67144 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 248 / Friday, December 28, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

mt of the 2018 Pacific cod TAC 

allocated to those vessels under 

§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). 

In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional 

Administrator has also determined that 

catcher vessels less than 50 feet LOA 

using hook-and-line gear, catcher 

vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet 

LOA using hook-and-line gear, vessels 

using pot gear, and catcher/processors 

using trawl gear currently have the 

capacity to harvest this excess 

allocation. Therefore, NMFS apportions 

60 mt of Pacific cod from the jig vessel 

apportionment, 40 mt of Pacific cod 

from the hook-and-line catcher/ 

processor apportionment, and 580 mt of 

Pacific cod from the trawl catcher vessel 

apportionment to catcher vessels less 

than 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line 

gear, catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 50 feet LOA using hook-andline gear, vessels using pot gear, and 

catcher/processors using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

The harvest specifications for Pacific 

cod in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA included in the final 2018 and 

2019 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, 

March 1, 2018) are revised as follows: 

268 mt to catcher/processors using 

hook-and-line gear, 990 mt to catcher 

vessels less than 50 feet LOA using 

hook-and-line gear, 416 mt to catcher 

vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet 

LOA using hook-and-line gear, 1 mt to 

vessels using jig gear, 1,787 mt to 

vessels using pot gear, 700 mt to 

catcher/processors using trawl gear, and 

1,695 mt to catcher vessels using trawl 

gear. 

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 reallocations of Pacific cod in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

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 December 20, 2018. 

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 § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: December 21, 2018. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–28367 Filed 12–21–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170817779–8161–02] 

RIN 0648–XG684 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment 

to the 2019 Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Pollock, Atka Mackerel, and 

Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch 

Amounts 

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 2019 

total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

(BSAI) pollock, Atka mackerel, and 

Pacific cod fisheries. This action is 

necessary because NMFS has 

determined these TACs are incorrectly 

specified, and will ensure the BSAI 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

TACs are the appropriate amounts based 

on the best available scientific 

information. Also, NMFS is announcing 

the Aleutian Islands Catcher Vessel (CV) 

Harvest Set-Aside and Bering Sea Trawl 

CV A-Season Sector Limitation will be 

in effect for 2019, and TACs in this 

inseason adjustment will apply for 

2019. This action is consistent with the 

goals and objectives of the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), December 21, 2018, 

until the effective date of the final 2019 

and 2020 harvest specifications for BSAI 

groundfish, unless otherwise modified 

or superseded 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 14, 2019. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2018–0801, 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018- 

0801, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. 

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: NMFS may not consider 

comments if they are sent by any other 

method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the 

comment period ends. All comments 

received are a part of the public record, 

and NMFS will post the comments for 

public viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

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 final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) 

set the 2019 Aleutian Islands (AI) 

pollock TAC at 19,000 metric tons (mt), 

the 2019 Bering Sea (BS) pollock TAC 

at 1,383,000 mt, the 2019 BSAI Atka 


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mackerel TAC at 72,500 mt, the 2019 BS 

Pacific cod TAC at 159,120 mt, and the 

2019 AI Pacific cod TAC at 15,695 mt. 

Also set was a 2019 AI pollock ABC of 

30,803 mt and a Western Aleutian 

Islands limit for Pacific cod at 25.6 

percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC. In 

December 2018, the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council (Council) 

recommended a 2019 BS pollock TAC of 

1,397,000 mt, which is more than the 

1,383,000 mt TAC established by the 

final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI. The Council also recommended 

increasing the AI pollock ABC to 52,887 

mt from 30,803 mt. This increases some 

2019 area and seasonal limits for AI 

pollock. The Council also recommended 

a 2019 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 

57,951 mt, which is less than the 72,500 

mt TAC established by the final 2018 

and 2019 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI. Furthermore, 

the Council recommended a 2019 BS 

Pacific cod TAC of 166,475 mt, and an 

AI Pacific cod TAC of 14,214 mt, which 

is more than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 

159,120 mt, and less than the AI Pacific 

cod TAC of 15,695 mt established by the 

final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI. In addition to changes in TACs, 

the Council recommended changing the 

percentage limit of Western Aleutian 

Islands Pacific cod to 15.7 percent of the 

AI Pacific cod ABC, from the 25.6 

percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC. The 

Council’s recommended 2019 TACs, 

and the area and seasonal 

apportionments, are based on the Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 

report (SAFE), dated November 2018, 

which NMFS has determined is the best 

available scientific information for these 

fisheries. 

Regulations at § 679.20(a)(7)(viii) 

require NMFS to announce whether the 

AI incidental catch allowance, directed 

fishing allowance, CV Harvest SetAside, and Unrestricted Fishery, as well 

as the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season 

Sector Limitation will be in effect for 

2019. NMFS received notification from 

Adak that a shoreplant will be 

processing AI Pacific cod in 2019. 

Therefore, the Pacific cod TACs in Table 

9 of this inseason adjustment will be 

effective for 2019 and the harvest limits 

in Table 9B (83 FR 8365, February 27, 

2018) will apply in 2019. 

Steller sea lions occur in the same 

location as the pollock, Atka mackerel, 

and Pacific cod fisheries and are listed 

as endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA). Pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod are a 

principal prey species for Steller sea 

lions in the BSAI. The seasonal 

apportionment of pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod harvest is 

necessary to ensure the groundfish 

fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy 

of extinction or adverse modification of 

critical habitat for Steller sea lions. 

NMFS published regulations and the 

revised harvest limit amounts for 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

fisheries to implement Steller sea lion 

protection measures to insure that 

groundfish fisheries of the BSAI are not 

likely to jeopardize the continued 

existence of the western distinct 

population segment of Steller sea lions 

or destroy or adversely modify their 

designated critical habitat (79 FR 70286, 

November 25, 2014). The regulations at 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(i) and (ii) specify how the 

BS and AI pollock TAC will be 

apportioned. The regulations at 

§ 679.20(a)(7) specify how the BSAI 

Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned. 

The regulations at § 679.20(a)(8) specify 

how the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC will 

be apportioned. 

In accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), 

(a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(iv), the 

Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 

(Regional Administrator), has 

determined that, based on the November 

2018 SAFE report for this fishery, the 

current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, 

and Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly 

specified. Pursuant to § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), 

the Regional Administrator is adjusting 

the 2019 BS pollock TAC to 1,397,000 

mt, the 2019 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC 

to 57,951 mt, the 2019 BS Pacific cod 

TAC to 166,475 mt, and the AI Pacific 

cod TAC to 14,214 mt. Therefore, Table 

2 of the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) is 

revised consistent with this adjustment. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i) and (ii), 

Table 5 of the final 2018 and 2019 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 

2018) is revised for the 2019 BS and AI 

allocations of pollock TAC to the 

directed pollock fisheries and to the 

Community Development Quota (CDQ) 

directed fishing allowances consistent 

with this adjustment. For AI pollock, 

the Steller sea lion protection measure 

final rule (79 FR 70286, November 25, 

2014), sets harvest limits for pollock in 

the A season (January 20 to June 10) in 

Areas 543, 542, and 541, see 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 541, the 

2019 A season pollock harvest limit is 

no more than 30 percent, or 15,866 mt, 

of the AI ABC of 52,887 mt. In Area 542, 

the 2019 A season pollock harvest limit 

is no more than 15 percent, or 7,933 mt, 

of the AI ABC of 52,887 mt. In Area 543, 

the 2019 A season pollock harvest limit 

is no more than 5 percent, or 2,644 mt, 

of the AI pollock ABC of 52,887 mt. 

TABLE 5—FINAL 2019 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2019 

Allocations 

2019 A season 1 2019 B 

season 1

A season DFA SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season DFA 

Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .............................................................................. 1,397,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 139,700 62,865 39,116 76,835 

ICA1 ................................................................................................................. 49,035 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA ..................................................................... 1,208,265 543,719 338,314 664,546 

AFA Inshore ..................................................................................................... 604,133 271,860 169,157 332,273 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ............................................................................... 483,306 217,488 135,326 265,818 

Catch by C/Ps .................................................................................................. 442,225 199,001 n/a 243,224 

Catch by CVs 3 ................................................................................................. 41,081 18,486 n/a 22,595 

Unlisted C/P Limit 4 .......................................................................................... 2,417 1,087 n/a 1,329 

AFA Motherships ............................................................................................. 120,827 54,372 33,831 66,455 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................ 211,446 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ........................................................................... 362,480 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ......................................................................... 52,887 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ....................................................................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 


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TABLE 5—FINAL 2019 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2019 

Allocations 

2019 A season 1 2019 B 

season 1

A season DFA SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season DFA 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 

ICA ................................................................................................................... 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200 

Aleut Corporation ............................................................................................. 14,700 14,700 n/a 0 

Area harvest limit 7 541 .................................................................................... 15,866 n/a n/a n/a 

542 ................................................................................................................... 7,933 n/a n/a n/a 

543 ................................................................................................................... 2,644 n/a n/a n/a 

Bogoslof District ICA8 ...................................................................................... 500 n/a n/a n/a 

1Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.9 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the 

Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B 

season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) through (iii), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first 

for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC, and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed 

fishery. 2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the 

SCA before noon, April 1. 3Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 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. 4Pursuant to § 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. 5Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 6Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 7Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in 

Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. 8The 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. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8), Table 7 of 

the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) is 

revised for the 2019 seasonal and spatial 

allowances, gear shares, CDQ reserve, 

incidental catch allowance, and 

Amendment 80 allocation of the BSAI 

Atka mackerel TAC consistent with this 

adjustment. 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2019 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2019 Allocation by area 

Eastern Aleutian 

District/Bering 

Sea 5

Central Aleutian 

District 5

Western Aleutian 

District 5

TAC ........................................................ n/a ......................................................... 23,970 14,390 19,591 

CDQ reserve .......................................... Total ...................................................... 2,565 1,540 2,096 

A ............................................................ 1,282 770 1,048 

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 462 629 

B ............................................................ 1,282 770 1,048 

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 462 629 

non-CDQ TAC ........................................ n/a ......................................................... 21,405 12,850 17,495 

ICA ......................................................... Total ...................................................... 800 75 20 

Jig 7 ........................................................ Total ...................................................... 103 0 0 

BSAI trawl limited access ...................... Total ...................................................... 2,050 1,278 0 

A ............................................................ 1,025 639 0 

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 383 0 

B ............................................................ 1,025 639 0 

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 383 0 

Amendment 80 sectors 7 ........................ Total ...................................................... 18,452 11,498 17,475 

A ............................................................ 9,226 5,749 8,737 

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 3,449 5,242 

B ............................................................ 9,226 5,749 8,737 


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TABLE 7—FINAL 2019 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2019 Allocation by area 

Eastern Aleutian 

District/Bering 

Sea 5

Central Aleutian 

District 5

Western Aleutian 

District 5

Critical Habitat ....................................... n/a 3,449 5,242 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). 2Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 

4Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B 

season from June 10 to December 31. 5Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of Steller sea 

lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); 

and section 679.20 (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543. 6Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear 

after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS set the amount of this allocation for 2019 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 7The 2019 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known 

until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2018. NMFS will post 2019 Amendment 80 allocations when they 

become available in December 2018. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7), Table 9 of 

the final 2018 and 2019 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) is 

revised for the 2019 gear shares and 

seasonal allowances of the BSAI Pacific 

cod TAC consistent with this 

adjustment. 

TABLE 9–FINAL 2019 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2019 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2019 Share of 

sector total 

2019 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

BS TAC ............................................. n/a 166,475 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

BS CDQ ............................................ n/a 17,813 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) .................... n/a 

BS non-CDQ TAC ............................. n/a 148,662 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

AI TAC .............................................. n/a 14,214 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

AI CDQ .............................................. n/a 1,521 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) .................... n/a 

AI non-CDQ TAC .............................. n/a 12,693 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Western Aleutian Island Limit ........... n/a 2,232 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 .............. n/a 161,355 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ............. 60.8 98,104 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA2 .................... n/a 400 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ............... n/a 97,704 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor ...... 48.7 n/a 78,260 Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................

Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................

39,912 

38,347 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥60 ft 

LOA.

0.2 n/a 321 Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................

Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................

164 

157 

Pot catcher/processor ....................... 1.5 n/a 2,410 Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................

Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................

1,229 

1,181 

Pot catcher vessel ≥60 ft LOA .......... 8.4 n/a 13,499 Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................

Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................

6,884 

6,614 

Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using 

hook-and-line or pot gear.

2 n/a 3,214 n/a .................................................... n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ......................... 22.1 35,660 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ....................................

Apr 1–Jun 10 ....................................

Jun 10–Nov 1 ...................................

26,388 

3,923 

5,349 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ............. 2.3 3,711 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ....................................

Apr 1–Jun 10 ....................................

Jun 10–Nov 1 ...................................

2,783 

928 

0 

Amendment 80 .................................. 13.4 21,622 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ....................................

Apr 1–Jun 10 ....................................

Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................

16,216 

5,405 

0 


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TABLE 9–FINAL 2019 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2019 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2019 Share of 

sector total 

2019 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

Jig ...................................................... 1.4 2,259 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 ....................................

Apr 30–Aug 31 .................................

Aug 31–Dec 31 ................................

1,355 

452 

452 

1The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains. 2The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line 

and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 400 mt for 2019 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 9B—2019 BSAI A-SEASON PACIFIC COD LIMITS IF ALEUTIAN ISLANDS SHOREPLANTS INTEND TO PROCESS

PACIFIC COD

2019 Allocations under Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside Amount 

(mt) 

AI non-CDQ TAC ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14,214 

AI ICA .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2,500 

AI DFA ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11,714 

BS non-CDQ TAC ............................................................................................................................................................................... 148,662 

BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation ................................................................................................................................................... 26,388 

BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector Limitation 1 .......................................................................................................... 21,388 

BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation ........................................................................................................................................... 5,000 

AI CV Harvest Set-Aside 2 ................................................................................................................................................................... 5,000 

AI Unrestricted Fishery 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6,714 

1This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2019, unless the BS 

Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of the fishing year because the performance requirements pursuant to 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met. 2Prior to March 15, 2019, only catcher vessels that deliver their catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed fish for 

that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI CV Harvest Set-Aside, unless lifted because the performance requirements pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met. 3Prior to March 15, 2019, vessels otherwise authorized to directed fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI Unrestricted 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 

allow for harvests that exceed the 

appropriate allocations for pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod in the BSAI 

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 xx, 2018, and additional 

time for prior public comment would 

result in conservation concerns for the 

ESA-listed Steller sea lions. 

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 § 679.25(c)(2), interested 

persons are invited to submit written 

comments on this action to the above 

address until January 14, 2019. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and § 679.25 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: December 21, 2018. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–28214 Filed 12–21–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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