Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 49197 [05-16706]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 162 / Tuesday, August 23, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
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Dated: July 26, 2005.
Craig Manson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and
Parks.
[FR Doc. 05–16720 Filed 8–22–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Classification
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126332–5039–02; I.D.
081705G]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole by
Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed
fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the 2005 halibut
bycatch allowance specified for the
trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in
the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), August 18, 2005, through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 2005 halibut bycatch allowance
specified for the trawl yellowfin sole
fishery category in the BSAI is 886
metric tons as established by the 2005
and 2006 final harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (70 FR 8979,
February 24, 2005).
In accordance with § 679.21(e)(7)(v),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that the 2005
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:13 Aug 22, 2005
Jkt 205001
halibut bycatch allowance specified for
the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category
in the BSAI has been caught.
Consequently, NMFS is closing directed
fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels
using trawl gear in the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
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 directed fishing for
yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl
gear in 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 August 17, 2005.
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 § 679.21
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 17, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–16706 Filed 8–18–05; 2:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126332–5039–02; I.D.
081605D]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery
in Areas 542 and 543
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
49197
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; notification of
fishery assignments.
SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners
and operators of registered vessels of
their assignments for the B season Atka
mackerel fishery in harvest limit area
(HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian
Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow
the harvest of the B season Atka
mackerel HLA limits established for
area 542 and area 543.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), August 18, 2005, until 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
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.
In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), owners and
operators of vessels using trawl gear for
directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the
HLA are required to register with
NMFS. Ten vessels have registered with
NMFS to fish in the B season HLA
fisheries in areas 542 and/or 543. In
order to reduce the amount of daily
catch in the HLA by about half and to
disperse the fishery over time and in
accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has randomly assigned each
vessel to the HLA directed fishery for
Atka mackerel for which they have
registered and is now notifying each
vessel of its assignment.
Vessels authorized to participate in
the first HLA directed fishery in area
542 and/or in the second HLA directed
fishery in area 543 in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal
Fishery Permit number (FFP) 3835
Seafisher, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, FFP
1879 American No. 1, FFP 4093 Alaska
Victory, and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.
Vessels authorized to participate in
the first HLA directed fishery in area
543 and/or the second HLA directed
fishery in area 542 in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: FFP
2134 Ocean Peace, FFP 2443 Alaska
E:\FR\FM\23AUR1.SGM
23AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16706]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126332-5039-02; I.D. 081705G]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin
Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2005 halibut
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery
category in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 18, 2005,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 2005 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl
yellowfin sole fishery category in the BSAI is 886 metric tons as
established by the 2005 and 2006 final harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (70 FR 8979, February 24, 2005).
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(v), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2005 halibut bycatch allowance
specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in the BSAI has
been caught. Consequently, NMFS is closing directed fishing for
yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable
amounts at Sec. 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 directed fishing for yellowfin sole by
vessels using trawl gear in 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 August 17, 2005.
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. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 17, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16706 Filed 8-18-05; 2:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S