[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51934-51935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24696]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672
[Docket No. 950509041-5041-01; I.D. 092895C]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pollock in the Western
Regulatory Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing the season for
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
This adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock in
the Western Regulatory Area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 midnight A.l.t. October 1, 1995, until 12 midnight,
A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 16, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or be delivered to the fourth floor of the
Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK.
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
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts
620 and 672.
As of September 16, 1995, 7,673 metric tons (mt) of pollock remain
in the inshore allocation of the Western Regulatory Area pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) specification. That amount would normally be
available for harvest at 12 noon, A.l.t., October 1, 1995. Current
information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for
processing by the inshore component is in excess of 12,000 mt per day.
In accordance with Sec. 672.23 (e), directed fishing for pollock in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska is scheduled from 12
noon, A.l.t., October 1 until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995,
or until the TAC is reached, whichever occurs first.
Section 672.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and
closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the
calendar fishing year, is 12:00 noon, A.l.t. Therefore, a fishery
opening normally must be a minimum of 24 hours. The Director, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the remaining portion of the TAC
allocated to the inshore component would be exceeded if a 24-hour
fishery were allowed to occur. NMFS intends that the TAC should not be
exceeded and will not allow a 24-hour directed fishery.
[[Page 51935]]
NMFS, in accordance with Sec. 672.22(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the
season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area by allowing directed
fishing for a 12-hour period from 12:00 noon, A.l.t., October 1, 1995,
until 12:00 midnight, A.l.t., October 1, 1995. NMFS is taking this
action to allow a controlled fishery to occur, thereby preventing the
underharvest of the pollock TAC allocated to the inshore component as
authorized by Sec. 672.22(a)(2)(iii). In accordance with
Sec. 672.22(a)(4), NMFS has determined that closing the season at 12:00
midnight on October 1, 1995, is the least restrictive management
adjustment to achieve the pollock TAC allocated to the inshore
component and will allow other fisheries to continue in noncritical
areas and time periods.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the
effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the
public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow
this fishery, and a pollock TAC in the Western Regulatory Area of the
GOA would not be harvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than
1.5 million dollars. Under Sec. 672.22(c)(2), interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 672.22 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 29, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24696 Filed 9-29-95; 4:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
