[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51934-51935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24696]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950509041-5041-01; I.D. 092895C]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pollock in the Western 
Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing the season for 
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock in 
the Western Regulatory Area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 midnight A.l.t. October 1, 1995, until 12 midnight, 
A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be received at the following 
address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 16, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or be delivered to the fourth floor of the 
Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). Fishing by U.S. 
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 
620 and 672.
    As of September 16, 1995, 7,673 metric tons (mt) of pollock remain 
in the inshore allocation of the Western Regulatory Area pollock total 
allowable catch (TAC) specification. That amount would normally be 
available for harvest at 12 noon, A.l.t., October 1, 1995. Current 
information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component is in excess of 12,000 mt per day. 
In accordance with Sec. 672.23 (e), directed fishing for pollock in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska is scheduled from 12 
noon, A.l.t., October 1 until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995, 
or until the TAC is reached, whichever occurs first.
    Section 672.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and 
closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the 
calendar fishing year, is 12:00 noon, A.l.t. Therefore, a fishery 
opening normally must be a minimum of 24 hours. The Director, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the remaining portion of the TAC 
allocated to the inshore component would be exceeded if a 24-hour 
fishery were allowed to occur. NMFS intends that the TAC should not be 
exceeded and will not allow a 24-hour directed fishery.

[[Page 51935]]

    NMFS, in accordance with Sec. 672.22(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the 
season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area by allowing directed 
fishing for a 12-hour period from 12:00 noon, A.l.t., October 1, 1995, 
until 12:00 midnight, A.l.t., October 1, 1995. NMFS is taking this 
action to allow a controlled fishery to occur, thereby preventing the 
underharvest of the pollock TAC allocated to the inshore component as 
authorized by Sec. 672.22(a)(2)(iii). In accordance with 
Sec. 672.22(a)(4), NMFS has determined that closing the season at 12:00 
midnight on October 1, 1995, is the least restrictive management 
adjustment to achieve the pollock TAC allocated to the inshore 
component and will allow other fisheries to continue in noncritical 
areas and time periods.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good 
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the 
effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the 
public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow 
this fishery, and a pollock TAC in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
GOA would not be harvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than 
1.5 million dollars. Under Sec. 672.22(c)(2), interested persons are 
invited to submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES).

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 672.22 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 29, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24696 Filed 9-29-95; 4:08 pm]
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