[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23739]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 011218302-1302-01; 091202B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of the Fishery for Pacific 
Sardine North of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA

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

ACTION: Closure of the fishery for Pacific sardine north of Pt. Piedras 
Blancas.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the fishery for Pacific sardine 
in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast north of Pt. 
Piedras Blancas, CA, (35[deg] 40' N. lat.) at 0001 hrs local time on 
September 14, 2002. The closure will remain in effect until the 
reallocation of the remaining portion of the coast wide harvest 
guideline is required by the Coastal Pelagics Species Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). That reallocation is expected to occur on or 
about October 1, 2002. The purpose of this action is to comply with the 
allocation procedures mandated by the FMP.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs September 14, 2002, through December 31, 
2002, or until the harvest guideline is reallocated by notice in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The data that was used as the basis for this action is 
available for public inspection at the Office of the Acting Regional 
Administrator, Rodney R. McInnis, Southwest Region (Regional 
Administrator), NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James J. Morgan, Southwest Region, 
NMFS, (562) 980-4036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The harvest guideline for Pacific sardine 
for the 2002 fishing season was published at 66 FR 66811 (December 27, 
2001). For the fishing season January 1, 2002, through December 31, 
2002, the harvest guideline for the Pacific coast of 118,442 mt was 
calculated according to the formula in the FMP, of which 39,481 mt was 
allocated north of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, and 78,961 mt was allocated 
south of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, according to the allocation procedure 
in the FMP. The procedure was adopted to prevent any segment of the 
fishing industry from gaining an unfair harvesting advantage due to the 
regional availability of sardine as it migrates along the U.S. West 
coast. On October 1 of each year, the remaining harvest guideline north 
and south of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, is totaled and divided equally 
between the two areas. Fishermen will be notified of the reallocation 
by marine radio and/or by NMFS hotline.
    As of August 26, 2002, 32,002 mt of the 39,481-mt allocation north 
of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, had been landed. The harvest rate indicates 
that 39,481 mt will be reached on September 13, 2002, which requires 
that the fishery north of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, be closed until 
calculations can be completed on the harvest guideline remaining so 
that reallocation can occur on or about October 1, 2002. Permit holders 
were notified of this closure via letters mailed September 6, 2002, and 
via the Southwest Region website at http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov. For 
the reasons stated here and in accordance with the FMP and its 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 660.508, the fishery for Pacific 
sardine north of Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA, will be closed at 0001 hrs 
September 14, 2002, through December 31, 2002, or until the harvest 
guideline is reallocated by notice in the Federal Register except that 
up to 45 percent by weight of Pacific mackerel, northern anchovy, jack 
mackerel, or market squid may consist of Pacific sardine.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 660.509 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 13, 2002.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-23739 Filed 9-13-02; 3:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S