[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47470-47471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18262]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 020402077-01; I.D. 071202E]


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 2002 primary season for the 
shore-based fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) at 0800 local time 
(l.t.) July 17, 2002, because the allocation is projected to be 
reached. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 
2002 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002, until the effective date 
of the 2003 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unless modified, superseded or rescinded.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 August 5, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to D. Robert Lohn, 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 April 15, 2002 (67 FR 18117), the levels of allowable 
biological catch, 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 2002 the

[[Page 47471]]

whiting OY is 129,600 mt (mt) and the commercial OY is 106,920 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 2002 allocations, which are 
based on the 2002 commercial OY, are 36,353 mt (34 percent) for the 
catcher/processor sector, 25,661 (24 percent) for the mothership 
sector, and 44,906 mt (42 percent) for the shoreside 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 50 CFR 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 July 15, 2002, indicates that 
39,460 mt had been taken through July 13, 2002, and that the 44,906 mt 
shore-based allocation would be reached by 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002. 
This Federal Register document announces the date that the primary 
season for the shore-based sector ends, and that per-trip limits are 
reinstated. Per-trip limits are 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, except when landings of whiting are prohibited.
    On July 5,2002 (67 FR 44778), NMFS announced fishery restrictions 
that eliminated the per-trip limits for whiting beginning September 1, 
2002. Therefore, the 20,000-lb (9,072 kg) trip limit that was in place 
before the start of the primary season is reinstated from the end of 
the primary season to September 1, at which time further taking and 
retaining, possessing or landing of whiting will be prohibited, unless 
otherwise announced in the Federal Register.

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 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002, until September 1, 2002, 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. On September 1, 2002, further 
taking and retaining, possessing or landing of whiting will be 
prohibited, unless otherwise announced in the Federal Register. 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), except when the 
whiting fishery is closed.

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: July 15, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18262 Filed 7-16-02; 3:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S