[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9979]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 032194G]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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

ACTION: Apportionment of reserve.

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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.), April 20, 1994, 
through 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Loefflad, Resource Management 
Specialist, Fisheries Management Division, NMFS, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the U.S. BSAI 
exclusive economic zone is managed by the Secretary of Commerce 
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 of the Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 
initial TACs specified for pollock and Greenland turbot in the Bering 
Sea subarea (BS), for Pacific ocean perch, Greenland turbot, and 
pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), for Atka mackerel in the 
combined Eastern Aleutian District and BS, and for Pacific cod in the 
BSAI, need to be supplemented from the nonspecific reserve 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: (1) for the BS--99,750 metric tons (mt) to pollock 
and 700 mt to Greenland turbot; (2) for the AI--1,635 mt to Pacific 
ocean perch, 350 mt to Greenland turbot, and 4,245 mt to pollock; (3) 
for the combined Eastern Aleutian District and BS--2,021 mt to Atka 
mackerel; and (4) for the BSAI--28,650 mt to Pacific cod.
    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.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(i), the apportionments of pollock are 
allocated between the inshore and offshore components: (1) for the BS--
34,913 mt to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component and 64,837 mt to vessels catching pollock for processing by 
the offshore component; (2) for the AI--1,486 mt to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component and 2,759 to vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv), the apportionment of the BSAI 
Pacific cod TAC is allocated 573 mt to vessels using jig gear, 12,606 
mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, and 15,471 mt to vessels 
using trawl gear.
    This apportionment was proposed in the Federal Register (59 FR 
14383, March 28, 1994), requesting public comment. The public comment 
period ended on April 7, 1994. No comments were received.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined, 
under section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, that good 
cause exists for waiving the 30-day delayed effectiveness period for 
this action. Fisheries are currently taking place that will be 
supplemented by this apportionment. Delaying the effective date would 
be disruptive and costly to these ongoing operations.
    This action is exempt from OMB review under E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 20, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-9979 Filed 4-20-94; 4:52 pm]
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