Fishery conservation and management: Pacific coast groundfish,

[Federal Register: October 22, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 204)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 64826]

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

[DOCID:fr22oc02-17]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 020402077-01; I.D. 101502B]

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Whiting Closure for the Catcher/Processor Sector

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces closure of the 2002 catcher/processor fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) at 0000 local time (l.t.) October 16, 2002, because the allocation for the catcher/processor sector will be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the 2002 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 0000 l.t. October 16, 2002, until the start of the 2003 primary season for the catcher/processor sector, unless modified, superseded or rescinded in which case it will be announced in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted through November 6, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to D. Robert Lohn, Administrator,

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115- 0070; or Rod McInnis, Acting Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Renko at 206-526-6110

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by regulations implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California. On April 15, 2002 (67 FR 18117), the levels of allowable biological catch (ABC), the optimum yield (OY) and the commercial OY (the OY minus the tribal allocation) for U.S. harvests of whiting were announced in the Federal Register. For 2002, the whiting ABC is 166,000 metric tons (mt), the OY is 129,600 mt, and the commercial OY is 106,920 mt.

Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial OY into separate allocations for the non-tribal catcher/processor, mothership, and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. The catcher/processor sector is composed of vessels that harvest and process whiting. The mothership sector is composed of motherships, and catcher vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to motherships. Motherships are vessels that process, but do not harvest. The shoreside sector is composed of vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to shoreside processors. Each of these sectors receives a portion of the commercial OY. In 2001, the catcher/processors received 34 percent, motherships received 24 percent, and the shore-based sector received 42 percent. When applied to the commercial OY for 2002, this resulted in the following allocations: 36,353 mt for the catcher/processors, 25,661 mt for the motherships, and 44,906 mt for the shore-based sector.

Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season for catcher/processors as the period(s) when at-sea processing is allowed and the fishery is open for the catcher/processor sector. When each sector's allocation is reached, the primary season for that sector is ended.

NMFS Action

This action announces achievement of the allocation for the catcher/processor sector only. The best available information on October 15, 2002, indicated that the 36,353 mt catcher/processor allocation would be reached by 0000 l.t. October 16, 2002, at which time the primary season for the catcher/processor sector ends.

For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(A), NMFS herein announces: Effective 0000 l.t. October 16, 2002, further taking and retaining, receiving or at- sea processing of whiting by a catcher/processor is prohibited. No additional unprocessed whiting may be brought on board after at-sea processing is prohibited, but a catcher/processor may continue to process whiting that was on board before at-sea processing was prohibited.

Classification

This action is authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP. The determination to take this action is based on the most recent data available. NMFS finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and comment on this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because providing prior notice and opportunity for comment would be impracticable. It would be impracticable because if this closure were delayed in order to provide notice and comment, the fishery could be expected to exceed the sector allocation. The aggregate data upon which the determination is based are available for public inspection at the Office of the Regional Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business hours. NMFS also find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3) to waive the 30 day delay in the effective date of this rule. Such a delay would allow the catcher/processor sector of the whiting fishery to continue harvesting whiting and thus exceed its 2002 allocation of whiting. This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(A) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: October 16, 2002. John H. Dunnigan, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 02-26693Filed10-16-02; 4:00 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S