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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111213751-2102-02]
RIN 0648-XB038
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Temporary rule.
 SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowance and the Community Development Quota from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2012 total allowable catch of pollock, 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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 29, 2012, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.


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 (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 Aleutian Islands subarea, the portion of the 2012 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the Aleut Corporation's directed fishing allowance (DFA) is 15,500 metric tons (mt) and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) is 1,900 mt as established by the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (77 FR 10669, February 23, 2012). As of February 23, 2012, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that 10,500 mt of Aleut Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ in the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(
                    *4*), NMFS reallocates 10,500 mt of Aleut Corporation's DFA and 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2012 Bering Sea subarea allocations. The 1,900 mt of pollock CDQ is added to the 2012 Bering Sea CDQ DFA. The remaining 10,500 mt of pollock is apportioned to the AFA Inshore sector (50 percent), AFA catcher/processor sector (40 percent), and the AFA mothership sector (10 percent). The 2012 pollock incidental catch allowance remains at 32,400 mt. As a result, the harvest specifications for pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea included in the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (77 FR 10669, February 23, 2012) are revised as follows: 5,000 mt to Aleut Corporation's DFA and 0 mt to CDQ pollock. Furthermore, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5), Table 3 of the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (77 FR 10669, February 23, 2012) is revised to make 2012 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2012 Aleut Corporation and CDQ pollock allocations established at § 679.20(a)(5).
                    ( print page 12215) Table 3—Final 2012 and 2013 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
2012
                             Allocations
2012 A season 1
2012 B
                             
                                season 1
2013
                             Allocations
2013 A season 1
2013 B 
                             
                                season 1A season DFA
SCA
                             harvest  
                             
                                limit 2
B season DFA
A season DFA
SCA
                             harvest  
                             
                                limit 2
B season DFABering Sea subarea
1,212,400
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,201,900
n/a
n/a
n/aCDQ DFA
121,900
48,760
34,132
73,140
120,190
48,076
33,653
72,114ICA 1
32,400
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,451
n/a
n/a
n/aAFA Inshore
529,050
211,620
148,134
317,430
524,629
209,852
146,896
314,778AFA Catcher/Processors 3
423,240
169,296
118,507
253,944
419,703
167,881
117,517
251,822Catch by C/Ps
387,265
154,906
n/a
232,359
384,029
153,611
n/a
230,417Catch by CVs 3
35,975
14,390
n/a
21,585
35,675
14,270
n/a
21,405Unlisted C/P Limit 4
2,116
846
n/a
1,270
2,099
839
n/a
1,259AFA Motherships
105,810
42,324
29,627
63,486
104,926
41,970
29,379
62,956Excessive Harvesting Limit 5
185,168
n/a
n/a
n/a
183,620
n/a
n/a
n/aExcessive Processing Limit 6
317,430
n/a
n/a
n/a
314,778
n/a
n/a
n/aTotal Bering Sea DFA
1,058,100
423,240
296,268
634,860
1,049,259
419,703
293,792
629,555Aleutian Islands subarea 1
6,600
n/a
n/a
n/a
19,000
n/a
n/a
n/aCDQ DFA
0
0
n/a
0
1,900
760
n/a
1,140ICA
1,600
800
n/a
800
1,600
800
n/a
800Aleut Corporation
5,000
15,500
n/a
0
15,500
15,500
n/a
0Bogoslof District ICA 7
150
n/a
n/a
n/a
150
n/a
n/a
n/a1
                         Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3 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 BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to § 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 (1,600 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 BS 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 less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.3
                         Pursuant to § 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 § 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 § 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.6
                         Pursuant 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.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.**Note:**
                         Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
 Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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 AI pollock. 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 seasonal pollock allocations while value is optimum. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of February 23, 2012. 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: February 24, 2012. Steven Thur, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 2012-4836 Filed 2-24-12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P