[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21486]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 001226367-01; I.D. 081501A]


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 Shore-based Fishery for Pacific 
Whiting

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 2001 primary season for the 
shore-based fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) and resumption of 
per-trip limits at 12 noon local time (l.t.) August 21, 2001, because 
the allocation is projected to be reached by that time. This action is 
intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2001 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 12 noon l.t. August 21, 2001, until the effective 
date of the 2002 specification 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Register, unless modified, superseded or rescinded.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 September 10, 2001.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 11, 2001 (66 FR 2338), the levels of allowable 
biological catch (ABC), the optimum yield (OY) and the commercial OY 
(the OY minus the tribal allocation) for U.S. harvests of whiting were 
announced in the Federal Register. For 2001 the whiting ABC and OY are 
190,400 metric tons (mt) and the commercial OY is 162,900 mt.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial OY into 
separate allocations for the catcher/processor, mothership, and shore-
based sectors of the whiting fishery. The 2001 allocations, based on 
the 2001 commercial OY, are 55,386 mt (34 percent) for the catcher/
processor sector, 39,096 mt (24 percent) for the mothership sector, and 
68,418 mt (42 percent) for the shore-based sector. When each sector's 
allocation is reached, the primary season for that sector is ended.
    The shore-based sector is composed of vessels that harvest whiting 
for delivery to land-based processors. The regulations at 50 CFR 
660.323 (a)(3)(i) describe the primary season for the shore-based 
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). 
Before and after the primary seasons, per-trip limits are in effect for 
whiting.
    The best available information on August 21, 2001, indicates that 
64,641 mt had been taken through August 18, 2001, and that the 68,418 
mt shore-based allocation would be reached by 12 noon August 21, 2001. 
This Federal Register document announces the date that the primary 
season for the shore-based sector ends, and that per-trip limits are 
imposed. The per-trip limit is intended to accommodate small bait and 
fresh fish markets and bycatch in other fisheries. To minimize 
incidental catch of chinook salmon by vessels fishing shoreward of the 
100 fm (183 m) contour in the Eureka area, at any time during a fishing 
trip, a limit of 10,000-lb (4,536 kg) of whiting is in effect year-
round (unless landings of whiting are prohibited).

NMFS Action

    For the reasons stated here, and in accordance with the regulations 
at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(C), NMFS herein announces:
    Effective 12 noon l.t. August 21, 2001, no more than 20,000-lb 
(9,072-kg) of whiting may be taken and retained, possessed or landed by 
a catcher vessel participating in the shore-based sector of the whiting 
fishery. If a vessel fishes shoreward of the 100 fm (183 m) contour in 
the Eureka area (43 deg. - 40 deg. 30' N. lat.) at any time during a 
fishing trip, the 10,000-lb (4,536-kg) trip limit applies, as announced 
in the annual management measures at paragraph IV, B (3)(c)(ii).

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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    August 20, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21486 Filed 8-21-01; 3:07 pm]
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