[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6110-6111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2938]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No.971208296-7296-01 ; I.D. 013098B]
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 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 1998 interim specifications of Atka mackerel
in these areas.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2,
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations
implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
The 1998 interim specifications of Atka mackerel total allowable
catch for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was
established by Interim 1998 Harvest Specifications (62 FR 65626,
December 15, 1997) for the BSAI as 3,187 metric tons (mt). See
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998
interim specification for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian
District and the Bering Sea subarea soon will be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance
of 2,587 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 600 mt as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
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Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this
directed fishing allowance soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian
District and the Bering Sea subarea.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types 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 1998 harvest
specifications for groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 interim TAC 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 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 30, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2938 Filed 2-2-98; 4:55 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
