[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4602-4603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2066]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 012199C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
Other Than Pollock by Catcher/Processors Identified in Section
208(e)(1)-(20) of the American Fisheries Act in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing specified groundfish fisheries for specific
catcher/
[[Page 4603]]
processors identified in the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are
necessary to prevent exceeding the amount of the 1999 interim harvest
limitations of groundfish other than pollock, established under the AFA
for listed catcher/processors.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 25,
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 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 CFR part 679.
In accordance with section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA, the Interim
1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (64 FR 50,
January 4, 1999) established harvest limitations of groundfish other
than pollock for the specific catcher/processors identified in section
208(e)(1)-(20) of the AFA (listed catcher/processors). NMFS filed an
emergency interim rule on January 15, 1999, that establishes inseason
authority to limit harvesting activities of the listed catcher/
processors to minimize the potential for specified harvest limitations
being exceeded.
Under the new emergency rule regulations at Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv),
if the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
determines that any harvest limitation of groundfish other than
pollock, established under section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA for listed
catcher/processors will be reached, the Regional Administrator may
establish a directed fishing allowance for the species or species group
applicable only to the listed catcher/processors. 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 subarea or district applicable only to the listed
catcher/processors (Sec. 697.20).
The Regional Administrator has determined that the following
harvest limitation amounts are necessary as incidental catch to support
other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 1999 fishing year
(amounts in metric tons):
Greenland turbot:
Aleutian Islands............................................... 19
Bering Sea..................................................... 85
Pacific ocean perch:
Eastern Aleutian Islands....................................... 47
Central Aleutian Islands....................................... 45
Western Aleutian Islands....................................... 136
Bering Sea..................................................... 12
``Other rockfish'':
Aleutian Islands............................................... 29
Bering Sea..................................................... 12
Sablefish trawl gear:
Aleutian Islands............................................... 0
Bering Sea..................................................... 3
Sharpchin/northern: Aleutian Islands............................. 280
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: Aleutian Islands................... 8
``Other red rockfish'': Bering Sea...............................
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator establishes these amounts as directed fishing allowances.
The Regional Administrator finds that these directed fishing
allowances will be reached before the end of the year. In accordance
with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by
the listed catcher processors for these species in the specified areas.
These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December
31, 1999.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the harvest limitations and other
restrictions on the fisheries established in the Interim 1999 Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented
immediately to prevent exceeding the harvest limitations of several
groundfish species in the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 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 Sec. 679.21 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 25, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-2066 Filed 1-25-99; 4:11 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
