[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26149]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 092697A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from trawl catcher/processors to trawl catcher vessels in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to allow the 1997 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod 
to be harvested.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 29, 
1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

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-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 trawl 
catcher/processors will not be able to harvest 2,000 metric tons (mt) 
of Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under 
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS is 
apportioning the projected unused amount, 2,000 mt, of Pacific cod from 
trawl catcher/processors to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI.

Classification

    All closures remain in full force and effect. This action responds 
to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. 
It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full utilization 
of the Pacific cod TAC. A delay in the effective date is impracticable 
and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt 
the FMP's objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for 
trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI. NMFS finds for good cause that the 
implementation of this action can not be delayed for 30 days. 
Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is 
hereby waived.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 26, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26149 Filed 9-29-97; 11:44 am]
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