[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55159-55160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02]
RIN 0648-XS58


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel by Vessels in the Amendment 80 Limited Access Fishery in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel by 
vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2009 Atka mackerel allocation total allowable catch (TAC) allocated 
to vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in 
the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 22, 
2009, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 2009 Atka mackerel TAC allocated to vessels participating in 
the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Western Aleutian 
District of the BSAI is 9,275 metric tons (mt) as established by the 
final 2009 and 2010

[[Page 55160]]

harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 
17, 2009).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator has determined that the 2009 Atka mackerel TAC allocated 
to vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in 
the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 9,250 mt and is setting aside the remaining 25 mt 
as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel by 
vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the 
Western 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 Atka mackerel by vessels participating in 
the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Western Aleutian 
District of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing 
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only 
became available as of October 21, 2009.
    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: October 22, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25782 Filed 10-22-09; 4:15 pm]
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