[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11381]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 663

[Docket No. 940254-4104; I.D. 042795B]


Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Closure of Whiting At-sea 
Processing

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

ACTION: Fishing restrictions.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the prohibition of further processing at-sea of 
Pacific whiting at 1400 hours (local time) on May 4, 1995, based on its 
projection that 60 percent (107,000 metric tons (mt)) of the 1995 
harvest guideline for Pacific whiting will have been harvested by that 
time. This action is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plan and is necessary to provide adequate amounts of whiting 
for shoreside processors and to achieve the allocation adopted for 
1995.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1400 hours (local time) May 4, 1995, through 2400 hours 
(local time) April 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Director, Northwest 
Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 
BIN-C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson at 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 13, 1994, NMFS issued regulations 
(59 FR 17491) to allocate annually the U.S. Pacific whiting harvest 
guideline in the years 1994 through 1996 between fishing vessels that 
either catch and process at sea or catch and deliver to at-sea 
processors (the at-sea sector) and fishing vessels that catch and 
deliver to processors located on shore (the shore-based sector). In 
each of the 3 years, after 60 percent of the annual harvest guideline 
(or quota) for Pacific whiting has been or is projected to be taken, 
further at-sea processing of Pacific whiting in the exclusive economic 
zone will be prohibited. The remaining 40 percent of the harvest 
guideline is reserved initially for harvest by vessels delivering to 
shore-based processors. The regulations require that the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, announce in the Federal Register 
when 60 percent of the whiting harvest guideline has been, or is about 
to be, harvested, specifying a time after which further at-sea 
processing of Pacific whiting in the fishery management area is 
prohibited.
    The most recent catch data available on May 2, 1995, indicate that 
approximately 92,700 mt of Pacific whiting have been harvested through 
May 1, 1995, and 60 percent (107,000 mt) of the 178,400 mt harvest 
guideline for Pacific whiting is projected to be reached by 1400 hours 
(local time) on May 4, 1995.

Secretarial Action

    For the reasons given above, and in accordance with 50 CFR 
663.23(b)(4)(i) and (iv), after 1400 hours (local time) on May 4, 1995, 
at-sea processing of Pacific whiting is prohibited (except for Pacific 
whiting that was on board the processing vessel prior to that time), 
and the taking and retaining, or receiving (except as cargo) of Pacific 
whiting by a vessel in the fishery management area with processed 
whiting on board is prohibited. Any vessel used to fish for whiting for 
processing at sea must have its trawl doors on board and attached to 
the trawl (50 CFR 663.7(o)).

Classification

    The determination that 60 percent of the harvest guideline is about 
to be harvested 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 Director, Northwest Region (see 
ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is taken under the 
authority of 50 CFR 663.23 (b)(4)(i) (59 FR 17493-17494, April 13, 
1994), and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 3, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-11381 Filed 5-4-95; 1:35 pm]
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