[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12062]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 663

[Docket No. 94025-4104; I.D. 051194B]

 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Fishing restrictions.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the prohibition of further processing at-sea of 
Pacific whiting starting at noon May 13, 1994, based on its projection 
that 60 percent (156,000 mt) of the 1994 harvest guideline for Pacific 
whiting will have been harvested by then.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective from 1200 hours (local time) May 13, 1994 
through December 31, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to J. Gary Smith, Acting Regional Director, 
Northwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point 
Way NE., BIN-C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson at 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 13, 1994, NMFS issued regulations 
(59 FR 17491) to allocate the U.S. Pacific whiting harvest guideline in 
1994 through 1996 between fishing vessels that either catch and process 
at sea or catch and deliver to at-sea processors, and fishing vessels 
that catch and deliver to processors located on shore. In each of the 3 
years, after 60 percent of the annual harvest guideline (or quota) for 
Pacific whiting has been or is projected to be taken, further at-sea 
processing of Pacific whiting in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will 
be prohibited. The remaining 40 percent of the harvest guideline is 
reserved initially for harvest by vessels delivering to shore-based 
processors. The regulations require that the Assistant Administrator 
announce in the Federal Register when 60 percent of the whiting harvest 
guideline has been, or is about to be, harvested, specifying a time 
after which further at-sea processing of Pacific whiting in the fishery 
management area is prohibited.
    The most recent catch data available indicate that, through May 3, 
1994, approximately 104,697 mt of whiting had been harvested. The best 
available information from NMFS and the States of Washington, Oregon, 
and California on May 9, 1994, was used to project that 156,000 mt of 
whiting (60 percent of the harvest guideline) would be reached by 12 
noon May 13, 1994.

Secretarial Action

    For the reasons given above, and in accordance with 50 CFR 
663.23(b)(4) (i) and (iv), after noon (local time) on May 13, 1994, at-
sea processing of Pacific whiting is prohibited (except for Pacific 
whiting that was on board the processing vessel prior to that time), 
and the taking and retaining, or receiving (except as cargo), of 
Pacific whiting by a vessel in the fishery management area with 
processed whiting on board is prohibited. Any vessel used to fish for 
whiting for processing at sea must have its trawl doors on board and 
attached to the trawl (50 CFR 663.7(o)).

Classification

    The determination to prohibit further at-sea processing of Pacific 
whiting 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 Director, Northwest Region (see 
ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is taken under the 
authority of 50 CFR 663.23 (b)(4)(i) (59 FR 17493-17494, April 13, 
1994).

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

    Dated: May 12, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director of Office of Fisheries, Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-12062 Filed 5-13-94; 12:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P