Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 57501 [07-4992]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 195 / Wednesday, October 10, 2007 / Rules and Regulations rmajette on PROD1PC64 with RULES summer flounder Federal permit holders until it is determined that the quota has been fully harvested. DATES: Effective 0001 hours, October 10, 2007, through December 31, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9244. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery are 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. NMFS, in compliance with regulations found at 50 CFR part 648, closed the Federal commercial summer flounder fishery for the State of Connecticut after determining through quota monitoring that Connecticut had harvested its allocated summer flounder quota. This closure published at 72 FR 48945, August 27, 2007, was effective August 27, 2007, and was intended to last through December 31, 2007. Later analyses comparing electronic dealer reports to commercial fishermen logbooks and Federal fishing vessel trip reports have revealed instances of summer flounder landings being attributed to Connecticut that were actually landed in other states. Due to this new information, Connecticut has reinstated a possession limit for the commercial harvest of summer flounder of 75 lb (34 kg). This notification announces NMFS’s decision to allow Federally permitted vessels to land summer flounder in Connecticut until the quota is determined to be fully harvested. Therefore, effective 0001 hours October 10, 2007, through December 31, 2007, further landings of summer flounder in Connecticut by vessels holding summer flounder commercial Federal fisheries permits are allowed until the remaining quota has been harvested. Effective 0001 hours, October 10, 2007, through December 31, 2007, federally permitted dealers are also notified that they may purchase summer flounder from federally permitted vessels that land in Connecticut for the remainder of the quota harvest. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:16 Oct 09, 2007 Jkt 214001 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 3, 2007. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Services. [FR Doc. E7–19928 Filed 10–9–07; 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–XD21 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2007 Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 4, 2007, through 2400 hrs, 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 2007 Atka mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI is 8,880 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007). DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 57501 In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2007 Atka mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 8,870 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 10 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 Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at § 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 Atka mackerel 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, 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: October 3, 2007. Emily H. Menashes Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–4992 Filed 10–4–07; 1:57 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\10OCR1.SGM 10OCR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4992]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213033-7033-01]
RIN 0648-XD21


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2007 Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the Western 
Aleutian District of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 4, 2007, 
through 2400 hrs, 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 2007 Atka mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District of the 
BSAI is 8,880 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2007 and 2008 
final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, 
March 2, 2007).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2007 
Atka mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI will 
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing 
a directed fishing allowance of 8,870 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 10 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 Atka 
mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the BSAI.
    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 Atka mackerel 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, 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: October 3, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-4992 Filed 10-4-07; 1:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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