[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13969]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 9, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 663
[Docket No. 931249-3349; I.D. 052794B]
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
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 the end of the ``regular'' season for sablefish
taken with nontrawl gear by vessels with limited entry permits, a 72-
hour closure, and reimposition of a daily trip limit of 250 lbs (113
kg) north of 36 deg.00' N. lat. and 350 lbs (159 kg) south of
36 deg.00' N. lat. off Washington, Oregon and California. This action
is authorized by the regulations implementing the Pacific Coast
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The daily trip limits are
necessary to keep landings within the nontrawl harvest guideline for
sablefish.
DATES: Effective from 0001 hours (local time) June 4, 1994, through
December 31, 1994. Comments must be received by June 24, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to J. Gary Smith, Acting Regional Director,
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN-C15700, Seattle,
WA 98115-0070; or Rodney McInnis, Acting Regional Director, Southwest
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-
4213.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson at 206-526-6140;
or Rodney McInnis at 310-980-4040.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of 1994 groundfish fishery
specifications and management measures (59 FR 685, January 6, 1994)
announced that, in the 1994 limited entry fishery, a daily trip limit
of 250 lbs (113 kg) north of 36 deg.00' N. lat. and 350 lbs (159 kg)
south of 36 deg.00' N. lat. for the nontrawl sablefish fishery would
apply until the first 72-hour closure before the start of the regular
season, and again, after a second 72-hour closure after the end of the
regular season. The daily trip limits are re-imposed on the date
necessary to extend the nontrawl allocation for sablefish to the end of
the year. During the regular season, the only trip limit in effect
applies to sablefish smaller than 22 inches (55.9 cm) (total length).
The 72-hour closure is authorized at 50 CFR 663.23(b)(2), which also
sets a flexible starting date for the regular season (58 FR 16629,
March 30, 1993).
The regular season began on May 15, 1994 (59 FR 685, January 6,
1994). The best available data on May 26, 1994, indicate that 1,107 mt
of sablefish had been harvested through May 24, 1994, with landings
averaging 120 mt per day during the regular season. At that rate, the
nontrawl allocation will be reached by June 4, 1994, if landings are
not further curtailed. For these reasons, NMFS is closing the limited
entry fishery for sablefish caught with nontrawl gear at 0001 hours
(local time) June 4, 1994 (the end of the regular season), and
reimposing 72 hours later, the 250-lb (113 kg) daily trip limit north
of 36 deg.00' N. lat. and the 350-lb (159 kg) daily trip limit south of
36 deg.00' N. lat. on June 7, 1994. This action is intended to leave
less than 100 mt to be harvested under the daily trip limits for the
rest of the year. The 72-hour closure and these fishing restrictions
apply only to vessels operating in the limited entry fishery off
Washington, Oregon, and California.
Secretarial Action
NMFS hereby announces the following actions pursuant to 50 CFR
663.23(b)(2)(iii):
(1) From 0001 hours (local time) June 4, 1994, through 2400 hours
(local time) June 6, 1994, the taking and retention, possession, or
landing of sablefish taken with nontrawl gear by a vessel operating in
the limited entry fishery is prohibited.
(2) Beginning at 0001 hours (local time) June 7, 1994, the daily
trip limit for sablefish caught with nontrawl gear by a vessel in the
limited entry fishery is 250 lbs (113 kg) north of 36 deg.00' N. lat.,
and 350 lbs (159 kg) south of 36 deg.00' N. lat., through December 31,
1994. These trip limits apply to sablefish of any size.
(3) These restrictions apply to all sablefish caught with nontrawl
gear by vessels operating in the limited entry fishery between 3 and
200 nautical miles (nm) offshore of Washington, Oregon, and California.
The sablefish trip limits for ``open access'' gear are not changed. All
sablefish caught with nontrawl gear and possessed 0-200 nm offshore, or
landed in Washington, Oregon, or California, are presumed to have been
taken and retained from the fishery management area (3-200 nm offshore
Washington, Oregon, and California) unless otherwise demonstrated by
the person in possession of those fish.
The determination to reimpose the daily limits for the limited
entry nontrawl sablefish fishery 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 Director,
Northwest Region (see ADDRESSES) during business hours.
Classification
Because any delay in the implementation of this action could result
in exceeding the nontrawl sablefish fishery allocation, NMFS therefore
finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness requirement of the Administrative Procedure Act.
This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 663.23 (b) and
(c), is exempt from OMB review under E.O. 12866, and is in compliance
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 663
Administrative practice and procedure, Fisheries, Fishing, and
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 3, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-13969 Filed 6-3-94; 4:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
