97-26618. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in the Offshore Component in the Bering Sea Subarea  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 52275-52276]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-26618]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    50 CFR Part 679
    
    [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 100197D]
    
    
    Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
    the Offshore Component in the Bering Sea Subarea
    
    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 offshore 
    component in the Bering Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
    Islands management area (BSAI) at midnight rather than noon. This 
    adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock by 
    vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
    the BS of the BSAI.
    
    DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 1997, 
    until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received at 
    the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 22, 
    1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Chief, Fisheries Management 
    Division,
    
    [[Page 52276]]
    
    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 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 Groundfish 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 (Magnuson 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.
        In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the allocation of the 
    pollock total allowable catch for vessels catching pollock for 
    processing by the offshore component in the BS was established as 
    679,413 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for 
    Groundfish of the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997).
        In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
    Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 
    allocation of the pollock total allowable catch for vessels catching 
    pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS will soon be 
    reached. The Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing 
    allowance of 664,413 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 15,000 mt 
    as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
    accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
    finds that this directed fishing allowance has been taken. 
    Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by 
    vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
    the BS on October 2, 1997.
        Section 679.23(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 1200 hrs, A.l.t. Current information shows the 
    catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
    offshore component is in excess of 11,400 mt per day. The Regional 
    Administrator has determined that the directed fishing allowance for 
    the offshore component would be underharvested if the fishery is closed 
    at 1200 hrs, A.l.t.
        In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), NMFS is adjusting the 
    season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
    offshore component in the BS subarea of the BSAI by prohibiting 
    directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., October 2, 1997. NMFS is taking 
    this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to 
    vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
    the BS of the BSAI as authorized by Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In 
    accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that 
    closing the season at 2400 hrs on October 2, 1997, is the least 
    restrictive management adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to 
    vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
    the BS of the BSAI and will allow other fisheries to continue in 
    noncritical areas and time periods.
    
    Classification
    
        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. Failure to close the season for pollock by vessels 
    catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS on 
    October 2, 1997, would likely result in the overharvest of the pollock 
    allocation. Without this inseason adjustment extending the closure time 
    from noon to midnight, the pollock allocation for vessels catching 
    pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS of the BSAI 
    would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than 
    $1,500,000. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to 
    submit written comments on this action to the above address until 
    October 22, 1997.
        This action is required by Sec. 679.25 and is exempt from review 
    under E.O. 12866.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    
        Dated: October 2, 1997.
    Gary C. Matlock,
    Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
    Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-26618 Filed 10-3-97; 10:33 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/2/1997
Published:
10/07/1997
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
Document Number:
97-26618
Dates:
Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received at
Pages:
52275-52276 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 961107312-7021-02, I.D. 100197D
PDF File:
97-26618.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679