[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10752-10753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5764]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 030497A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore
Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing directed fishing
for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). An adjustment to the normal
time of closure is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock by
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the
AI of the BSAI.
DATES: 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 1997, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received no later than
1630 hrs, A.l.t., March 19, 1997 (see ADDRESSES).
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: Mary Furuness, 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. 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 inshore component in the AI was established by the
Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish of the BSAI (62 FR
7168, February 18, 1997) as 9,065 metric tons (mt).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
[[Page 10753]]
determined that the allocation of the pollock total allowable catch for
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the
AI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 8,565 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 500 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 will
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the AI.
Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore component is in excess of 1,400
mt per day.
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. The Regional Administrator
has determined that the remaining portion of the allocation to the
inshore component would be underharvested if a 1200 hrs closure were
allowed to occur.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), NMFS is adjusting the
season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the AI subarea of the BSAI by closing directed
fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., March 4, 1997. NMFS is taking this action
to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI 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, A.l.t., on March 4, 1997, is the least restrictive management
adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock
for processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI 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, the pollock
allocation for vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the AI of the BSAI would be underharvested, resulting in
an economic loss of more than 600,000 dollars. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2),
interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this
action to the above address until March 19, 1997.
Classification
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: March 4, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5764 Filed 3-4-97; 4:43 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
