Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/08/21/2014-19840/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-reallocation-of-pacific-cod-in-the-bering-sea
Timestamp: 2017-08-19 19:31:32
Document Index: 457896501

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679']

A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 08/21/2014
Effective August 19, 2014, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2014.
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-19840 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-19840
This PDF is the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on 08/18/2014 at 04:15 pm.
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), Start Printed Page 49464NMFS 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-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.
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 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.