[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 021212307-2307-01; I.D. 011403C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel Lottery 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 registered vessels of their assignments for 
the A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (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 A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 
543 pursuant to the interim 2003 harvest specifications for groundfish.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 22, 
2003, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2003.

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 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 accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), all vessels using 
trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA are 
required to register with NMFS. In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A)(1), all vessels using trawl gear for directed 
fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA that wish to participate in the A 
season HLA fishery must register with NMFS by 4:30 pm, A.l.t. on the 
first working day following January 1. Eight vessels have registered 
with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 
543. In order to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about 
half and to disperse the fishery over time and in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 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 that will participate in the first HLA directed fishery in 
area 542 and/or the second HLA directed fishery in area 543 in 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal Fishery 
Permit number (FFP) 3423 Alaska Warrior, FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska, FFP 
2134 Ocean Peace, and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.
    Vessels that will participate in the first HLA directed fishery in 
area 543 and/or the second HLA directed fishery in area 542 in 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: FFP 4093 Alaska 
Victory, FFP 2443 Alaska Juris, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 3835 
Seafisher.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information. The 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that the need to 
immediately notify each vessel of its assignment to allow the harvest 
of the A season HLA fisheries in 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)(3)(B) and 50 CFR 679.20(a)(8)(iii), as such procedures would be 
unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. This notice merely 
advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random 
assignment required by regulation. Similarly, the need to implement 
these measures in a timely fashion and to notify each vessel of their 
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 Sec. Sec.  679.20 and 679.22 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 15, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-1379 Filed 1-21-03; 8:45 am]
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