Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Correction

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule; closures; correction.

SUMMARY:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is correcting a final rule that published on March 1, 2011, implementing the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). Two tables within the document contained errors.

DATES:

Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for Correction

NMFS published the Final 2011 and 2012 BSAI Harvest Specifications in the Federal Register on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (76 FR 11139). Tables providing information on 2011 and 2012 Directed Fishing Closures (Table 10) and the Final 2011 and 2012 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits (Table 13) contained a number of minor errors. In Table 10 on page 11154, NMFS inadvertently listed an incidental catch allowance (ICA) of rock sole at “10,000” metric tons (mt), instead of the correct number of “5,000” mt. In addition, Federal Register formatting issues caused misalignment in Tables 10 and 13 and affected the information contained in those tables. In Table 10 on page 11154, the Federal Register listed the phrase “ICA rock sole” in the “sector” column rather than the “species” column. In Table 13 on page 11156, the Federal Register shifted seven lines upward by one row in the following columns: “Ratio of 1995-1997 TAC”; “2011 initial TAC”; “2011 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits”; “2012 initial TAC”; and “2012 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits”. As a result of this error, Table 13 contains incorrect information on Pacific cod sideboard limits for the following gears and seasons: “Jig gear”; “Hook and line Catcher Vessels (CV)” for “Jan 1-Jun 10”; “Pot gear CV” for “Jan 1-Jun 10”; and “Trawl gear CV” for “Jan 20-Apr 1”. Table 13 also contains incorrect information on Atka mackerel sideboard limits for the following areas and seasons: “Eastern AI/BS” for “Jan 1-Jun 10”; “Central AI” for “Jan 1-Jun 10”; and “Central AI” for “Jan 1-Jun 10”. NMFS' corrections to Table 10 and Table 13 are listed below.

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 correction notice makes only minor changes and does not change operating practices in the fisheries. Corrections should be made as soon as possible to avoid confusion for participants in the fisheries.

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.y

Correction

On pages 11153, 11154, and 11156, Tables 10 and 13 are corrected to read as follows: