[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49875-49876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24498]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 001226367-0367-01; I.D. 092401G]


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 8 p.m. local time (l.t.) September 26, 2001, because 
the shore-based allowance is projected to be reached. This action is 
intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2001 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 8 p.m. September 26, 2001, until the effective 
date of the 2002 specification and management measures for the Pacific 
Coast groundfish fishery that will be published in the Federal 
Register, unless modified, superseded or rescinded. Comments will be 
accepted through October 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to D. Robert Lohn, 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 non-tribal catcher/processor, mothership, 
and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. 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. The shoreside sector is composed of 
vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to shoreside processors. Each 
of these sectors receives a portion of the commercial OY. In 2001, the 
catcher/processors received 34 percent, motherships received 24 
percent, and the shore-based sector received 42

[[Page 49876]]

percent. When applied to the commercial OY for 2001, this resulted in 
the following allocations: 55,386 mt for the catcher/processors, 39,096 
mt for the motherships, and 68,418 mt for the shore-based sector.
    NMFS announced the end of the 2001 primary season for the shore-
based Pacific whiting fishery at noon August 21, 2001, because the 
shore-based allocation was projected to be reached at that time. 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. Before and after the primary seasons, per-trip 
limits under Sec. 660.323 (b) are in effect for whiting.
    On August 31, 2001, NMFS received notification from the tribal 
fishery participants indicating that 10,000 mts of the tribal 
allocation was not expected to be harvested before the end of the 
fishing year. As a result, on September 20, 2001 (66 FR 48370), NMFS 
announced the reapportionment of the 10,000 mt surplus whiting from the 
tribal allocation to the catcher/processor, mothership, and shore-based 
sectors. The catcher/processors received an additional 3,400 mt (34 
percent), the motherships received an additional 2,400 mt (24 percent), 
and the shore-based sector received an additional 4,200 mt (42 
percent). To provide the shore-based participants access to the 
reapportioned whiting, the primary season for the shore-based whiting 
fishery resumed at noon September 17, 2001.
    The best available information on September 24, 2001, indicates 
that 71,092 mt had been taken through September 23, 2001, and that the 
72,618 mt (68,418 mt + 4,200) shore-based allowance would be reached by 
8 p.m. l.t. September 26, 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 above, and in accordance with the 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323 (a)(4)(iii)(C), NMFS herein announces:
    Effective 8 p.m. l.t. September 26, 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.

    Dated: September 26, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-24498 Filed 9-26-01; 3:57 pm]
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