[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14055]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 981231333-9127-03; I.D. 052799E]
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Whiting Closure for the Mothership
Sector
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces closure of the 1999 mothership fishery for
whiting at 2100 local time (l.t.) June 2, 1999, because the allocation
for the mothership sector is projected to be reached by that time. This
action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 1999
allocation levels.
DATES: Effective from 2100 l.t. June 2, 1999, until the start of the
2000 primary season for the mothership sector, unless modified,
superseded or rescinded; such action will be published in the Federal
Register. Comments will be accepted through June 18, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator,
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rodney R. McInnis, Acting Regional
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine King at 206-526-6145 or
Becky Renko at 206-526-6110.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by regulations
implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and
California. On January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1316), regulations were published
announcing the 1999 fishing seasons for Pacific whiting. A new whiting
stock assessment was completed in early 1999, and an allowable
biological catch (ABC) and optimum yield (OY) of 232,000 metric tons
(mt) were recommended for all U.S. harvests. On May 24, 1999, (64 FR
27928), NMFS announced the 1999 whiting ABC and OY, the tribal whiting
allocation of 32,500 mt, and the commercial OY of 199,500 mt.
Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial
allocation into separate allocations for the catcher/processor,
mothership, and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. When each
sector's allocation is reached, the primary season for that sector is
ended. The catcher/processor sector is composed of vessels that harvest
and process whiting. The mothership sector is composed of motherships,
and catcher vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to motherships.
Motherships are vessels that process, but do not harvest, whiting. The
shoreside sector is composed of vessels that harvest whiting for
delivery to shore-based processors. The regulations at 50 CFR 600.323
(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season for vessels delivering to
motherships as the period(s) when at-sea processing is allowed and the
fishery is open for the mothership sector. The 1999 allocations, which
are based on the 1999 commercial OY for whiting of 199,500 mt are
67,800 mt (34 percent) for the catcher/processor sector, 47,900 mt (24
percent) for the mothership sector, and 83,800 mt (42 percent) for the
shoreside sector.
NMFS Action
This action announces achievement of the allocation for the
mothership sector only. The best available information on May 31, 1999,
indicated that the 47,900-mt mothership allocation would be reached by
2100 hours, June 2, 1999, at which time the primary season for the
mothership sector ends and further at-sea processing and receipt of
whiting by a mothership, or taking and retaining, possessing, or
landing of whiting by a catcher boat in the mothership sector, are
prohibited. For the reasons stated above, and in accordance with the
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(B), NMFS herein announces that
effective 2100 hours June 2, 1999--(1) further receiving or at-sea
processing of whiting by a mothership is prohibited. No additional
unprocessed whiting may be brought on board after at-sea processing is
prohibited, but a mothership may continue to process whiting that was
on board before at-sea processing was prohibited, and (2) whiting may
not be taken and retained, possessed, or landed by a catcher vessel
participating in the mothership sector.
Classification
This action is authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP.
The determination to take this action is based on the most recent data
available. The aggregate data upon which the determination is based are
available for public inspection at the Office of the Regional
Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is
taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(B) and is exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 28, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14055 Filed 5-28-99; 4:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
