[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]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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