[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53973-53974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27521]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D.100997A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod 
in Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore 
component to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
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.), October 10, 
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 GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component will not 
be able to harvest 3,000 metric tons (mt) of Pacific cod allocated to 
those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii). As of October 4, 1997, NMFS 
estimates 4,091 mt remain in the offshore component's allocation of the 
1997 Central GOA Pacific cod TAC and projects that vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component will take 1,091 mt 
during the remainder of 1997.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(v)(C), NMFS is 
apportioning the projected unused amount, 3,000 mt of Pacific cod, from 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.
    All other 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. Providing prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment 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 vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the GOA. Without 
this action, the Pacific cod allocation for vessels catching Pacific 
cod for processing by the offshore component in the GOA would be 
underharvested. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of 
this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.

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


[[Page 53974]]


    Dated: October 9, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27521 Filed 10-10-97; 4:23 pm]
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