[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47470-47471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18262]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 020402077-01; I.D. 071202E]
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; End of the Primary Season and
Resumption of Trip Limits for the Shore-based Fishery for Pacific
Whiting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the end of the 2002 primary season for the
shore-based fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) at 0800 local time
(l.t.) July 17, 2002, because the allocation is projected to be
reached. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the
2002 allocation levels.
DATES: Effective from 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002, until the effective date
of the 2003 specification and management measures for the Pacific Coast
groundfish fishery which will be published in the Federal Register,
unless modified, superseded or rescinded. Comments will be accepted
through August 5, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to D. Robert Lohn, Acting Administrator,
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rod McInnis, Acting Regional
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Renko at 206-526-6110.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by regulations
implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and
California. On April 15, 2002 (67 FR 18117), the levels of allowable
biological catch, the optimum yield (OY) and the commercial OY (the OY
minus the tribal allocation) for U.S. harvests of whiting were
announced in the Federal Register. For 2002 the
[[Page 47471]]
whiting OY is 129,600 mt (mt) and the commercial OY is 106,920 mt.
Regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4) divide the commercial OY into
separate allocations for the catcher/processor, mothership, and shore-
based sectors of the whiting fishery. The 2002 allocations, which are
based on the 2002 commercial OY, are 36,353 mt (34 percent) for the
catcher/processor sector, 25,661 (24 percent) for the mothership
sector, and 44,906 mt (42 percent) for the shoreside sector.
When each sector's allocation is reached, the primary season for
that sector is ended. The shore-based sector is composed of vessels
that harvest whiting for delivery to land-based processors. The
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(3)(i) describe the primary season for
the shore-based sector as the period(s) when the large-scale target
fishery is conducted (when trip limits under 50 CFR 660.323(b) are not
in effect). Before and after the primary seasons, per-trip limits are
in effect for whiting.
The best available information on July 15, 2002, indicates that
39,460 mt had been taken through July 13, 2002, and that the 44,906 mt
shore-based allocation would be reached by 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002.
This Federal Register document announces the date that the primary
season for the shore-based sector ends, and that per-trip limits are
reinstated. Per-trip limits are intended to accommodate small bait and
fresh fish markets, and bycatch in other fisheries. To minimize
incidental catch of chinook salmon by vessels fishing shoreward of the
100 fm (183 m) contour in the Eureka area, at any time during a fishing
trip, a limit of 10,000-lb (4,536 kg) of whiting is in effect year-
round, except when landings of whiting are prohibited.
On July 5,2002 (67 FR 44778), NMFS announced fishery restrictions
that eliminated the per-trip limits for whiting beginning September 1,
2002. Therefore, the 20,000-lb (9,072 kg) trip limit that was in place
before the start of the primary season is reinstated from the end of
the primary season to September 1, at which time further taking and
retaining, possessing or landing of whiting will be prohibited, unless
otherwise announced in the Federal Register.
NMFS Action
For the reasons stated above, and in accordance with the
regulations at 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(C), NMFS herein announces:
Effective 0800 l.t. July 17, 2002, until September 1, 2002, no more
than 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of whiting may be taken and retained,
possessed or landed by a catcher vessel participating in the shore-
based sector of the whiting fishery. On September 1, 2002, further
taking and retaining, possessing or landing of whiting will be
prohibited, unless otherwise announced in the Federal Register. If a
vessel fishes shoreward of the 100-fm (183-m) contour in the Eureka
area (43 deg.-40 deg.30' N. lat.) at any time during a fishing trip,
the 10,000-lb (4,536-kg) trip limit applies, as announced in the annual
management measures at paragraph IV, B (3)(c)(ii), except when the
whiting fishery is closed.
Classification
This action is authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP.
The determination to take this action is based on the most recent data
available. The aggregate data upon which the determination is based are
available for public inspection at the Office of the Regional
Administrator (see ADDRESSES) during business hours. This action is
taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(a)(4)(iii)(C) and is exempt
from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 15, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-18262 Filed 7-16-02; 3:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S