Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Correction

Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 22683-22685

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2012-9090

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 111207737-2232-03

RIN 0648-XA711

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; closures; correction.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a final rule that published on March 14, 2012, implementing the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This rule corrects errors contained in a table in the document that provides the 2012 GOA non-American Fisheries Act crab vessel groundfish harvest sideboard limits.

DATES: Effective April 17, 2012 through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013, and is applicable beginning March 14, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for Correction

NMFS published the Final 2012 and 2013 GOA Harvest Specifications in the Federal Register on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 15194). A table providing information on 2012 GOA non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessel groundfish harvest sideboard limits (Table 22) contained two minor errors. In Table 22 on page 15216, a Federal Register error omitted the final 2012 non-AFA crab vessel A season sideboard limit for catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western GOA. The correct limit is 23 metric tons. In addition, NMFS inadvertently listed ``0.0001'' as the ratio used to calculate the non-AFA crab vessel sideboard limit for catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western GOA during the B season instead of the correct ratio of ``0.0018.'' These corrections are necessary to provide the correct sideboard limits.

The Acting 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 notice corrects typographical errors to the table providing the 2012 GOA non-AFA crab vessel groundfish harvest sideboard limits, and does not change operating practices in the fisheries. The corrections described in this rule are being implemented as soon as possible to avoid confusion for participants in the fisheries.

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). The corrections described in this rule are being made effective upon publication to avoid confusion for participants in the fisheries.

Correction

In the final rule published on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 15194), the following corrections are made to Table 22:

1. On page 15216, in Table 22, row 17 (the row beginning ``W Hook-

and-line C/P''), column six, the blank entry ``'' is corrected to read ``23.''

2. On the same page, in row 29 (the row beginning ``W Hook-and-line C/P), column four, the entry ``0.0001'' is corrected to read ``0.0018.''

Table 22 is corrected and reprinted in its entirety below.

Page 22684

Table 22--Final 2012 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits

Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton

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Ratio of 1996 -

2000 non-AFA Final 2012 non-

crab vessel Final 2012 AFA crab

Species Season/Gear Area/Component/Gear catch to 1996- TACs vessel

2000 total sideboard limit

harvest

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Pollock.................................. A Season January 20-March 10 Shumagin (610).............. 0.0098 5,797 57

Chirikof (620).............. 0.0031 14,023 43

Kodiak (630)................ 0.0002 5,787 1

B Season March 10-May 31.... Shumagin (610).............. 0.0098 5,797 57

Chirikof (620).............. 0.0031 17,221 53

Kodiak (630)................ 0.0002 2,589 1

C Season August 25-October 1 Shumagin (610).............. 0.0098 9,338 92

Chirikof (620).............. 0.0031 7,282 23

Kodiak (630)................ 0.0002 8,986 2

D Season October 1-November Shumagin (610).............. 0.0098 9,338 92

1. Chirikof (620).............. 0.0031 7,282 23

Kodiak (630)................ 0.0002 8,986 2

Annual...................... WYK (640)................... 0.0000 3,244 0

SEO (650)................... 0.0000 10,774 0

Pacific cod.............................. A Season \1\ January 1-June W Jig....................... 0.0000 12,614 0

10. W Hook-and-line CV.......... 0.0004 12,614 5

W Hook-and-line C/P......... 0.0018 12,614 23

W Pot CV.................... 0.0997 12,614 1,258

W Pot C/P................... 0.0078 12,614 98

W Trawl CV.................. 0.0007 12,614 9

C Jig....................... 0.0000 25,623 0

C Hook-and-line CV.......... 0.0001 25,623 3

C Hook-and-line C/P......... 0.0012 25,623 31

C Pot CV.................... 0.0474 25,623 1,215

C Pot C/P................... 0.0136 25,623 348

C Trawl CV.................. 0.0012 25,623 31

B Season \2\................ W Jig....................... 0.0000 8,410 0

Jig Gear: June 10-December W Hook-and-line CV.......... 0.0004 8,410 3

31. W Hook-and-line C/P......... 0.0018 8,410 15

All other gears: September W Pot CV.................... 0.0997 8,410 838

1-December 31. W Pot C/P................... 0.0078 8,410 66

W Trawl CV.................. 0.0007 8,410 6

C Jig....................... 0.0000 17,082 0

C Hook-and-line CV.......... 0.0001 17,082 2

C Hook-and-line C/P......... 0.0012 17,082 20

C Pot CV.................... 0.0474 17,082 810

C Pot C/P................... 0.0136 17,082 232

C Trawl CV.................. 0.0012 17,082 20

Annual...................... E inshore................... 0.0110 1,774 20

E offshore.................. 0.0000 197 0

Sablefish................................ Annual, trawl gear.......... W........................... 0.0000 356 0

C........................... 0.0000 1,152 0

E........................... 0.0000 271 0

Flatfish, shallow-water.................. Annual...................... W........................... 0.0059 13,250 78

C........................... 0.0001 18,000 2

E........................... 0.0000 5,779 0

Flatfish, deep-water..................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0035 176 1

C........................... 0.0000 2,308 0

E........................... 0.0000 2,642 0

Rex sole................................. Annual...................... W........................... 0.0000 1,307 0

C........................... 0.0000 6,412 0

E........................... 0.0000 1,893 0

Arrowtooth flounder...................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0004 14,500 6

C........................... 0.0001 75,000 8

E........................... 0.0000 13,800 0

Flathead sole............................ Annual...................... W........................... 0.0002 8,650 2

C........................... 0.0004 14,500 6

E........................... 0.0000 6,269 0

Pacific ocean perch...................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0000 2,102 0

C........................... 0.0000 11,263 0

E........................... 0.0000 3,553 0

Northern rockfish........................ Annual...................... W........................... 0.0005 2,156 1

C........................... 0.0000 3,351 0

Shortraker rockfish...................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0013 104 0

C........................... 0.0012 452 1

E........................... 0.0009 525 0

Page 22685

Other rockfish........................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0035 44 0

C........................... 0.0033 606 2

E........................... 0.0000 430 0

Pelagic shelf rockfish................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0017 409 1

C........................... 0.0000 3,849 0

E........................... 0.0000 860 0

Rougheye rockfish........................ Annual...................... W........................... 0.0067 80 1

C........................... 0.0047 850 4

E........................... 0.0008 293 0

Demersal shelf rockfish.................. Annual...................... SEO......................... 0.0000 293 0

Thornyhead rockfish...................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0047 150 1

C........................... 0.0066 766 5

E........................... 0.0045 749 3

Atka mackerel............................ Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0000 2,000 0

Big skate................................ Annual...................... W........................... 0.0392 469 18

C........................... 0.0159 1,793 29

E........................... 0.0000 1,505 0

Longnose skate........................... Annual...................... W........................... 0.0392 70 3

C........................... 0.0159 1,879 30

E........................... 0.0000 676 0

Other skates............................. Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0176 2,030 36

Squids................................... Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0176 1,148 20

Sharks................................... Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0176 6,028 106

Octopuses................................ Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0176 1,455 26

Sculpins................................. Annual...................... Gulfwide.................... 0.0176 5,731 101

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\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.

\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-241; Pub. L. 109-479.

Dated: April 11, 2012.

Alan D. Risenhoover,

Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2012-9090 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am

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