[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14055]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 981231333-9127-03; I.D. 052799E]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Whiting Closure for the Mothership 
Sector

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

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces closure of the 1999 mothership fishery for 
whiting at 2100 local time (l.t.) June 2, 1999, because the allocation 
for the mothership sector is projected to be reached by that time. This 
action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 1999 
allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 2100 l.t. June 2, 1999, until the start of the 
2000 primary season for the mothership sector, unless modified, 
superseded or rescinded; such action will be published in the Federal 
Register. Comments will be accepted through June 18, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator, 
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rodney R. McInnis, Acting Regional 
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine King at 206-526-6145 or 
Becky Renko at 206-526-6110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by regulations 
implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and 
California. On January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1316), regulations were published 
announcing the 1999 fishing seasons for Pacific whiting. A new whiting 
stock assessment was completed in early 1999, and an allowable 
biological catch (ABC) and optimum yield (OY) of 232,000 metric tons 
(mt) were recommended for all U.S. harvests. On May 24, 1999, (64 FR 
27928), NMFS announced the 1999 whiting ABC and OY, the tribal whiting 
allocation of 32,500 mt, and the commercial OY of 199,500 mt.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial 
allocation into separate allocations for the catcher/processor, 
mothership, and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. When each 
sector's allocation is reached, the primary season for that sector is 
ended. The catcher/processor sector is composed of vessels that harvest 
and process whiting. The mothership sector is composed of motherships, 
and catcher vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to motherships. 
Motherships are vessels that process, but do not harvest, whiting. The 
shoreside sector is composed of vessels that harvest whiting for 
delivery to shore-based processors. The regulations at 50 CFR 600.323 
(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season for vessels delivering to 
motherships as the period(s) when at-sea processing is allowed and the 
fishery is open for the mothership sector. The 1999 allocations, which 
are based on the 1999 commercial OY for whiting of 199,500 mt are 
67,800 mt (34 percent) for the catcher/processor sector, 47,900 mt (24 
percent) for the mothership sector, and 83,800 mt (42 percent) for the 
shoreside sector.

NMFS Action

    This action announces achievement of the allocation for the 
mothership sector only. The best available information on May 31, 1999, 
indicated that the 47,900-mt mothership allocation would be reached by 
2100 hours, June 2, 1999, at which time the primary season for the 
mothership sector ends and further at-sea processing and receipt of 
whiting by a mothership, or taking and retaining, possessing, or 
landing of whiting by a catcher boat in the mothership sector, are 
prohibited. For the reasons stated above, and in accordance with the 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(B), NMFS herein announces that 
effective 2100 hours June 2, 1999--(1) further receiving or at-sea 
processing of whiting by a mothership is prohibited. No additional 
unprocessed whiting may be brought on board after at-sea processing is 
prohibited, but a mothership may continue to process whiting that was 
on board before at-sea processing was prohibited, and (2) whiting may 
not be taken and retained, possessed, or landed by a catcher vessel 
participating in the mothership sector.

Classification

    This action is authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP. 
The determination to take this action is based on the most recent data 
available. The aggregate data upon which the determination is based are 
available for public inspection at the Office of the Regional 
Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is 
taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(B) and is exempt 
from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 28, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14055 Filed 5-28-99; 4:31 pm]
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