Browse: Departments Dates Agencies
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 660
Docket ID: [Docket No. 0330612150-3214-02; 102003A]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Closure of the fishery for Pacific sardine north of Pt. Arena, California.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of the Fishery for Pacific Sardine North of Pt. Arena, California
DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m. l.t., October 24, 2003 through December 31, 2003.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the fishery for Pacific sardine in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific Coast north of Pt. Arena, California (39[deg] 00' N. lat.) at 12:01 a.m. local time (l.t.) on October 17, 2003. The purpose of this action is to comply with the allocation procedures mandated by the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
SUMMARY: West Coast States and Western Pacific fisheries—; Coastal pelagic species,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
On September 9,2003 (68 FR 53053), NMFS announced the reallocation of the remaining Pacific sardine harvest guideline in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific Coast. An estimated 59,508 metric tons (mt) of the 110,908 mt harvest guideline was expected to remain unharvested on September 1, 2003. In accordance with the allocation procedures contained in the FMP, 80 percent of the 59,508 mt was allocated to Subarea B south of Pt. Arena, CA (47,606 mt) and 20 percent was allocated to Subarea A north of Pt. Arena, CA (11,902 mt). The allocation to Subarea A of 11,902 mt was reached on October 17, 2003. According to the allocation procedures in the FMP, the fishery may reopen on December 1, 2003, if any portion of the Subarea B allocation is unharvested at that time.For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the FMP and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 660.508, the fishery for Pacific sardine north of Pt. Arena, CA was closed at 12:01 a.m. October 17, 2003. If any of the sardine allocation to Subarea B south of Pt. Arena remains unharvested on December 1, 2003, it will be available to all fisheries off the Pacific Coast until the end of the fishing season on December 31, 2003.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NMFS finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for comment on this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because providing prior notice and opportunity would be impracticable. It would be impracticable because this closure is necessary to comply with the allocation procedures mandated by the FMP and its implementing regulations. For these reasons, the AA finds that good cause exists to waive the 30day delay in effectiveness requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
This action is required by 50 CFR 660.509 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 23, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0327174 Filed 102303; 3:49 pm]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Svein Fougner, Southwest Region, NMFS, (562) 9804040.
Common CFR Searches
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 17 33 CFR Part 117 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 50 CFR Part 622 26 CFR Part 301 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 50 CFR Part 660 44 CFR Part 65 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 50 CFR Part 665 47 CFR Part 76 50 CFR Part 229 14 CFR Part 23 14 CFR Part 25 21 CFR Part 522