[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29198]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 102798A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
the Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 620
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 pollock for 72 hours in
Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock
in that area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 27,
1998, until 1200 hours, October 30, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hindman, 907-581-2062.
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(a)(5)(ii)(A), the Final 1998 Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish established the allowance for the pollock
TAC apportioned to Statistical Area 620 in the GOA as 50,045 metric
tons (mt) (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998). The Acting Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Acting Regional Administrator), has established a
directed fishing allowance of 49,945 mt, and set aside 100 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries.
The fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 620 was closed to
directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on October 12, 1998 (63
FR 55342, October 15, 1998), in order to reserve amounts anticipated to
be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries. NMFS has determined
that as of October 23, 1998, 1,867 mt remain in the directed fishing
allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is
opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 27, 1998.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Acting Regional
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be
reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 620 at 12 noon, A.l.t., October 30, 1998.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). All other closures remain in full force and
effect.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
provide an opportunity to harvest the directed fishing allowance for
pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the GOA and to prevent
overharvesting the 1998 TAC. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would
only result in loss of fishing opportunity and potential 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: October 27, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-29198 Filed 10-27-98; 5:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
