99-2544. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2544]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 012899A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea 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 with 
gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 
Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 interim 
harvest specification of Atka mackerel.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 29, 
1999, until superseded by the Final 1999 Harvest Specification for 
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 at Subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
    The Interim 1999 Harvest Specifications (64 FR 50 January 4, 1999) 
as amended by the final rule implementing season and area apportionment 
of Atka Mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) (64 FR 3446, January 22, 
1999) established the Interim 1999 Harvest Specifications for non-jig 
gear as 6,269 metric tons (mt) in the Eastern Aleutian District and the 
Bering Sea subarea. See Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) and 679.20(a)(8)(i).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999 
interim specification for non-jig gear Atka mackerel in the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea will be reached. The 
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 
5,769 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 soon will be reached. NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and 
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other 
restrictions on the fisheries established in the Interim 1999 Harvest 
Specifications for groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented 
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1999 interim specification of 
Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea 
subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date 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: January 28, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-2544 Filed 1-29-99; 3:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F