[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13777-13781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 031406B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Adjustment 
of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 
amount in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). 
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Pacific cod 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) in the BSAI and is consistent with 
the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish 
of the BSAI (FMP).

DATES: Effective March 14, 2006, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2007.

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

[[Page 13778]]

the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (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 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in 
the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) establish the 2006 and 2007 
Pacific cod ABCs as 194,000 metric tons (mt) and 148,000 mt, 
respectively. The TACs are set equal to the ABCs for Pacific cod in the 
BSAI.
    On March 1, 2006, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced 
by emergency regulation, a Pacific cod guideline harvest level (GHL), 
west of 170 degrees west longitude in the Aleutian Islands subarea, 
equal to 3% of the Pacific cod ABC in the BSAI established in the final 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10984, March 
3, 2006).
    As of March 1, 2006, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
(Regional Administrator) has determined that the current TACs are 
incorrectly specified and an adjustment is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the ABC. The best available scientific information for the 
Pacific cod fisheries in the BSAI indicates that the addition of a 
state waters GHL in the Aleutian Islands subarea would result in 
overall harvest amounts that exceed the 2006 and 2007 Pacific cod ABCs 
in the BSAI. The Council, its Advisory Panel, and its Scientific and 
Statistical Committee have determined that the acceptable harvest level 
for the combined State and Federal Pacific cod fisheries should not 
exceed the ABC since this could result in an unacceptable change in the 
biological stock status of Pacific cod in the BSAI. Therefore, in 
accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(iii) and (2)(iv), the Regional 
Administrator adjusts the 2006 and 2007 Pacific cod TACs in the BSAI.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7), Tables 1, 2, 5, 12, and 14 of the 
2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) are revised for the 2006 and 2007 Pacific 
cod TACs consistent with this adjustment.

  Table 1.--2006 and 2007 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve
                                                        Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     2006                                                   2007
           Species                 Area    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               OFL        ABC        TAC      ITAC \2\   CDQ \3\      OFL        ABC        TAC      ITAC \2\   CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\..................  BS \2\.....  2,090,000  1,930,000  1,485,000  1,336,500    148,500  1,930,000  1,790,000  1,500,000  1,350,000    150,000
                               AI \2\.....     39,100     29,400     19,000     17,100      1,900     39,100     29,400     19,000     17,100      1,900
                               Bogoslof...     50,600      5,500         10         10        n/a     50,600      5,500         10         10        n/a
Pacific cod..................  BSAI.......    230,000    194,000    188,180    159,953     14,114    176,000    148,000    143,560    122,026     10,767
Sablefish \5\................  BS.........      3,680      3,060      2,820      2,327        388      3,260      2,700      2,700      1,148        101
                               AI.........      3,740      3,100      3,000      2,438        499      3,300      2,740      2,740        582         51
Atka mackerel................  BSAI.......    130,000    110,000     63,000     53,550      4,725    107,000     91,000     63,000     53,550      4,725
                               EAI/BS.....        n/a     21,780      7,500      6,375        563        n/a     18,020      7,500      6,375        563
                               CAI........        n/a     46,860     40,000     34,000      3,000        n/a     38,760     38,000     32,300      2,850
                               WAI........        n/a     41,360     15,500     13,175      1,163        n/a     34,220     17,500     14,875      1,313
Yellowfin sole...............  BSAI.......    144,000    121,000     95,701     81,346      7,178    137,000    116,000    107,641     91,495      8,073
Rock sole....................  BSAI.......    150,000    126,000     41,500     35,275      3,113    145,000    122,000     44,000     37,400      3,300
Greenland turbot.............  BSAI.......     14,200      2,740      2,740      2,329        206     13,400      2,630      2,630      2,236        197
                               BS.........        n/a      1,890      1,890      1,607        142        n/a      1,815      1,815      1,543        136
                               AI.........        n/a        850        850        723         64        n/a        815        815        693         61
Arrowtooth flounder..........  BSAI.......    166,000    136,000     13,000     11,050        975    174,000    142,000     18,000     15,300      1,350
Flathead sole................  BSAI.......     71,800     59,800     19,500     16,575      1,463     67,900     56,600     22,000     18,700      1,650
Other flatfish \6\...........  BSAI.......     24,200     18,100      3,500      2,975        263     24,200     18,100      5,000      4,250        375
Alaska plaice................  BSAI.......    237,000    188,000      8,000      6,800        600    231,000    183,000     15,000     12,750      1,125
Pacific ocean perch..........  BSAI.......     17,600     14,800     12,600     10,710        945     17,600     14,800     14,800     12,580      1,110
                               BS.........        n/a      2,960      1,400      1,190        105        n/a      2,960      2,960      2,516        222
                               EAI........        n/a      3,256      3,080      2,618        231        n/a      3,256      3,256      2,768        244
                               CAI........        n/a      3,212      3,035      2,580        228        n/a      3,212      3,212      2,730        241
                               WAI........        n/a      5,372      5,085      4,322        381        n/a      5,375      5,372      4,566        403
Northern rockfish............  BSAI.......     10,100      8,530      4,500      3,825        338      9,890      8,320      5,000      4,250        375
Shortraker rockfish..........  BSAI.......        774        580        580        493         44        774        580        580        493         44
Rougheye rockfish............  BSAI.......        299        224        224        190         17        299        224        224        190         17
Other rockfish \7\...........  BSAI.......      1,870      1,400      1,050        893         79      1,870      1,400      1,400      1,190        105
                               BS.........        n/a        810        460        391         35        n/a        810        810        689         61
                               AI.........        n/a        590        590        502         44        n/a        590        590        502         44
Squid........................  BSAI.......      2,620      1,970      1,275      1,084        n/a      2,620      1,970      1,275      1,084        n/a
Other species \8\............  BSAI.......     89,404     58,882     29,000     24,650      2,175     89,404     62,950     27,000     22,950      2,025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ...........  3,476,987  3,013,086  1,994,180  1,770,073    187,522  3,224,217  2,799,914  1,995,560  1,769,284   187,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
  harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock and the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The
  ITAC for each species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Except for pollock, squid and the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish, one half of the amount of the TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5
  percent of the TACs, is designated as a CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii) and 679.31).
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea pollock TAC after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance-10 percent and
  the ICA-3.35 percent, is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: Inshore-50 percent; catcher/processor-40 percent; and
  motherships-10 percent. Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ
  directed fishing allowance-10 percent and second for the ICA-1,800 mt, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\5\ Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear and 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear is
  reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii)).
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin
  sole, arrowtooth flounder and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2, are not included in the ``other species''
  category.


[[Page 13779]]


                      Table 2.--2006 and 2007 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  2006                      2007
                  Species--area or subarea                      reserve    2006  final    reserve    2007  final
                                                                 amount        ITAC        amount        ITAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel--Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea               563        6,938          563        6,938
 subarea....................................................
Atka mackerel--Central Aleutian District....................        3,000       37,000        2,850       35,150
Atka mackerel--Western Aleutian District....................        1,163       14,338        1,313       16,188
Pacific ocean perch--Eastern Aleutian District..............          231        2,849          244        3,012
Pacific ocean perch--Central Aleutian District..............          228        2,808          241        2,971
Pacific ocean perch--Western Aleutian District..............          381        4,703          403        4,969
Pacific cod--BSAI...........................................       14,113      174,066       10,767      132,793
Shortraker rockfish--BSAI...................................           44          537           44          537
Rougheye rockfish--BSAI.....................................           17          207           17          207
Northern rockfish--BSAI.....................................          338        4,163          375        4,625
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea..........................           35          426           61          750
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................       20,113      248,035       16,878      208,140
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                    Table 5.--2006 and 2007 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod ITAC
                                                                                  [Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          2006        2006       2006     2006 seasonal  apportionment \1\     2007        2007       2007     2007 seasonal  apportionment \1\
                                                        share of    subtotal   share of ------------------------------------ share of    subtotal   share of -----------------------------------
   Gear sector                   Percent                  gear    percentages    gear                                          gear    percentages    gear
                                                         sector     for gear    sector     Date             Amount            sector     for gear    sector     Date             Amount
                                                          total     sectors      total                                         total     sectors      total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total hook-and-    51.................................    88,774         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a.....................    67,724         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a
     line/pot gear
Hook-and-line/pot  n/a................................       n/a         n/a        500       n/a  n/a.....................       n/a         n/a        500       n/a  n/a
      ICA
Hook-and-line/pot  n/a................................    88,274         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a.....................    67,224         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a
 subtotal
Hook-and-line C/P  n/a................................       n/a          80     70,619    Jan 1-  42,372..................       n/a          80     53,780    Jan 1-  32,268
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                               Jun 10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........  ........  June 10-  28,248..................  ........  ...........  ........   Jun 10-  21,512
                                                                                           Dec 31                                                               Dec 31
Hook-and-line CV   n/a................................       n/a         0.3        265    Jan 1-  159.....................       n/a         0.3        202    Jan 1-  121
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                               Jun 10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........  ........  June 10-  106.....................  ........  ...........  ........   Jun 10-  81
                                                                                           Dec 31                                                               Dec 31
   Pot C/P         n/a................................       n/a         3.3      2,913    Jan 1-  1,749...................       n/a         3.3      2,218    Jan 1-  1,331
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                                Jun10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........  ........   Sept 1-  1,165...................  ........  ...........  ........   Sept 1-  887
                                                                                           Dec 31                                                               Dec 31
  Pot CV           n/a................................       n/a          15     13,241    Jan 1-  7,945...................       n/a          15     10,084    Jan 1-  6,050
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                               Jun 10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........  ........   Sept 1-  5,296...................  ........  ...........  ........   Sept 1-  4,033
                                                                                           Dec 31                                                               Dec 31
CV < 60 feet LOA   n/a................................       n/a         1.4      1,236       n/a  n/a.....................       n/a         1.4        941       n/a  n/a
 using Hook-and-
 line or Pot gear
    Total Trawl    47.................................    81,811         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a.....................    62,413         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a
     Gear.
    Trawl CV.....  ...................................  ........          50     40,906   Jan 20-  28,634..................  ........          50     31,206   Jan 20-  21,844
                                                                                            Apr 1                                                                Apr 1
                   ...................................  ........  ...........       n/a    Apr 1-  4,091...................  ........  ...........       n/a    Apr 1-  3,121
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                               Jun 10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........       n/a   Jun 10-  8,181...................  ........  ...........       n/a   Jun 10-  6,241
                                                                                            Nov 1                                                                Nov 1
    Trawl CP.....  ...................................  ........          50     40,906   Jan 20-  20,453..................  ........          50     31,206   Jan 20-  15,603
                                                                                            Apr 1                                                                Apr 1
                   ...................................  ........  ...........       n/a    Apr 1-  12,272..................  ........  ...........       n/a    Apr 1-  9,362
                                                                                           Jun 10                                                               Jun 10
                   ...................................  ........  ...........       n/a   Jun 10-  8,181...................  ........  ...........       n/a   Jun 10-  6,241
                                                                                            Nov 1                                                                Nov 1
     Jig           2..................................     3,481         n/a        n/a    Jan 1-  1,393...................     2,656         n/a        n/a    Jan 1-  1,062
                                                                                           Apr 30                                                               Apr 30
                   ...................................  ........         n/a        n/a   Apr 30-  696.....................  ........         n/a        n/a   Apr 30-  531
                                                                                           Aug 31                                                               Aug 31
                   ...................................  ........         n/a        n/a   Aug 31-  1,392...................  ........         n/a        n/a   Aug 31-  1,062
                                                                                           Dec 31                                                               Dec 31
                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total....  100................................   174,066         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a.....................   132,793         n/a        n/a       n/a  n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For most non-trawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the ITAC. For jig gear, the first season and third seasons are
  each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels
  less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20
  percent of the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessels' allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. The
  trawl catcher/processors' allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. Any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
  cod allowance will be reapportioned to the next seasonal allowance.


                        Table 12.--2006 and 2007 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             1995-1997
                                                              ---------------------------------------  2006 ITAC                 2007 ITAC
                                                                                           Ratio of    available     2006 C/P    available     2007 C/P
            Target species                      Area             Retained                  retained   to trawl C/   sideboard   to trawl C/   sideboard
                                                                  catch     Total catch    catch to        Ps         limit          Ps         limit
                                                                                         total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl....................  BSAI..................       12,424       48,177        0.258       40,906       10,554       31,206        8,051
Sablefish trawl......................  BS....................            8          497        0.016        1,199           19        1,148           18
                                       AI....................            0          145        0.000          638            0          582            0
Atka mackerel........................  Central AI............          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                       A season \1\..........          n/a          n/a        0.115       18,500        2,128       17,575        2,021
                                       HLA limit \2\.........          n/a          n/a          n/a       11,100        1,277       10,545        1,213
                                       B season \1\..........          n/a          n/a        0.115       18,500        2,128       17,575        2,021

[[Page 13780]]

 
                                       HLA limit \2\.........          n/a          n/a          n/a       11,100        1,277       10,545        1,213
                                       Western AI............          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                       A season \1\..........          n/a          n/a        0.200        7,169        1,434        8,094        1,619
                                       HLA limit \2\.........          n/a          n/a          n/a        4,301          860        4,856          971
                                       B season \1\..........          n/a          n/a        0.200        7,169        1,434        8,094        1,619
                                       HLA limit \2\.........          n/a          n/a          n/a        4,301          860        4,856          971
Yellowfin sole.......................  BSAI..................      100,192      435,788        0.230       81,346       18,710       91,495       21,044
Rock sole............................  BSAI..................        6,317      169,362        0.037       35,275        1,305       37,400        1,384
Greenland turbot.....................  BS....................          121       17,305        0.007        1,607           11        1,543           11
                                       AI....................           23        4,987        0.005          723            4          693            3
Arrowtooth flounder..................  BSAI..................           76       33,987        0.002       11,050           22       15,300           31
Flathead sole........................  BSAI..................        1,925       52,755        0.036       16,575          597       18,700          673
Alaska plaice........................  BSAI..................           14        9,438        0.001        6,800            7       12,750           13
Other flatfish.......................  BSAI..................        3,058       52,298        0.058        2,975          173        4,250          247
Pacific ocean perch..................  BS....................           12        4,879        0.002        1,190            2        2,516            5
                                       Eastern AI............          125        6,179        0.020        2,849           57        3,012           60
                                       Central AI............            3        5,698        0.001        2,808            3        2,971            3
                                       Western AI............           54       13,598        0.004        4,703           19        4,969           20
Northern rockfish....................  BSAI..................           91       13,040        0.007        4,163           29        4,625           32
Shortraker rockfish..................  BSAI..................           50        2,811        0.018          537           10          537           10
Rougheye rockfish....................  BSAI..................           50        2,811        0.018          207            4          207            4
Other rockfish.......................  BS....................           18          621        0.029          426           12          750           22
                                       AI....................           22          806        0.027          502           14          502           14
Squid................................  BSAI..................           73        3,328        0.022        1,084           24        1,084           24
Other species........................  BSAI..................          553       68,672        0.008       24,650          197       22,950         184
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
  catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
  specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
\2\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.


              Table 14.--2006 and 2007 BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Ratio of
                                                  1995-1997                    2006                      2007
                               Fishery by area/     AFA CV        2006       catcher        2007       catcher
           Species             season/processor/   catch to   initial TAC     vessel    initial TAC     vessel
                                     gear         1995-1997                 sideboard                 sideboard
                                                     TAC                      limits                    limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................  BSAI............          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jig gear........       0.0000        3,481            0        2,656            0
                               Hook-and-line CV          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan 1-Jun 10....       0.0006          159            0          121            0
                               Jun 10-Dec 31...       0.0006          106            0           81            0
                               Pot gear CV.....          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan 1-Jun 10....       0.0006        7,945            5        6,050            4
                               Sept 1-Dec 31...       0.0006        5,296            3        4,033            2
                               CV < 60 feet LOA       0.0006        1,236            1          941            1
                                using hook-and-
                                line or pot
                                gear.
                               Trawl gear CV...          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan 20-Apr 1....       0.8609       28,634       24,651       21,844       18,805
                               Apr 1-Jun 10....       0.8609        4,091        3,522        3,121        2,687
                               Jun 10-Nov 1....       0.8609        8,181        7,043        6,241        5,373
Sablefish....................  BS trawl gear...       0.0906        1,199          109        1,148          104
                               AI trawl gear...       0.0645          638           41          582           38
Atka mackerel................  Eastern AI/BS...          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jig gear........       0.0031           69            0           69            0
                               Other gear......          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan 1-Apr 15....       0.0032        3,434           11        3,434           11
                               Sept 1-Nov 1....       0.0032        3,434           11        3,434           11
                               Central AI......          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan-Apr 15......       0.0001       18,500            2       17,575            2
                               HLA limit.......       0.0001       11,100            1       10,545            1
                               Sept 1-Nov 1....       0.0001       18,500            2       17,575            2
                               HLA limit.......       0.0001       11,100            1       10,545            1
                               Western AI......          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
                               Jan-Apr 15......       0.0000        7,169            0        8,094            0

[[Page 13781]]

 
                               HLA limit.......          n/a        4,301            0        4,856            0
                               Sept 1-Nov 1....       0.0000        7,169            0        8,094            0
                               HLA limit.......          n/a        4,301            0        4,856            0
Yellowfin sole...............  BSAI............       0.0647       81,346        5,263       91,495        5,920
Rock sole....................  BSAI............       0.0341       35,275        1,203       37,400        1,275
Greenland Turbot.............  BS..............       0.0645        1,607          104        1,543          100
                               AI..............       0.0205          723           15          693           14
Arrowtooth flounder..........  BSAI............       0.0690       11,050          762       15,300        1,056
Alaska plaice................  BSAI............       0.0441        6,800          300       12,750          562
Other flatfish...............  BSAI............       0.0441        2,975          131        4,250          187
Pacific ocean perch..........  BS..............       0.1000        1,190          119        2,516          252
                               Eastern AI......       0.0077        2,849           22        3,012           23
                               Central AI......       0.0025        2,808            7        2,971            7
                               Western AI......       0.0000        4,703            0        4,969            0
Northern rockfish............  BSAI............       0.0084        4,163           35        4,625           39
Shortraker rockfish..........  BSAI............       0.0037          537            2          537            2
Rougheye rockfish............  BSAI............       0.0037          207            1          207            1
Other rockfish...............  BS..............       0.0048          426            2          750            4
                               AI..............       0.0095          502            5          502            5
Squid........................  BSAI............       0.3827        1,084          415        1,084          415
Other species................  BSAI............       0.0541       24,650        1,334       22,950        1,242
Flathead Sole................  BS trawl gear...       0.0505       16,575          837       18,700          944
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 adjustment of the 2006 and 2007 Pacific cod TACs to 
account for the state waters GHL in the Aleutian Islands subarea. On 
March 1, 2006, ADF&G announced the state waters GHL in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea. Since the 2006 fisheries are currently underway and 
the 2006 and 2007 TACs are jointly established, it is necessary to 
immediately adjust the TACs to avoid overharvesting gear shares and 
seasonal allowances of Pacific cod in the BSAI. Immediate adjustment is 
necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of 
this fishery, allow the industry to plan for the remainder of the 2006 
and 2007 fishing seasons, and avoid potential disruption to the fishing 
fleet and processors.
    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 Sec.  679.25 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 14, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2616 Filed 3-14-06; 2:34 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P