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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679
Docket ID: [Docket No. 031126295-3295-01; I.D. 011304B]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notification of fishery assignments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2004, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2004.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the interim 2004 harvest specifications for groundfish.
SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Atka mackerel,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), owners and operators
of vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel in
the HLA are required to register with NMFS. In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A)(1), owners and operators that wish to participate
in the A season HLA fishery must register their vessels with NMFS by 4:30 pm., A.l.t.
[[Page 2850]]
on the first working day following January 1. Six vessels have
registered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542
and/or 543. In order to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by
about half and to disperse the fishery over time and in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
randomly assigned each vessel to the HLA directed fishery for Atka
mackerel for which they have registered and is now notifying each vessel of its assignment.
Vessels authorized to participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and/or the second HLA directed fishery in area 543 in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 3819 Alaska Spirit, FFP 3400 Alaska Ranger, and FFP 2443 Alaska Juris.
Vessels authorized to participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 543 and/or the second HLA directed fishery in area 542 in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: FFP 4093 Alaska Victory, FFP 3835 Seafisher, and FFP 3423 Alaska Warrior.
Classification
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 requirement is unnecessary. This notice merely advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random assignment required by regulation. The notice needs to occur immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of its assignment to allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the A season HLA fisheries in area 542 and area 543.
The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30day 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 679.22 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 14, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 041218 Filed 12004; 8:45 am]
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
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