[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26149]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 092697A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
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 trawl catcher/processors to trawl catcher vessels in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 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.), September 29,
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 BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Area (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 trawl
catcher/processors will not be able to harvest 2,000 metric tons (mt)
of Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS is
apportioning the projected unused amount, 2,000 mt, of Pacific cod from
trawl catcher/processors to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI.
Classification
All 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. A delay in the effective date 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
trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI. NMFS finds for good cause that the
implementation of this action can not be delayed for 30 days.
Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is
hereby waived.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 26, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26149 Filed 9-29-97; 11:44 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
