[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25613]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 677
[Docket No. 950929240-5240-01; I.D. 092195B]
North Pacific Fisheries Research Plan; Amendment to Final 1995
Specifications
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final specifications for 1995; amendment.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an amendment to the North Pacific Fisheries
Research Plan (Research Plan) final specifications for 1995. The
specifications are used to calculate fees to be paid by participants in
the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fishery, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) management area groundfish fishery, BSAI area king and Tanner
crab fisheries, and Pacific halibut fishery in convention waters off
Alaska (Research Plan fisheries). This action clarifies the standard
ex-vessel price used to calculate the 1995 fee assessment for all BSAI
blue king crab fisheries.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 11, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim S. Rivera, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1995 Research Plan final specifications
were published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1994 (59 FR
61556). Standard ex-vessel prices for species harvested in Research
Plan fisheries are included in the specifications and are used to
calculate Research Plan fees. The final specifications for 1995 include
a standard ex-vessel price for St. Matthew Island blue king crab but do
not include a standard ex-vessel price for Pribilof Island blue king
crab. When the final specifications were published, a Pribilof Island
blue king crab fishery opening was not anticipated. The Alaska
Department of Fish & Game, the managing agency for BSAI king and Tanner
crab, recently notified the crab industry of a September 15, 1995,
Pribilof red and blue king crab fishery opening. This action clarifies
that the blue king crab 1995 standard ex-vessel price for St. Matthew
Island blue king crab also applies to other BSAI blue king crab
fisheries. This price will be used in accordance with regulations at 50
CFR 677.6(b)(iii) to calculate a Research Plan fee. The amended 1995
standard ex-vessel prices for BSAI king crab are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price
per
pound,
King crab species round
weight
($/lb)
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Bristol Bay red............................................... 5.00
Adak red...................................................... 5.00
Pribilof red.................................................. 6.80
Norton Sound red.............................................. 2.20
Blue.......................................................... 4.30
Dutch Harbor brown............................................ 3.00
Adak brown.................................................... 3.00
Lithodes cousei............................................... 2.00
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Classification
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, for good cause
finds, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), that prior notice and an opportunity
for public comment are unnecessary because this rule merely clarifies
that an existing specification, issued pursuant to such procedures,
applies throughout the fishery. Further, due to the fact that the
Pribilof Island blue crab fishery opened on September 15, the need to
provide industry with clear instructions that reflect the 1995 fee
collection program authorized under the Research Plan, constitutes good
cause to waive the 30-day delay in effective date under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(2).
This action is taken under authority of 50 CFR 677.11, as published
at 59 FR 46126, September 6, 1994, and is exempt from review under E.O.
12866.
Dated: October 10, 1995.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-25613 Filed 10-11-95; 5:09 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W