Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/09/01/2010-21831/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-atka-mackerel-in-the-bering-sea-and-aleutian
Timestamp: 2018-02-19 16:41:47
Document Index: 130239500

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

A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 09/01/2010
75 FR 53606
53606-53608 (3 pages)
Docket No. 0910131363-0087-02
0648-XY62
2010-21831
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-21831 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-21831
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. NMFS is also announcing the opening and closing dates of the first and second directed fisheries within the harvest limit area (HLA) in areas 542 and 543. These actions are necessary to conduct Start Printed Page 53607directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA in areas 542 and 543.
The 2010 TAC of Atka mackerel for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was established as 1,264 metric tons (mt) by the final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (75 FR 11778, March 12, 2010).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that 5 mt of the 2010 Atka mackerel TAC allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,259 mt. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(C), the Regional Administrator is opening the first directed fisheries for Atka mackerel within the HLA in areas 542 and 543, 48 hours after prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea. The Regional Administrator has established the opening dates for the second HLA directed fisheries as immediately after the last closure of the first HLA fisheries in either area 542 or 543 for those vessels participating in the Amendment 80 cooperative. The Regional Administrator also has established the opening dates for the second HLA directed fisheries as 48 hours after the last closure of the first HLA fisheries in either area 542 or 543 for those vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access sector. Consequently, NMFS is opening and closing directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA of areas 542 and 543 in accordance with the periods listed under Table 1 of this notice.
Effective date 1
Prohibiting Atka mackerel by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea 1200 hrs, September 1, 2010 1200 hrs, November 1, 2010.
Opening the first and second directed fisheries in the HLA for the Amendment 80 cooperative 542 and 543 1200 hrs, September 3, 2010 1200 hrs, September 17, 2010.
542 and 543 1200 hrs, September 17, 2010 1200 hrs, October 1, 2010.
Opening the first and second directed fisheries in the HLA for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access sector 542 and 543 1200 hrs, September 3, 2010 1200 hrs, September 11, 2010.
542 and 543 1200 hrs, September 13, 2010 1200 hrs, September 21, 2010.
Opening the first directed fishery in the HLA for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector 542 1200 hrs, September 3, 2010 1200 hrs, September 17, 2010.
1 Alaska local time.
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) and § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atka mackerel have previously registered with NMFS to fish in the HLA fisheries in areas 542 and 543. NMFS has randomly assigned each vessel to the directed fishery or fisheries for which they have registered. NMFS has notified each vessel owner as to which fishery each vessel has been assigned by NMFS (75 FR 49422, August 13, 2010).
In accordance with the final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (75 FR 11778, March 12, 2010) and § 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the HLA limits of the B season allowance of the 2010 TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 4,474 mt and 3,393 mt, respectively, for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery. The HLA limits of the B season allowance of the 2010 TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 2,959 mt and 2,111 mt, respectively, for Amendment 80 cooperatives. The HLA limit of the B season allowance of the 2010 TAC in area 542 is 474 mt for the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(E), the Regional Administrator has established the closure dates of the Atka mackerel directed fisheries in the HLA for areas 542 and 543 based on the amount of the harvest limit and the estimated fishing capacity of the vessels assigned to the respective fisheries. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA of areas 542 and 543 in accordance with the dates and times listed in Table 1 of this notice.
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 Start Printed Page 53608U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a 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 closure of the Atka mackerel fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery and the opening and closing of the fisheries for the HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2010 Atka mackerel TAC. The fisheries opening and closure dates associated with the HLA limits are established based on the Regional Administrator's estimate of fishing capacity and effort for the vessels registered to fish in the HLA in area 542 and area 543, per § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(E). NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant information about operational aspects of the vessels registered to fish in the HLA only became available as of August 23, 2010. 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.
[FR Doc. 2010-21831 Filed 8-31-10; 8:45 am]