99-5976. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12093-12094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5976]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 030599C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area 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 the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 1999 pollock total allowable 
catch (TAC) for the Eastern Regulatory Area established by the Interim 
1999 Harvest Specifications.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 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until superseded by the Final 1999 Harvest Specification for 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 Harvest Specifications (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999) 
established the interim 1999 pollock TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area 
as 1,395 metric tons (mt), 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 the Eastern Regulatory Area will soon be reached. The 
Regional

[[Page 12094]]

Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,195 mt, 
and is setting aside the remaining 200 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 the Eastern Regulatory Area 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 interim 1999 pollock TAC in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area. 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: March 5, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5976 Filed 3-5-99; 4:17 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F