[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11541-11545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2186]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 030306A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pollock from the Aleutian Islands Subarea to the Bering Sea Subarea

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) and non-CDQ pollock from the Aleutian Islands 
subarea to the Bering Sea

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subarea. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest 
of the 2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the 
goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP).

DATES: Effective March 3, 2006, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2006.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the 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 the Aleutian Islands subarea, the 2006 A season allowance of 
non-CDQ pollock is 9,800 metric tons (mt) and the CDQ pollock is 760 mt 
as established by the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006), for the period 
1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2006, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 
2006.
    As of March 1, 2006, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
(Regional Administrator) has determined that the following A season 
apportionments of pollock in the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be 
harvested: 5,800 of non-CDQ pollock and 760 mt of CDQ pollock. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(4), NMFS 
proportionally reallocates 5,800 mt of non-CDQ pollock and 760 mt of 
CDQ pollock from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the 2006 Bering Sea 
subarea A season allocations, as listed in Tables 3,10, and 11 of the 
2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006).
    The A season harvest specifications for pollock in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea included in the harvest specifications for groundfish 
in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) are revised as follows: 4,000 
mt to the A season allowance of non-CDQ pollock and 0 mt to the A 
season allowance of CDQ pollock.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5), Tables 3,10, and 11 of the 2006 and 
2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 
10894, March 3, 2006) are revised for the 2006 A season non-CDQ pollock 
and the A season CDQ pollock allocations consistent with this 
reallocation. This reallocation results in proportional adjustments to 
the 2006 A season non-CDQ pollock directed fishery allocation (DFA) 
established at Sec.  679.20(a)(5).
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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 reallocation of Aleutian Islands subarea pollock to the 
Bering Sea subarea. On March 1, 2006, NMFS was notified by the Aleut 
Corporation and the CDQ groups that some of the pollock allocations in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea will not be harvested. Since the A season 
is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry 
as to the final Bering Sea subarea A season allocations. Immediate 
notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and 
efficient operation of this fishery; allow the industry to plan for the 
fishing season and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as 
well as processors; and provide opportunity to harvest increased A 
season pollock allocations while roe quality and value are optimum.
    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 is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 3, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2186 Filed 3-3-06; 2:38 pm]
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