[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24182]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 98123133-9127-03; I.D. 091399B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; End of the Primary Season and 
Resumption of Trip Limits for the Shoreside Whiting 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 the end of the 1999 primary season for the 
shoreside fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting), and resumption of a 
10,000-lb (4,536-kg) trip limit, at l2:00 noon local time (l.t.) 
September 13, 1999, because the allocation for the shoreside sector 
will be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the 
harvest of whiting within the 1999 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 12:00 noon l.t. September 13, 1999, until the 
effective date of the 2000 annual specifications and management 
measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which will be 
published in the Federal Register, unless modified, superseded, or 
rescinded. Comments will be accepted through October 1, 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 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), the 1999 fishing seasons 
for Pacific whiting were published in the Federal Register. 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 of 232,000 mt, 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 shoreside 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 shoreside processors. The allocations, which are based on 
the 1999 commercial harvest guideline 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.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season 
for the shoreside sector as the period(s) when the large-scale target 
fishery is conducted (when trip limits under Sec. 660.323(b) are not in 
effect). The 10,000 lb (4,536-kg) trip limit, which also had been in 
effect before the primary season, is intended to accommodate small bait 
and fresh-fish markets, as well as bycatch in other fisheries.
    The best available information on September 10, 1999, indicated 
that the 83,800 mt shoreside allocation would be reached by 12:00 noon 
l.t. September 13, 1999.

NMFS Action

    For the reasons stated above, and in accordance with the 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(C), NMFS herein announces:
    Effective 12:00 noon l.t. September 13, 1999--No more than 10,000 
lb (4,536 kg) of whiting may be taken and retained, possessed, or 
landed by a catcher vessel participating in the shoreside 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)(C) and is exempt 
from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 13, 1999.
Rebecca Lent,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24182 Filed 9-13-99; 2:44 pm]
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