Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 59406 [06-8570]

Download as PDF 59406 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 10, 2006 / Rules and Regulations A delay to provide a cooling off period also would be expected to cause the fishery to exceed its allocation. Therefore, good cause also exists to waive the 30–day delay in effectiveness requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3). The aggregate data upon which the determination is based are available for public inspection at the Office of the Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323 (b) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 3, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office Of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–16676 Filed 10–6–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Classification National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 060216045–6045–01; I.D. 100406B] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; prohibition of retention. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of Pacific ocean perch in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the 2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area has been reached. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 4, 2006, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:57 Oct 06, 2006 Jkt 211001 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 CFR part 679. The 2006 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI is 4,703 metric tons as established by the 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2006 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with § 679.21(b). 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 prohibition of retention of Pacific ocean perch 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 3, 2006. 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 is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 4, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 06–8570 Filed 10–4–06; 2:22 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 060216045–6045–01; I.D. 100306E] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using trawl and jig gear to catcher processor vessels using hookand-line gear and vessels using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are necessary to allow the 2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective October 6, 2006, until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 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 2006 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI is 189,768 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) and adjustments (71 FR 13777, March 17, 2006 and 71 FR 55347, September 22, 2006). Pursuant to § 679,29(a)(7)(i), the allocations of the Pacific cod TAC are 267 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, 71,218 mt to catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear, 2,938 mt to catcher processor vessels using pot gear, 13,354 mt to catcher vessels using pot gear, 41,251 mt to catcher processors using trawl gear, and 41,251 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear. The allocation to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear is 3,232 E:\FR\FM\10OCR1.SGM 10OCR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 10, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8570]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 100406B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; prohibition of retention.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of Pacific ocean perch in this 
area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded 
at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the 
2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area 
has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 4, 2006, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (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 CFR part 679.
    The 2006 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian 
District of the BSAI is 4,703 metric tons as established by the 2006 
and 2007 harvest specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (71 FR 
10870, March 3, 2006).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2006 TAC of Pacific ocean perch 
in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI has been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of Pacific ocean 
perch in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI be treated as 
prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b).

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 prohibition of retention of Pacific ocean perch 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 3, 2006.
    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 4, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8570 Filed 10-4-06; 2:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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