[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68949-68950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31953]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 120299B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating projected unused amounts of Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) Pacific cod from trawl
catcher/processors and trawl catcher vessels to vessels using hook-and-
line or pot gear. This action is necessary to allow the 1999 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 6, 1999 through December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(5), the Final 1999 Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI (64 FR 12103, March 11,
1999) established the Pacific cod initial TAC for the BSAI as 163,725
metric tons (mt). Of this amount, 3,275 mt was allocated to vessels
using jig gear, 38,475 mt to trawl catcher vessels, 38,475 mt to trawl
catcher/processors, and 83,500 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot
gear. Subsequently, 5,000 mt were reallocated from the trawl catcher/
processors to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear and 2,800 mt were
reallocated from vessels using jig gear to vessels using hook-and-line
or pot gear (64 FR 52472, September 29, 1999). That reallocation
resulted in allocations of 475 mt to vessels using jig gear, 38,475 mt
to trawl catcher vessels, 33,475 mt to trawl catcher/processors, and
91,300 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.
[[Page 68950]]
As of November 20, 1999, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), has determined that approximately 2,500 mt of
Pacific cod remain in the trawl catcher/processor allocation and
approximately 2,500 mt remain in the trawl catcher vessel allocation.
Based on effort projections and recognizing that directed fishing for
Pacific cod by trawl catcher/processors and trawl catcher vessels will
be constrained by Pacific halibut bycatch restrictions, the Regional
Administrator has determined that trawl catcher/processors will not be
able to harvest 2,000 mt of Pacific cod and trawl catcher vessels will
not be able to harvest 2,000 mt allocated to these sectors under
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B), NMFS is
apportioning the projected unused amount, 2,000 mt of Pacific cod from
trawl catcher/processors and 2,000 mt of Pacific cod from trawl catcher
vessels to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear. The resulting
apportionments of Pacific cod are 475 mt to vessels using jig gear,
36,475 mt to trawl catcher vessels, 31,475 mt to trawl catcher/
processors, and 95,300 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.
Classification
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 hook-and-line or pot gear 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: December 3, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-31953 Filed 12-6-99; 3:58 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
