[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22658]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 090595A]
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).
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 7, 1995,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be received
at the address below no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t. September 22,
1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802-1668. Attn: Lori Gravel.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the U.S. BSAI
exclusive economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council under authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation
and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations
implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 620 and 675.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the initial
TACs specified for: ``Other rockfish'' in the Bering Sea subarea and
rock sole and ``other flatfish'' in the BSAI need to be supplemented
from the non-specific reserve in order to continue operations and
account for prior harvest.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(b), NMFS is apportioning
from the reserve to TACs for the following species or species groups:
In the Bering Sea subarea - 49 metric tons (mt) to ``other rockfish'';
in the BSAI - 9,000 mt to rock sole, and 2,931 mt to ``other
flatfish''.
These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(i) and
do not result in overfishing of a target species or the ``other
species'' category, because the revised TACs are equal to or less than
specifications of acceptable biological catch.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has
determined, under section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act
and 50 CFR 675.20(b)(2), that good cause exists for waiving the
opportunity for prior public comment 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. Under Sec. 675.20(b)(2), interested
persons are invited to submit written comments on these apportionments
to the above address until September 22, 1995. To the extent that this
action relieves a restriction, no delayed effectiveness period is
necessary. In any case, for the reasons stated above, there is good
cause to waive the delayed effectiveness period so that this action may
take effect immediately.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 7, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-22658 Filed 9-7-95; 4:18 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
