[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8478-8479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3484]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672
[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 020695D]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Daily Reporting Requirements
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of change in recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that Daily Production Reports (DPRs) must
be submitted by offshore component processor vessels that catch and/or
receive Pacific cod in Statistical Areas 61, 62, and 63 in the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding that
portion of the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component
in those areas. This action will enable NMFS to effectively monitor the
Pacific cod catch and take inseason action to close the fishery prior
to its exceeding the TAC.
EFFECTIVE DATE: From noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 8,
1995, through the duration of the 1995 directed offshore Pacific cod
fishery in these areas or until the Director, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Director) determines the supplementary reporting requirements
are no longer necessary. 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 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. Fishing by U.S. vessels is
governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 620 and
672.
Pursuant to Sec. 672.5(c)(3)(i) the Regional Director is requiring
offshore component processor vessels, as defined at Sec. 672.2, that
catch and/or receive Pacific cod in Statistical Areas 61, 62, and 63 in
the GOA to submit DPRs in addition to weekly processor reports. DPRs
must include the information required by Sec. 675.2(c)(3)(ii).
These requirements are necessary to manage the offshore component
Pacific cod fisheries in those areas. The Regional Director is doing so
in consideration of the potential for exceeding that portion of the
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in those
areas.
The allocation of the TACs for Pacific cod to vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component under
Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(B) will become available for directed fishing by
offshore component vessels with the filing of the final specifications
of groundfish for the GOA and are expected to be rapidly harvested.
DPRs must include all information required by Sec. 672.5(c)(3)(ii)
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 1995
Federal fisheries permit. The form also may be obtained from the
Regional Director by calling Mary Furuness at 907-586-7228. Processors
must transmit their completed DPRs to the Regional Director by
facsimile transmission to number 907-586-7131, telex (U.S. code) plus
62296000, or by telephone via number 907-586-7228, 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 rescind 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, finds that reasons
justifying implementation 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 [[Page 8479]] could result in industry's
exceeding these allocations.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 7, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3484 Filed 2-8-95; 4:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
