52204 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

(a)(7)(ii) of this section. The size class migration patterns of bluefin tuna, This amount is in addition to the subquotas for bluefin tuna are further cumulative and projected landings in amounts specified in paragraph (a)(7)(i) subdivided as follows: other commercial fishing categories, the of this section. Consistent with (i) After adjustment for the school potential for gear conflicts on the fishing paragraph (a)(8) of this section, NMFS bluefin tuna quota held in reserve grounds, or market impacts due to may allocate any portion of the school (under paragraph (a)(7)(ii) of this oversupply. NMFS will start the bluefin bluefin tuna Angling category quota section), 52.8 percent (46.6 mt) of the tuna purse seine season between June 1 held in reserve for inseason or annual school bluefin tuna Angling category and August 15, by filing an action with adjustments to the Angling category. quota may be caught, retained, the Office of the Federal Register, and ° ′ * * * * * possessed, or landed south of 39 18 N. notifying the public. The Purse Seine ■ lat. The remaining school bluefin tuna 3. In § 635.29, revise paragraph (c) to category fishery closes on December 31 read as follows: Angling category quota (41.7 mt) may be of each year. caught, retained, possessed or landed (ii) Allocation of bluefin quota to § 635.29 Transfer at sea and north of 39°18′ N. lat. Purse Seine category participants. transshipment. (ii) An amount equal to 52.8 percent Annually, NMFS will make equal * * * * * (43.5 mt) of the large school/small allocations of the baseline Purse Seine (c) An owner or operator of a vessel medium bluefin tuna Angling category category quota described under for which an Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine quota may be caught, retained, paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section to ° ′ category permit has been issued under possessed, or landed south of 39 18 N. individual Purse Seine participants (i.e., § 635.4 may use an auxiliary vessel (i.e., lat. The remaining large school/small 36.9 mt each), then make further a skiff) associated with the permitted medium bluefin tuna Angling category determinations regarding the allocations vessel to assist in routine purse seine quota (38.9 mt) may be caught, retained, ° ′ per paragraph (a)(4)(v) of this section. fishery operations, provided that the possessed or landed north of 39 18 N. Allocations of individual bluefin quota auxiliary vessel has not been issued an lat. to individual Purse Seine participants Atlantic Tunas or HMS vessel permit (iii) One third (1.5 mt) of the large may only be transferred through leasing and functions only in an auxiliary medium and giant bluefin tuna Angling in accordance with procedures and capacity during routine purse seine category quota may be caught retained, requirements at § 635.15(c) and other possessed, or landed, in each of the operations (i.e., it conducts limited requirements under this paragraph three following geographic areas: North assistance activities such as assistance (a)(4). of 39°18′ N. lat.; south of 39°18′ N. lat., with purse seine deployment and and outside of the Gulf of Mexico; and * * * * * removal of BFT from the purse seine). in the Gulf of Mexico. For the purposes (5) Harpoon category quota. The total The auxiliary vessel may transfer large of this section, the Gulf of Mexico amount of large medium and giant medium and giant Atlantic BFT to its region includes all waters of the U.S. bluefin tuna that may be caught, associated purse seine vessel during EEZ west and north of the boundary retained, possessed, landed, or sold by routine purse seine operations, provided stipulated at 50 CFR 600.105(c). vessels that possess Harpoon category that the amount transferred does not (3) Longline category quota. Pursuant Atlantic Tunas permits is 38.6 mt. The cause the receiving vessel to exceed its to paragraph (a) of this section, the total Harpoon category fishery commences on currently authorized vessel allocation, amount of large medium and giant June 1 of each year, and closes on including incidental catch limits. bluefin tuna that may be caught, November 15 of each year. [FR Doc. 2015–21147 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] discarded dead, or retained, possessed, (6) Trap category quota. The total BILLING CODE 3510–22–P or landed by vessels that possess amount of large medium and giant Atlantic Tunas Longline category bluefin tuna that may be caught, permits is 148.3 mt. In addition, 25 mt retained, possessed, or landed by DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE shall be allocated for incidental catch by vessels that possess Trap category pelagic longline vessels fishing in the Atlantic Tunas permits is 1.0 mt. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Northeast Distant gear restricted area, (7) * * * Administration and subject to the restrictions under (i) The total amount of bluefin tuna § 635.15(b)(8). that is held in reserve for inseason or 50 CFR Part 679 (4) Purse Seine category quota—(i) annual adjustments and research using [Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] Baseline Purse Seine quota. Pursuant to quota or subquotas is 24.8 mt, which paragraph (a) of this section, the may be augmented by allowable RIN 0648–XE144 baseline amount of large medium and underharvest from the previous year, or Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic giant bluefin tuna that may be caught, annual reallocation of Purse Seine Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish retained, possessed, or landed by category quota as described under Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian vessels that possess Atlantic Tunas paragraph (a)(4)(v) of this section. Islands Management Area Purse Seine category permits is 184.3 Consistent with paragraphs (a)(8) mt, unless adjusted as a result of through (10) of this section, NMFS may AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries inseason and/or annual adjustments to allocate any portion of the Reserve Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and quotas as specified in paragraphs (a)(9) category quota for inseason or annual Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and (10) of this section; or adjusted adjustments to any fishing category Commerce. (prior to allocation to individual quota. ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment participants) based on the previous (ii) The total amount of school bluefin of reserves; request for comments. year’s catch as described under tuna that is held in reserve for inseason paragraph (a)(4)(v) of this section. or annual adjustments and fishery- SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of Annually, NMFS will make a independent research is 18.5 percent the non-specified reserve to the initial determination when the Purse Seine (20.1 mt) of the total school bluefin tuna total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering fishery will start, based on variations in Angling category quota as described Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) seasonal distribution, abundance or under paragraph (a)(2) of this section. northern rockfish, BSAI squids, Bering

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Sea (BS) Greenland turbot, and BS Fishery Management Council under the ITAC is increased to the full TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the BSAI authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 8,021 mt for BS Pacific ocean perch. management area. This action is Fishery Conservation and Management Classification necessary to allow the fisheries to Act. Regulations governing fishing by continue operating. It is intended to U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP This action responds to the best promote the goals and objectives of the appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 available information recently obtained fishery management plan for the BSAI and 50 CFR part 679. from the fishery. The Assistant management area. The 2015 ITAC of BSAI northern Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, DATES: Effective August 27, 2015, rockfish was established as 2,763 metric (AA) finds good cause to waive the through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, tons (mt), the 2015 ITAC of BSAI squids requirement to provide prior notice and December 31, 2015. Comments must be was established as 340 mt, the 2015 opportunity for public comment received at the following address no ITAC of BS Greenland turbot was pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, established as 2,081 mt, and the 2015 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and September 11, 2015. ITAC of BS Pacific ocean perch was § 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a ADDRESSES: You may submit comments established as 6,818 mt by the final 2015 requirement is impracticable and on this document, identified by FDMS and 2016 harvest specifications for contrary to the public interest. This Docket Number NOAA–NMFS–2014– groundfish of the BSAI (80 FR 11919, requirement is impracticable and 0134 by any of the following methods: March 5, 2015). In accordance with contrary to the public interest as it • Electronic Submission: Submit all § 679.20(a)(3) the Regional would prevent NMFS from responding electronic public comments via the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, to the most recent fisheries data in a Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to, has reviewed the most current available timely fashion and would delay the http://www.regulations.gov/ data and finds that the ITACs for BSAI apportionment of the non-specified #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014- northern rockfish, BSAI squids, BS reserves of groundfish to the BSAI 0134, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, Greenland turbot, and BS Pacific ocean northern rockfish, BSAI squids, BS complete the required fields, and enter perch need to be supplemented from the Greenland turbot, and BS Pacific ocean or attach your comments. perch fisheries in the BSAI. Immediate • non-specified reserve to promote Mail: Submit written comments to efficiency in the utilization of fishery notification is necessary to allow for the Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional resources in the BSAI and allow fishing orderly conduct and efficient operation Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries operations to continue. of this fishery, to allow the industry to Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: plan for the fishing season, and to avoid Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Therefore, in accordance with potential disruption to the fishing fleet Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions from and processors. NMFS was unable to Instructions: Comments sent by any the non-specified reserve of groundfish publish a notice providing time for other method, to any other address or 3,500 mt to the BSAI northern rockfish public comment because the most individual, or received after the end of ITAC, 1,630 mt to the BSAI squids recent, relevant data only became the comment period, may not be ITAC, 105 mt to the BS Greenland available as of August 21, 2015. considered by NMFS. All comments turbot ITAC, and 1,203 mt to the BS The AA also finds good cause to received are a part of the public record Pacific ocean perch ITAC. These waive the 30-day delay in the effective and will generally be posted for public apportionments are consistent with date of this action under 5 U.S.C. viewing on www.regulations.gov § 679.20(b)(1)(i) and do not result in 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon without change. All personal identifying overfishing of any target species because the reasons provided above for waiver of information (e.g., name, address, etc.), the revised ITACs and total allowable prior notice and opportunity for public confidential business information, or catch (TAC) are equal to or less than the comment. otherwise sensitive information specifications of the acceptable Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested submitted voluntarily by the sender will biological catch in the final 2015 and persons are invited to submit written be publicly accessible. NMFS will 2016 harvest specifications for comments on this action (see accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ groundfish in the BSAI (80 FR 11919, ADDRESSES) until September 11, 2015. A’’ in the required fields if you wish to March 5, 2015). This action is required by § 679.20 remain anonymous). The harvest specification for the 2015 and is exempt from review under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ITACs and TACs included in the harvest Executive Order 12866. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. specifications for groundfish in the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS BSAI are revised as follows: The ITAC manages the groundfish fishery in the and TAC is increased to 6,263 mt for Dated: August 24, 2015. (BSAI) exclusive economic zone BSAI northern rockfish and 1,970 mt for Emily H. Menashes, according to the Fishery Management BSAI squids. The ITAC is increased to Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea the full TAC of 2,448 mt for BS Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. and Aleutian Islands Management Area Greenland turbot, including 262 tons of [FR Doc. 2015–21272 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Community Development Quota. And, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

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