[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2849-2850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1218]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 031126295-3295-01; I.D. 011304B]


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 of fishery assignments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of 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 2004 
harvest specifications for groundfish.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 
2004, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2004.

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), owners and operators 
of 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), owners and operators that wish to participate 
in the A season HLA fishery must register their vessels with NMFS by 
4:30 pm., A.l.t.

[[Page 2850]]

on the first working day following January 1. Six 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 authorized to 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) 3819 Alaska Spirit, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 
2443 Alaska Juris.
    Vessels authorized to 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 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 3423 Alaska Warrior.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds 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) as such requirement is unnecessary. This notice merely 
advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random 
assignment required by regulation. The notice needs to occur 
immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of its assignment to 
allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the A season HLA 
fisheries in area 542 and area 543.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and 679.22 and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 14, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1218 Filed 1-20-04; 8:45 am]
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