[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10569-10570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5508]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208296-7296-01; I.D. 022598C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore
Component Pollock in the Bering Sea 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
[[Page 10570]]
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea
subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the first
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the BS of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 26,
1998, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI is
managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan for the
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) as
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)(2)(ii), the first seasonal
allowance of the pollock TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock
for processing by the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI was
established as 151,279 metric tons (mt) by the by the Interim 1998
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 65626,
December 15, 1998).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first
seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI
will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 146,279 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 5,000 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 BS of the BSAI.
This closure is effective from February 26, 1998, through 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., April 15, 1998. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), the second seasonal
allowance of pollock TAC will become available for directed fishing at
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998. Maximum retainable bycatch amounts
for applicable gear types may be found in the regulations at
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal allowance of the pollock
TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the BS of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date
is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has
already taken the first seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the BS 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.
Classification
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: February 26, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5508 Filed 2-26-98; 4:59 pm]
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