[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22192]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 021212307-3037-02; I.D. 081403D]


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

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

ACTION: Notification of Atka mackerel assignments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying registered vessels of their assignments for 
the 2003 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.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 28, 2003, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., November 1, 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), 10 vessels using 
trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel have registered with 
NMFS to fish in the 2003 B season 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 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) 3423 Alaska Warrior, FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit, FFP 2134 Ocean 
Peace, FFP 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 2800 U.S. Intrepid.
    Vessels assigned to 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 2733 
Seafreeze Alaska, FFP 4093 Alaska Victory, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and 
FFP 1879 American No. 1.

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 
fishery 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 fishery 
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.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: August 25, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22192 Filed 2-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S