# Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Temporary rule; reallocation.
**SUMMARY:**
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the 2007 pollock incidental catch allowance (ICA) to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP).
**DATES:**
Effective September 13, 2007, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2007.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) according to the 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.
In the Bering Sea subarea, the portion of the 2007 pollock TAC allocated to the ICA is 35,129 mt as established by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007).
As of September 6, 2007, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that the ICA has been set too high: 2,000 mt of the 2007 pollock ICA in the Bering Sea subarea will not be harvested. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS reallocates 2,000 mt of the 2007 pollock ICA to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea.
As a result, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( *3* ), ( *4* ), and ( *5* ), the 2007 harvest specifications for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea included in the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) are revised as follows: 33,129 to the pollock ICA, 366,841 to B season AFA catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by AFA inshore processors, 293,473 mt to B season AFA catcher processors and AFA catcher vessels delivering pollock to catcher processors, and 73,368 mt to B season AFA catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by AFA motherships. Furthermore, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i), Table 3 of the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) is revised for 2007 pollock allocations consistent with this reallocation. This reallocation results in adjustments to the 2007 pollock ICA and directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea established at § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A).
| Area and sector | 2007 | 2007 A season | A season DFA | SCA | 2007 B season | B season DFA | 2008 | 2008 A season | A season DFA | SCA | 2008 B season | B season DFA |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bering Sea subarea | 1,394,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1,318,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
| CDQ DFA | 139,400 | 55,760 | 39,032 | 83,640 | 131,800 | 52,720 | 36,904 | 79,080 | | | | |
| ICA | 33,129 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 33,214 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
| AFA Inshore | 609,736 | 243,894 | 107,726 | 366,841 | 576,493 | 230,597 | 161,418 | 345,896 | | | | |
| AFA Catcher/Processors | 487,788 | 195,115 | 136,581 | 293,473 | 461,195 | 184,478 | 129,134 | 276,717 | | | | |
| Catch by C/Ps | 446,326 | 178,531 | n/a | 267,796 | 421,993 | 168,797 | n/a | 253,196 | | | | |
| Catch by CVs | 41,462 | 16,585 | n/a | 24,877 | 39,202 | 15,681 | n/a | 23,521 | | | | |
| Unlisted C/P Limit | 2,439 | 976 | n/a | 1,463 | 2,306 | 922 | n/a | 1,384 | | | | |
| AFA Mothership | 121,947 | 48,779 | 34,145 | 73,368 | 115,299 | 46,119 | 32,284 | 69,179 | | | | |
| Excessive Harvesting Limit | 213,407 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 201,773 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
| Excessive Processing Limit | 365,841 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 345,896 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
| Total Bering Sea DFA | 1,358,871 | 543,548 | 380,484 | 817,322 | 1,284,787 | 513,914 | 359,740 | 770,872 | | | | |
| Aleutian Islands subarea | 19,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 19,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
| CDQ DFA | 1,900 | 760 | n/a | 1,140 | 1,900 | 760 | n/a | 1,140 | | | | |
| ICA | 1,600 | 800 | n/a | 800 | 1,600 | 800 | n/a | 800 | | | | |
| Aleut Corporation | 15,500 | 15,500 | n/a | 0 | 15,500 | 15,500 | n/a | 0 | | | | |
| Bogoslof District ICA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | | | | |
**Classification**
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 pollock in the Bering Sea subarea. Since the pollock fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the final Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to plan for the fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors; and provide opportunity to harvest increased B season pollock allocations while value is optimum.
The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment.
This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
**Authority:**
16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: September 11, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.