Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Pollock,
[Federal Register: January 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 9)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1671-1676]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja07-7]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 060216044-6044-01; I.D. 010807A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2007 A and B Season Allowances of Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the current A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA are incorrectly specified and to ensure the A and B season catch of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA does not exceed the appropriate amount, based on the best available scientific information for pollock 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 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 16, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2007, unless otherwise modified or superceded through publication of a notification in the Federal Register.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 31, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Comments may be submitted by:
Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9\th\ Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
FAX to 907-586-7557;
E-mail to 620PLCKADJUSTMENT@noaa.gov and include the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: 620PLCKADJUSTMENT (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or
Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 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 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 2007 total allowable catch of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is 24,275 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). The A season allowance is 8,910 mt and the B season allowance is 10,663 mt for pollock in Statistical area 620 of the GOA as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006).
In December 2006, the Council recommended 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of 7,357 mt and 8,924 mt, respectively. This amount is less than the A and B season allowances currently established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). The A and B season allowances as recommended by the Council are based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2006, which is the best available scientific information for this fishery.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined, based on the November 2006 SAFE report for this fishery, that the current A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA are incorrectly specified. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA to 7,357 mt and 8,924 mt, respectively.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Tables 6, 13, and 16 of the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006) are revised for the 2007 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA consistent with this adjustment.
[[Page 1672]]
Table 6 - Final 2007 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC. [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass
Shumagin Chirikof Kodiak (Area
Season (Area 610) (Area 620)
630)
Total
A
3,352
7,357
3,234
13,943 (21.63%) (52.76%) (20.87%) (100%) B
3,352
8,924
1,481 (9.56%) 13,757 (21.63%) (64.87%)
(100%) C
8,159
2,351
4,986
15,496 (52.65%) (15.17%) (32.18%) (100%) D
8,159
2,351
4,986
15,496 (52.65%) (15.17%) (32.18%) (100%)
Annual Total 23,022
20,983
14,687
58,692
Table 13 - Final 2007 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations. [Values are in metric tons]
Ratio of 1995-
2007 non- Apportionments and 1997 non-
exempt AFA Species allocations by area/ exempt AFA CV 2007 TAC catcher season/processor/ catch to 1995-
vessel gear
1997 TAC
sideboard
Pollock A Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) January 20 - February 25 Shumagin (610) 0.6112
3,352 2,049 Chirikof (620) 0.1427
7,357 1,050 Kodiak (630)
0.2438
3,234 788
B Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) March 10 - May 31 Shumagin (610) 0.6112
3,352 2,049 Chirikof (620) 0.1427
8,924 1,274 Kodiak (630)
0.2438
1,481 361
C Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) August 25 - September 15 Shumagin (610) 0.6112
8,159 4,987 Chirikof (620) 0.1427
2,351 335 Kodiak (630)
0.2438
4,986 1,216
D Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) October 1 - November 1 Shumagin (610) 0.6112
8,159 4,987 Chirikof (620) 0.1427
2,351 335 Kodiak (630)
0.2438
4,986 1,216
Annual
............. ........ ............. WYK (640)
0.3499
1,426 499 SEO (650)
0.3499
6,157 2,154
Pacific cod A Season\1\
............. ........ ............. January 1 - June 10 W inshore
0.1423
7,813 1,112 W offshore
0.1026
868 89 C inshore
0.0722
11,019 796 C offshore
0.0721
1,224 88
B Season\2\
............. ........ ............. September 1 - December 31 W inshore
0.1423
5,209 741 W offshore
0.1026
579 59 C inshore
0.0722
7,346 530 C offshore
0.0721
816 59
Annual
............. ........ ............. E inshore
0.0079
2,404 19 E offshore
0.0078
267 2
Flatfish W
0.0000
421 ............. deep-water C
0.0670
4,145 278 E
0.0171
4,111 70
[[Page 1673]]
Rex sole W
0.0010
1,096 1 C
0.0402
5,207 209 E
0.0153
2,397 37
Flathead W
0.0036
2,000 7 sole C
0.0261
5,000 131 E
0.0048
2,153 10
Flatfish W
0.0156
4,500 70 shallow- water C
0.0598
13,000 777 E
0.0126
2,472 31
Arrowtooth W
0.0021
8,000 17 flounder C
0.0309
25,000 773 E
0.0020
5,000 10
Sablefish W trawl gear
0.0000
472 0 C trawl gear
0.0720
1,126 81 E trawl gear
0.0488
257 13
Pacific W
0.0623
4,290 267 ocean perch C
0.0866
7,660 663 E
0.0466
2,776 129
Shortraker W
0.0000
153 0 rockfish C
0.0237
353 8 E
0.0124
337 4
Rougheye W
0.0000
133 0 rockfish C
0.0237
596 14 E
0.0124
235 3
Other
W
0.0034
577 2 rockfish C
0.2065
386 80 E
0.0000
517 0
Northern W
0.0003
1,483 0 rockfish C
0.0336
3,608 121
Pelagic W
0.0001
1,463 0 shelf rockfish C
0.0000
3,318 0 E
0.0067
749 5
Thornyhead W
0.0308
513 16 rockfish C
0.0308
989 30 E
0.0308
707 22
Big skates W
0.0090
695 6 C
0.0090
2,250 20 E
0.0090
599 5
Longnose W
0.0090
65
1 skates C
0.0090
1,969 18 E
0.0090
861 8
Other
GW
0.0090
1,617 15 skates
Demersal SEO
0.0020
410 1 shelf rockfish
[[Page 1674]]
Atka
Gulfwide
0.0309
1,500 46 mackerel
Other
Gulfwide
0.0090
12,229 110 species
\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.
Table 16 - Final 2007 GOA Non American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations. [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1996- Apportionments and 2000 non-AFA
2007 non-AFA Species allocations by area/ CV catch to 2007 TAC crab vessel season/processor/ 1996-2000
sideboard gear
total harvest
Pollock A Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) January 20 - March 10 Shumagin (610) 0.0098
3,352 33 Chirikof (620) 0.0031
7,357 23 Kodiak (630)
0.0002
3,234 1
B Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) March 10 - May 31 Shumagin (610) 0.0098
3,352 33 Chirikof (620) 0.0031
8,924 28 Kodiak (630)
0.0002
1,481 0
C Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) August 25 - October 1 Shumagin (610) 0.0098
8,159 80 Chirikof (620) 0.0031
2,351 7 Kodiak (630)
0.0002
4,986 1
D Season (W/C areas ............. ........ ............. only) October 1 - November 1 Shumagin (610) 0.0098
8,159 80 Chirikof (620) 0.0031
2,351 7 Kodiak (630)
0.0002
4,986 1
Annual
............. ........ ............. WYK (640)
0.0000
1,426 0 SEO (650)
0.0000
6,157 0
Pacific cod A Season\1\
............. ........ ............. January 1 - June 10 W inshore
0.0902
7,813 705 W offshore
0.2046
868 178 C inshore
0.0383
11,019 422 C offshore
0.2074
1,224 254
B Season\2\
............. ........ ............. September 1 - December 31 W inshore
0.0902
5,209 470 W offshore
0.2046
579 118 C inshore
0.0383
7,346 281 C offshore
0.2074
816 169
Annual
............. ........ ............. E inshore
0.0110
2,404 26 E offshore
0.0000
267 0
Flatfish W
0.0035
421 1 deep-water C
0.0000
4,145 0 E
0.0000
4,111 0
Rex sole W
0.0000
1,096 0 C
0.0000
5,207 0
[[Page 1675]]
E
0.0000
2,397 0
Flathead W
0.0002
2,000 0 sole C
0.0004
5,000 2 E
0.0000
2,153 0
Flatfish W
0.0059
4,500 27 shallow- water C
0.0001
13,000 1 E
0.0000
2,472 0
Arrowtooth W
0.0004
8,000 3 flounder C
0.0001
25,000 3 E
0.0000
5,000 0
Sablefish W trawl gear
0.0000
472 0 C trawl gear
0.0000
1,126 0 E trawl gear
0.0000
257 0
Pacific W
0.0000
4,290 0 ocean perch C
0.0000
7,660 0 E
0.0000
2,776 0
Shortraker W
0.0013
153 0 rockfish C
0.0012
353 0 E
0.0009
337 0
Rougheye W
0.0067
133 1 rockfish C
0.0047
596 3 E
0.0008
235 0
Other
W
0.0035
577 2 rockfish C
0.0033
386 1 E
0.0000
517 0
Northern W
0.0005
1,483 1 rockfish C
0.0000
3,608 0
Pelagic W
0.0017
1,463 2 shelf rockfish C
0.0000
3,318 0 E
0.0000
749 0
Thornyhead W
0.0047
513 2 rockfish C
0.0066
989 7 E
0.0045
707 3
Big skates W
0.0392
695 27 C
0.0159
2,250 36 E
0.0000
599 0
Longnose W
0.0392
65
3 skate C
0.0159
1,969 36 E
0.0000
861 0
Other
GW
0.0176
1,617 28 skates
Demersal SEO
0.0000
410 0 shelf rockfish
Atka
Gulfwide
0.0000
1,500 0 mackerel
[[Page 1676]]
Other
Gulfwide
0.0176
12,229 215 species
\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.
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) and 679.25(c)(2) 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 A and B season allowances of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA 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 19, 2006, and additional time for prior public comment would result in conservation concerns.
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 31, 2007.
This action is required by Sec. 679.22 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 8, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-120 Filed 1-10-07; 12:43 pm]
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