[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12767-12768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6162]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 030899C]
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 1999 total allowable
catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 8, 1999,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
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.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), 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 (Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
NMFS will publish final 1999 harvest specifications for these
groundfish fisheries in the Federal Register. The Regional
Administrator has determined that the following TAC amounts are
necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 1999 fishing year:
Thornyhead rockfish: entire GOA 1,990 mt
Atka mackerel: entire GOA 600 mt
Sablefish: trawl apportionment, entire GOA 1,747 mt
``Other rockfish'': Western Regulatory area 20 mt
Central Regulatory area 650 mt
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: entire GOA 1,590 mt
Pollock: inshore component, Statistical Area 610 6,936 mt
inshore component, Statistical Area 620 11,652 mt
inshore component, Statistical Area 630 9,156 mt
Pollock: offshore component, entire GOA 0 mt
Pacific cod: offshore component
Western Regulatory Area 1,890 mt
Eastern Regulatory Area 102 mt
Deep-water flatfish: Western Regulatory Area 240 mt
Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the directed allowances for the above species
or species groups as 0 mt.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the specified areas.
These closures will be in effect from the date of filing of the final
1999 harvest specifications with the Office of the Federal Register
until 12 midnight, Alaska local time, December 31, 1999.
Under authority of the interim 1999 specifications (64 FR 46,
January 4, 1999), pollock fishing opened on January 1, 1999, for
amounts specified in that notice. NMFS has since closed Statistical
Area 610 to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
January 26, 1998 (64 FR 5198, February 3, 1999); Statistical Area 620
to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February
17, 1998 (64 FR 8529, February 22, 1999); Statistical Area 630 to
directed fishing for pollock effective
[[Page 12768]]
1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 2, 1998 (64 FR 4790, February 1, 1999); the
Central Regulatory Area to directed fishing for Pacific cod, effective
1200 hrs A.l.t., February 25, 1999 (64 FR 9937); and the Eastern
Regulatory Area to directed fishing for pollock, effective 1200 hrs,
March 6, 1999; and the Western Regulatory Area to directed fishing for
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component, effective 1200 hrs
A.l.t., March 8, 1999. The closures for Statistical Areas 610 and 630
will remain in effect until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 1, 1999.
These closures supersede the closures announced in the interim 1999
harvest specifications (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999). 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. 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 Final 1999 Harvest Specifications.
NMFS may implement other closures during the 1999 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 TAC limitations and other restrictions
on the fisheries established in the final 1999 harvest specifications
for groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting the 1999 TACs for several groundfish species in
the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to
the public interest. The fleet is currently harvesting groundfish, and
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: March 9, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6162 Filed 3-10-99; 9:02 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
