97-13127. Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Technical Amendment

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27523-27524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13127]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960614176-7112-03; I.D. 041797B]
RIN 0648-AI19


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Technical Amendment

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a final rule to correct regulations 
implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries 
of the Western Pacific Region (FMP) to clarify what records must be 
made available by first-level buyers upon request by an authorized 
officer.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 20, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alvin Katekaru, NMFS, (808) 973-
2985 or Mr. Svein Fougner, NMFS, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Upon request, a first-level buyer must allow 
an authorized officer to access, inspect, and copy all records relating 
to the harvest, sale, or transfer of management unit species taken by 
vessels in the fishery. The original FMP regulations at 50 CFR part 
681.11 stated this explicitly.
    On July 2, 1996, the regulations at 50 CFR part 681 were 
consolidated with regulations for fisheries off west coast states and 
in the western Pacific; the regulations were codified at 50 CFR part 
660 (61 FR 34570). In part 660, paragraph 660.14(f)(2) was not 
transferred correctly from Sec. 681.11 (i.e., text was inadvertently 
left out). This rule corrects that paragraph to include: The name of 
the vessel involved in each transaction and the owner or operator of 
the vessel; the amount, number, and size of each management unit 
species involved in each transaction; and prices paid by the buyer and 
proceeds to the seller in each transaction.

Classification

    This final rule is issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C 1801 et seq.
    In that this rule merely clarifies an existing requirement without 
creating

[[Page 27524]]

any new rights or duties, it is not subject to opportunity for public 
comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Similarly, it is not subject to a 30-
day delay in effective date under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
    This rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Fisheries, 
Fishing, Guam, Hawaiian Natives, Indians, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Northern Mariana Islands, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 14, 1997.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended 
as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES AND IN THE WESTERN 
PACIFIC

    1. The heading for part 660 is revised as set forth above.
    2. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    3. In Sec. 660.14, paragraph (f)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 660.14  Reporting and recordkeeping.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) Crustaceans management unit species. Upon request, any first-
level buyer must immediately allow an authorized officer and any 
employee of NMFS designated by the Regional Director, to access, 
inspect, and copy all records relating to the harvest, sale, or 
transfer of crustacean management unit species taken by vessels that 
have permits issued under this subpart or that are otherwise subject to 
subpart D of this part. This requirement may be met by furnishing the 
information on a worksheet provided by the Regional Director. The 
information must include, but is not limited to:
    (i) The name of the vessel involved in each transaction and the 
owner or operator of the vessel.
    (ii) The amount, number, and size of each management unit species 
involved in each transaction.
    (iii) Prices paid by the buyer and proceeds to the seller in each 
transaction.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-13127 Filed 5-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F