[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 23, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8749-8750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3440]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 041202338-4338-01; I.D. 021605A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District

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

ACTION:  Closure.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the interim 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel specified 
for the Central Aleutian District.

DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 
2005, until superseded by the notice of final 2005 and 2006 harvest 
specifications of groundfish for the BSAI, which will be published in 
the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 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.
    The interim 2005 TAC of Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian 
District of the BSAI is 13,218 metric tons (mt) as established by the 
interim 2005 harvest specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (69 FR 
76780, December 23, 2004).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the interim 
2005 TAC specified for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District 
will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing 
a directed fishing allowance of 13,000 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 218 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka 
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.
    After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable 
amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. 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 impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from 
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and 
would delay the closure of the fisheries under the interim 2005 TAC of 
Atka mackerel specified for the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.
    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.

[[Page 8750]]

    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: February 16, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3440 Filed 2-17-05; 3:07 pm]
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