Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska:

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 63204-63205

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

FR Doc No: 2011-26304

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 101126521-0640-02

RIN 0648-XA757

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Yellowfin Sole 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; reallocation.

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2011 yellowfin sole total allowable catch (TAC) assigned to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperative in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area

(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2011 total allowable catch of yellowfin sole to be fully harvested.

DATES: Effective October 6, 2011, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time

(A.l.t.), December 31, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the

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 2011 yellowfin sole TAC assigned to the Bering Sea and Aleutian

Islands trawl limited access sector is 34,153 metric tons (mt) and to the Amendment 80 cooperative is 138,875 mt as established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011).

The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 2,000 mt of the yellowfin sole TAC assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.91(f), NMFS reallocates 2,000 mt of yellowfin sole from the BSAI trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperatives in the

BSAI. In accordance

Page 63205

with Sec. 679.91(f), NMFS will reissue cooperative quota permits for the reallocated yellowfin sole following the procedures set forth in

Sec. 679.91(f)(3).

The harvest specifications for yellowfin sole included in the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) are revised as follows: 32,153 mt to the BSAI trawl limited access sector and 140,875 mt to the Amendment 80 cooperatives in the

BSAI. Table 7a is correctly revised and republished in its entirety as follows:

Table 7a--Final 2011 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

Pacific ocean perch

Flathead sole

Rock sole

Yellowfin sole

Sector

Eastern

Central

Western

Aleutian

Aleutian

Aleutian

BSAI

BSAI

BSAI

District

District

District

TAC.....................................................

5,660

4,960

8,370

41,548

85,000

196,000

CDQ.....................................................

606

531

896

4,446

9,095

20,972

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

100

75

10

5,000

5,000

2,000

BSAI trawl limited access...............................

495

435

149

0

0

32,153

Amendment 80............................................

4,459

3,919

7,315

32,102

70,905

140,875

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...........................

2,364

2,078

3,879

6,269

19,902

59,798

Alaska Seafood Cooperative..............................

2,095

1,841

3,436

25,833

51,003

81,077

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters dependent upon yellowfin sole in this area. The Regional Administrator considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch of yellowfin sole by the BSAI trawl limited access sector and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of the Amendment 80 cooperative that participates in this BSAI fishery.

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 yellowfin sole from the BSAI trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperative in the BSAI.

Since the fishery is 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 September 29, 2011.

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. 679.91 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

Dated: October 6, 2011.

Steven Thur,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2011-26304 Filed 10-6-11; 4:15 pm

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