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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - 50 CFR Part 679
          - [Docket No. 070213033-7033-01]
          - RIN 0648-XF05

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Notification of fishery assignments.

# SUMMARY:

NMFS  is  notifying the owners and operators  of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2008 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  2008  A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2007 and 2008 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.

# DATES:

Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local  time (A.l.t.), January 14, 2008, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2008.

# FOR   FURTHER  INFORMATION  CONTACT:

Jennifer   Hogan, 907-586-7228.

# SUPPLEMENTARY     INFORMATION:

NMFS    manages    the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive  economic  zone  according  to the Fishery  Management  Plan  for  Groundfish  of  the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands  Management  Area  (FMP)  prepared  by  the North  Pacific  Fishery Management   Council  under  authority  of  the  Magnuson-Stevens   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   § 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. Four vessels have registered with NMFS to  fish  in  the  A season HLA fisheries in areas 542 and/or  543.  In  accordance  with  § 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.

For  the  Amendment 80 cooperative, the vessel authorized to participate in the first HLA  directed  fishery in area 542 and the second HLA directed fishery in area 543 in accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii) is as follows: Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 3835 Seafisher.

For  the  Amendment 80 limited  access  sector,  vessels  authorized  to participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and in the second HLA    directed    fishery    in    area    543    in    accordance    with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)  are  as  follows:  Federal  Fishery  Permit number (FFP) 4093 Alaska Victory and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.

For  the  Amendment  80  limited access sector, the vessel authorized to participate in the first HLA  directed  fishery  in area 543 and the second HLA    directed    fishery    in    area    542    in    accordance    with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii) is as follows: 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                           ( print page 3219)                        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 30-day 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 § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 11, 2008.

Alan D. Risenhoover,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 08-152 Filed 1-14-08; 1:50 pm]

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