Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Inshore Component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 7224-7225 [08-553]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 26 / Thursday, February 7, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with RULES
further divided into two equal quotas of
520,312 lb (236,010 kg) for vessels in
each of two groups fishing with runaround gillnets and hook-and-line gear
(50 CFR 622.42(c)(1)(i)(A)(2)(i)).
The southern subzone is that part of
the Florida west coast subzone which
from November 1 through March 31
extends south and west from 26°19.8′ N.
lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/
Collier County, FL, boundary), to
25°20.4′ N. lat. (a line directly east from
the Monroe/Miami-Dade County, FL,
boundary), i.e., the area off Collier and
Monroe Counties. From April 1 through
October 31, the southern subzone is that
part of the Florida west coast subzone
which is between 26°19.8′ N. lat. (a line
directly west from the Lee/Collier
County, FL, boundary) and 25°48′ N. lat.
(a line directly west from the Collier/
Monroe County, FL, boundary), i.e., the
area off Collier County.
Under 50 CFR 622.43(a)(3), NMFS is
required to close any segment of the
king mackerel commercial fishery when
its quota has been reached, or is
projected to be reached, by filing a
notification at the Office of the Federal
Register. NMFS has determined that the
commercial quota of 520,312 lb (236,010
kg) for Gulf group king mackerel for
vessels using run-around gillnet gear in
the southern Florida west coast subzone
was reached on February 4, 2008.
Accordingly, the commercial fishery for
king mackerel for such vessels in the
southern Florida west coast subzone is
closed at 6 a.m., local time, February 5,
2008, through 6 a.m., January 20, 2009,
the beginning of the next fishing season,
i.e., the day after the 2009 Martin Luther
King Jr. Federal holiday.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fisheries. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
finds that the need to immediately
implement this action to close the
fishery constitutes good cause to waive
the requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures
would be unnecessary and contrary to
the public interest. Such procedures
would be unnecessary because the rule
itself already has been subject to notice
and comment, and all that remains is to
notify the public of the closure.
NMFS also finds good cause that the
implementation of this action cannot be
delayed for 30 days. There is a need to
implement this measure in a timely
fashion to prevent an overrun of the
commercial run-around gillnet fishery
for king mackerel in the southern
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:02 Feb 06, 2008
Jkt 214001
Florida west coast subzone, given the
capacity of the fishing fleet to harvest
the quota quickly. Any delay in
implementing this action would be
contrary to the Magnuson-Stevens Act
and the FMP. Accordingly, under 5
U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective
date is waived.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.43(a) and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 4, 2008.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08–554 Filed 2–4–08; 2:33 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–XF49
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by NonAmerican Fisheries Act Crab Vessels
Catching Pacific Cod for Processing
by the Inshore Component in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for the A season allowance of the
2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits
apportioned to non-American Fisheries
Act (AFA) crab vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the A season allowance of the 2008
Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned
to non-AFA crab vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 4, 2008, until
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2008.
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
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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.
Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The A season allowance of 2008
Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned
to non-AFA crab vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 1,017 metric tons
(mt) for the GOA, as established by the
2007 and 2008 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (72 FR 9676,
March 5, 2007) and revision (72 FR
71802, December 19, 2007).
In accordance with § 680.22(e)(2)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits
apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by
the inshore component in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon
be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a
sideboard directed fishing allowance for
Pacific cod as 1,007 mt in the Gulf of
Alaska. The remaining 10 mt in the Gulf
of Alaska will be set aside as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with
§ 680.22(e)(3), the Regional
Administrator finds that this sideboard
directed fishing allowance has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by non-AFA crab vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area 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.
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
E:\FR\FM\07FER1.SGM
07FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 26 / Thursday, February 7, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with RULES
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the sideboard directed fishing
closure of Pacific cod apportioned to
non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:02 Feb 06, 2008
Jkt 214001
recent, relevant data only became
available as of February 1, 2008.
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.
PO 00000
This action is required by § 680.22
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 4, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08–553 Filed 2–4–08; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
Frm 00039
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
7225
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07FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7224-7225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-553]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01]
RIN 0648-XF49
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for
Processing by the Inshore Component in the Western Regulatory Area 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 the A season
allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned to non-
American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits
apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4,
2008, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2008.
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. Regulations governing sideboard
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR
part 680.
The A season allowance of 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits
apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is
1,017 metric tons (mt) for the GOA, as established by the 2007 and 2008
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (72 FR 9676, March 5,
2007) and revision (72 FR 71802, December 19, 2007).
In accordance with Sec. 680.22(e)(2)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season
allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned to non-
AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
sideboard directed fishing allowance for Pacific cod as 1,007 mt in the
Gulf of Alaska. The remaining 10 mt in the Gulf of Alaska will be set
aside as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 680.22(e)(3), the Regional Administrator finds
that this sideboard directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory Area 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
[[Page 7225]]
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and
would delay the sideboard directed fishing closure of Pacific cod
apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
February 1, 2008.
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. 680.22 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 4, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08-553 Filed 2-4-08; 2:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
