[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52275-52276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26618]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 100197D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Offshore Component in the Bering Sea 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 the season for 
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI) at midnight rather than noon. This 
adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of pollock by 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
the BS of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received at 
the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 22, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Chief, Fisheries Management 
Division,

[[Page 52276]]

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: Andrew 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 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 (Magnuson 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 offshore component in the BS was established as 
679,413 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish of the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 
allocation of the pollock total allowable catch for vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS will soon be 
reached. The Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing 
allowance of 664,413 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 15,000 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 has been taken. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
the BS on October 2, 1997.
    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. Current information shows the 
catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
offshore component is in excess of 11,400 mt per day. The Regional 
Administrator has determined that the directed fishing allowance for 
the offshore component would be underharvested if the fishery is closed 
at 1200 hrs, A.l.t.
    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 BS subarea of the BSAI by prohibiting 
directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., October 2, 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 BS 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 on October 2, 1997, is the least 
restrictive management adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
the BS of the BSAI and will allow other fisheries to continue in 
noncritical areas and time periods.

Classification

    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. Failure to close the season for pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS on 
October 2, 1997, would likely result in the overharvest of the pollock 
allocation. Without this inseason adjustment extending the closure time 
from noon to midnight, the pollock allocation for vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS of the BSAI 
would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than 
$1,500,000. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments on this action to the above address until 
October 22, 1997.
    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: October 2, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26618 Filed 10-3-97; 10:33 am]
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