Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 10428 [07-1084]

Download as PDF 10428 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 45 / Thursday, March 8, 2007 / Rules and Regulations have on the public is mitigated by these factors. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 1, 2007. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–1067 Filed 3–2–07; 2:56 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 070213033–7033–01; I.D. 030207A] 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: pwalker on PROD1PC71 with RULES SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot or hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective March 5, 2007, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:23 Mar 07, 2007 Jkt 211001 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 A season apportionment of the 2007 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,263 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007), for the period 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 30, 2007. See § 679.20(c)(3)(iii), § 679.20(c)(5), § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), and § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A)(3). The Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,200 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2007 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A) and § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A)(3). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(C)(1), NMFS apportions 1,200 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) are revised as follows: 63 mt to the A season apportionment for vessels using jig gear and 2,321 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hookand-line gear. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified for jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 2, 2007. 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: March 2, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–1084 Filed 3–5–07; 1:46 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\08MRR1.SGM 08MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 45 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1084]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213033-7033-01; I.D. 030207A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot or hook-and-line gear 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2007 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective March 5, 2007, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2007.

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 A season apportionment of the 2007 Pacific cod TAC specified 
for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,263 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007), for the period 1200 
hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 30, 2007. 
See Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii), Sec.  679.20(c)(5), Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), and Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A)(3).
    The Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that 
jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,200 mt of the A season 
apportionment of the 2007 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels 
under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(A) and Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A)(3). 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(C)(1), NMFS 
apportions 1,200 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear 
apportionment to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 
pot or hook-and-line gear.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) 
are revised as follows: 63 mt to the A season apportionment for vessels 
using jig gear and 2,321 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 
m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear.

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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified for jig vessels 
to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-
and-line gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to 
immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. 
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct 
and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan 
for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the 
fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of March 2, 2007.
    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: March 2, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-1084 Filed 3-5-07; 1:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.