[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3658-3659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1644]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 012099B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod
and pollock in the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 3659]]
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod and
pollock by vessels catching these species for processing by the
offshore component in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 interim total allowable catch
(TAC) of Pacific cod and pollock allocated to vessels catching these
species for processing by the offshore component in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20,
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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(d), if the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determines that the amount of a
target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a fishery
will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a directed
fishing allowance for that species or species group. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a directed fishing allowance, and that
allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year,
NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group
in the specified GOA Regulatory Area or district
(Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
NMFS published interim 1999 harvest specifications for the GOA
groundfish fisheries (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999). A final rule
authorizing the inshore/offshore allocation of GOA Pacific cod and
pollock was filed with the Office of the Federal Register, January 20,
1999, and became effective January 20, 1999. The Regional Administrator
has determined that the following interim Pacific cod TAC amounts for
the GOA offshore component will be reached and are necessary as
incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries
prior to the time that final specifications for groundfish are likely
to be in effect for the 1999 fishing year:
Pacific cod, offshore component
Western Regulatory Area 436 metric tons
Central Regulatory Area 834 metric tons
Eastern Regulatory Area 23 metric tons
Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes these interim TAC amounts as directed fishing
allowances. Further, the Regional Administrator finds that these
directed fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year.
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
catching these species for processing by the offshore component in the
Gulf of Alaska in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d). These closures will
be in effect beginning at 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, 1999, until
superseded by the Final 1999 Initial Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish. Under the final rule implementing the GOA inshore/offshore
allocations, 0 metric tons of pollock are allocated to the offshore
directed fishery for this species. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in
the Gulf of Alaska. These closures will be in effect beginning at 1200
hours, A.l.t., January 20, 1999, until superseded by the notice of
Final 1999 Initial Harvest Specifications for Groundfish.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting the interim 1999 TAC of Pacific cod and pollock
allocated to vessels catching these species for processing by the
offshore component in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and further delay
would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the
implementation of this action should not be delayed for 30 days.
Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is
hereby waived.
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 20, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1644 Filed 1-20-99; 4:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
