Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Offshore Component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 11052 [08-895]
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11052
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 41 / Friday, February 29, 2008 / Rules and Regulations
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 25, 2008.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08–894 Filed 2–26–08; 3:12 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–XF94
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by NonAmerican Fisheries Act Crab Vessels
Catching Pacific Cod for Processing
by the Offshore 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:
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 offshore
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
offshore component in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 27, 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 MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:40 Feb 28, 2008
Jkt 214001
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
offshore component in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 239
metric tons (mt) for the GOA, as
established by the 2008 and 2009
harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA (published on February 27,
2008).
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 offshore 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 229 mt in the offshore
component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA. The remaining 10 mt
in the offshore component in the
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA
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
offshore 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
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 offshore
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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 25, 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 § 680.22
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 26, 2008.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08–895 Filed 2–26–08; 3:12 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–XF90
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for
Processing by the Inshore Component
in the Central Regulatory Area of the
Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of
a closure.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by
the inshore component in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA) for 24 hours. This action is
necessary to fully use the A season
allowance of the 2008 total allowable
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned
to vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component of
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 29, 2008, through
1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 1, 2008.
Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30
p.m., A.l.t., March 12, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue
Salveson, Assistant Regional
E:\FR\FM\29FER1.SGM
29FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 41 (Friday, February 29, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-895]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01]
RIN 0648-XF94
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for
Processing by the Offshore 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 offshore 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 offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 27,
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 offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is
239 metric tons (mt) for the GOA, as established by the 2008 and 2009
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (published on February
27, 2008).
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 offshore
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 229 mt in the
offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. The
remaining 10 mt in the offshore component in the Western Regulatory
Area of the GOA 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 offshore 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
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 offshore 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 25, 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 26, 2008.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08-895 Filed 2-26-08; 3:12 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
