[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 31369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14923]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 052397B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Apportionment of Reserve

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Apportionment of reserve; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is apportioning reserve to certain target species in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to allow for ongoing harvest and account for previous harvest 
of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to promote the 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).

DATES: Effective June 4, 1997. Comments must be received at the 
following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, June 24, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9th Street, room 453, 
Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attention: 
Lori Gravel.

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 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.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 
initial TACs specified for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea 
and shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea need 
to be supplemented from the non-specific reserve in order to continue 
operations and account for prior harvest.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(i)(A), NMFS is 
apportioning from the reserve to the TAC for the following species: 
Bering Sea subarea - 905 metric tons (mt) of Greenland turbot; Aleutian 
Islands subarea - 141 mt of shortraker/rougheye rockfish.
    These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(2) and do 
not result in overfishing of a target species because the revised TACs 
are equal to or less than specifications of acceptable biological 
catch.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined, 
under section 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act 
and 50 CFR 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), that good cause exists for waiving the 
opportunity for public comment and the 30-day delayed effectiveness 
period for this action. Fisheries are currently taking place that will 
be supplemented by this apportionment. Delaying the implementation of 
this action would be disruptive and costly to these ongoing operations.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.

    Dated: June 2, 1997.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14923 Filed 6-4-97; 10:18 am]
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