Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543, 3247 [06-533]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2006 / Rules and Regulations Sharks provide for inseason retention limit adjustments to respond to the unpredictable nature of BFT availability on the fishing grounds, the migratory nature of this species, and the regional variations in the BFT fishery. New information shows that landing rates are low and predicted weather conditions are unfavorable for the upcoming open fishing days. Based on a review of recent information regarding the availability of BFT on the fishing grounds, dealer reports, daily landing trends, available quota, and weather conditions, NMFS has determined that this retention limit adjustment is warranted to increase access to available quota. Delays in waiving the selected RFDs, and thereby not increasing the General category daily retention limit, would be contrary to the public interest. Such delays would adversely affect those General category vessels that would otherwise have an opportunity to harvest BFT on an RFD and would further exacerbate the problem of low catch rates. Limited opportunities to access the General category quota may have negative social and economic impacts to U.S. fishermen that depend on catching the available quota. For the General category, waiving of the selected RFDs needs to be done as expeditiously as possible for the General category participants to be able to use the waived RFDs to take advantage of the adjusted retention limits and plan accordingly. Therefore, the AA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and the opportunity for public comment. For all of the above reasons, and because this action relieves a restriction (i.e., waives a number of RFDs, thus increasing the opportunity to retain more fish), there is also good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness. This action is being taken under 50 CFR 635.23(a)(4) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq. Dated: January 13, 2006. John H. Dunnigan, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 06–534 Filed 1–17–06; 2:01 pm] cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:32 Jan 19, 2006 Jkt 208001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 041126332–5039–02; I.D. 011306A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of fishery assignments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2006 A 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 2006 A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 17, 2006, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2006. 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. Six vessels have registered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 543. In PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 3247 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) 2443 Alaska Juris, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 4093 Alaska Victory. 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 3423 Alaska Warrior, FFP 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit. Classification 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 unnecessary. This notice merely advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random assignment required by regulation. The notice needs to occur immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of its assignment to allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the A season HLA fisheries in area 542 and area 543. 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 §§ 679.20 and 679.22 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 13, 2006. John H. Dunnigan, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 06–533 Filed 1–17–06; 2:01 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\20JAR1.SGM 20JAR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-533]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 041126332-5039-02; I.D. 011306A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543

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

ACTION: Notification of fishery assignments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered 
vessels of their assignments for the 2006 A 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 2006 A 
season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 
2005 and 2006 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 17, 
2006, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2006.

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 Sec.  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. Six vessels have registered 
with NMFS to fish in the A 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 Sec.  
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 Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal Fishery 
Permit number (FFP) 2443 Alaska Juris, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 
4093 Alaska Victory.
    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 Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: FFP 3423 Alaska 
Warrior, FFP 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.

Classification

    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 unnecessary. This notice merely 
advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random 
assignment required by regulation. The notice needs to occur 
immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of its assignment to 
allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the A season HLA 
fisheries in area 542 and area 543.
    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. Sec.  679.20 and 679.22 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 13, 2006.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-533 Filed 1-17-06; 2:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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