[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 68229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33974]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7052-02; I.D. 122297A]
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: Closure.
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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 1998 interim total
allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.
DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 1998,
until superseded by the Final 1998 Harvest Specification for
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the exclusive
economic zone of the GOA is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by
U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP 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
or, with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, to an inshore or offshore
component allocation, 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 (see
697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
NMFS has published interim 1998 harvest specifications for these
groundfish fisheries (62 FR 65622, December 15, 1997). The Regional
Administrator has determined that the following interim TAC amounts
will be reached and are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries prior to the time that final
specifications for groundfish are likely to be in effect for the 1998
fishing year:
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Thornyhead rockfish....................... entire GOA.
Atka mackerel............................. entire GOA.
Sablefish................................. entire GOA.
``Other rockfish''........................ entire GOA.
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish.............. entire GOA.
Pacific cod............................... offshore component, entire
GOA.
Pollock................................... offshore component, entire
GOA.
Deep-water flatfish....................... Western Regulatory Area.
Northern rockfish......................... Eastern Regulatory Area.
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Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes these interim TAC amounts as directed fishing
allowances.
Further, The Regional Administrator finds that these directed
fishing allowances will be reached before the end of 1998. 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, 1998, until superseded by the Final 1998 Initial Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish.
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 Federal Register publication of the interim 1998
harvest specifications (62 FR 65622, December 15, 1997).
NMFS may implement other closures at the time the Final 1998
Initial Harvest Specifications are implemented or during the 1998
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 1998 harvest
specifications for groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 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, 1998. 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 23, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33974 Filed 12-30-97; 8:45 am]
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