Fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Atka Mackerel in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Closures and Openings

Federal Register: January 25, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 15)

Rules and Regulations

Page 3873-3874

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr25ja10-9

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679

Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02

RIN 0648-XT97

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 in the

Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2010 A season total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. NMFS is also announcing the opening and closing 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 conduct directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA in areas 542 and 543.

DATES: The effective dates are provided in Table 1 under the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this temporary action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

The 2010 A season TAC of Atka mackerel for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was established as 604 metric tons (mt) by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications for groundfish in the

BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009).

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii)(B), the

Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that 604 mt of the 2010 A season Atka mackerel TAC for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery 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 zero 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 in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea for vessels participating in the A season BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

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 prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian Island

District and the Bering Sea subarea. 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 area 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 Time\1\ and Date

Action

Area

-----------------------------------

From

To

Closing Atka

Eastern Aleutian

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, mackerel for

District (541)

January 20, 2010

September 1, vessels

and the Bering

2010 participating in

Sea subarea the BSAI trawl limited access fishery

Opening the first

542

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, and second

543

January 22, 2010 February 5, 2010 directed fishery

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, in the HLA for

February 7, 2010

February 21, the Amendment 80

2010 cooperative

Opening the first

542 and 543

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, and second

542 and 543

January 22, 2010 February 5, 2010 directed fishery

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, in the HLA for

February 7, 2010

February 21, vessels

2010 participating in the Amendment 80 limited access sector

Opening the first

542

1200 hrs,

1200 hrs, directed fishery

January 22, 2010 February 5, 2010 in the HLA for the vessel participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector

\1\Alaska local time.

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) and Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), 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 543. NMFS has randomly assigned each vessel to the directed fishery or fisheries for which

Page 3874

they have registered. NMFS has notified each vessel owner as to which fishery each vessel has been assigned by NMFS, per a notice filed with the Federal Register on January 19, 2010.

In accordance with the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009), and Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the HLA limits of the A season allowance of the 2010 TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 4,317 mt and 3,250 mt, respectively, for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery.

The HLA limits of the A season allowance of the 2010 TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 2,854 mt and 2,022 mt, respectively, for Amendment 80 cooperatives. The HLA limit of the A season allowance of the 2010 TAC in area 542 is 458 mt for the BSAI trawl limited access vessel. 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.

After the effective dates of these closures, 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 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 for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery and the opening and closing of the fisheries for the HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2010 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 January 19, 2010. 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: January 20, 2010.

James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 2010-1324 Filed 1-20-10; 4:15 pm

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