[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43220-43221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15510]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220223-0054; RTID 0648-XC083]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several
Groundfish Species 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; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) Kamchatka flounder and Central Aleutian Islands and Western
Aleutian Islands (CAI/WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. This action
is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is
intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management
plan for the BSAI management area.
DATES: Effective July 15, 2022, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time,
December 31, 2022. Comments must be received at the following address
no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, August 4, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2022-0076, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and
enter NOAA-NMFS-2022-0076 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Anne Marie Eich, Acting Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 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: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the BSAI 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 2022 ITAC of BSAI Kamchatka flounder was established as 7,832
metric tons (mt) and the 2022 ITAC of CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish was established as 150 mt by the final 2022 and 2023 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (87 FR 11626, March 2, 2022).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, has reviewed the most current available data and
finds that the ITACs for BSAI Kamchatka flounder and CAI/WAI
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish need to be supplemented from the non-
specified reserve to promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery
resources in the BSAI and allow fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish to ITACs in the BSAI
management area as follows: 1,382 mt to BSAI Kamchatka flounder and 27
mt to CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. These apportionments are
consistent with Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) and do not result in overfishing
of any target species because the revised ITACs and total allowable
catches (TACs) are equal to or less than the specifications of the
acceptable biological catch in the final 2022 and 2023 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (87 FR 11626, March 2, 2022).
The harvest specification for the 2022 ITACs and TACs included in
the harvest
[[Page 43221]]
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as follows 9,214
mt for BSAI Kamchatka flounder and 177 mt for CAI/WAI blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be 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 apportionment of the non-
specified reserves of groundfish to the BSAI Kamchatka flounder and
CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as of June 25, 2022.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 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. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until August 4,
2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 15, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15510 Filed 7-15-22; 4:15 pm]
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