96-25587. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements in the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25587]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 093096D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; 
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements in the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice of change in recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that Daily Production Reports (DPRs) must 
be submitted by processor vessels using trawl gear that catch or 
receive rockfish species of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus and 
shoreside processing facilities that receive rockfish species of the 
genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus from vessels using trawl gear in the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
total allowable catches (TACs) for rockfish species and species groups 
in the GOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: From 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 
1996, through the duration of the 1996 directed rockfish fisheries in 
the GOA or until the Director, Alaska Region, NMFS determines the 
supplementary reporting requirements are no longer necessary or until 
directed fishing for trawl gear is closed. This determination will be 
published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the Gulf of Alaska 
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. 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.
    Pursuant to Sec. 679.5(j) the Regional Director is requiring 
processor vessels using trawl gear that catch or receive rockfish 
species of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus and shoreside 
processing facilities that receive rockfish species of the genera 
Sebastes and Sebastolobus from vessels using trawl gear as defined at 
Sec. 679.2 in the GOA to submit DPRs in addition to weekly processor 
reports.
    The remainder of the TAC for rockfish species of the genera 
Sebastes and Sebastolobus under Sec. 679.20(a)(2) will become available 
for directed fishing 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 1996, as the fourth 
quarterly allowance of Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits 
for trawl gear becomes available. These rockfish amounts are expected 
to be rapidly harvested, and the Regional Director has determined that 
requiring DPRs is necessary to avoid exceeding TAC.
    DPRs must include all information required by Sec. 679.5(j)(4) for 
groundfish harvested from the applicable reporting areas. Processors 
must submit the required information on the ``Alaska Groundfish 
Processor Daily Production Report'' form that was distributed to 
participants in the groundfish fishery with their 1996 Federal 
fisheries permit. The form also may be obtained from the Regional 
Director by calling Mary Furuness at 907-586-7228. Processors must 
transmit completed DPRs to the Regional Director by facsimile 
transmission to number 907-586-7131, no later than 12 hours after the 
end of the day the groundfish was processed.
    If and when the Regional Director determines that these reports are 
no longer necessary, he may terminate the requirement. Criteria used to 
assess the need for the reports include the stability of effort and 
harvest rates in the fishery, and remaining amounts.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has found that 
reasons justifying promulgation of this action also make it 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide notice and 
opportunity for prior comment or to delay for 30 days its effective 
date. Intense fishing effort without DPRs could result in industry's 
exceeding these allocations.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 1, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25587 Filed 10-02-96; 9:33 am]
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