[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 10752-10753] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-5764] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 030497A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). An adjustment to the normal time of closure is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI. DATES: 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received no later than 1630 hrs, A.l.t., March 19, 1997 (see ADDRESSES). ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn. Lori Gravel, or be delivered to the fourth floor of the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 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 allocation of the pollock total allowable catch for vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish of the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 9,065 metric tons (mt). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has [[Page 10753]] determined that the allocation of the pollock total allowable catch for vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 8,565 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI. Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component is in excess of 1,400 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 inshore 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 inshore component in the AI subarea of the BSAI by closing directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., March 4, 1997. NMFS is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 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 March 4, 1997, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 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 inshore component in the AI of the BSAI would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than 600,000 dollars. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until March 19, 1997. Classification This action is required by Sec. 679.25 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 4, 1997. Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-5764 Filed 3-4-97; 4:43 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F