revised consistent with this adjustment.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Table 4 of the final 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (84 FR 9416,
March 14, 2019) is revised for the 2020 TACs of pollock in the Central
and Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Table 4--Final 2020 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments;
and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
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Season \1\ Shumagin (area 610)
Chirikof (area 620)
Kodiak (area 630) Total \2\
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A (Jan 20-Mar 10)....................... 517 2.06% 18,757 74.86% 5,783 23.08% 25,057
B (Mar 10-May 31)....................... 517 2.06% 22,222 88.68% 2,318 9.25% 25,057
C (Aug 25-Oct 1)........................ 9,070 36.20% 6,739 26.89% 9,248 36.91% 25,057
D (Oct 1-Nov 1)......................... 9,070 36.20% 6,739 26.89% 9,248 36.91% 25,057
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Annual Total........................ 19,175 .............. 54,456 .............. 26,597 .............. 100,228
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\1\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to
May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore
components are not shown in this table.
\2\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Note: Seasonal apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the
nearest 0.01.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i), Table 6 of the
final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(84 FR 9416, March 14, 2019) is revised for the 2020 TACs of Pacific
cod in the GOA.
Table 6--Final 2020 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
Processing Components
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A Season B Season
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Annual Sector Sector
Regulatory area and sector allocation percentage of Seasonal percentage of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances (mt) annual non-jig allowances
TAC TAC (mt)
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Western GOA:
Jig (2.5% of TAC).......... 52 N/A 31 N/A 21
Hook-and-line CV........... 28 0.70 14 0.70 14
Hook-and-line C/P.......... 401 10.90 221 8.90 180
Trawl CV................... 777 27.70 561 10.70 217
Trawl C/P.................. 49 0.90 18 1.50 30
All Pot CV and Pot C/P..... 769 19.80 401 18.20 368
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Total.................. 2,076 60.00 1,246 40.00 830
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Central GOA:
Jig (1.0% of TAC).......... 38 N/A 23 N/A 15
Hook-and-line <50 CV....... 550 9.32 351 5.29 199
Hook-and-line >=50 CV...... 253 5.61 211 1.10 41
Hook-and-line C/P.......... 192 4.11 155 1.00 38
Trawl CV \1\............... 1,567 21.14 796 20.45 771
Trawl C/P.................. 158 2.00 75 2.19 83
All Pot CV and Pot C/P......... 1,048 17.83 672 9.97 376
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Total.................. 3,806 60.00 2,284 40.00 1,522
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Eastern GOA: Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
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549 494
55
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\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 145 mt, of the
annual Central GOA TAC (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season
allowance (see Table 12. Final 2020 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table
28c to 50 CFR part 679).
Note: Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.
[[Page 70438]]
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 allow for harvests that exceed the appropriate allocation for
pollock and Pacific cod based on the best scientific information
available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of December 9, 2019, and additional time for prior public
comment would result in conservation concerns for the ESA-listed
Steller sea lions.
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.
Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit
written comments on this action to the above address until January 7,
2020.
This action is required by Sec. Sec. 679.20 and 679.25 and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 17, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-27539 Filed 12-20-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P