73 FR 12 pgs. 3218-3219 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543
Type: RULEVolume: 73Number: 12Pages: 3218 - 3219
Docket number: [Docket No. 070213033-7033-01]
FR document: [FR Doc. 08-152 Filed 1-14-08; 1:50 pm]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 070213033-7033-01]
RIN 0648-XF05
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel Lottery in Areas 542 and 543
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 ofregistered vessels of their assignments for the 2008 A season Atka mackerelfishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islandssubarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Thisaction is necessary to allow the harvest of the 2008 A season HLA limitsestablished for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2007 and 2008 harvestspecifications 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 thegroundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to theFishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and AleutianIslands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific FisheryManagement Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens FisheryConservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S.vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A), owners andoperators of vessels using trawl gear for directed fishing for Atkamackerel in the HLA are required to register with NMFS. Four vessels haveregistered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542and/or 543. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B), theAdministrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has randomly assigned each vessel tothe HLA directed fishery for Atka mackerel for which they have registeredand is now notifying each vessel of its assignment.
For the Amendment 80 cooperative, the vessel authorized to participatein the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and the second HLA directedfishery in area 543 in accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii) is asfollows: Federal Fishery Permit number (FFP) 3835 Seafisher.
For the Amendment 80 limited access sector, vessels authorized toparticipate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and in the secondHLA directed fishery in area 543 in accordance with§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii) are as follows: Federal Fishery Permitnumber (FFP) 4093 Alaska Victory and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.
For the Amendment 80 limited access sector, the vessel authorized toparticipate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 543 and the secondHLA 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 causeto waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for publiccomment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as suchrequirement is unnecessary. This notice merely advises the owners of these vessels of the results of a random assignment required by regulation. Thenotice needs to occur immediately to notify the owner of each vessel of itsassignment to allow these vessel owners to plan for participation in the Aseason HLA fisheries in area 542 and area 543.
The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectivedate of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based uponthe reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity forpublic comment.
This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from reviewunder Executive Order 12866.
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1801 etseq.
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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S