AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Temporary rule; reallocation.
SUMMARY:
NMFS is exchanging unused flathead sole and rock sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area to be harvested.
DATES:
Effective November 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
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 2016 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ reserves specified in the BSAI are 1,233 metric tons (mt), 4,970 mt, and 17,562 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and following revision (81 FR 72740, October 21, 2016). The 2016 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,856 mt, 12,268 mt, and 5,090 mt as established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) and following revision (81 FR 72740, October 21, 2016).
The Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association has requested that NMFS exchange 73 mt of flathead sole and 606 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 679 mt of yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves under § 679.31(d). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.31(d), NMFS exchanges 73 mt of flathead sole and 606 mt of rock sole CDQ reserves for 679 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 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016), and following revision (81 FR 72740, October 21, 2016), are revised as follows:
Table 11—Final 2016 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]
| Sector | Pacific ocean perch | Flathead sole | Rock sole | Yellowfin sole | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Aleutian District | Central Aleutian District | Western Aleutian District | BSAI | BSAI | BSAI | |
| TAC | 7,900 | 7,000 | 9,000 | 16,013 | 54,329 | 151,758 |
| CDQ | 845 | 749 | 963 | 1,160 | 4,364 | 18,241 |
| ICA | 200 | 75 | 10 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 3,500 |
| BSAI trawl limited access | 685 | 618 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 14,979 |
| Amendment 80 | 6,169 | 5,558 | 7,866 | 9,853 | 43,965 | 115,038 |
| Alaska Groundfish Cooperative | 3,271 | 2,947 | 4,171 | 1,411 | 11,129 | 43,748 |
| Alaska Seafood Cooperative | 2,898 | 2,611 | 3,695 | 8,442 | 32,836 | 71,290 |
| Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. |
Table 13—Final 2016 and 2017 ABC Surplus, 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]
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 Yukon Delta Fisheries 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 October 24, 2016.
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 § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 27, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26350 Filed 10-27-16; 4:15 pm]
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