Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2014/08/21/2014-19840.html
Timestamp: 2020-08-08 16:11:18
Document Index: 641648077

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 679', 'art 600', 'art 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', 'art 648', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679']

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49463-49464 [2014-19840] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49463-49464 [2014-19840]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49463-49464 [2014-19840]
Download as PDF tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 162 / Thursday, August 21, 2014 / Rules and Regulations the Regional Administrator to close a common pool Trimester Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Area for a stock when 90 percent of the Trimester TAC is projected to be caught. In such cases, the Trimester TAC Area for a stock closes to all common pool vessels fishing with gear capable of catching that stock for the remainder of the trimester. The fishing year 2014 (May 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015) common pool sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL) for Georges Bank (GB) cod is 31.0 mt and the Trimester 1 (May 1, 2014, through August 31, 2014) TAC is 8.3 mt. Based on the most recent data and information, which include vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, and vessel monitoring system information, we have determined that 118 percent of the Trimester 1 TAC was caught as of August 14, 2014. Because of the low trimester catch limit and the rate at which common pool vessel can harvest GB cod, it was not possible to initiate this action closer to the point at this 90 percent of the catch limit was harvested. Therefore, effective August 18, 2014, the GB cod Trimester TAC Area is closed for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2014, to all common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear, sink gillnet gear, and longline/hook gear. Effective August 21, 2014, it is unlawful for common pool vessels to fish for, harvest, possess, or land regulated species or ocean pout in or from the GB cod Trimester TAC Area. The GB cod Trimester TAC Area includes statistical areas 521, 522, 525, and 561. The GB cod Trimester TAC Area will reopen to common pool vessels fishing with trawl, sink gillnet, and longline/hook gear at the beginning of Trimester 2, on September 1, 2014. Any overages of a trimester TAC will be deducted from Trimester 3, and any overages of the common pool’s sub-ACL at the end of the fishing year will be deducted from the common pool’s subACL the following fishing year. Any uncaught portion of the Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 TAC will be carried over into the next trimester. Any uncaught portion of the common pool’s sub-ACL may not be carried over into the following fishing year. Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery can be found on our Web site at: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/ro/fso/ MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue to monitor common pool catch through vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, vessel monitoring system catch reports, and other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional adjustments to common pool management measures. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:53 Aug 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 Classification Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 15, 2014. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–19830 Filed 8–18–14; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 131021878–4158–02] RIN 0648–XD447 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4700 NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear, catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear, and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective August 19, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,474 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and one inseason adjustment (79 FR 6837, February 5, 2014). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,373 mt of the remaining 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS apportions 1,373 mt of Pacific cod to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The 2014 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI is 452 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). The Regional Administrator has determined that catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest 427 mt of the remaining 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), SUMMARY: This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness period because it would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The Trimester TAC Area closure is required by regulation in order to reduce the probability of the common pool fishery exceeding its sub-ACL of GB cod. Any overages of the common pool’s sub-ACLs would undermine conservation objectives and trigger the implementation of accountability measures that would have negative economic impacts on common pool vessels. The data and information showing that GB cod had exceeded 90 percent of the Trimester 1 TAC for the stock only became available recently. The time necessary to provide for prior notice and comment, and a 30-day delay in effectiveness, would prevent NMFS from implementing the necessary Trimester TAC Area closure for GB cod in a timely manner, which could undermine management objectives of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, and cause negative economic impacts to the common pool fishery. Sfmt 4700 49463 E:\FR\FM\21AUR1.SGM 21AUR1 49464 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 162 / Thursday, August 21, 2014 / Rules and Regulations tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES NMFS apportions 427 mt of Pacific cod to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The 2014 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI is 50,107 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). The Regional Administrator has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 2,000 mt of the 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates 2,000 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (79 FR 6837, February 5, 2014) are revised as follows: 101 mt for vessels using jig gear, 25 mt for catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and- VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:53 Aug 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 line gear, 48,107 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, and 10,018 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from other sectors to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 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 August 15, 2014. 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: August 18, 2014. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–19840 Filed 8–18–14; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\21AUR1.SGM 21AUR1
[Pages 49463-49464]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19840]
RIN 0648-XD447
cod from vessels using jig gear, catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear,
and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to
allow the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 19, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2014.
The 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for
vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,474 metric tons (mt) as
groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014) and one inseason
adjustment (79 FR 6837, February 5, 2014).
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,373 mt of
the remaining 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under
Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS apportions 1,373 mt of Pacific cod to the
annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using
The 2014 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI is 452 mt
as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). The Regional
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest 427
mt of the remaining 2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A),
[[Page 49464]]
NMFS apportions 427 mt of Pacific cod to catcher vessels less than 60
feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The 2014 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the BSAI is 50,107 mt as established by the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March
4, 2014). The Regional Administrator has determined that catcher
vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 2,000 mt of the
2014 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates 2,000 mt of Pacific cod from
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
2014 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108,
March 4, 2014) and inseason adjustment (79 FR 6837, February 5, 2014)
are revised as follows: 101 mt for vessels using jig gear, 25 mt for
catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line gear, 48,107 mt for catcher vessels using trawl gear, and
10,018 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-
and-line or pot gear.
recent, relevant data only became available as of August 15, 2014.
[FR Doc. 2014-19840 Filed 8-18-14; 4:15 pm]