[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16996-16997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07312]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XD845


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2015 Gulf of Alaska Pollock Seasonal Apportionments

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2015 seasonal apportionments of the 
total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by 
re-apportioning unharvested pollock TAC in Statistical Areas 610, 620, 
and 630 of the GOA. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for 
harvest of the 2015 pollock TAC, consistent with the goals and 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 
Alaska.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 26, 
2015, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

[[Page 16997]]

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 annual pollock TACs in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of 
the GOA are apportioned among four seasons, in accordance with Sec.  
679.23(d)(2). Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) allow the 
underharvest of a seasonal apportionment to be added to subsequent 
seasonal apportionments, provided that any revised seasonal 
apportionment does not exceed 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment 
for a given statistical area. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the B 
season apportionment of pollock in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 
of the GOA to reflect the underharvest of pollock in those areas during 
the A season. In addition, any underharvest remaining beyond 20 percent 
of the originally specified seasonal apportionment in a particular area 
may be further apportioned to other statistical areas. Therefore, NMFS 
also is increasing the B season apportionment of pollock to Statistical 
Area 620 based on the underharvest of pollock in Statistical Areas 610 
and 630 of the GOA. These adjustments are described below.
    The B seasonal apportionment of the 2015 pollock TAC in Statistical 
Area 610 of the GOA is 3,632 metric tons (mt) as established by the 
final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA 
(80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015). In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator), hereby increases the B season apportionment for 
Statistical Area 610 by 726 mt to account for the underharvest of the 
TAC in Statistical Area 610 in the A season. This increase is not 
greater than 20 percent of the B seasonal apportionment of the TAC in 
Statistical Area 610. Therefore, the revised B seasonal apportionment 
of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is 4,358 mt (3,632 mt plus 
726 mt).
    The B seasonal apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 
620 of the GOA is 37,820 mt as established by the final 2015 and 206 
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 
25, 2015). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional 
Administrator hereby increases the B seasonal apportionment for 
Statistical Area 620 by 5,693 mt to account for the underharvest of the 
TAC in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in the A season. This 
increase is in proportion to the estimated pollock biomass and is not 
greater than 20 percent of the B seasonal apportionment of the TAC in 
Statistical Area 620. Therefore, the revised B seasonal apportionment 
of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 is 43,513 mt (37,820 mt plus 
5,693 mt).
    The B seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 
of the GOA is 4,000 mt as established by the final 2015 and 2016 
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (80 FR 10250, February 
25, 2015). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Regional 
Administrator hereby increases the B seasonal apportionment for 
Statistical Area 630 by 800 mt to account for the underharvest of the 
TAC in Statistical Area 630 in the A season. This increase is not 
greater than 20 percent of the B seasonal apportionment of the TAC in 
Statistical Area 630. Therefore, the revised B seasonal apportionment 
of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 4,800 mt (4,000 mt plus 800 
mt).

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 provide opportunity to harvest increased pollock seasonal 
apportionments. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for 
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became 
available as of March 25, 2015.
    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: March 26, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07312 Filed 3-26-15; 4:15 pm]
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