[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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