[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53973-53974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27521]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D.100997A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod
in Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore
component to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
This action is necessary to allow the 1997 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 10,
1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component will not
be able to harvest 3,000 metric tons (mt) of Pacific cod allocated to
those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii). As of October 4, 1997, NMFS
estimates 4,091 mt remain in the offshore component's allocation of the
1997 Central GOA Pacific cod TAC and projects that vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component will take 1,091 mt
during the remainder of 1997.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(v)(C), NMFS is
apportioning the projected unused amount, 3,000 mt of Pacific cod, from
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component
to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full
utilization of the Pacific cod TAC. Providing prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment is impracticable and contrary to the
public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the FMP's objective
of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the GOA. Without
this action, the Pacific cod allocation for vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the offshore component in the GOA would be
underharvested. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of
this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C.
553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 53974]]
Dated: October 9, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27521 Filed 10-10-97; 4:23 pm]
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