Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska, 48946-48947 [E7-16914]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 165 / Monday, August 27, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
calendar year 2007, unless additional
quota becomes available through a
transfer from another state. Regulations
governing the summer flounder fishery
require publication of this notification
to advise Connecticut that the quota has
been harvested and to advise vessel
permit holders and dealer permit
holders that no commercial quota is
available for landing summer flounder
in Connecticut.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, August 25,
2007 through 2400 hours, December 31,
2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Bryant, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the summer
flounder fishery are found at 50 CFR
part 648. The regulations require annual
specification of a commercial quota that
is apportioned on a percentage basis
among the coastal states from North
Carolina through Maine. The process to
set the annual commercial quota and the
percent allocated to each state is
described in § 648.100.
The initial total commercial quota for
summer flounder for the 2007 calendar
year was set equal to 7,789,800 lb (3,533
mt) (71 FR 75134, December 14, 2006).
This quota was increased through an
emergency action to 10,267,098 lb
(4,658 mt) (72 FR 2458, January 19,
2007). The percent allocated to vessels
landing summer flounder in
Connecticut is 2.25708 percent,
resulting in a commercial quota of
231,739 lb (106 mt). The 2007 allocation
was reduced to 226,464 lb (103 mt)
when research set-aside was deducted
and then reduced to 209,994 (96 mt)
after the 2006 overages had been
applied.
Section 648.101(b) requires the
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator) to monitor
state commercial quotas and to
determine when a state’s commercial
quota has been harvested. NMFS then
publishes a notification in the Federal
Register to advise the state and to notify
Federal vessel and dealer permit holders
that, effective upon a specific date, the
state’s commercial quota has been
harvested and no commercial quota is
available for landing summer flounder
in that state. The Regional
Administrator has determined, based
upon dealer reports and other available
information, that Connecticut has
harvested its quota for 2007.
The regulations at § 648.4(b) provide
that Federal permit holders agree, as a
condition of the permit, not to land
summer flounder in any state that the
Regional Administrator has determined
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:39 Aug 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
no longer has commercial quota
available. Therefore, effective 0001
hours, August 25, 2007, further landings
of summer flounder in Connecticut by
vessels holding summer flounder
commercial Federal fisheries permits
are prohibited for the remainder of the
2007 calendar year, unless additional
quota becomes available through a
transfer and is announced in the
Federal Register. Effective 0001 hours,
August 25, 2007, federally permitted
dealers are also notified that they may
not purchase summer flounder from
federally permitted vessels that land in
Connecticut for the remainder of the
calendar year, or until additional quota
becomes available through a transfer
from another state.
AGENCY:
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 C season allowance of the 2007
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630
of the GOA is 4,889 metric tons (mt) as
established by the 2007 and 2008
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (72 FR 9676, March 5, 2007).
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), hereby
decreases the C season pollock
allowance by 1,338 mt, the amount of
the B season allowance of the pollock
TAC that was exceeded in Statistical
Area 630. Therefore, the revised C
season allowance of the pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 630 is 3,551 mt (4,889
mt minus 1,338 mt).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the C season allowance
of the 2007 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 3,251 mt, and is
setting aside the remaining 300 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the C season allowance of the 2007 total
allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), August 28, 2007, through
1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Hogan, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
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 pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 21, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07–4189 Filed 8–22–07; 3:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 070213032–7032–01]
RIN 0648–XC22
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 165 / Monday, August 27, 2007 / Rules and Regulations
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with RULES
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of August 20,
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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:39 Aug 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
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.
Dated: August 21, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–16914 Filed 8–24–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 165 (Monday, August 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48946-48947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16914]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01]
RIN 0648-XC22
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2007 total
allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 28, 2007,
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 2007.
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 Groundfish 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 50 CFR part 679.
The C season allowance of the 2007 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA is 4,889 metric tons (mt) as established by the
2007 and 2008 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (72 FR
9676, March 5, 2007). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), hereby
decreases the C season pollock allowance by 1,338 mt, the amount of the
B season allowance of the pollock TAC that was exceeded in Statistical
Area 630. Therefore, the revised C season allowance of the pollock TAC
in Statistical Area 630 is 3,551 mt (4,889 mt minus 1,338 mt).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator has determined that the C season allowance of the 2007
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 3,251 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 300
mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable
amounts at 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
[[Page 48947]]
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
August 20, 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: August 21, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-16914 Filed 8-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S