Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rock Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Apportionment of reserve; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve of groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) to rock sole. This action is necessary to account for previous harvest of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).

DATES:

Effective May 25, 2004. Comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, June 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Lori Durall. Comments may be submitted by:

• Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668;
• Hand Delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK;
• Fax: 907-586-7557;
• E-mail: bsairel04_1@noaa.gov Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: bsairel04_1; or
• Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the 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.

The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the initial TAC for rock sole in the BSAI, specified in the final 2004 harvest specifications (69 FR 9242, February 27, 2004) needs to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve in order to continue operations and account for prior harvest.

Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS proposes to apportion 3,075 metric tons from the non-specified reserve to the rock sole initial TAC in the BSAI. These proposed apportionments are consistent with § 679.20(b)(1)(ii) and do not result in overfishing of a target species because the revised initial TAC is equal to or less than the specification of the acceptable biological catch (69 FR 9242, February 27, 2004).

Classification

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) and 679.20 (b)(3)(iii)(A) 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 the agency from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the apportionment of the reserves to the rock sole fishery, thus preventing full utilization of the TAC of rock sole, cause disruption to the industry and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards. This action will allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of the BSAI groundfish fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of May 4, 2004.

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.

Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until June 8, 2004.

This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.