Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Atka mackerel,
[Federal Register: September 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 172)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53101-53102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se05-17]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 041126332-5039-02; I.D. 082305C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closures and openings.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel with gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2005 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas. NMFS is also announcing the opening and closure dates of the first and second directed fisheries within the harvest limit area (HLA) in Statistical Areas 542 and 543. These actions are necessary to prevent exceeding the HLA limits established for the Central (area 542) and Western (area 543) Aleutian Districts pursuant to the 2005 Atka mackerel TAC.
DATES: The effective dates are provided in Table 1 under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this temporary action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
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
[[Page 53102]]
U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2005 TAC of Atka mackerel specified for other gear in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was established as 6,868 metric tons (mt) by the 2005 and 2006 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (70 FR 8979, February 24, 2005). See Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii) and (c)(3)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that 350 mt of the 2005 Atka mackerel TAC for other gear in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,518 mt. 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 TAC by vessels using other gear in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(C), the Regional Administrator is opening the first directed fisheries for Atka mackerel within the HLA in areas 542 and 543, 48 hours after the closure of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel directed fishery. The Regional Administrator has established the opening date for the second HLA directed fisheries as 48 hours after the last closure of the first HLA fisheries in either 542 or 543. Consequently, NMFS is opening and closing directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA of areas 542 and 543 in accordance with the periods listed under Table 1 of this notice.
Table 1. Effective dates and times
Effective Dates\*\ Action
Area ----------------------------------- From
To
Closing Atka Eastern Aleutian 1200 hrs,
2400 hrs, Mackerel with District and the September 2, December 31, gears other than Bering Sea
2005
2005 jig
subarea
Opening the first 542
1200 hrs,
1200 hrs, directed fishery
September 4, September 12, in the HLA
2005
2005
543
1200 hrs,
1200 hrs, September 4, September 11, 2005
2005
Opening the
542
1200 hrs,
1200 hrs, second directed
September 14, September 22, fishery in the
2005
2005 HLA
543
1200 hrs,
1200 hrs, September 14, September 21, 2005
2005
\*\Alaska local time
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii), vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel have previously registered with NMFS to fish in the HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or 543. NMFS has randomly assigned each vessel to the directed fishery or fisheries for which they have registered. NMFS has notified each vessel owner as to which fishery each vessel has been assigned by NMFS. (70 FR 49197, August 23, 2005).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the HLA limits of the 2005 TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 9,851 mt and 5,550 mt, respectively. Based on those limits and the proportion of the number of vessels in each fishery compared to the total number of vessels participating in the HLA directed fishery for area 542 or 543, the harvest limit for each HLA directed fishery in areas 542 and 543 are as follows: for the first directed fishery in area 542, 4,926 mt; for the first directed fishery in area 543, 2,775 mt; for the second directed fishery in area 542, 4,925 mt; and for the second directed fishery in area 543, 2,775 mt. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(E), the Regional Administrator has established the closure dates of the Atka mackerel directed fisheries in the HLA for areas 542 and 543 based on the amount of the harvest limit and the estimated fishing capacity of the vessels assigned to the respective fisheries. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA of areas 542 and 543 in accordance with the dates and times listed in Table 1 of this notice.
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) and 50 CFR 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a 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 the Atka mackerel fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea and the opening and closures of the fisheries for the HLA limits established for the area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2005 Atka mackerel TAC. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 15, 2005. 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 31, 2005. Emily Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17712 Filed 9-1-05; 2:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
