Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Offshore Component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 8881-8882 [E9-4270]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 38 / Friday, February 27, 2009 / Rules and Regulations Dated: February 24, 2009. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–4261 Filed 2–24–09; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 0810141351–9087–02] RIN 0648–XN52 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel by Vessels in the Amendment 80 Limited Access Fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access A season fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2009 Atka mackerel allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 20, 2009, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269. 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. The 2009 Atka mackerel A season TAC allocated to vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the BSAI is VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:27 Feb 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 6,164 metric tons as established by the 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2009 Atka mackerel A season TAC allocated to vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,154 mt and is setting aside the remaining 10 mt as incidental catch to support other 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 for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea 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 by vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea 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 February 19, 2009. 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 § 679.91 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 8881 Dated: February 23, 2009. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–4268 Filed 2–24–09; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 0910091344–9056–02] RIN 0648–XN49 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Offshore Component in the Central 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 Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 19, 2009, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season allocation of the 2009 TAC of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,418 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest E:\FR\FM\27FER1.SGM 27FER1 8882 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 38 / Friday, February 27, 2009 / Rules and Regulations specifications for groundfish of the GOA (74 FR 7333, February 17, 2009). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the A season allocation of the 2009 TAC of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,350 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 68 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 Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Central 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. dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES 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 Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Central 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 18, 2009. 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. VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:27 Feb 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 Dated: February 23, 2009. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–4270 Filed 2–24–09; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 071106673–8011–02] RIN 0648–XM68 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543; Correction AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Correction of fishery assignments. SUMMARY: On January 14, 2009, NMFS published a rule (74 FR 1946) that notified owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2009 A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Subsequent to the issuance of that notice, NMFS learned that several applicants for federal fisheries permits inadvertently selected the endorsement for the directed Atka mackerel fisheries inside the HLA in the Aleutian Islands subarea. This resulted in NMFS assigning those vessels to the HLA directed fishery for Atka mackerel. NMFS is hereby correcting the previous notice to the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2009 A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the correct vessels to participate the harvest of the 2009 A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 24, 2009, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Background 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. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), owners and operators of vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA are required to register with NMFS. Eight vessels have registered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 543. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has randomly assigned each vessel to the HLA directed fishery for Atka mackerel for which they have registered and is now notifying each vessel of its assignment in accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii). Correction The final rule, identified as FR Doc. E9–606 that published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2009 (74 FR 1946) is corrected by removing six of the fourteen vessels that registered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 543 as follows. 1. On page 1946, in column 3, in the second paragraph on line 6, the number ‘‘Fourteen’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Eight’’. 2. On page 1947, in column 1, in the second paragraph on lines 6 through 9, the vessels ‘‘Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 2134 Ocean Peace, FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska, FFP 3694 Arica, and FFP 3835 Seafisher’’ are corrected to read ‘‘Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 2134 Ocean Peace and FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska’’. 3. On page 1947, in column 2, in the third paragraph on lines 4 through 6, the vessels ‘‘FFP 480 Muir Milach and FFP 11770 Alaska Knight’’ are corrected to read ‘‘FFP 11770 Alaska Knight’’. 4. On page 1947, in column 2, paragraph 4 is removed. Fishery Assignments For the Amendment 80 cooperative, the vessels authorized to participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and the second HLA directed fishery in area 543 are as follows: Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 2134 Ocean Peace and FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska. E:\FR\FM\27FER1.SGM 27FER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 38 (Friday, February 27, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8881-8882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4270]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0910091344-9056-02]
RIN 0648-XN49


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Offshore 
Component in the Central 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 Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action 
is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) 
of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the offshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 19, 
2009, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season allocation of the 2009 TAC of Pacific cod apportioned 
to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore 
component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,418 metric 
tons (mt) as established by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest

[[Page 8882]]

specifications for groundfish of the GOA (74 FR 7333, February 17, 
2009).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator has determined that the A season allocation of the 2009 
TAC of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the offshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,350 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 68 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 
Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
offshore component in the Central 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 closure of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component of the Central 
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 18, 2009.
    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: February 23, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4270 Filed 2-24-09; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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