Quiero saber acerca de...

43420

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Subpart CC Amended 52.1420

Amended
2. In 52.1420, the table in paragraph c is amended by removing the entry for 12940 under the heading Title 129Nebraska Air Quality Regulations.

FR Doc. 202116767 Filed 8621; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 656050P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635
Docket No. 180117042888402
RTID 0648XB214

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.
AGENCY:

NMFS is transferring 30
metric tons mt of Atlantic bluefin tuna BFT quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category. With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota for the 2021 fishing season is 76
mt. The 2021 Harpoon category fishery is open until November 15, 2021, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first. The action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, and applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category commercial permitted vessels.

SUMMARY:

Effective August 4, 2021, through November 15, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Larry Redd, Jr., larry.redd@noaa.gov, 3014278503, Nicholas Velseboer, nicholas.velsboer@noaa.gov, 978675
2168, or Lauren Latchford, lauren.latchford@noaa.gov, 301427
8503.
DATES:

Atlantic highly migratory species HMS
fisheries, including BFT fisheries, are managed under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act ATCA;
16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.. The 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan FMP
and its amendments are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.

lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

VerDate Sep<11>2014

16:04 Aug 06, 2021

Jkt 253001

Section 635.27 divides the U.S. BFT
quota recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ICCAT
and as implemented by the United States among the various domestic fishing categories, per the allocations established in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS
is required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable opportunity to harvest quotas under relevant international fishery agreements such as the ICCAT
Convention, which is implemented domestically pursuant to ATCA.
The current baseline quotas for the Harpoon and Reserve categories are 46
mt and 29.5 mt, respectively. To date for 2021, NMFS has published one action that has adjusted the available 2021
Reserve category quota, which currently is 168 mt 86 FR 8717, February 9, 2021. The 2021 Harpoon category fishery opened June 1, and is open through November 15, 2021, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first.
Transfer of 30 mt From the Reserve Category to the Harpoon Category Under 635.27a9, NMFS has the authority to transfer quota among fishing categories or subcategories after considering the determination criteria provided under 635.27a8. NMFS
has considered all of the relevant determination criteria and their applicability to the Harpoon category fishery. These criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:
Regarding the usefulness of information obtained from catches in the particular category for biological sampling and monitoring of the status of the stock 635.27a8i, biological samples collected from BFT landed by Harpoon category fishermen and provided by BFT dealers continue to provide NMFS with valuable parts and data for ongoing scientific studies of BFT age and growth, migration, and reproductive status. Additional opportunity to land BFT in the Harpoon category would support the collection of a broad range of data for these studies and for stock monitoring purposes.
NMFS also considered the catches of the Harpoon category quota to date and the likelihood of closure of that segment of the fishery if no adjustment is made 635.27a8ii and ix. As of August 3, 2021, the Harpoon category has landed 39.7 mt. Commercial-size BFT
are currently readily available to vessels fishing under the Harpoon category quota. Without a quota transfer at this time, Harpoon category participants would have to stop BFT fishing
PO 00000

Frm 00040

Fmt 4700

Sfmt 4700

activities with very short notice, while commercial-sized BFT remain available in the areas Harpoon category permitted vessels operate. Transferring 30 mt of BFT quota from the Reserve category would result in a total of 76 mt being available for the Harpoon category for the 2021 Harpoon category fishing season.
Regarding the projected ability of the vessels fishing under the Harpoon category to harvest the additional amount of BFT before the end of the fishing year 635.27a8iii, NMFS
considered Harpoon category landings over the last several years. Landings are highly variable and depend on access to commercial-sized BFT and fishing conditions, among other factors. NMFS
anticipates that the Harpoon category could harvest the transferred 30 mt prior to the end of the Harpoon category season, subject to weather conditions and BFT availability. NMFS may transfer unused Harpoon category quota to other quota categories, as appropriate.
NMFS also anticipates that some underharvest of the 2020 adjusted U.S.
BFT quota will be carried forward to 2021 and placed in the Reserve category, in accordance with the regulations. Thus, this quota transfer would allow fishermen to take advantage of the availability of fish on the fishing grounds, consider the expected increases in available 2021
quota, and provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the available U.S.
BFT quota.
NMFS also considered the estimated amounts by which quotas for other gear categories of the fishery might be exceeded 635.27a8iv and the ability to account for all 2020 landings and dead discards. In the last several years, total U.S. BFT landings have been below the available U.S. quota such that the United States has carried forward the maximum amount of underharvest allowed by ICCAT from one year to the next. NMFS will need to account for 2021 landings and dead discards within the adjusted U.S. quota, consistent with ICCAT recommendations, and anticipates having sufficient quota to do that.
NMFS also considered the effects of the adjustment on the BFT stock and the effects of the transfer on accomplishing the objectives of the FMP
635.27a8v and vi. This transfer would be consistent with established quotas and subquotas, which are implemented consistent with ICCAT
recommendations, established in Recommendation 1706 and maintained in Recommendation 2006, ATCA, and the objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments. In
E:FRFM09AUR1.SGM

09AUR1