Fishery conservation and management: West Coast States and Western Pacific fisheries— Pacific Coast groundfish,

[Federal Register: July 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 142)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 40293]

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

[DOCID:fr26jy99-11]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 981231333-9127-03; I.D. 071999C]

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 1999 catcher/processor fishery for whiting at 12 noon local time (l.t.) July 21, 1999, 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 1999 allocation levels.

DATES: Effective from 12 noon l.t. July 21, 1999, until the start of the 2000 primary season for the catcher/processor sector, unless modified, superseded or rescinded. Comments will be accepted through August 10, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator, Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rodney R. McInnis, Acting Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine King at 206-526-6145 or 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 January 8, 1999 (64 FR 1316), regulations were published announcing the 1999 fishing seasons for Pacific whiting. A new whiting stock assessment was completed in early 1999, and an allowable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yield (OY) of 232,000 metric tons (mt) were recommended for all U.S. harvests. On May 24, 1999, (64 FR 27928), NMFS announced the 1999 whiting ABC and OY of 232,000 mt, the tribal whiting allocation of 32,500 mt, and the commercial OY of 199,500 mt.

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. Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial allocation into separate allocations for the catcher/processor, mothership, and shore-based sectors of the whiting fishery. When each sector's allocation is reached, the primary season for that sector is ended. 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, whiting. The shoreside sector is composed of vessels that harvest whiting for delivery to shore-based processors. The allocations, which are based on the 1999 commercial harvest guideline for whiting of 199,500 mt, are: 67,800 mt (34 percent) for the catcher/processor sector; 47,900 mt (24 percent) for the mothership sector; and 83,800 mt (42 percent) for the shoreside sector.

The best available information on July 20, 1999, indicated that the 67,800-mt catcher/processor allocation would be reached by 12 noon l.t., July 21, 1999.

NMFS Action

For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(A), NMFS herein announces: Effective 12 noon l.t. July 21, 1999, 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. 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. This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(A) and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: July 20, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-18996Filed7-21-99; 3:52 pm]

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