[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53153-53154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25967]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 100296G]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska;
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements; Pacific Ocean Perch and
``Other Red Rockfish'' in the Bering Sea Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure; notice of change in recordkeeping
and reporting requirements.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch and
the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the Bering Sea subarea (BS)
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS has
determined that Daily Production Reports (DPRs) must be submitted by
processor vessels using trawl gear that catch or receive Pacific ocean
perch or ``other red rockfish'' and shoreside processing facilities
that receive Pacific ocean perch or ``other red rockfish'' from vessels
using trawl gear in the BS. These actions are necessary to fully
utilize the total allowable catches (TACs) of Pacific ocean perch and
the ``other red rockfish'' species group in that area and to prevent
exceeding the TACs for those species and species groups.
EFFECTIVE DATE: From 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 6,
1996, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS 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 subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the initial TACs for
Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the
BS were established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 1,530 metric tons (mt) and
1,071 mt, respectively. The Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish also closed the directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch and
the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the BS in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has
determined that the 1996 directed fishing allowances of Pacific ocean
perch and the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the BS have not
been reached. NMFS has determined that as of September 21, 1996, 1,228
mt of Pacific ocean perch in the BS and 902 mt of the ``other red
rockfish'' species group in the BS remain in the respective directed
fishing allowances. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure
and is reopening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch and the
``other red rockfish'' species group in the BS. All other closures
remain in full force and effect.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(2), the remainder of the TACs for
Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the
BS will become available for directed fishing at 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
October 6, 1996. These remaining TACs are expected to be rapidly
harvested.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.5(j), the Regional Director is requiring
processor vessels using trawl gear that catch or receive Pacific ocean
perch and ``other red rockfish'' in the BS and shoreside processing
facilities that receive Pacific ocean perch and ``other red rockfish''
from vessels using trawl gear as defined at Sec. 679.2 in the BS to
submit DPRs in addition to Weekly Production Reports.
These requirements are necessary to manage Pacific ocean perch and
the ``other red rockfish'' species group in the BS. The Regional
Director is doing so in consideration of the potential for exceeding
the TACs of Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish'' species
group in the BS.
[[Page 53154]]
DPRs must include all information required by Sec. 679.5(j)(4) for
groundfish harvested from the applicable reporting areas. Processors
must submit the required information on the ``Alaska Groundfish
Processor Daily Production Report'' form that was distributed to
participants in the groundfish fishery with their 1996 Federal
fisheries permit. The form also may be obtained from the Regional
Director by calling Mary Furuness at 907-586-7228. Processors must
transmit completed DPRs to the Regional Director by facsimile
transmission to number (907) 586-7131, no later than 12 hours after the
end of the day the groundfish was processed.
If and when the Regional Director determines that these reports are
no longer necessary, he may terminate the requirement. This
determination will be published in the Federal Register. Criteria used
to assess the need for the reports include the stability of effort and
harvest rates in the fishery, and remaining amounts.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that reasons
justifying promulgation of this action also make it impracticable and
contrary to the public interest to provide notice and opportunity for
prior comment or to delay for 30 days its effective date. Intense
fishing effort without DPRs could result in industry's exceeding these
allocations.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 4, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25967 Filed 10-04-96; 4:17 pm]
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