[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7030]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 031398A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore
Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea
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 by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the amount of the 1998 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned
to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in
the AI of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 13, 1998,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by the 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. processors is governed
by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and
50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the amount of the 1998
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI
was established as 7,705 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1998 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (to be published March 16,
1998).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the amount
of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for
processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 7,205 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. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in
the AI of the BSAI.
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 best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order
to prevent overharvesting the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC
apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the AI of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has
already taken the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI of
the BSAI. Further delay would only result in overharvest which would
disrupt the FMP's objective of providing sufficient pollock as bycatch
to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. NMFS finds for good
cause that the implementation of this action can 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 13, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7030 Filed 3-13-98; 3:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
