[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-34027]
[[Page 73]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 991223348-9348-01; I.D. 122399A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of
Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing specified groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the
directed fishing allowances specified for the 2000 interim total
allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.
DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2000,
until superseded by the effective date of the final 2000 harvest
specifications for GOA groundfish, which will be published in the
Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
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)).
The interim 2000 harvest specifications for the groundfish
fisheries in the GOA are published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register. The Regional Administrator has determined that the
following interim TAC amounts will be reached and are necessary as
incidental catch to support other directed groundfish fisheries before
final specifications for groundfish are likely to be in effect for the
2000 fishing year:
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Pollock entire GOA
Thornyhead rockfish entire GOA
Atka mackerel entire GOA
Sablefish entire GOA
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish entire GOA
Deep-water flatfish Western Regulatory Area
Northern rockfish Eastern Regulatory Area
``Other rockfish'' Western and Central Regulatory Area
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Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the interim TAC amounts for the species
listed above as directed fishing allowances.
Further, The Regional Administrator finds that these directed
fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d) NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for these species in the specified areas. These
closures will be in effect beginning at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1,
2000, until superseded by the effective date of Final 2000 Harvest
Specifications for GOA Groundfish or, with respect to pollock, until a
final rule implementing the recommended preferred alternatives to
protect Steller sea lions is effective.
While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch
amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing
trip. Additional closures and restrictions may be found in existing
regulations at 50 CFR part 679. These closures to directed fishing are
in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR
part 679. Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The definitions
of GOA deep-water flatfish and ``other rockfish'' species categories
are provided in the Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications, as published
in this issue of the Federal Register.
NMFS may implement other closures under the interim specifications,
at the time the final 2000 harvest specifications for GOA groundfish
are implemented or during the 2000 fishing year, as necessary for
effective conservation and management.
Classification
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other
restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 2000 harvest
specifications for GOA groundfish. It must be implemented immediately
to prevent overharvesting the 2000 interim TAC of several groundfish
species in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. The fleet will begin to harvest
groundfish on January 1, 2000. 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 27, 1999.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-34027 Filed 12-29-99; 10:54 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
