[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 9379-9380] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-5170] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 022697A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Offshore Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Modification of a closure; inseason adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in that area. DATES: The modification is effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 26, 1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 27, 1997. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 1630 hrs, A.l.t., March 17, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Sloan, 907-581-2062. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 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 allowance for the pollock TAC apportioned for vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 16,835 metric tons (mt). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has established a directed fishing allowance of 14,835 mt, and set aside the remaining 2,000 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery for pollock by vessels catching pollock in the AI of the BSAI was closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 23, 1997, in order to reserve amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries. This action was [[Page 9380]] filed at the Office of the Federal Register on February 21, 1997, and scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on February 27, 1997. NMFS has determined that as of February 24, 1997, 7,835 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 26, 1997. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be reached. Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component is in excess of 5,500 mt per day. Section 679.23(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 1200 hrs, A.l.t. The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining portion of the allocation to the offshore component would be underharvested if a 1200-hrs closure were allowed to occur. In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), NMFS is adjusting the season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 27, 1997. NMFS is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI as authorized by Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that closing the season at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., on February 27, 1997, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI 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, the pollock allocation for vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than 1.5 million dollars. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until March 13, 1997. All other closures remain in full force and effect. Classification This action is taken under Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 26, 1997. Gary Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-5170 Filed 2-26-97; 2:35 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F