Rule2021-28361
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2022 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
Primary source
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Published
December 30, 2021
Effective
January 1, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is adjusting the 2022 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74384-74386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28361]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210210-0018]
RTID 0648-XB679
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2022 Gulf of Alaska Pollock 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 2022 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fishery. This
action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are
incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod
TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best available scientific
information for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1,
2022, until the effective date of the final 2022 and 2023 harvest
specifications for GOA 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 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140 by
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and
enter NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140. Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the
required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public
record, and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
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. 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 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021) set the 2022 pollock TAC at
99,784 metric tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 2021, the Council
recommended a 2022 pollock TAC of 141,117 mt for the GOA, which is
greater than the 99,784 mt established by the final 2021 and 2022
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA. The Council's
recommended 2022 TAC, and the area and seasonal apportionments, is
based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE),
dated November 2021.
The final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021) set the 2022 Pacific cod TAC
at 27,961 mt in the GOA. In December 2021, the Council recommended a
2022 Pacific cod TAC of 24,111 mt for the GOA, which is less than the
27,961 mt established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA. The Council's recommended 2022 TAC, and the
area and seasonal apportionments, is based on the SAFE, dated November
2021.
Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act. Pollock and Pacific cod are principal prey species for
Steller sea lions in the GOA. The seasonal apportionment of pollock and
Pacific cod harvests are necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries
are not likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification
of critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify how the pollock TAC will be apportioned and
the regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i) specify how
the Pacific cod 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 best available
scientific information for this fishery, the current GOA pollock and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Consequently, pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the
2022 GOA pollock TAC to 141,117 mt and the 2022 Pacific cod TAC to
24,111 mt. Therefore, Tables 4 and 6 of the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19,
2021) are revised consistent with this adjustment.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv), Table 4 of the final 2021 and
2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (86 FR 10184,
February 19, 2021) is revised for the 2022 TACs of pollock in the
Central and Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Table 4--Final 2022 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Area Apportionments;\1\ and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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Shumigan (area Chirikof (area Kodiak (area
Season \2\ 610) 620) 630) Total \3\
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A (January 20-May 31)........................... 1,132 52,304 8,080 61,516
[[Page 74385]]
B (September 1-November 1)...................... 22,582 16,946 21,988 61,516
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Annual Total................................ 23,714 69,250 30,068 123,032
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\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (ii), the A and B season allowances are available from
January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for
processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i), Table 6 of the
final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021) is revised for the 2022 TACs of
Pacific cod in the GOA.
Table 6--Final 2022 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
Processing Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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A Season B Season
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Annual Sector Sector
Regulatory area and sector allocation percentage of Seasonal percentage of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances annual non-jig allowances
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
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Western GOA:
Jig (3.5% of TAC)........... 244 N/A 146 N/A 97
Hook-and-line CV............ 94 0.70 47 0.70 47
Hook-and-line CP............ 1,330 10.90 732 8.90 598
Trawl CV.................... 2,579 31.54 2,118 10.70 461
Trawl CP.................... 161 0.90 60 1.50 101
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 2,552 19.80 1,330 18.20 1,222
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Total................... 6,959 63.84 4,433 36.16 2,526
Central GOA:
Jig (1.0% of TAC)........... 148 N/A 89 N/A 59
Hook-and-line < 50 CV....... 2,142 9.32 1,366 5.29 775
Hook-and-line [gteqt] 50 CV. 984 5.61 823 1.10 161
Hook-and-line CP............ 749 4.11 602 1.00 146
Trawl CV \1\................ 6,099 21.14 3,710 20.45 2,389
Trawl CP.................... 616 2.00 294 2.19 322
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 4,078 17.83 2,615 9.97 1,463
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Total................... 14,814 64.16 9,498 35.84 5,316
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Eastern GOA: .............. Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
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2,338 .............. 2,104 .............. 234
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\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 564 mt, of the
annual Central GOA TAC (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season
allowance (see Table 13. Final 2022 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table
28c to 50 CFR part 679).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment would be 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 allocation for pollock and Pacific cod 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 23, 2021.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for Pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA to be harvested in an expedient
manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.
679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments
on this action to the above address until January 14, 2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 74386]]
Dated: December 27, 2021.
Karen Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-28361 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 30, 2021.
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