[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22683-22685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9090]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 111207737-2232-03]
RIN 0648-XA711


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Final 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 
Correction

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Final rule; closures; correction.

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SUMMARY:  The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a 
final rule that published on March 14, 2012, implementing the final 
2012 and 2013 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch 
allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
rule corrects errors contained in a table in the document that provides 
the 2012 GOA non-American Fisheries Act crab vessel groundfish harvest 
sideboard limits.

DATES:  Effective April 17, 2012 through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 
2013, and is applicable beginning March 14, 2012.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Correction

    NMFS published the Final 2012 and 2013 GOA Harvest Specifications 
in the Federal Register on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 15194). A table 
providing information on 2012 GOA non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab 
vessel groundfish harvest sideboard limits (Table 22) contained two 
minor errors. In Table 22 on page 15216, a Federal Register error 
omitted the final 2012 non-AFA crab vessel A season sideboard limit for 
catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Western GOA. The 
correct limit is 23 metric tons. In addition, NMFS inadvertently listed 
``0.0001'' as the ratio used to calculate the non-AFA crab vessel 
sideboard limit for catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the 
Western GOA during the B season instead of the correct ratio of 
``0.0018.'' These corrections are necessary to provide the correct 
sideboard limits.
    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 notice corrects typographical errors to the 
table providing the 2012 GOA non-AFA crab vessel groundfish harvest 
sideboard limits, and does not change operating practices in the 
fisheries. The corrections described in this rule are being implemented 
as soon as possible to avoid confusion for participants in the 
fisheries.
    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). The corrections 
described in this rule are being made effective upon publication to 
avoid confusion for participants in the fisheries.

Correction

    In the final rule published on March 14, 2012 (77 FR 15194), the 
following corrections are made to Table 22:
    1. On page 15216, in Table 22, row 17 (the row beginning ``W Hook-
and-line C/P''), column six, the blank entry ``'' is corrected to read 
``23.''
    2. On the same page, in row 29 (the row beginning ``W Hook-and-line 
C/P), column four, the entry ``0.0001'' is corrected to read 
``0.0018.''
    Table 22 is corrected and reprinted in its entirety below.

[[Page 22684]]



                           Table 22--Final 2012 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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                                                                                                       Ratio of 1996  -
                                                                                                         2000 non-AFA                    Final 2012  non-
                                                                                                         crab vessel       Final 2012        AFA crab
                 Species                            Season/Gear               Area/Component/Gear       catch to 1996-        TACs            vessel
                                                                                                          2000 total                     sideboard limit
                                                                                                           harvest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock..................................  A Season January 20-March 10  Shumagin (610)..............           0.0098            5,797               57
                                                                         Chirikof (620)..............           0.0031           14,023               43
                                                                         Kodiak (630)................           0.0002            5,787                1
                                           B Season March 10-May 31....  Shumagin (610)..............           0.0098            5,797               57
                                                                         Chirikof (620)..............           0.0031           17,221               53
                                                                         Kodiak (630)................           0.0002            2,589                1
                                           C Season August 25-October 1  Shumagin (610)..............           0.0098            9,338               92
                                                                         Chirikof (620)..............           0.0031            7,282               23
                                                                         Kodiak (630)................           0.0002            8,986                2
                                           D Season October 1-November   Shumagin (610)..............           0.0098            9,338               92
                                            1.                           Chirikof (620)..............           0.0031            7,282               23
                                                                         Kodiak (630)................           0.0002            8,986                2
                                           Annual......................  WYK (640)...................           0.0000            3,244                0
                                                                         SEO (650)...................           0.0000           10,774                0
Pacific cod..............................  A Season \1\ January 1-June   W Jig.......................           0.0000           12,614                0
                                            10.                          W Hook-and-line CV..........           0.0004           12,614                5
                                                                         W Hook-and-line C/P.........           0.0018           12,614               23
                                                                         W Pot CV....................           0.0997           12,614            1,258
                                                                         W Pot C/P...................           0.0078           12,614               98
                                                                         W Trawl CV..................           0.0007           12,614                9
                                                                         C Jig.......................           0.0000           25,623                0
                                                                         C Hook-and-line CV..........           0.0001           25,623                3
                                                                         C Hook-and-line C/P.........           0.0012           25,623               31
                                                                         C Pot CV....................           0.0474           25,623            1,215
                                                                         C Pot C/P...................           0.0136           25,623              348
                                                                         C Trawl CV..................           0.0012           25,623               31
                                           B Season \2\................  W Jig.......................           0.0000            8,410                0
                                           Jig Gear: June 10-December    W Hook-and-line CV..........           0.0004            8,410                3
                                            31.                          W Hook-and-line C/P.........           0.0018            8,410               15
                                            All other gears: September   W Pot CV....................           0.0997            8,410              838
                                            1-December 31.               W Pot C/P...................           0.0078            8,410               66
                                                                         W Trawl CV..................           0.0007            8,410                6
                                                                         C Jig.......................           0.0000           17,082                0
                                                                         C Hook-and-line CV..........           0.0001           17,082                2
                                                                         C Hook-and-line C/P.........           0.0012           17,082               20
                                                                         C Pot CV....................           0.0474           17,082              810
                                                                         C Pot C/P...................           0.0136           17,082              232
                                                                         C Trawl CV..................           0.0012           17,082               20
                                           Annual......................  E inshore...................           0.0110            1,774               20
                                                                         E offshore..................           0.0000              197                0
Sablefish................................  Annual, trawl gear..........  W...........................           0.0000              356                0
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000            1,152                0
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000              271                0
Flatfish, shallow-water..................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0059           13,250               78
                                                                         C...........................           0.0001           18,000                2
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            5,779                0
Flatfish, deep-water.....................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0035              176                1
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000            2,308                0
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            2,642                0
Rex sole.................................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0000            1,307                0
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000            6,412                0
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            1,893                0
Arrowtooth flounder......................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0004           14,500                6
                                                                         C...........................           0.0001           75,000                8
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000           13,800                0
Flathead sole............................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0002            8,650                2
                                                                         C...........................           0.0004           14,500                6
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            6,269                0
Pacific ocean perch......................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0000            2,102                0
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000           11,263                0
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            3,553                0
Northern rockfish........................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0005            2,156                1
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000            3,351                0
Shortraker rockfish......................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0013              104                0
                                                                         C...........................           0.0012              452                1
                                                                         E...........................           0.0009              525                0

[[Page 22685]]

 
Other rockfish...........................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0035               44                0
                                                                         C...........................           0.0033              606                2
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000              430                0
Pelagic shelf rockfish...................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0017              409                1
                                                                         C...........................           0.0000            3,849                0
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000              860                0
Rougheye rockfish........................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0067               80                1
                                                                         C...........................           0.0047              850                4
                                                                         E...........................           0.0008              293                0
Demersal shelf rockfish..................  Annual......................  SEO.........................           0.0000              293                0
Thornyhead rockfish......................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0047              150                1
                                                                         C...........................           0.0066              766                5
                                                                         E...........................           0.0045              749                3
Atka mackerel............................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0000            2,000                0
Big skate................................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0392              469               18
                                                                         C...........................           0.0159            1,793               29
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000            1,505                0
Longnose skate...........................  Annual......................  W...........................           0.0392               70                3
                                                                         C...........................           0.0159            1,879               30
                                                                         E...........................           0.0000              676                0
Other skates.............................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0176            2,030               36
Squids...................................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0176            1,148               20
Sharks...................................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0176            6,028              106
Octopuses................................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0176            1,455               26
Sculpins.................................  Annual......................  Gulfwide....................           0.0176            5,731              101
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\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 1801 et 
seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-31; Pub. 
L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-241; Pub. 
L. 109-479.

    Dated: April 11, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9090 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P