Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, 29893-29894 [07-2674]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations § 660.520 Reporting requirements. (a) Otter interaction. (1) If a southern sea otter is entangled in a net, regardless of whether the animal is injured or killed, the vessel operator must report this interaction within 24 hours to the Regional Administrator. (2) While fishing for CPS, vessel operators must record all observations of otter interactions (defined as otters within encircled nets or coming into contact with nets or vessels, including but not limited to entanglement) with their purse seine net(s) or vessel(s). With the exception of an entanglement, which must be initially reported as described in paragraph (a)(1)of this section, all other observations must be reported within 20 days to the Regional Administrator. (3) When contacting NMFS after an interaction, vessel operators must provide the location (latitude and longitude) of the interaction and a description of the interaction itself. If available, location information should also include water depth, distance from shore, and relation to port or other landmarks. Descriptive information of the interaction should include: whether or not the otters were seen inside or outside the net; if inside the net, had the net been completely encircled; whether any otters came in contact with either the net or the vessel; the number of otters present; duration of interaction; the otter’s behavior during interaction; measures taken to avoid interaction. (b) [Reserved] [FR Doc. E7–10379 Filed 5–29–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 070213033–7033–01] RIN 0648–XA45 Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure. cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with RULES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot or hook-andline gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:13 May 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 27, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., June 8, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Comments may be submitted by: • Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802; • Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska; • FAX to 907–586–7557; • E-mail inseason-akr@noaa.gov and include in the subject line and body of the e-mail the document identifier: bspclt60re2 (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or • Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 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. NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hookand-line gear in the BSAI under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15848, April 3, 2007). The fishery was reopened on April 30, 2007 (72 FR 18920, April 16, 2007) and was closed again on May 15, 2007 (72 FR 27980, May 18, 2007). NMFS has determined that as of May 22, 2007, approximately 30 metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 2007 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C) and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 29893 to fully use the 2007 TAC of Pacific cod specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hookand-line gear in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the BSAI. The opening is effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 27, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007. 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 opening of the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hookand-line gear in the BSAI. 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 and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of May 22, 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. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hookand-line gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until June 8, 2007. This action is required by § 679.25 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1 29894 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 30, 2007 / Rules and Regulations Dated: May 23, 2007. James P. Burgess Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–2674 Filed 5–24–07; 2:32 pm] cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:13 May 29, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\30MYR1.SGM 30MYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 30, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29893-29894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2674]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213033-7033-01]
RIN 0648-XA45


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 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 fully use the 2007 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod specified for catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear 
in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 27, 2007, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007. Comments must be received 
at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., June 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Comments may be submitted by:
     Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
     FAX to 907-586-7557;
     E-mail inseason-akr@noaa.gov and include in the subject 
line and body of the e-mail the document identifier: bspclt60re2 (E-
mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes); or
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 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.
    NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the 
BSAI under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15848, 
April 3, 2007). The fishery was reopened on April 30, 2007 (72 FR 
18920, April 16, 2007) and was closed again on May 15, 2007 (72 FR 
27980, May 18, 2007).
    NMFS has determined that as of May 22, 2007, approximately 30 
metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 2007 Pacific cod TAC allocated 
to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-
and-line gear in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.25(a)(2)(i)(C) and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2007 TAC of 
Pacific cod specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) 
LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating 
the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-
line gear in the BSAI. The opening is effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 
27, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007.

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 opening of the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels 
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear in the 
BSAI. 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 and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of May 22, 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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 
pot or hook-and-line gear in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient 
manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.  
679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
on this action to the above address until June 8, 2007.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.25 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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


[[Page 29894]]


    Dated: May 23, 2007.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-2674 Filed 5-24-07; 2:32 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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