[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63259-63260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30228]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 111299B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
using
[[Page 63260]]
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 halibut
bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl Pacific cod
fishery.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 16,
1999, until 2400 hrs. A.l.t., December 31, 1999, or until NMFS
publishes further notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 50 CFR part 679.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (64 FR 12103,
March 11, 1999) established the halibut bycatch mortality allowance
specified for the BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery, which is defined at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(E), as 1,473 metric tons (mt).
On October 18, 1999, the fishery for Pacific cod by vessels using
trawl gear in the BSAI was closed to directed fishing under
Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(v), to maintain the halibut bycatch mortality within
the specified allowance, (64 FR 56473, October 20, 1999). NMFS since
has determined that as of November 6, 1999, 49 mt of halibut mortality
remain in the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for
the trawl Pacific cod fishery.
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the
BSAI.
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to fully utilize
the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl
Pacific cod. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment
for this action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest.
Further delay would only disrupt the FMP objective of utilizing the
halibut bycatch mortality allowance to provide Pacific cod TAC for
harvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this
action cannot 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 15, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-30228 Filed 11-16-99; 1:21 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
