[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30229]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 110598A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of 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 prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the amount of the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in
this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 7,
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations
implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
The Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI
established the initial TAC of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian
District as 22,950 mt, and, through the apportionment of reserve
allocated an additional 2,025 mt for a total of 24,975 mt (63 FR 12689,
March 16, 1998). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the TAC for
Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District will be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 23,975 mt, and is setting aside the remaining
1,000 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in
the Western Aleutian District.
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 1998 TAC of Atka mackerel for the Western
Aleutian District of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to public interest. 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: November 5, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30229 Filed 11-6-98; 3:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
