[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]


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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.

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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

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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]
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