[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1706-1707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-461]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[ID. 010807D]


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery; Notice of Availability of Observer Coverage Plan and Notice of 
Sablefish At-Sea Processing Prohibition Exemption

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an updated Observer Coverage Plan for 
the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery and an exemption to the at-sea 
processing prohibition for sablefish.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces availability of the updated Observer Coverage 
Plan for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery pursuant to the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). NMFS also announces the 
receipt of applications for, and the issuance of, an exemption to the 
prohibition of at-sea processing for sablefish caught during the 
primary sablefish fishery, a prohibition implemented as part of 
Amendment 14 to the FMP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Observer 
Coverage Plan, contact Jonathan Cusick (Northwest Fisheries Science 
Center, NMFS), phone: 360-332-2793 and e-mail: 
[email protected]. For more information on vessel exemptions to 
the prohibition of at-sea processing for sablefish, contact Kevin Ford 
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-6115; fax: 206-526-6736 and e-
mail: [email protected].

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is also accessible via the internet 
at the website of the Office of the Federal Register: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. The updated Observer Coverage Plan is 
posted online at: http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fram/observer/index.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP at Section 6.4.1.1 states: ``The 
Regional Administrator will implement an

[[Page 1707]]

observer program through a Council-approved Federal regulatory 
framework. Details of how observer coverage will be distributed across 
the West Coast groundfish fleet will be described in an observer 
coverage plan that is appropriate to the purpose of the particular 
observer program goals. An observer coverage plan designed for a 
scientific data collection program will likely be different from an 
observer coverage plan designed for a sector- or vessel-specific total 
catch monitoring program. NMFS will publish an announcement of the 
authorization of the observer program and description of the observer 
coverage plan in the Federal Register.'' In July 2006, NMFS updated its 
Observer Coverage Plan to reflect changes in the goals and 
methodologies of the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP). 
The new plan may be obtained from the individuals listed under the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, or from the website listed under 
the Electronic Access section.
    Amendment 14 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP was first 
implemented via a final rule published in the Federal Register on March 
7, 2002 (67 FR 10490). On March 2, 2006, NMFS issued a final rule to 
implement further provisions of Amendment 14 (71 FR 10614). To ensure 
that shoreside processing plants would continue to have access to 
sablefish landed during the primary sablefish fishery, Amendment 14 had 
included a provision that prohibits vessels from processing their 
sablefish at sea. To acknowledge the previous investment that some 
vessels owners may have made in on-board freezing and processing 
equipment, Amendment 14 implementing regulations allowed a one-time 
opportunity for vessels to apply for an exemption from the prohibition 
on at-sea processing. During the summer of 2006, NMFS completed the 
application and review process for an exemption from the prohibition, 
as provided for in Federal regulations at 50 CFR 660.334 (e). One 
vessel, F/V OSSIAN, qualified for the exemption. The sablefish at-sea 
processing exemption is associated with the F/V OSSIAN itself, not with 
the vessel owner's limited entry permit, and may not be transferred to 
any other vessel, vessel owner, or permit owner for any reason.

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

    Dated: January 9, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-461 Filed 1-12-07; 8:45 am]
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