[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 56481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27298]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 101499A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment opening the D fishing
season for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA)
for 36 hours. This adjustment is necessary to manage the D seasonal
allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) in Statistical
Area 620 of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 14, 1999, until 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., October 15, 1999. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel. Hand delivery
or courier delivery of comments may be sent to the Federal Building,
709 West 9th Street, Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801.
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.
NMFS issued a prohibition on directed fishing for pollock effective
October 12, 1999, for Statistical Area 620, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), which was filed with the Office of the Federal
Register on October 12, 1999.
As of October 13, 1999, 3,500 metric tons (mt) of pollock remain in
the D seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of
the GOA. Section 679.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and
closures of fishing seasons other than the beginning and end of the
calendar fishing year is 1200 hrs, A.l.t. Current information shows the
catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is in excess of
3,000 mt per day. The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
determined that the D seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC could be
exceeded if a 48-hour fishery were allowed to occur. NMFS intends that
the seasonal allowance not be exceeded and, therefore, will not allow a
48-hour directed fishery. NMFS, in accordance with
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the D fishing season for pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the GOA by closing the fishery at 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., October 15, 1999, at which time directed fishing for pollock
will be prohibited. This action has the effect of opening the fishery
for 36 hours. NMFS is taking this action to allow a controlled fishery
to occur, thereby preventing the overharvest of the D seasonal
allowance of the pollock TAC designated in accordance with the
Emergency Interim Rule establishing Steller sea lion protection
measures for pollock off Alaska. In accordance with
Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that prohibiting directed
fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., October 15, 1999, after a 36 hour opening
is the least restrictive management adjustment to achieve the D
seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC and will allow other fisheries to
continue in noncritical areas and time periods. Pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(b)(2), NMFS has considered data regarding catch per unit of
effort and rate of harvest in making this adjustment.
Classification
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the
effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the
public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow
the D seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of
the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with
the regulatory schedule. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons
are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above
address until October 29, 1999.
This action is required by Secs. 679.20 and 679.25 and is exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 14, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27298 Filed 10-14-99; 4:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
