Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

Federal Register: September 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 182)

Rules and Regulations

Page 48170-48171

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

DOCID:fr22se09-13

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 0801041351-9087-02

RIN 0648-XR71

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod 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 projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear, catcher vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear to American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher processors, the Amendment 80 cooperative, catcher processors using pot gear, and catcher processors using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are necessary to allow the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective September 17, 2009, until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2009.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the

Page 48171

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 2009 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI is 176,540 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009). Pursuant to

Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii), the allocations of the Pacific cod TAC are 76,375 mt to catcher processors using hook-and-line gear, 2,352 mt to catcher processors using pot gear, 13,173 mt to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear, 3,626 mt to AFA trawl catcher processors, 17,654 mt to the

Amendment 80 cooperative, and 34,841 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear. The allocation to vessels using jig gear is 607 mt after two reallocations (74 FR 9965, March 9, 2009 and 74 FR 19021, April 27, 2009).

As of September 15, 2009, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS

(Regional Administrator), has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 4,200 mt of Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under (Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii). The Regional

Administrator has determined that the projected unharvested amount is unlikely to be harvested by any of the other catcher vessel sectors described in Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A). Therefore, in accordance with

Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS apportions 1,200 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to AFA trawl catcher processors and 3,000 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to the Amendment 80 cooperative.

The Regional Administrator also has determined that catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear will not be able to harvest 1,300 mt of Pacific cod. Additionally, the Regional

Administrator has determined that catcher processors using pot gear will be unable to fully harvest this amount of Pacific cod. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(C), NMFS is reallocating 500 mt of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels greater than 60 feet

(18.3 m) LOA using pot gear to catcher processors using pot gear and 800 mt of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels greater than 60 feet

(18.3 m) LOA using pot gear to catcher processers using hook-and-line gear.

The Regional Administrator also has determined that vessels using jig gear will be unable to harvest 550 mt of Pacific cod. The Regional

Administrator has also determined that catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear will be unable to harvest additional Pacific cod. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS is reallocating 550 mt of Pacific cod allocated to jig vessels to catcher processors using hook-and-line gear.

The allocations for Pacific cod specified in the final 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009) and two reallocations (74 FR 9965, March 9, 2009 and 74 FR 19021, April 27, 2009) are revised as follows: 57 mt to vessels using jig gear, 77,725 mt to catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear, 11,873 mt to catcher vessels using pot gear, 2,852 mt to catcher processor vessels using pot gear, 4,826 mt to AFA catcher processors using trawl gear, 20,654 mt to the Amendment 80 cooperative, and 30,641 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear.

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.

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 Pacific cod. 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 15, 2009.

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 16, 2009

Emily H. Menashes,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. E9-22821 Filed 9-17-09; 4:15 pm

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