Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska:

Federal Register: September 9, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 174)

Rules and Regulations

Page 54792-54793

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr09se10-13

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 0910131363-0087-02

RIN 0648-XY84

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the 2010 pollock incidental catch allowance (ICA) to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

(FMP).

DATES: Effective September 3, 2010, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time

(A.l.t.), December 31, 2010.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) according to the

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.

In the Bering Sea subarea, the portion of the 2010 pollock TAC allocated to the ICA is 29,268 mt as established by the final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (75 FR 11778,

March 12, 2010).

As of September 2, 2010, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,

(Regional Administrator) has determined that the ICA has been set too high: 4,500 mt of the 2010 pollock ICA in the Bering Sea subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS reallocates 4,500 mt of the 2010 pollock

ICA to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea.

As a result, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(3), (4), and (5), the 2010 harvest specifications for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea included in the final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (75 FR 11778, March 12, 2010) are revised as follows: 24,768 mt to the pollock ICA, 212,980 mt to B season AFA catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by AFA inshore processors, 170,384 mt to B season AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels delivering pollock to catcher/processors, and 42,596 mt to B season AFA catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by AFA motherships. This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters dependent upon

Pacific cod in this area. The Regional Administrator considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch of

Pacific cod by the applicable BSAI sectors and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in the sectors participating in this fishery.

Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), Table 3 of the final 2010 and 2011 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the

BSAI (75 FR 11778, March 12, 2010) is

Page 54793

revised for 2010 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation.

This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2010 pollock ICA and directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea established at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A).

Table 3--2010 and 2011 Allocations of Pollock Tacs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\

Amounts are in metric tons

2010 A season \1\

2010 B

2011 A season \1\

2011 B

season \1\

------------------------ season \1\

Area and sector

2010

SCA

2011

SCA

Allocations A season

harvest

B season

Allocations A season

harvest

B season

DFA

limit \2\

DFA

DFA

limit \2\

DFA

Bering Sea subarea...................................

813,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

1,110,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

CDQ DFA..........................................

81,300

32,520

22,764

48,780

111,000

44,400

31,080

66,600

ICA \1\..........................................

24,768

n/a

n/a

n/a

39,960

n/a

n/a

n/a

AFA Inshore......................................

353,466

140,486

98,340

212,980

479,520

191,808

134,266

287,712

AFA Catcher/Processors \3\.......................

282,773

112,389

78,672

170,384

383,616

153,446

107,412

230,170

Catch by C/Ps................................

258,737

102,836

n/a

155,901

351,009

140,403

n/a

210,605

Catch by CVs \3\.............................

24,036

9,553

n/a

14,483

32,607

13,043

n/a

19,564

Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................

1,414

562

n/a

852

1,918

767

n/a

1,151

AFA Motherships..................................

70,693

28,097

19,668

42,596

95,904

38,362

26,853

57,542

Excessive Harvesting.............................

123,714

n/a

n/a

n/a

167,832

n/a

n/a

n/a

Limit \5\

Excessive Processing Limit \6\...................

212,080

n/a

n/a

n/a

287,712

n/a

n/a

n/a

Total Bering Sea DFA.................................

706,932

280,973

196,681

425,959

959,040

383,616

268,531

575,424

Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.........................

19,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

19,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

CDQ DFA..........................................

1,900

760

n/a

1,140

1,900

760

n/a

1,140

ICA..............................................

1,600

800

n/a

800

1,600

800

n/a

800

Aleut Corporation................................

15,500

15,500

n/a

0

15,500

15,500

n/a

0

Bogoslof District ICA \7\............................

50

n/a

n/a

n/a

50

n/a

n/a

n/a

\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtraction for the CDQ DFA--10 percent and the ICA--3.35 percent, is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore component--50 percent, catcher/processor component--40 percent, and mothership component--10 percent. In the

Bering Sea subarea, the A season, January 20-June 10, is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the B season, June 10-November 1, is allocated 60 percent of the DFA. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance--10 percent and second the ICA--1,800 mt, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.

\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder is available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.

\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.

\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.

\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.

\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.

\7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only, and are not apportioned by season or sector.

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 reallocation of pollock in the Bering Sea subarea.

Since the pollock fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to plan for the fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors; and provide opportunity to harvest increased B season pollock allocations while value is optimum.

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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: September 3, 2010.

Carrie Selberg,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2010-22498 Filed 9-3-10; 4:15 pm

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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