[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4277]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 021699B]
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: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 1999 pollock total allowable
catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 620 established by the 1999 Interim
Specifications and amended by the emergency interim rule implementing
Steller sea lion protection measures for the pollock fisheries off
Alaska.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17,
1999, until superseded by the Final 1999 Harvest Specification for
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.
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.
The interim 1999 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 as amended by
the emergency interim rule implementing Steller sea lion protection
measures for the pollock fisheries off Alaska (64 FR 3437, January 22,
1999) is 11,652 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the interim
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 620 will soon be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance
of 11,152 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 will soon be reached. NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA.
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 seasonal allocation of pollock in
Statistical Areas 620. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for
public comment is impracticable and contrary to the 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: February 16, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4277 Filed 2-17-99; 3:09 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
