[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18996]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 981231333-9127-03; I.D. 071999C]
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Whiting Closure for the Catcher/
Processor 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 catcher/processor fishery
for whiting at 12 noon local time (l.t.) July 21, 1999, because the
allocation for the catcher/processor sector will be reached by that
time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the
1999 allocation levels.
DATES: Effective from 12 noon l.t. July 21, 1999, until the start of
the 2000 primary season for the catcher/processor sector, unless
modified, superseded or rescinded. Comments will be accepted through
August 10, 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 of 232,000 mt, the
tribal whiting allocation of 32,500 mt, and the commercial OY of
199,500 mt.
Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season
for catcher/processors as the period(s) when at-sea processing is
allowed and the fishery is open for the catcher/processor sector.
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 allocations, which are based on
the 1999 commercial harvest guideline 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.
The best available information on July 20, 1999, indicated that the
67,800-mt catcher/processor allocation would be reached by 12 noon
l.t., July 21, 1999.
NMFS Action
For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the regulations
at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(A), NMFS herein announces: Effective 12
noon l.t. July 21, 1999, further taking and retaining, receiving or at-
sea processing of whiting by a catcher/processor is prohibited. No
additional unprocessed whiting may be brought on board after at-sea
processing is prohibited, but a catcher/processor may continue to
process whiting that was on board before at-sea processing was
prohibited.
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)(A) and is exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 20, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-18996 Filed 7-21-99; 3:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
