[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33196-33197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 100421192-0193-01]
RIN 0648-XW80


Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery; Suspension of the Primary Pacific Whiting Season for the 
Shore-based Sector South of 42[deg] North Latitude

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

ACTION: Fishing restrictions.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the suspension of the Pacific whiting (whiting) 
fishery primary season for the shore-based sector south of 42[deg] N. 
lat. at 8 p.m. local time (l.t.) May 16, 2010. ``Per trip'' limits for 
whiting were reinstated until 0001 hours June 15, 2010, at which time 
the primary season for the shore-based sector opens coastwide. This 
action is authorized by regulations implementing the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which governs the groundfish 
fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California. This action is intended 
to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2010 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 8 p.m. l.t. May 16, 2010, until 0001 hours June 
15, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Becky Renko at 206-526-6110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a) 
established separate allocations for the catcher/processor, mothership, 
and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. The 2010 commercial 
Optimum Yield (OY) for Pacific whiting is 140,996 mt. This is 
calculated by deducting the 49,939 mt tribal allocation and 3,000 mt 
for research catch and bycatch in non-groundfish fisheries from the 
193,935 mt U.S. total catch OY. Each sector receives a portion of the 
commercial OY, with the catcher/processors getting 34 percent (47,939 
mt), motherships getting 24 percent (33,839 mt), and the shore-based 
sector getting 42 percent (59,218 mt). The regulations further divide 
the shore-based allocation so that no more than 5 percent (2,961 mt) of 
the shore-based allocation may be taken in waters off the State of 
California before the primary season begins north of 42[deg] N. lat. 
The 5-percent allocation is intended to minimize incidental catch of 
Chinook salmon.
    The primary season for the shore-based sector is the period or 
periods when the large-scale target fishery is conducted, and when (per 
trip) limits are not in effect for vessels targeting Pacific whiting 
with mid-water gear. Because whiting migrate from south to north during 
the fishing year, the shore-based primary whiting season begins earlier 
south of 42[deg] N. lat. than north. For 2010: the primary season for 
the shore-based sector between 42[deg]-40[deg]30' N. lat. began on 
April 1; south of 40[deg]30' N. lat., the primary season began on April 
15; and the fishery north of 42[deg] N. lat. is scheduled to begin June 
15. Although the fishery opened in April, the vessels choose to delay 
fishing until May 1, 2010.
    Because the 2,961 mt allocation for the early season fishery off 
California was estimated to be reached, NMFS is announcing the 
suspension of the primary whiting season south of 42[deg] N. lat. 
Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323 (b)(4) allow this action to be taken. The 
20,000-lb (9,072 kg) trip limit that was in place before the start of 
the primary season south of 42[deg] N. lat. was reinstated and remains 
in effect until the primary season fishery opens coastwide on June 15. 
A trip limit of 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) of whiting is in effect year-round 
(unless landings of whiting are prohibited) for vessels that fish in 
the Eureka area shoreward of the 100-fm (183-m) contour at any time 
during a fishing trip. This smaller limit is intended to minimize 
incidental catch of Chinook salmon, which are more likely to be caught 
shallower than 100 fm (183 m) in the Eureka area.

[[Page 33197]]

    To prevent an allocation from being exceeded, regulations at 50 CFR 
660.323 (e) allow closure of the commercial whiting fisheries by actual 
notice to the fishery participants. Actual notice includes e-mail, 
internet, phone, fax, letter or press release. NMFS provided actual 
notice by e-mail, internet, and fax on May 14 and 15, 2010.

NMFS Action

    This action announces achievement of the shore-based sector 
allocation specified at 50 CFR 660.323(a) for the fishery south of 
42[deg] N. lat. The best available information on May 14, 2010, 
indicated that 1,289 mt of whiting was taken through May 12, 2010 and 
that the 2,961 mt shore-based allocation for the early season fishery 
south of 42[deg] N. lat. would be reached by 8 p.m. l.t., May 16, 2010. 
For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the regulations at 
50 CFR 660.323(b)(4), NMFS herein announces: Effective 8 p.m. l.t. May 
16, 2010, until 0001 l.t., June 15, 2010, the primary whiting season 
south of 42[deg] N. lat is suspended. No more than 20,000-lb (9,072 kg) 
of whiting may be taken and retained, possessed or landed by a catcher 
vessel participating in the shore-based sector of the whiting fishery. 
If a vessel fishes shoreward of the 100 fm (183 m) contour in the 
Eureka area (43[deg] - 40[deg] 30' N. lat.) at any time during a 
fishing trip, the 10,000-lb (4,536 kg) trip limit applies.

Classification

    This action is authorized by the regulations implementing the 
groundfish FMP. The determination to take these actions is based on the 
most recent data available. The aggregate data upon which the 
determinations are based are available for public inspection at the 
office of the Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business 
hours. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NMFS, finds good 
cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity 
for comment on this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 (3)(b)(B), because 
providing prior notice and opportunity would be impracticable. It would 
be impracticable because if this restriction were delayedin order to 
provide notice and comment, it would allow the allocation for the 
shore-based fishery south of 42[deg] N. lat. to be exceeded. Similarly, 
the AA finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 
requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3), as such a delay would cause the 
fishery south of 42[deg] N. lat. to exceed its allocation. Allowing the 
early season fishery to continue would result in a disproportionate 
shift in effort, which could result in greater impacts on Endangered 
Species Act listed Chinook salmon and overfished groundfish species 
that had been considered when the 2010 Pacific Coast groundfish harvest 
specifications were established.
    This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(4), 
and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: May 7, 2010.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-14075 Filed 6-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S