Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)


[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2916-2920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00260]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
RIN 0648-XF108


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2017 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pollock, Atka
Mackerel, and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2017 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 not be in
effect for 2017, and TACs in this inseason adjustment will apply for
2017. 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.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 9,
2017, until the effective date of the final 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications for BSAI groundfish, unless otherwise modified or
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal
Register.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than
4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0118, 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-2015-0118, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) set the 2017 Aleutian Island
(AI) pollock TAC at 19,000 metric tons (mt), the 2017 Bering Sea (BS)
pollock TAC at 1,340,643 mt, the 2017 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC at 55,000
mt, the 2017 BS Pacific cod TAC at 238,680 mt, and the AI Pacific cod
TAC at 12,839 mt. Also set was an AI pollock ABC of 36,664 and a
Western Aleutian Island limit for Pacific cod at 26.3 percent of the AI
Pacific cod TAC. In December 2016, the

[[Page 2917]]

North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended a 2017
BS pollock TAC of 1,345,000 mt, which is more than the 1,340,643 mt TAC
established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI. The Council also recommended decreasing the AI
pollock ABC to 36,061 mt from 36,664 mt. This in turn reduces some area
and seasonal limits for AI pollock. The Council also recommended a 2017
BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 65,000 mt, which is more than the 55,000 mt
TAC established by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI. Furthermore, the Council recommended a 2017 BS
Pacific cod TAC of 223,704 mt, and an AI Pacific cod TAC of 15,695 mt,
which is less than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 238,680 mt, and more than
the AI Pacific cod TAC of 12,839 mt established by the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. In addition to
changes in TACs, the Council recommended changing the percentage limit
of Western Aleutian Island Pacific cod to 25.6 percent of the AI
Pacific cod ABC, from the 26.3 percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC. The
Council's recommended 2017 TACs, and the area and seasonal
apportionments, are based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2016, 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 Sec. 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 2017. NMFS received notification from Adak and Atka that
neither will be processing Aleutian Islands Pacific cod in 2017.
Therefore, the Pacific cod TACs in Table 9 of this inseason adjustment
will be effective for 2017 and the harvest limits in Table 8A (81 FR
84434, November 23, 2016) will not apply in 2017.
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 Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i) specify how the BS pollock TAC
will be apportioned. The regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(7) specify how
the BSAI Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned. The regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(8) specify how the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC will be
apportioned.
In accordance with Sec. 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 2016 SAFE
report for this fishery, the current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Pursuant to Sec.
679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2017 BS
pollock TAC to 1,345,000 mt, the 2017 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC to 65,000,
the 2017 BS Pacific cod TAC to 223,704 mt, and the AI Pacific cod TAC
to 15,695 mt. Therefore, Table 2 of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016)
is revised consistent with this adjustment.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), Table 5 of the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773,
March 18, 2016) is revised for the 2017 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 Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 541, the 2017 A season pollock harvest
limit is no more than 30 percent, or 10,818 mt, of the AI ABC of 36,061
mt. In Area 542, the 2017 A season pollock harvest limit is no more
than 15 percent, or 5,409 mt, of the AI ABC of 36,061 mt. In Area 543,
the 2017 A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent, or
1,803 mt, of the AI pollock ABC of 36,061 mt.

Table 5--Final 2017 Allocations of Pollock Tacs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 A season \1\ 2017 B season \1\
-----------------------------------------------------------
Area and sector 2017 allocations SCA harvest limit
A season DFA \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...... 1,345,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................... 134,500 60,525 37,660 73,975
ICA \1\......................... 47,210 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.... 1,163,291 523,481 325,721 639,810
AFA Inshore..................... 581,645 261,740 162,861 319,905
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...... 465,316 209,392 130,289 255,924
Catch by C/Ps............... 425,764 191,594 n/a 234,170
Catch by CVs \3\............ 39,552 17,798 n/a 21,754
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...... 2,327 1,047 n/a 1,280
AFA Motherships................. 116,329 52,348 32,572 63,981
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.. 203,576 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.. 348,987 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.... 36,061 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA............................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............... 14,700 12,464 n/a 2,236

[[Page 2918]]


Area harvest limit \7\
541......................... 10,818 n/a n/a n/a
542......................... 5,409 n/a n/a n/a
543......................... 1,803 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....... 500 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 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 Sec. 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.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before
April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/
processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8), Table 7 of the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March
18, 2016) is revised for the 2017 seasonal and spatial allowances, gear
shares, CDQ reserve, incidental catch allowance, and Amendment 80
allocation of the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC consistent with this
adjustment.

Table 7--Final 2017 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------
Eastern
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Aleutian Central Western
District/ Aleutian Aleutian
Bering Sea District \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC................................... n/a..................... 34,500 18,000 12,500
CDQ reserve........................... Total................... 3,692 1,926 1,338
A....................... 1,846 963 669
Critical Habitat........ n/a 578 401
B....................... 1,846 963 669
Critical Habitat........ n/a 578 401
Non-CDQ TAC........................... n/a..................... 30,809 16,074 11,163
ICA................................... Total................... 1,000 75 20
Jig \6\............................... Total................... 149 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access............. Total................... 2,966 1,600 0
A....................... 1,483 800 0
Critical Habitat........ n/a 480 0
B....................... 1,483 800 0
Critical Habitat........ n/a 480 0
Amendment 80 sectors.................. Total................... 26,694 14,399 11,143
A....................... 13,347 7,200 5,571
B....................... 13,347 7,200 5,571
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative......... Total \6\............... 15,191 8,552 6,853
A....................... 7,596 4,276 3,427
Critical Habitat........ n/a 2,566 2,056
B....................... 7,596 4,276 3,427
Critical Habitat........ n/a 2,566 2,056
Alaska Seafood Cooperative............ Total \6\............... 11,502 5,847 4,290
A....................... 5,751 2,924 2,145
Critical Habitat........ n/a 1,754 1,287
B....................... 5,751 2,924 2,145

[[Page 2919]]


Critical Habitat........ n/a 1,754 1,287
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679
and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\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 Sec. 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.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation
is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7), Table 9 of the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March
18, 2016) is revised for the 2017 gear shares and seasonal allowances
of the BSAI Pacific cod TAC consistent with this adjustment.

TABLE 9--Final 2017 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 share of 2017 seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent gear sector 2017 share of ---------------------------------
total sector total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................ n/a 223,704 n/a n/a............. n/a
BS CDQ........................ n/a 23,936 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 199,768 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 Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
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\.... 100 213,783 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 129,980 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii
)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 129,480 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 103,712 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 52,893
processor. Jun 10-Dec 31... 50,819
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 426 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 217
>=60 ft LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31... 209
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 3,194 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,629
Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,565
Pot catcher vessel >=60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 17,889 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 9,123
Sept 1-Dec 31... 8,765
Catcher vessel