[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3447-3448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1760]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 011702B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel Platoons in Areas 542 and 543

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

ACTION: Notification

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying operators of registered vessels of their 
platoon assignments for the Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit 
areas (HLA) in Statistical Area (area) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian 
Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the A season 
HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2002 
Atka mackerel total allowable catch and associated Steller sea lion 
protection measures.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 18, 
2002, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the

[[Page 3448]]

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing 
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In the emergency rule implementing 2002 harvest specifications and 
Steller sea lion protection measures for the groundfish fisheries off 
Alaska (67 FR 956, January 8, 2002), NMFS established HLAs for Atka 
mackerel directed fishing in areas 542 and 543. Operators of vessels 
had until January 15, 2002, to register to fish in the HLA in area 542 
and/or 543. NMFS is required to randomly assign vessels between these 
areas to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about half and 
to disperse the fishery over time.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), operators of eight 
vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel have 
registered with NMFS to fish in the HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 
543. In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B) the Administrator, 
Alaska Region has randomly assigned each vessel to the HLA directed 
fishery for Atka mackerel for which the vessel operators have 
registered and is now notifying each vessel operator of the assignment.
    Vessels assigned to Platoon A that will participate in the first 
HLA directed fishery in area 542 and/or the second HLA directed fishery 
for area 543 in accordance with the vessel's registration under Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) are as follows: Federal Fishery Permit number 
(FFP) 2733 Seafreeze Alaska; FFP 4093 Alaska Victory; FFP 3835 
Seafisher; and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.
    Vessels assigned to Platoon B that will participate in the first 
HLA directed fishery in area 543 and/or the second HLA directed fishery 
for 542 in accordance with the vessel's registration under Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) are as follows: FFP 2443 Alaska Juris; FFP 3400 
Alaska Ranger; FFP 2134 Ocean Peace; and FFP 3423 Alaska Warrior.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information. The 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that the need to 
immediately implement this action that notifies each vessel of their 
platoon assignment to allow the harvest of the A season HLA limits 
established for area 542 and area 543 constitutes good cause to waive 
the requirement to provide prior notice opportunity for public comment 
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 50 CFR 
679.20(a)(8)(iii), as such procedures would be unnecessary and contrary 
to the public interest. Similarly, the need to implement these measures 
in a timely fashion that notifies each vessel of their platoon 
assignment to allow the harvest of the A season HLA limits established 
for area 542 and area 543 constitutes good cause to find that the 
effective date 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.
    This action is required by Secs.  679.20 and 679.22 and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 17, 2002.
Jonathan M. Kurland,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-1760 Filed 1-18-02; 3:05 pm]
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