[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 31369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14923]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 052397B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Apportionment of Reserve
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Apportionment of reserve; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is apportioning reserve to certain target species in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to allow for ongoing harvest and account for previous harvest
of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to promote the
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).
DATES: Effective June 4, 1997. Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, June 24,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9th Street, room 453,
Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attention:
Lori Gravel.
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 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.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the
initial TACs specified for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea
and shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea need
to be supplemented from the non-specific reserve in order to continue
operations and account for prior harvest.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(i)(A), NMFS is
apportioning from the reserve to the TAC for the following species:
Bering Sea subarea - 905 metric tons (mt) of Greenland turbot; Aleutian
Islands subarea - 141 mt of shortraker/rougheye rockfish.
These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(2) and do
not result in overfishing of a target species because the revised TACs
are equal to or less than specifications of acceptable biological
catch.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined,
under section 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act
and 50 CFR 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), that good cause exists for waiving the
opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness
period for this action. Fisheries are currently taking place that will
be supplemented by this apportionment. Delaying the implementation of
this action would be disruptive and costly to these ongoing operations.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Dated: June 2, 1997.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14923 Filed 6-4-97; 10:18 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
