[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8478-8479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3484]




-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 020695D]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Daily Reporting Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice of change in recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that Daily Production Reports (DPRs) must 
be submitted by offshore component processor vessels that catch and/or 
receive Pacific cod in Statistical Areas 61, 62, and 63 in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding that 
portion of the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
in those areas. This action will enable NMFS to effectively monitor the 
Pacific cod catch and take inseason action to close the fishery prior 
to its exceeding the TAC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: From noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 8, 
1995, through the duration of the 1995 directed offshore Pacific cod 
fishery in these areas or until the Director, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Director) determines the supplementary reporting requirements 
are no longer necessary. This determination will be published in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is 
governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 620 and 
672.
    Pursuant to Sec. 672.5(c)(3)(i) the Regional Director is requiring 
offshore component processor vessels, as defined at Sec. 672.2, that 
catch and/or receive Pacific cod in Statistical Areas 61, 62, and 63 in 
the GOA to submit DPRs in addition to weekly processor reports. DPRs 
must include the information required by Sec. 675.2(c)(3)(ii).
    These requirements are necessary to manage the offshore component 
Pacific cod fisheries in those areas. The Regional Director is doing so 
in consideration of the potential for exceeding that portion of the 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in those 
areas.
    The allocation of the TACs for Pacific cod to vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component under 
Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(B) will become available for directed fishing by 
offshore component vessels with the filing of the final specifications 
of groundfish for the GOA and are expected to be rapidly harvested.
    DPRs must include all information required by Sec. 672.5(c)(3)(ii) 
for groundfish harvested from the applicable reporting areas. 
Processors must submit the required information on the ``Alaska 
Groundfish Processor Daily Production Report'' form that was 
distributed to participants in the groundfish fishery with their 1995 
Federal fisheries permit. The form also may be obtained from the 
Regional Director by calling Mary Furuness at 907-586-7228. Processors 
must transmit their completed DPRs to the Regional Director by 
facsimile transmission to number 907-586-7131, telex (U.S. code) plus 
62296000, or by telephone via number 907-586-7228, no later than 12 
hours after the end of the day the groundfish was processed.
    If and when the Regional Director determines that these reports are 
no longer necessary, he may rescind the requirement. Criteria used to 
assess the need for the reports include the stability of effort and 
harvest rates in the fishery, and remaining amounts.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that reasons 
justifying implementation of this action also make it impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest to provide notice and opportunity for 
prior comment or to delay for 30 days its effective date. Intense 
fishing effort without DPRs [[Page 8479]] could result in industry's 
exceeding these allocations.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: February 7, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3484 Filed 2-8-95; 4:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F