Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/12/20/2017-27428/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-inseason-adjustment-to-the-2018-bering-sea-and
Timestamp: 2018-10-19 13:06:15
Document Index: 69007990

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

Federal Register :: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2018 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pollock, Atka Mackerel, and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2018 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pollock, Atka Mackerel, and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/20/2017
Effective 0000 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2018, until the effective date of the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish, unless otherwise modified or superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal Register.
82 FR 60329
60329-60333 (5 pages)
2017-27428
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-27428 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-27428
This PDF is the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on 12/19/2017 at 08:45 am.
NMFS is adjusting the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod fisheries. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate amounts based on the best available scientific information. Also, NMFS is announcing the Aleutian Islands Catcher Vessel (CV) Harvest Set-Aside and Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation will be in effect for 2018, and TACs in this inseason adjustment will apply for 2018. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 4, 2018.
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
The final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) set the 2018 Bering Sea (BS) pollock TAC at 1,345,000 mt, the 2018 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC at 65,000 mt, the 2018 BS Pacific cod TAC at 223,704 mt, and the 2018 AI Pacific cod TAC at 15,695 mt. In December 2017, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a 2018 BS pollock TAC of 1,364,341 mt, which is more than the 1,345,000 mt TAC established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. The Council also recommended a 2018 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 71,000 mt, which is more than the 65,000 mt TAC established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. The Council recommended a 2018 BS Pacific cod TAC of 188,136 mt, and an AI Pacific cod TAC of 15,695 mt, which is less than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 223,704 mt, and the same as the AI Pacific cod TAC of 15,695 mt established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. The Council's recommended 2018 TACs, and the area and seasonal apportionments, are based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2017, which NMFS has determined is the best available scientific information for these fisheries.
Amendment 113 to the FMP (81 FR 84434, November 23, 2016) and regulations at § 679.20(a)(7)(viii) require NMFS to announce whether the Aleutian Islands incidental catch allowance, directed fishing allowance, CV Harvest Set-Aside, and Unrestricted Fishery, as well as the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation will be in effect for 2018. NMFS received notification from Adak that a shoreplant will be processing Aleutian Islands Pacific cod in 2018. Therefore, the Pacific cod TACs in Table 9A of this inseason adjustment will be effective for 2018 and the harvest limits will apply in 2018.
Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod are a principal prey species for Steller sea lions in the BSAI. The seasonal apportionment of pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod harvest is necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification of critical habitat for Steller sea lions. NMFS published regulations and the revised harvest limit amounts for Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and pollock fisheries to implement Steller sea lion protection measures to insure that groundfish fisheries of the BSAI are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the western distinct population segment of Steller sea lions or destroy or adversely modify their designated critical habitat (79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014). The regulations at Start Printed Page 60330§ 679.20(a)(5)(i) specify how the BS pollock TAC will be apportioned. The regulations at § 679.20(a)(7) specify how the BSAI Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned. The regulations at § 679.20(a)(8) specify how the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC will be apportioned.
In accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(iv), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that, based on the November 2017 SAFE report for this fishery, the current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Pursuant to § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2018 BS pollock TAC to 1,364,341 mt, the 2018 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC to 71,000 mt, and the 2018 BS Pacific cod TAC to 188,136 mt. Therefore, Table 2 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) is revised consistent with this adjustment.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i), Table 5 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) is revised for the 2018 BS allocations of pollock TAC to the directed pollock fisheries and to the Community Development Quota (CDQ) directed fishing allowances consistent with this adjustment. The Steller sea lion protection measure final rule (79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014), sets harvest limits for pollock in the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541, see § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 541, the 2018 A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 30 percent, or 12,236 mt, of the AI ABC of 40,788 mt. In Area 542, the 2018 A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 15 percent, or 6,118 mt, of the AI ABC of 40,788 mt. In Area 543, the 2018 A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent, or 2,039 mt, of the AI pollock ABC of 40,788 mt.
Table 5—Final 2018 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) 1
2018 A season 1
2018 B season 1
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 1,364,341 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA 164,434 61,395 38,202 75,093
ICA 1 47,888 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA 1,180,019 531,008 330,405 649,010
AFA Inshore 590,009 265,504 165,203 324,505
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 472,007 212,403 132,162 259,604
Catch by C/Ps 431,887 194,349 n/a 237,538
Catch by CVs 3 40,121 18,054 n/a 21,754
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 2,360 1,062 n/a 1,280
AFA Motherships 118,002 53,101 33,041 64,901
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 206,503 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit 6 354,006 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC 40,788 n/a n/a n/a
Aleut Corporation 14,700 12,355 n/a 345
Area harvest limit: 7
541 12,236 n/a n/a n/a
542 6,118 n/a n/a n/a
543 2,039 n/a n/a n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.9 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, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 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 (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed 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 pollock directed fishery.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8), Table 7 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) is revised for the 2018 seasonal and spatial allowances, gear shares, CDQ reserve, incidental catch allowance, and Amendment 80 allocation of the BSAI Start Printed Page 60331Atka mackerel TAC consistent with this adjustment.
Table 7—Final 2018 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
2018 Allocation by area
Eastern Aleutian District/ Bering Sea
TAC n/a 36,500 21,000 13,500
CDQ reserve Total 3,906 2,247 1,445
A 1,953 1,124 722
Critical Habitat n/a 674 433
B 1,953 1,124 722
Non-CDQ TAC n/a 32,595 18,753 12,056
Jig 6 Total 163 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access Total 3,163 1,868 0
A 1,582 934 0
Critical Habitat n/a 560 0
B 1,582 934 0
Amendment 80 sector Total 6 28,468 16,810 12,036
A 14,234 8,405 6,018
Critical Habitat n/a 5,043 3,611
B 14,234 8,405 6,018
5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of critical habitat; (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7), Table 9 of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) is revised for the 2018 gear shares and seasonal allowances of the BSAI Pacific cod TAC consistent with this adjustment.
Table 9—Final 2018 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
2018 share of gear sector total
2018 share of sector total
2018 seasonal apportionment
BS TAC n/a 188,136 n/a n/a n/a
BS CDQ n/a 20,131 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a
BS non-CDQ TAC n/a 168,005 n/a n/a n/a
AI TAC n/a 15,695 n/a n/a n/a
AI CDQ n/a 1,679 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a
AI non-CDQ TAC n/a 14,016 n/a n/a n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit n/a 4,018 n/a n/a n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 100 182,021 n/a n/a n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear 60.8 110,669 n/a n/a n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total n/a 110,269 n/a n/a n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor 48.7 n/a 88,324 Jan 1-Jun 10 45,045
Jun 10-Dec 31 43,279
Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥60 ft LOA 0.2 n/a 363 Jan 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Dec 31 185 178
Pot catcher/processor 1.5 n/a 2,720 Jan 1-Jun 10 1,387
Start Printed Page 60332
Sept 1-Dec 31 1,333
Pot catcher vessel ≥60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 15,235 Jan 1-Jun 10 7,770
Sept 1-Dec 31 7,465
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear 2 n/a 3,627 n/a n/a
Trawl catcher vessel 22.1 40,227 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1 29,768
Apr 1-Jun 10 4,425
Jun 10-Nov 1 6,034
AFA trawl catcher/processor 2.3 4,186 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1 3,140
Apr 1- Jun 10 1,047
Amendment 80 13.4 24,391 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1 18,293
Apr 1- Jun 10 6,098
Jig 1.4 2,548 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30 1,529
Apr 30-Aug 31 510
Aug 31-Dec 31 510
2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 400 mt for 2018 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7)(viii), the Pacific cod TACs in Table 9A of this inseason adjustment will be effective for 2018 and the harvest limits will apply in 2018.
Table 9a—Final 2018 BSAI A-Season Pacific Cod Limits Aleutian Islands for Shoreplants Intention To Process Pacific Cod 1
2018 allocations under Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside
AI non-CDQ TAC 14,016
AI DFA 11,516
BS non-CDQ TAC 168,005
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation 29,768
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector Limitation 2 24,768
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside 5,000
AI Unrestricted Fishery 6,516
1 These allocations will apply in 2018 because NMFS received notice of intent to process AI Pacific cod by October 31 of the previous year, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7)(viii), and the performance requirements set forth in § 679.20(a)(7)(viii) are likewise met. Prior to October 31, 2017, NMFS received timely notice from the City of Adak indicating intent to process AI Pacific cod for the 2018 season. Accordingly, the harvest limits in Table 9a will be in effect in 2018, subject to the performance requirements outlined in § 679.20(a)(7)(viii).
2 This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A season allocation that may be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2018, unless modified because the performance requirements were not met.
Start Printed Page 60333
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 allow for harvests that exceed the appropriate allocations for pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod in the BSAI based on the best scientific information available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of December 20, 2017, and additional time for prior public comment would result in conservation concerns for the ESA-listed Steller sea lions.
Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until January 4, 2018.
[FR Doc. 2017-27428 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]