Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/04/13/E7-7038/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-reallocation-of-pacific-cod-in-the-bering-sea
Timestamp: 2017-08-18 09:47:43
Document Index: 386010399

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679']

Effective April 30, 2007, 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007.
I.D. 040607A
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E7-7038 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E7-7038
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot or hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are necessary to allow the 2007 B season total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
The 2007 B season allowance of the Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 632 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) and the adjustment of the Pacific cod TACs in the BSAI on March 5, 2007 (72 FR 10428, March 8, 2007), for the period 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 30, 2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 31, 2007. See § 679.20(c)(3)(iii), § 679.20(c)(5), and § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 532 mt of the B season apportionment of Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under Start Printed Page 18596§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A) and § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A)(3). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(C)(1), NMFS apportions 532 mt of Pacific cod from the B season jig gear apportionment to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) are revised as follows: 100 mt to the B season apportionment for vessels using jig gear and 2,853 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear.
This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. 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 impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the reallocation of Pacific cod specified for jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot or hook-and-line gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of April 5, 2007.
[FR Doc. E7-7038 Filed 4-12-07; 8:45 am]