[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22345]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 082202B]


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 of platoon assignments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying registered vessels of their platoon 
assignments for the B season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit 
areas (HLA) 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 B 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.), August 28, 2002, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., November 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (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, and 67 FR 47472 July 19, 2002) NMFS 
established HLAs for Atka mackerel directed fishing in areas 542 and 
543. Vessels had until August 1, 2002, to register to fish in the HLA 
in areas 542 and/or 543. NMFS then 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), ten 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 they have registered and is now notifying 
each vessel of its assignment.
    Vessels assigned to Platoon A which will participate in the first 
HLA directed fishery in area 542 and/or the second HLA directed fishery 
in 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) 4093 Alaska Victory, FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit, FFP 3400 Alaska 
Ranger, FFP 2134 Ocean Peace, and FFP 1879 American No. 1.
    Vessels assigned to Platoon B which will participate in the first 
HLA directed fishery in area 543 and/or the second HLA directed fishery 
in area 542 in accordance with the vessel's registration under 
Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) are as follows: FFP 2443 Alaska Juris, FFP 
3835 Seafisher, FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska, FFP 3423 Alaska Warrior, and 
FFP 2800 U.S. Intrepid.

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 B season HLA limits 
established for area 542 and area 543 constitutes good cause to waive 
the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(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 B 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.

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

    Dated: August 27, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-22345 Filed 8-28-02; 2:54 pm]
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