[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7818]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 90899-0015; I.D. 032594A]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of observer coverage requirements.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is modifying 1994 observer coverage requirements 
established for operators of certain catcher or processor vessels 
participating in a directed fishery for groundfish in statistical area 
517 during the period that the 1994 directed fishery for Pacific cod is 
open in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 
This action is necessary to implement gear specific observer coverage 
requirements that result from new regulations implementing Amendment 24 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) that allocate the BSAI Pacific cod 
total allowable catch (TAC) among vessels using trawl, hook-and-line or 
pot, and jig gear. This action is intended to carry out the objectives 
of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective March 29, 1994, and expires 12 midnight, 
Alaska local time, December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS published a final rule in the Federal 
Register on January 20, 1994 (59 FR 3000), that implemented a change in 
1994 observer coverage requirements for vessels participating in a 
directed fishery for groundfish in BSAI statistical area 517. The rule 
required an operator of a catcher or processor vessel equal to or 
greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) in length overall (LOA) and less than 125 
feet (38.1 m) LOA to have a NMFS-certified observer on board the vessel 
each day that it is used to participate in a directed fishery for 
groundfish in statistical area 517 during the period that the 1994 
directed fishery for Pacific cod is open. NMFS published a second rule 
in the Federal Register on January 28, 1994 (59 FR 4009), that 
suspended the effective date of the change in 1994 observer coverage 
requirements until February 13, 1994, to provide adequate time for 
operators of catcher or processor vessels to comply with these new 
requirements. Reasons for these actions are set forth in the Federal 
Register as referenced above.
    On January 28, 1994, NMFS published in the Federal Register a final 
rule implementing Amendment 24 to the FMP (59 FR 4009). These 
regulations: (1) Allocate the 1994 Pacific cod TAC among vessels using 
trawl, hook-and-line or pot gear, and jig gear, and (2) seasonally 
apportion the amount of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using 
hook-and-line or pot gear. The 1994 observer coverage requirements 
implemented for vessels participating in a directed fishery for 
groundfish in statistical area 517 during the period of time that a 
directed fishery for Pacific cod is open must be modified to reflect 
gear specific allocations of BSAI Pacific cod implemented under 
Amendment 24.
    NMFS modifies 1994 observer coverage requirements for vessels 
fishing for groundfish in statistical area 517 so that a vessel equal 
to or greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA and less than 125 feet (38.1 m) 
LOA using trawl, hook-and-line or pot, or jig gear must have a NMFS-
certified observer on board the vessel each day that it is used to 
participate in a directed fishery for groundfish in statistical area 
517 during the period that a directed fishery for Pacific cod is open 
to vessels using that respective gear type.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.25. Because this action is 
required to provide relief to vessel owners who otherwise would be 
required to obtain expanded observer coverage, it is unnecessary and 
not in the public interest to provide prior public comment under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3). Also, because this action temporarily relieves a 
restriction, it is being made effective immediately without a 30-day 
delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 29, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-7818 Filed 3-29-94; 4:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P