[Federal Register: January 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 9)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1946-1947]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja09-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 071106673-8011-02]
RIN 0648-XM68
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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered
vessels of their assignments for the 2009 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 2009 A
season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the
2008 and 2009 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 9, 2009,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 Sec. 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. Fourteen vessels have
registered with NMFS to fish in the A season HLA fisheries in areas 542
and/or 543. In
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accordance with Sec. 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 in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(8)(iii).
For the Amendment 80 cooperative, the vessels authorized to
participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 and the
second HLA directed fishery in area 543 are as follows: Federal Fishery
Permit number (FFP) 2134 Ocean Peace, FFP 2733 Seafreeze Alaska, FFP
3694 Arica, and FFP 3835 Seafisher.
For the Amendment 80 cooperative, the vessels authorized to
participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 543 and the
second HLA directed fishery in area 542 are as follows: FFP 1610
Rebecca Irene, FFP 2110 Cape Horn, and FFP 3369 Unimak.
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 are as follows: FFP 2443 Alaska
Juris and FFP 3819 Alaska Spirit.
For the Amendment 80 limited access sector, the vessels authorized
to participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 543 and the
second HLA directed fishery in area 542 are as follows: FFP 3423 Alaska
Warrior and FFP 4093 Alaska Victory.
For the BSAI trawl limited access sector, the vessels authorized to
participate in the first HLA directed fishery in area 542 are as
follows: FFP 480 Muir Milach and FFP 11770 Alaska Knight.
For the BSAI trawl limited access sector, the vessel authorized to
participate in the second HLA directed fishery in area 542 is as
follows: FFP 6202 Epic Explorer.
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 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 9, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-606 Filed 1-9-09; 4:15 pm]
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